Andy Cohen appears open to the idea of rebooting “Real Housewives of New Jersey” but wants to give producers “time” to figure out the best course of action first.
“Right now, we’re just kind of focusing on, ‘OK, well, if we’re not doing a conventional reunion, what are we doing and what is something different that we could do?” the Bravo head honcho, 56, explained on Sirius XM’s “Reality Checked” with Kiki Monique Tuesday.
Cohen then cited how “Real Housewives of Atlanta” was a “really good example” of how to properly revamp a franchise whose storylines have begun to grow stale.
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“We came out of that last season [of ‘RHOA’] and we knew, ‘OK, we want to do extensive casting and we want to just give this some time,'” the “Most Talkative” author said. “And I will say, we gave it time.”
In August 2023, sources confirmed to Pvnew that Bravo had begun holding casting calls with local women in Atlanta in part due to viewers’ dissatisfaction with Season 15 of the reality show.
A source also told “Entertainment Tonight” at the time, “They hinted at a reboot like ‘New York’ got, but it also could be moving forward with only a couple of the current stars.
“The cast is on edge about their future and has no idea where the network plans to go. Although their ratings are still strong, the network is listening to fans and their desire for a change.”
Following all the discourse, major changes in the “RHOA” lineup took place, including Kandi Burruss leaving the series after 14 seasons, Porsha Williams being invited back after exiting the show in 2021 and Cynthia Bailey accepting a “friend of” role after previously starring as a “Housewife” from 2010 to 2021.
Cohen added of all the changes on “Reality Checked,” “I’m so happy with what’s going on down in Atlanta right now” — before circling back to “RHONJ.”
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“Things take time and we want to take a minute to figure things out,” the “Watch What Happens Live” host concluded. “There’s no point in rushing into something just to rush into something.”
Pvnew confirmed Saturday the “RHONJ” Season 14 cast — which includes Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Margaret Josephs, Dolores Catania, Jennifer Aydin, Rachel Fuda, Danielle Cabral and “friends of” Jenn Fessler and Jackie Goldschneider — had been informed “a traditional reunion wasn’t happening.”
“once viewers see the finale, the decision to forgo the traditional reunion will make even more sense,” an insider added at the time.
A source also pointed out that the “divisive state of the show” contributed to the decision.
Giudice, 52, and Gorga, 45, her sister-in-law have been at odds for years and decided to avoid speaking to each other while filming the latest “RHONJ” season.
The Envy store owner even used their family feud as inspiration for her Season 14 tagline, which states, “It’s hard not to burn bridges … when you’re on fire.”
