'Real Housewives of New York City' Season 8 Update: Juliana Weinstein Joins the Cast

By Charmaine Montes, Christian Post Contributor Thursday, November 19, 2015

The return of "Real Housewives of New York City" for its eighth season is still a long wait but reports about what to expect have already surfaced. According to E Online, filming for the reality series has already started and majority of the cast are making a comeback to the show.

Housewives Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, Luann de Lesseps, Carole Radziwill, Dorinda Medley and Bethenny Frankel are all said to be part of the upcoming new season. But Page Six reported that Singer, Morgan and de Lesseps have been reduced to a "pay for play" system.

"They tried to power play Bravo," a source told Page Six. "They tried to hold out for more money, and the network said, 'Guess what? We're not even going to give you a contract.'"

At this point, the source stated that the three will appear only if they are needed and if it works in the context of their scene. Their rate per scene is said to be $20,000 and they don't have to work six days a week, go to events or go on vacations that are filmed with the rest of the cast. Despite their demotion in the show, sources say that they are happy with their new contract.

A new face is also reported to grace the series. According to a report by Star Pulse, Bravo has added Juliana Weinstein in to the cast list but it's not known yet what role she will be playing—either a full-time housewife or just a friend of the wives. International Business Times cited that she has already started filming for the series.

While a new member is coming, two will no longer be appearing. Reality Tea reported that Kristen Taekman and Heather Thomson will not return to the show. Taekman said that she wants to put more focus on her business. Her husband, Josh Taekman, was also caught in a cheating scandal after being exposed during the Ashley Madison hack. Thomson, on the other hand, said that she quit the show because the cons of doing the show is more than the pros.

"Real Housewives of New York City" will return to Bravo soon.