Vicki Gunvalson has become something of a face for The Real Housewives of Orange County, and even the franchise as a whole. Over twenty years after the series premiered, Andy Cohen looked back on the show, noting how Gunvalson ended up surprising the series’ showrunners. Of course, Gunvalson herself also had a lot to say during the conversation.
Victoria ‘Vicki’ Gunvalson First Became Part Of The Real Housewives Of Orange County During Its 2006 Debut
Over the years, The Real Housewives has become one of Bravo’s biggest franchises, and it all started with The Real Housewives of Orange County. Premiering in 2006, the series, initially inspired by soap operas, looked at the lives of women living in a Southern California gated community.
During this inaugural series, Vicki Gunvalson served as a main cast member during the show’s first thirteen seasons. This made her the first housewife of the entire franchise to reach that milestone. Over the years, she has been considered one of the “faces” of the franchise. She is also set to be part of the show during its upcoming 20th season.
Recently, executive producer Andy Cohen looked back on Gunvalson’s role throughout the franchise. At the time, he admitted that the showrunners were surprised at her star power.
In particular, while speaking with The New York Times, Cohen was surprised that she ended up being one of the franchise’s most enduring stars. He shared, “I don’t know that in Season 1 we would’ve put all our money on Vicki being the housewife whose story we’re still telling. As much as her life has changed, she has not changed.”
According To Gunvalson, The Show Started Out As Something Of A ‘Social Experiment’
Gunvalson herself also weighed in, noting that, “When we first started, [original series producer] Scott Dunlop said, ‘This is going to be a social experiment. We have no idea what’s going to happen. It’s a documentary of your life.’”
Soon, Gunvalson made an impression on viewers with her lust for life and her willingness to let viewers see her fall, as well as pull her way back. She admitted, “I’m a crier, so I’m very emotional, and I try to stuff it, but then it wouldn’t be me, you know? So I just let it all hang out and see where it goes.”
Throughout the show, viewers saw Gunvalson endure all sorts of ups and downs. This included the end of relationships, health concerns in her family, and the sudden death of her own mother. She admitted some acceptance of these trials during the conversation. She shared, “It’s hard, but it’s reality. I sell life insurance every day, so I’m like, we’re all gonna die.”
After all these years, Cohen also shared his respect for the franchise. He shared, “I think it’s the great feminist show. There was a turning point on ‘The Real Housewives of New York’ specifically. Where they were divorced, and they were over 50. But they were owning their sexuality in a way that was not happening anywhere on television.”
What is your reactions to Andy Cohen and Vicki Gunvalson’s recent shares? Have you been following this story? Are you keeping up with The Real Housewives franchise? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest reality TV and celebrity news.
John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
