The fourth season of The Real Housewives of New York City, an American reality television series, is broadcast on Bravo. It aired April 7, 2011 until August 1, 2011, and is primarily filmed in New York City, New York. Its executive producers are Andrew Hoegl, Barrie Bernstein, Lisa Shannon, Pam Healy and Andy Cohen. The Real Housewives of New York City focuses on the lives of LuAnn de Lesseps, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer, Jill Zarin, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Sonja Morgan and Cindy Barshop. It consisted of 18 episodes. This season marked the final appearance of original housewife Alex McCord. Production and crew The Real Housewives of New York was a continued successes for the network with season three averaging 2.02 million total viewers as well as growing every season to new series highs since its spring 2008 premiere. In August 2010, the series was renewed for a fourth season with filming beginning September 20, 2010. The premiere date for season four of The Real Housewives of New York City was revealed in December 2010 for a February 14, 2011 premiere but was bumped to spring due to the premiere of The Real Housewives of Miami. In January 2011, the new premiere date for the season for was released. The season premiere "Grin and Bare It" was aired on April 7, 2011, while the sixteenth episode "L.O.V.E. Duel" served as the season finale, and was aired on July 21, 2011. It was followed by a two-part reunion that aired on July 25, and August 1, 2011, which marked the conclusion of the season. Andrew Hoegl, Barrie Bernstein, Lisa Shannon, Pam Healy and Andy Cohen are recognized as the series' executive producers; it is produced by Ricochet and is distributed by Shed Media. Cast and synopsis Six of the seven wives featured in the third season returned for the fourth instalment. Bethenny Frankel departed the series shortly after season 3. Frankel had expressed desires of departing the series prior to its conclusion due to not wanting to film two shows at once. Frankel had been starring in the first spin-off to The Real Housewives of New York, titled Bethenny Getting Married?. Shortly after the conclusion of season three, Frankel had announced her departure from the franchise due to the negativity saying "last season was scary and painful. It took all the joy out of it." Although Frankel had departed the series after