The Real Housewives of Orange County explained

Genre:Reality television
Creator:Scott Dunlop
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:18
Num Episodes:314
List Episodes:List of The Real Housewives of Orange County episodes
Runtime:42 minutes
Company:Evolution Media
Dunlop Entertainment
Network:Bravo
Inspired By:

The Real Housewives of Orange County, abbreviated RHOC, is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on March 21, 2006. It has aired seventeen seasons and focuses on the personal and professional lives of several women residing in Orange County, California.

The current eighteenth season cast consists of Tamra Judge, Heather Dubrow, Shannon Storms Beador, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti and Katie Ginella; with former housewife Alexis Bellino appearing in a "friend of" capacity.

Its success led to the development of The Real Housewives franchise and similar spin-off series based in numerous cities across the United States, as well as internationally. It has also resulted in two spin-offs; and Tamra's OC Wedding.

Production

Seasons 1–3

In April 2005, The Real Housewives was ordered by American television network Bravo.[1] The show's working title was “Behind The Gates,” and was intended to follow a documentary format. It was renamed as The Real Housewives of Orange County in January 2006.[2] Show creator Scott Dunlop said that it was originally planned to be set in a single gated community in Coto de Caza, California.[3] The show was inspired by scripted soap operas Desperate Housewives and Peyton Place, and would document the lives of upper-class women who "lead glamorous lives in a Southern California gated community where the average home has a $1.6 million price tag and residents include CEOs and retired professional athletes."[2]

The first season premiered on March 21, 2006, and starred Kimberly Bryant, Jo De La Rosa, Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough and Lauri Peterson (then Waring). Bryant left after the first season. Tammy Knickerbocker joined the cast for the second season which premiered on January 16, 2007. Bryant appeared as a guest. After the second season, De La Rosa exited the series as a regular cast member. The third season premiered on November 6, 2007, which featured Tamra Judge (then Barney) as the latest housewife, while Quinn Fry joined the cast in the sixth episode.[4] [5] Bryant and De La Rosa returned as guests. Knickerbocker and Fry left the main cast after the third season.

Seasons 4–8

Gretchen Rossi was introduced in the fourth season premiere on November 25, 2008. Peterson made her final appearance as a main cast member in the third episode, while Lynne Curtin joined the cast in the fourth episode.[6] [7] Bryant and De La Rosa made their final guest appearance during the season finale, whilst Knickerbocker also returned as a guest. Keough's final season as a full-time cast member, season five premiered on November 5, 2009. After Keough left the show as a full-time cast member, Alexis Bellino was added to the main cast.[8] [9] [10] Fry, Knickerbocker and Peterson returned as a guest. Curtin left after the fifth season.

The sixth season which premiered on March 6, 2011, introduced Peggy Tanous as the newest housewife and friend of the housewives Fernanda Rocha.[11] Keough returned in a "friend of the housewives" capacity, while Curtin, Fry, and Knickerbocker appeared as guests. Heather Dubrow joined the cast in the seventh season which premiered on February 7, 2012. Keough and Tanous appeared in guest capacities, with the latter receiving confessional interviews in the season's first two episodes, while Sarah Winchester was featured as a friend of the housewives. Tanous was set to film another season as a full-time housewife, however, quit the series after the season's second episode due to ongoing personal conflict involving herself, Bellino and Bellino's husband, Jim; marking her final appearance on the show.[12] On April 1, 2013, the eighth season premiered and the cast was joined by Lydia McLaughlin. Peterson also appeared as a friend of the housewives in the eighth season.[13] Bellino, McLaughlin, Rossi and Peterson departed after the season.

Seasons 9–12

The ninth season premiered on April 14, 2014, and introduced Shannon Storms Beador and Lizzie Rovsek as the new housewives. While Danielle Gregorio joined as friend of the housewives.[14] The tenth season which premiered on June 8, 2015, saw Rovsek as a friend of the housewives,[15] [16] and Meghan King joining the cast. Curtin, Keough and Knickerbocker made guest appearances in the season.[17] [18]

The eleventh season premiered on June 20, 2016. It featured Kelly Leventhal (then Dodd) joining the cast and Keough making a guest appearance.[19] Dubrow exited the series after the season.[20] McLaughlin returned for the show's twelfth season which premiered on July 10, 2017.[21] Peggy Sulahian joined as the latest housewife, while Keough, Rossi and Rovsek made guest appearances.[22] After the season concluded, King Edmonds, McLaughlin and Sulahian left the show.[23] [24] [25]

