Keeping Up with the Kardashians premiered in October 2007 and changed reality television forever. The show followed the lives of Kris Jenner, her ex-husband Robert Kardashian, and their children Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, Rob, and Kylie. It ran for twenty seasons and 233 episodes, ending in September 2021. The series was created by executive producer Michael Costello, who also served as the showrunner during its early years. The show was produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, which had built its reputation on The Real World and The Simple Life. It aired on E!, which had been looking for a hit after years of struggling with its lineup.
The show’s premise was simple: cameras were allowed into the home of a wealthy family, and viewers watched them argue, celebrate, and live their lives. What made it different was the openness of the family. They did not hide their wealth, nor did they pretend to be ordinary. They showed their homes, their cars, their jewelry, and their business dealings. The result was a show that was both intimate and theatrical, a blend of soap opera and lifestyle programming that became a cultural phenomenon.
The show was a landmark.
Trailer, via Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
The Early Episodes
The first season introduced viewers to the family dynamic. Kris Jenner was the center of attention, running her cosmetic company and managing her children’s careers. Her ex-husband Robert was a quieter presence, often left out of the main drama. The children each had their own personalities: Kourtney was the eldest and most grounded, Kim was the ambitious one, Khloe was the playful one, Rob was the shy one, and Kylie was the youngest and most mysterious.
The show opened with a wedding, specifically the marriage of Kourtney to Scott Disick. The ceremony was lavish, and the episode introduced viewers to the family’s extended network of friends and associates. The show also covered the birth of Kylie’s daughter, North West, and the subsequent custody battle between Kris and her ex-husband. These early episodes established the pattern of the show: family drama, celebrity guests, and the occasional business deal.
The Popularity Build
The show quickly became a ratings hit. Its success was driven by several factors. First, the family’s willingness to be open about their lives drew in viewers who wanted to see the rich and famous living like regular people. Second, the show’s format allowed for endless variations on the same themes: arguments over money, jealousy between siblings, and the constant need for attention. Third, the show’s marketing machine pushed the brand beyond television, with the family appearing in magazines, on talk shows, and eventually in their own product lines.
The show’s popularity was also helped by the emergence of social media. The Kardashians were among the first celebrities to embrace platforms like Twitter and Instagram, and their online presence amplified their TV presence. Fans could follow their daily lives, see their photos, and interact with them directly. This created a feedback loop where the show generated interest, and that interest drove engagement with the family’s digital channels.
The Business Empire
The show was not just entertainment; it was also a business. The family used their fame to launch a range of products, from beauty lines to clothing to fragrance. The show itself became a vehicle for promoting these products, with the family frequently wearing or using their own merchandise. This blurring of the line between entertainment and commerce became a hallmark of the show.
The show also benefited from the rise of the “reality star” as a viable career path. By the time the show ended, its stars were fixtures of Hollywood, appearing in movies, on talk shows, and in their own spin-offs. The show had created a brand that was larger than any individual character.
The Criticism
Not everyone was impressed. Critics accused the show of being shallow, exploitative, and lacking in substance. Some argued that the show promoted a lifestyle that was unattainable for most viewers, while others complained that the show glorified materialism and vanity. There were also accusations of staged scenes and manipulated footage, although the producers denied these claims.
The show’s defenders argued that it was honest entertainment. They pointed out that the show did not pretend to be a documentary, and that viewers knew what they were getting. They also noted that the show provided employment for hundreds of people in the production and marketing industries.
The Legacy
The show’s influence can be measured in several ways. It changed the way reality television was made, with more shows adopting the “docu-soap” format. It also changed the way celebrities were marketed, with many stars following the Kardashians’ model of cross-promotion. The show’s success spawned a generation of imitators, from The Real Housewives franchise to other family-focused reality series.
The show also had a cultural impact. The term “Kardashian” became shorthand for a particular type of celebrity behavior: self-promotional, media-savvy, and often controversial. The family’s style of dress, makeup, and attitude permeated popular culture, influencing fashion, beauty, and social norms.
The Spin-Offs
The show’s success led to multiple spin-offs, each focusing on a different member of the family. The most successful of these was Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, which ran for nine seasons and became one of the highest-rated shows on E!. Other spin-offs included Kourtney and Kim Take New York, which ran for three seasons, and Khloe Knows Best, which ran for six seasons. Each spin-off followed the same formula: cameras in the home, family drama, and the occasional celebrity guest.
These spin-offs expanded the universe of the show, allowing viewers to see different sides of the family. They also allowed the show to continue telling stories that the original series had exhausted. The spin-offs were generally well received, though some critics argued that they diluted the brand by spreading it too thin.
The End of an Era
The show’s final season saw the family facing new challenges. Kris Jenner launched her own spin-off, The Last Tycoon, though the source does not specify how many seasons it ran. The show also dealt with the death of Robert Kardashian, which was shown in a series of emotional episodes. The finale brought together fans, family members, and former cast members for a final celebration.
The show’s end was bittersweet for many viewers. The show had been on the air for nearly two decades, and its departure marked the end of an era. The family remained in the public eye, however, with each member continuing their own projects.
The Critical Score
The show holds a score of 7.3 out of 10 on TMDB, with 926 votes. This score reflects the show’s enduring appeal to audiences, even as critics remain skeptical. The show’s fans appreciate its honesty and its ability to entertain, while critics find it lacking in depth and substance.
The show was not a masterpiece, but it was a significant cultural force. It changed television, it changed marketing, and it changed the way we think about fame. For that, it deserves credit.
Final Verdict
Keeping Up with the Kardashians was a flawed but fascinating show. It was not great television, but it was great reality television. It captured a moment in American culture, a moment when fame was becoming more accessible and more pervasive. The show reflected that moment, warts and all.
The show’s legacy is secure. It will be remembered as one of the most influential reality shows of its era, a show that changed the landscape of television and shaped the way we think about celebrity. It was not a masterpiece, but it was a landmark.
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