Everything you didn't see at BravoCon, from a new Housewife to old feuds
Comic-Con has officially met its match.
What the annual fan convention is for entertainment and comic book enthusiasts, BravoCon is for fans of anything and everything featured on Bravo network.
Fans of the reality-centric Bravo, home to the Real Housewives franchise, Southern Charm, Below Deck and Below Deck: Med, Vanderpump Rules, Top Chef, Project Runway and more flocked to New York City for the three-day event from Nov. 15 to 17.
Tickets to the convention sold out in 60 seconds, and the resale prices surged into the thousands of dollars for the chance to attend a number of panels, events and exhibitions.
The weekend featured the biggest taping of Watch What Happens Live ever, complete with appearances by 76 Bravolebrities and an audience of over 2,000 people.
Other highlights included panels with past and present Housewives; the announcement of an entirely new franchise, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City; brunch with the cast of Southern Charm; a Top Chef dinner; a Vanderpump Rules after-party; and a cabaret show featuring the Real Housewives of New York City’s Luann de Lesseps.
Couldn’t make it to New York for the big event? Keep reading for everything you need to know about the first-ever BravoCon.
BravoCon is a family affair! Don’t Be Tardy’s Kroy Biermann looked on lovingly as Kim Zolciak-Biermann made the press rounds. The mother of six explained the key to their relationship is that he “lets me be me ... I hit the jackpot for real.”
Real Housewives of New York City alum Jill Zarin had two very special guests sitting front row at her panel: boyfriend Gary Brody and daughter Ally Shapiro. The two later looked after her dog, Bossi, as she walked the press line backstage.
Real Housewives of Orange Country original cast member Jeana Keough was accompanied to the press room by her daughter, Kara Keough Bosworth, who is expecting her second child in April.
At the first panel of BravoCon, former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Kim Richards admitted that she wants the infamous bunny back. Fans will remember the dramatic Season 7 reunion moment, where she returned the stuffed animal that had been gifted to her grandson by Lisa Rinna. Andy Cohen later addressed this moment during the taping of Watch What Happens Live! and the two women hugged and promised to resolve their years-long feud.
Bravo fans never forget — especially when it comes to the Ham Game. During a Q&A segment following the “OG Housewives” panel, one fan asked to play the infamous Ham Game with Real Housewives of New Jersey alum Caroline Manzo. He jumped onto the stage, carrying his own ham, and the audience cheered as Caroline and Andy Cohen pelted him with slices.
Props to the fan who brought slices of ham in hopes that Caroline Manzo would sling some at him. She obliged. #BravoCon #RHONJ pic.twitter.com/dGqpY5J6kD
— Yvonne Villarreal (@villarrealy) November 15, 2019
Ramona Singer certainly isn’t mourning the loss of former RHONY cast member Bethenny Frankel. When asked how she’s feeling about the new dynamic, Ramona declared the cast is “better and stronger” without Bethenny.
During the “Empire State of Wives” panel, one fan asked Dorinda Medley and Luann de Lesseps what they thought of the obvious editing on absent castmember Sonja Morgan’s recent Instagram photo. Fans rushed the stage to show the RHONY cast members the photo in question, and the women gathered to see for themselves. Dorinda peered at the photo and exclaimed, “That looks nothing like me!”
Happy birthday, Captain Lee Rosbach! The longtime Below Deck fan favorite celebrated his 70th birthday on the BravoCon stage. His wife of 44 years, Mary Anne, wheeled out a tray of champagne flutes to celebrate following his panel.
I will never not be obsessed with @capthlr + Mary Anne's relationship 😍 the couple of 44 years celebrated Lee's 70th birthday at #BravoCon pic.twitter.com/3zNlxnxRdJ
— Maggie Andrew (@maggie_andrew) November 17, 2019
When asked why charter guests would televise their travels, Below Deck: Med’s Captain Sandy Yawn confirmed what has long been rumored: The extravagant yacht vacations are significantly subsidized.
Below Deck fans: There is yet another series on the horizon! A teaser for Below Deck: Sailing Yacht played during the panel discussion.
