The Real Housewives of Orange County season 8 explained

Season Number:8
Bgcolour:
  1. 3B9CEC
Num Episodes:22
Network:Bravo
Episode List:List of The Real Housewives of Orange County episodes

The eighth season of The Real Housewives of Orange County, an American reality television series, was broadcast on Bravo. It aired from April 1, 2013, until September 1, 2013, and was primarily filmed in Orange County, California. Its executive producers are Adam Karpel, Alex Baskin, Douglas Ross, Gregory Stewart, Scott Dunlop, Stephanie Boyriven and Andy Cohen.

The Real Housewives of Orange County focuses on the lives of Vicki Gunvalson, Tamra Barney, Gretchen Rossi, Alexis Bellino, Heather Dubrow and Lydia McLaughlin. It consisted of 22 episodes.[1]

This season marked the final regular appearances of Gretchen Rossi and Alexis Bellino. This season also marked the first departure of Lydia McLaughlin. She eventually returned for the show's 12th season.

Production and crew

In September 2012, Alexis Bellino revealed that The Real Housewives of Orange County had been renewed for an eighth season.[2] In February 2013, the official cast, trailer and premiered dare were announced.[3] [4] The season premiere "Bullies and Babies" was aired on April 1, 2013, while the twentieth episode "Cold Shoulders" served as the season finale, and was aired on August 5, 2013.[5] [6] [7] [8] It was followed by a three-part reunion that aired on August 12, August 19 and August 26, 2013[9] [10] [11] and a "Secrets Revealed" episode on September 1, 2013, which marked the conclusion of the season.[12] [13] [14] [15] Adam Karpel, Alex Baskin, Douglas Ross, Gregory Stewart, Scott Dunlop, Stephanie Boyriven and Andy Cohen are recognized as the series' executive producers; it is produced and distributed by Evolution Media.[14]

The following day after the final episode of season eight, the second spin-off to The Real Housewives of Orange County titled Tamra's OC Wedding premiered on Bravo, starring Barney and Eddie Judge.[16] [17] The series documented the couple as they prepared for their wedding and as well as the wedding day itself. The three-part miniseries chronicles the weeks prior to the couple's wedding as well as the wedding itself — which took place on June 15, 2013, at the Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California.[18] [19] [20] After the wedding and in future seasons, Barney is now known as Tamra Judge.[21]

On July 13, 2016, Bravo aired a "Special Episode" that featured a never before seen look at season eight. All the cast members, full-time and recurring, returned to discuss the events that occurred during the season.[22] [23] After the episode aired, Gretchen Rossi claimed she was unhappy with the way the episode was edited to make her look like a liar. Rossi claimed she would be seeking legal action and might leak the emails she allegedly had from her time on the series.[24] [25]

Cast and synopsis

All fives housewives featured on the seventh season of The Real Housewives of Orange County returned for the eighth instalment.[26] With the five former wives returning, the season also featured a new wife, Lydia McLaughlin. McLaughlin is described as a "fresh-faced, level headed and surprisingly direct OC heiress"[27] as well as a "young, kooky mother always puts her family and faith first."[28] Along with all the housewives returning, former housewife Lauri Peterson returned in a recurring capacity. Peterson returned supporting Tamra Barney with her wedding duties as well as revealing some gossip about Vicki Gunvalson.[29] [30] [31] [32]

Although Alexis Bellino returned for the eighth season, in September 2012, she originally quit after the seventh due to no longer wanting to be around the drama and bullying.[33] [34] Bellino allegedly received a call from the producers asking her to reconsider and after thinking about it, she decided to return to the series.[35] [36] Bellino claims the reason for her return was to set an example for her kids and to prove bullies don't win saying "do I really want my children to think that mommy quit her career or that mommy let those bullies win? No. I’m going to go back and fight and make my statement."[37]

