Originally posted Monday, October 1, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" arrived almost exactly a decade ago when George W. Bush was still president and the economy was cratering. No. 1 movie: "Beverly Hills Chihuahua." And No. 1 song? T.I.'s "Whatever You Like."
Only one original cast member remains from that first season - NeNe Leakes - and she took a couple of years off.
This season, the Bravo producers decided to drop Sheree Whitfield, who again struggled to generate her own viable story lines, and Kenya Moore, who alienated the network by getting married last year without telling them. (She is now pregnant) And after a disastrous reunion show, original "housewive" Kim Zolciak vowed never to get near this show again after appearing part time last year.
So the network found two newcomers as full-time cast members, one who appeared as a guest last year - Eva Marcille - and a brand new woman Shamari DeVoe, the wife of New Edition/Bell Biv DeVoe singer Ronnie DeVoe and former member of R&B group Blaque.
Three other long-time cast members remain: Cynthia Bailey, Porsha Williams and Kandi Burruss, who now has logged the most seasons of any cast member to date. She arrived season two. Bailey came season three and Porsha season five.
For flavor, the show brings back Marlo Hampton, who has tried to but can never seem to get full-time status.
Tanya Sam, who runs a venture firm TechSquare Labs that helps fund tech entrepreneurs, will also have part-time status.
Here’s what Bravo has shown so far about the new season:
Porsha reveals she’s pregnant but is the man a good guy? Cynthia has a new man in her life while facing an empty nest. NeNe opens a new Swagg Boutique but also faces her husband Gregg’s cancer diagnosis. Kandi starts a new burlesque show and ponders another addition to her family. Eva and her husband plan a wedding, which is naturally stressful as they welcome their baby son. And Shamari wants to make music with her hubby.
The trailer also shows Shamari sparring with Queen Bee NeNe: “I was an A-list when you were an alias,” Shamari said.
Producers hope the changes will give the show a boost after ratings took a nosedive during the second half of season 10. It officially returns November 4 at 8 p.m.
About the Author