Seasons 13–16

Gina Kirschenheiter and Emily Simpson joined the cast for the thirteenth season, which premiered on July 16, 2018.[26]

The fourteenth season premiered on August 6, 2019. Braunwyn Windham-Burke joined as a cast member, while Gunvalson was demoted to a "friend of the housewives" status.[27] King and Bellino both appeared in a guest capacity.[28] [29] Gunvalson and Judge both left the series in January 2020.[30] Filming for the show was paused between March and July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[31]

The fifteenth season premiered on October 14, 2020, with Elizabeth Lyn Vargas joining the cast.[32] Keough served as a narrator in the opening of the season premiere.[33] Rovsek appeared as a guest in the fifth episode.[34] The season served as the final season for Dodd, Windham-Burke and Vargas.

The sixteenth season premiered on December 1, 2021, with Beador, Kirschenheiter and Simpson returning, along with former housewife Dubrow, and new housewives Jen Armstrong and Noella Bergener joining the main cast. Nicole James appeared as a friend of the housewives, departing halfway through the season.[35] [36] Keough and Rovsek also had guest appearances during the season. The reunion was taped on March 10, 2022.

Season 17–present

Following the conclusion of the sixteenth season, Armstrong and Bergener announced their exits from the show on July 8, 2022.[37] On July 20, Judge announced her return to the franchise.[38] The following month, it was announced former The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Taylor Armstrong joined the cast as a friend of the housewives.[39] In October, Gunvalson was announced to appear in a guest capacity.[40] The seventeenth season premiered on June 7, 2023, with new housewife Jennifer Pedranti joining the cast.[41]

In late 2023, the show was renewed for an eighteenth season. Filming began in January 2024 with all cast members from the seventeenth season returning, minus Taylor Armstrong who confirmed her departure in November 2023.[42] On January 24, it was confirmed that former housewife, Alexis Bellino would be returning to the show in a friend of capacity.[43] The eighteenth season premiered on July 11, 2024, with new housewife Katie Ginella joining the cast, as well as Bellino appearing as a "friend of the housewives" and former housewives Vicki Gunvalson and Elizabeth Lyn Vargas making guest appearances throughout the season.[44]

Cast

Cast Members! colspan="18"
Seasons
123456789101112131415161718
Nowrap Kimberly Bryantcolspan="14"
nowrap Jo De La Rosacolspan="1"
nowrap Vicki Gunvalsoncolspan="2"
Nowrap Jeana Keoughcolspan="1"
Lauri Petersoncolspan="10"
Nowrap Tammy Knickerbocker colspan="1"
Quinn Frycolspan="12"
Tamra Judgecolspan="2"
Lynne Curtincolspan="8"
nowrap Gretchen Rossicolspan="6"
Alexis Bellinocolspan="1"
Peggy Tanouscolspan="11"
Heather Dubrowcolspan="3"
Lydia McLaughlincolspan="6"
Nowrap Shannon Storms Beador colspan="10"
Lizzie Rovsekcolspan="2"
nowrap Meghan King Edmonds colspan="4"
Kelly Doddcolspan="3"
Peggy Sulahiancolspan="6"
Gina Kirschenheitercolspan="6"
Emily Simpsoncolspan="6"
Nowrap Braunwyn Windham-Burkecolspan="3"
Elizabeth Lyn Vargascolspan="1"
Jen Armstrongcolspan="2"
Noella Bergener colspan="2"
Jennifer Pedranticolspan="2"
Katie Ginellacolspan="1"
Friends of the housewives
Fernanda Rochacolspan="12"
Sarah Winchestercolspan="11"
Danielle Gregoriocolspan="9"
Nicole Jamescolspan="2"
Taylor Armstrong

Episodes

See main article: List of The Real Housewives of Orange County episodes.

Broadcast

The Real Housewives of Orange County airs regularly on Bravo in the United States;[45] most episodes are approximately forty-two minutes in length,[46] and are broadcast in standard definition and high definition.[47] Since its premiere, the series has alternated airing on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings and has been frequently shifted between the 8:00, 9:00, and 10:00 pm timeslots.[45]

Spin-offs

became the first spin-off from The Real Housewives of Orange County; the dating game show documented De La Rosa as she began dating after moving to Los Angeles, where potential suitors were regularly surveyed by Smiley. It premiered on June 30, 2008, and ended on September 8, 2008, after broadcasting nine episodes during its first and only season.[48]

