If you’re a pop culture aficionado with a penchant for a solid mocktail, you probably caught wind of the Bravo bombshell on Page Six—producers aren’t exactly fans when one of their Real Housewives decides to live alcohol-free. The most recent episode of The Sober Curator podcast, “The Real Sober Housewives Part 2,” dove headfirst into this controversy with the wisdom, humor, and spunk that only this powerhouse panel could deliver.
Right off the bat, Anne Marie Cribbin (who literally wrote the viral open letter to Andy Cohen) cuts to the chase: our culture—and particularly “reality” TV—hasn’t made space for evolving relationships with alcohol. “Changing a relationship with alcohol can just be because it doesn’t serve you anymore,” she says. The stigma? It’s outdated, misinformed, and dramatically underestimates just how juicy sober stories can be.
So why aren’t we seeing more Housewives dry up their wine glasses alongside their handbags and Botox appointments? As the Sober Curator squad points out, it’s not because sobriety isn’t interesting. Rather, producers cling to a tired formula: “drama equals drinks.” But take it from Amy Liz Harrison, an eight-kid survivor (that makes her basically a reality star), who reminds us: “Sober people can have lots and lots and lots of drama over the Splenda or the Styrofoam cup or the coffee brand. #IYKYK There’s all kinds of drama to be had without drinking, for sure.”
Sober Isn’t a Bummer (It’s the Plot Line We Deserve!)
The outdated notion that sobriety kills ratings? It’s a cop-out. As Alexandra Nyman passionately points out, shows like Terrace House prove you don’t need tequila shots to make compelling television. Personal evolution—especially the messy, vulnerable kind that comes with putting down the bottle—makes for riveting storylines.
Imagine if instead of focusing on who slurred what at the last dinner party, Bravo showcased Housewives journaling through heartbreak, working with therapists, or launching NA beverage lines (shoutout to Margaret Josephs’ Soirée). As Megan Swan points out, “Why not have that character do something else cool that no one else is doing? Create that dichotomy—this person never wakes up with hangovers, has all this renewed energy.” That’s aspirational. That’s new.
Evolving Characters, Evolving Audiences
Reality TV isn’t static—neither are its viewers. The hosts and guests note that, like the ever-changing faces and purses of the Housewives, the audience is ready for stories that reflect real life. “There’s beauty in our evolution,” says Anne Marie. Sobriety and self-work are anything but boring when they’re presented honestly.
Plus, let’s be real: audiences are fragmented, and Gen Z is “drinking” up zero-proof content on TikTok and YouTube rather than network TV. The demand is there—Bravo just needs to catch up. As Alysse Bryson admits, “At a certain point it no longer feels good to me… the cattiness and the mean girl stuff, I’m just completely over that.”
The Sobriety Taglines We Deserve
Can reality TV get sober and still be glam? You bet. The podcast panel’s imaginary opening lines say it all:
- “I may not drink, but honey, I still serve.”
- “Alcohol isn’t all that I’m free of.”
- “I may be on husband number four, but I don’t need booze anymore.”
Let’s Raise Our Mocktails
The Sober Curator panel isn’t anti-reality TV—they’re super-fans desperate to see stories evolve as much as the fashion, faces, and friendships. The ultimate takeaway? “Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more.” And that deserves the spotlight, not the sidelines.
So, Bravo (pun very much intended)—it’s time for a fresh plot twist. Let’s show that sobriety isn’t the end of the story; it’s just a better, more real beginning.
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SOBER POP CULTURE: Dear Andy Cohen: It’s Time to “Bravo, Bravo, Fing Bravo” a New Drinking Narrative by Anne Marie Cribbin
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