When Andy Cohen announced plans for a revamped Real Housewives of New York franchise, the Bravo-verse started buzzing. Andy also revealed plans for a RHONY series starring former Housewives. After a disappointing Season 13 that inspired rumors of a permanent hiatus and didn’t even have a reunion, the news about the future of the franchise was a relief.
Bethenny Frankel, who has been raising funds to help Ukraine after the Russian invasion, was always a bit cagey about a RHONY return. In August of 2021, Bethenny denied that she was interested in returning. “I don’t want to go back on ‘Housewives.’ It’s not where I am right now,” the Skinnygirl mogul stated. Then, in December of 2021, Bethenny said that if there was “some element of authenticity” she might consider coming back.
Bethenny didn’t seem impressed by the reboot news. She hopped on TikTok to share her opinion. Bethenny lip synced to an audio track that said, “It’s a long story, and it’s very f–king boring. Jesus. Like, f–k.” Bethenny wrote in the caption, “My thoughts on the #RHONY reboot…” Tell us how you really feel, Bethenny!
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People reported that Bethenny shared that she was invited back to RHONY on her Just B with Bethenny Frankel podcast. Bethenny said, “Many of you have been asking me for a response to [the] Housewives announcement. So, a couple weeks ago, I got a text from, you know, the powers that be in the Bravosphere saying, ‘Is there a chance? Is there a chance? Just asking, is there a chance?’ Meaning, would I come back,” she remarked.
Bethenny was confused about the direction of the show, which has the working title RHONY: Throwback or RHONY: Legacy. “I know from a bunch of producers and people in the industry that they’re casting the show of new people and that they clearly don’t know who the show of old people will be because I was asked to be on it. So, it’s not been crafted,” Bethenny explained. “So, it felt like, sort of, a half-baked announcement. I didn’t really understand it.”
She continued, “Years ago I said to [franchise producer] Andy [Cohen], ‘There should be all-stars show.’ And he said, ‘One day we’ll get to the point where we have to do that. We’re not there now.'” Now here we are.
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Bethenny applauded Bravo for “finding new ways to make things.” She added, “They can’t give that up, because you got to tap that vein and get the last juice out of that franchise.”
As for whether Bethenny would consider joining an “OG” cast, she says it’s all about the money. “When asked, I say, ‘There’s a number, but I don’t think you can afford it,'” Bethenny responded.
She also gave her take on how Bravo should build the series. “From a business standpoint, [it’s] probably smarter for them to just keep mixing together the ingredients that they already have on the shelf: the people that’ll do it for so cheap because they’ll do it for next to nothing for the relevance and the jolt,” Bethenny remarked. “From a business standpoint, you have something that’s not at the peak in ratings, put them all together in the soup. You have an audience; they’re going to watch it.”
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She continued, “They don’t necessarily need my advice but unless you’re creating some new thing that you’re reviving an entire brand and doing something entirely new, I don’t even see how that applies to me because I didn’t necessarily even understand what it is,” Bethenny added. Now I’m confused.
I guess we will need to wait and see if Bravo offers Bethenny the number she is looking for to return. Meanwhile, Jill Zarin is waiting for a call from Andy, and Dorinda Medley is waiting in the wings.
TELL US- WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE BETHENNY ON THE RHONY: LEGACY SERIES? WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE RETURN FOR THE LEGACY SERIES?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
