Andy Cohen Explains ‘Deep Pause’ for Real Housewives Show

Andy Cohen shared new details on the decision to put several “Real Housewives” shows on pause, most notably “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

In a November 2024 interview with People magazine, Cohen said it was “smart business” to put certain Housewives shows on a break.

“We have a lot of Housewives going right now,” he explained. “And it’s one of the reasons it took so long to get ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ going, and one of the reasons we’re in a deep pause with ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey.’ We just want to make sure we get everything right and be very deliberate with everything we’re doing. … We love these shows, we all want to get it right.”

In July, Cohen confirmed on his Sirius XM show, “Andy Cohen Live,” that there would be a recasting or possible reboot for “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” amid the toxic cast dynamic during season 14.

Andy Cohen Is In No Rush To Bring Back RHONJ

Cohen has repeatedly said his team is in no rush to get RHONJ back on the air. “Things take time and we want to take a minute to figure things out,” he said on Sirius XM’s “Reality Checked” with Kiki Monique in June 2024. “There’s no point in rushing into something just to rush into something.”

More recently, he hinted to Deadline that RHONJ is low on the priority list with so many other Housewives cities rolling out. “We’re looking at what we’re doing with Jersey,” he said. “We had this Housewives drought [over the] summer, [which] everyone was complaining about, and I think it’s about getting the rollout so that it’s a steady stream and there’s the right amount [of shows].”

“We are taking our time, we are in no rush,” he added of RHONJ. “We’re really gratified with what’s on the slate for next year.”

The RHONJ Cast Members Have No Idea About Their Status

As of this writing, the RHONJ cast members have no idea if they will be asked back for season 15—if there is one.

During an October 2024 episode of her podcast, “On Display,” longtime cast member Melissa Gorga said there’s been “zero decision” on the cast’s fate. “I don’t even think they’re discussing the ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ over at 30 Rock. They are not,” she said.

On the October 16 episode of his Sirius XM show “Andy Cohen Live,” Cohen reiterated. “We’ve made no decisions on the ‘Real Housewives [of New Jersey].”

“We’ve done nothing. I mean, well no actually we’ve done plenty,” he added, before shooting down casting rumors.