Barney and Judge take the next step in their relationship when they move in together[5] as they prepare for their upcoming nuptials.[38] [39] Her and the other ladies head to Mexico for her bachelorette party. The bachelorette events prepared by Heather Dubrow and Gretchen Rossi don't go to plan when Vicki Gunvalson steps in and takes control to make things more fun.[40] This marks the beginning of an end of Barney and Rossi newly formed friendship.[6] [31] [41] [42] Barney and Judge mix personal with business as they arrange for the opening of their fitness studio Cut Fitness.[5] Barney opens old wounds when she speaks at the Los Angeles Women's Expo, where details of her past that she has kept secret for years.[43] Bellino becomes friends with Gunvalson after feeling isolated from several of the housewives.[44] Her isolation with the other wives worsens at a dinner at Barney's gym, where Bellino reveals she has had to go on Xanax due to the "bullying."[45] McLaughlin disagrees with Bellino's choice of words which creates a divide in their friendship and leaves the other wives seeing McLaughlin as her own person and not just Bellino's friend.[46] Away from the drama, Bellino and her husband relish in their marriage with salsa dancing and opening a new trampoline park.[47] McLaughlin and her husband Doug connect with the Bellinos over their shared devotion to Christianity.[38] McLaughlin and her mom celebrate her newfound sobriety with marijuana, but some wounds from her childhood haven't healed.[43] [48] [49] McLaughlin and her husband run are magazine editors for Beverly Hills Lifestyle Magazine, but not offering Dubrow the cover causes tension between to two wives.[44] Dubrow re-establishes her presence in the entertainment industry after securing recurring positions in the television series Hot in Cleveland and Malibu Country, however her husband doesn't seem as excited.[31] [42] [48] [49] The Dubrows argue about Terry's lack of excitement and support for Heather which leaves Terry using the word "divorce."[47] Gunvalson embraces being a grandmother to Briana's newborn son Troy.[5] [43] Gunvalson's relationship with Ayers becomes increasingly turbulent, especially when Gunvalson's son-in-law drops a bomb about Ayers.[39] [41] [46] [48] Gunvalson recently had plastic surgery on her face, but it soon becomes the talk center of gossip.[50] Rossi reconsiders marriage and beginning a family after her relationship with Slade becomes more stable due to Slade getting work at a radio station.[43] [48] [50] Later in the season Rossi takes the plunge and proposes to Slade in a big celebration involving a song, helicopters and his family.[38] [39]

