'RHONY' Is Overdue For A Cast Housecleaning

If you have anything bad to say about the Housewives, in the words of Dorinda Medley: "Clip!" The Real Housewives Of New York City hasn't been officially renewed by Bravo yet for Season 10, but after a season as fantastic as this one — with drunken meltdowns, houseguest drama, and the very unsurprising postseason divorce of LuAnn and Tom D'Agostino — it seems inevitable that the network will decide to bring it back for another year. If the series is renewed, RHONY Season 10 will premiere, most likely, in 2018.

The show has suffered through some long delays in the past, like the almost two-year hiatus between Seasons 5 and 6. But if (and more likely, when) Bravo decides to announce the tenth season of RHONY, there could be some major changes in store.

The show's cast is full of some heavy hitters: Bethenny Frankel, LuAnn, Ramona Singer, and Sonja Morgan are all rightful Housewives legends, while Dorinda has proven to generate iconic moments, and Carole Radziwill is a true voice of reason. This was Tinsley Mortimer's first season, but if she hadn't have gotten trapped in the endless cycle of bad houseguest drama and talking repetitively about her mugshot, she would have been a welcome addition too. But while these women all bring varied personality quirks to the show, it's possible that Bravo is currently more interested in providing more representational diversity.

In an interview with Parade, Bethenny said she's been looking for new RHONY cast members that could potentially diversify the show. "I would like to see some younger cast members. I’d like to see an African American woman on the show," Bethenny said. "There are really no Jewish women in the cast. There are also no Asian, Latino or gay women on the show. I’d like it to represent New York more." According to The New York Post's Page Six, Bravo also wants to make RHONY more diverse. "After nine seasons, the show’s been very white, and in the most diverse, melting pot of a city," Page Six's source claimed. "New York is such a diverse city. The show should definitely reflect that," another Post source reportedly said.

It's worth noting that Season 8's Jules Wainstain was a half-Asian, half-Jewish woman who loved to share details about her ethnic and racial background. Unfortunately, she wound up being totally overshadowed by the big personalities who have been on the show for a long time.

According to the same Page Six article, LuAnn recommended a friend who was not cast — which is strange, since a friendship with a current cast member reportedly helps. Similarly, Bethenny told Parade she'd "suggested someone who didn’t work out." She didn't mention how far along in the process that person went.

It's possible that in order for new women to join the cast, some of the veterans will have to take a step back. After Season 4, Bethenny, Jill Zarin, and Alex McCord were all cut or decided to leave the show, making room for Carole, Heather Thomson, and Aviva Drescher. While two out of those three women are no longer on the show, it was a necessary shift. The Real Housewives Of New York City could be in need of a similar shift now. Hopefully, it doesn't turn out like Ramona's terrifying pre-Mexico peel, and is more like Ramona's typical skincare routine. Give this cast a makeover, so The Real Housewives of New York City can stay fresh.