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Because the chair of NBCUniversal’s Leisure Networks, Bravo’s prime government Frances Berwick oversees among the most recognizable unscripted content material in popular culture—together with The Actual Housewives, a franchise that has redefined actuality tv. However the empire wasn’t constructed on a grasp plan. On this unique interview with Quick Firm, Berwick breaks down how a one-off present about Orange County socialites unexpectedly snowballed into a worldwide phenomenon, what it actually takes to solid a compelling ensemble, and why even essentially the most dramatic storylines have limits.

Regardless of its world recognition right this moment, The Actual Housewives wasn’t launched with franchising in thoughts. “It occurred by chance,” Berwick admits. The franchise started with The Actual Housewives of Orange County, however the enlargement got here unexpectedly throughout growth of one other present. “We have been creating a present known as Manhattan Mothers… throughout manufacturing we noticed how profitable Orange County was.”

The crew wrestled with rebranding the New York sequence underneath the Housewives umbrella. “We had a complete inner debate about whether or not it was going to tarnish Orange County if we named Manhattan Mothers Actual Housewives of New York as a substitute,” she remembers. Even solid members wanted convincing. “We then needed to persuade among the solid that it was okay to be known as Actual Housewives as a result of they weren’t all married.”

Quickly after got here Bravo’s The Actual Housewives of Atlanta, and the remainder is tv historical past. “It began with natural teams of associates,” says Berwick. “It turned franchised in a small time frame as a result of we have been doing all this casting round feminine ensembles.”

Why You’ll By no means See Filming Throughout a Season’s Airing

Considered one of Bravo’s extra strategic manufacturing selections is understanding when to not movie.

“We now know we are able to’t tape an ongoing present whereas the present cycle is on the air,” Berwick explains. “We’ve got tried that and it will get complicated as a result of the solid members begin reacting to issues that they see [online] and it turns into very meta. Typically that may be a really tedious storyline.”

In different phrases, when the drama begins reacting to itself in actual time, it loses its edge.

Protecting the Franchise Contemporary

After years on air, many actuality exhibits lose steam—however Berwick says Bravo has discovered learn how to keep away from franchise fatigue. “There are classes that we’ve discovered from the previous the place [we did] an excessive amount of. Two or three years in the past, we had 5 totally different Beneath Deck casts. We’ve scaled that again to a few at anybody time. That’s the best quantity.”

The trick with Housewives, although, lies within the casting. “That’s the fantastic thing about a present like Actual Housewives—we are able to preserve refreshing the solid. In some instances we’ll exchange the entire solid, however that’s riskier.”

Bravo has additionally developed in the way it tells tales. “You’ll discover sooner or later we began doing way more flashbacks and flash-forwards,” Berwick notes.

What Makes a Nice Housewife?

Not simply anybody can maintain a diamond or a peach. “They need to be genuine and susceptible and actually be ready to share their complete lives with individuals,” Berwick says. “In the event that they don’t really feel that authenticity… the followers might be fairly vocal about it.”

Early footage is usually scrapped to weed out digicam chasers. “Normally once we begin taping a present, we throw away the primary few days anyway, as a result of you may then weed out anybody who’s enjoying for the digicam.”

There’s additionally the “season 2 glow-up” impact, as Andy Cohen not too long ago famous. “They’ll get Botox after seeing themselves on display,” Berwick laughs.

Controversy, Crime, and the Line You Don’t Cross

From tax fraud to telemarketing scams, Bravo solid members have confronted their share of post-show authorized drama. “It actually defies all logic that in case you are engaged in felony exercise, you’ll wish to go on tv,” Berwick says. “That’s actually the furthest factor that we wish. It’s at all times a shock and a disappointment.”

However not all controversy is a deal-breaker. “There’s a number of grey space,” she explains. “If we’ve acquired a complete solid who gained’t movie with any person… then you may’t carry them again. I’ll say individuals redeem themselves.”

“We put individuals on tv who’re flawed, as all of us are. However these flaws aren’t felony. We wish to give individuals a little bit of grace.”