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30 Rules the Real Housewives Have to Follow

They’re iconic. They’re famous. They’re beautiful. They’re America’s favorite housewives. The Real Housewives franchise first launched on October 14th, 2010 with its first season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and since then we’ve been hooked.

If you’re anything like us, you’ve been right alongside these women through wavering husbands, confrontational dinner parties, and even tax evasion! We know we’re totally living vicariously, but we can’t get enough of these women and their larger-than-life personalities. We’ve all daydreamed of being like them, flawless, big-haired goddesses—but being a housewife is a lot more work than it seems. In fact, the housewives have very strict rules that must be followed at all times. Afterall, without rules these ladies would just turn into prosecco-drinking drama-monsters!

In celebration of more than 10 years of The Real Housewives, we’re taking a look at the behind-the-scenes rules that each housewife has to follow. Just because it’s called reality TV doesn’t mean there's anything real about it! In fact, you may be shocked at how these rules have impacted your favorite housewives. Some have even been fired for breaking them. 

They Have to Audition

They Have to Audition

Not just anyone can be a real housewife. In fact, there is an extensive interview process before each lady is cast for the season. In addition to “the look” each cast member is tested rigorously through on-screen tests and home interviews.

To top it off, housewife king, Andy Cohen, gives the final approval. He’s like the real-life Charlie from Charlies Angel’s.

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You Don't Show Up to the Reunion, You Lose Your Spot

You Don't Show Up to the Reunion, You Lose Your Spot

Sometimes the drama gets to be too much for a housewife, and she just can't show her face at the reunion. Whatever their reason, there is a zero-tolerance policy for missing the big shoot.

Housewives like Lisa Vanderpump, Adrienne Maloof, and Mary Cosby have been terminated over bailing. If you can't stand the heat, Bravo will kick you out of the kitchen!

Image via Evolution Media/ Dunlop Entertainment

A Housewife Can Pay to Upgrade Their Accommodations

A Housewife Can Pay to Upgrade Their Accommodations

Proving our point, if an accommodation isn’t up to standard, a housewife can use her personal funds to upgrade as she wishes.

It pays to be a housewife!

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Each Housewife has an Assigned Seat at the Reunion

Each Housewife has an Assigned Seat at the Reunion

Yes, where each housewife sits at the reunion is totally strategic. And rumor has it Andy himself has input on each cast's reunion seating chart.

Whether it’s to show who ended up on whose side of the fight, or to place enemies right next to each other—there is always an angle production is trying to spin.

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You Can’t Mess With the OG Housewives

You Can’t Mess With the OG Housewives

The unspoken rule among housewives: don’t mess with the OGs. Seriously, when the new girl starts messing with the queen bee who's got more than a decade under her belt, there can be some severe consequences amongst the other housewives.

They could even get demoted; the housewives always need more friends after all. 

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The Housewives Aren't Supposed to Sue Each Other

The Housewives Aren't Supposed to Sue Each Other

Those catfights and verbal assaults used to serve as nothing more than entertainment for the masses, as it was expected to keep things on terms where you can come back and film together each season. If two housewives are duking it out in court, it might make for great tabloid fodder, but it makes filming a thousand times more difficult.

Although the housewives have their own creative ways of serving justice via the show or their social media platform, housewives suing each other has seen a sharp uptick in recent years. From bar brawls to SA allegations, it's fair to say the housewives play dirty.

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Instigating Drama is Highly Encouraged (and Rewarded)

Instigating Drama is Highly Encouraged (and Rewarded)

Drama is the fuel that keeps the season going, and the housewives totally get brownie points (and paydays) for keeping it all going.

Afterall, friendly luncheons and charity events are boring; we want that hot gossip, girl! 

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A Housewife Must Not Break the Fourth Wall

A Housewife Must Not Break the Fourth Wall

As much as they want to, the housewives can’t address the audience while on camera. Doing so would break the fourth wall, and it’s a big no-no in reality tv. If the stars address the audience, it will totally break the illusion that all of this is happening in real life.

