How Bravo Struck Gold With ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’

Logo text Bravo has introduced its first new U.S.-based Housewives installment since The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City in 2020, and everyone from locals to viewers from afar has thoughts about The Real Housewives of Rhode Island. “When we’re making these shows, so many women have watched them before, [the castmembers] feel like they’re auditioning for a character role on a scripted show called The Real Housewives,” says executive producer Lucilla D’Agostino. Adds Pamela Gimenez, vp unscripted, lifestyle and docs for Bravo and Peacock, “Basically, we found magic. We’re always talking about different cities. What else is new? What does the subculture look like?” It was actually what felt a bit old — or, rather, nostalgic — to Gimenez during a trip to the Ocean State that led to the greenlighting of the latest series. “People are jumping on boats, and they’re havingdinner. Everybody knows each other and who’s working where. This bakery and that bakery. ‘I went to high school with that one.’ It was so fascinating,” she explains. “It took me back to the early days of what made Housewives.” RHORI follows seven women — Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Ashley Iaconetti, Liz McGraw, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson and Jo-Ellen Tiberi — from the small New England state, with Real Housewives of New Jersey castmember and Traitors season three winner Dolores Catania in the role of the “friend.” The cast and producers are quick to point out that the members of the group are a bit more “unconventional” than franchise fans might be used to. “You have Liz, who’s a stepmom. You have Kelsey, who is dating and had been in a relationship for 10 years. You have Rosie, who doesn’t know if she wants to have children,” explains Gimenez. Adds Swanson, whose story arc revolves around ending the aforementioned relationship with her partner, who lives away from her for half the year and funds much of her luxury lifestyle, “People get caught up on the term ‘Housewife.’ How about [we call it], ‘Just a group of women who are entertaining,’ and let it be that.” Marital statuses aside, what the castmembers are is authentic, and viewers are responding with record interest. RHORI’s season two renewal was announced at NBCUniversal’s 2026 upfronts presentation in May, where the cable network noted that the show was on pace to be its second-biggest series across platforms, just behind The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which first aired in 2010. It also raked in 2.7 million viewers in the first seven days since its April 7 premiere, making it Bravo’s biggest multiplatform debut this year. Viewers unfamiliar with the culture of the Northeastern state, which has a population just slightly over one million, can find a kindred spirit in The Bachelor franchise alum Iaconetti. “On the show, I’m still considered the outsider,” says the cast member. “[Casting] liked me because I was going to give the perspective of somebody who’s not from Rhode Island.” Naturally, Rhode Islanders have had a wide range of feelings about the show coming to their area. “At the beginning, people were so nasty and rude,” says Swanson, who argues that her neighbors should be happy about the potential for increased tourism to the state. “We always thought Rhode Island was a hidden gem, and it’s time for everybody else to see that.” As a local, however, the 2017 Miss Rhode Island USA isn’t surprised by the reaction, though she adds that some residents have come around with time. “Rhode Islanders are pretty aloof, so I knew that there would be some pushback,” says Swanson. “To be honest, I’m glad that there was. It makes the victory so much sweeter when they doubted you at the beginning.” This story first appeared in a June stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.