As the sun sets on one era, a new TV reality is born. Bravo has announced that there will be a 12th season of Vanderpump Rules—but they’ll be starting over with a brand-new cast. That’s right, a whole new generation of SUR employees will be having their turn in the spotlight for the reality show’s next season.
Premiering in 2013, Vanderpump Rules followed the drama-laden lives of the staff at Lisa Vanderpump’s SUR restaurant. For 11 seasons, viewers have had a front-row seat to all the friendships, scandals, rivalries—let us take a moment for the infamous Scandoval cheating incident—and the drama. Oh, the drama. With an original cast featuring characters like Stassi Schroeder, Scheana Shay, and Tom Sandoval, how could there have been anything but drama to help us cry through the early days of a breakup or sniffle through our turn with the flu?
In light of the cast being given a complete makeover, Lisa Vanderpump has been quick to express her gratitude for the show. As the restaurateur at the center of Vanderpump Rules, Lisa Vanderpump has been a key component behind its success. Whether acting as boss lady, mentor, or an often-reluctant peacekeeper in the chaos, Vanderpump Rules wouldn’t have become what it is today without her unique ability to blend class with just the right amount of sass. Her farewell message to the original cast was full of gratitude for 12 action-packed seasons and all of the ups and downs they rode through together along the way. She’s also expressed excitement for what lies ahead with the show and the new talent she’ll be working with at SUR.
So, what does a new era of Vanderpump Rules need? The producers of the show are hoping that a fresh (and tight-knit) group of employees will inject new life into the series, bringing fresh storylines and new relationships. Maybe less legacy drama and more about the actual connections between coworkers and what it means to be a team. Ideally, we’ll see all the same magic of the original but with slightly less over-the-top drama and scandalous tendencies. Regardless of what the new cast brings to the table, viewers can still look forward to seeing their lives behind the scenes as they huddle over their chicken noodle soup while avoiding that essay that’s due tomorrow.
Anytime an established series shakes things up, it’s a roll of the dice as to whether or not it’ll resonate with audiences. If the new cast is up to capturing the chaos, charm, and chemistry that secured the original series a spot on the “gotta watch” list, then we can look forward to seeing what the SUR crew is up to for the next 12 seasons. If they can’t? Well, it’ll be fun to see what happens regardless.
