As the “Real Housewives of New York City” faces a ratings battle, Page Six has learned that former cast member Kelly Bensimon is agitating for a revolution — which would put her at the center of a revived show.
Reality kingpin Bravo stripped the show to the studs in 2023, removing the entire cast — including much-loved and long-running stars like Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan — and replacing them with an all new group, fronted by former J. Crew guru Jenna Lyons.
But the new class has struggled in the ratings. The sixth episode of the latest season won just 281,000 viewers, the lowest number since the show debuted in 2008.
Now Bensimon — who was a central character in seasons two, three and four, made a comeback in the “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip” spin-off, and would likely have been part of the shelved “RHONY Legacy” show — says she’s “sent a list” of potential new cast members to “Housewives” honcho Andy Cohen.
“Everybody says I should be back on ‘Housewives’,” Bensimon told Page Six, “And I’m happy to do it with — not to be mean, but, like, not this cast. I sent a whole list to Andy. I was like: Here’s the mothership.”
She wouldn’t give up names. But said that no previous stars (except her) was on it and that “they have these narratives, these divorces and but they’re all very New York.”
She also told us that she thinks that a re-revamp needs to put more focus on New York City itself.
“My biggest criticism — and it’s been the same thing throughout since I was on — is that the ultimate character on the show is New York and we’re not seeing New York.”
She said other arms of the show such as “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” show off their location.
“You see all the glamor and the glitz and the gorgeousness,” she said, “And we just don’t, we’re not seeing that.”
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