Bling Empire Explained

Genre:Reality television
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:3
Num Episodes:26
Runtime:28–47 minutes
Company:Jeff Jenkins Productions
Network:Netflix
Related:Bling Empire: New York

Bling Empire is an American reality television series released on Netflix on January 15, 2021. The series focuses on the lives of wealthy, materialistic East and Southeast Asian Americans, socialites based in the Los Angeles area,[1] described as real-life Crazy Rich Asians.[2] [3] It is the first American reality television series in which the main cast are all of East and Southeast Asian descent.[4]

On March 10, 2021, Netflix renewed the series for a second season which premiered on May 13, 2022.[5] [6] The third season premiered on October 5, 2022.[7] The sister Netflix series, Bling Empire: New York, launched in January 2023.[8] [9] In April 2023, it was reported that Netflix decided to not go forward with the fourth season of this series and second season of the spin-off Bling Empire: New York.[10]

Cast

Main

Part-Japanese, part-Russian socialite, whose fortune came from selling her father's company Pacific Architects and Engineers. Mother of Kenny[17]

A fashion influencer and model. The eldest daughter of Chinese-American billionaire businessmen Ken Xie[18]

Recurring

Episodes

Season 3 (2022)

Reception

For the first season, review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 90% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Bling Empire may be another celebration of lavish wealth, but the focus on an Asian American cast gives this reality program an intriguing layer of cultural celebration."[19]

Diane Gordon of TV Guide thought the television series was more than the "grotesque opulence" that it depicted, with compelling characters among the cast, some of whom were exploring their identity.[20] Eilidh Hargreaves of The Telegraph found the "epic rivalries", "ridiculous" problems, wild whims, "self-serving" philosophy of the main characters to be compulsive viewing and "deliciously odious to observe".[21]

