Andy Cohen Says Shannon Beador And Dorinda Medley Revitalized ‘Real Housewives’

Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise have been running now for more than 10 years. Whats the secret? In a Bevy Asks Andy segment, posted on Friday, TV and radio personality Bevy Smith asked Andy Cohen, who helped create the franchise and is still involved with it as executive producer, what’s the secret to its success. Andy said that the franchise is successful because they keep injecting the various casts with new members to keep it alive and fresh. He named two women as examples of women who became great additions to their casts and revitalized their respective shows: Shannon Beador, who stars on The Real Housewives of Orange County, and Dorinda Medley, who stars on The Real Housewives of New York City.

When Bevy asked Andy when he knows a show has run its course, Andy pointed out that the great thing about the Real Housewives franchise is that they can add and take people out to make it new again.

“Well you know this is the great thing about the Housewives, a great thing for me and for Housewives fans, is that we keep, we re-populate the pond every time it’s starting to feel like the fish are getting kind of bored or boring. So we throw a new one in and it’s like, ‘Oh my God!'”

Andy Cohen named Shannon and Dorinda as two women who have revitalized their shows.

“You know I was talking today about Shannon Beador on Orange County. It’s like, she’s only now on, this is her third season of the show. She’s an AMAZING housewife. And Dorinda, on New York. I mean these are two people who are just brilliant on the show and they’ve really revitalized the show and re-energized the show…so I think the model is great, that we can pull someone out, maybe put them back in in a couple of years, when they’re feeling ready to go. You know, that’s how the format keeps working.”

Shannon joined The Real Housewives of Orange County on its ninth season. Her major story lines have included her marital problems with husband David Beador, including infidelity on his part, and struggle to keep the marriage together for the sake of the family. There is also the friendship drama between her and the “OG of the OC,” Vicki Gunvalson. On Shannon’s first season, she and Vicki became very good friends. Yet that friendship ended on the 10th season after Shannon, joining the other housewives, began questioning whether Vicki was helping her then-boyfriend Brooks Ayers fake having cancer. On the current 11th season, Shannon, absolutely believing that Vicki helped Brooks in a cancer scheme yet doesn’t take responsibility for it, has refused to become Vicki’s friend again.

Dorinda joined The Real Housewives of New York City on its seventh season. A major story line for her on both the last and the just recently ended eighth season is the other women’s skepticism of her relationship with her boyfriend, John Mahdessian. On the Season 8 reunion show, which concluded on Wednesday night, she was accused of doing cocaine by co-stars Bethenny Frankel and Sonja Morgan, which she strongly denied. Dorinda also defended herself when Sonja accused her of maliciously excluding her from the cast’s stay at her Berkshires home. Throughout both seasons, Dorinda have provided a lot of memorable moments thanks to her emotional outbursts and colorful commentary on what’s going on around her.

Besides praising Shannon Beador and Dorinda Medley, Andy also talked to Bevy Smith about his favorite reality TV moments captured on camera. Forced to name some, Andy mentioned scenes and seasons involving Vicki Gunvalson, Camille Grammer, Bethenny Frankel, and Sheree Whitfield.

“OC, I loved when Vicki freaked out about the family van in season 2. Beverly Hills I liked all the Camille stuff in season 1. New York, Bethenny returning to the show last season and New Jersey, the table flip. Atlanta, I love Sheree and the party planner, which was so weird and out of nowhere.”

Perhaps Andy Cohen will get housewives from several shows together on one show? As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Andy said in June that a Real Housewives: All Stars show will definitely happen. As for when, Andy said that it’ll happen when the franchise is “at the end of the line.”

[Featured Image by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images]