“The Rich Kids of Instagram” are getting a show on E! documenting their champagne and caviar-filled lives as the network looks to move on from the Kardashians — and it will star Magic Johnson’s flamboyant son E.J. Johnson.
E! in January will debut “#Rich Kids of Beverly Hills,” which will follow five filthy rich Los Angeles 20-somethings featured on the popular Tumblr feed #richkidsofinstagram — a collection of Instagram photos featuring the young 1 percenters posing with their expensive cars, boats, clothes, food and drink.
While E! insists the show and the blog are not connected, the characters include Dorothy Wang, 25, a self-described “funemployed” daughter of Beverly Hills business mogul Roger Wang, the billionaire CEO of Golden Eagle International Group; blogger Morgan Stewart, an attractive blonde “socialite” who runs a site, the charmingly called boobsandloubs.com; Stewart’s boyfriend, real estate executive and scion Brendan Fitzpatrick; interior designer Roxie Sowlaty; and singer Jonny Drubel.
Openly gay Johnson will make numerous appearances with his friends, although it isn’t clear if his famous dad will be shown.
During the season, viewers will see Dorothy drop $3.5 million on an apartment for herself in the Century, the building where Candy Spelling lives, and Sowlaty go on a half-million dollar shopping spree for furniture. The group will also vacation to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico on a private jet to celebrate Brendan and Morgan’s anniversary.
TV insiders are already suggesting “Rich Kids” is being lined up as a successor to E!’s “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” franchise. A source said, “The Kardashians are expensive to produce and their audience appeal is waning. ‘Rich Kids’ are a sexier bunch.”
But a rep for E insisted: “ ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ continues to be destination television for E! viewers and will return in its ninth season this January,” adding, “ It remains E!’s most- watched series.”