Originally posted Tuesday, January 8, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
The cliche goes “you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.”
I suspect that’s what’s going through the brains of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” producers as they sifted through hundreds of hours of footage this season, a year without Kenya Moore aboard.
She and the show could not come to an agreement for season 11 and her absence feels pronounced in large part because this season so far has lacked enough tension or drama, the fuel for any “Real Housewives” season.
Even attempts at creating tension has largely fizzled so far. Of the two newcomers, Shamari DeVoe brings plenty of personality but no tangible story lines despite an attempt to rouse controversy with her past “swingin’” ways. Eva Marcille has been a major disappointment, shying away from conflict rather than leaning into it.
Over six seasons, love her or hate her, Moore had a natural knack for being entertaining, be it her “twirling” or her issues with her parents or her (possibly) fake boyfriends. She could throw shade with the best of the ladies and had no problems stirring the pot, especially with castmates such as Phaedra Parks and NeNe Leakes.
Moore created problems for herself with production in 2017 by getting married to restaurateur Marc Daly without bother to tell Bravo. Daly then resisted going on camera for almost the entire 10th season.
So the producers decided whatever price she was asking to do season 11 wasn’t worth it.
Perhaps now they are regretting it and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if they came back to the table for season 12 and lured her back. Given how much money “Real Housewives” pays its veterans, Moore would have a major financial incentive to say yes.
The 47-year-old Atlanta resident returning would not be unprecedented. Others have come and gone as well including originals Leakes, Kim Zolciak and Sheree Whitfield.
Moore's daughter Brooklyn was born in November and that story line alone might have added some spice to what has been a bland season to date.
In the meantime, Moore has posted plenty of shots of her daughter on Instagram to her 1.4 million followers.
And being as image conscious as she is, she is already back in post-baby fighting shape:
She also did a spread in People magazine, well aware that there is still interest in what she’s up to:
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