Originally posted Sunday, November 4, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
By jettisoning Sheree Whitfield and Kenya Moore, the producers of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" hope to find some new momentum season 11 with some new cast members and fresh relationships for two of the veteran cast members.
Ratings sagged season 10 as viewers tired of the Porsha Williams/Kandi Burruss feud, Kim Zolciak's antics and Moore's odd behavior regarding her husband.
Here are five things I’ve gleaned about the new season based on the trailer and first episode Bravo provided me that debuts Sunday at 8 p.m.:
1) No poison here: New cast member Shamari DeVoe could be a pistol. She's the wife of Bell Biv Devoe and New Edition singer Ronnie DeVoe. As is typical on the show, new cast members are not introduced during the first episode. She will show up later.
2) Movin' on up: Eva Marcille, who was introduced in part-time fashion last season, gets a promotion. She just had a son and during the season will be preparing for her wedding, which happened in early October.
3) New boyfriends: Divorcees Cynthia Bailey and Porsha are dating seriously. Porsha is now both pregnant and engaged to a "serial entrepreneur" named Dennis McKinley. She said he told her he loved her on the first date! They moved quickly. Within five months, they were at a jeweler looking at rings. Cynthia's boyfriend and sportscaster Mike Hill lives in Los Angeles so they are in a long-distance relationship.
4) Medical issues: Poor NeNe Leakes is dealing with her husband Gregg's health issues. His latest situation? Colon cancer.
5) Relational dynamic shifts: NeNe and Porsha are in a much better place after some difficult moments last year. Porsha is also trying to mend fences with Kandi though that one may be more difficult to resolve. It's too soon to say who the two newcomers will get along with - or not.
TV PREVIEW
“Real Housewives of Atlanta” returns for season 11 at 8 p.m. Sunday, November 4, 2018
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