Things are getting icy in Utah as a major casting shakeup is coming to the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City for season 4.
Page Six reports that Bravo is bringing on three new Housewives to the RHOSLC cast for season 4 of the franchise.
Jen Shah will not be returning to the show as she is set to report to jail on February 17 to serve her 6.5-year prison sentence.
Meredith Marks, Heather Gay, Lisa Barlow, and Whitney Rose are expected to return for season 4.
“They held auditions in the fall,” a source reveals. “They were looking to replace three of them. They hadn’t decided if some of the ‘friends of’ would be promoted or if they’d find new talent.”
“They’re trying to bring in new women to lighten it up,” another insider notes before adding that Bravo is looking for “over-the-top” women.
A third source backs up the claims, saying, “It’s true that they are considering new Housewives.”
Amid the report, Meredith Marks commented on the alleged casting shakeup, telling Page Six, “I think we need people who are going to help bridge the gap. Obviously, we’re very divided right now. That’s a problem.”
“It’s obviously really hard to have events and do things when we’re not getting along,” Meredith added.
Meanwhile, Meredith also appeared on HollywoodLife‘s Pay Attention Puh-Lease! Podcast, where she addressed Jen’s exit and how the franchise will fare without her.
“Jen was a really big part of the show. She’s obviously quite entertaining,” Meredith admitted.
“As was Mary [Cosby],” Meredith added of Mary, who exited the show following season 2.
“I do think we felt Mary’s absence this year, and I do think we will feel Jen’s,” she said. “It’s an ensemble cast. I think we have a lot of strong personalities. I don’t think it will be a problem moving forward. But we will feel the absence for sure.”
Speaking of Mary, Meredith admitted that she would like to see Mary return to the show.
“I’ve talked to everybody about it. I think Mary is amazing television,” she said. “You could love her or hate her, and I love her, but not everybody does. But I do think no matter what you say on that; she is great television. She’s funny.”
As for the three friends of the Housewives, Angie Harrington, Angie Katsanevas, and Danna Bui-Negrete, who joined the show during season three, Meredith believes that they divided the cast and doesn’t know if Bravo should bring them back for season 4.
“Angie K. and Danna and I didn’t mesh well. There was a lot of stuff that I didn’t agree with,” Meredith explained. “Actions that they took, things that they did, things that they said. We didn’t really mesh all that well.”
She continued, “It feels like they really exacerbated this divide in the group. That’s not positive towards moving forward and finding resolution. That, to me is the bigger issue.”
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs Wednesdays at 9 pm on Bravo.Thoughts on this all? Sound off below!
Follow AllAboutTRH On Instagram. Follow AllAboutTRH On Twitter. Like AllAboutTRH On Facebook.Meredith Marks, Heather Gay, Lisa Barlow, and Whitney Rose are expected to return for season 4.
No, Jen Shah will not be returning for season 4 as she is set to report to jail on February 17 to serve her 6.5-year prison sentence.
Yes, Bravo is bringing on three new Housewives to the RHOSLC cast for season 4 of the franchise.