Several housewives have broken the rules, however; we could never forget Denise Richards's iconic "Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!" line on RHOBH.

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Housewives Sign a Non-compete Agreement

Housewives Sign a Non-compete Agreement

While on the show, each housewife builds a name for themselves.

That’s why Bravo makes each housewife sign a non-compete for up to one year, barring them from going on another show. Afterall, they really wouldn’t be famous if it wasn’t for Bravo anyway. 

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Bravo Gets a Cut of All Businesses Promoted on the Show

Bravo Gets a Cut of All Businesses Promoted on the Show

If you think all that free advertisement for housewife product lines were free, you thought wrong!

Each housewife’s contract specifies that the network receives a cut from all products and businesses promoted on the show. There truly is no such thing as “free” anymore. 

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Their Private Phone Conversations Can Be Used on the Show

Their Private Phone Conversations Can Be Used on the Show

EVERYTHING is fair game, even their phone calls. There’s absolutely a reason that every phone call on screen is over speaker phone. Production wants to see and hear every detail of the drama.

Afterall, if this rule wasn’t in effect, we would have totally missed out on seem very juicy facts throughout the seasons. 

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They Used to Be Required to Blog While the Show Aired

They Used to Be Required to Blog While the Show Aired

In the early seasons, each housewife was required to blog their experiences and reactions on the show, and oftentimes a lot of drama was started over what was written (or rather, ghostwritten). In later seasons, however, cast members took to Twitter and Instagram to air their grievances and clap back at the trolls.

The fans missed the beloved blogs so much that Bravo gave each show its own after show, where cast members sit in a confessional-style interview and discuss the season. So much happens between the season being filmed and actually airing, so this helps the fans catch up on the context they've missed in-between!

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Their Taglines are Mostly Their Idea… but Not Really

Their Taglines are Mostly Their Idea… but Not Really

A housewife wouldn’t be a “Real Housewife” without their iconic tagline. Changing with every season, these catchphrases make a statement about who the housewife is, and what she’s all about. The taglines are actually picked at the end of filming, after all of the drama has unfolded.

According to producer Doug Ross in an interview with E! News, each housewife gets to record five or six taglines, and the producers choose which one best fits their narrative for the season. 

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Housewives Can’t Speak to Each Other at the Reunion Before Cameras Are Picked Up

Housewives Can’t Speak to Each Other at the Reunion Before Cameras Are Picked Up

Tensions are at an extreme high by the reunion, and that’s why the housewives aren’t allowed to speak to each other on set before filming.

Save it for the stage, ladies! We need to see what’s going on… for information purposes of course!

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Attending Cast Trips is Optional, but Really Expected

Attending Cast Trips is Optional, but Really Expected

If you’ve ever wondered why the girls torture themselves on these turbulent trips, it’s because they’re actually extremely encouraged to go on the trips. 

But at least it's a paid vacation—some choose to suffer through it for more airtime.

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Family Drama Can Absolutely Become Part of the Plotline

Family Drama Can Absolutely Become Part of the Plotline

We’re taught to leave family drama alone amongst friends, but that just isn’t the case when it comes to reality TV.

As much as they try to keep personal family drama off the air, production can absolutely use it to move the season along. They're notorious for doing this on RHONJ and RHOBH

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While Vacationing, Alcohol is Always Bottomless

While Vacationing, Alcohol is Always Bottomless

What better way to get the drama mill going than unlimited alcohol? Alcohol is always available to the housewives while on holiday.

In fact, if they run out or don’t have the alcohol of choice, production will go get their preferred drinks immediately. 

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They Have 3 Confessional Looks

They Have 3 Confessional Looks

To make us all believe that the interviews are real-time reactions to each episode, the housewives have to wear the same three outfits, hair and makeup for all of their in-episode interviews.

