For eight seasons now I’ve been gripped on the Real Housewives of Orange County. I started watching it about two years ago, but once I started I caught up on all the episodes and now it’s become one of my regular recordings on Sky.
Even though I don’t relate to these women one bit; I’m not married, a housewife or a multimillionaire, but watching these crazy women with their extravagant, over the top lives, friendships and drama’s is great to watch. I guess I’ve never really watched a programme because I could relate to it, I just love to watch anything that is pure entertainment and the RHOC is exactly that.
There have been a fantastic bunch of characters on RHOC, who have had many interesting story lines. Vicky Gunvalson is an original housewife who’s been on the show from series one till the most recent series. She has opened up her entire life on the show; her parenting style with her children Briana and Michael, marriage problems with husband Donn, friendship ups and downs with Jeana Keough, Tamra Barney, Lauri Peterson, Alexis Bellino and Gretchen Rossi, her divorce with Donn, new relationship with Brooks and the arrival of her new grandson and Briana’s son Troy.
Some of the other women on the show have been:
Tamra Barney – Tamra joined the show in series three and quickly became friends with Vicky. She allowed the cameras to come into her life and see the breakdown of her marriage with ex husband Simon, her wild side came out, She started a business called Wines by Wives with Vicky and her love affair with Eddie Judge has also been shown from the beginning. We also saw her amazing holiday to Boro Boro with Eddie, where he proposed to her, and in the latest series we are watching her plan her wedding.
Gretchen Rossi – Gretchen came on in series four and was instantly disliked by Vicky and Tamra. She was the centre of many controversies such as the ‘naked wasted’ dinner, her questionable relationship with the late, much older Jeff, her now long term relationship with Slade Smiley since the passing of Jeff (Slade also dated former RHOC Jo), her new found friendship with Tamra, and the friendship with Alexis Bellino; which has become non-existent in the past two series.
Alexis Bellino – Devout, wife, mother and Christian Alexis has always stood by her man Jim throughout the show. She joined in series five and tried her hand at various jobs such as; a news correspondent, running her own dress line which is still on going, acting and now supports her husbands burgeoning trampoline park empire. Alexis has gone through a tough time with the ladies and has fought with almost everyone. However in the latest series she has managed to make amends with everyone, apart from Gretchen, and seems to be a lot more happier on the show.
Heather Dubrow – Heather came on the show in series seven and has oozed class and elegance throughout. Wife of plastic surgeon Terry Dubrow, Heather is leading an eccentric lifestyle along with her four children. The Dubrow’s have a huge house in OC and are well known and liked amongst all the wives and the men of the show. Heather is also an actress, who has restarted her profession in the latest series; showing that a woman can have it all.
Lauri Peterson – Lauri was part of the show in series one as she was working for Vicky. From being a single mum to having her fairy tale wedding with her prince charming George Peterson, Lauri is now living the dream of an affluent housewife along with an army of children. Lauri has started to reappear on the show in the latest series and has brought along with her lots of drama and grudges. She has revealed secrets about Vicky to Gretchen that were years old and has even held a grudge with Vicky for seven years. She is bringing about lots of entertainment by stirring things up but I’m just not sure how exciting her story-line will be once she’s got her revenge.
Lynne Curtin – Lynne was part of the cast in series five and displayed her ditsy side to the world, as well as her oh too relaxed parenting style with her two daughters. Lynne is mainly remembered for her and her husband Frank’s explosive house eviction episode, in which one of their daughters had to retrieve the notice, Lynne came to realise that Frank had been hiding their financial problems from the family. I think a lot of the public felt sorry for Lynne, seeing the situation she was in and how distraught she was to have to find out about it last minute.
Peggy Tanous – The leggy blonde Peggy was part of series six of the RHOC. Former model and stay at home mum, Peggy was a new-age woman and wealthy party girl. Peggy was a good friend of Alexis’ but that friendship turned sour when it was revealed on the show that Peggy had previously dated Alexis’ husband Jim. Although Peggy was now happily married Alexis was not willing to believe that Peggy even dated Jim and the friendship went down like a plane crash.
Lydia McLaughlin- Lydia joined the cast in series eight, the most recent one. Lydia is married with two sons, and came on as a friend of Alexis. Just as Alexis is, Lydia is also a practicing christian. She owns a range of businesses and also runs a lifestyle magazine with her husband. So far on the show Lydia has been a little low key and quiet, trying to keep out of the drama and instead becoming a peacemaker between Alexis and Heather and Alexis and Tamra. She has had a small run in with Gretchen and her boyfriend Slade, but has since cleared that up.
Reality TV Junkie 