Bethenny Frankel gets spinoff show on Bravo; could any Atlanta ‘Real Housewives’ earn one?
AP
The New York Times wrote a great piece about how Bravo nurtures its own stars. And the first of the “Real Housewives” gets her own spinoff tonight: Bethenny Frankel.
Viewers’ opinions, carefully observed and culled on the Web and pinpointed through more traditional market research, tend to dictate which Bravo stars graduate from ensemble reality shows to their own programs. The thinking is that they’ve already been vetted by the Bravo audience and the research team, and that they’ve already built brand awareness — so Bravo is, in marketing terms, just extending its product line.
Bethenny comes off as real and relatable and always willing to throw it down when need be.
Loading ...This makes me wonder: who among the “Real Housewives of Atlanta”deserves her own spin-off show? I ponder the possibilities of the five second-season housewives. (It’s too early to say what will become of the two newbies, Phaedra Parks and Cynthia Bailey.)
NeNe Leakes
She is the most obvious one to get her own spin-off show. There, in fact, have been rumors that she could get one.
Positives: She possesses a dynamic, brassy personality. She lights up the screen. She could sustain a show. She has an interesting back story which she turned into a memoir – abusive boyfriend, questionable father issues, et. al. She likes to provoke drama while saying she likes to stay out of drama. She’s also had rumored marital issues.
Negatives: She was everybody’s favorite season one but appears to have let the fame go to her head. She became much less likable season two, creating drama where there was none for instance when Kandi came into the picture. Her inner diva came out writ large.
Spin-off-ability: 8.5 out of 10
Kim Zolciak
Positives: She is infuriatingly fascinating. She’s a single mom who smokes too much, parties hard and loves her kids. She has dated a married man (breaking up with him, then getting back together, then breaking up with him, etc.). She kissed a girl. She wears a wig and won’t show her real hair. She lies. She sings poorly and gets a hit song out of it. A smoldering car wreck!
Negatives: She may be best in small doses. Too much of Kim might be too much period. Could viewers endure all Kim all the time?
Spin-off-ability: 6.5
Kandi Burruss
Positives: She has eclipsed NeNe as the most popular “Housewife” so far. As a songwriter and performer, she has a real career, seems extremely down to earth and owns a sad back story now that her ex-fiance has died.
Negatives: Though she talked back to NeNe at one point when NeNe got in her face, she mostly stayed out of the drama. And no drama means a possibly less-than-compelling Bravo show.
Spin-off-ability: 5
Lisa Wu Hartwell
Positives: She is mostly upbeat and seems to have a positive outlook on life but has a temper that flares at times. She is trying to have another baby and is actually (gasp!) married.
Negatives: She lacks the train-wreck appeal of Kim and NeNe. She isn’t quite as likely to create drama though she has gotten in the middle of some scuffles a couple of times.
Spin-off-ability: 2
Sheree Whitfield
Positives: She has come up with some memorable catchphrases, including “Who goin’ to check me, boo?” She had an outlandish argument with a party planner and “nudged” Kim’s wig in a brief physical altercation. She thinks she’s God’s gift to designing. She’s bitterly divorced and seeking a man.
Negatives: She strikes many as deluded, pretentious and not terribly warm.
Spin-off-ability: 4
On TV
“Bethenny Gets Married,” 10 p.m. Thursdays on Bravo, starting June 10
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39 comments Add your comment
Kim could easily...
June 11th, 2010
10:35 am
…get a spin-off on the Playboy channel as the next ho of the month….
give me a break
June 11th, 2010
11:53 am
Everyone of the atlanta housewives is trash. Why would anybody watch a show about one of them? I can’t figure out why people watch the show with all of them.
Jacob D
June 11th, 2010
11:58 am
Talk about nothing to watch, I would rather watch shamwow infomercials. If I want to see trashy women think there stuff don’t stink ill call my mother in law over to the trailer
JMar
June 11th, 2010
12:12 pm
I don’t watch any of the Housewives show, but I’d be all over a show with Kim Zolciak and Southside Steve.
MsMoMorris
June 11th, 2010
12:13 pm
Give me a break you really can’t say that about everyone being trash. Khandi was one of the ones who really tried to stay positive and away from all the drama. Now that Sheree yes boo we can say that all day long about her. She comes off as if she better than all and don’t have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out. She really needs to spend more time with her kids than she do trying to be a bootlegged designer.
Embarrassed
June 11th, 2010
12:34 pm
I was just in New England yesterday and had someone ask me if the Housewives of Atlanta was an accurate depiction of our city…. They were SERIOUS. Cancel this show Bravo.
Voice of Reason
June 11th, 2010
12:40 pm
To be completely honest…. I’d watch Kim. I just find her so entertaining in the way that she acts like nothing in life is worth caring about, maybe just her girls which are more like sidekicks. She’s also the only one that spends lavishly which is basically what these shows WERE about. It was women that didn’t do very much (except for a few such as Vicki) that complained about life being so difficult and exhausting. Kim would be perfect. Not to mention the ‘boyfriend’ scandal.
