The Real Housewives Of New York has been one of Bravo's most popular shows since it first aired in 2008. Amid COVID-related production delays, racial controversy, and declining ratings, season 13 proved so unpopular with fans that the expected reunion has been canceled for the first time in the franchise's history.
The cast for the next season is still undecided, so it remains to be seen whether Leah McSweeny, Eboni K. Williams, or even Ramona Singer will stick around for another season. If they don't, they may join other forgotten New York housewives such as Alex McCord and Cindy Barshop who, for a variety of reasons, have disappeared from the popular franchise.
Jill Zarin (Season 1-4)
All it takes is a nasal "Hiiiieeee" and the memories of Jill Zarin will come flooding back. One of the original New York housewives, Jill was an anchor for the show, connecting all the ladies and winning viewers over with her no-nonsense attitude, empathy for others, and her adorable mother Gloria.
Sadly the fame got to Jill's head, and by season 3, she was considered a villain by the show's fans. Her friendship with Bethenny Frankel had been heartwarming to watch in the first two seasons, with the two almost like family. However, in season 3, Jill inexplicably turned on Bethenny and destroyed their friendship beyond repair, causing enough drama for fans to consider it one of the best seasons of RHONY. In season 4, Jill was desperate to prove that she had changed, but the viewers just weren't buying it and she was fired from the show. Nevertheless, Jill was an integral part of the show's early years, as much of a villain as she was, her feud with Bethenny was one of the best storylines the show had ever seen.
Heather Thomson (Season 5-7)
Heather "Holla" Thomson was introduced to the show in season 5 as a down-to-earth foil to the crazy antics of Ramona, Luann, Sonja Morgan, and Aviva Drescher. Her friendship with Carole Radziwill was endearing to watch, as the two tried to stay sane amidst the tumultuous Turks and Caicos trip.
Bethenny's grand return in season 7 signaled the end of Heather's time on the show. Bethenny was a fan favorite and filled the same no-nonsense role that Heather did. When the two started to butt heads, it quickly became clear that there wasn't room for the both of them, and Heather left the show at the end of the season.
Aviva Drescher (Season 5 and 6)
After making her debut in season 5, Aviva appearances in season 6 were far and few between. In fact, Luann was only a friend this season, yet she appeared in more episodes than Aviva. The editors even cut Aviva out of the intro for some of the episodes.
It's safe to say that Aviva was a polarizing presence on the show as she tended to fight with the majority of her fellow housewives. If only she had been more committed and turned up to the cast trips she might have had a longer run on the show, but by the end of season 6, most of the cast were against her. Thankfully, this led to one of the most legendary moments in the show's run, when Aviva pulled off her prosthetic leg and threw it on the ground, declaring "the only thing fake about me is THIS". While the audience still remembers Aviva's artificial leg, the same cannot be said for Aviva herself.
Alex McCord (Season 1-4)
The first season introduced a very different Alex McCord than the housewife we grew to love. During season one, Alex and her husband Simon VanKampen came across as fame-hungry and desperate to fit into the New York social scene. While that side of them never really went away, the show showed a sweeter, more genuine side to the couple in later seasons.
When Bethenny's life began to fall apart in season 3, Alex became an integral support system for her. Alex's journey to find her voice and stand up for herself was heartwarming to watch, even if Luann and Kelly continued to shut her down. Alex left the show after season 4 with many viewers feeling like she has been bullied by her castmates. While she exited on her own terms, Alex has since been forgotten by the RHONY fan base as more interesting cast members like Dorina and Tinsley have joined the show.
Kristen Taekman (Season 6 and 7)
As sweet as Kristen Taekman was, she just wasn't ideally suited for a reality show that relied on drama for its cast members to succeed. Tinsley Mortimer filled the bubbly blonde role so well as the ditzy but enduringly loveable housewife with an overbearing mother. Kristen shared these characteristics, but she was stuck in a questionable marriage that put off viewers and didn't have half the fun or the quirks that Tinsley possessed.
It's easy to feel bad for Kristen as by season 7, she was largely irrelevant. Bethenny refused to acknowledge her, and sadly the only thing people were talking about was that her husband was involved in the Ashley Madison scandal. Because of her inability to make an impression, Kristen is considered one of the less memorable former cast members of RHONY and is rarely acknowledged on the show.
Jules Wainstein (Season 8)
Season 8 is commonly regarded as a fan-favorite season with a memorable trip to the Berkshires and the "TipsyGirl" incident, but it also featured one of the least memorable cast members ever. Jules Wainstein was a perfectly okay housewife, but as with a lot of these forgotten housewives, she was just a little too nice and normal for the show.
While Jules had her fair share of memorable scenes like baking utensils into her lasagna dish, these moments weren't enough to prevent her from being eclipsed by other cast members such as Dorinda or Sonja. Since her exit from the show in 2016, fans of the show have forgotten about Jules despite making headlines with her divorce from her husband Michael.
Cindy Barshop (Season 4)
Who is Cindy? It's a genuinely good question. Did Cindy even know who she was? Never has there been a housewife who has felt more out of place than Cindy Barshop. Originally brought in for season 4 to replace Bethenny, the only similarity between them was the color of their hair.
Between her overbearing brother, twin babies, and confusing relationship with her ex, Cindy had so much going on in her home life, yet it all felt kind of mundane. In terms of her castmates, there was next to no chemistry, Cindy just didn't seem like she wanted to be there, so it was no surprise when she left the show when the season wrapped.
Kelly Killoren Bensimon (Season 2-4)
Some fans may be trying their best to forget Kelly Killoren Bensimon. Kelly joined in season 2 as a mother and supermodel who apparently likes to go running in traffic. During season 3, she joined the ladies on their trip to St. John's, but very quickly it devolved into the holiday from hell. Kelly has a complete breakdown and starts spouting gibberish, eating jelly beans, and accusing Bethenny of trying to kill her. Her behavior quickly alienated fans and after her exit from the show in season 4, she is rarely referenced by the show's producers or cast members.