Todd and Julie Chrisley, the stars of the popular reality show “Chrisley Knows Best,” are making a comeback with their new series, “The Chrisleys: Back to Reality,” which premieres on September 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime. This new show follows their tumultuous journey after facing serious legal challenges that resulted in prison sentences.
In June 2022, Todd and Julie Chrisley were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and tax evasion. Their work to appeal their convictions has thus far gone unsuccessful — an appeals court recently affirmed their sentences. Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and will serve an additional 16 months of supervised release. In stark contrast, Julie was sentenced to seven years behind bars, followed by seven years of probation.
Neither man had a prior criminal record. The couple served a little more than two years in federal prison. In May, former President Donald Trump granted them full pardons. This sudden twist has thrust them back into the national consciousness. So now, they are thrilled to finally let you see what’s really going on in their new reality series.
“The Chrisleys: Back to Reality” will consist of eight episodes and aims to provide insight into their lives following their release from prison. Todd Chrisley said during season one that he wanted the television series to tell their story to their supporters and the world.
“Those are the people that have not dug into the case.” – Todd Chrisley
Since their respective releases, Todd and Julie have received largely positive reactions from fans. Though many have applauded the effort, it has received its share of critics. Julie spoke about her experiences with fans, saying people who come up to her are usually sweet and respectful.
“The ones that I interact with that come up to me, they are lovely.” – Julie Chrisley
Their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, weighed in on the family’s past show, stating that “Chrisley Knows Best” was essentially a scripted comedy for a decade. The move from their former daily stampede to the new series is a quantum leap. Today, they’ve released their lives from incarceration and are working to change national attitudes against them.
The family recently participated in an interview with Nightline co-anchor Juju Chang, discussing their experiences during and after their legal troubles. The Chrisleys are hopeful that “The Chrisleys: Back to Reality” will resonate with audiences and offer a fresh perspective on their story.