#BelowDeck Sailing Yacht will launch with a familiar face in the galley and #BravoCon 2019 got a first look. https://t.co/H9PdRdE75F
— Bravo (@BravoTV) November 15, 2019
It’s safe to say Tinsley Mortimer’s on-again boyfriend Scott Kluth isn’t a fan favorite. The crowd loudly booed when the RHONY star revealed they are, indeed, back together — prompting the reality star to get out of her chair and run to the front of the stage, in sheer disbelief.
Vanderpump Rules star Tom Sandoval walked the red carpet in a drag look he named “Visa Manderhump” alongside TomTom co-owner Tom Schwartz.
Is a job transfer in Kelly Dodd’s future? The Housewife admitted that she’s open to exchanging her orange for an apple following her engagement to New York-based Fox News correspondent Rick Leventhal. She also hinted that RHONY star Ramona Singer, who introduced the couple this summer in the Hamptons, will be a bridesmaid.
now that's a ROCK 💍 congratulations, @RHOC_KellyDodd! #BravoCon pic.twitter.com/Et3HJD3915
— Maggie Andrew (@maggie_andrew) November 17, 2019
RHONJ’s Caroline Manzo and RHOBH’s Lisa Vanderpump left the stage during the first commercial break of Watch What Happens Live before they had the chance to come face to face with their former castmates.
There’s a new woman in the Big Apple! Luann de Lesseps introduced new cast member Leah McSweeney as the Real Housewives of New York City took the stage during Watch What Happens Live.
Is there a double Housewives wedding in the future? Atlanta’s Cynthia Bailey and Orange County’s Kelly Dodd both revealed they’re eyeing Oct. 10, 2020 wedding dates.
There is no love lost between former Real Housewives of Atlanta castmates Kenya Moore and Kim Zolciak-Biermann. As Kim sang “Don’t Be Tardy for the Party” during the taping of Watch What Happens Live, Kenya pointedly looked down and away from her longtime foe.
#BravoCon highlight: @Andy joining @Kimzolciak for an epic #DontBeTardy duet 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/NWmHecOUge
— Maggie Andrew (@maggie_andrew) November 17, 2019
Following the WWHL taping, RHOC’s Tamra Judge dove face-first into the audience. She excitedly took selfies with fans before she was hoisted back onstage by multiple Housewives.
The state of Teresa Giudice’s marriage came up multiple times throughout her panel appearances. Fellow castmate Dolores Catania, who was open about her disapproval of the way Joe Giudice talks to his wife, told her, “You’re going to meet a lot of different people now. If things don’t work out, you’re going to see the way the rest of the world talks to women.” Teresa might already have someone in mind: The RHONJ star confirmed that she is still friends with 26-year-old realtor Blake Schreck, whom she was spotted holding hands with in February.
Danielle, who? The crowd loudly yelled “No!” when Teresa Giudice asked if anyone cares for RHONJ’s longtime pot-stirrer, Danielle Staub. Teresa later laughed and said, “I guess you haven’t heard” when a fan asked if she is still close with her foe-turned-friend, confirming that the two have officially parted ways once again.
When a fan asked who is responsible for choosing the lavish group vacation locales, RHOC’s Vicki Gunvalson eagerly shouted “production” to Andy Cohen’s obvious shock. Andy explained that the women, as a group, discuss where they’d like to go, and Vicki retorted, “I tried that, it didn’t work. I wanted to go to Greece, we went to Florida.”
No part of Bravo history is too obscure for the Real Housewives Museum. The featured items included Tamra Judge’s breast implants and the charred remnants of Cynthia Bailey and Nene Leakes’s friendship contract. Recognizable dresses from each Housewives franchise lined the hallway, but one dress stood apart from the rest. Kenya Moore’s infamous “Gone with the Wind fabulous” dress was located on its own spinning platform, twirling away.
Spotted in the Real Housewives Museum: @KenyaMoore's Gone with the Wind Fabulous dress, twirling away 💃 pic.twitter.com/9m8nlHVU3d
— Maggie Andrew (@maggie_andrew) November 17, 2019
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