‘RHOC’: Vicki Gunvalson Reveals She Had Been Talking to Andy Cohen Ahead of Season 16
Vicki Gunvalson is one of the iconic stars of The Real Housewives of Orange County. The insurance maven was a main cast member for 13 years and became a “friend of” for 1 additional year. There’s no one that can top Gunvalson’s staying power. However, with the cast shakeup on the original franchise, Gunvalson thought she was going to get asked back to the show after talking to Andy Cohen.
Why did Vicki Gunvalson think she was going to return to ‘RHOC’ Season 16?
Gunvalson is the OG of the prototypical housewife of The Real Housewives universe. The reality TV personality is a walking meme, and although she’s not on the show anymore, fans still quote her on social media. Gunvalson was not asked back ahead of season 15 but major changes for season 16 made her think that she was going to get an offer to return.
“I had been talking to Andy [Cohen], I really thought it was gonna happen,” Gunvalson revealed during an interview on Access Hollywood’s Housewives Nightcap.
As it turned out, Gunvalson was not asked back, and instead, Heather Dubrow is making a comeback to the franchise after 4 seasons off. However, Gunvalson doesn’t lose hope that maybe producers might ring her and bestie Tamra Judge mid-way through production.
“I mean you never know, midway through the season they might need us to save the day, but as of right now, no. We have no contract. There’s nothing going on,” she added.
Vicki Gunvalson misses ‘RHOC,’ according to her daughter
Gunvalson lived for being a housewife and she enjoyed her time on RHOC for 14 years. There are not many reality stars that would accept a limited role after being the star of the show for 13 seasons. However, Gunvalson accepted the demotion as it meant she could still film for the Bravo series.
Earlier this year, Gunvalson’s daughter Briana Culberson made an appearance on Watch What Happens Live saying that her mother is still adjusting to not being on TV anymore.
“I think she’s still adjusting, I don’t think that’s what she really wants for her life,” Culberson said. “I think she misses it and she misses the whole process and everybody.”
Culberson said that Gunvalson feels that without the show “she’s missing a piece of her.”
Vicki Gunvalson cut out of ‘The Real Housewives All-Stars’
Before Gunvalson announced that she was leaving RHOC after 14 years, she said she had been in talks to star on The Real Housewives Mashup. The latter is a spinoff crossover series that will see housewives from across the franchise come together for a week-long vacation. However, due to COVID-19 breaking out worldwide, the show was postponed.
“I had a contract… and COVID hit and they stopped the mashup show. It was called ‘Mashup,’” Gunvalson shared in an interview with S’More Date. “Then when it resumed, all of a sudden they forgot about me.”
As restrictions have eased for the pandemic and inoculation becomes wider, production for the special went forward with a whole different cast. Names for the show include Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga from New Jersey, Ramona Singer and Luann de Lesseps from New York City, Cynthia Bailey and Kenya Moore from Atlanta, and Kyle Richards from Beverly Hills. For this season there was no representation from Orange County despite being the franchise that originated the concept.
