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PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF THE OCEAN HOUSE.
On Location
‘ The Real Housewives’ reality TV series has landed in Rhode Island and a longtime fan of the franchise predicts possible local filming spots.
T
O SAY THAT I AM EXCITED that the“ Real Housewives” has landed in the Ocean State is an understatement. I have been a fan of the Bravo network reality television series since it began in 2006 with“ The Real Housewives of Orange County.” Since then, I’ ve watched the franchise expand into twelve different series produced in the United States by Bravo. The brand also expanded internationally to sixteen countries, with twenty-nine spinoffs around the globe that centered around at least one housewife, including“ Vanderpump Rules.”
“ We as a state were able to get the show because of the social interest around Christmas time. We were one of four locations in the running,” says Steven Feinberg, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Film & TV Office.“ In early 2025, the Film & TV Office was notified that we were chosen. The bottom line is, it’ s supposed to be entertaining, and it has a huge fanbase.”
According to Feinberg, the excitement has been unprecedented, especially within the industry. The office has been bombarded by businesses who hope to be part of the show, who understand the positive exposure that multiplies when a series like this gets broadcast across
The Ocean House is the ideal location for a girls weekend trip or weekend getaway. The cast can hit the high-end restaurant or the beach.
the globe.“ We are the smallest state with the greatest backlot. It’ s like our whole state is a movie studio. We have these glorious cinematic, visually splendid sites. We’ re very special,” Feinberg says.“ The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” is actively filming now until September, which is the best time of year to showcase the Ocean State.
The most successful franchises involve cast members who are larger than life. They love hard, work hard, dream big, and fight even bigger, in my opinion. They share the good, the bad and the ugly of their personal lives. And if you’ re not being honest, believe me, in this small state, those skeletons will eventually make their way out of the closet.
We see the housewives live aspirational
62 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I AUGUST 2025