‘Vanderpump Rules’: Peter Madrigal Says the Show Won’t Work Without Its OG Ensemble Cast
Prior to four cast members being fired, Peter Madrigal from Vanderpump Rules offered some insight into what makes the show work. And his observations didn’t look favorable now that some of the key members have been axed.
Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute were fired for racist actions against former cast member and SURver Faith Stowers. Schroeder and Doute were original cast members who contributed a significant storyline to the docudrama. Fans and former cast members are also calling for Jax Taylor to be removed from the show. Schroeder’s fiancé Beau Clark is likely to leave the series now that Schroeder has been cut. Also fired were newcomers Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni.
For the first time in 8 seasons, Vanderpump Rules massively expanded the cast, adding five completely new cast members. Typically one or two new faces would join the cast, which had some viewers insisting the show was clunky this year. Some fans suggested the show should have spin-offs with OG cast members. However, Madrigal shared that the OGs are the backbone that makes the series work well. Plus he insists that the newbies still need more screentime before becoming a main attraction on the series.
Peter Madrigal says the show works with the complete cast
Madrigal shared his thoughts about why the show works with the key players on the series. He likened the series to what worked and didn’t work with the Pirates of the Caribbean films.
Madrigal shared his comparison on the Behind the Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast. He said films in the series that worked well were the ones with Captain Jack Sparrow in the middle. The films that weren’t big hits were the movies that didn’t include Captain Jack Sparrow.
“If you lose the ensemble cast that you can feed off of, that can create a little bit of a void and a problem,” Madrigal said. Host David Yontef said he heard rumblings that fans wanted Schroeder and Clark to have a spin-off show and she was getting to be too big for Vanderpump Rules. “Yeah, if she wants to have a spin-off, congratulations to them,” he said. “But an ensemble to feed off is always the best in my opinion.”
He also thinks new cast members should pay their dues
Yontef points out that some viewers have expressed that the season almost seemed like two shows. But Madrigal hadn’t seen it that way. “We all ended in the same areas and parties,” he said. “I’m one of the OGs but I’m still with the new people so from my standpoint I haven’t seen it yet [the notion of two separate shows].”
He added, “I have a different relationship with the newbies as opposed to the OGs. For instance, Kristen [Doute], trained me when I was a buser back in 2008. Then I became her manager.” He adds that he and the OGs are friends and party together. However, Madrigal views the new cast as employees because they don’t know him the same way as he does the OGs.
New cast member Charli Burnett told Yontef in a previous interview that several original cast members completely turned their backs on her. Plus Taylor continuously complained about the new cast on Twitter throughout the season.
Madrigal thinks the jury is still out as to if the new cast members will be as captivating as the original cast too. Adding, “They just got here!”
