The Chrisley family is making a highly anticipated return to television with their new reality series, "The Chrisleys: Back to Reality," marking their first appearance on screen since "Chrisley Knows Best" concluded two years ago. This comeback follows a turbulent period for the family, particularly for patriarch Todd Chrisley and matriarch Julie Chrisley,who faced significant legal challenges, including convictions for tax evasion and bank fraud.

Todd and Julie Chrisley were initially sentenced in November 2022 to a combined 19 years in prison for multiple charges, including bank and wire fraud and tax evasion. While their sentences were reduced in 2023 amid ongoing appeals, their path to freedom culminated in May 2025, when President Donald Trump intervened and granted them full presidential pardons. Trump personally conveyed the news to the Chrisley children during a phone call on May 27, 2025, emphasizing that their parents would be "free and clean," a conversation later shared on X.

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Upon their release, Todd and Julie have openly discussed the unexpected difficulties of adjusting to life outside prison. During a July 23 episode of their"Chrisley Confessions 2.0" podcast, they shared a consensus with other former inmates that, emotionally and psychologically, "life is rougher than prison life." Julie elaborated on the mental simplicity within prison, where limited choices fostered a certain routine, making the re-entry into the "real world" a "crash course in reality." They expressed gratitude for not being required to attend a halfway house or report to a probation officer, allowing them greater freedom of movement.

The new series, "The Chrisleys: Back to Reality," is set to premiere as a two-night television event on Lifetime, airing Monday, September 1, and Tuesday, September 2. Each night will feature a two-hour episode beginning at 8/7c. Following the premiere, subsequent back-to-back episodes will air on Tuesday, September 9, with the season finale scheduled for Tuesday, September 16.

Familiar faces from the original series, including Todd and Julie, will return alongside their children Savannah, Chase, Grayson, and adopted granddaughter Chloe. Fan-favorite Nanny Faye will also be featured, bringing her signature wit. Notably, Julie’s parents, Harvey and Pam, are joining the show for the first time. However, Todd’s older children from a previous relationship, Lindsie and Kyle Chrisley, are not participating in the new project.

An emotional five-minute trailer for the show, released on July 31, has already stirred considerable emotion among fans. It opens with a poignant phone call between Savannah and her father, who was still incarcerated at the time, with Todd reassuring her, "We will get through this." Savannah candidly shares the family's struggles, stating, "With my parents gone, our household is completely divided. I told my parents, I don’t know if it can ever be repaired, honestly." Chase also reflects on the immense impact of "Chrisley Knows Best," acknowledging, "My dad’s this insane human. I think it definitely made good TV," and highlighting the stark contrast between their filmed "happy life" and simultaneously "fighting a fed case."

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The docuseries also delves into Chase Chrisley's personal struggles, particularly concerning alcohol use after his parents' imprisonment. Savannah Chrisley revealed on her "Unlocked" podcast's September 2 episode that she drew a "hard line" after one experience, vowing "never again" to drink with Chase. This followed an incident in January where Chase, then 29, was arrested in Atlanta for allegedly slapping a bar manager.

Although he was released on a $10,000 bond and charges were not pressed, the event was revisited in the new docuseries. Chase admitted he didn’t "remember a lot" from that night, insisting he "wouldn’t slap somebody," but acknowledged hitting "rock bottom" and drinking heavily. He also reflected on taking "Chrisley Knows Best" for granted, calling it "the best job in the world," before his parents' legal troubles led to its cancellation, along with the spinoff "Growing Up Chrisley."