Andy DehnartBravo announced the renewal of five Real Housewives and eight other reality series on Wednesday, and also said that it plans to air original shows seven nights a week this fall. Another 10 brand-new shows, including one starring two of the original Queer Eye Fab Five, were also announced.
Bravo’s release said that it “is the #1 cable network among female viewers” ages 18 to 49 and 25 to 54, and was “the #5 ad-supported cable network” among people 18 to 49 during the first quarter of 2018, a record high for the network.
It also bragged about Bravo’s success with reality TV:
“Bravo owns 4 of the top 15 highest-rated reality series on cable in 1Q18 with The Real Housewives of Atlanta (#2), The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (#8), Vanderpump Rules (#9) and The Real Housewives of New Jersey (#12) among P18-49. Bravo ranks as having the #1 most upscale and educated P25-54audience versus ad-supported cable entertainment networks in primetime. Additionally, Bravo’s Top Chef is the #1 most affluent program (audience with the highest median income) on ad-supported cable.”
Here are the Real Housewives franchises that were renewed:
- Real Housewives of Atlanta
- Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
- Real Housewives of Dallas
- Real Housewives of New Jersey
- Real Housewives of Orange County
The press release notes that New York City and Potomac just debuted new seasons, so that they weren’t renewed right now isn’t surprising. Overall, that’s every single current Housewives show returning with a new season this year.
Bravo also renewed:
- Don’t Be Tardy
- Flipping Out
- Shahs of Sunset
- Married to Medicine
- Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles
- Million Dollar Listing New York
- Southern Charm Savannah
- Vanderpump Rules
Top Chef was previously renewed and is filming in Kentucky. It was mentioned in Bravo’s announcement along with Southern Charm, which just debuted a new season, and Below Deck Mediterranean, which debuts a new season in May.
Not mentioned at all: Bethenny and Fredrik and Relative Success with Tabatha, which recently ended their first seasons, or Your Husband Is Cheating On Us, which just debuted its first season.
New Bravo reality shows
Bravo greenlit 10 new unscripted series, including one starring original Queer Eye cast members Carson Kressly and Thom Filicia, who redesign people’s homes—while Thom teaches Carson about interior design.
Two series focus on Mexico: one is set in Mexico City, and the other is a Real Housewives-style series featuring people of Mexican descent living in San Antonio, Texas.
Several of them move Bravo closer to HGTV territory, with a backyard redesign show and another where couples have new houses purchased for them.
Here are those 10 shows and their descriptions, all of which come from Bravo’s press release:
“Thom and Carson Project” (Working Title)
Produced by Critical Content and Free Range Media with David Metzler, Tom Forman, Jon Beyer, Thom Filicia, Carson Kressley, Jason Hollis and Grace Lee-Toumanidis serving as executive producers.
Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia are here to help fight the uniformity and ubiquity of American home design. In this new series, Thom takes Carson under his wing to teach him interior design by channeling Carson’s impeccable sense for fashion. The formidable duo will create breathtaking and affordable home re-designs for their lucky clients using expert skills mixed with their signature endearing charm fans fell in love with during “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.”
“Mexican Dynasties” (Working Title)
Produced by Shed Media and Campanario Entertainment with Pam Healey and Lisa Shannon serving as executive producers from Shed Media and Jaime Davila serving as executive producer from Campanario Entertainment.
Mexico City is the modern cultural mecca of Latin America, and is home to some of the planet’s richest elite. This series will put a spotlight on the notoriously private, high society world in Mexico City by focusing on three family dynasties that made their fortunes in the entertainment, beverage, and luxury car company industries. This docuseries will explore these successful multigenerational families through both comedy and heart in ways that only close-knit relatives can, particularly those that have known one another for decades. They will challenge stereotypes and showcase the revealing, luxurious and over the top lifestyles in this cosmopolitan destination.
“Untitled San Antonio Project” (Working Title)
Produced by Adjacent Productions and PSG Motion Pictures with Bill Fritz serving as executive producer for Adjacent Productions and Anna Rodzinkski serving as executive producer for PSG Motion Pictures.
This docuseries follows a tight knit group of women and their families living in San Antonio, Texas, who are affluent, sophisticated U.S. citizens or recently naturalized citizens of Mexican decent. In their upscale and beautiful gated communities, these women will face a new set of challenges in adapting to US culture while working to keep their roots alive and well.
