The Real Housewives is an American reality television franchise that began on March 21, 2006, with The Real Housewives of Orange County. Each installment of the franchise documents the personal and professional lives of a group of affluent women residing in or around a certain city or geographic region. Eleven different series have been produced in the United States, with another 21 international adaptations. The American series is currently broadcast on Bravo; previously, the Miami installment aired for a time on Peacock.
The first international adaptation, The Real Housewives of Athens, premiered on March 4, 2011. The longest-running international edition is The Real Housewives of Cheshire, which has aired seventeen series.
The American franchise has led to 27 spin-off series in all; the most successful, Vanderpump Rules, has itself had a number of spin-offs.
History[]
On May 1, 2005, The Real Housewives was first announced as one of six reality television shows ordered by the American television network Bravo.
"From Peyton Place to Desperate Housewives, viewers have been riveted by the fictionalized versions of such lifestyles on television. Now, here is a series that depicts real-life 'desperate' housewives with an authentic look at their compelling day-to-day drama."
The show was inspired by scripted soap operas including Desperate Housewives and Peyton Place, and would document the lives of five to eight upper-class women who "lead glamorous lives in a picturesque Southern California gated community where the average home has a $1.6 million price tag and residents include CEOs and retired professional athletes."
The Real Housewives of Orange County[]
In January 2006, the show was announced as The Real Housewives of Orange County. However, filming began in 2005 under the title Behind the Gates.
The first season aired on Bravo from March 21 to May 9, 2006. The original cast consisted of Kimberly Bryant, Jo De La Rosa, Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough and Lauri Waring.
The show has had four spin-offs: Date My Ex: Jo and Slade, Tamra’s OC Wedding, Glitter Town and Simply Gina.
The Real Housewives of New York City[]
In September 2007, the network started production for the show Manhattan Moms. In January 2008, the show was re-titled to The Real Housewives of New York City, becoming the second installment in the franchise.
The first season aired on Bravo from March 4 to May 27, 2008. The original cast consisted of Luann de Lesseps, Bethenny Frankel, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer and Jill Zarin.
The show has had three spin-offs: Bethenny Ever After, Bethenny & Fredrik and Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta[]
In June 2008, the third installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, was announced.
The first season aired on Bravo from October 7 to November 25, 2008. The original cast consisted of NeNe Leakes, DeShawn Snow, Shereé Whitfield, Lisa Wu and Kim Zolciak.
The show has had ten spin-offs: Don't Be Tardy, The Kandi Factory, I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding, Kandi's Wedding, Kandi's Ski Trip, Xscape: Still Kickin' It, Kandi Koated Nights, Porsha's Having a Baby, Porsha's Family Matters and Kandi & The Gang.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey[]
In May 2008, the fourth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, was announced, before the announcement of the Atlanta installment.
The first season aired on Bravo from May 12 to July 8, 2009. The original cast consisted of Teresa Giudice, Jacqueline Laurita, Caroline Manzo, Dina Manzo and Danielle Staub.
The show has had three spin-offs: Boys to Manzo, Manzo'd with Children and Teresa Checks In.
The Real Housewives of D.C.[]
In October 2009, the fifth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of D.C., was announced.
The season aired on Bravo from August 5 to October 21, 2010. The cast consisted of Mary Amons, Lynda Erkiletian, Cat Ommanney, Michaele Salahi and Stacie Scott Turner.
The show ended after one season, becoming the first franchise to be canceled; its cancellation came after one of the cast members, Salahi, and her husband, Tareq, caused controversy by successfully entering the White House uninvited for a state dinner while being filmed for the show.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills[]
In March 2010, the sixth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, was announced.
The first season aired on Bravo from October 14, 2010, to February 15, 2011. The original cast consisted of Taylor Armstrong, Camille Grammer, Adrienne Maloof, Kim Richards, Kyle Richards and Lisa Vanderpump.
The show has had two spin-offs: Vanderpump Rules and Vanderpump Dogs. Vanderpump Rules has itself had two additional spin-offs: Vanderpump Rules After Show and Vanderpump Rules: Jax & Brittany Take Kentucky. A third Rules spin-off, The Valley, is set to air in 2024.
