The RHONY reboot answered Bravo's prayers
And also all of mine.
Like everyone, I was skeptical of the Real Housewives of New York City reboot cast.
From 2008-2019, the original cast was potentially some of the best in Bravo history, as previously discussed on this platform. From endless scandals (Bethenny and Jason, It’s about Tom, Cabaret, John Mahdessian, Scary Island, Bluestone Manor, etc. etc. etc.) to endless entertainment, to the loss of dignity for many women on public television, and so many timeless moments, I felt as though there were massive, nearly impossible, shoes to fill.
But boy, was I wrong.
I tend to bark up the Andy Cohen tree a little bit too loyally. There are many fatal flaws in the Bravo-verse that I often ignore, such as the casting of Housewife-wanna-be-mega-fanatic (*cough* Danielle in Jersey, *cough* Monica in new Salt Lake City), racism, promoting adultery—you get the point—, and this year, I grew slightly more judgmental of what they were doing over there at 30 Rock, especially after the Scandoval reunion where I felt things were taken just a smidge past harassment, and where the saying “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” really rang true.
However, this new cast of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed New Yorkers has really lit a fire inside of me that leaves me waiting by my television every Monday religiously to watch, along with many people in my life who had never known Dorinda, Luann, Sonja, Ramona, Carol Radziwill, Jill Zarin, or even Bethenny.
At the center of the success of this reboot, for me, is former Executive Creative Director and President of J.Crew for the peak of both the Obama Fashion Years™ and Olivia Hawkins Preppy Phase™, Jenna Lyons. Jenna has brought a real chic-ness that the franchise has been missing for many, many years, and reminded us that there are legendary people who still live and breathe in New York City, who are willing to bleed it out on T.V. for us (unless it’s about her ominous girlfriends or her birth name, Judith, but honestly, keeping both of those under wraps is even more chic). She wears in-season Miu Miu, she tells the other girls that they can’t mix logos, she’s richer than rich, and brings a sort of je ne sai quoi that not many housewives have brought.
Another piece of success from the RHONY reboot is that none of these women are…dare I say…tragic. I struggled to watch the most recent seasons of the original cast because I didn’t enjoy watching Luann struggle with her kids and her alcoholism, Sonja with her money problems and loneliness, or Ramona with her ignorance. No one had put out any successful ventures, no one had adapted to the modern times, and no one had a house I was jealous of.
Now, when I watch RHONY, I’m entranced by Erin’s Hampton’s home, I want Jenna’s closet, I’m intrigued to hear about Ubah’s business ventures and work ethic, and I’m endlessly entertained by Brynn’s knowing of her own worth and hijinks with men around town, even when they’re married to other women on the cast (because it’s playful and not harmful). They represent the women of New York today, and that’s something we’ve truly all been missing.
I would take the success of this new season even a step further and would say that other franchises with storied casts like O.C., Beverly Hills, and especially Jersey should be scared. Why would they force us to sit through yet another season of Giudice vs. Gorga, which has now been years of my life, when we can get a fresh set of women who are just as tan, have hair just as large, but provide us with a new beginning that’s even more enticing than what we’ve been forced to watch. Rachel Fuda in New Jersey is a small glimpse into what life could be like with a fresh cast, and that’s a life I’d like to be living.
I’m not sure why I doubted a new cast when the last time we were blessed with one in Salt Lake City, it was the debut of perhaps one of the best new cities in Housewife Herstory, and led to an endless drama mill of family feuds, fashion icons, and even a prison sentence. Some franchises take years to achieve only one of those!
As this week we enter the first true cast trip of the season, my excitement is at an all-time high. Starting off with Jenna leaving a day early so that she can be tan when the other women arrive, and simultaneously avoid a seat in economy, along with Jessel berating her husband for wanting a trip to Vietnam before taking off to Anguilla herself was pretty epic, and leaves me with very high expectations. Knowing this crew and the drama that ensued in not only the top-of-the-season weekend in the Hampton’s, but also Erin’s (sponsored) Anniversary Party, and the group wreath decorating activity, we should be entertained for weeks to come.
So far, my ranking of RHONY housewives, along with the reasoning, is as follows:
Jenna Lyons
‘nuff said. I covered that above.
Erin Lichy
After she explained her Trump donations on the Not Skinny Not Fat podcast, I liked her even more. She was eloquent and honest, just as she’s been on the show. Also, she brings the heat, isn’t afraid to say how she feels, her husband is cute and bought her a Cartier rock, and her kids are super cute.
Ubah Hassan
While I feel like we haven’t seen enough of her, I really admire how A) Ubah has built a brand she’s proud of, B) how open she is about the hard work it took to get to where she is and C) how lighthearted she is. I’m also looking forward to seeing the drama that ensues on this trip, and who pissed her off.
Brynn Whitfield
Brynn started off super strong for me, but some of her antics have fallen on deaf ears. I didn’t love her basically heckling at Erin’s party, I feel like she’s making up drama with Jenna, and I don’t understand her reasoning for not marrying that millionaire she went car shopping with. However, she’s a girlboss in her own right, she’s hilarious, and she’s best friends with Pandora Todd, and I always trust the Vanderpump Family when it comes to character.
Sai de Silva
My biggest qualm with Sai is that I feel like she believes she invented being an influencer. I also think she gives people way too hard of a time about their hosting skills. If someone served me caviar and chips for a 4 p.m. pre-dinner treat, I would be pretty psyched. But she does have her hand planted firmly on the pot stirrer, and for that, I am grateful.
Jessel Taank
Plain and simple, Jessel hates her husband. It’s not in a funny or endearing way like Mary Crosby or Dolores Catania, but it’s a little awkward and makes me feel bad for him (even though I’m definitely on her side of the preschool in NYC debacle). I also think she’s starting drama just to be on T.V., but her calling Tribeca “up-and-coming”, whether she really thinks that or not, was pretty amazing.
Something else to look forward to this season is the reunion, which has yet to be taped, but I’m feeling confident that there will be looks, receipts, and strong opinions brought to the table. So long as they don’t tape it on the C*tch rooftop, of course.