''The Real Housewives of Potomac'' (abbreviated ''RHOP'') 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 ...

series that premiered on January 17, 2016, on Bravo. It has aired six seasons and focuses on the personal and professional lives of several women living in and around

Potomac, Maryland Potomac () is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, named after the nearby Potomac River. Potomac is the seventh most educated small town in America, based on percentage of residents with postsecondary deg ...

. The cast of the current seventh season consists of

Gizelle Bryant Gizelle Annette Bryant (née Graves; born September 9, 1970) is a American model, television personality and author. She was the First Lady of Empowerment Temple AME. She has appeared on the reality TV series '' The Real Housewives of Potomac' ...

Ashley Darby Ashley Darby (; June 8, 1988) is an American television personality and singer. She gained notability after winning Miss District of Columbia in 2011 and has been a main cast member of '' The Real Housewives of Potomac'' since the show's inceptio ...

, Robyn Dixon,

Karen Huger Karen Huger ( Wooden; born May 3, 1963) is an American television personality. She is best known as a cast member on the reality TV series '' The Real Housewives of Potomac'', serving as a housewife since the show's premiere in 2016. Career I ...

Candiace Dillard Bassett Candiace Dillard Bassett (; born December 14, 1986), is an American singer-songwriter, television personality and actress. She is recognized for winning Miss United States in 2013 and starring in ''The Real Housewives of Potomac'' since 2018. In ...

, Wendy Osefo, and Mia Thornton, with former housewife Charrisse Jackson-Jordan and newcomer Jacqueline Blake serving as "friends of the housewives". Other previously featured cast members include Katie Rost and

Monique Samuels Monique Samuels is an American television personality. She is known as a cast member on the reality television series '' The Real Housewives of Potomac'' and ''Love & Marriage: DC''. Life and career Samuels was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey ...

Overview and casting

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. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

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

, Robyn Dixon,

, Charrisse Jackson-Jordan and Katie Rost. After the filming for the second season began, Rost was fired from the show.

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

joining the cast, and Jordan appearing in a "friend" capacity. Jordan left the show after the third season.

Seasons 4–present

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." It also marked as Rost's final appearance of the season after not being invited to the fourth season's reunion taping. 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. The sixth season premiered on July 11, 2021, with new housewife Mia Thornton and friend of the housewives Askale Davis joining. 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.

Timeline of cast members

Episodes

Reception

Viewership

The premiere episode of ''The Real Housewives of Potomac'' received a 1.2 rating in adults 1849 years adult demographic and 2.54 million viewers in total, according to

Nielsen Media Research Nielsen Media Research (NMR) is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre, films (via the AMC Theatres MAP program), and newspapers. Headquartered in New York City, it is best known for the Nielsen rati ...

'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 ''The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'' (abbreviated ''RHOBH'') is an American reality television series which has been broadcast on Bravo since October 14, 2010. Developed as the sixth installment in ''The Real Housewives'' franchise, it has ...

'' in 2010.

Critical response

The reality series has received mostly positive reviews from television critics. Amy Amatangelo, writing for ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly larg ...

'', 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 the franchise to be "an equal-opportunity offender". Joi-Marie McKenzie of

ABC News ABC News is the news division of the American broadcast network ABC. Its flagship program is the daily evening newscast ''ABC World News Tonight, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir''; other programs include Breakfast television, morning ...

, 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 from 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.

References

External links

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