Mr. Ed
June 11th, 2010
12:42 pm
I enjoy the animated antics of these women. Look at all they offer us weekly.
A disturbingly bad sense of self accomplishment. Especially sad, when you consider there is none to be had on any particular professional level, from any of them. These women not only wear the emperor’s clothes, they aspire to model them with style.
Nouveau riche arrogance, when they have none of the resources to back up the pretentiousness. Being flat broke never looked so painfully delusional.
Local destination highlights. Especially the various strip clubs, bars, coupled with the now economically ill fated Atlantic Station.
IMHO, it’s like watching five different derivatives of Woody The Woodpecker. Except, they are actual humans that have flesh rather than feathers .The hi-jinx of these cartoon like characters make it one sweet indulgence.
Please,by all means, let’s have a spin off.
What's the Point?
June 11th, 2010
12:58 pm
I think Lisa Woo Hartwell and Kandi shouldn’t be dumped in the same category as the other RHOA. They had seperate identities/careers and lives “outside” of who they married or slept with. The others can’t say that!
A Johnson
June 11th, 2010
1:59 pm
Who cares if Bethenny is getting married. I still say that something is mentally wrong with her. I feel sorry for that man that she is marrying. She has to much baggage from her childhood now and she will make her husbands life miserable.
Butterface
June 11th, 2010
2:04 pm
she has a huge face. Scary.
Mike
June 11th, 2010
2:09 pm
Kandi. She’s got talent, her own money, and she’ll bring celebrities into the fold IF she’s on her own show. I can’t see anyone famous risking an appearance with any other member of the RHOA after Dallas Austin had to steel himself with great effort not to laugh at Kim’s delusions of grandeur. Kim, as deluded as she is, would be the next obvious choice. But like a Lohan, she really is only tolerable in small doses.
A Johnson
June 11th, 2010
2:16 pm
Bethenny is going to need Jill when this husband finds out that she is a nut job. I think that he is suspecting that something is wrong with her. All I can say to him is “run Forest run.”
A Johnson
June 11th, 2010
2:25 pm
The first season, I remember that Bethenny was really mean to Alex and her husband and children. She talked about Alex husband all the time. She is such a phoney because now it seems so stage because Alex is a defender of Bethenny. Hey Alex, Bethenny does not like you or your husband. She thinks of you as Trailor Trash.
bgf
June 11th, 2010
3:31 pm
NeNe is the only one that will whole peoples attention for an hour
Atlanta Housewife
June 11th, 2010
6:20 pm
We, the Atlanta Housewives are working on a show with Huslter and The Animal Channel.
Wish u$ luck. We need it.
miss marta
June 13th, 2010
9:24 am
@ Embarrassed: what part of “new england” were you in on the 10th? did you ask if all of new york and new jersey housewives were represented by their respective shows?
lame attempt at a comment.
Housewife of Atlanta Junkie
June 13th, 2010
10:08 am
Can’t believe Bethanny would actually pee in a cup on national t.v.When the Housewives interviewer told her the audience really frowned on her potty training on national t.v. her excuse was that she couldn’t hold it. She didn’t seem the lease bit embarrassed. Can anyone say kooky and immature! It seems she is trying to be over the top trying to wow the tv viewer. She seems pretty down to earth but acts like a younger version of Joan Rivers when she comes out with some shocking but sometimes comical statements. Don’t know what the rave about her new husband being so good looking. NOT He looks to have a nice build but is not very good looking in the facial feature category. All of the Housewives’ shows are just goofy or shallow women who are either fashion designers, models or a select few who actually have real jobs as what else is there to film about to entertain? No one wants to see the mundane play by play reality of everyday life.
Jaycee
June 13th, 2010
11:10 am
To be honest, I would love to see a spinoff for Dwight or my personal favorite, Derek J. I love the way Derek J struts in the heels with the bags….fabulous!!!
ADL
June 14th, 2010
8:48 am
Why is BRAVO televising the antics of these mentally challenged, egotistical, self indulgent jackasses????
Isn’t that what C-SPAN is for?
1gadawg
June 14th, 2010
9:07 am
How the hell did i get here? They are all crap!
Atlantaphotog
June 14th, 2010
10:19 am
Well, it wouldn’t SHOCK me if Bravo gave one of the Atlanta housewives their own show, but I sure wouldn’t watch it. Those (cough cough), “ladies”, do not represent Atlanta any more than a Pit Bull represents fluffy lap dogs.
I’ll admit that sometimes when eating dinner I’ll watch reruns of the housewives shows, but when it comes to the ghettoized Atlanta version (and also honestly thew New Jersey “Godfather version”), I can only stomach so much. OC and NYC, fine, dealable and entertaining. I can’t speak for women, but if I were a black woman who was trying to represent class, I’d be offended by someone like NeNe even being allowed a time spot on anything but the evening news crime stories.
