Reports that Bethenny Frankel is returning to Bravo’s “Real Housewives of New York” are premature at this time, according to Frankel and an individual with knowledge of the situation who spoke to TheWrap. The media may have mistaken her visits to Andy Cohen as signs that she would be returning to the franchise.
“Andy Cohen and Bethenny are working on a project together but for his production company, Most Talkative,” the insider said.
Frankel also addressed the reports, which originated in US Magazine, during a SiriusXM Radio interview with Jenny Hutt on Wednesday.
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“I’m going in and out of Bravo, I’m talking to Andy about two different projects, because he’s got a production company now,” she said. “I haven’t signed or decided to do anything. But it’s not what everyone thinks it is.”
Frankel stayed mum on the nature of the TV projects, adding, “He’s doing a lot of different shows, so we’re talking about a couple of different things and deciding together what we’re going to do. So, that could be why everyone’s writing about this.”
That doesn’t mean a return to “RHONY” is out of the question. The insider said that there’s “no deal” for the upcoming seventh season of the reality series, but “conversations” are ongoing.
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Bravo declined to comment on the reports. Cohen created Most Talkative when he stepped down from his executive role at Bravo earlier this year and signed a two-year deal to host and executive produce “Watch What Happens Live.”
“RHONY” could stand to benefit from Frankel’s return. The series’ viewership has steeply declined over the years. According to Nielsen numbers, Season 6 saw a decline of 19 percent in total viewers and a 25 percent in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic over the previous season. Of the original castmembers, only LuAnn de Lesseps and Ramona Singer remain on the show.
An original “RHONY” castmember, Frankel left the show four years ago after just three seasons. She would go on to star in a spinoff for Bravo, “Bethenny Ever After,” for three seasons along with her then husband Jason Hoppy and daughter Brynn. The couple separated after the third season and they were officially divorced earlier this year.
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In addition to SkinnyGirl, her line of cocktails, a shapewear line and several books, Frankel hosted a syndicated daytime talk show executive-produced by Ellen DeGeneres this year. It was canceled after one low-rated season.