'The Real Housewives' franchise is coming to RI. But not everyone is real thrilled.
Or will the show – not exactly known for showcasing decorum, taste, and restraint – become a source of embarrassment for the Ocean State?
"I am cautiously optimistic about 'The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,'" said Kristin Adamo, president and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. "I'm hoping they show the beauty of the state and the accomplishments of these women, but I have seen episodes of the other shows and it doesn't always go that way."
"I think once we see a few episodes, we will know the tone and decide if it will be useful in tourism marketing," she added.
When Bravo announced its plans for the show on May 8, top state leaders, including Gov. Dan McKee, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Valarie Lawson, all applauded the move, describing it as an opportunity to showcase the state's history, culture, food and hospitality.
But on social media, some critics questioned whether it would really show Rhode Island in a positive light.
"Has anyone currently residing in the state of Rhode Island ever seen this show?!?" asked Dominique Baker on the social media site Bluesky. "Whew, this will be a rude awakening for the tourism bureau."
Steve Feinberg, the executive director of Rhode Island Film and Television Office, told WPRO's Tara Granahan that "Real Housewives" won't receive any tax credits for filming in Rhode Island, and will cost the state nothing.
"It's great promotion to a worldwide audience," he said, suggesting that tourists will want to visit the bars and restaurants that cast members frequent on the show, and that it could make West Coast residents curious about visiting the East Coast.
"It will absolutely attract more tourists to Rhode Island, there's no question," he said.
However, some residents fear that the show will only bring more publicity to areas of the state that are already crowded with tourists.
"It's always great when Rhode Island can show off to the whole nation," said Mel Rainsberger of Providence. "We have superb food, activities, and many amazing destinations. But I'm a little afraid it'll only feature the already-oversaturated Newport area and not give attention to our other amazing towns."
"From what knowledgeable industry folks are telling me, the production doesn't use union labor and most of the crew will be brought from out of state," Rainsberger added. "We have talented homegrown creatives that would love to work on a big production like this, and it's disappointing they won't be included."
Bravo did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether the show would use union labor or local crews.
The cast of "Real Housewives of Rhode Island" hasn't been announced yet, making it hard to know exactly how the show will portray Rhode Island to a national audience.
However, executive producer Andy Cohen told the New York Post's Page Six on May 7 that the cast is "very Italian."
"Rhode Island is such a small state, and they all kind of know each other and overlap, and it's an incredible group of women who have really interesting connections," he said. "I think it's going to really surprise people.'
Cohen told Page Six that RHORI would differ from Real Housewives of New Jersey because "[i]t's coastal" and the cast is 'more Italian' with 'deep families." However, it "does kind of remind you of early 'Jersey' in a weird way," he said.
Speaking to WPRO, Feinberg said that filming will take place in spring, summer and early fall.
Rhode Island hasn't always welcomed reality TV. In 2003, when MTV sought to film The Real World/Road Rules Challenge in Newport, neighbors objected and pointed out that having 28 cast members live in a Bellevue Avenue estate would violate local ordinances that prohibit more than five unrelated people to occupy a residential property.
"I don't think that's the image Newport needs to portray and I especially don't think it's the image Newport needs to portray on Bellevue Avenue," attorney Turner Scott, who represented the Bellevue-Ochre Point Neighborhood Association, said at the time.
The show also got a hostile reception on Middletown's Indian Avenue, and ultimately decided to go elsewhere.
The new show won't be the franchise's first foray to the Ocean State.
For Season 12, episode 9 of 'The Real Housewives of New York City,' the group traveled to the "shi shi" city of Newport, describing it as a "miniature Southampton." They even stayed at the Castle Hill Inn though, in typical 'Real Housewives' style, there were plenty of moments of messiness and the episode was aptly named 'Hurricane Leah.'
Reporter Rin Velasco contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Will 'The Real Housewives of Rhode Island' show the best of RI?
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