The gates of Coto de Caza are swinging open again, and honestly, the neighborhood isn't ready. If you've been following the housewives of orange county news lately, you know the dust hasn't even settled from that brutal Season 19 reunion before the Season 20 casting bombs started dropping. It’s a lot. One minute we’re arguing about Shannon’s mocktails, and the next, the "OG of the OC" is reclaimimg her throne while others are getting the boot.
Bravo doesn't do "quiet."
The Katie Ginella Exit: Why She’s Really Out
Let’s just get into the messy part first. Katie Ginella is out. She confirmed it herself on TikTok while eating Taco Bell with her son, which is a vibe, but the backstory is less crunchy. Word on the street—and by street, I mean the internal production leaks—is that the rest of the cast basically stopped filming with her.
It’s the classic RHOC "gang up."
She lasted two seasons, but by the end of Season 19, she was on an island. It’s sorta sad because her journey with her Korean heritage was one of the few real things on the show. But in the land of Botox and beach parties, "real" doesn't always keep the cameras rolling. If the veterans won't talk to you, you don't have a show. Period.
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The Return of the Queen (and the Chaos)
Vicki Gunvalson is back. For real this time. No "friend of" nonsense, no guest appearances at a Luau—she’s got a full-time orange for Season 20.
Andy Cohen handed it to her at BravoCon, and the crowd went wild. But here’s the thing: her return is already causing a massive rift with Heather Dubrow. There are rumors flying that Vicki is trying to "take over" the show again, and "Fancy Pants" Dubrow isn't having it.
Heather’s been busy balancing her life between the OC and her new Beverly Hills digs. She’s evolved from the lady who got mad about a bow on a cake to a seasoned veteran who knows exactly how to navigate these sharks. But Vicki is a different kind of predator. She’s loud, she’s unfiltered, and she’s coming back with a vengeance.
The Shannon and Tamra "Truce" is a Total Mirage
Don't believe everything you saw at the reunion.
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Sure, Shannon Beador and Tamra Judge hugged it out. They said "I love you." But if you listen to Shannon’s recent interviews, they are "in a place where they just exist." That’s housewife-speak for: I’ll stand in the same room as you for a paycheck, but don't call me.
The "Tres Amigas" are dead. Buried.
- Vicki and Tamra are still tight-ish.
- Shannon is doing her own thing, trying to stay sober and move past the John Janssen/Alexis Bellino nightmare.
- Alexis (aka "Jesus Jugs") is reportedly not coming back full-time, which is probably the only reason Shannon agreed to sign her contract for next year.
The lawsuit drama between John Janssen and Shannon really sucked the air out of the room last season. It was dark. Seeing Alexis come on just to poke at Shannon’s legal troubles felt gross to a lot of fans.
Who Else is Staying?
Basically everyone else.
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- Gina Kirschenheiter: She’s safe. People love to hate on her, but she’s the glue that holds the younger cast together.
- Emily Simpson: She’s definitely back. Her storyline with her son Luke’s health was actually moving, though some fans think she’s run out of personal drama.
- Jennifer Pedranti: She survived the Tamra onslaught and is sticking around.
What’s the Move for Fans Now?
If you're trying to keep up with the housewives of orange county news as filming starts in early 2026, you need to look beyond the curated Instagram posts. The real tea usually drops in the background of TikTok videos and Jeff Lewis’s podcast.
Watch the "Friend Of" slots. That’s where the real surprises happen. Gretchen Rossi is still in limbo. She had a "rough one" last season with some social media controversy involving transphobic content, and Bravo is being very careful with her right now. If she comes back, expect Tamra to lose her mind.
Keep an eye on the filming locations. They usually start at the Quiet Woman (obviously) and branch out to some "healing" retreat that inevitably ends in a plate of glass being smashed.
The next few months of pre-production are going to be wild. With Vicki back in the mix, the power dynamic is shifting back to the old-school OC vibes, which is exactly what the ratings need. Grab your champagne—just make sure it's the expensive stuff if Heather’s around.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close watch on the cast's social media activity during the first two weeks of February, as that's when "test filming" usually leaks which new faces are being considered for the "friend" roles.