Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 3
Vicki Gunvalson Returns to RHOC for 20th Season as Bravo Revives Its 64-Year-Old O.G.
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 3

Vicki Gunvalson Returns to RHOC for 20th Season as Bravo Revives Its 64-Year-Old O.G.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 3

Summary

  • Bravo brought Vicki Gunvalson back in a full-time capacity for “The Real Housewives of Orange County” 20th anniversary season, which premieres July 9.
  • Andy Cohen surprised the 64-year-old with an orange at BravoCon last November, formally inviting the franchise original to rejoin the cast after years away.
  • Gunvalson left the show in 2019 and came back part-time in 2023, making this her biggest return since ending her 13-year full-time run.
  • Her comeback underscores how the first “Housewives” series grew from a 2006 “social experiment” into a reality-TV juggernaut that spawned 10 U.S. spinoffs.

Insights

Is Vicki Gunvalson's return just nostalgia, or is it Bravo's secret weapon for its streaming dominance with younger audiences on Peacock?
Will the OG's return bring her promised 'peace and fun,' or is she back to reclaim her throne with classic OC drama?