Yahoo Lifestyle Will 'RHOBH' Cast See a Major Shake-Up Next Season? Show Producer Gives a Hint (Exclusive)
A shake-up in the cast of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is always a possibility, says Alex Baskin.
Baskin—who serves as a producer on the long-running Bravo franchise—exclusively tells Parade that production is "always" on the lookout for great additions to the cast, like Season 14's Boz Saint John and friend Jennifer Tilly.
"I will say that we are coming from a position of strength, so I think Boz definitely brought a bold, fresh, new energy, and I think that she's really [been] embraced by the group," Baskin says while promoting his and The Hills: New Beginnings alum Caroline D'Amore's new podcast, "Once Upon a Con."
"But I also think that she stands on her own, so we're really pleased to have her. I also think that we're always taking a look around and seeing what's out there, but I think that we're in a really strong place," Baskin tells Parade. "It's a very close-knit group. I think you see that the disagreements that they have are real and personal, and the fun they have is also great for the audience to experience. You'll see more of that through the second half of the season, including on their group trip, which is a big one."
Related: Who Will Return for 'The Real Housewives of New York' Season 16?
He adds, "We always take a look around and if it makes sense to add to the group or to shake the group up, [then] great."
While RHOBH is in the midst of a successful 14th season, Baskin—who additionally serves as producer on The Valley, Real Housewives of Orange County, Vanderpump Rules and more—also tells Parade that he was excited to focus on his new podcast venture with D'Amore, 40, founder and CEO of Pizza Girl.
Once Upon a Con chronicles D'Amore's "dramatic pursuit of justice" after she—along with other victims—were conned out of tens of thousands of dollars in a fraudulent investment scheme by "notorious and prolific fraudster" David Bloom, who is currently in a Los Angeles prison awaiting trial.
"Caroline basically [is] taking herself from a victim who was down in the dumps, who was taken [advantage of] by this guy in one of the lowest moments of her life, and then decided that she was going to bring him to justice," Baskin tells Parade, noting that on one hand, it's a story with a "bunch of twists and turns" that keeps listeners' interests piqued.
"On the other hand, it's a story of empowerment and [making] yourself vulnerable," he continues. "People do not like to acknowledge that they've been conned. There's sort of a stigma associated with it … It's a story of empowerment as much as it's a story of crime, but David Bloom is not the star of this. Caroline D'Amore, who began as the victim, is."
He adds of D'Amore: "She's a great crusader and she's someone who has really found her voice, and I think ultimately that's sort of what I love about this story is that not everyone who is conned obviously ends up OK on the other side of it. There are victims who end up worse for it, but I do think that Caroline really found power through this experience [and] not only wanted him taken into account, but also used this to sort of fuel her to do other work."
The first two episodes of Once Upon a Con can now be streamed on iHeartRadio and other podcast platforms.
Related: Here's When Every 'Real Housewives' Franchise Is Coming Back
