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The Real Housewives of Potomac
Genre	Reality television
Starring	Gizelle Bryant Ashley Darby Karen Huger Robyn Dixon Charrisse Jackson-Jordan Katie Rost Monique Samuels Candiace Dillard Bassett Wendy Osefo Mia Thornton Nneka Ihim Stacey Rusch Keiarna Stewart
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	9
No. of episodes	163 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Steven Weinstock Glenda Hersh Lauren Eskelin Lorraine Haughton-Lawson Kemar Bassaragh Bianca Barnes-Williams Ashley McFarlin Buie Andy Cohen Nora Devin Eric Fuller
Camera setup	Multiple
Running time	42 minutes
Production companies	True Entertainment (seasons 1–2) Truly Original (season 3–present)
Original release
Network	Bravo
Release	January 17, 2016 (2016-01-17) – present (present)
Related
Karen's Grande Dame Reunion

The Real Housewives of Potomac, abbreviated RHOP, is an American reality television series that premiered on January 17, 2016, on Bravo. Developed as the eighth installment of The Real Housewives franchise, it has aired eight seasons and focuses on the personal and professional lives of women living in and around Potomac, Maryland.

The cast of the current ninth season consists of Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Karen Huger, Wendy Osefo, Mia Thornton, Keiarna Stewart and Stacey Rusch, with Jacqueline Blake and newcomer Jassi Rideaux serving as "friends of the housewives". Other previously featured cast members include Katie Rost, Monique Samuels, Charrisse Jackson Jordan, Robyn Dixon, Candiace Dillard Bassett and Nneka Ihim.

Production

Seasons 1–3

Initially titled Potomac Ensemble, The Real Housewives of Potomac was announced on November 11, 2015. The series is the network's second attempt to develop a reality series based in the Washington, D.C. area. The first effort was The Real Housewives of D.C., which aired in 2010 and was canceled after one season.

The first season premiered on January 17, 2016, and starred Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon, Karen Huger, Charrisse Jackson-Jordan and Katie Rost. After the filming for the second season began, Rost was fired from the show. Monique Samuels was then added to the cast for the second season which premiered on April 2, 2017.

The third season premiered on April 1, 2018, with Candiace Dillard Bassett joining the cast and Jordan appearing in a "friend" capacity. Jordan left the show after the third season.

Seasons 4–6

The fourth season, which began filming in August 2018, premiered on May 5, 2019. The season featured Dillard's wedding and Rost as a "friend of the housewives." Rost was not invited back to the fourth season's reunion taping or for the following season.

The fifth season premiered on August 2, 2020, with Wendy Osefo as the newest cast member and Jackson Jordan appearing as a guest. In December 2020, Samuels announced her departure from the series, despite receiving a contract for the next season.

The sixth season premiered on July 11, 2021, with new housewife Mia Thornton and friend of the housewives Askale Davis joining.

Seasons 7–present

The seventh season premiered on October 9, 2022, with Davis departing, former housewife Charrisse Jackson-Jordan returning as a friend of the housewives, alongside Jacqueline Blake. Former cast members Rost and Davis both made a guest appearance.

The eighth season premiered on November 5, 2023, with new housewife Nneka Ihim and friend of the housewives Keiarna Stewart joining, alongside Jackson-Jordan returning in a "friend of the housewives" capacity. Former cast member Blake made guest appearances.

In March 2024, Candiace Dillard Bassett announced her decision to exit the series, after six seasons. In April 2024, Robyn Dixon confirmed she was fired from the show, after eight seasons. In May 2024, Nneka Ihim confirmed her departure from the show, after only one season.

The ninth season premiered on October 6, 2024, with new housewife Stacey Rusch and new friend of the housewives Jassi Rideaux joining the cast, alongside Blake returning in a “friend of” capacity and Stewart being promoted to a full-time role. Jackson-Jordan left the show again after the eighth season.

Cast

Timeline of cast members

Episodes

Reception

Viewership

The premiere episode of The Real Housewives of Potomac received a 1.2 rating in adults 18–49 years adult demographic and 2.54 million viewers in total, according to Nielsen Media Research's "live plus-3" estimates. The episode was the highest-rated premiere of any series of The Real Housewives franchise. The first season of the series averaged 2.1 million viewers in the "live plus-3" estimates, becoming the network's most-watched first season of a series since The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2010.

Bravo announced in February 2024, that with delayed viewing attributed, the season eight premiere drew the show's biggest premiere audience in its history, with 2.2 million viewers and the shows most watched season across all platforms, with 2.7 million.

Critical response

The reality series has received mostly positive reviews from television critics. Amy Amatangelo, writing for The Hollywood Reporter, said, "Like its predecessors, The Real Housewives of Potomac offers escapist TV at the highest level," and also added, "You can watch with the comfort that you would never behave this way and delight in all the ridiculous shenanigans." Amatangelo praised the show's diversity by saying that the network aims for the franchise to be "an equal-opportunity offender". Joi-Marie McKenzie of ABC News, reviewing the show's premiere, said, "Between the show introductions, there was plenty of shade-throwing and one-liners to keep "Housewives" enthusiasts entertained."

Controversy

During the fifth season of RHOP, cast member Monique Samuels got into a physical altercation with co-star Candiace Dillard Bassett. Samuels and Dillard Bassett were both charged with second-degree assault in Maryland's District Court of Montgomery County. Both women appeared in court, and all charges were dropped. Samuels did not return to The Real Housewives of Potomac for its sixth season, despite being asked back by the network.

