Have you caught Total Divas fever yet? WWE’s big experiment into estrogen-fueled reality TV is set to premiere on E! this Sunday, and both sides are crossing their fingers that the show is a hit.
Sources close to the production tell us exclusively that both WWE and E! are happy with the direction of the show and have “high hopes” it will succeed — particularly since it will have a major lead-in from those Kardashians!
Long-running reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians is E!’s top rated program and thus both parties feel it will serve as a nice launching pad for the WWE-themed show. On the flip side, though, the strong lead-in means there is some pressure for Total Divas to perform well in its time slot. However, both WWE and E! are confident the strong WWE fan base will tune in, and we’re told there’s a good feeling about the exposure the show has gotten in the media, too.
Indeed, the Total Divas cast — including the Bella Twins, Natalya, Naomi and Cameron — have been pulling out all the stops to promote the series, with Nikki and Brie Bella appearing on The Today Show, E! News and Fashion Police, to name but a few promotional tour stops.
As a big departure from WWE’s other programming, it’s hoped WWE fans will be hooked in due to the familiar faces (including the male stars like John Cena), while new audiences will be attracted to the show — and the Divas — due to its similarity to other female-led reality shows like Kardashians and Real Housewives.
We’re told that while there haven’t been discussions about future seasons beyond the initial eight episodes — because it’s “too early” — there is some hope that at least one or two other WWE Divas may join the cast for a proposed second season. Of course, that will all depend on how this first season plays out, but insiders say “it’s not uncommon” for casts to change season-to-season.
As for this run of episodes, some of the other Divas will make appearances here and there — but that is to be expected given the behind-the-scenes aspect of the show.
Total Divas premieres Sunday, July 28 at 10pm.
Are you excited for Total Divas? Will it sink or swim?
