The Real Housewives of Orange County

The Real Housewives of Orange County
Genre	Reality television
Starring	Kimberly Bryant Jo De La Rosa Vicki Gunvalson Jeana Keough Lauri Waring-Peterson Tammy Knickerbocker Quinn Fry Tamra Judge Lynne Curtin Gretchen Rossi Alexis Bellino Peggy Tanous Heather Dubrow Lydia McLaughlin Shannon Beador Lizzie Rovsek Meghan King Edmonds
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	10
No. of episodes	168 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Douglas Ross Greg Stewart Alex Baskin Bill Langworthy Bill Fritz Scott Dunlop Andy Cohen
Running time	42 minutes
Production company(s)	Evolution Media
Release
Original network	Bravo
Picture format	NTSC (480i) HDTV 1080i
Original release	March 21, 2006 (2006-03-21) – present (present)
Chronology
Followed by	The Real Housewives of New York City
Related shows	Date My Ex: Jo & Slade Tamra's OC Wedding
External links
Website

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

The series originally focused on Kimberly Bryant, Jo De La Rosa, Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough, and Lauri Waring (now Peterson); the current lineup of housewives consists of Gunvalson, Tamra Barney (now Judge), Heather Dubrow, Shannon Beador, and Meghan King Edmonds. Of the original housewives, Bryant and De La Rosa respectively left after the first and second seasons, while Peterson and Keough respectively stopped filming during production of the fourth and fifth seasons. The remaining housewives joined in later seasons; Judge in the third, Dubrow in the seventh, Beador in the ninth, and Edmonds in the tenth. Other housewives include Tammy Knickerbocker (season 2–3), Quinn Fry (season 3), Gretchen Rossi (season 4–8), Lynne Curtin (season 4–5), Alexis Bellino (season 5–8), Peggy Tanous (season 6), Lydia McLaughlin (season 8), and Lizzie Rovsek (season 9).

Its success has allowed for the development of The Real Housewives franchise and similar spin-off series based in New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Beverly Hills, Miami, Potomac and Dallas. The Real Housewives of Orange County has additionally resulted in the conceptions of the spin-offs Date My Ex: Jo & Slade and Tamra's OC Wedding.

Overview and casting

The cast of the tenth season, from left: King Edmonds, Judge, Dubrow, Gunvalson, Beador.

In April 2005, The Real Housewives was announced as one of six reality television series ordered by the American television channel Bravo;^[1] before its premiere, it was renamed The Real Housewives of Orange County in January 2006.^[2] One of its producers, Scott Dunlop, commented that it was originally planned to be set in a single gated community in Coto de Caza, California.^[3] A press release issued by the network noted that the series was inspired by the scripted soap operas Desperate Housewives and Peyton Place, and would document the lives of upper-class women who "lead glamorous lives in a picturesque Southern California gated community where the average home has a $1.6 million price tag and residents include CEOs and retired professional athletes."^[2]

Its original main housewives were Kimberly Bryant, Jo De La Rosa, Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough and Lauri Waring (now Peterson). Bryant left after the first season, and was replaced by Tammy Knickerbocker beginning with the second season. De La Rosa exited the series after the second season; Tamra Barney (now Judge) joined the series in the third season premiere, while Quinn Fry was introduced in the sixth episode. Knickerbocker and Fry left after the third season, while Gretchen Rossi was introduced in the fourth season premiere. Peterson made her final appearance on the third episode of the fourth season, and was replaced by Lynne Curtin beginning with the fourth episode. Keough initially stopped filming after the third episode of the fifth season, and was replaced by Alexis Bellino beginning with the fourth episode; however, Keough was featured as a friend of the housewives in the sixth season. Curtin left after the fifth season; starring housewife Peggy Tanous and friend of the housewives Fernanda Rocha were only featured in the sixth season. Heather Dubrow and Lydia McLaughlin were respectively introduced in the seventh and eighth seasons, while Peterson appeared as a friend of the housewives in the eighth season.^[4] Bellino, McLaughlin, and Rossi departed after the eighth season, and were replaced by starring housewives Shannon Beador and Lizzie Rovsek and friend of the housewives Danielle Gregorio in the ninth.^[5] The tenth season saw Rovsek become a friend of the housewives, the departure of Gregorio, and the introduction of Meghan King Edmonds.^[6]

Timeline of housewives

Episodes

Storylines

Season 1–5

The first season sees Bryant discussing her family's move from Baltimore to Coto de Caza, while De La Rosa sees her relationship struggle with fiancé Slade Smiley. Gunvalson runs her own insurance company, for which Waring is an employee. Waring herself struggles financially after her divorce from her unnamed ex-husband, deals with her teenage son Josh's frequent run-ins with the law, and unexpectedly sees her young adult daughter Ashley move back in with the family after previously living in Los Angeles. With her husband Matt often away traveling for work, Keough raises her children Shane, Kara, and Colton fairly independently. The second season sees the addition of Knickerbocker, a divorced mother who tries to balance raising her daughters Megan and Lindsey, her ex-boyfriend Duff's interest in reconciling, and dating. De La Rosa and Smiley had separated and reconciled on several occasions between production of the first and second seasons, during which period Smiley briefly dated Waring. Although Waring became engaged to George Peterson in the second season, conflict developed between De La Rosa and Waring over their relationships with Smiley. Furthermore, De La Rosa is shown pursuing her interest in the music industry.

