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Basketball Wives is an American reality TV show that premiered on April 11, 2010, on VH1. The show chronicles the lives of a group of women who are the wives and girlfriends or have been romantically linked to professional basketball players. The show has had multiple seasons and spin-offs, including Basketball Wives LA, which premiered on August 29, 2011. However, there have been speculations about why the show, particularly the Miami version, was cancelled.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cancellation | The show was cancelled due to a decline in viewership after an ultra-violent season in Miami |
| Spin-offs | Football Wives, Baseball Wives, Shaunie's Homecourt, Baller Wives, and Basketball Wives Orlando |
| Original Air Date | April 11, 2010 |
| Number of Seasons | 11 seasons |
| Current Status | The show has been renewed for an eleventh season, set to air in fall 2023 |
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What You'll Learn
Viewer decline after an ultra-violent season
The original Basketball Wives series, filmed in Miami, Florida, premiered on April 11, 2010, and ran for five seasons. The show was executively produced by Shaunie O'Neal, who also starred in it. It followed the lives of a group of women who were either wives or girlfriends, or had been romantically linked to, professional basketball players.
The Miami series concluded after five seasons, and the cast of Basketball Wives LA joined the original series for its sixth season, which premiered on April 17, 2017. The show has continued airing new seasons since then, with the latest, eleventh season, set to air in fall 2023.
Now, coming to the reason for the cancellation of the Miami series, it seems that viewer decline after an ultra-violent season played a significant role. The show had been losing viewers over time, and the violent season in Miami accelerated this decline, causing them to lose many permanent viewers.
One such incident that may have contributed to this decline was the treatment of cast member Eve, who was thrown "in the bushes and cussed out." This incident was described as "epic" by some viewers, but it is unclear if it was a factor in the show's decline or an attempt to increase ratings.
It is worth noting that Basketball Wives was always the least popular reality show compared to its contemporaries like RHOA and LHH. The LA spinoff also failed to capture the interest of many viewers, with some speculating that the changes in cast members contributed to this. The show's focus on pre-menopausal women arguing and fighting was also described as "draining, not entertaining."
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Tami and Shaunie's move to the LA franchise
The decline in viewership of Basketball Wives Miami, which was already the least popular reality show compared to its counterparts, can be attributed to an ultra-violent season in Miami. This resulted in a loss of permanent viewers.
Following the cancellation of the original Basketball Wives, Shaunie O'Neal announced that the cast of Basketball Wives LA would be reorganized for season three. Tami Roman, who was added to the cast of Basketball Wives Miami in season three, joined the LA franchise in 2015.
Tami Roman's move to the LA franchise was met with resistance from the other cast members. In a sneak peek of the show, Tami is brought in by Shaunie O'Neal, who explains that they've been "discussing the girls". Malaysia Pargo, another cast member, flat-out states that Tami will only add to the drama. Tami Roman's addition to the LA franchise was part of a cast reorganization that saw the exit of Gloria and Laura Govan, as well as Brooke Bailey.
Shaunie O'Neal and Tami Roman's friendship was negatively impacted by their time on Basketball Wives. In an interview with Dr. Heavenly Kimes, Tami Roman revealed that the last two seasons of the show made her feel like there was a lack of reciprocity in their friendship. She stated that she loved and respected Shaunie but felt that her feelings were not mutual. Tami also mentioned that newer cast members compromised the show's chemistry, and she did not get along with them.
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Cancellation and cast reorganisation
The original Basketball Wives series, set in Miami, Florida, premiered on April 11, 2010, and ran for five seasons. The show was filmed in Miami for its first season and primarily followed the lives of a group of women who were the wives and girlfriends, or had been romantically linked, to professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association.
The show's popularity began to decline after an "ultra-violent season in Miami", which resulted in a loss of permanent viewers. This, coupled with the fact that it was the least popular reality show compared to its counterparts, RHOA and LHH, led to its cancellation.
Following the cancellation of the original series, Shaunie O'Neal announced that the cast of Basketball Wives LA would be reorganised for season three. New cast members included British Williams, Brandi Maxiell, and Sundy Carter. Gloria and Laura Govan, Brooke Bailey, and Draya Michele confirmed their exit from the show.
On March 27, 2017, VH1 announced that the show would be retooled and aired under its original moniker, Basketball Wives, effectively combining the casts of both the original series and its spinoff. The sixth season premiered on April 17, 2017, with Basketball Wives LA's Jackie Christie and Malaysia Pargo joining the cast, along with Shaunie O'Neal and Tami Roman, who starred in both incarnations.
The show has since been renewed for multiple seasons, with the tenth season premiering on May 16, 2022, and the eleventh season set to air in the fall of 2023.
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Spin-offs and specials
The success of Basketball Wives has led to several spin-offs and specials. The first spin-off, 'Football Wives', aired from October 24 to December 19, 2010, and featured the wives and girlfriends of professional football players. The show was renewed for a second season of hour-long episodes, which premiered on December 12, 2010.
The second spin-off, 'Basketball Wives LA', premiered on August 29, 2011, and ran for five seasons. Following the cancellation of the original Basketball Wives, the cast of Basketball Wives LA was reorganised for season three, with new cast members including British Williams, Brandi Maxiell, and Sundy Carter.
The third spin-off, 'Baseball Wives', aired in 2012, followed by the fourth spin-off, 'Baller Wives', which aired from August 14 to September 11, 2017. On March 27, 2017, VH1 announced a pre-season special titled 'Basketball Wives Showdown: Evelyn vs. Tami', highlighting fan-favourite moments from Evelyn Lozada and Tami Roman's past seasons.
On June 19, 2019, Tami Roman and her boyfriend Reggie Youngblood starred in their own hour-long special on VH1, which followed the couple as they took the next step in their relationship. The fifth spin-off, 'Basketball Wives Orlando', is also in the works.
In addition to these spin-offs and specials, Basketball Wives has had several crossovers and cast changes. On March 27, 2017, VH1 announced that Basketball Wives would be revived for a sixth season, relocating to Los Angeles and combining the casts of the original Miami series and its LA spinoff. Subsequent seasons have also featured this hybrid cast, including Jackie Christie, Malaysia Pargo, Brooke Bailey, Brandi Maxiell, and others.
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Cast exits
Following the conclusion of the ninth season, several cast members exited the show, including Evelyn Lozada, who announced her departure in April 2022. Kristen Scott, Ogom Chijindu, Feby Torres, and Liza Morales were also not asked to return. For the tenth season, which premiered on May 16, 2022, three of the five cast members from the previous season returned, including Jackie Christie, Malaysia Pargo, and Jennifer Williams. They were joined by former Basketball Wives LA cast members Angel Brinks, Brandi Maxiell, Brooke Bailey, Brittish Williams, and LaTosha Duffey. Shaunie O'Neal, Nia, and Noria Dorsey made multiple guest appearances throughout the season.
The show has also seen cast members exit due to spin-offs and reorganizations. For example, following the cancellation of the original Basketball Wives, Shaunie O'Neal announced that the cast of Basketball Wives LA would be reorganized for season three, with new cast members British Williams, Brandi Maxiell, and Sundy Carter joining the show. Gloria and Laura Govan, Brooke Bailey, and Draya Michele would exit the show.
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Frequently asked questions
The show was not technically cancelled, but rather the casts of Basketball Wives Miami and Basketball Wives LA were combined after season 5 of the original Miami series and season 6 of the LA spinoff. The show then continued under its original moniker, Basketball Wives.
Both shows had been declining since their respective ultra-violent seasons, losing a lot of permanent viewers.
The hybrid cast continued for subsequent seasons, and the show has since been renewed for a twelfth season.
