This Is One of the Worst ‘Real Housewives’ Premieres Ever
When you think of iconic Real Housewives of Atlanta moments, what comes to mind?
Maybe it’s Phaedra Parks and her increasingly confusing pregnancy timeline. Maybe it’s Cynthia Bailey whispering “win a case” at the reunion. Or maybe it’s Nene Leakes treating Kenya Moore’s apartment like a crime scene, destroying the reputation of white refrigerators everywhere.
And yet, the rebooted RHOA relies entirely on “lifestyle porn,” over-the-top editing, and fervor for… Shamea. Formerly a forgettable friend-of, Shamea Morton is now the nucleus of the group, introducing newbies Brit Eady and Kelli Ferrell, while ushering back the long-awaited return of Porsha Williams. Whatever that means!
The Real Housewives of Atlanta has been revitalized, for sure, but in a way that seems ashamed of its past. It’s so busy and distracted that I half-expected Subway Surfers to pop up in the top-right corner—a major shame, given the moments the premiere can breathe are far and away the most enticing.
From the busy opening sequence, it’s clear this production team doesn’t have what it takes to bring in that avant-garde style The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has perfected. It’s actually disastrous to compare these random shots of Porsha preparing for a run with the stunning cold open we got on RHOSLC.
And it’s an even worse jump scare when the first confessionals of the season pop up, revealing RHOA has borrowed from the late Real Housewives of Dubai to deliver full-body confessionals. The only issue is these look superimposed using an iPhone 4S, so glaringly ugly that it looks like the women are floating in space. It’s hard to even find Shamea in those busy shots. That’s followed by a sneak peek of the revitalized intro, which borrows the eclectic way the new Real Housewives of New York hold their signature fruit, looking more like a cast photo than an intro.
The first true scene of the season is a walkthrough of Shamea’s massive house, where her charismaless slay goes on full display. This is what a Real Housewife looks like: boring, barely seems to be nice to the cameras that are there, and kind of just lollygagging around. We’re all going to need to reverse engineer ourselves to accept that Shamea’s so-bad-it’s-good in order to survive this season. She’s the worst confessionalist I’ve ever seen, her “to the lef……..t” moment seared in my brain for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, the single returning housewife from last year is Drew Sidora, who keeps surviving cast shake-ups by mere happenstance. Of course, Kenya’s here too (for now), but given a ghost edit with no confessionals as we await her midseason departure. We’re reintroduced to a Drew awaiting divorce, cohabitating with her evil ex-husband Ralph, who has been banished to the basement.
Drew is embarking on an exciting musical journey, partnering with Porsha’s ex Dennis to make some tunes. It’s kind of a classic Real Housewives storyline, one that’s already proving solid intrigue in the premiere. It probably won’t amount to anything more than a C-tier feud, but that’s the Drew Sidora specialty.
On the newbie front, there’s Kelli, doing a very new-age Housewives performance a la Mia Thornton or Noella Borgener. She’s loud, proud, and here to do the bidding of the hyper online fans. She’s not exactly reinventing the wheel, but she pops on camera much more than the other newbies, and she’s already eager to start drama.
At lunch with Shamea and Brit, Kelli says Porsha “probably should have never taken that girl’s man,” referring of course to the Porsha/Simon/Falynn love story overlap. And, yes, Porsha did have an affair with a creepy, ugly man who she married just a few weeks later, but that’s old news. That was 2021. It just feels too little, too late at this point.
That’s kind of the whole issue with the grand return of Porsha. She’s not leading lady material, and late era RHOA has suffered majorly by consistently pushing her into the spotlight, when she’s always better served as a jester. Her choice to leave the show the second her life got interesting represents Porsha’s inability to be anything but fake and phony on camera. She’s always funny, but she’s not exactly real.
We live in the RHOA upside down now, where Porsha’s the HBIC, Shamea is an Atlanta Kyle Richards, and Cynthia Bailey’s a drama-free friend of everyone. Okay, so at least that’s staying the same. There could be a nuclear blast, and Cynthia would emerge from it unscathed, ready to throw another Baileycue to reunite the group.
At this point, Bravo might as well have given Cynthia her peach back, but she shines just the same on the sidelines. Every little moment of Cynthia is beautifully nostalgic, no matter how mild-mannered she is. I want her to read me a bedtime story.
As for Brit and Angela, we’ll just have to wait and see. Brit has already bumped heads with Kenya—certainly not by any fault of her own—and we all know how that ends. If you don’t, there are rumors Kenya spread revenge porn of Brit at one of the season’s events, and that’s why Kenya was banished by Bravo. We’ll see if that airs.
Angela doesn’t really do anything in the premiere, but she has a nice energy. The wife of NBA star Charles Oakley, Angela’s a solid casting on paper. She’s a bit older than the other newbies, seems to have an interesting marriage, and has a more classic Real Housewife aesthetic to her.
