The Real Housewives franchise is still a juggernaut going on 15 years strong. And while the New York edition of the show is considered a fan favorite, it doesn't include nearly half the scandal and drama that some of the other, newer franchises, like Potomac, Atlanta or recently Dallas have served up.
Started in 2006 with The Real Housewives of Orange County, the hook was simple: showcase the lives of the rich and fabulous with a side of light drama. But it was the New York edition that according to OG NYC castmate Ramona Singer really put the franchise "on the map".
The difference? While some early 2000 shows tended to really milk even the smallest of slights, like say, not showing up to an event, petty gossip, or the occasional wine splash - New York often blew through these story beats at a rapid pace, leaving nothing on the cutting room floor. So what keeps them so fresh?
When it comes to characters in these shows, New York is leaps and bounds above the rest. After 11 seasons, OG housewife Luann DeLesseps still knows how to keep the conflict coming while staying squeaky clean - the secret recipe to becoming an immutable stalwart of any housewives cast. From pushing her knowingly doomed wedding to the forefront of a season, to turning her fall from sobriety into a lavish cabaret, now the centerpiece for her modern storylines - Luann's greatest stunt is merely creating stages for the drama to unfold so she can simply sit back and sip a Shirley Temple (we think).
To contrast the smooth criminal archetype, it's always good to have the perfect 'chaotic evil' character in your wheelhouse, and no one does it better than Ramona Singer. What Ramona does best is also hard to come by. Always the apologizer, Ramona is able to weave not-so seamlessly into the drama, drop bombs and somehow manage to apologize her way out of it. Her overexpressed ignorance always and forever being the white flag that consistently gets her out of trouble. Without a Betthanny at hand to call her out, this season is looking full Ramonster-mode.
With darkness you'll always need the light: enter Sonja Morgan. Since season 3 Sonja has been a breath of fresh air and a true turning point for all the franchises. The end of the Aughts in reality television was signified by saying goodbye to throwing wine in faces and hello to true oddballs whose antics absolutely must be documented. From throwing a public street funeral for her dog, to only falling off chairs, to staying out of the drama while still lobbing potent quotables into the mix, Sonja is an absolute fan-favorite.
It's the confidence and ease of an OG that weathers them for even the wildest of storylines, whereas a newbie cast member might meltdown over the smallest of indiscretions. Accusations of infidelity, potshots at your business or even health rumors, it's the ability to bounce back quickly that locks in a cast member for life and fuels the narratives. It's additions like Dorinda Medley and Tinsley Mortimer that give as good as they get. Though the latter took her time to get up to speed, the two have been worthy additions to the franchise staple.
Much like Margeret of New Jersey, Dorinda slid directly into fans hearts with her rousing drunken antics, epic quotes (clip! Make it nice!) and enthusiasm to give it all up to the camera. Though this season looks to be her darkest, it's also a rite of passage for any reality TV martyr. What's interesting is the newest addition to the show, Leah McSweeney, and just how she's going to fit into roster. Founder of the fashion label 'Married to the Mob' , McSweeney is one to be reckoned with. Having lost two of her front teeth in an altercation with the NYPD, she comes recommended from original bad-ass Bethanny Frankel, so one can expect that for this latest season, they may have got the recipe right.