Spin-off

In October 2022, Netflix announced a New York City-set spin-off series Bling Empire: New York. It stars Dorothy Wang, who was a cast member in season 2 of the original series.[22] [23] The spin-off was released on January 20, 2023.[24]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The net worth of the Bling Empire cast is going to blow your mind . Zoe . Shenton . January 21, 2021 . Cosmopolitan . January 23, 2021 . January 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121152917/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a35276462/bling-empire-cast-net-worth/ . live .
  2. Web site: "Bling Empire"'s Top 5 Most Outrageous Moments . Zue Wei . Leong . Tatler Asia . January 26, 2021 . October 7, 2021 . October 7, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211007054922/https://www.tatlerasia.com/culture/entertainment/hk-5-most-outrageous-moments-on-bling-empire . live .
  3. Web site: Missing Crazy Rich Asians? Watch Netflix's new reality show Bling Empire, following billionaire heiress Jaime Xie, fashionista Christine Chiu and more of LA's ultra-rich. Carla. Thomas. January 7, 2021. South China Morning Post. January 24, 2021. January 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210124195151/https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3116762/missing-crazy-rich-asians-watch-netflixs-new-reality-show. live.
  4. News: Bling Empire: the super-rich reality show that makes Selling Sunset look cheap . Yomi . Adegoke . January 21, 2021 . The Guardian . January 23, 2021 . January 23, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210123161715/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jan/21/bling-empire-reality-show-netflix-new-series . live .
  5. Web site: 'Selling Sunset' & 'Bling Empire' Renewed At Netflix, Plus New Reality Shows From Adam DiVello & Jeff Jenkins. Deadline Hollywood. Peter. White. March 10, 2021. March 10, 2021. March 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210310180135/https://deadline.com/2021/03/selling-sunset-bling-empire-renewed-at-netflix-adam-divello-jeff-jenkins-1234710441/. live.
  6. Web site: Trainor. Daniel. Meet Bling Empires 2 New Cast Members For Season 2. April 15, 2022. E! Online. May 10, 2022. May 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220510180635/https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1327412/meet-bling-empire-s-2-new-cast-members-for-season-2. live.
  7. Web site: Walsh. Charlotte. Bling Empire Season 3 Officially Has a Premiere Date. September 7, 2022. E! Online. September 18, 2022. September 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171444/https://www.eonline.com/news/1345170/bling-empire-season-3-officially-has-a-premiere-date. live.
  8. News: Bling Empire: New York Thinks Social Striving Is Tacky. Vanessa Wong. BuzzFeed. January 20, 2023. January 21, 2023. January 21, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230121005031/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/venessawong/bling-empire-new-york-review. live.
  9. News: Bling Empire: New York season 2's expected release date, cast and more. Jessica Cullen. Cosmopolitan. January 20, 2023. January 21, 2023. January 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120225830/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a42587732/bling-empire-new-york-season-2-release-date/. live.
  10. Web site: 'Bling Empire' & New York Spinoff Not Returning At Netflix. Deadline Hollywood. Peter. White. April 19, 2023. April 19, 2023. April 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230419184413/https://deadline.com/2023/04/bling-empire-new-york-spinoff-not-returning-at-netflix-1235331053/. live.
  11. Web site: Lam . Doris . Soriano . Jianne . January 18, 2021 . Meet The Cast of "Bling Empire", Netflix's New Reality Show On LA's Wealthy Asians . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211007054923/https://www.tatlerasia.com/culture/entertainment/hk-bling-empire-netflix-cast . October 7, 2021 . October 7, 2021 . Tatler.
  12. October 3, 2019 . Inside the Competitive Sport of Haute Couture . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210127213747/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/a29310251/christine-chiu-inside-haute-couture/ . January 27, 2021 . January 29, 2021 . Harper's Bazaar.
  13. Bling Empire star Kevin Kreider can't wait to prove people wrong for calling the show 'tone deaf' . Marcus . Jones . January 15, 2021 . . January 24, 2021 . January 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210125121655/https://ew.com/tv/bling-empire-kevin-kreider-interview/ . live .
  14. Web site: Pham . Jason . January 22, 2021 . Does Kim From 'Bling Empire' Find Her Dad? It's Not the Happy Ending She Hoped For . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210201103507/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/does-kim-bling-empire-her-222509833.html . February 1, 2021 . January 24, 2021 . Yahoo! Life.
  15. Web site: 'Bling Empire' on Netflix: everything we know about Singaporean cast member Kane Lim . . January 22, 2021 . January 24, 2021 . January 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210125105816/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/tv/bling-empire-netflix-cast-kane-lim-singapore-work-family-2862703 . live .
  16. News: Is Bling Empire's Andrew Gray still dating Kelly Mi Li? 5 things to know about the controversial Netflix reality star, model and Red Power Ranger (yes, really) . Irene . Pyne . January 22, 2021 . . January 24, 2021 . January 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210124205207/https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3118731/bling-empires-andrew-gray-still-dating-kelly-mi-li-5 . live .
  17. Web site: Foussianes . Chloe . January 23, 2021 . Bling Empire's Anna Shay Has Arrived. It's About Time . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210123161135/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a35252105/bling-empire-anna-shay-interview/ . January 23, 2021 . January 24, 2021 . Town & Country.
  18. News: From horses to haute couture, billionaire's daughter Jaime Xie is a fashion influencer in the making . Kavita . Daswani . February 24, 2020 . . January 24, 2021 . January 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210129131721/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3051509/horses-haute-couture-billionaires-daughter-jaime-xie . live .
  19. bling_empire. Bling Empire. tv. 1. May 11, 2022.
  20. Web site: Bling Empire Review: So Much More Than a Crazy Rich Asians Knockoff . Diane . Gordon . TV Guide . January 15, 2021 . January 23, 2021 . January 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121232951/https://www.tvguide.com/news/bling-empire-review-netflix-so-much-more-than-crazy-rich-asians-knockoff/ . live .
  21. News: Bling Empire shows the extravagances of LA's 'Crazy Rich Asians' – and I can't stop watching it . Eilidh . Hargreaves . 20 January 2021 . The Telegraph . 23 January 2021 . 22 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122085100/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/society/bling-empires-ott-affluence-total-escapism-cant-stop-watching/ . live .
  22. Web site: White. Peter. Netflix Confirms 'Bling Empire' Spinoff Set In New York. Deadline Hollywood. October 4, 2022. October 4, 2022. October 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221004144525/https://deadline.com/2022/10/netflix-confirms-bling-empire-spinoff-set-in-new-york-1235134580/. live.
  23. Web site: Netflix announces 'Bling Empire: New York' spin-off. NextShark. Michelle. De Pacina. October 5, 2022. October 6, 2022. October 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221006094534/https://nextshark.com/bling-empire-new-york-spin-off/. live.
  24. Web site: Bling Empire: New York Has a Premiere Date & a Hilarious New Sneak Peek Starring Dorothy Wang. E! Online. Daniel. Trainor. December 13, 2022. December 13, 2022. December 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221213233651/https://www.eonline.com/news/1358028/bling-empire-new-york-has-a-premiere-date-a-hilarious-new-sneak-peek-starring-dorothy-wang. live.