The future of “The Real Housewives of Miami” may be uncertain, but according to star Alexia Nepola, one factor is clearly to blame: ratings.
In an exclusive joint interview with Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea,” Nepola and her longtime best friend and castmate Marysol Patton open up about the show’s current pause — and why they believe it doesn’t reflect the franchise’s real-world popularity.
“All these Bravo fans need to watch our show,” Nepola says. “Because it’s always like, ‘Oh my God, we love your show.’ Our show’s so popular, but where are these Bravo fans? We need them! We need them to watch our show because apparently our ratings were not that high and that’s why we’re on a pause — for now. But our life continues.”
Patton echoes the confusion, noting that her day-to-day interactions with fans tell a very different story.
“To me, it doesn’t make any sense because everywhere I go when I travel, people know who we are. “They know me, buy me a cockie, send me a cockie, the bartender’s like, ‘Can I get you a cockie?’” explains the cocktail enthusiast.
“Everybody knows us, they watch it. Hispanic people from all over the world are like, ‘Oh my God, we’re so excited — you represent Latinos.’ And then to hear that the viewership was low doesn’t make sense.”
Nepola doubles down, urging viewers to translate their enthusiasm into actual viewership numbers. “The ratings don’t reflect what our popularity is, is what I’m trying to say,” she tells us. “So to those Bravo fans and people that love our show, please continue to watch and support us because we need that if you want to see us back on TV.”
There is hope. Bravo executive Andy Cohen previously told “Virtual Reali-Tea” he does not want “Miami” to remain on pause and expressed optimism about getting cameras back up again in the near future.
“Andy loves ‘Miami,’” Nepola said. “It’s a city that everybody loves. But for whatever reason, I don’t know if the timing was wrong last season — our show was in the summer which is a difficult time of the year to actually watch the show live. So I think that influenced a lot. And you know what? We’re hoping that sooner than later we’ll come back because I feel like ‘Miami,’ the cameras should always be up.”
And if real life is any indication, the drama — and loyalty — hasn’t slowed down.
Nepola spoke to “Virtual Reali-Tea” on Wednesday while sitting in her car outside a courthouse, where she showed up to support co-star Lisa Hochstein amid the latter’s ongoing legal issues. The moment underscored what both women say sets their cast apart.
“Obviously, when the news broke out, we were just as surprised,” Nepola says. “But we reached out to her, Marysol and I did… I’m just here for her — to support her and give her a big hug and a kiss when she comes out. That’s why our show is different from other shows. We’re real friends.”
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She even revealed she’s in a better place with former foe Adriana de Moura, who also appeared at the courthouse in solidarity.
“At a time like this, everybody comes together and we forget our differences,” Nepola says. “We’re good… both Adriana and I are here to support Lisa.”
Patton, meanwhile, had a scheduling conflict but insisted she would have been there. “I didn’t know that this was going to happen until this morning,” she shares. “Otherwise, I would have 100 percent been there with the girls too.”
For now, the cameras may be down — but as Nepola put it, life in Miami doesn’t stop rolling.
Until production resumes, “RHOM” fans can get their fix by catching Nepola and Patton at their next live show, taking place Tuesday, April 28, at the Miami Improv Comedy Club and Dinner Theatre.
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