Gunvalson finds difficulty accepting her children Michael and Briana's independence as young adults in the third season, and sees her relationship with husband Donn suffer from her commitment to expanding her insurance company. Keough files for separation from Matt, while Knickerbocker and her daughters deal with the sudden death of their respective ex-husband and father Lou. New housewife Barney tries easing the tension between her adult son Ryan and her husband Simon after the former moves back into the family home; Fry is added to the cast mid-season and struggles making her prospective boyfriend Billy to commit to an exclusive relationship. Waring (now Peterson) marries George in a lavish ceremony during the season finale, and leaves three episodes into the fourth season to spend more time with her family after the wedding. New housewife Rossi tends to her fiancé Jeff, who is battling a rare form of Leukemia, although the women question her intentions due to their significant age gap and her reputation as a party girl. Rossi begins dating after Jeff had died by the fifth season, and frequently clashes with Barney despite an attempted reconciliation between the women. Gunvalson remains passionate about maintaining her professional career and her marriage, while Barney, Keough, and their husbands suffer from financial difficulties in light of the collapsing economy. Bellino is married to her husband Jim, with whom she raises their toddler-aged twin girls, Melania and Mackenna, and their son, James.

Season 6–9

Barney files for divorce from Simon in the sixth season.^[7] She is stressed by her worsening problems with Rossi and another feud with Keough, who briefly resurfaces after spreading false rumors about Barney in the media.^[7] After expressing her eagerness for independence from Jim, Bellino launches a fashion collection of dresses.^[7] Gunvalson continues to thrive in the workplace, although her relationship with Donn becomes increasingly distant and non-salvageable.^[7] Despite contemplating marriage, Rossi is plagued by speculation that her boyfriend Smiley is a deadbeat parent and knowledge of his previous relationships with housewives.^[7] New housewife and stay-at-home mother Tanous explores the possibility of revitalizing her modelling career.^[7] After filing for divorce from Donn in the seventh season, Gunvalson and her boyfriend Brooks Ayers are met with resistance from friends and family.^[8] Barney and Rossi form an unexpected companionship, which places a strain on Barney's companionship with Gunvalson and Rossi's relationships with Bellino and Smiley.^[8] Barney and her boyfriend Eddie Judge become increasingly serious in their relationship, while Bellino begins a demanding position as a local news correspondent.^[8] Rossi performs with The Pussycat Dolls with the intention of jump-starting a career in the entertainment industry, while new housewife and former actress Dubrow raises her four children with her plastic surgeon husband Terry.^[8]

In the eighth season, the newly engaged Barney and Judge move in together, prepare for their upcoming nuptials, and arrange for the opening of their fitness studio Cut Fitness.^[9] Bellino becomes friends with Gunvalson after feeling isolated from several of the housewives.^[9] Dubrow reestablishes her presence in the entertainment industry after securing recurring positions in the television series Hot in Cleveland and Malibu Country, while Gunvalson embraces being a grandmother to Briana's newborn son Troy when her relationship with Ayers becomes increasingly turbulent.^[9] Rossi reconsiders marriage and beginning a family after her relationship with Smiley becomes more stable; new housewife McLaughlin and her husband Doug connect with the Bellinos over their shared devotion to Christianity.^[9] In the ninth season, Dubrow continues pursuing her acting endeavors while her overseeing the construction of her new family mansion,^[10] while newlywed Barney (now Judge) considers having a child with Eddie.^[11] Still struggling to find common ground between Briana and Ayers, Gunvalson worries that Briana and her husband Ryan will likely relocate to Oklahoma.^[12] New housewife Beador find difficulties in balancing her career and marriage to her husband David,^[13] while another new housewife Lizzie Rovsek is unsure whether to pursue her career as a swimsuit designer or have a third child with her husband Christian.^[14]

Season 10-present

The tenth season sees the departure of Lizzie as a main housewife and the addition of Meghan King-Edmonds. Throughout the season, Shannon deals with the revelation of her husband David's affair. The two go to counseling and work on their relationship with each other and their children. Shannon also works to repair her broken relationships with Heather and Tamra. In the beginning of the season, Megan and Shannon go head to head over an unwanted phone call. Meanwhile, Heather takes control of the new house being built and feels disconnected and unappreciated by Terry. Tamra and Eddie decide to spend time away from working together to improve their relationship. Tamra secretly contributes financially to her sons move to Orange County upon his wife's pregnancy knowing Eddie would not approve. Tamra also dives into her faith and gets Baptized. Vicki and Brooks are in the midst of deal with Brooks' cancer; however, when Tamra, Megan, and Heather see a psychic who reveals he doesn't believe Brooks is ill, accusations fly setting up the major arc for the season. Megan and Vicki butt heads the entire season over Megan constantly questioning Brooks and feeling like Vicki is covering up Brooks' lie. Shannon tries to defend Vicki but when she finds out Vicki was talking about her husbands affair, Shannon gives up her friendship with Vicki. At the reunion, Vicki reveals she does not believe Brooks has cancer and that she will never get back together with him. In an interview with Andy Cohen following the show, Brooks tells the public him and Vicki are broken up and recently, Vicki was spotted with her new Arizona Man.

Broadcast history

Curtin, Barney, Gunvalson, Keough, and Rossi pictured in April 2009.

Spin-offs

Date My Ex: Jo & Slade 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.^[15]

After becoming engaged to Judge in February 2013,^[16] Barney was commissioned to star in the three-part spin-off special Tamra's OC Wedding.^[17] It highlighted the preparations for their nuptials, and was broadcast from September 2, 2013 until September 16, 2013.^[17]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Real Housewives of Orange County.

• Official website
• The Real Housewives of Orange County at the Internet Movie Database
• The Real Housewives of Orange County at TV Guide