Vicki Gunvalson told Glamour, "You wear the same outfit all year long. You get three looks [total]. But for three months, you have to wear the exact same outfit, same hair, same makeup. You can never cut your hair in the middle of it because you're supposed to look the same.”

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They Pay for Their Own Glam

They Pay for Their Own Glam

Their face, their responsibility! The housewives actually have to pay for their own glam squad while filming, which can start to add up when you consider how often the groups go on trips.

Erika Jayne was the first housewife to expose the network for not paying for hair and makeup. She even flies her glam team out to every cast trip. 

Image via Evolution Media/ 32 Flavors

Andy Cohen Decides Who Returns Each Season

Andy Cohen Decides Who Returns Each Season

Andy loves his housewives, and that’s why he has the final say on who comes and goes from the show each season.

So if you’re ever in the position to be a Real Housewife, make sure to keep it interesting and kiss up to the boss, or you just might get the chop.

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Housewives Must Be Available for Reshoots, At All Times

Housewives Must Be Available for Reshoots, At All Times

A lot of work goes into filming reality TV, and sometimes production doesn’t get the cut it wants the first time.

So, each housewife must be available for reshoots of key scenes. Not very real, is it? 

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Housewives are Paid in a Lump Sum by the Network

Housewives are Paid in a Lump Sum by the Network

Each housewife receives a lump sum for their time filming each season.

Friends of the housewives are only paid per episode. So if it seems like their friends are clawing for airtime, it’s because they totally are!

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Their Promo Looks Must Coordinate

Their Promo Looks Must Coordinate

At the beginning of every season, we all look forward to seeing the cast in their promo shoots.

It's always fun to see the unveiling each season, what each theme the cast chose, and how well they executed!

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The Producers Allegedly Stage Phone Calls to Fuel Drama

The Producers Allegedly Stage Phone Calls to Fuel Drama

What production wants; production gets. Each day of filming, each housewife is given a brief of the day.

On some occasions, the producers have been accused by cast members of encouraging staged phone conversations to poke the bear and push juicy confrontations or storylines that come into effect later. 

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Those Exotic Trips Are Only Partially Paid for By the Network

Those Exotic Trips Are Only Partially Paid for By the Network

Even though they’re strongly encouraged to go on cast trips, the housewives have to pay for part of the trips themselves.

Maybe the housewives’ taste and vacation necessities are so outrageous, the network just can’t possibly cover it. 

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Producers Prefer New Housewives to Have Connections

Producers Prefer New Housewives to Have Connections

To keep things at least a little real, the auditioning housewives must have actual previous friendships with some of the established housewives.

Otherwise, the new girl would just get the imposter edit for the whole season! Who even is she? Does she even go here? Countless questions - the girls would be in hysterics!

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Not All Housewives Get Paid the Same

Not All Housewives Get Paid the Same

Where’s the drama if every housewife is compensated the same? Each housewife negotiates their own pay, and the terms that come along with that pay.

New housewives are paid substantially less than OG housewives and fan favs.

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Production Will Work Around Any Schedule, Including Prison Time

Production Will Work Around Any Schedule, Including Prison Time

Some housewives' lives have seriously spiraled out of control in complete view of the public. What’s juicier than the show's villain finally facing jail time?

 While unfortunate, it just makes for good TV. That’s why production absolutely goes out of their way to film the train wreck. 

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Everything in Their Life is Free Game for Production

Everything in Their Life is Free Game for Production

There is no stone left unturned while filming, any situation in the housewives’ personal lives is totally on the table for production.

Family problems, marriage problems, your mom’s dog’s sister’s affair - It’s all talked about while filming. 

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They Have to Keep the Same Look the Whole Season

They Have to Keep the Same Look the Whole Season

We all know reality TV isn't actual reality; sometimes things require reshoots or reenactments, and often you will sit down for an interview on events that took place months prior—so if someone has a completely different hairstyle, it can really throw the viewers off from the storyline.

No wonder some of them come back to the reunion with a nose job, or two...

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