20 Years of Real Housewives - OC & RHUGT Recap

Orange County Brought Everyone Back

I can’t be the only one who felt some frustration that we got an episode of Orange County with more past Housewives than the episode of Ultimate Girls Trip that started in Orange County. Episode 13 of RHOC’s 20th season brought back eight past Housewives for Tamra’s THC seltzer launch party: Jeana Keough, Jo De La Rosa, Lynne Curtin, Braunwyn Windham-Burke, Quinn Fry, Lizzie Rovsek, Tammy Knickerbocker, and Alexis Bellino.¹ The RHUGT premiere had two original OC Housewives, Jeana and Jo.² I can see where more time and care may have been put into filming RHUGT over the 20th season of Orange County. The season feels flat, but I think that is the trajectory OC has been on for a few years now. There are people who are enjoyable to watch, and others who are the perfect kind of messy to be on reality TV, but it is missing that something special the other cities each have. At this point, I don’t think OC would still be around if it was not what started Real Housewives to begin with.

Why Is Alexis Bellino Still on Our Screens?

Even more frustrating is thinking that fans still want to see Alexis Bellino and John Janssen on our screens. This added absolutely nothing. Alexis made a scene, went back to the party, made another scene, and then finally left.³ ⁴ This is what Bravo as a whole should do more of. It just feels like Bravo still owes Alexis screen time or something.

To be fair, it may not be manufactured drama. Tamra says she is close with Alexis.⁵ Back in 2024, castmate Emily Simpson said she was confused why Tamra and Heather gave Alexis “a free pass.”⁶ Jenn Pedranti has also confirmed it was Heather, not Shannon, who made Alexis cry in the midseason trailer, despite how it was edited.⁷

The RHUGT Finale

Credit where it’s due though, the finale did bring in the current Rhode Island cast, continuing the trend I mentioned last time of RHUGT boosting newer franchises.⁸ When an argument broke out at the party, Dorinda said they weren’t turning the night into episode six of RHORI and sent it to the driveway.⁹

Episode 9, “Blustone Manners,” aired October 4. After an eight-hour Sprinter van ride, the group arrived at Dorinda Medley’s Bluestone Manor for a Gilded Age-themed party with current and former Housewives.¹⁰ Andy Cohen pulled Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga aside and apologized for how Melissa’s Season 3 casting on RHONJ affected Teresa, and Melissa told her, “You were here first, and I will never not say that to you.”¹¹ The Teresa and Heather Gay tension from the midseason trailer boiled over, with Porsha stepping in to say she knew “damn well” they weren’t acting up in front of company.¹² Andy closed the night with a speech calling the cast his “avengers,” followed by fireworks.¹³ For a Real Housewives fan, it was everything you would want to see, with so many faces people find comfort in. I am not disappointed in Ultimate Girls Trip, and may even revisit it sometime.

Sources

1. Bravo, “Every RHOC Alum at Tamra Judge’s Party and What They’ve Been Up To Since Leaving,” bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/every-rhoc-alum-at-tamra-judge-party-life-updates-details
2. Bravo, “Who Was on the Original Real Housewives of Orange County Cast?” bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/who-was-on-the-original-real-housewives-of-orange-county-cast
3. Reality Tea, “Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20 Episode 14 Recap: Shannon Accuses Alexis Bellino of Wanting ‘A Storyline,’” realitytea.com/2026/10/08/real-housewives-of-orange-county-rhoc-season-20-episode-14-recap
4. Bravo, “Alexis Bellino Breaks Fourth Wall in Heated Argument With Heather,” bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/alexis-bellino-breaks-fourth-wall-heather-dubrow-confrontation-details
5. Reality Blurb, “RHOC Recap: Heather Confronts Alexis After Accusing Her of Giving Her a Look,” realityblurb.com/2026/10/01/rhoc-recap-heather-confronts-alexis-after-accusing-her-of-giving-her-a-look
6. Reality Tea, “RHOC Emily Simpson Confused Why Tamra Judge, Heather Dubrow Give Alexis Bellino a Free Pass,” realitytea.com/2024/10/17/rhoc-emily-simpson-confused-why-tamra-judge-heather-dubrow-give-alexis-bellino-free-pass
7. Reality Blurb, “Jenn Pedranti Confirms It Was Heather Dubrow Who ‘Took Care of Business’ With Alexis Bellino,” realityblurb.com/2026/09/17/jenn-pedranti-confirms-it-was-heather-dubrow-who-took-care-of-business-with-alexis-bellino-and-made-her-cry-in-rhoc-midseason-trailer
8. Ocean State Media, “The Ocean State is about to get choppy: Real Housewives of Rhode Island is coming,” oceanstatemedia.org/arts-entertainment/the-ocean-state-is-about-to-get-choppy-real-housewives-of-rhode-island-is-coming
9. Bravo Bravo Books and Bravo (Substack), “RHUGT: Roaring 20th Episode 9 Recap,” bravobravobooksandbravo.substack.com/p/rhugt-roaring-20th-episode-9-recap
10. Hollywood Outbreak, “Dorinda Hosts Wild Finale Party: RHUGT Recap,” hollywoodoutbreak.com/2026/10/04/dorinda-hosts-wild-finale-party-rhugt-recap
11. Bravo, “Why Andy Cohen and Melissa Gorga Both Apologized to Teresa Giudice on RHUGT,” bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/andy-cohen-melissa-gorga-apologize-to-teresa-giudice-rhugt-roaring-20th
12. Reality Tea, “RHUGT Midseason Trailer: Teresa and Heather Clash as Porsha Says, ‘Sit Your A— Down,’” realitytea.com/2026/09/04/rhugt-midseason-trailer-teresa-giudice-heather-gay-porsha-williams
13. Primetimer, “RHUGT season 5 finale: Andy Cohen toasts the housewives as his ‘avengers’ in a heartfelt speech,” primetimer.com/features/rhugt-season-5-finale-andy-cohen-toasts-the-housewives-as-his-avengers-in-a-heartfelt-speech