Lisa Rinnaquickly became a fan favorite when she joined the cast ofThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsduring season 5 — but she was almost an OG.
“I went in and made a tape and they came to the house and filmed a little sizzle reel,” Rinna said. “Usually when you get to that point, you’re on the short list.”
Producers wantedRHOBHto showcase “rich people” whose lives would make viewers “envious of their lifestyle.” And with Rinna’s decades-long Hollywood career andsoap opera background, she seemed to fit the bill.
“We thought Rinna was an interesting choice because she was such a Hollywood type — sort of the actress/entertainer who was still hanging on and has afamous husband,“RHOBHexecutive producer Alex Baskin explained.
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But it wasAndy Cohenwho ultimately objected to casting Rinna.
“Lisa Rinnahad been on so many reality shows, it just seemed like a parody to me,” he said. “For me, it needed to be about real women. I didn’t think we should have an actress, and I didn’t think any of them should be famous.”
As fans know, that approach didn’t last long. Rinna would go on to become one of many actresses to joinRHOBH, includingEileen Davidson,Denise RichardsandGarcelle Beauvais.
Rinna wasn’t the first celebrity to be approached for the show. When producers were putting together casts forThe Real Housewives of Orange County, they turned to Hollywood.
“Kristy Swanson— the originally Buffy the Vampire Slayer — interviewed for the show back in season 12,” said casting director Dawn Stroupe. “When we came to do the interview, she was wearing a puffy vest and a sweater and jeans. She just didn’t look like the glam they wanted forHousewives. And what we learned when talking to her is that her ex,Alan Thicke, had just died the day before and she was very upset. And ultimately, she didn’t get cast.”
LipstickactressMariel Hemingwayalso expressed interest in joining the show but never got cast, according to the book.
“I thought she’d be a great fit, I mean she’s an Academy Award nominee, after all,” said producer Scott Dunlop. “I passed her on and she went up to Evolution and the network and it didn’t work out for one reason or another.”
David Livingston/Getty Images; Vivien Killilea/Getty Images; CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images
One dream Housewife the show never managed to snag?Vanessa Bryant.
“Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant?” saidRHOCcasting director Jennifer Redinger. “We pursued her every year and she was a no. She passed.”
Not All Diamonds and Roséis out now.
source: people.com
