The Real Housewives Of Orange County Return For An Eighth Season on Bravo TV!

The Real Housewives Of  Orange County premiered  tonight on Bravo TV for an eighth season!
Returning to the show are  " The OG of  The OC"  Vicki Gunvalson,  Gretchen Rossi, Tamra Barney, Heather Dubrow , and despite rumors last year  that she  wasn't returning,  Alexis Bellino has  made a comeback as well. New to the cast this season is Lydia McLaughlin and we also see the return of another Orange County veteran Lauri Peterson. I will be recapping the show live weekly Wed 11am EST with Gina Cutillo,  the star and host of  The Gina Show, on www.inravio.com ( Internet TV and radio )  on a segment called Reality Reel.

The show picked right up after last year's  explosive season seven  reunion where we saw relationships take a turn for the worst and new ones begin. It will be interesting to see how season eight plays out. Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Barney, who used to be the best of  friends, had a falling out last season and their relationship at this point is in the same place...non existent. Alexis Bellino, who came on the show originally as a very close friend of Gretchen Rossi, also had a falling out with Tamra Barney.
Alexis suffered a troubled friendship  with  Heather Dubrow and Gretchen as well  last season and we see that carrying over into the new show. Heather Dubrow makes it clear right out of the gate that she is not a friend of Alexis Bellino's by saying so and not inviting her to a clam bake at her house where she has invited all the other ladies.

Heather Dubrow returns for  her second season of RHOC 

 Vicki Gunvalson and Alexis Bellino have formed a new friendship which is interesting because when Alexis was new to to the show Vicki gave her a hard time ...she has since apologized and realized they had more in common than she originally thought.

Off camera BFFs Tamra Barney and Gretchen Rossi

Tamra Barney and Gretchen Rossi have become close friends despite the public and relentless media attacks that Tamra launched on Gretchen  trying  to defame her prior to season seven airing. I find it incredibly  confusing that Gretchen forgave such craziness regarding Tamra  but can not move forward with Alexis ( who did seemingly  nothing in comparison )  and who also had her back during that time. I guess we will have to wait until I release my interview with Alexis Bellino to see where their friendship lies now. Along with co owning and opening  a gym... Tamra  and Eddie Judge , her fiancee, have moved in together after Tamra's divorce from Simon and we already hear Tamra calling him controlling in her first interview about their relationship.

Vicky Gunvalso, Briana, and baby Troy!

Briana, Vicki's daughter, gives birth  to a new baby boy named Troy and Vicki couldn't be more thrilled!
We also see that Vicki Gunvalson has had some minor work done ( I think she looks great!) to feel better about herself  after feeling insecure with comments made by viewers of the show and by Slade Smiley, Gretchen Rossi's boyfriend.  Alexis Bellino also debuts a new look which is a shorter hair style sans extensions which I found to be fresh and make a statement in and of itself. Alexis is back and her confidence is showing!

Alexis Bellino and her Fab new hairstyle!

The " OG  of The OC" Vicki Gunvalson

Alexis has purchased a new home with her husband Jim Bellino and things she tells us things are going great!
 In an interview Vicki announces that she is no longer seeing her former  boyfriend, Brook Ayers, with whom she was smitten with last season . Previews of the upcoming season as well as Vicki herself on tonight's Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen had another story...stay tuned.

Lydia McLaughlin and her beautiful family!

 Lydia McLaughlin, owner of Lydia M Jewelry, is  the newest cast member to The OC ,  we will find out that she is also a  friend of Alexis Bellino's ( we have yet to meet her at this point ) . Lauri Peterson, who is no stranger to Reality TV and The OC,  will return to stir things up with the ladies...Vicki Gunvalson in particular. Gretchen and Slade are still going strong as is Gretchen's fashion line " Gretchen Christine" . Slade Smiley is now a radio personality and no longer Gretchen's " honorary assistant" so that will be interesting to see what is in store for them.

Season 8 ski trip with the ladies!

Overall I was happy with tonight's season opener but disappointed to find out that the same
 " Mean girls" routine and attitudes were in effect  amongst certain cast members. Judging by  the Bravo TV  previews we are promised an action packed and drama filled season notorious to The Real Housewives Of Orange County  further solidifying the fact  that The OC still has what is takes to be the longest running Bravo TV Housewives franchise and that is the way I see it ! Xx Billy Charles

Follow the ladies of The OC on Twitter:

Alexis Bellino @AlexisBellino
Vicki Gunvalson @VGunvalson
Lydia McLaughlin @ocLydia
Gretchen Rossi @GretchenRossi
Tamra Barney @TamraBarney
Heather Dubrow @HeatherDubrow
Lauri Peterson @LauriFromRHOC

Tune into Reality Reel on The Gina Show Live Wed 11AM EST  www.inravio.com 
Follow Host Gina Cutillo on Twitter @GinaCutillo