References

1. Lajoie, Sandra (November 11, 2015 – April 2, 2017). "Bravo Media Announces Expansion Of "The Real Housewives" Franchise With Two New Elite Destinations Set For 2016". NBCUniversal Media Village. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
2. Andrews-Dyer, Helena (June 22, 2015). "There's a new D.C. reality show and it's not set in D.C." The Washington Post. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
3. Heil, Emily (November 20, 2015). "Why Bravo picked Potomac for the newest 'Real Housewives'". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
4. Bentley, Jean (November 11, 2015). "Bravo Announces Two New Real Housewives Series, and You'll Never Guess One of the Cities". E! Online. NBCUniversal. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
5. Andrews-Dyer, Helena (December 6, 2016). "The second season of 'Real Housewives of Potomac' could be the reality show's last". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
6. Roberts, Rachael (February 21, 2017). "9 Things You Need to Know About New Potomac Housewife Monique Samuels". Bravo TV. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
7. Quinn, Dave (March 7, 2018). "The Real Housewives of Potomac Up the Drama in the Season 3 Trailer". People. Time Inc. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
8. "Charrisse Jackson-Jordan on Instagram: "I keep getting this question over and over again. Just for the record I will NOT be appearing at all on #RHOP Season 4 #justcharrisse 😘😘"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-23.
9. "Inside RHOP Star Candiace Dillard's Romantic, 'Incredible' D.C. Wedding: 'It Was Like a Dream'". People.
10. Quinn, Dave (March 18, 2019). "The Real Housewives of Potomac Gets Heated in Fiery Season 4 Trailer". People. United States: Time Inc. Archived from the original on March 18, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
11. Odom, Julia (August 8, 2019). "Real Housewives' Katie Rost Blasts Bravo For No Reunion Invite". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
12. "Bravo Announces "The Real Housewives of Potomac" to Return on Sunday, August 2, at 9PM ET/PT". The Futon Critic. June 18, 2020.
13. Rice, Nicholas (December 28, 2020). "Monique Samuels Says She's Not Returning to Real Housewives of Potomac: 'Enough Is Enough'". People. United States: Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on December 28, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020. After the final episode of the season five reunion aired on Sunday evening, the 37-year-old said during an Instagram Live that she is not returning to the show for season six.
14. Iannucci, Rebecca (December 28, 2020). "Real Housewives: Monique Samuels Leaving Potomac Ahead of Season 6". TVLine. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 28, 2020. Another Real Housewives cast member is walking through the franchise's revolving door: Monique Samuels announced Sunday that she won't be returning to The Real Housewives of Potomac for Season 6.
15. Jackson, Dory (May 24, 2021). "RHOP Season 6 Supertease Introduces Newbie Mia Thornton and Teases Wendy Osefo's Marriage Woes". PEOPLE.com. United States. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
16. Quinn, Dave (September 6, 2022). "'Real Housewives of Potomac' Season 7 Trailer Teases Cheating Allegations, Divorce Drama and a Martini Toss". People. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
17. Quinn, Dave (September 28, 2023). "Real Housewives of Potomac Season 8 Trailer Teases Demons, Divorces and a 'New Grand Dame' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
18. Quinn, Dave (March 25, 2024). "Candiace Dillard Bassett Exits Real Housewives of Potomac After 6 Seasons: 'I Am Filled with Gratitude' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
19. Quinn, Dave; Jackson, Dory (April 15, 2024). "Robyn Dixon Confirms Exit from Real Housewives of Potomac After 8 Seasons: 'I Was Fired'". People. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
20. Quinn, Dave (May 13, 2024). "Nneka Ihim Confirms Departure from The Real Housewives of Potomac After 1 Season (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
21. Crist, Allison (September 12, 2024). "Meet the RHOP Season 9 Cast & Get to Know the Complicated Group Dynamics (PHOTOS)". Bravo). Retrieved September 12, 2024.
22. Kissell, Rick (January 22, 2016). "Ratings: Bravo's 'Real Housewives of Potomac' Sails Off to Strong Start". Variety. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
23. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (April 14, 2016). "Bravo Renews 'The Real Housewives of Potomac' for Season 2". Variety. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
24. "'Vanderpump Rules' Season 10 Reunion Part 1 Becomes Bravo's Most-Watched Episode of All Time as Network Touts Top-Rated 2023". 9 February 2024.
25. Amatangelo, Amy (January 15, 2016). "'The Real Housewives of Potomac': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
26. McKenzie, Joi-Marie (January 18, 2016). "'Real Housewives of Potomac' Premiere: 5 Questions That Need to Be Answered". ABC News. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
27. "Monique Samuels Files Counter Assault Charges Against Candiace Dillard Bassett". 18 November 2019.

External links

• Official website
• The Real Housewives of Potomac at IMDb
• The Real Housewives of Potomac at TV Guide

• The Real Housewives of Potomac
• 2010s American reality television series
• 2020s American reality television series
• 2016 American television series debuts
• Bravo (American TV network) original programming
• American English-language television shows
• Potomac, Maryland
• Television series by Banijay
• Television shows set in Maryland
• Women in Maryland
• African-American reality television series