Bravo Benefits From 'Real Housewives'

Whether Left Coast or East Coast, Bravo's Real Housewives franchise delivered with the Nielsens on Thursday night.
The fifth-season finale of the The Real Housewives of Orange County averaged 2.45 million viewers on March 4, including 1.81 million adults 18 to 49, according to Nielsen data. Those marks, 25% higher than the fourth-season concluder, were the best ever for an Orange County season finale, according to Bravo officials.
Moreover, the fifth season became the OC's most-watched cycle to date, averaging 2.01 million total viewers and 1.47 million adults, 17% above the previous season, which had been the show's best on the measures.
The OC girls will gather again on a special two-part reunion on March 10-11 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).
The Real Housewives of New York City started its third season with 2.04 million watchers on average, up 25% from its second-season premiere on Feb. 17, 2009 and the most ever for the series. Included in that total were 1.45 million persons 18 to 49, an 18% gain over the sophomore-season debut.
For its part, Watch What Happens: Live scored the series highest-ratings ever with 1.27 million total viewers, up 119% from 581,000 last week and a 167% surge among the 18-to-49 set: 952,000 versus 357,000.
New York housewife Jill Zarin will join Andy Cohen in the" Bravo Clubhouse" at midnight on March 11 on Watch What Happens: Live.