Small State, Big Attitude: How Bravo Brought Its Splashy New ‘Real Housewives’ Entry to Rhode Island

Small State, Big Attitude: How Bravo Brought Its Splashy New ‘Real Housewives’ Entry to Rhode Island Rachel Smith, NCBUniversal’s evp of unscripted content, dishes all on the formation of ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,' including why the network brought cameras to New England, how Dolores Catania influenced casting and what’s to come from the debut installment. By McKinley Franklin Plus Icon McKinley Franklin View All April 5, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Logo text The smallest state with the biggest attitude is already making waves in the Real Housewives franchise. Last May, Bravo announced that Rhode Island would be the latest addition to its repertoire, enticing viewers to see what the women of the teeny tiny state could be getting into. As it turns out, there’s a lot going on in the smallest state in the nation. The arrival of the new series arrives amid the landmark 20th anniversary of the whole franchise itself, as The Real Housewives of Orange County debuted on March 21, 2006. It’s a monumental year for the reality television phenomenon that will later be celebrated with The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th special this year. Related Stories TV Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner Show Support for Ciara Miller Amid 'Summer House' Scandal TV Kyle Cooke Says Amanda Batula His Been "Getting the Brunt" of 'Summer House' Scandal Backlash as West Wilson Has Received a Follower Boost NCBUniversal’s evp of unscripted content, Rachel Smith, tells The Hollywood Reporter that it was not a “conscious decision” to launch a new series, even though it’s such “an auspicious occasion this year.” Instead, The Real Housewives of Rhode Island naturally presented itself. Creating a new Real Housewives is a tall task, one that can be birthed in many ways. Some...