The Real Housewives of D.C.

The Real Housewives of D.C. was announced in May 2009 as the fifth installment of The Real Housewives franchise. In October, speculations regarding potential cast members such as Lisa Wernick Spies, and Lynda Erkiletian began circulating, however neither were confirmed by Bravo. On November 26, 2009, The New York Times reported that prospective cast member for The Real Housewives of D.C. Michaele Salahi, along with her husband Tareq, had managed to penetrate the White House for President Barack Obama's first state dinner despite not appearing on the guest list. Bravo released a statement on behalf of Half Yard Productions (the show's production company) stating they were of the impression the Salahis had been invited to the dinner. Nonetheless, Bravo continued to declare Salahi had not been officially cast on the show. In June 2010, Andy Cohen confirmed in a Huffington Post article that Bravo had in fact been filming Salahi, as well as other women, for months prior to the White House incident; confirming her casting. Subsequently, Mary Schmidt Amons, Lynda Erkiletian, Catherine Ommanney, and Stacie Scott Turner were announced as the official cast. The season premiered on August 5, 2010 to an audience of 1.62 million, and maintained a viewership of 1.40 million throughout the 11 episode season. On April 7, 2011, Bravo canceled The Real Housewives of D.C. It was the first time in the franchise that one of its United States installments failed to be renewed. Andy Cohen said the reason for the cancellation was due to "a stink" Michaele and Tareq Salahi left on the show, though he had wanted to bring back the remaining cast for a second season. In 2015, the network announced a new version of The Real Housewives franchise based in the D.C. area, titled The Real Housewives of Potomac to distance itself from the failed effort. ==Cast==

• Mary Schmidt Amons, 43, philanthropist and granddaughter of broadcaster Arthur Godfrey, she is married to her husband Rich of twenty years, and mother to their five children: Lolly, Ryan, Alexandra, Meghan and Matt. She is the founder of Washington based charities Labels for Love, and The District Sample Sale. • Lynda Erkiletian, 52, originally from the south, she is the founder of D.C. based modeling agency T.H.E Artist Agency. Recently dating her partner Ebong, Lydia is the mother to her four kids, Aaron, Jessica, Mihran, and Sam from her previous marriage. A staple in Washington's social scene, she's involved in numerous charitable organizations. • Cat Ommanney, 38, interior designer and writer originally from the United Kingdom; Cat moved to D.C. with her two daughters Jade and Ruby. She's writing her book, Inbox Full, with the photographic help from her husband, Charles, who's a photographer for the White House. • Michaele Salahi, 44, Virginia native and self proclaimed former Washington Redskinette, she is married to her husband, Tareq; together they run his families winery, Oasis Winery. She's an advocate for Multiple sclerosis and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. • Stacie Scott Turner, 43, real estate broker from Alexandria, Virginia, mother to her children, Jacob and Catherine, and wife to her husband, Jason. Also involved in philanthropic work, she is the founder of Extra-Ordinary Life, which caters to teenage girls in foster care. ==Episodes==

Mary Amons, Lynda Erkiletian, Cat Ommanney, Michale Salahi and Stacie Scott Turner were introduced as series regulars. ==References==