Which ‘Real Housewives’ Installment is the Oldest?
Bravo hit it big with its The Real Housewives franchise. It is the network’s most successful franchise, and the popularity of the shows doesn’t appear to be faltering. Fans remain just as invested in the lives of their favorite cast members today as they were when they first appeared on screen. Still, not all The Real Housewives series are created equally. Do you know which installment started it all?
Which installment of ‘The Real Housewives’ started it all?
There have been eleven different The Real Housewives series so far, and fans think more will eventually be coming. But do you know which one is the oldest? The show’s history began in 2006 with The Real Housewives of Orange County. The series premiered in March 2006 and featured Kimberly Bryant, Jo De La Rosa, Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough, and Lauri Peterson.
Now heading into its 18th season, none of the original housewives remain as original cast members. Bryant gave up her part in the show after season 1. De La Rosa only appeared as a main cast member through season 2, and Peterson left after season 4. Keough left after season 5 but has cycled in and out as a friend and a guest ever since. Gunvalson was the longest-lasting original cast member. She appeared on the series from season 1 until season 13. She is expected to appear as a guest in the upcoming season.
The popularity of The Real Housewives of Orange County eventually led to the development of more installments. Following its success, Bravo developed The Real Housewives of New York City. The series premiered in 2007. Two new installments, The Real Housewives of New Jersey and The Real Housewives of Atlanta, premiered in 2008. The following year, the network premiered The Real Housewives of D.C., but the installment never gained traction. It was canceled after one season. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was the next installment to air on Bravo. It premiered in 2010. Since then, several more installments have been developed with varying degrees of success.
Are there new installments in the works?
The Real Housewives of Dubai, set to premiere its second season on June 2, is the youngest installment in the franchise. Season 1 premiered in June 2022. The finale aired in September 2022. Season 2 adds one new cast member, Taleen Marie, and the loss of one member of the season 1 cast. Nina Ali stepped away from the series after appearing in the inaugural season.
While fans would love to see more installments of the beloved Real Housewives franchise, it does not appear that any new cities are being developed now. At one time, fans believed Bravo might be working on installments for Las Vegas, Scottsdale, and New Orleans. According to People, Andy Cohen put the rumors to rest when he insisted that the Bravo team was “good” at the moment.
