August 01, 2013

Special to the NNPA from

The Houston Defender

 

Originally titled “Taking Atlanta,” the series is more along the lines of MTV’s “The Real World,” simply following six strangers – Alexandra Dilworth, Emily Lipman, Africa Miranda, Tribble Reese and Jevon “Vawn” Sims, each of whom is busy in various professions but finds common ground in the city’s social scene.

Atlanta is mecca,” Bravo Media senior vp of current production Shari Levine tells The Hollywood Reporter. “There is so much personality to that city and the people really reflect that.”

Levine says the casting process wasn’t that far off from the network’s “Real Housewives” franchise. “You’re looking for similar qualities, people willing to be transparent with interesting lives, but we’re targeting a different age group and very different places in their lives,” she says. “Much of the cast is 10 years younger, they’re single, they’re active in their careers.”

The younger set is something Bravo has been going after more and more. Levine compares “The New Atlanta” to recent successes Vanderpump Rules and Shahs of Sunset — both of them filmed in Los Angeles. Bravo wants to bring that success to the ATL, a city which has already been a ratings boon to the network.

“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and Atlanta-set “Married to Medicine” gave the network its most-watched night ever back in April.

“Atlanta last season was just amazing,” says Levine. “The first part of the reunion was the highest-rated ever [2.9 million adults 18-49 and 4.3 million viewers] for any of the franchise. It’s an amazing cast.”

That’s probably one of the reasons why the “Real Housewives of Atlanta’s” third spinoff will help launch “The New Atlanta” on Sept. 17, at 10 p.m. “I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding,” starring “House­wives” fan favorite NeNe Leakes, will be “The New Atlanta’s” lead-in.

Category: Arts & Culture