Bravo Picks Up The Real Housewives Of New York City For Third Season

Bravo has picked up The Real Housewives of New York City for a third season, but might feature a new group of Manhattan socialites. Announcing that the reality series will return in 2010, Bravo said it is “casting for additional housewives” amid reports about a salary dispute between the cable network and the six cast members: Alex McCord, Bethenny Frankel, Jill Zarin, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, LuAnn de Lesseps and Ramona Singer.

Negotiations between the stars and Bravo are ongoing. Production on the third season of the Shed Media U.S.-produced show is slated to begin in the fall.

The second season of The Real Housewives of New York City, which chronicles the lives of a group of ambitious women as they juggle careers, motherhood and social calendars, was up double digits in the ratings. It averaged 1.44 million adults 18-49 and 1.95 million total viewers, with both the season finale and reunion special drawing more than 2 million viewers.

Although it hasn’t been officially announced, the The Real Housewives of Atlanta series will soon begin production on its fifth season. Also, a second-season renewal for The Real Housewives of New Jersey is pending.