Credit: AB+DM/Bravo
The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast is reportedly getting a makeover ahead of its upcoming 16th season.
Following the news that the season 15 reunion will be just two parts for the first time since season three (season nine was four parts), Bravo and its production team have allegedly decided to do some recasting — and they are considering a full reboot, much like was done to The Real Housewives of New York City ahead of its 14th season.
According to an August 29 report from Love B Scott, production made the decision to shake up the cast of the series amid filming on the RHOA season 15 reunion. And because Bravo has been so pleased with the response that RHONY has gotten since its recasting, they agreed to bring new women to season 16 and are currently casting.
The outlet went on to say that Bravo and its production team are looking for all-new women and not considering potential comebacks from its former stars, including Kim Zolciak, 45, and Porsha Williams, 42, (now Porsha Guobadia). However, when it comes to potential “friend” roles of the season, they are said to be open to the idea of keeping “one or two” cast members from season 15.
Once the reunion concludes airing next month, the series may go on a brief hiatus as casting continues so that the right women are chosen. As the outlet explained, executives are worried about fans’ response to the series and feel that its 15th season was one of its worst — if not the worst — even though they attempted to make the show more interesting by reportedly reediting the final episodes of the season.
While Kenya Moore, 52, has been critical of producers in recent weeks, accusing them of cutting her storyline and removing footage of her salon event and daughter Brooklyn‘s birthday from the season, production sources told Love B Scott that they weren’t showing favoritism. Instead, they eliminated the scenes because they were “dry.”
Although many fans would love to see Kenya and Kandi Burruss, 47, return to RHOA for season 16 since they’ve been with the show for so long, Kandi, who’s the longest-running current Housewife of the franchise, is also the highest paid. Eliminating their salaries would free up a lot of money for a new cast.
According to the report, Kenya and Kandi are reportedly making around $100,000 for each episode — the same amount the RHONY cast is being paid for their full season.
Following the report regarding the recasting of RHOA, Radar Online said the shakeup was the result of a “boring” 15th season, and they noted that in addition to Kenya and Kandi, Marlo Hampton, 47, Sheree Whitfield, 53, Sanya Richards-Ross, 38, and Drew Sidora, 38, could also be axed.
The outlet then revealed that after premiering to 834,000 viewers in May, with 0.28 of the key demo, viewership dropped to 738,000 the following week and to 657,000 weeks later. The most recent episode, the finale, captured 793,000 viewers.
Months ago, a source told Radar Online that the cast was worried about their returns amid low ratings.
“They are worried Bravo will pull a recast on them as they did to the cast of Real Housewives of New York,” an insider said. “None of them feel safe, even Kandi.”
The two-part Real Housewives of Atlanta season 15 reunion begins airing on Sunday, September 3, at 8/7c and concludes on Sunday, September 10, at 8/7c on Bravo.