The Bravo babies are all grown up in Next Gen NYC, which stars Gia Giudice, Brooks Marks, Ariana Biermann, and Riley Burruss as they, along with the rest of their Gen Z friend group, navigate friendships, love triangles, and blossoming careers in New York City. Given how successful their parents were/are on Bravo, it’s no surprise that this show has been on fans’ radars for well over a year. But does it match the hype? We watched the first episode, and here’s what we think.
Opening Shot: Next Gen NYC opens with Ariana (daughter of Kim Zolciak) walking her dogs through the streets of Manhattan. She guides her Atlanta-born pups away from the grime of the sidewalks, and praises the New York energy (a.k.a. the smell of urine and cigarettes).
The Gist: Next Gen NYC follows a group of twenty-somethings carving out their own legacy in … you guessed it … New York City. The show stars crypto bros, children of Real Housewives stars, the daughter of a music mogul, and any other kind of nepo baby you can think of as they build the next chapter of their lives — and get a little messy along the way.
What Shows Will This Remind You Of? If Gossip Girl were a reality show, it would be Next Gen NYC.
Our Take: Next Gen NYC has the potential to become Bravo’s next big hit. The show draws in the already-established Real Housewives fanbase by including Ariana, Gia, Riley, and Brooks — but gives plenty of airtime to the other rookie reality stars, giving us something new and fresh to look forward to. From Episode 1, the drama is top-tier, with Charlie Zakkour (Next Gen NYC’s Chuck Bass) making an inappropriate comment about Brooks’ sister Chloe Marks after going on one date with her. Plus, Georgia McCann confessing that she doesn’t wash her hands is sure to cause some tension among the girls — especially after Riley refused to hug her at the end of the night because of it.
It’s hard to compare this show to others like Summer House or Vanderpump Rules, partly because it’s Bravo’s first time shedding a light on Gen Z and Zillenials rather than Millenials (and above). But it does have the same young, carefree vibe that early seasons of those shows had. While four members of the cast are very used to having cameras shoved in their faces, everyone still manages to bring an authentic vibe that doesn’t feel performative or staged. They’re not afraid to be themselves (whether it makes them look good or bad to the audience), and that is the most important ingredient in the formula for a successful reality show.
Sex and Skin: There’s no sex and skin.
Sleeper Star: It will come as no surprise if Emira D’Spain is Next Gen NYC’s breakout star for being effortlessly cool (and the first transgender cast member to join a Bravo show full time), or that Charlie could make a name for himself as the next Bravo villain. But I truly think Georgia also has what it takes to turn viewers’ heads. Ignoring the fact that she doesn’t wash her hands after going to the bathroom, Georgia is a fourth-generation New Yorker who works as an brands and events creative strategist. She’s worked on everything from the Katz Deli Diplo party to Ana Delvey’s clubhouse arrest party, where they turned the convicted fraudster’s house arrest apartment into a nightclub following her release from prison. I mean, iconic!
Most Pilot-y Line: “New Yorkers are very friendly … sometimes,” a kind old lady tells Ariana when she’s walking her dog/apartment shopping. While the unnamed woman was a small part of the opening scene in the pilot episode, her comment surely summarizes the different personalities within this friend group.
Our Call: STREAM IT. While Gia, Brooks, Riley, and Ariana will draw Bravoholics into Next Gen NYC, it’s the rest of the cast that will make them want to stay.
Next Gen NYC premieres Tuesday, June 3 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.