With NBC's scripted crop in a state of disrepair outside of their crop of sturdy hits from creator Dick Wolf, the network is moving in the direction of unscripted - and they're bringing Wolf along for the ride, just to be safe. The network has tapped into one of NBCUniversal's highest-profile cable assets, the Real Housewives franchise, ordering The Real Housewives of Chicago to series, set for a full twenty-two episode to debut in the fall. Wolf, the mastermind behind the Chicago franchise, co-created and will co-produce the series alongside the mastermind behind the Real Housewives franchise, Andy Cohen. The franchise has not yet set its cast, but with NBC wanting to make a big splash for the series grand debut, they are looking to cast fan favorites from both the Dick Wolf universe and the Real Housewives for the first season of RHOChi, with SVU's Mariska Hargitay and New York housewife Countess Luann both considered early frontrunners to be cast, with Ice-T and Taylor Kinney likely to be cast in a 'friend of' capacity. With the order of this new Housewives offshoot, likely to get the plum post-Voice slot on the fall schedule, plus NBC games coming to the network on Tuesdays, NBC is said to be planning a future without scripted programing, following a disastrous season in the ratings for all of their new and sophomore dramas. Already expecting RHOChi to end up a success, NBC has placed Below Deck: Chicago, Chicagoan Charm, and Married to Chicago Med in early development, as they tap into some of Bravo's other successful franchise. For his part, Wolf has already been floating a second One Chicago night, featuring his three new flagship unscripted series, hoping for RHOChi, Below Deck: Chicago and Chicagoan Charm to form a new Thursday night unscripted block by fall 2027.
What do you think of this news? Are you surprised by this new NBC-Bravo partnership? Will you tune in for season one of RHOChi? Let us know in the comments!
