Starting off with her own birthday situation, Shannon says we need to back off if we think she needs to shut up already with her whining to David about Vicki’s allegations. “It is difficult to watch my birthday conversation with David. For all of you that are going to tell me to just keep my mouth shut and stop complaining, let me stop you there. I haven’t been bringing up this subject over and over. I don’t talk about it every minute. But on this one year anniversary of the vow renewal, you are actually seeing me talk about things from my heart. I had no intention of going into this subject, but because of the day, it just happened. Yes, I was stressed about the whole Vicki allegation situation because I didn’t want my family to get hurt. We have been through enough. But that was six months ago and I am having the hardest time realizing that David has been distancing himself from me.”
Returning from last season are blondesVicki Gunvalson, Tamra Barney, Gretchen Rossi and Alexis Bellino, but fret not, because Bravo is confirming the addition of brunette new housewife Heather Dubrow. Heather is described as “a former actress and now stay-at-home mother of four who is married to a prominent Newport Beach plastic surgeon.”
Heather and husbandTerry Dubrow have four kids together: twins Nicholas and Maximillia, 8, Katarina, 5, and Collette, 10 months. Despite her husband’s profession, Heather boasts in her Bravo bio that she has “never had plastic surgery” other than Botox and filler. Not quite sure we’re buying that!
As for what we can expect this season, Vicki, still in the process of divorcing Donn, puts her house up for sale and introduces the wives to Brooks Ayers, her new Southern boyfriend. While finalizing her divorce from her ex-husband, Simon Barney, Tamra begins to take her relationship with boyfriend Eddie Judge to the next level.
Meanwhile, Gretchen begins a daring new chapter in her life when she takes to the stage as a singer and dancer with the Pussycat Dolls, as her relationship with Sladebecomes strained due to his past issues with Vicki and Tamra. Alexis has no storyline “continues to test the boundaries of independence with her husband Jim when she gets a job as a correspondent with a local morning news show” and struggles with being a working mom.
The press release also states that longtime foes Tamra and Gretchen finally decide to bury the hatchet and begin a blossoming friendship, leaving Alexis fearing that she is losing Gretchen — a.k.a. her only ally on the show.
RHOC returns to Bravo on Tuesday, February 7 (9/8c). Below is a video interview with new housewife Heather!
[Photo Credit: Isabella Vosmikova/Bravo]
TELL US – EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW SEASON? THOUGHTS ON THE STORYLINES?
Gretchen Rossi is talking the upcoming season of Real Housewives of OC, specifically new Housewife Heather Dubrow. It sounds like Heather was in for a wild ride of Housewives hazing before settling in and being accepted into the cast full of catty over-grown mean girls.
Speaking to Us Magazine, Gretchen reveals “we were pretty hard on her.” Although Gretchen is not revealing who that “her” is, because Bravo has yet to confirm that Heather, who has been spotted filming several times with the cast and was mentioned by Vicki Gunvalson in a recent interview, is the newest Housewife! “At first I didn’t like her, but now I really like her,” Gretchen explains.
“As I’ve gotten to know her the friendship has blossomed. She’s blunt and she’s very straight forward yet she has a very classic and sophisticated appeal to her. I think the audience is really going to like her. ”
And poor Heather was definitely put through the wringer! “We just gave her a hard time and every time she said something we’d just be rolling our eyes or doing something, but nothing too harsh,” Gretchen informs us. “We don’t make her go running in her underwear around the street or anything like that!” Oh, how kind of you…
In other RHOC news, Gretchen and her boyfriend, fiancé, leased object, partner – whatever –Slade Smiley hosted a cancer benefit this past week and the OC Register was on hand to cover the event. The event, Magic of Giving, was hosted in honor Slade’s son Grayson Smiley, who is battling a rare form of brain cancer and has undergone seven brain surgeries. Slade has credited much of his financial difficulty to providing treatment for his son’s care, for which as you can imagine, bills are exorbitant.
The $50 a head gala, held at Victor Paul Salon raised money for the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation, which assists cancer families experiencing financial difficulty by helping to pay medical bills.
The evening featured a magic show by famous illusionist Anthony “the Magic” Hernandez and was attended by several other celebrities, including Project Runway’s Michael Costello. The entire OC cast was in attendance (including Heather), as Bravo was filming the evening for the upcoming season!
Vicki, who attended the event with boyfriend Brooks Ayers, was happy to be included. And singing a different tune she had nothing but empathy for Slade’s situation! Hmmm… is it because she now knows from experience?
“We’re all either stricken or know somebody that has been stricken with cancer. My heart goes out to Slade,” Vicki sympathized. Her own daughter Briana Wolfsmith (who eloped this week) has undergone tests for cancerous tissues.
“Anything I can do to help Grayson, I will,” Vicki continued. “Everything aside, and it’s about this little boy. At the end of the day, we are all compassionate. That’s why we’re here. We love little Grayson. I’ve known him for eight years now. He doesn’t deserve this. It’s a tough life for him.”
“I’m very thrilled people that people are willing to give up their time to support something like this,” Slade announced. “Everyone’s affected in some way.” As for his take on the upcoming season 7 of RHOC, which is currently filming, Slade promises big changes!
“You’ll see a lot this season, a lot of relationships have evolved and changed,” Slade revealed. “There’s been a major attempt at mending broken fences. There is still some conflict within the women, but they all came together for Beckstrand.” Indeed, based on some recent photos taken during filming; it seems the ladies are making an effort to put pettiness aside and strive for a more fun-loving, positive seventh season! Here’s hoping, at least…
[Photo credit: WENN]
THOUGHTS ON GRETCHEN’S COMMENTS ABOUT HEATHER? THOUGHTS ON THE MAGIC OF GIVING EVENT; SURPSIED THAT THE ENTIRE CAST ATTENDED? ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEASON OF REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY?
