Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" has been given a minor makeover for its seventh season, which returns November 9.
As reported earlier, there are two newcomers in the crew - actress Demetria McKinney and model/radio host Claudia Jordan. I was told a few weeks back that McKinney would be a full time cast member and Jordan a recurring one but in fact it's the other way around.
Jordan, who moved to Atlanta recently to be on the Rickey Smiley morning show, has been bestowed full-time status while McKinney has been placed in recurring status, which means she won't appear in every episode. So even though Jordan had an expectation of being on "Dish Nation," she ended up with an even higher profile TV gig.
Also, newly single Porsha Williams has been demoted from full time to recurring, the first time a cast member has ever been placed in that position. In the past, cast members such as Sheree Whitfield and DeShawn Snow were just taken off the show completely (or in the case of Kim Zolciak, moved to a spin-off show.). Williams has another full-time gig, though, as a cast member of the daily syndicated show "Dish Nation" with Smiley.
So you have to wonder: did Porsha's unsolicited attack on Kenya Moore during last year's "Real Housewives of Atlanta" reunion show engender a change? Nobody is saying.
Based on the trailer, Kordell Stewart makes a return visit and Tyler Perry protege Roger Bobb will appear since he is dating McKinney. And we get a glimpse of Apollo Nida raging at Phaedra Parks before he was officially incarcerated last month. The trailer also fans flames that Parks might be having an affair. There is also more drama between Todd Tucker (Kandi Burruss' husband) and the mother in laws.
Here's the press release summary of how the season will begin:
Fresh off performing in Las Vegas as Cirque du Soleil's mistress of ceremonies in "Zumanity," NeNe has recently launched her own clothing line and will be heading to the Broadway stage to star in "Cinderella." Recently married, Kandi attempts to build her expanded family with Todd, but faces unexpected road blocks along the way. Meanwhile, Kenya focuses on her producing career and can't shake the thoughts that a baby is what is missing most from her life. Always on the go, Cynthia is now stronger than ever both on the health front as well as with her marriage; the only thing missing is not having former BFF NeNe by her side. With Apollo facing years of incarceration, Phaedra shows incredible resilience while raising two young boys on her own and maintaining her successful career. Claudia Jordan is a TV and radio host who recently moved to Atlanta from Los Angeles. Working as co-host on the "Rickey Smiley Morning Show," Claudia loves the social scene Atlanta has to offer and having her good friend Kenya Moore around. Recently single, Porsha is enjoying a fresh chapter in her life and joins "Dish Nation" as its Entertainment gossip contributor. Award winning actress and singer Demetria McKinney is also new to the mix and getting up to speed with these sassy Southern ladies.
Cast members are given seven-year contracts. This is NeNe Leakes' seventh year so there has been plenty of speculation this will be her final one.
About the Author