“Married to Medicine: Los Angeles”
Produced by Freemantle North America and developed by Purveyors of Pop with Matt Anderson and Nate Green serving as executive producers.
This new series expands the fan-favorite “Married to Medicine” to the West Coast. In the city of glitz and glam, these doctors save lives by day and walk red carpets at night. The docuseries features a group of friends living, working and playing in this exclusive medical community, and with Hollywood at their fingertips, these ladies never truly know who’s real and what’s fake.
“Welcome to Waverly”
Produced by Our House Media with Matt Hanna, Simon Lloyd, Joe Houlihan, Jen Morton and Paul Storck serving as executive producers.
In a real litmus test for our divided country, a diverse group of people from America’s biggest cities have agreed to pick up and move to the heartland of Waverly, Kansas, where they’ll live and work alongside some very traditional locals. During this clash of American cultures, will preconceived notions be turned upside down? Are we too divided or are we all more like-minded than we think? The town’s response to these fish-out-of-water city slickers is often hilarious and quite surprising.
“Unanchored” (Working Title)
Produced by Evolution Media with Douglas Ross, Alex Baskin & Bill Langworthy
Catch a rare glimpse into the secret second life of young, elite professionals in “Unanchored,” a brand-new docuseries that follows a group of best friends as they embark on their next travel adventure – an exclusive floating festival in the Bahamas where they’ll join 30 yachts. The group leaves behind their high-level careers to travel the breathtaking Bahamas and embrace a subculture of elaborate costumes, eccentric rules, and hallowed traditions. “Unanchored” is a story about finding your tribe—and all the laughter, heartbreak, and adventure that comes with it.
“Backyard Envy” (Working Title)
Produced by World of Wonder and Renowned Films with Fenton Baily, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Todd Radnitz and Brian Robel serving as executive producers for World of Wonder and Max Welch, Tim Withers and Duane Jones serving as executive producers for Renowned Films.
Manscapersis New York City’s most exclusive exterior design and landscaping firm, specializing in full outdoor renovation design for the area’s most demanding clients. From rooftops in Manhattan to backyards in the burbs, this series follows James DeSantis, Garrett Magee, and Melissa Brasier as they transform barren outdoor spaces into lush, jaw-dropping oases. These “Two Wills and a Grace” are put to the test as they juggle tight deadlines, multiple clients and each other.
“Buying it Blind”
Produced by Kinetic Content with Chris Coelen, Katie Griffin, Eric Detwiler, Robert Zimmerman and Jennifer Faison Herron serving as executive producers.
This series will follow different couples that can’t decide, or can’t agree, on what kind of home to buy. At a breaking point, they decide to take a radical step and blindly hand the decision – and their entire budget – over to a team of three industry experts who will be charged with making the choice for these couples. The expert team will choose the property for the buyer, who will not get to view the property prior to purchase, and then be challenged to take the house through a stunning renovation. Will the experts create the buyer’s dream home? Or will the client end up with buyer’s remorse?
“Flipping Exes”
Produced by Rock Shrimp Productions with Bobby Flay, Kim Martin, Danielle Medina and Rene Rainey serving as executive producers.
After their break up, real life ex-girlfriend/ex-boyfriend Nina Klemm and Michael LeSure launched a house flipping business in Carmel, Indiana (nicknamed “the Beverly Hills of the Midwest”) called “Flipping Exes.” The show will follow their flipping business, Nina’s work as a local realtor of high-end properties, and of course, the unique relationship between Michael, Nina and their staff in a show that seamlessly mixes real estate and comedy.
“Sweet Home”
Produced by Evolution Media with Douglas Ross, Alex Baskin, Brian McCarthy and Jen Morton serving as executive producers.
“Sweet Home” follows Jennifer Welch and her design business as she and her team, Alex, Sarah and Sabah, take on residential and commercial clients all over Oklahoma City. In each hour-long episode, viewers will see a project come together as Jennifer delivers sophisticated designs with the vision, passion, and sharp wit that she is known for, all while living/dealing with her ex-husband Josh as they raise their growing boys. As always, hijinks are in style as gal-pal Angie “Pumps” Sullivan is back for more hilarious fun.