Savannah Chrisley Knows Best?
The reality TV personality who starred on "Chrisley Knows Best" with her parents Todd and Julie Chrisley, who are currently serving time for tax evasion and wire fraud, teased about a new reality show in the works. And Savannah Chrisley hopes her parents will play a role in the show. Here's what we know.
Is there a new reality show with the Chrisleys?
In the Jan. 23 episode of her podcast, "Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley," the 26-year-old said a "less-scripted reality show" focused on life with the Chrisleys as Julie and Todd Chrisley are in prison is in development with Scout Production company. Since Todd and Julie Chrisley's incarceration, Savannah has had parental custody of the minor children, Grayson and Chloe. A pilot was filmed along with a sizzle reel (a kind of trailer), and the concept was pitched to networks. But because of the writers strikes, the project was put on hold, until now, Savannah Chrisley said in the podcast.
"It's definitely happening," she said of the unnamed show.
Who are Julie and Todd Chrisley?
Todd and Julie Chrisley,who portrayed themselves as real estate tycoons, gained fame with their USA Network reality show "Chrisley Knows Best," which followedtheir tight-knit, boisterous family and theChrisleys' lavish lifestyle in Atlanta and Nashville. The show drew in more than 2 million viewers by its eighth season and inspired spin-offs such as "Growing Up Chrisley" and "According to Chrisley."
The shows featuring the Chrisleys continued to air despite their legal troubles − up until the reality TV couple was sentenced to prison.
TheChrisleys traded their luxurious lifestyle for prison time, turning themselvesin to their respective prisons Jan. 17, 2023. Prosecutors said thereality TV couplewas driven by greed as they engaged in an extensive bank fraud scheme and then hid their wealth from tax authorities.
Where are Julie and Todd Chrisley serving time for tax evasion?
Julie Chrisley, 51, is serving herprison sentenceat the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, an “administrative security federal medical center with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp," the prison's website says. According to a Federal Bureau of Prisons records search on Jan. 26, 2024, Julie Chrisley's prison release date is Aug. 20, 2028. Overall, her sentence was reduced by more than a year.
She was originally set to serve her time in thefederal prison camp in Marianna, Florida,abouttwo-and-a-half hours away from Pensacola, where her husband,Todd Chrisley began serving his 12-year sentence, court records say. For reasons unknown,Julie Chrisley was reassigned from the Florida prison to a federal medical center in Kentucky.
Her 55-year-old husband Todd Chrisley is serving time atFPC Pensacola, described on its site as a "minimum security federal prison camp." A Jan. 26, 2024, check on the Federal Bureau of Prisons shows Todd Chrisley will be released Nov. 23, 2032.
Will Todd and Julie Chrisley be released from prison early?
It's been a year sinceJulie and Todd Chrisleybegan their prison sentences for bank fraud. But instead of the respective seven- and 12-year sentences, each has had their prison time slightly reduced.
In December, thePalm Beach Post reported Julie Chrisley would be releasedfrom prison Sept. 4, 2028, according to the bureau of prisons site. Last month, thePalm Beach Post reported Todd Chrisley's release datewas Dec. 8, 2032.
In aPeople magazine story in July, their attorney shared how the fight over their conviction for financial crimes has progressed. Jay Surgent, a partner at Weiner Law Group LLP, told People: "The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals can reverse the District Court, or they could remand the case back for hearings that should have been held that were not held during the course of this trial. We argued very vigorously that their constitutional rights have been violated, and that they basically were not given a fair hearing. It's all in black and white, actually."
What would the new Chrisley show be about?
In her "Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley" podcast, the reality TV star mentioned her upcoming show and her parents' fight for early release. It would feature Savannah, her siblings and their grandmother. Like her podcast, prison reform would be heavily covered on the show.
"I hope that we're filming whenever we go to the oral arguments for the appeal (week of April 15, 2024)." She goes on to explain that potential footage shot in April would likely not be seen by viewers until November, adding, "hopefully mom and dad come home" by then.
In addition to the podcast, an appearance on "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" on Fox, Savannah Chrisley told her "Unlocked" listeners that she recently filmed a pilot in New York for a true crime show: "I'm not this millionaire that's out here. I work my a-- off every single day to provide for these kids. I'm no better than anyone else to have to work and to have multiple jobs, which I do."
What is 'Chrisley Knows Best' about?
In March 2014, USA Network found reality TV gold with a docuseries about a Southern family led by millionaires Todd and Julie Chrisley and a peek into their luxurious lifestyle in the suburbs of Atlanta. The series was called "Chrisley Knows Best."
Season four documented the Chrisleys' move from Atlanta to Nashville. According to USA Network, viewership for the first half of season five averaged 3.2 million viewers.
After "Chrisley Knows Best" was renewed for a sixth season in 2017, USA Network ordered eight episodes of an aftershow program called "According to Chrisley." The aftershow followed a late-night talk show or variety show format with Todd Chrisley as host. Chrisley interviewed celebrities like actress Ali Landry, Christina Milian, Carmen Electra ("Baywatch"), Nicole Sullivan ("King of Queens," "Sex Lives of College Girls") and wrestler Chris Jericho.
In 2018 during the seventh season of "Chrisley Knows Best," USA Network announced the spinoff, "Growing Up Chrisley." That show focused on Chase andSavannah Chrisleyas they road trip from Nashville to Los Angeles and attempt to break out on their own in the big city, according to SF Gate.
Despite the Chrisleys' legal troubles, "Chrisley Knows Best" continued to air on USA Network. In 2022, it was picked up for a 10th season, while "Growing Up Chrisley" was renewed for a fourth. E! also announced the franchise was moving forward with a new dating series, "Love Limo," hosted by Todd Chrisley, days before the trial was set to begin.
All three shows involving the Chrisley family have since been canceled. A January 2024 check online shows "Chrisley Knows Best" is available to stream on several platforms.
Contributing: Samantha Neely, USA TODAY Network-Florida;Christopher Cann, USA TODAY
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her onTwitteror Instagram at@byjensangalang. Support local journalism.Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