Photos have been removed at the request of the owner.
Vicki Gunvalsonrevealed the surprising news over the weekend during the Bravo Housewives tour in Atlantic City as she confirmed filming had indeed began on the seventh season of the Bravo hit show.
When asked if there were any changes with the cast, Vicki stated: “Peggy’s (Tanous) not going to be joining us this year so we have a new cast member–you have to watch what happens with her. I just met her a couple of times so I think it’s going to be ok.”
Wowzers! This also confirms what we’d been hearing which is that Alexis Bellinowill be returning for the new season.
The news of Peggy’s departure is a bit shocking as she confirmed her return on her twitter page almost a month ago. After a fan asked her if she was kicked off the show in early September, Peggy replied, “Of course not. Start filming next week!!! Thanks for your support!”
Apparently Bravo had a change of heart.
Peggy has yet to comment on her likely firing though she did post this interesting quote on her facebook page days ago: “Good thought for a Sunday! “Rejection is God’s protection!” Love this quote thanks to my beautiful friend Annette years ago!”
Photo by: Casey Rodgers/Bravo
TELL US – THOUGHTS ON PEGGY’S DEPARTURE? WILL YOU MISS HER ON THE SHOW?
UPDATE – Peggy has confirmed her departure. She claims she decided to leave the show on her own after doing some “soul searching”. Below is her statement via her facebook page –
“Hello Everyone, Many of you have been asking about season 7 and if I am returning. After months of negotiation and soul searching, I have declined their offer to return to the show. I just felt in my heart that being around the negative energy of certain cast members, being forced to have “dramatic” confrontations and the time it would take me away from my family was just not a healthy path for me. I loved being a part of the Bravo family and do look forward to any new endeavors this may bring. I already have several opportunities to host upcoming TV shows that will empower woman, as well as my husband and I are about to launch our own wine. Who knows, perhaps if many of you want to continue to follow me and my family’s lives, then a new show can be created! One of “real” family fun, natural life drama, holistic living, life lessons and experiences. thank you all so much for your love and support!”
Following last week’s drama filled premiere, episode two of the Real Housewives of Orange County is coming our way tonight at 10/9c on Bravo.
On the new episode titled “Shameless In Seattle,” after being with Slade for a year and half, Gretchen still doesn’t know if she is ready for marriage again. Tamra opens up about her emotional divorce to pal Fernanda, while Alexis spends the morning at the park with her close friend Peggy and their daughters. The women have been friends through their pregnancies, but now that their kids are getting older, they find themselves becoming more competitive. And Vicki heads to Seattle for her annual insurance conference, leaving Donn alone, yet again.
Meanwhile, newbie Peggy Tanous opens up about her life and discusses joining the show in a new interview with the Daily Pilot. Peggy, 42, mother to two daughters – Capri and London – is a former model and public speaker. Peggy reveals ever since she was a little girl, she told her mom she wanted to be the next Marilyn Monroe.
As for the show, Peggy says she was actually approached about joining the cast a few years back but declined as she was a newlywed and didn’t feel it was the right time. The idea however came up again when she saw pal Alexis Bellino on the show. “[Alexis] was like, ‘I think you should try out’,” said Peggy. “I was like, ‘I don’t think so. I’m a mom now. I think reality [TV] can be a little scary’.”
So what can we expect from Peggy this season? She reveals while most of her day to day is “boring,” she did share a very sensitive part of her life – – her battle with post-partum depression. The series will show her going through a healing process.
And while she has yet to see the entire season, Peggy states she “would definitely do another season.”
Watch What Happens Live – The guests tonight will be Gretchen Rossi and boyfriend Slade Smiley. According to Andy Cohen, previously scheduled guest Sean Avery, of the New York Rangers, had to cancel.
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PEGGY’S INTERVIEW, THE PREVIEW & TONIGHT’S NEW EPISODE?
They’re officially back! The Real Housewives of Orange County, aka the first blondes ladies of Bravo housewives, return tonight for their sixth season.
And judging from the previews, the drama is still alive and well amongst some of the cast members. In fact, Gretchen Rossi and Tamra Barneypickup their feud from seasons past tonight when they go at it during a get together after Gretchen refers to Tamra as an “evil bitch.”
Meanwhile, it seems new “housewife” Fernanda Rocha, 34, might be getting the Jennifer Gilbert treatment this season. Who is Jennifer Gilbert you ask? Well, Jennifer was cast to be a housewife on the Real Housewives of NYC last season, only to get the shaft during the season, by being demoted to an extra. Fernanda, who is openly bisexual, is noticeably absent from the official cast photo above, though she does appear in another one.
And when Vicky Gunvalsonwas asked about Fernanda, this is what Vicky had to say – “ [Fernanda]’s not really one of the Housewives. She’s somebody that comes in and socializes with us, but I don’t really know how we’re labeling Fernanda this year. We’ve haven’t really been told. I know her very little still. I don’t work out with her. I don’t socialize with her. She seems like a sweet girl.”
And finally, Alexis Bellino revealed in a recent interview with the E! network that her husband Jim Bellino quit the show. Reason? Jim apparently felt Bravo gave him a “jerk” edit last season. “He’s pretty much against the show,” Alexis revealed. “All they want to do is rip him apart.”
Watch What Happens Live – OC Housewives Tamra Barney and Vicki Gunvalson will be joining Andy Cohen in the Bravo clubhouse tonight.
The Real Housewives of Orange Country premieres at 10 p.m. (EST) on Bravo. Below is a preview clip –
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE OC HOUSEWIVES PREVIEW & PREMIERE?
