Could RHOA Suffer the Same Fate as RHONY?

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to diminish someone, you can choose not to engage with them, hoping it will reduce their screen time. Symbolically, this represents the series’ struggles – the original Housewives are hindering the growth of the newcomers.

Kandi Burruss on season two, Phaedra Parks on season three (accompanied by Cynthia Bailey), and Kenya Moore and Porsha Williams on season five. All these women have left their mark on the franchise in various ways, with a wealth of humorous reactions preserved for longtime fans of the “Housewives”. These moments have become a digital language on their own, from NeNe expressing shock at Kenya Moore’s white refrigerator to Kandi passionately shouting “the lies! the lies! the lies!” on the “Housewives” reunion couch in season nine.

As we’ve reached our 16th season, the women from the “golden” period of Atlanta have largely moved on, but discussions about their influence and impact continue unabated, even as the show tries to introduce new reality stars to replace them. NeNe has not appeared on any NBCUniversal screen since the controversial laptop incident during the season-12 reunion; Phaedra has been informally banned from the franchise following her disagreement with Kandi in the season-nine reunion, when she accused them of drugging women and taking advantage of them; Kandi chose to leave the franchise and focus on producing Broadway shows. Only Kenya and Porsha from the original Atlanta cast have appeared this season, but they’ve both faced unexpected challenges. Kenya was suspended after showing explicit photos of a new Housewife during her salon opening, while Porsha’s legal battles with her estranged husband have limited her filming to her mother’s house and prevented her from discussing her divorce at length.

Instead of them, a fresh group of prospective Housewives emerged: Brit, a former video vixen who transitioned into a multi-talented businesswoman; Shamea Morton, an amusing friend of the series now turned full-time Housewife, whose promotion has been overdue for quite some time; Angela Oakley, wife of the infamous NBA player Charles Oakley, who demonstrated her sharp wit in response to rumors about her husband’s alleged infidelity; and Kelli Ferrell, a petite restaurateur known for her dramatic flair, which has led to three explosive incidents so far. These women are all fascinating characters in their own right, but the arrival of these new additions hasn’t stopped fans from expressing nostalgia about Kenya, NeNe, and Phaedra.

As a devoted fan, I can’t emphasize enough the significance of fan attention in shaping a Housewife’s future success. The ability to cultivate and maintain an engaged audience is instrumental to the longevity of any Housewife’s journey within the franchise.

The essence of Housewives lies in its audience interaction. When captivating events unfold, it’s the passionate discussions on podcasts, social media platforms like X and Reddit that become integral to the show’s narrative flow. These interactions are carefully curated, mirroring the intensity as if these moments were happening live and in real time.

Legendary figures within the Real Housewives franchise have always been cherished by their loyal fan base, a fact not lost on producer Andy Cohen. His show, Watch What Happens Live, frequently features a segment known as “Bring Back That Wife,” where guests advocate for the return of departed cast members, adding an exciting twist to the series.

While nostalgia might make us see the past in a rosy light; Atlanta’s golden age was not without its imperfections. Linnethia Leakes’ captivating personality couldn‘t mask the fact that she became increasingly difficult to work with towards the end of her reality TV stint, making the experience challenging for fellow cast members and viewers alike. Phaedra’s season-nine fabrication about Kandi and her husband led to one of the darkest moments in Atlanta franchise history, a situation she continues to deny any responsibility for.

Kenya Moore keeps stirring up controversy by promoting the #JusticeForKenya hashtag on Instagram and answering fan questions regarding her dismissal on her YouTube channel with a rebuttal video that has garnered nearly 500,000 views. However, Kenya and her supporters’ assertions of a “double standard” in relation to her suspension ignore her tendency to bully newcomers to reality TV, as Tanya Sam, Kim Fields, and Porsha can all attest.

Fans who are reminiscing about their favorite shows often find it difficult to engage with the ongoing storylines, as seen with the declining viewership of “Atlanta” and the record-low ratings for the April 27 episode. The pause in the reboot of “Real Housewives of New York” serves as a warning of how fan nostalgia can lead to its own fulfillment: by November 2024, Andy Cohen had urged fans to embrace the vision of the revamped “Real Housewives of New York,” asserting that there were compelling personal stories among the new cast members. However, fan criticism and concern over sliding ratings persisted, even prompting John Hamm to call for the return of the original New York housewives in February. Despite half of the original roster—including Bethenny Frankel, Jill Zarin, and Sonja Morgan—now living permanently in Florida, the show remains on an indefinite hiatus, struggling to reconcile its older cast or create a new one that satisfies fan dissatisfaction.

Essentially, Atlanta, similar to Marvel, could face the danger of being overshadowed by its own groundbreaking intellectual properties. If we don’t make significant adjustments swiftly, there’s a strong possibility that just as Robert Downey Jr. continues to play multiple roles in the expansive Marvel universe, Atlanta may find itself featuring recurring characters who have defined its culture.

In an alternate scenario, Kenya, Porsha, and Phaedra might not be as prominently featured this season, instead making brief appearances to facilitate a smooth transition into a new phase. This would pave the way for Angela, Shamea, and Drew Sidora’s captivating tales of marriage, rebuilding, and self-exploration to take center stage in Atlanta’s upcoming era. These women possess a knack for comedy, drama, and an innate flair for exaggeration – traits that have been the key ingredients behind any enduring Housewife character.

Episode nine’s highlight showcases the talents of the fresh faces: In a group scene, Angela and Brit get into a heated argument triggered by ongoing misunderstandings. “Can’t you even tell what I’m saying?” Brit sarcastically points to her mouth. Angela doesn’t mince words in her response. “That big mouth of yours, I should be able to read it,” she snaps back. “You talk too much. Brit, you’re a tramp!” Thus, a new meme is born from the show’s unique blend of vulgarity and impeccable timing that makes Atlanta so captivating.

We’ve reached the midpoint of the season, and Atlanta’s latest Housewives are set to enter with their unique styles, lots of intrigue, and individual narratives. Instead of dwelling on hypothetical situations, let’s focus on moving towards the future of Atlanta together.

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2025-05-12 06:46