Episodes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Episode Guide. Bravo. 3 December 2008 . August 26, 2016.
  2. Web site: Gennis. Sadie. Alexis Bellino Officially Leaving Real Housewives of Orange County. TV Guide. August 27, 2016.
  3. Web site: Bravo Media's "The Real Housewives of Orange County" Soaks Up the Sun for Its Eighth Season Premiering Monday, April 1 at 8PM ET/PT. The Futon Critic. August 27, 2016.
  4. Web site: Debauchery, Drama, and Scandals!. Bravo. 28 October 2014 . August 27, 2016.
  5. Web site: Ep 1: Bullies and Babies. Bravo. NBCUniversal. April 1, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  6. Web site: Ep 18: Cold Shoulders. Bravo. NBCUniversal. August 5, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  7. Web site: Season 8, Episode 1 Bullies and Babies. TV Guide. August 27, 2016.
  8. Web site: Season 8, Episode 18 Cold Shoulders. TV Guide. August 27, 2016.
  9. Web site: Ep 19: Reunion Part 1. Bravo. NBCUniversal. August 12, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  10. Web site: Ep 20: Reunion Part 2. Bravo. NBCUniversal. August 19, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  11. Web site: Ep 21: Reunion Part 3. Bravo. NBCUniversal. August 26, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  12. Web site: Ep 22: Secrets Revealed. Bravo. NBCUniversal. September 1, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  13. Web site: Season 8, Episode 22 Secrets Revealed. TV Guide. August 27, 2016.
  14. Web site: Shows A-Z - Real Housewives of Orange County, The on Bravo. The Futon Critic. August 27, 2016.
  15. Web site: The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 8 Episode Guide. TV Guide. August 27, 2016.
  16. Web site: Abrams. Natalie. Real Housewives' Tamra Barney Getting a Spin-Off. TV Guide. August 27, 2016.
  17. Web site: Tamra's OC Wedding Episode Guide. Bravo. 6 June 2013 . August 27, 2016.
  18. Web site: Grossberg. Josh. Real Housewives' Tamra Barney Marries Eddie Judge!. E! Online. NBCUniversal. June 15, 2013. November 28, 2014.
  19. Web site: Tamra Barney, Eddie Judge Get Married! New Photos and Details. Us Weekly. Galla. Brittany. Peros. Jennifer. June 21, 2013. November 28, 2014.
  20. Web site: Rivera. Zayda. Real Housewives of OC' star Tamra Barney marries Eddie Judge with castmates in attendance. New York Daily News. June 16, 2013. November 28, 2014.
  21. Web site: Tamra Judge. Bravo. 25 June 2012 . August 28, 2016.
  22. Web site: Special Episode. Bravo. NBCUniversal. September 1, 2016. August 27, 2016.
  23. Web site: Puccio. Crystal. 6 Surprising Secrets Revealed in the #RHOC Season 8 Uncensored Special. Bravo. 14 June 2016 . August 27, 2016.
  24. Web site: Miller. Ashlee. RHOC Gretchen Rossi Gets Lawyered Up After Uncensored Episode Airs. Press Room VIP. August 27, 2016.
  25. Web site: Gretchen Challenges Bravo To Air All Footage On Tonight's Special. Real Mr Housewife. 13 June 2016 . August 27, 2016.
  26. Web site: 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' Season 8 to Premiere Monday, April 1 on Bravo. https://web.archive.org/web/20160915225021/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/02/19/the-real-housewives-of-orange-county-season-8-to-premiere-monday-april-1-on-bravo/. dead. September 15, 2016. TV By The Numbers. August 28, 2016.
  27. Web site: The Real Housewives of Orange County, Season 8. iTunes. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2016.
  28. Web site: Lydia McLaughlin. Bravo. 14 February 2013 . August 28, 2016.
  29. Web site: Wan. Tiffany. Lauri Waring Peterson Returns to Real Housewives of Orange County Season 8!. Wetpaint. August 28, 2016.
  30. Web site: Ep 10: Viva Mexico. Bravo. NBCUniversal. June 3, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  31. Web site: Ep 13: Wedding Dress Stress. Bravo. NBCUniversal. June 24, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  32. Web site: Ep 14: The Cold War. Bravo. NBCUniversal. July 8, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  33. Web site: Gennis. Sadie. Alexis Bellino Officially Leaving Real Housewives of Orange County. TV Guide. August 28, 2016.
  34. Web site: Olya. Gabrielle. Alexis Bellino Says She's Leaving The Real Housewives of Orange County. People. August 28, 2016.
  35. Web site: Alexis Bellino Confirms She Quit RHOC; Questions Friendship With Lydia McLaughlin & Admits She Should Have Skipped Tamra Barney's Party!. Reality Tea. May 2013 . August 28, 2016.
  36. Web site: Ravitz. Justin. Alexis Bellino of Real Housewives Orange County Explains Vicious Tamra Barney Fight. Us Weekly. 30 April 2013 . August 28, 2016.
  37. Web site: Alexis Bellino Returned To Real Housewives Of Orange County So The "Bullies" Wouldn't Win. Reality Tea. 15 April 2013 . August 28, 2016.
  38. Web site: Ep 16: Crossroads. Bravo. NBCUniversal. July 22, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  39. Web site: Ep 17: An Immodest Proposal. Bravo. NBCUniversal. July 29, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  40. Web site: Ep 11: Dirty Dancing in Mexico. Bravo. NBCUniversal. June 10, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  41. Web site: Ep 12: Chicks and Salsa. Bravo. NBCUniversal. June 17, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  42. Web site: Ep 15: Hold Your Tongue. Bravo. NBCUniversal. July 15, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  43. Web site: Ep 9: Speech Therapy. Bravo. NBCUniversal. May 27, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  44. Web site: Ep 3: Making Up Is Hard to Do. Bravo. NBCUniversal. April 15, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  45. Web site: Ep 4: It's My Party and I'll Scream If I Want To. Bravo. NBCUniversal. April 22, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  46. Web site: Ep 5: The Party Is DONE!. Bravo. NBCUniversal. April 29, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  47. Web site: Ep 7: Whines by Wives. Bravo. NBCUniversal. May 13, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  48. Web site: Ep 6: A Star Is Reborn?. Bravo. NBCUniversal. May 6, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  49. Web site: Ep 8: Hot in Orange County. Bravo. NBCUniversal. May 20, 2013. August 27, 2016.
  50. Web site: Ep 2: Evil Eyes and Evil Faces. Bravo. NBCUniversal. April 8, 2013. August 27, 2016.