'Real Housewives': These Original 'Wives Have Stuck Through The Drama Since Day One (Photos)

Teresa Giudice, Kyle Richards and Ramona Singer have been with their respective franchises since the very beginning


Photo credit: Bravo


Being a cast member on one of Bravo’s “Real Housewives” franchises means opening up your personal and professional life to the cameras — not an easy task for a few months, much less year after year.Out of over 100 housewives, less than a handful have appeared on their shows continuously since day one. Some wives voluntarily leave to pursue other opportunities or escape the cameras, while others are fired as storylines peter out or viewers’ interest wanes.Here are the “Real Housewives” stars that have been there since the very beginning of their franchises.For this gallery, TheWrap looked at “Real Housewives” franchises that have been around for more than five seasons, so it excludes the Potomac, Dallas, Miami, Salt Lake City and D.C. casts.

Ramona SingerSinger’s histrionics and hysterics have provided plenty of fodder for “The Real Housewives of New York” editors for 13 seasons.She is an “O.G. housewife.”

Kyle RichardsKyle Richards and her sister Kim were two of the original “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” Their fractured relationship has been a series storyline even after Kim departed as a full-time cast member after Season 5.Richards is another of the three true “O.G. Housewives,” having appeared continuously as a main cast member throughout every season. Season 11 debuts mid May.Her other sister, Kathy Hilton, joins as a “friend” in Season 11.

Teresa GiudiceEver since her infamous table flip, Giudice has been a staple on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” Producers even worked around her 11-month stint in federal prison for fraud in 2015. Season 11 of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” is now wrapping up.She is one of the three “O.G. housewives.”

LuAnn de LessepsDe Lesseps, also known as The Countess, was an original cast member who was demoted to “friend” status on “The Real Housewives of New York” in Season 6. However, she earned her apple back with her second marriage, second divorce and drunken arrest.She’s appeared in all 13 seasons of “New York” and as an official housewife for 12.

NeNe Leakes (honorable mention)Leakes was an original cast member of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” but departed after Season 7 in part to pursue her acting career in Hollywood. She returned to the show in Season 10 and announced in September — after the show had already begun production for Season 13 — that she would not be returning. Bloop!

Lisa Vanderpump (honorable mention)Along with the Richards sisters, Lisa Vanderpump was one of the first members of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” She departed after nine seasons after the so-called “Puppygate,” which is so convoluted it’s not worth explaining here. She still can be seen on the spin-off  “Vanderpump Rules,” which she also executive produces and is back in production after a pandemic-related pause.With nine seasons of “Beverly Hills” and eight seasons of “Vanderpump Rules” under her bejeweled belt, Vanderpump has the distinction of having the most appearances on the network.

Bethenny Frankel (honorable mention)When “The Real Housewives of New York” started, Frankel was an anomaly since she was unmarried (the current cast doesn’t have a single married cast member).She departed the show after Season 3 and returned in Season 7 only to depart after Season 11. She’s had several spin-offs on Bravo, including “Bethenny Ever After” and “Bethenny & Fredrik.”She’s now focused on raising her daughter Bryn (who she kept off-camera), her businesses and numerous charities, including coronavirus relief. She also has her own HBO Max reality competition show, “The Big Shot with Bethenny”

Vicki Gunvalson (honorable mention)Gunvalson has the distinction of being the “O.G. of the O.C.” with “The Real Housewives of Orange County” being the very first series in the franchise.She was demoted to “friend” status in Season 14, and unwilling to return unless she was a full-time cast member, left the show — and franchise — she founded ahead of Season 15.

Camille Grammer (honorable mention)Grammer’s marriage and split from sitcom star Kelsey Grammer was a key storyline in the first season of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” way back in 2010. She left as a full-time cast member after Season 2 but has appeared in every season since (with the exception of Season 4) in a minor or major capacity.

Adrienne Maloof (honorable mention)Original Beverly Hills housewife Maloof made headlines after refusing to show up for the Season 3 finale. But that separation didn’t last long, and she’s made guest appearances in Seasons 5, 6, 8 and 10.

Kim Richards (honorable mention)As previously mentioned, Kim Richards was a core member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast from the very beginning.She left the show after Season 5 in part to address her sobriety but returned for appearances in Season 6, 7, 9 and 10.She’s made fewer appearances than Grammer, but more than Maloof.
Source: Read Full Article