Vicki Gunvalsondoesn’t plan on walking away from the reality franchise she helped turn into pop culture phenomenon.
On Tuesday’s episode ofJerry O, theReal Housewives of Orange Countystar gave her first interview since announcingshe would be stepping down as a full-time cast memberthis season. Gunvalson, 57, assuring hostJerry O’Connell, andRHOCfans everywhere, that she’ll be “whooping it up” for as long as possible.
“Our producer, Scott Dunlop, said, ‘Unless they kick you off the horse, don’t voluntarily get off the horse.’So, I’m still on the horse!” Gunvalson said. “I’m still riding the pony.”
“I don’t know what my future is, but I’m having fun and they’re my friends,” she added. “I have a very much love for my franchise — a love for what I’ve created [and] a lot of love for my cast, we’ve been through hell and back. But truthfully, it’s our reality. It’s what my life has gone through for the last 14 years. And it’s been some bumpiness.”
Courtesy Debmar-Mercury
Both Judge, 51, and Beador, 55, told O’Connell that Gunvalson is irreplaceable.
“She’ll always be the O.G.,” said Beador, with Judge teasing, “She’s be back next year.”
Bravo producerAndy Cohenalso had some words of encouragement for Gunvalson. According to her, he told her, “You know what, no one has ever lasted 14 years on a reality show. Be proud of that.”
In fact, Gunvalson has been Bravo’s longest-ever Housewife, never missing a season on the reality show since it premiered in March 2006. More than 20 other Housewives have rotated through the show since she joined.
RHOChas also inspired an entire franchise ofReal Housewivesinstallments, in New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Beverly Hills, Miami, Dallas and Potomac.
Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Back in July, Gunvalson revealed she’d been demoted to a “Friend of the Housewives” on the current fourteenth season ofRHOC.
“For the past 14 years I’ve opened up my life, my loves, my ups and downs onThe Real Housewives of Orange Countyand I am proud to be the ‘O.G. of the OC,’ ” she wrote on Instagram. “I am back again this season right in the middle of the action, and I hope you have as much fun watching the show as I did living it in front of the cameras. Stay tuned…”
It’s not the first time a Housewife has been given a reduced role: OriginalReal Housewives of New York CitystarLuann de Lessepswas demoted for season 6 before returning as a main cast member, andReal Housewives of AtlantastarPorsha Wiliamshad a year-long stint as a “Friend” during season 7 before being bumped back up to full-time.
In addition to Judge and Beador,Kelly Dodd,Gina Kirschenheiter,Emily Simpson, andBraunwyn Windham-Burkemake upRHOC‘s season 14 cast.
The Jerry O’ Showairs weekdays in syndication (check local listings)
source: people.com
