BravoCon 2025 brought the network’s slate full circle on Sunday with several panels and announcements around new and returning shows.
With barely any voice left, Andy Cohen hosted his second “Ask Andy” BravoCon talk with thousands in attendance. “My voice sounds crazy,” said the executive and Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen host. “I’m just burning the candle at both ends. It’s BravoCon. I am leaving everything in Vegas.”
Then Cohen dropped two major headlines that Bravoholics were thirsty for. In honor of the 20th anniversary of the network’s centerpiece Real Housewives franchise, he unveiled a teaser introducing the hotly anticipated cast of Real Housewives of Rhode Island. Among them, Bachelor in Paradise alum Ashley Iaconetti and The Real Housewives of New Jersey Dolores Catania in a “friend” role.
To further celebrate the milestone year for the franchise, Cohen, an executive producer, unveiled The Real Housewives: Ultimate Road Trip, which will debut in 2026. A group of beloved Housewives will hit the road and visit some of the most memorable locations in franchise history, starting in Orange County and heading to the East Coast. Expect appearances by fan favorites from different cities, nostalgic reunions, revelations, humor and all the Bravo “winks” one would hope for.
Throughout the hour-long unscripted chat, Cohen continued to tease more Housewives news and revealed an aside about one show he would love to do again, but never could.
“We have a cast for the Real Housewives of New York City filming in the next few months,” he shared. “There was a show I loved that we could never produce — that we could barely produce then — but [2009’s] NYC Prep was amazing. I can’t believe we got through one season of that, but I love that show.” [NYC Prep followed the lives of six affluent Manhattan teens.]
He also gave updates on other beloved franchises currently on hiatus, including when New Jersey will film again and whether it will include the reconciliation between estranged family members Joe and Melissa Gorga with Teresa Giudice.
“It seems legit but I will tell you there is a reason we didn’t pick up cameras … they should do it for themselves and not for cameras and not for Bravo, because family is bigger than all of that. I wish them all the best,” Cohen said. “Regarding Jersey [the show], we will pick cameras back up. It’s coming back, but we will do it when the time is right and when we feel great about it. Two years ago, everyone was saying, ‘Where’s Atlanta? Where’s Atlanta?’ And we were waiting until we had the right cast. We just wrapped a new season and it’s going to blow you away. I feel good about the group that we found for Real Housewives of New York. And Jersey will be next. We want to get them right before rushing into it.”
As enthralling as the exclusive news was, the audience Q&A is always the most compelling part of any BravoCon panel. The fans never miss an opportunity to put Cohen on the spot, asking why he has never had Taylor Swift in the Bravo clubhouse for his late night talk show. “I would absolutely love to have her. She’s not said yes before,” he responded. “Some people consider me a little dangerous.”
They also asked why there has never been a Real Housewives of Las Vegas. “We did a casting eight or 10 years ago and maybe we didn’t find the right group, but I don’t disagree. I love Las Vegas so much I can’t even tell you. I feel like I’m leaving my lungs here this week,” Cohen joked.
When asked about the next BravoCon, Cohen quickly responded. “I just want to get through today.”
Turning introspective when asked about what he has learned from his work on the career-defining show, Cohen said he has taken away valuable lessons over the last two decades and takes pride in the work.
“I’ve learned the power of forgiveness. I have learned about people wanting to be heard, people wanting to be acknowledged, people wanting to be seen,” he said. “I view the housewives as a great feminist show, to be honest. You’re seeing women take control … women sometimes over 50. You know it used to be the women on TV who were over 50 were the Golden Girls, and now they’re our thriving and beautiful and sexy and incredible, dynamic women.”
Read THR‘s BravoCon coverage from Day 1 and Day 2.
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