Credit: Startraksphoto
Some housewives are “one and done,” and that was apparently almost the fate of one particular housewife.
That was until certain aspects of her personality came to light during the season 5 reunion (her first), in which Andy Cohen says Real Housewives of Atlanta staple, Porsha Williams, surprised him and ultimately changed his opinion, prompting her to be asked back for season 6.
“Going into her first reunion, there was a dialogue about whether she was going to be picked up for a second season,” he explained on the September 16 episode of Watch What Happens Live. “And she was so great at that first reunion—she had just broken up [with] Kordell [Stewart], that marriage had just fizzled, and she started preaching at that reunion and I think all the producers saw a side of her that we didn’t know existed. I left that reunion like, ‘Oh my god, I am so sold on her.’”
He went on, “There have been certain women coming to a reunion, not really realizing that they were on the bubble, and they have either sealed the deal to stay or to go. It has happened kind of in both directions.”
Continuing on in the episode, which featured numerous Bravo podcasters, one host, Danny Pellegrino of the Everything Iconic podcast, asked Andy if there was anyone he wished “would have stuck around longer.”
“I always kind of long for a Caroline Manzo,” Andy responded, after thinking over the question. “Obviously, you wish that Bethenny [Frankel] had stuck around.”
Caroline left The Real Housewives of New Jersey after five seasons with the franchise and went on to star in the family-centered spin-off, Manzo’d With Children.
Bethenny, who joined The Real Housewives of New York City for season 1, quit after season 3 to go on with her own spin-off Bethenny Ever After, detailing her marriage to Jason Hoppy (which ended in divorce). She also starred in her own talk show, but ultimately returned to the franchise from season 7 through season 11 until announcing her departure last year ahead of season 12.
Later, while delving into more conversation on the after show, Andy noted one other housewife he hoped would have continued on with Bravo.
“Obviously, I wish Lisa Vanderpump had stayed,” he stated, regretting the 60-year-old’s exit from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills after nine seasons.