We love us a good Real Housewives storyline, especially when it brings drama, drama, and did we mention drama? These days we’re practically spoiled with nine series franchises to-date, which is why we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of these famous, first-season casts. How the times have changed!

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The Real Housewives of New York City

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The Real Housewives of Atlanta
The antics between a “very rich” NeNe Leakes and Kim Biermann were everything when RHOA debuted in 2008, but we were also thoroughly entertained by DeShawn Snow, Shereé Whitfield and Lisa Wu. Of course, none of these originals have lasted the entire series. NeNe was a guest in season eight and took season nine off before returning, while Kim made it five seasons before leaving for her spinoff, Don’t Be Tardy. As for Kandi Burruss, spinoff queen? She only joined the show in the second season.
RELATED: Who is the most-hated housewife ever?
RELATED: Who is the most-hated housewife ever?

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The Real Housewives of New Jersey
It was all in the family when this iteration debuted in 2008. Sisters Caroline and Dina Manzo were married to brothers Albert and Tommy Manzo, while Jacqueline Laurita was married to the ladies’ brother, Chris Laurita. The always explosive (and famous table-flipping) Teresa Guidice— the only Housewife to star on every season— and controversial cast member Danielle Staub — who left after two seasons and returned for eight and nine as a friend— rounded out this OG cast.

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The Real Housewives of D.C.
Who could forget the 2011 experiment featuring Mary Amons, Lynda Erkiletian, Cat Ommanney, Michaele Salahi and Stacie Scott Turner? Sadly this iteration only lasted one season, but we enjoyed following these ladies while we had them on our televisions. So why didn’t the show return? Andy Cohen has told press that he wanted another round, but after Michaele and her husband Tareq crashed a White House state dinner, the politics of it all left too much of a “stink.”
RELATED: What do The Real Housewives of Potomac do and what is their net worth?
RELATED: What do The Real Housewives of Potomac do and what is their net worth?

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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
In 2010 Hollywood opened its doors to the Housewives franchise with a cast that included former child actors, posh entrepreneurs, and even Frasier Crane’s wife. Camille Grammer, Kyle Richards, Adrienne Maloof, Kim Richards, Lisa Vanderpump and Taylor Armstrong were the original leading ladies, but there have been plenty of changes since then. By the time the sixth season kicked off only current stars Lisa and Kyle remained as series regulars, as Kyle’s sister Kim notably departed to deal with reported substance abuse problems.
RELATED: How Lisa Vanderpump makes her money.
RELATED: How Lisa Vanderpump makes her money.

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The Real Housewives of Miami
Lea Black, Adriana de Moura, Alexia Echevarria, Marysol Patton, Larsa Pippen, and Cristy Rice were the original ladies featured on this short-lived installment when it premiered in 2011. Sadly the series only lasted three seasons, at which point Larsa and Cristy were the only OG women who weren’t participating in the show in some capacity.

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The Real Housewives of Potomac
Apparently there’s room in D.C. for The Real Housewives after all, because this iteration is still going strong following its 2016 debut. Back then the cameras followed Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon, Karen Huger, Charrisse Jackson-Jordan and Katie Rost, who helped make the premiere the highest-rated debut of any series in the franchise. Given that, it’s no wonder that these days most of the original cast members are still on the show; Katie appeared on the last season as a friend, while Charrisse was a friend in season three and then departed in order to focus on her family following a divorce from her husband, Eddie Jordan, after 20 years of marriage.
RELATED: Which Real Housewife hurled these memorable insults?
RELATED: Which Real Housewife hurled these memorable insults?

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The Real Housewives of Dallas
Big hair and big drama were among the promises when Cary Deuber, Stephanie Hollman, LeeAnne Locken, Brandi Redmond and Tiffany Hendra debuted the Dallas edition of the show in 2016. That lineup is only slightly different than the one featured today; Tiffany has since departed to focus more on her family while D’Andra Simmons and Kameron Westcott rounded out the cast in season two.
RELATED: The most expensive Real Housewife weddings.
RELATED: The most expensive Real Housewife weddings.
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