The Untold Truth Of Bravo TV

Bravo TV is home to so many reality shows that it can kind of be hard to keep track of them all, although die-hard fans of the network have no issue with that. Their obsession with Bravo TV is so real and widespread that the network even hosted its own convention for the first time in 2019, BravoCon. At the event, stars from all of Bravo's hottest shows took the stage to answer questions, spill the tea, and show their love for their fans. Not a lot of television networks can say that they've hosted such an event jam-packed with superfans, but Bravo TV sure can. Um, can we get a TLC convention, too?

From housewives to southerners to yacht crews and so much more, Bravo TV boasts a diverse cadre of programming for just about anyone. But, the untold truth of Bravo TV is that the network is truly dedicated to its viewers, so fans can expect to see a lot more Bravo TV shows coming their way in the future.

Because Bravo TV is home to so many popular reality series, it's only natural that people wonder if they could appear on one. The answer is that you can, but, it's pretty complicated. 

For example, Below Deck typically swaps out at least a few cast members each season, sometimes more. However, most crew members who appear on Below Deck have worked on a yacht before, just FYI. But if you have the cash, you could always shoot to be a charter guest on Below Deck or even Below Deck Mediterranean. Obviously, chartering a yacht is expensive, but you do get a discount for filming.

Another way you can get cast on a Bravo TV show is to just apply. Many times, Real Housewives producers are on the hunt for new wives in select cities, so if you feel like you fit the bill, then it can't hurt to apply. But unless you have experience working on a yacht, tons of money to charter said yacht, or live a luxurious lifestyle in a city where Real Housewives is already filmed, being cast on a Bravo TV show is tough.

While Bravo TV is definitely known for its reality television shows, and especially the Real Housewives franchise, it also broadcasts shows that focus on just about every subject. Sure, our favorite housewives might dominate the Bravo TV universe — thanks to the fact that they film in so many cities — but there's more to the network than catfights and dinner parties. Between their past hit series and what they currently have on the air, Bravo TV has hours of entertainment.

As the Bravo TV website states, the network has something for everyone. There are shows about fashion, food, design, pop culture, real estate, fitness, and even beauty. Seriously, to look at the roster of Bravo TV shows, plenty of folks would be impressed by the selection. Where else can you watch so many diverse programs?

Bravo TV might not have as many scripted shows as other networks, but their original programming can keep you occupied for hours on end.

If you've never watched an entire season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills or Southern Charm, then you might not know that Andy Cohen is basically the face of Bravo TV. The reason? He hosts the reunion shows for all the Real Housewives cities, and his talk show, Watch What Happens Live, is an integral part of Bravo TV's programming.

As The Washington Post reported, Cohen was instrumental in bringing reality television to Bravo. Additionally, it's not just Cohen's knack for interviewing guests and producing binge-able shows that makes him the face of Bravo — people just love his personality, according to Lauren Zalaznick, Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment. "Andy himself really embodies that," she shared, referencing Cohen's ability to represent the real people behind Bravo's hit shows. "His own human nature is a great deal of what makes him a superstar." 

Indeed fans and Bravo TV personalities alike adore Cohen, which is why many Real Housewives cast members helped to throw him an epic baby shower back in 2019. So if there's a "father" of Bravo TV, it's Andy Cohen.

As purveyors of reality television, Bravo TV works hard to make sure that fans get as much of the full picture as possible. They're known for telling real stories through its programs; even though it's only natural to suspect that the cast of shows like Real Housewives act a little different on camera than they do in real life, Bravo tries to keep it as authentic as possible, says Lauren Zalaznick, the Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment. "We embraced the idea that real people are as interesting, if not more so, than scripted characters," she revealed to The Washington Post. 

Sometimes, though, reality can get a little too dark for television; that was certainly the case when Real Housewives star Taylor Armstrong's husband, Russell Armstrong, took his own life. But for Andy Cohen, it was important to be honest about what happened. "We talked endlessly," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "In the end, we decided to capture what happened as sensitively as we could."

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In order for a show or even an entire network to be truly authentic, they have to reckon with some awkward or uncomfortable moments. Certainly there have been some seriously awkward kisses in reality TV history. Insofar as Bravo TV is concerned, it has proven to be the network of zero shame, as even Andy Cohen himself has experienced a level of embarrassment on camera that few others ever will.

During an episode of Watch What Happens Live, Cohen interviewed Tituss Burgess; the whole thing was super hard to watch, as it was clear the two disagreed on a lot of things. But according to Cohen, it was a success. "Say what you will about that episode with Tituss, but it was a half-hour episode of television where he was not feeling me, and you saw it — and we're not cutting around that," he told the The Washington Post. Cohen added that his fans "crave" that level of realness, and he's happy to provide it.

Though most Bravo TV programming tends to focus on somewhat ordinary people, like the cast of shows such as Summer House, many of the guests who come on Watch What Happens Live are actual celebrities. Obviously, Andy Cohen does interview cast members from Bravo TV programs on his show, but celebrities like Chrissy Teigen, Julianne Moore, and others also appear on some episodes.

For Cohen, getting the inside scoop on celebrities for Bravo TV audiences is truly thrilling. "I'm pretty sure there's some kind of endorphin released in me every time someone reveals a secret, whether the question came from me or not," he revealed to The Washington Post. As Cohen oftentimes asks questions submitted by viewers at home, this makes sense. "We are very proud at the amount of water-cooler churn that we generate on the show," he added. He then went on to describe his talk show as "Playboy After Dark meets Wayne's World meets Larry King Live." 

Bravo TV may focus primarily on original reality programming, but when it has the chance to break celeb news, it goes for it.

Bravo TV is a successful network that's able to hold its own in the super saturated television market. Whether that's due to the support from NBC Universal, or its own programming and marketing, it doesn't really matter. At the end of the day, Bravo TV does well for itself. 

But even though most Bravo TV shows have plenty of fans, the network has had to cancel more than a few series over the course of its history. For example, while most Real Housewives spinoffs have been ultra-successful, some cities (like Miami, Melbourne, and D.C) didn't get the ratings they needed to stay afloat. Bravo TV also canceled Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Hey Paula, and NYC Prep, as Bustle reported. 

Even if you've never heard of any of Bravo TV's canceled shows, there's no denying that the network has come a long was since it's launch.