After becoming engaged to Judge in February 2013,[49] Barney was commissioned to star in the three-part spin-off special Tamra's OC Wedding.[50] It highlighted the preparations for their nuptials and was broadcast from September 2, 2013, until September 16, 2013.[50]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bravo Launches Most Aggressive Slate of Original Programming for 2005-06 Season. The Futon Critic. April 26, 2005. Futon Media. September 5, 2015.
  2. Web site: Bravo's 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' to premiere March 21. Reality TV World. January 6, 2006. April 24, 2014.
  3. Web site: Producer gets real about the real housewives.. Eades. Mark. Orange County Register. Freedom Communications. January 10, 2007. May 23, 2014.
  4. Web site: Laudadio. Marisa. Jo De La Rosa: My Life After the Real Housewives. Bravo. April 9, 2014. August 23, 2016.
  5. Web site: The Real Housewives of Orange County: Season 3. Amazon. December 27, 2012 . August 24, 2016.
  6. Web site: Laudadio. Marisa. Tammy Knickerbocker: My Life After the Real Housewives. Bravo. April 30, 2014. August 25, 2016.
  7. Web site: You Just Don't Get It. Bravo. NBCUniversal. December 16, 2008. August 23, 2016.
  8. Web site: It Ends in Coto de Caza. Bravo. NBCUniversal. November 19, 2009. August 26, 2016.
  9. Web site: Laudadio. Marisa. Jeana Keough: My Life After the Real Housewives. Bravo. June 4, 2014. August 26, 2016.
  10. Web site: Rocchio. Christopher. 'The Real Housewives of O.C.' to debut Nov. 5, Jeana Keough leaving. Reality TV World. August 26, 2016.
  11. Web site: Laudadio. Marisa. Lynne Curtin: My Life After the Real Housewives. Bravo. May 15, 2014. August 26, 2016.
  12. Web site: Nededog. Jethro. 'Real Housewives of O.C.'s' Heather Dubrow on Peggy's Exit and Friction With Alexis. The Hollywood Reporter. February 20, 2012. May 24, 2023.
  13. Web site: 'Real Housewives' Turns 100: All The Ladies Who Were On 'Orange County'. The Huffington Post. AOL. June 24, 2013. May 23, 2014.
  14. Web site: Danielle Gregorio – Bio. Bravo. NBCUniversal. May 24, 2014.
  15. Web site: Harnick. Chris. The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 10, Now With Sharks, Death Threats, Mock Funerals and Breakdowns. E Online. May 12, 2015. E News. April 12, 2017.
  16. Web site: Lizzie Rovsek. Bravo. March 10, 2014. April 12, 2017.
  17. Web site: Ep 5: Game Changer. Bravo. NBCUniversal. July 6, 2015. April 12, 2017.
  18. Web site: The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 10 Will Have a Birth, Death and Everything in Between. E! News. Chris. Harnick. June 1, 2015. April 12, 2017.
  19. Web site: 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' Season 11 Trailer Reveals Fights, a Newcomer and a Dune Buggy Accident: Watch!. May 23, 2016. May 23, 2016. Us Weekly. Ryan. Gajewski.
  20. Web site: Vena. Jocelyn. One of the Real Housewives of Orange County Confirms She Won't Return. Bravo. January 28, 2017. January 27, 2017.
  21. Web site: Rosenfeld. Laura. A Real Housewives of Orange County Alum Is Returning for Season 12. Bravo. NBCUniversal. May 25, 2017. United States. May 25, 2017.
  22. Web site: Bravo's 100th Housewife Makes Her Debut in Real Housewives of Orange County Season 12 Trailer. People. Dave. Quinn. June 5, 2017. June 5, 2017.
  23. News: Harnick. Chris. Meghan King Edmonds Leaving The Real Housewives of Orange County . January 23, 2018. E! Online. NBCUniversal. January 23, 2018. United States.
  24. News: Hearon. Sarah. Lydia McLaughlin Is Leaving the Real Housewives of Orange County. February 11, 2018. Us Weekly. American Media, Inc.. February 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180211051231/https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/lydia-mclaughlin-is-leaving-the-real-housewives-of-orange-county/. February 11, 2018. United States. live.
  25. Web site: One of The Real Housewives of Orange County Says She Won't Be Returning: "Moving on Seemed Like the Right Thing to Do". February 13, 2018. February 13, 2018.
  26. Web site: Your First Look at #RHOC Season 13! . June 11, 2018 . June 11, 2018.
