''The Real Housewives'' is an American

reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...

franchise that began on March 21, 2006, with ''

The Real Housewives of Orange County ''The Real Housewives of Orange County'' (abbreviated ''RHOC'') is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on March 21, 2006. It has aired sixteen seasons and focuses on the personal and professional lives of several wome ...

''. Each installment of the franchise documents the personal and professional lives of a group of affluent women residing in or around a certain city or geographic region. Eleven different series have been produced in the United States, with another 21 international adaptations. The American series is broadcast on

Bravo Bravo(s) or The Bravo(s) may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Groups and labels *Bravo (band), a Russian rock band * Bravo (Spanish group), represented Spain at Eurovision 1984 *Bravo Music, an American concert band music publishing company ...

, with one installment being broadcast on

Peacock Peafowl is a common name for three bird species in the genera ''Pavo (genus), Pavo'' and ''Afropavo'' within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae, the pheasants and their allies. Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female pea ...

. The first international adaptation, ''

The Real Housewives of Athens ''The Real Housewives of Athens'' (abbreviated ''RHOAthens'') was a Greece, Greek reality television series that debuted on ANT1 on March 4, 2011, until May 27, 2011. Developed as the first international installment of the ''The Real Housewives, ...

'', premiered on March 4, 2011. The longest-running international edition is ''

The Real Housewives of Cheshire ''The Real Housewives of Cheshire'' (abbreviated ''RHOCheshire'') is a British reality television series that premiered on ITVBe on 12 January 2015. Developed as the first British installment in ''The Real Housewives'' franchise, it has aired ...

'', which has aired 16 seasons. The American franchise has led to 27

spin-off Spin-off may refer to: *Spin-off (media), a media work derived from an existing work *Corporate spin-off, a type of corporate action that forms a new company or entity * Government spin-off, civilian goods which are the result of military or gove ...

series in all; the most successful, '' Vanderpump Rules'', has itself had a number of spin-offs.

History

On May 1, 2005, ''The Real Housewives'' was first announced as one of six

shows ordered by the American television network

.The show was inspired by scripted soap operas including ''

Desperate Housewives ''Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama soap opera television series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Marc Cherry, Cherry Productions. It aired for eight seasons on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from Octobe ...

'' and '' Peyton Place'', and would document the lives of five to eight upper-class women who "lead glamorous lives in a picturesque Southern California gated community where the average home has a $1.6 million price tag and residents include CEOs and retired professional athletes."

''The Real Housewives of Orange County''

In January 2006, the show was announced as ''

.'' However, filming began in 2005 under the title ''Behind the Gates''. The first season aired on Bravo from March 21 to May 9, 2006. The original cast consisted of Kimberly Bryant, Jo De La Rosa,

Vicki Gunvalson Victoria Gunvalson (née Steinmetz; formerly Wolfsmith) is an American reality television personality and businesspeople, businesswoman best known for a starring role as a housewife in the Bravo (US TV channel), Bravo reality television series '' ...

Jeana Keough Jeana Ellen Keough (née Myers; formerly Tomasino; born September 18, 1955) is an American television personality, realtor, actress, and model. Keough graduated from Whitnall High School located in Greenfield, Wisconsin in 1972. When she was you ...

and Lauri Waring. The show has had four spin-offs: '' Date My Ex: Jo & Slade,'' ''Tamra’s OC Wedding'', ''Glitter Town and Simply Gina.''

''The Real Housewives of New York City''

In September 2007, the network started production for the show ''Manhattan Moms.'' In January 2008, the show was re-titled to '' The Real Housewives of New York City'', becoming the second installment in the franchise. The first season aired on Bravo from March 4 to May 27, 2008. The original cast consisted of Luann de Lesseps, Bethenny Frankel, Alex McCord,

Ramona Singer Ramona Singer (née Mazur; born November 18, 1956) is an American television personality, businesswoman, and author. She is best known as a main cast member on the reality television series ''The Real Housewives of New York City'', in which she ha ...

and

Jill Zarin ''The Real Housewives of New York City'' (abbreviated ''RHONY'') is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on March 4, 2008. Developed as the second installment of ''The Real Housewives'' franchise, it has aired thirteen ...

. The show has had three spin-offs: ''

Bethenny Ever After ''Bethenny Ever After'' is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on June 10, 2010. Developed as the second spin-off in ''The Real Housewives'' franchise, it focuses on Bethenny Frankel from ''The Real Housewives of New Yor ...

'', ''

Bethenny & Fredrik ''Bethenny & Fredrik'' is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on February 6, 2018. The show chronicled Bethenny Frankel and Fredrik Eklund Fredrik Eklund (born April 26, 1977) is a Swedish real estate broker, former I ...

