'Housewives' Insider: Bravo 'Jumped the Gun' on Rushing Premiere of 'NYC'

By Marc Schneider Posted Feb 4th 2011 02:15PM

EXCLUSIVE: Bravo set off a chorus of speculation on Wednesday when they announced that the premiere of one of their 'Housewives' franchises would be delayed in order to debut another. The cable network shocked fans and members of the cast when they said 'The Real Housewives of New York City' will not be hitting TV screens on Feb. 15, but instead will be pushed to March or April.

While it would seem Bravo wants to give their newest entry, 'RHO Miami,' which debuts Feb. 22, some time to shine, various reports floating around allege that Bravo was "a little worried" about the final product and that they thought the show "needs a lot of work and editing."

But a source with direct knowledge of the situation tells PopEater that it's far less scandalous than that. In previous seasons, there has always been a several-month break between the end of filming and the actual debut on Bravo. Normally, the lag hovers around three months, but sources tell us shooting for season four did not end until late January, making a Feb. 15 start date a bit unrealistic.

"It was very surprising when Bravo jumped the gun back in December and announced a mid-February premiere date," admits our source.

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Now, with it pushed back to the spring (sources tell us it'll start in the first two weeks of April), the production schedule now falls in line with previous years with it premiering about three months after filming finished.

We're told that several members of the cast were "shocked" by the announcement, which reached them in an internal memo by Bravo executive vice president Andy Cohen. It said that they wanted "more time to make the show as GREAT and as big a hit as possible."

A press release emerged a few hours later announcing the premiere of the oft-delayed 'Miami' and the bumping of 'NYC.'

Cohen quickly tried to quiet the storm by releasing his own statement about the moves, saying he thought there was enough TV heat for both shows.

"No conspiracy here folks. We have an embarrassment of riches with Miami and New York and I assure you that the 'Real Housewives of NYC' will be well worth the wait and the 'Real Housewives of Miami' is hot, hot, hot," said Cohen. "Heaven knows we could use a bit of heat on the East Coast about right now."

Several cast members turned down our requests for comment on the moves, but Simon van Kempen, Alex McCord's husband, tells PopEater exclusively that he isn't worried about the quality of the show -- or the loss of one of its biggest stars.

"Having done the show for four seasons I am confident that this latest season is our best yet," he said. "Bethenny Frankel has moved on to her own show, and as other franchises have shown, the loss of one cast member has never affected how great they've been and our season four will be no different. I know that this season will rock!"

A friend of the departed Bethenny had a different take, telling PopEater's Naughty But Nice columnist Rob Shuter, "Without Bethenny the show doesn't work. It needs a lot of work."

Tags: Andy Cohen, bravo, Real Housewives of Miami, real housewives of new york city, real+housewives+of+new+york, realhousewivesofnewyork

Comments

(16)

Friday 04 February

By Digi

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perhaps its delayed cause NO ONE GIVES A FLYING F*CK!

By xqxin

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We're told that several members of the cast were "shocked" by the announcement, which reached them in an internal memo by Bravo executive vice president Andy Cohen. It said that they wanted "more time to make the show as GREAT and as big a hit as possible."I love reading this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via age'lessmate.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends..

By Joan

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No one cares that Bethenny has left the show..I'm glad and will enjoy it without her. Looking forward to Miami and NYC will be worth the wait.

Saturday 05 February

By cathy

I'm with you. I quit watching it because I don't like her. I'll start watching it again since she's not there.

By Vivian

Wrong. Bethenney did make the show. Jill is the one that should have gone. She is a horrible person with the voice of a chain saw.

By Margot

WRONG. Bethenney made the show. her and Ramona. Jill Zarin is the one viewers wish had left. They are probably at their wits end trying to make Jill likable.

By KS.

Wonder if these gals actually DO housework.

Monday 07 February

By yayabeanes

Nah, it's delayed because not a single one of them would stand up for Charlie Sheen as a close friend and neighbor. And that's because they they do have some scruples unlike Adrienne Maloof and her plastic surgeon husband who appears on TV for Charlie Sheen as they do not mind having a close friend and neighbor who brings in drug dealers and prostitutes into their neighborhood near them, their children and their homes.

By Ted Bundy

I think it's really sad that our culture even has tv shows like this. Just a bunch of immature, gold digging, fake bimbos yelling at each other.

Sunday 06 February

By barbie

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No matter the reason for the delay, I won't watch it because Kelly is still a part of the cast! Who wants to watch a crazy, delusional person!

Wednesday 16 February

By debi

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my sentiments exactly...after last year i said to myself if kelly was back i would not watch. now after watching the beverly hills version i gotta say new york kinda sucks. just their cast picture alone looks kinda sad & ugly...

As far as Miami HW series goes, first are they legally in our country? And who wants to watch a bunch of hyped up latino women who bring drama to everything!

By judy warren

since you still have Kelly on the show you lost me as a viwer any way

By Heather

I am also not interested in this season because of Kelly. She is just unwatchable and I would rather turn the channel than have to tune her out.

There are too many "Housewives" shows anyways. It was about time I started weeding some out.

By lisa

KELLY SUCKS XS 10!!!!!!

Tuesday 15 February

By fox

Has Kelly been diagnosed yet? But she has another unsolvable trait, no brains. She is a very challanged person and I can't understand how she raises her children. She seems to be way out there very often, like always. She still thinks Bethenny is out to get her and that is delusional as ever. Bethenny doesn't care what she says and will not say anything about her because she is wackadoodle.

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