• Andy Cohen Confesses 'Housewives' Series Almost Canceled Immediately

    Who doesn't love Andy Cohen? He is the mastermind behind the "Real Housewives" franchise on Bravo and he also hosts "Watch What Happens: Live" each night. Aside from his obvious chops for business, he comes across as a really likable guy, and that makes him the perfect one to ask all those tough, interview questions. Cohen started at CBS as a producer and found his way over to Bravo after about 10 years in the business. He recently did an interview for "Entertainment Weekly" that revealed some pretty interesting details. Like the fact that "Watch What Happens: Live" is styled after Dick Cavett's old talk show and how Cohen taps into the old stuff to help guide his development decisions at Bravo now. He also talked about how many shows on the network have started off slow and picked up momentum by the end of their first season. Very rarely has there been an instant hit and, believe it or not, the "Housewives" franchise almost never existed! Cohen explained that there were so many production problems and other issues after filming the first season of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" that it was almost canceled as soon as the season finished airing. Had it been killed, then we would have never met the ladies from New York City, New Jersey, Atlanta, Miami and Beverly Hills. Maybe Teresa Giudice would not have gotten so greedy and she would not be locked up right now ... Check out the clip here with Cohen dishing some behind-the-scenes info.

  • Bravo Holds Focus Groups to Decide Whether or Not to Film 'RHONJ'

    Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" is currently in a real state of flux. With series veteran Teresa Giudice scheduled to report to prison in less than a week, executives are left scrambling to figure out what they should do with the show. Everything is being considered: bringing back former fan favorites, looking for new talent and even putting the show on hiatus for a year and figuring out what to do with it later. These are all up for consideration, and apparently Bravo has now decided that a little fan involvement in making the final decision could not hurt. According to a report by Radar Online, focus groups are the way to go. "Production is currently holding focus groups about moving forward without Teresa. They are trying to determine what the public perception was of the new cast and if any casting changes need to be made in regards to the new additions last season. If Bravo finds out that the public perception of the current cast is positive, they will likely begin filming in February; however, they are also exploring the option of putting on the show on a hiatus until the fall. This would allow them to play around with the cast if need be and film around the normal time frame the show films in, which is typically the fall," says a source for the show.

  • 'RHOBH' Yolanda Foster Hospitalized for Lyme Disease

    Fans of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" have watched as Yolanda Foster has openly battled Lyme disease for the last few years. She was reportedly sick with it for two years before ever being properly diagnosed, which means it had already wrecked havoc with her body, making flare-ups particularly nasty. Unfortunately, Foster spent several days leading up to Christmas back in the hospital. According to a report by Radar Online, the reality star sat for an interview with Andy Cohen on "Watch What Happens: Live" and then checked herself into the hospital. Not one to ever cancel on her obligations, Foster was determined to make her appearance before having to surrender to her illness once again. She was released before Christmas and able to spend the actual holiday surrounded by family, but sources say everyone is still really concerned about the state of Foster's health.

  • Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen Almost Dated Years Ago

    It is always interesting when CNN's Anderson Cooper turns up on "Watch What Happens: Live," the late-night chatfest with Andy Cohen. The men are known to be pretty decent friends and there has been speculation over the years that perhaps they have dated. This time around, Cooper decided to tell the story about why they have never actually gone out on a date. According to Cooper, it almost happened, as a mutual friend did try to set them up. "When we were set up ... we had a phone call to talk before we actually went out on a date. And I don't know how, but both of us sort of decided, based on that one phone call, We're not going to go on a date. I don't remember what it was," said the silver fox.

  • 'RHOA's' Apollo Nidas' Behavior Has Gotten Just Plan Creepy Towards Almost Ex-wife Phaedra Parks

    If you're a fan of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" then you have no doubt been following the demise of Phaedra Parks marriage to Apollo Nida. Perhaps she should have thought twice about marrying an ex-con but Parks believed that her man had truly changed his shady business dealings and when she found out otherwise she pretty immediately began distancing herself from him. The episodes currently airing on Bravo were filmed a few months ago, shortly before Nida surrendered to a Kentucky prison where he will spend the next 8 years. Last night's episode gave us all a front row seat to a different side of Nida, one that felt quite threatening.

  • Caroline Manzo Reportedly Returning to 'RHONJ' Once Teresa Giudice's in Prison

    We recently told you that Bravo was working hard to try and strike a deal with Caroline Manzo to bring her back to "The Real Housewives of New Jersey." She opted out of filming the most recent season, so the producers brought in a trio of new ladies who just did not click with the audience. Midway through, they brought Jacqueline Laurita back in a desperate attempt to get former fans to tune back in, and they realize that for the show to have any chance of pulling decent numbers, they need a favorite like Manzo back in the fold. Teresa Giudice used to be the glue that held "RHONJ" together, and viewers loved the havoc she wrecked in nearly episode. There seems to be a huge difference between lying about her sister-in-law's activities and bilking people out of millions, and once it was confirmed that Giudice is a criminal, her fans became few and far between. Bravo also has to try and clean up the reputation of the show because Giudice is headed to prison, Laurita's tax evasion has been catching headlines and Joe and Melissa Gorga's business dealings are always questionable. Part of what makes Manzo so popular is that she comes across as the hardworking, Italian mother, something that is respected. According to The Hollywood Life, it looks like Manzo is a sure bet to return to the show for Season 7, especially once Giudice is in jail and the rest of the ladies are in one way or another affected by her absence.