'' and '' Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake''.

''The Real Housewives of Atlanta''

In June 2008, the third installment in the franchise, ''

The Real Housewives of Atlanta ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'' (abbreviated ''RHOA'') is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on October 7, 2008. Developed as the third installment of ''The Real Housewives'' franchise, it has aired fourteen season ...

'', was announced. The first season aired on Bravo from October 7 to November 25, 2008. The original cast consisted of NeNe Leakes, DeShawn Snow, Shereé Whitfield, Lisa Wu and Kim Zolciak. The show has had ten spin-offs: ''

Don't Be Tardy ''Don't Be Tardy'' is an American reality television show that premiered on Bravo on April 26, 2012, as ''Don't Be Tardy for the Wedding.'' Developed as the first spin-off of ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta,'' featuring Kim Zolciak, her husban ...

'', ''

The Kandi Factory ''The Kandi Factory'' is an American reality competition series on Bravo that debuted April 9, 2013. Developed as a spin-off of ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'', starring Kandi Burruss. The show chronicles Burruss and her team at The Kandi Fac ...

'', '' I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding'', ''

Kandi's Wedding ''Kandi's Wedding'' is an American reality documentary television series that premiered on Bravo on June 1, 2014. Developed as a spin-off from ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta''. The five-part wedding series follows singer and reality televisio ...

'', ''

Kandi's Ski Trip ''Kandi's Ski Trip'' is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on May 17, 2015. Developed as the fifth spin-off of ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta''. The show focuses on Kandi Burruss, her husband Todd Tucker and their b ...

'', ''Xscape: Still Kickin' It'', ''Kandi Koated Nights'', ''Porsha's Having a Baby'', ''Porsha's Family Matters'' and '' Kandi & The Gang''.

''The Real Housewives of New Jersey''

In May 2008, the fourth installment in the franchise, ''

The Real Housewives of New Jersey ''The Real Housewives of New Jersey'' (abbreviated ''RHONJ'') is an American reality television series that premiered on May 12, 2009, on Bravo. Developed as the fourth installment of ''The Real Housewives'' franchise, it has aired twelve season ...

'', was announced, before the announcement of the ''Atlanta'' installment. The first season aired on Bravo from May 12 to July 8, 2009. The original cast consisted of

Teresa Giudice Teresa Giudice ( , ; ; born May 18, 1972) is an American television personality best known for starring in ''The Real Housewives of New Jersey''. Besides appearing on the show, Giudice wrote multiple ''New York Times'' bestseller cookbooks and ...

Jacqueline Laurita Jacqueline Elizabeth Laurita (née Grippe, formerly Holmes; born April 26, 1970) is an American television personality, known for starring in ''The Real Housewives of New Jersey'' (2009–14, 2016). Career Since 2009, Laurita has appeared on '' ...

Caroline Manzo Caroline Manzo (née Laurita; born August 23, 1961) is an American television personality and entrepreneur. She is best known for starring in the reality television series ''The Real Housewives of New Jersey'', and her own spin-off show, ''Manzo' ...

Dina Manzo Claudine J. "Dina" Cantin (, formerly Manzo and Ioannou; born March 7, 1972) is an American television personality and entrepreneur. She is most known for appearing on ''The Real Housewives of New Jersey'' as an original main cast member, appeari ...

and

Danielle Staub Danielle Staub (born Beverly Ann Merrill; July 29, 1962) is an American television personality. In May 2009, she came to prominence after being cast in the reality television series ''The Real Housewives of New Jersey'', as a main cast member fo ...

. The show has had three spin-offs: ''

Boys to Manzo ''Boys to Manzo'' is an American reality television web series that began airing from May 30 to July 10, 2011, on the official website for Bravo. A spin-off to ''The Real Housewives of New Jersey'', the series features Albie and Chris Manzo, the s ...

'', ''

Manzo'd with Children ''Manzo'd with Children'' is an American reality documentary television series on Bravo which premiered on October 5, 2014. Bravo announced the series in April 2014, making it the first spin-off show of ''The Real Housewives of New Jersey''. The ...

'' and ''

Teresa Checks In ''Teresa Checks In'' is an American reality television series which premiered on the Bravo cable network, on October 11, 2015. The three-part television special chronicles the life of the Giudice family and how its members dealt with the aftermat ...

''.

''The Real Housewives of D.C.''

In October 2009, the fifth installment in the franchise, ''

The Real Housewives of D.C. ''The Real Housewives of D.C.'' (abbreviated ''RHODC'') is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on August 5, 2010. Developed as the fifth installment of ''The Real Housewives'' franchise, it aired for one season and docum ...

, was'' announced. The