What Happened To Denise Richards' First Reality Show That Premiered 11 Years Before RHOBH?

Many believe that Denise Richards’ first reality TV show was The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. But it was actually an E! series called Denise Richards: It’s Complicated back in 2008. Even then, the actress confronted people who attacked her family.

Denise notably left RHOBH after Brandi Glanville claimed that they had an affair. In It’s Complicated, the former goes after those “exploiting” her and her loved ones following her public divorce from Charlie Sheen. Unfortunately, it fell short for critics, leading to its cancelation after Season 2.

In March 2025, fans will get another glimpse of Denise’s life in Denise Richards and Her Wild Things, a play on her provocative role in her breakout film, Wild Things. It’s a Bravo docuseries where the high-earning OnlyFans creator opens up about her “more complicated” family life. But first, here’s why It’s Complicated didn’t get a Season 3.

Denise Richards: It’s Complicated Wasn’t Canceled After Season 2

Denise Richards Was Called “Boring” During Her Reality Show Debut

Denise Richards: It’s Complicated premiered in May 2008, with its last episode coming out in July 2009. Rumors of cancelation began in Season 1. Palm Beach Post famously wrote in a review: “E! is calling the new show Denise Richards: It’s Complicated. I’d suggest a name change: Denise Richards: It’s Boring.”

But in a report by The New York Post, an E! spokeswoman explained that they just “wanted to take the time to discuss the creative process with Denise to make sure there was enough storyline to do a second season.”

They then did Season 2, with its first episode having the highest ratings and 1.5 million viewers. Contrary to assumptions, It’s Complicated wasn’t canceled. It seemed like a mutual decision to conclude the series in the second season.

Denise Richards’ First Reality Show Focused On Her Life After Divorcing Charlie Sheen

Denise Richards Agreed To Do It’s Complicated To Show The Real Her

The selling point of It’s Complicated was that it followed the life of Denise while going through her public divorce with Charlie. She was seen as a single mother, navigating her career, and trying to date again. Her father was also shown living with her after he offered to help take care of Denise’s daughters with Charlie: Sami and Lola.

When asked what made her get into reality TV back then, Denise revealed that E! icon, Ryan Seacrest pitched the idea to her. “He said, ‘I want to do a TV show with you because other people don’t know the person I know,'” she told Redbook in May 2008. Denise’s parents also “encouraged” her to do it.

“My mother adored Ryan, and before she passed away in November, she said, ‘People need to see who you really are,'” she continued. “And that was the reason I finally decided to do it. As a mom, I can’t imagine how hard it would be to hear hurtful, untrue things being said about my daughters.”

At that time, Denise’s decision was met with criticism from both Charlie and the public. She was accused of “exploring” her children. “I’m in a no-win situation,” she hit back. “If I have my kids in the show, I’m exploiting them. If I don’t, people will think I’m not a hands-on mom.”

Denise added that she and Charlie mutually decided “not to shield” their children from the media. “If Charlie and I had decided together to keep our kids away from the media, I would understand where he’s coming from now,” she argued. But we made the decision as a couple not to shield our children.”

Denise Richards Has Had A Challenging Reality TV Experience Since It’s Complicated

Denise Richards’ Life Gets “Harder” In Denise Richards And Her Wild Things

Denise gave reality TV a second chance 10 years after It’s Complicated ended. The Blonde and Blonder star joined Season 9 of RHOBH in 2019, lasting only until the next season. Denise left after the endless cast feuds on the show. She particularly felt that her rumored affair with Brandi went too far, leading to that iconic “Bravo, Bravo, F***ing Bravo” phrase.

After RHOBH, Denise took another reality TV challenge; but this time, it was physical. She competed in Season 3 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test where both of her breast implants ruptured while jumping off a bridge for a challenge.

Then in March 2025, fans will get to see Denise’s “unpredictable family life” again on Bravo’s Denise Richards and Her Wild Things. The docuseries also stars her husband, Aaron Phypers, and her daughters: Sami, Lola, and Eloise (adopted in 2011). There are also cameos from her former RHOBH stars.

Denise Richards and Her Wild Things premieres on March 4, 2025 (Tuesday) on Bravo with two back-to-back half-hour episodes at 9 p.m. ET. Starting on Tuesday, March 18, the series will air one episode each week.