Entertainment
Thomas Kelly looks back on the fights and fabrications that have come to define the Bravo behemoth.
Shortly after landing in the capital city, they headed toYolanda Hadidslocal restaurant of choice, Werck.
You just have to embrace the chaos.
CastingThe Real Housewives
Talk me through the early casting process.
This usually involves contacting or researching women whove piqued their interest.
Can existing Housewives influence that process?
What are the green and red flags producers look out for in a potential Housewife?
Producers want someone [whos] smart, interesting, funny, attractive.
Being an open book is amust.
If a housewife doesnt want to talk about something, the first question from producers will be Why?
TakeElizabeth VargasfromRHOCSeason 15, for example.
We basically couldnt talk about him.
Once the casting department has a list of potential Housewives, what happens next?
Theyll be interviewed face-to-face.
What does that process look like?
That footage is edited and sent back to Bravo, wholl make final hiring decisions.
It can be an arduous process.
Thats why a home shoot, as we call it, is a necessary part of the process.
Firings On The Franchise
Who makes the decision to fire a Housewife?
Look at Tamra Judge and Lisa Rinna.
The modern reality TV fan can sniff out inauthenticity.
What other factors come into play?
An example is Heather Dubrow afterOrange CountySeason 11 wrapped.
So Bravo decided to step away.
The 4-1-1 On Filming
What are the logistics of the filming process?
During this time, we film Tuesday through Saturday.
What are producers generally looking for during filming?
How do they push for it?
Were looking for a compelling story.
Otherwise, the cameras are rolling without any purpose.
Whats the process for filming confessionals?
The confessional interviews are scheduled in increments throughout principal photography, starting around four to six weeks into filming.
The questions usually come from the post-production department, which is editing the show.
Some of the best responses come from off-the-cuff or follow-up questions.
Talk me through the cast trips.
How do they work?
Producers will start by asking the ladies if they have any travel plans during the filming months.
Thats an easy motivation for an all-cast trip.
It gives us a good starting point.
We dont really want them staying in separate rooms scattered around a big hotel.
And as for filming, the cast trips usually last three or four nights.
What challenges can producers face during filming?
One challenge can be adjusting to a sudden story pivot.
Ahead of filming and during production, we have a rough idea of what story well be following.
This can change at any moment, and we have to pivot in real time.
Capturing high-level drama as it happens is tricky.
Not that producers dont love it.
A good example is theBeverly HillsSeason 5 Amsterdam fightI mentioned earlier.
But our job is to keep tracking the story.
I had to keep focused on chasing the story and not interfering.
Do you have any specific examples of that?
Heather Dubrows Season 16 sushi party.
Heather wanted to put the cameras down and told us she was going to leaveRHOC.
Thats not something you want to hear during your first week of production.
It was hard to navigate, because a lot of the uncomfortable conversations that night were playing out off-camera.
Creating A Compelling Storyline
What makes a good storyline?
There are two channels of storytelling withHousewives: the personal journey, and the interpersonal relationships between the cast.
The strongest storylines are compelling, full of surprises, humor, and are just plain fun.
And a bad one?
When Housewives adjust their behavior for the purpose of the show, the audience will pick up on that.
Its great to have drama and darker storylines when necessary.
But we also need glamor and some comic relief.
What is the most shocking storyline youve watched unfold?
Without a doubt, the Brooks and Vicki Gunvulsoncancer-gate story.
The whole cast except Vicki was accusing Brooks of faking cancer.
We were reluctant to follow the story at first, but it wouldnt go away.
The women kept presenting us with new information that implied he wasnt telling the truth.
Eventually, we were like, Holy s***, thisisthe season.
So we started to embrace the scandal.
The more we explored the accusations, the more our heads were spinning.
It was shocking at the time and even more riveting to look back on.
That was the original Bravo scandal.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This article was originally published onJuly 22, 2023