If you’ve been scouring the guide on your TV looking for the familiar face of Todd Chrisley on the USA Network, you’re basically looking in the wrong place. Things have changed. A lot. After the high-profile legal battle that dominated headlines for two years, the family has finally returned to the screen, but the vibe is completely different from the polished sitcom feel of Chrisley Knows Best.
The new series, The Chrisleys: Back to Reality, is much more raw. It’s less about "todd-isms" and more about the actual fallout of their prison sentences and the sudden, headline-grabbing presidential pardon they received in May 2025. Honestly, if you’re expecting the old-school Southern charm with zero stakes, you might be in for a bit of a shock.
Where to Watch Chrisleys Back to Reality Right Now
The biggest shift is the network. The Chrisleys are no longer part of the NBCUniversal family. Instead, they’ve moved over to Lifetime.
If you have a traditional cable or satellite subscription, you can find the show airing there. But let’s be real, most of us are looking for ways to stream it. Since it's a Lifetime production, you won't find it on Peacock like the old episodes. You’ve got a few specific options depending on what services you already pay for:
- The Lifetime App: You can watch episodes directly here, but you’ll usually need to log in with a TV provider (like Xfinity, Spectrum, or Cox).
- Hulu + Live TV: This is probably the easiest route for cord-cuters. Lifetime is included in their live channel lineup, so you can watch as it airs or catch it on-demand.
- Philo: This is the budget-friendly way. For about $28 a month, you get Lifetime and can stream the show live or on-demand. They also usually have a 7-day free trial if you're just looking to binge the 8 episodes and get out.
- Sling TV: You’ll need the "Sling Blue" or "Sling Orange" package, both of which carry Lifetime.
- Frndly TV: This is often overlooked, but it's the cheapest legitimate way to get Lifetime. It’s around $7 to $10 a month.
- Buying Episodes: If you don't want a subscription, you can purchase individual episodes or the full season on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.
What’s Actually Happening in This New Show?
This isn't just "Season 11" of the old show. The first episode, "Savannah Knows Best?", sets a pretty heavy tone. It follows Savannah Chrisley as she navigates being the legal guardian of Grayson and Chloe while her parents were still behind bars.
The cameras were rolling when the news of the presidential pardon broke. You actually see the moment the family gets the call that Todd and Julie are coming home. It’s messy. It’s emotional. And surprisingly, it’s a bit tense. Just because the parents are out doesn't mean everything went back to normal.
For one, there’s a lot of friction between Savannah and Chase. If you watch the middle episodes, like "O Brother Where Art Thou," you'll see that Chase’s relationship with his girlfriend Jodi caused some serious rifts with Nanny Faye and Savannah. The family dynamics are fractured in a way that the old show never really let us see.
The Shift from "Sitcom" to "Docuseries"
Producers Jesse Daniels and Farnaz Farjam (who worked on the Kardashians) have been pretty open about the fact that they wanted this to be a "raw docuseries." Savannah even admitted on camera during the premiere that Chrisley Knows Best was heavily scripted. This time around, they’ve broken the fourth wall. You see the crew, you see the stress, and you see the Chrisleys without the heavy makeup and the "perfect family" facade.
Who is (and isn't) in the Cast?
Most of the core family is back, but there are some notable absences and new faces:
- Todd and Julie: They appear via phone calls in the early episodes and in person after the "Freedom Frenzy" episode.
- Savannah and Chase: They are the anchors of the show and also serve as executive producers.
- Grayson and Chloe: You see them growing up fast—Grayson is now 19 and Chloe is 13.
- Harvey and Pam: Julie’s parents make their debut here, which adds a new layer to the family story.
- The Absences: Don't expect to see Lindsie or Kyle. The estrangement with Todd seems to have held firm despite the legal drama.
Is It Worth the Watch?
Look, if you were a fan of the original for the laughs, this might feel a little "downer" for you. It deals with real-world problems—therapy, broken trust, and the struggle of reintegrating into society after prison. But if you want to know what actually happened behind the scenes of those headlines, it’s fascinating.
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The show is limited to 8 episodes for its first season. It’s a quick binge. The finale, which aired in late 2025, leaves a lot of questions about whether they can ever truly get back to the "reality" they once knew.
If you are trying to catch up, start by checking your Hulu or Philo accounts first. If you're outside the US, Apple TV seems to be the most reliable platform for international viewers to buy the season.
To get the most out of your viewing, start with the two-night premiere episodes to see the immediate aftermath of the pardon. From there, the season moves fast, focusing heavily on the internal power struggle between Savannah and her father as she tries to hand back the "head of house" reins she held for two years. Keep an eye on the Lifetime schedule for reruns, as they often marathon the series on weekends.