Bravo Adding 11 New Series in 2011-12

‘Interior Therapy,' ‘Mad Fashion,' ‘Roble & Co.' join programming lineup

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/30/2011 4:00:00 PM

Click here for complete coverage of the 2011 Upfronts

Bravo will up its original programming hours by 20% in 2011, adding 11 new series to its slate, the network announced Wednesday in advance of its upfront event.

Among the new series previewed at the upfront Wednesday evening in New York were Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis, following the house-flipper as he redesigns people's homes and personal lives, Mad Fashion with Project Runway alum Chris March and Roble & Co., which follows chef Roble Ali as he launches a new catering business.

Bravo has also picked up It's a Brad Brad World, with Rachel Zoe's former assistant Brad Goreski as he starts his solo career as a stylist, and renewed several series including Top Chef Just Desserts, The Real Housewives (Beverly Hills and Atlanta), Bethenny Ever After, and Tabatha's Salon Takeover.

After Bravo President Frances Berwick finished touting the net's growth areas, including a 9% jump in adults 18-49, Andy Cohen, senior VP of original programming and development and host of Watch What Happens Live, introduced attendees to the cast of "Bravolebreties" in attendance, including ladies from the Real Housewives of New York and New Jersey franchises, Rosie Pope from Pregnant in Heels, Chris March from Mad Fashion and several Top Chef alums. In fact, the roomful of media buyers was so atwitter with the presence of the stars that Cohen had a hard time keeping their attention through his speech.

Upfront attendees were treated to a two-course dinner based on the two meals prepared in the Top Chef finale Wednesday night, one halibut and pork shoulder, the other raw Hamachi and black cod. The theme of the event at The 82 Mercer Space in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood was "Breakthough by Bravo," and throughout the evening guests were allowed to "break through" into different rooms, starting with the cocktail lounge, then the dining room, the Top Chef screening room and finally the Watch What Happens Live studio, where guests sat in as the live studio audience for the show's Top Chef finale special.