<P>--Ryan Seacrest on developing the idea for the reality series . </P> <P> The idea of creating a reality series originated in 2006 when Kris Jenner showed an interest in appearing on a television show together with her family . Jenner commented: "Everybody thinks that (my children) could create a bunch of drama in their lives, but it's something that I felt I didn't even have to think about . It would be natural ." Producer Ryan Seacrest, who had his own production company, decided to develop the idea, having the popular family - based show The Osbournes in mind . He hired a camera man to visit the Kardashian's family home to film them having a Sunday barbeque: "They were all together--as crazy and as fun as loving as they are," Seacrest described the family after seeing the tape . He later initiated the series by sharing the tape with E!, an American cable network which features mostly entertainment - related programming, and reality television series; the show was eventually picked up . In August 2007, it was announced that the Kardashian and Jenner families would star in a yet - to - be-titled reality show on E! described as a "new non-scripted family sitcom", being produced by Ryan Seacrest and Bunim / Murray Productions . The series' announcement came one week after Paris Hilton and her friend Nicole Richie announced that their popular E! series, The Simple Life, was ending . </P> <P> The show, entitled Keeping Up With the Kardashians, premiered on October 14, 2007 . The reality series centers around the members of the Kardashian - Jenner blended family, focusing on the sisters Kourtney, Kim and Khloé . Most episodes have very similar structure: the family "show (s) off their privileged lifestyle and maybe get into one or two minor family squabbles before ultimately wrapping things up with a monologue that reinforces the importance of family," as noted by Caroline Siede of Quartz . Harriet Ryan and Adam Tschorn of the Los Angeles Times described the reality series as a: "Hollywood version of The Brady Bunch--the harmless high jinks of a loving blended family against a backdrop of wealth and famous connections". Kim Kardashian described the beginning of filming the show, "When we first started (the show), we came together as a family and said,' If we're going to do this reality show, we're going to be 100 percent who we really are ."'. She further commented on the show's authenticity by saying that the network "has never once put anything out there that we haven't approved of or accepted". The series was renewed for a second season one month after its premiere due to high ratings . Seacrest described the show's success: "At the heart of the series--despite the catfights and endless sarcasm--is a family that truly loves and supports one another (...) The familiar dynamics of this family make them one Hollywood bunch that is sure to entertain ." </P> <P> The following year, Keeping Up with the Kardashians was picked up for a third season . In April 2012, E! signed a three - year deal with the Kardashian family that kept the series airing through seasons seven, eight and nine . Keeping up with the Kardashians was later renewed for a tenth season which premiered on March 15, 2015 . In February 2015, it was announced that the show had been renewed for four more years, along with an additional spin - off series, making it one of the longest - running reality television series in the country . In terms of the show's future, Kim Kardashian has commented that the reality series could go for an indefinite number of seasons saying that she: "hope (s) it goes on for as long as it can ." Keeping Up With the Kardashians, including its spin - off series, has become the cable network's flagship show and its most lucrative franchise . "It has changed the face of E!" said Lisa Berger, the network's executive producer . "We were a place to report on celebrity; we weren't a place to break and make celebrity, which is now the whole idea of the E! brand ." The show's success contributed significantly towards building the "Kardashian brand", or "Kardashian Inc ." as it is called by The Hollywood Reporter . "These shows are a 30 - minute commercial," Khloé Kardashian admitted in 2011, in response to a suggestion that the television series is used to promote their retail stores and endorsement deals . </P>

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