Since The Real Housewives of New York City season 13 wrapped, fans have been calling for the return of Tinsley Mortimer and Jill Zarin, and it's time to explain why. After a season that showed the once-acclaimed franchise reaching new lows, viewers want the series to return to its roots. Tinsley and Jill have just the right amount of history and humor. It's possible that they could bring the series back to its former glory.
After the departures of Bethenny Frankel in season 11 and Dorinda Medley in season 12, two alpha personalities were suddenly missing from the show. The Skinnygirl Food & Drink founder recently ruled out a return to the franchise on her Bethenny Twitter, writing, "I posted on Insta that my being in talks w @BravoTV is [100 emoji] false. I deleted there & took here Bc Haiti is what’s important & I don’t want to clutter msgs w false gossip. The leak is desperate for attention. I haven’t spoken to bravo since leaving & @Andy & I don’t discuss rhony.”
As for Dorinda, while she hasn't completely dismissed a potential return to RHONY, it's doubtful fans will see her holding an apple again. She left the show on bad terms with some RHONY women. That leaves the door wide open for the return of two other former cast members who have just as much to bring to the ensemble cast.
The reality star Jill Zarin is an original RHONY cast member. In fact, she was the OG who recommended several of the women who joined the series, including Bethenny and Ramona Singer. After her time on the series, Jill sadly lost her husband Bobby Zarin to cancer. He passed away in 2018. She later began dating business Gary Brody, who is the owner and president of Marcraft Apparel Group. The two recently moved into a penthouse apartment together. Jill has embarked on a whole new life since she left the show in season 4, and her evolution is fascinating to fans. While Jill may be an OG, she has the potential to bring the fresh energy of a newbie to the show.
Tinsley Mortimer brings old money glamour. RHONY has been missing her vibe since her departure. Tinsley left the show during the middle of season 12, after a series of brutal arguments with Dorinda Medley. She moved to Chicago with her then-fiance, Scott Kluth. Since then, Tinsley and Scott have ended their RHONY engagement. With Dorinda gone and Tinsley's relationship over, fans are invested in watching Tinsley flourish and find her true love. She's the endearingly sweet counterbalance to cast members known for more outrageous antics.
The biggest thing that both Jill and Tinsley have going for them is their history and chemistry with the current cast. Many fans felt as though newbies Leah McSweeney and Eboni K. Williams had no real organic connection to the OGs. They don't run in the same Upper East Side circles and are significantly younger, so it seems a bit of a stretch that they'd be friends with women like veterans Sonja Morgan and Luann de Lesseps. Jill and Tinsley have real RHONY friendships and real chemistry with the rest of the women, as well as real fights. Their return would bring fun, glamour, and history. Their return is what The Real Housewives of New York needs to get back on top.
Sources: Bethenny Frankel/Twitter, Page Six