While her lack of thirst means she’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it blip on the premiere’s radar, she could be a solid slow burn, a la RHOC breakout Jenn Pedranti. Hey, at least she showed up on time to Shamea’s big party, unlike Porsha.
It’s almost too on the nose that Porsha’s big return sees her pop in a few hours late and twerk on Shamea’s brand new Rolls Royce, already burning bridges with her longtime bestie. Hopefully, Porsha’s inability to be smart and strategize catches her the ire of her castmates. She’s much better on defense.
Perhaps the most promising thing about this premiere is the halo edit that accompanied Season 10 to 13 that Porsha does seem to have dissipated. The little Kelli vs. Porsha spat at Shamea’s party is pretty funny, as is the super random Dennis/Drew flirtation. It seems everyone’s finally working to make Porsha earn her peach, even if the network itself would gladly let her rely on tired gags like getting her butt stuck in the elevator.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger—a premiere no-no, in my books—that cements the uneven start. It’s not dead on arrival, but after a two-year hiatus and extensive cast overhaul, it’s middling, to say the least.
All that glitters isn’t gold. If Bravo spent more time addressing the true rot at the core of RHOA, rather than sprucing up the graphics, maybe it wouldn’t all seem so helpless. Sure, it’s a decent improvement from last season’s pitiful lows, but it’s not quite the home run the show needs. With Kenya’s imminent departure approaching, it’s all very worrisome. We just have to hold out hope.
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“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” is back after a two-year hiatus—but it’s not exactly better than ever.
Alec Karam
Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks talk ‘RHOA’ Season 16, creating ‘good TV’ again
“Real Housewives of Atlanta” fans will be getting a sweet blend of the past and present this season.
Season 16 of the hit Bravo “Housewives” franchise (premiering Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo, streaming the next day on Peacock) will feature OGs Porsha Williams, Cynthia Bailey and, returning after six seasons, Phaedra Parks, along with returning cast member Drew Sidora and a slew of new ladies getting their peaches for the first time – Shamea Morton Mwangi, Brit Eady, Kelli Ferrell and Angela Oakley.
For Parks, this cast is a return to the fun and occasional “shadiness” fans love.
“We’re trying to basically get back to what made Atlanta the flashiest of the franchise. Just good, old-fashioned, fun sisterhood,” says the attorney, who is returning later this season. “Drama, but also, laughs and crying. I think that’s what became missing in those past two seasons.”
Parks said she decided to return because of Williams. The fan-favorite Frick and Frack duo is reuniting this season after years of ups and downs. “I love her,” says Parks.
“And additionally, once I found out that Cynthia would be returning – we came into the show together as newbies,” Parks says. “I love Cynthia, and our children have grown up together. So that was a definite plus.”
Bailey is back as an official “friend of the Housewives” while focusing on her acting career, though she is still “very involved.” She says: “I ended up shooting a lot more than I even thought I would even be shooting, to be honest.”
Both women are excited for viewers to get to know the new cast. Morton Mwangi, a friend of Williams who has appeared on the show for years, is now getting a chance to be in the spotlight. Bailey says she “lives a fabulous life” and is excited for fans to get to know her more intimately.
Parks calls Eady a “ball of light” and a “beautiful girl inside and out,” while Bailey says she’s a “wild card” and a “fun time.”
Bailey says viewers will enjoy Oakley’s dynamic with her husband, former NBA player Charles Oakley, as well as her humor and filing in the resident pot-stirrer role. And Parks looks to Ferrell, who stands at 5 feet even, as her “little mini-me” and a “firecracker” in her own right.
“She’s an entrepreneur, so I think that she’s going to be a great role model for women, but also she’s definitely very entertaining. She’s a very loud little woman,” Parks says of Ferrell, laughing.
Williams says she wasn’t familiar with the new cast – outside of Morton Mwangi – beforehand and admits some of these relationships were “a little rocky” to start the season. “But they ended up developing right there on TV. Because I can relate to people who are real, and I will have to say that a few of these girls are real,” she says. “Some of them, we’re going through the same situation, and so they’re very relatable.”
As for their own appearances, Parks marks her return later this season, while Bailey pops in to be a “voice of reason and a support system” for the women, including Sidora, who has been part of the cast since 2020.
“Drew Sidora, I actually brought on show when she entered. And she’s going through a divorce (from Ralph Pittman). Obviously we were able to connect on that,” Bailey adds, going through her own divorces in 2017 and 2022. “I had some advice for her, in terms of that.”
Fans have seen Bailey pop in and out since Season 13, but she’s been busy sharpening her acting chops. With credits on “The Cosby Show” and “Star,” she’s diving deeper into film and TV, including the Wendy Raquel Robinson-directed BET+ movie “Who’s Cheating Who?,” as well as “BMF” Season 3 on Starz.
