Last year, Waverly was abuzz as the Bravo network began production of a special miniseries in the town.
The buzz over “Welcome to Waverly” went national when the program aired this week, bringing a Muslim politician, African-American chef, liberal mixologist and a gay Republican cosmetologist to the rural community of nearly 600 people. Mayor Craig Meader says it was a unique experience for the town.
Meader says it was a “long, drawn-out process” before an agreement was reached and production could begin.
Discussions then continued to the point where Bravo approached town leadership seeking City Council approval. There were concerns from some residents about release forms, especially from residents who did not want to be filmed, but Meader says by and large things went smoothly in that regard.
Bravo said the show was designed to bring people from different races, religions, sexual orientations and gender orientations to the small town to live and work together. Crews were in town for six weeks.
Meader says the network gave the town a small stipend — and the town has received a lot of attention during the program’s run, which ended Thursday.
News outlets in large markets like Kansas City and Washington, D.C., have featured the program and the town this week.
