Total Bellas Explained

Genre:Reality television
Opentheme:"We've Come So Far" by Felicia Barton featuring KIT Walters
Composer:Nate Dodge
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:6
Num Episodes:54
Location:Tampa, Florida
Phoenix, Arizona
San Diego, California
New York City
Paris, France
Camera:Multi-camera
Runtime:41–43 minutes

Total Bellas is an American reality television series that aired from October 5, 2016, to January 28, 2021 on E!. A spin-off of Total Divas, the series gave viewers a further look into the lives of twin sisters and professional wrestlers, The Bella Twins (Brie and Nikki), along with their immediate family and partners.[1]

Production

On April 20, 2016, it was announced that former WWE wrestlers Brie and Nikki Bella—collectively known as the Bella Twins—would be getting a spin-off show entitled Total Bellas. The first season premiered on October 5, 2016. The show revolves around the lives of the twins and their family.[2] Filming for the first season was set in Tampa, Florida as Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan moved in with Nikki Bella and John Cena to help Nikki after her neck surgery. Brie and Nikki's brother JJ and his wife Lauren had a recurring role along with their mother Kathy Colace and her now husband John Laurinaitis.

On November 16, 2016, it was announced that E! renewed the show for a second season. The second season premiered on September 6, 2017.[3] The second season was filmed in Phoenix, Arizona as Nikki Bella and John Cena move in with Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan to help Brie through her first pregnancy. In addition to Brie's growing baby bump, the second season documented Daniel's travels under his new role as General Manager of WWE's SmackDown Live.[4]

On January 30, 2018, it was announced that a third season would be premiering in spring of 2018.[5] On April 5, 2018, the premiere date for the third season was announced, airing on May 20, 2018.[6]

On August 7, 2018, E! and WWE announced that Total Bellas had been renewed for a fourth season.[7] On November 28, 2018, it was announced that the fourth season would premiere on January 13, 2019.[8]

On June 19, 2019, while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Brie and Nikki announced that the series would return for a fifth season which premiered on April 2, 2020.[9] [10]

On June 11, 2020, the series was renewed for a sixth season which premiered on November 12, 2020.[11] [12] [13]

In June 2021, Essentially Sports reported that E! had canceled Total Bellas and its sister show Total Divas, citing low ratings and a lack of interest from those involved.[14]

Cast

Main

Cast memberSeasons
123456
Brie Bellacolspan="6"
Nikki Bellacolspan="6"
Daniel Bryancolspan="6"
John Cenacolspan="3"
Artem Chigvintsevcolspan="2"

Recurring

Cast memberSeasons
123456
Kathy Colace (Brie and Nikki's mother)colspan="6"
J.J. Garcia (Brie and Nikki's brother)colspan="6"
John Laurinaitis (Brie and Nikki's stepfather)colspan="1"
Lauren "Lola" Garcia (Brie and Nikki's sister-in-law)colspan="1"
Maya Laurinaitis (Brie and Nikki's stepsister)colspan="1"
Jon Garcia (Brie and Nikki's father)colspan="1"

Episodes

Season 6 (2020–21)

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)Resultref
2016Teen Choice AwardsChoice Female AthleteThe Bella Twins[15]
2017Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Female AthleteThe Bella Twins[16]
Best Reality ShowTotal Bellas[17]
2018Teen Choice AwardsChoice Summer TV ShowTotal Bellas

Broadcast

The show is broadcast in The United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, France and South Africa on the local E! network.