Meanwhile Parks, who has departed “Married to Medicine” and juggled reality hits on “The Traitors” and “Dancing With the Stars,” is focused on work and family.
Her two sons “actually were born on the show, and I never took the day off, and people watched them grow up,” she says. “Now them being young men, it’s a different type of supervision. They are entrepreneurs themselves, and so from watching how I work and my strong work ethic, I’m hoping that they will be more successful than I am.”
Season 16 comes amid the departures of Kandi Burruss, Marlo Hampton and Sanya Richards-Ross. Kenya Moore, who was originally set to appear throughout this season, departed the series following claims that she displayed “revenge porn.” She was previously suspended indefinitely from filming by Bravo after an altercation with Eady.
Though the ladies remain mum about the situation, they’re all in on the “new blood” shaking up the cast.
“A lot of people often talk about Season 6 being the sweet spot for Atlanta. It was something about that specific group of women, which I was a part of, that just worked. It just was good TV,” Bailey says. “I’m excited to come back as a friend this season, to just help get the show back in that space where people really are excited to watch it again.”
She says some people “have dropped off” since then, and new faces were necessary.
The show “ultimately has to be able to keep bringing a couple of new people in every season,” she says. “Otherwise, you end up with a cast where we’re just still having the same conversations and the same arguments.”
“We always have a splash of drama, but it won’t be dark, and so we’re trying to lighten it up and just enjoy each other,” says Parks. “Right now, I think we’re in a moment where people come to television to escape. And so we’ll be offering an escape from everyone’s normal life with a lot of fun, a lot of fabulousness, a lot of fashion (and) a lot of very powerful stories, because everyone’s got a different story.”
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” Season 16 premieres Sunday, March 9, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes will be available to stream the next day on Peacock.
Contributing: Naledi Ushe and Jay Stahl
Phaedra Parks, Cynthia Bailey on new cast: Shamea Morton, Brit Eady, more
‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ evolution: Cast departures, returns and ‘new blood’
When does ‘RHOA’ come back? How to watch ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Season 16
How to watch ‘RHOA’ Season 16 premiere: Cast, episodes, trailer and more
A new era of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” begins tonight.
Season 16 of the long-running Bravo series will begin, for the first time since Season 2, without Kandi Burruss. She announced that she’d be leaving the show after 14 seasons at the 2024 Grammys, just months after it was announced that Bravo was exploring rebooting the series with a primarily new cast.
The seven-person cast will consist of some returning favorites, like Porsha Williams and Phaedra Parks, and some brand-new faces.
Want to tune into the new season live? Keep reading for one of our favorite ways to stream TV live without cable.
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” is on every Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 16 of “RHOA” premieres on Sunday, March 9.
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” airs exclusively on Bravo.
The only way to watch “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” live without cable is by using a live TV streaming service. We recommend DIRECTV Stream, which comes with a five-day free trial and includes Bravo in its base plan. With new genre packs available that let you curate your streaming experience, you can also subscribe to the MyEntertainment pack, which offers Bravo at a lower price.
fuboTV is another great free option that’s also offering great savings on the first month. After a seven-day free trial, you’ll be able to save $25 on your first month, bringing the $84.99/month price down to $54.99.
Although Sling TV doesn’t offer a free trial, you can get 50% off your first month of the live TV service. The Blue plan is the one that includes Bravo, and it’s currently just $22.50 for that first month.
You can also watch new episodes of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” on Peacock, though you’ll have to wait until Monday to stream them.
Seven women will make up the cast of Season 16, and of them, three are brand new to the franchise. Brit Eady, Kelli Ferrell, and Angela Oakley will make their “RHOA” debuts with tonight’s episode. Shamea Morton Mwangi, who has appeared as a guest and “friend of” over the years, has been promoted to a full-time housewife.
Drew Sidora is back as the only housewife actually carrying over from Season 15. The other two returnees are Porsha Williams, who last appeared in Season 13, and Phaedra Parks, who is returning after a nine-year break and a stint on “Married to Medicine.”
Cynthia Bailey will serve as a “friend of” the housewives, while former friend Monyetta Shaw-Carter will be featured as a guest this season.
Following a scandal that left her suspended from the series, Kenya Moore will appear in a guest capacity this season.
For more Page Six reality TV updates …
Bravo has not confirmed an episode count for “RHOA” Season 16 yet; the last three seasons to air had between 18 and 21 episodes per season, so it’s likely Season 16 will have a similar episode count.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for the New York Post, Page Six, and Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with information on how to watch all of your favorite reality TV shows and movies on each streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, celebrities, and pop culture. Prior to joining The Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews
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