By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Monday, March 30, 2015
Since "Real Housewives of Atlanta" remains Bravo's most popular show, the executives will do whatever they can to keep that gravy train going.
One easy way is to pump out spin-off shows. Earlier this month, we exclusively reported Kim Zolciak's "Don't Be Tardy" was given a fourth season renewal. NeNe did well with a spin-off show "I Dream of NeNe" focused on her wedding in 2013.
Now, Bravo is bringing the two original "Real Housewives" castmates together for a road trip spinoff called “NeNe and Kim: The Road to Riches" as the working title. There is no time frame when the show will debut.
Kim and NeNe started "Real Housewives" in 2008 as friends. NeNe had even recommended Kim to be on the show. But as the seasons go by, they had a major falling out and got into multiple arguments. By the time, Kim left the show season five, they were no longer talking.
But distance made their hearts grow fonder. The pair showed up last December at a "Watch What Happens Live" talk show and appeared chummy again.
"Time heals wounds. I think over time we kinda healed, and Kim ended up leaving the show… all of those things. I just think time heals," NeNe said.
Kim added: "I definitely agree, I think time."
How this road trip will look like is unclear. Neither women are the types to "rough it." They like their pampered comforts. Kim hates leaving the house. (Notice that a good percentage of her time on "Don't Be Tardy" is in her home.)
It'll be interesting how much sacrifice they will tolerate. Will they be seeking every luxury hotel they can? Are they going to bring any friends along (and maybe a chauffeur)? Or will Bravo send them into the hinterlands and (gasp!) camp out?
Recently, Straight From the A reported that Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker were taping a spin-off show themselves but if that were the case, Bravo did not include it in their announcement of new and returning shows.
Another metro Atlanta-based Bravo reality show in production appears to be about suburban moms in a PTO called "Mother Funders." The description:
Meet the ambitious suburban ladies of Locust Grove, Georgia's Parent-Teacher Organization. These moms are a real class act, parlaying their executive room experience to run the local PTO and raise thousands of dollars for the town's local elementary school. Full of teachable moments, they give new meaning to "getting schooled."
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