Crime Doesn’t Pay! ‘RHONJ’ Season Six Premiere Debuts To Rock Bottom Ratings In 18-49 Age Group – Record Low Numbers

The ratings for Bravo’s season six premiere of the Real Housewives of New Jersey are in, and they’re not good.

Apparently promise of legal drama from the Giudices, a returning cast member and other potentially action-packed plotlines weren’t enough for the reality TV show, as it debuted to its lowest ratings ever in the 18-49 demographic.

During the 8 pm time slot, only 2.14 million viewers tuned in, with approximately 1.17 million of those aged 18-49, according to Bravo ratings. These are the lowest ratings for a RHONJ season premiere, even lower than their 2009 freshman season, which raked in 1.26 million viewers aged 18-49.

Hoping to capitalize on the publicity surrounding the Teresa and Joe Giudice’s fraud sentencing, Bravo expected to see high ratings numbers. But the charges against them are having the opposite effect, with fans turning away from the Italian couple.

Similar to Real Housewives of New York City and Orange County, RHONJ has seen a major cast shakeup, axing Jacqueline Laurita, Caroline Manzo and Kathy Wakile. Instead, the network has brought back former cast member Dina Manzo, the only one who supports Teresa.

The sixth and current season will focus on the Giudices as they try to keep their family a stable unit amidst their impending sentencing while Manzo deals with her own problems, including her divorce.