Wow
June 14th, 2010
11:17 am
How did you miss the obvious? The only one capable of holding down his own show is Dwight.
Griffin
June 14th, 2010
11:48 am
What is a NeNe?????
NANCY MCNAMES
June 14th, 2010
11:50 am
HEY BRAVO HOW ABOUT SHOWING SOME REAL ATLANTA HOUSEWIVES – YOU KNOW THE
ONES THAT ARE WORKING MOTHERS AND DRIVE TO DOWNTOWN ATL – FIGHT THE
TRAFFIC AND CRIME EVERY DAY JUST TO GET TO THEIR OFFICE!! MAKE JUST
MONEY TO GET FROM ONE PAYDAY TO ANOTHER. THESE ARE THE REAL WOMEN OF
ATLANTA!
Nancy
June 14th, 2010
11:56 am
Pray God, none of them get a spinoff…..bgf, get a grip……and a dictionary.
Morgan
June 14th, 2010
12:17 pm
I like NeNe and Lisa
Balderdash
June 14th, 2010
12:27 pm
I like Bethenny because she is pretty and shows a lot of skin.
Housewives
June 14th, 2010
12:44 pm
Rodney-please stop giving credit to the Atlanta housewives. I think I speak for all of ATL that we want them to just go away!!!! We need to stop giving them attention and writing stupid pointless articles about them about spinoff shows they “may or may not have”-then many Bravo will cast some REAL housewives that actually LIVE in Atlanta.
Jason
June 14th, 2010
3:19 pm
Kim –Kim should def get her own show.. see is like watching a car crash… just can’t look away and would be ratings GOLD…. The girls love to hate her, the gays love her, and she can’t figure out if she likes the guys or the girls!… Definitely KIM!!
J
June 14th, 2010
3:20 pm
The spin off with KIM with would be the best bet.. She’s fun, crazy, loves her family and would never be boring… Go Kim!
bebi
June 14th, 2010
4:31 pm
@ embarrassed, why you would even dignify such a silly question with a response? anyone with any degree of sense realizes that a handful of people do not depict the population of a city. first and foremost, its a tv show and its based on ratings. unfortunately, you don’t get ratings by being refined. ALL of the housewives’ shows are a hot mess, not one is exempt. its entertainment, either you like it or you don’t.
hooked
June 15th, 2010
10:59 am
To Nancy Mcnames that would be just too boring!
gep
June 15th, 2010
1:16 pm
Atlanta housewives – trashy
Queen Nerfballteedi
June 15th, 2010
1:19 pm
I wanna see a lifetime made-for-TV movie called “NeNe: How I got throwed from a moving car”. or “Dirty Dollars: Confessions of Magic City Hoebag.” It could be a cautionary tale about turning tricks and how to spot things to hang onto inside of car, just in case the trick decides to drop you off at 75 MPH on Langford Parkway.
meyouand she
June 16th, 2010
9:34 am
Bethenny Frankel is a nut. She has Crazy eyes Ramonna and Simple Alex eating out the palm of her @ss. That annoying fast talking she does really annoy me to no end. I hope Jill Z. moves on and stop kissing Bethenny’s @ss. After she spoke about the dysfunction in her family. I hope she take time to be a mother instead of runing behind those cameras like she did when her little girl was only 12 days, she was on the reunion show spitting venom like she normally do.
mrs.rich
July 9th, 2010
7:32 pm
How dare you idiots talk about AHW like that. All the shows are entertainment you dumb ass. This is not showing how all women live in Atlanta this is tv. And Kim looks like a tranny but she is funny. i like NeNe and Dwight know that would be a good spin -off. hey could keep you entertained for hours on end. Every now and then Lisa could show up along with She by Sheree or he by Sheree and I could also Khandi and NeNe have their moments. I seriously would watch that along with a lot of my girlfriends. We laugh at work about Dwight and Nene all the time. I am so looking forward to the new season. And yes Bravo NeNe and Dwight from at Atlanta would be awesome. Think about so much to do with the both of them. NeNe son and his trouble her marriage ,Maybe Dwight would reveal one of his lover this would be so good. wow
mary wooten
July 13th, 2010
9:06 pm
I am so ready for the atlanta housewives to come on for season 3. I love the show. I don’t want any of them to have a spinoff, that would just mean more people to get use to on the spinoff and on and on. I’m use to Kim now but I don’t see why she was ever on this one anyway. I don’t see any black women on the other shows, what they don’t have black women in NJ,NY, or the other shows cities.
Vavoom!
July 15th, 2010
3:32 pm
Wow,Bethany, you are starting to look like Vavoom, Secret Squirrels arch enemy. What is with those jowels? Baby food storage I hope. They would make a nice set of breast implants for that skinny white blonde chick on the show.