  • 'RHOBH's' Scores Highest Ratings for Premiere in Years Thanks To the Addition of Soap Stars' Lisa Rinna and Eileen Davidson

    It looks like Bravo and Andy Cohen got their wish. Season five of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" premiered last week and the numbers look really good. 2 million households tuned in to catch up with the ladies and that is a 25% ratings increase over last season. While series regulars Lisa Vanderpump, Brandi Glanville, Yolanda Foster, Kyle Richards and Kim Richards all returned it was likely the newcomers that helped to give those numbers a boost.

  • Bravo Hoping to Save 'RHONJ' after Teresa Giudice Leaves by Bringing Back Caroline Manzo

    Can Caroline Manzo save "The Real Housewives of New Jersey"? The Italian mom had enough of the crazy chaos and opted not to do season six of the reality show that just finished airing this week. Bravo gave her family their own spin off show, "Manzo'd with Children" that did even better than the network had hoped, solidifying what they already knew, Manzo has a huge fan base. That's something that could come in serious handy if RHONJ has any hope of returning for a seventh season, especially since Teresa Giudice will be reporting to a Connecticut prison camp in less than two months.

  • 'RHONJ's' Teresa Giudice Had a Glam Squad to Make Her Look Great for Court Sentencing Thanks to a Loan From 'Just Desserts'

    While Teresa Giudice stood up in court in early October and apologized for her fraudulent behavior and insisted that she is ready to live a more conservative lifestyle, that certainly wasn't the case in the days leading up to her sentencing. Instead we have learned that "The Real Housewive's of New Jersey" star borrowed $50,000 from Just Desserts, the company that was responsible for marketing the stars' now-defunct gelato bars.

  • Will 'The Real Housewives Of New Jersey' End With The Beginning Of Teresa Giudice's Prison Sentence?

    Fans of The Real housewives of New Jersey have been anxiously waiting for Bravo to air the recent reunion of the cast which occurred the day after Teresa and Joe Giudice were sentenced to federal prison time. Of course information leaked out immediately about emotional and messy the whole sit-down chatfest with Andy Cohen actually was. Bravo has announced that the first part of the reunion will finally air on Nov. 2 and with that comes a preview of the drama. Giudice states the obvious, that this will probably be her last reunion show but it leads some to wonder if it will be the last one for everyone.

  • 'The Real Housewives Of New Jersey's' Teresa Giudice's Jail Term At 'Camp Cupcake' In West Virginia Will Make Regular Visitation With Her Kids Impossible

    If you happened to catch Teresa and Joe Giudice's interview with Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live then you no doubt heard about the couples' plan to survive prison. Teresa is scheduled to begin serving a 15-month sentence on January 5 and at first it was believed that she would be incarcerated in Connecticut. Teresa and Joe discussed how he would drive their four daughters to visit each week so that the family could stay connected throughout the ordeal. Now we;re learning that Teresa is much more likely to be headed to Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia- also known as 'camp cupcake'.

  • 'RHONY' Aviva Drescher Claims Reality TV Ruined Marriage, Plans to Fix it on a Reality Show

    In order to be cast on any of Bravo's "Real Housewives" shows, you have to be ready to bring some drama to the table. They are not looking for boring women to chew scenery — instead, they hire cast members who are outspoken and not afraid to air dirty laundry. Aviva Drescher survived two seasons of "The Real Housewives of New York" before being fired. Apparently, she was too much trouble for producers to handle, and that is saying a lot for a show that thrives on drama. She has said that reailty TV has ruined her marriage, but plans to work things out with her husband on another such show. If you are a Drescher fan, then you will be thrilled to hear that she has signed on to do the upcoming season of "Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars."

  • 'RHOJ's' Teresa Giudice Admits Fear of Leaving Children With Husband Joe During 15-Month Prison Sentence in New Bravo Interview

    Just a few days after insisting in open court that she could care less about fame or "fake" reality television, Teresa Giudice will sit down for an interview with Andy Cohen, which will air on Bravo this evening. In it, she reportedly admits to being shocked that she was actually sentenced to 15 months in prison, and even more stunning is the reality that Teresa will serve her sentence first, before her husband Joe Giudice begins his 41 months behind bars. That means that for more than a year the couple's four daughters will be raised by him alone, and it's a situation that has her worried.

  • 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey's' Teresa Giudice Cancels Fabellini Meet And Greet Amid Backlash From Former Fans

    Since being sentenced to 15 months behind bars for a handful of admitted financial crimes, Teresa Giudice seems to have a handle on the reality that she's no longer a real 'fan favorite'. When word spread that The Real Housewives of New Jersey star had planned on continuing on as if nothing had changed the backlash was pretty loud. Giudice had intended on still hosting a meet and greet on Oct. 8 in Westwood, N.J. Until former fans made it known loud and clear that they believed it proved that Giudice had lied to the judge when she claimed not to care about fame.
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