The Real Housewives of Miami[]
In March 2010, the network ordered a show titled Miami Social Club, which would serve as a reconstruction of Miami Social. The show was later re-titled to The Real Housewives of Miami, becoming the seventh installment in the franchise.
The first season aired on Bravo from February 22 to April 5, 2011. The original cast consisted of Lea Black, Adriana de Moura, Alexia Echevarria, Marysol Patton, Larsa Pippen and Cristy Rice.
After an eight-year hiatus, the fourth season aired on Peacock from December 16, 2021, to March 10, 2022. The rebooted cast consisted of Guerdy Abraira, Lisa Hochstein, Julia Lemigova, Nicole Martin, Alexia Nepola and Larsa Pippen.
The show has had one spin-off: Havana Elsa.
The Real Housewives of Potomac[]
In November 2015, the eighth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Potomac, was announced. The series had the working title of Potomac Ensemble prior to the announcement.
The first season aired on Bravo from January 17 to April 17, 2016. The original cast consisted of Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon, Karen Huger, Charrisse Jackson-Jordan and Katie Rost.
The show has had one spin-off: Karen's Grande Dame Reunion.
The Real Housewives of Dallas[]
Prior to being announced, the show was initially titled Ladies of Dallas during its early production, a potential spin-off to Ladies of London.
In November 2015, the ninth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Dallas, was announced.
The first season aired on Bravo from April 11 to June 19, 2016. The original cast consisted of Cary Deuber, Tiffany Hendra, Stephanie Hollman, LeeAnne Locken and Brandi Redmond.
On August 17, 2021, the network announced that they had no plans to immediately renew the show for a sixth season, placing it on an indefinite hiatus.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City[]
In November 2019, the tenth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, was announced.
The first season aired on Bravo from November 11, 2020, to February 24, 2021. The original cast consisted of Lisa Barlow, Mary Cosby, Heather Gay, Meredith Marks, Whitney Rose and Jen Shah.
List of Shows[]
Bravo has broadcast eleven American installments of the franchise, beginning with The Real Housewives of Orange County on March 21, 2006. The network has also licensed the brand to various networks outside the United States, giving rise to more than a dozen international installments.
The success of the American franchise has resulted in 26 spin-offs centered on specific housewives, with the longest-running being Vanderpump Rules, which focuses on the staff at the restaurants and bars owned by Lisa Vanderpump from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
In November 2021, the eleventh installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Dubai, was announced as the networks first original international installment of the franchise.
- Currently airing installments.
- Installment with an upcoming season.
- Installment with an unknown status.
- Installment is currently in production.
- Installment no longer in development.
| Series | Abbreviation | Location | Network | Series Premiere | Series Finale | Number of Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Real Housewives of Orange County | RHOC | California | Bravo | March 21, 2006 | N/A | 17 |
| The Real Housewives of New York City | RHONY | New York City | Bravo | March 4, 2008 | N/A | 14 |
| The Real Housewives of Atlanta | RHOA | Atlanta | Bravo | October 7, 2008 | N/A | 16 |
| The Real Housewives of New Jersey | RHONJ | New Jersey | Bravo | May 12, 2009 | N/A | 14 |
| The Real Housewives of D.C. | RHODC | Washington | Bravo | August 5, 2010 | October 21, 2010 | 1 |
| The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | RHOBH | California | Bravo | October 14, 2010 | N/A | 13 |
| The Real Housewives of Miami | RHOM | Miami | Bravo Peacock |
February 22, 2011 | N/A | 6 |
| The Real Housewives of Potomac | RHOP | Maryland | Bravo | January 17, 2016 | N/A | 8 |
| The Real Housewives of Dallas | RHOD | Texas | Bravo | April 17, 2016 | May 11, 2021 | 5 |
| The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City | RHOSLC | Utah | Bravo | November 11, 2020 | N/A | 5 |
| The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip | RHUGT | Various | Peacock | November 16, 2021 | N/A | 5 |
| The Real Housewives of Dubai | RHODUBAI | UAE | Bravo | June 1, 2022 | N/A | 2 |