The series is also available on Hulu, WWE Network and Peacock.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Synopsis for the Total Bellas Premiere, Sheamus and Cesaro, WWE Facing More Presidential Debate Competition – PWMania. pwmania.com. 27 September 2016. October 13, 2016. 17 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190217071038/http://www.pwmania.com/synopsis-total-bellas-premiere-sheamus-and-cesaro-wwe-facing-more-presidential-debate-competition. live.
  2. Web site: Nikki and Brie Bella Describe Total Bellas Spinoff as Chaos Under One Roof With John Cena's Strict Rules, a Wedding and More. E! Online. April 20, 2016. November 5, 2016. en-US. November 6, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161106110905/http://www.eonline.com/shows/total_divas/news/758163/nikki-and-brie-bella-describe-total-bellas-spinoff-as-chaos-under-one-roof-with-john-cena-s-strict-rules-a-wedding-and-more. live.
  3. Web site: Stanhope. Kate. E! Renews 'Total Bellas' for Season 2 (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. November 16, 2016. November 16, 2016. November 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161116231142/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/total-bellas-renewed-season-2-947538. live.
  4. Web site: Malec. Brett. Nikki Bella and John Cena Are Temporarily Moving in With Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan on Season 2 of Total Bellas!. E! Online. November 16, 2016. March 2, 2017. en-US. December 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161227063956/http://www.eonline.com/shows/total_bellas/news/809749/nikki-bella-and-john-cena-are-temporarily-moving-in-with-brie-bella-and-daniel-bryan-on-season-2-of-total-bellas. live.
  5. Web site: Hanstock. Bill. 'Total Bellas' Season 3 Is Coming, So Watch This Important Trailer. Uproxx. January 30, 2018. May 9, 2018. en-US. June 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612205228/https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/total-bellas-season-3-return-trailer/. live.
  6. Web site: Malec. Brett. John Cena and Nikki Bella Have Second Thoughts About Getting Married in Total Bellas Sneak Peek. E! Online. April 5, 2018. May 9, 2018. May 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180504103424/https://www.eonline.com/shows/total_bellas/news/925268/john-cena-and-nikki-bella-have-second-thoughts-about-getting-married-in-total-bellas-sneak-peek. live.
  7. Web site: E! and WWE greenlight Season 4 of Total Bellas. WWE. WWE.com Staff. August 7, 2018. August 7, 2018. September 17, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180917143505/https://www.wwe.com/shows/totalbellas/article/e-and-wwe-greenlight-season-4-of-total-bellas. live.
  8. Web site: Total Bellas returns for Season 4 on Sunday, Jan. 13. WWE. WWE.com Staff. November 28, 2018. November 28, 2018. November 30, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181130030452/https://www.wwe.com/shows/totalbellas/article/total-bellas-season-4-premieres-january-13-2019. live.
  9. Web site: The Bella Twins Confirm Season 5 of Total Bellas. 20 June 2019. 21 June 2019. 21 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190621033003/https://www.ringsidenews.com/2019/06/20/the-bella-twins-confirm-season-5-of-total-bellas/. live.
  10. Web site: "Total Bellas" Returning Thursday, April 9 at 10PM ET/PT on E!. The Futon Critic. February 5, 2020. February 5, 2020. November 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231123050246/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/02/05/total-bellas-returning-thursday-april-9-at-10pm-et-pt-on-e-993502/20200205e01/. live.
  11. Web site: E! Renews "Total Bellas" for a Sixth Season Premiering This Fall. The Futon Critic. June 11, 2020. June 12, 2020. November 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231123050356/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/06/11/e-renews-total-bellas-for-a-sixth-season-premiering-this-fall-180200/20200611e01/. live.
  12. Web site: E! Follows Nikki and Brie's Pregnancy Journey as the New Season of "Total Bellas" Premieres on Thursday, November 12 at 9PM ET/PT. The Futon Critic. October 12, 2020. October 13, 2020. November 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231123050301/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/10/12/e-follows-nikki-and-bries-pregnancy-journey-as-the-new-season-of-total-bellas-premieres-on-thursday-november-12-at-9pm-et-pt-741115/20201012e01/. live.
  13. Web site: Thorne . Will . 'Total Bellas' Renewed For Season 6 at E! . Variety . 12 June 2020 . 15 February 2021 . 3 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210303020617/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/total-bellas-renewed-season-6-e-1234632291/ . live .
  14. Web site: E! Network to Cancel WWE Shows 'Total Bellas' and 'Total Divas' After Almost a Decade. Angana. Roy. Essentially Sports. June 13, 2021. June 13, 2021. October 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221001090719/https://www.essentiallysports.com/wwe-news-e-network-to-cancel-wwe-shows-total-bellas-and-total-divas-after-almost-a-decade/. live.
  15. Web site: The Bella Twins win Choice Female Athlete at Teen Choice 2016. WWE. 2017-06-21. 2017-05-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20170520174535/http://www.wwe.com/article/the-bella-twins-win-choice-female-athlete-at-teen-choice-2016. live.
  16. Web site: Swift. Andy. Teen Choice Awards 2017: Riverdale, 'Captain Swan,' Teri Hatcher and More Nab Nominations in Final Wave. TVLine. July 12, 2017. September 2, 2017. September 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170903072620/http://tvline.com/2017/07/12/teen-choice-awards-nominations-2017-full-final-list-nominees/. live.
  17. Web site: Vote for John Cena, Sasha Banks and The Bella Twins for the 2017 Teen Choice Awards. WWE. 2017-06-21. 2017-06-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20170623183412/http://www.wwe.com/article/john-cena-sasha-banks-and-the-bella-twins-nominated-for-teen-choice-awards?. live.