  27. Web site: Andy Cohen Teases Vicki Gunvalson's "Very Much a Part of" of RHOC Season 14. July 25, 2019 . Bravo TV Official Site.
  28. Web site: Meghan King Edmonds Returned to RHOC and Had Gina Kirschenheiter Asking "Who the F--- Is Meghan?". Bravo. Jocelyn. Vena. October 15, 2019. December 1, 2019.
  29. Web site: Alexis Bellino Reveals If She Wants to Return to 'RHOC' Full-Time After Surprise Cameo (Exclusive). Entertainment Tonight. October 14, 2019. December 1, 2019.
  30. Web site: Morin . Alyssa . Tamra Judge Is Leaving Real Housewives of Orange County . . . January 26, 2020 . United States . January 25, 2020.
  31. Web site: How 'Real Housewives' Productions Are Dealing With the Real-World Coronavirus Pandemic . Yee, Lawrence . March 24, 2020 . May 23, 2020.
  32. Web site: The 'RHOC' Season 15 Trailer Is Here! (Exclusive). Entertainment Tonight. Brice. Sander. September 2, 2020. September 2, 2020.
  33. Web site: Yes, That's 'RHOC' OG Jeana Keough's Voice on the Season 15 Premiere! (Exclusive). Entertainment Tonight. Brice. Sander. October 14, 2020. October 15, 2020.
  34. Web site: The Real Housewives of Orange County Recap: Little Red Corvette . Moylan, Brian . November 11, 2020 . November 12, 2020.
  35. Heather Dubrow returns in The Real Housewives of Orange County season 16 trailer. Entertainment Weekly. Mary. Sollosi. November 11, 2021. November 12, 2021.
  36. Web site: Heather Dubrow to Return to RHOC as Kelly Dodd, Braunwyn Windham-Burke, and Elizabeth Lyn Vargas Exit. June 16, 2021.
  37. Web site: Quinn . Dave . Jennifer Armstrong and Noella Bergener Depart Real Housewives of Orange County After 1 Season . . . July 13, 2022 . United States . July 8, 2022 . Jennifer Armstrong and Noella Bergener, who both joined the Bravo reality series in season 16, are now departing it ahead of season 17, People can confirm..
  38. Web site: Quinn . Dave . Tamra Judge Confirms Return to Real Housewives of Orange County for Season 17 . . . July 21, 2022 . United States . en . July 20, 2022 . The Real Housewives of Orange County will feature the return of Tamra Judge in season 17, who rejoins the show after departing in two years ago..
  39. Web site: Quinn . Dave . Taylor Armstrong Joins Real Housewives of Orange County, Becoming First Housewife to Move Franchises. . . August 1, 2022 . United States . en . August 1, 2022 . Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Taylor Armstrong will be back on Bravo again, this time as cast member on The Real Housewives of Orange County!.
  40. Web site: Vicki Gunvalson Confirms RHOC Return With Season 17 Cameos. E! Online. Brett. Malec. October 14, 2022. October 16, 2022.
  41. Web site: RHOC Season 17 Welcomes a New Wife, New Drama — and a Surprise Cameo from Vicki Gunvalson. Bravo). Allison. Crist. April 25, 2023. April 25, 2023.
  42. Web site: Taylor Armstrong Exits 'RHOC' After 1 Season as a Friend: 'Wishing the Ladies All the Best'. People. Dave. Quinn. November 29, 2023. November 29, 2023.
  43. Web site: Alexis Bellino Returning to 'RHOC' as a Friend amid Relationship with Costar Shannon Beador's Ex. People. Dave. Quinn. January 24, 2024. January 24, 2024.
  44. Web site: Meet RHOC's New 'Wife Katie Ginella: Former Golf Reporter, Mom of 4 & "In the Drama". Bravo). Jamontae. Hickman. June 6, 2024. June 6, 2024.
  45. Web site: Shows A-Z – real housewives of orange county, the on bravo . The Futon Critic . February 24, 2020.
  46. Web site: iTunes – TV Shows – The Real Housewives of Orange County, Season 3 . March 21, 2006 . . February 24, 2020.
  47. Web site: iTunes – TV Shows – The Real Housewives of Orange County, Season 8 . March 21, 2006 . iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. . February 24, 2020.
  48. Web site: Shows A-Z – Date My Ex: Jo & Slade on Bravo. The Futon Critic. May 23, 2014.
  49. Web site: 'Real Housewives of OC' star Tamra Barney marries Eddie Judge with castmates in attendance. Rivera. Zayda. Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. June 16, 2013. May 23, 2014.
  50. Web site: Shows A-Z – Tamra's OC Wedding on Bravo. The Futon Critic. May 23, 2014.

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