While thinking about The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20, Andy Cohen knew he wanted something extra special for the milestone. So, what did he decide to do? Bring back the self-proclaimed “OG of the OC,” Vicki Gunvalson.
“We will gather and we will work on where we’re going with Season 20,” he said during the November 16 Ask Andy event at BravoCon 2025. “I was so excited to give Vicki that orange back. We don’t take it lightly that The Real Housewives of Orange County is turning 20, and so we thought it would be a really fun thing to bring her back. And I really wanted to do it in front of all of you.”
Andy Cohen surprises Vicki Gunvalson with RHOC Season 20 offer
The Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen host invited Vicki to return to the series during The Bravos awards show, which was filmed on Friday, November 14, and aired on Bravo a couple of days later. As seen during the ceremony, Andy accompanied Vicki onto the stage where she was expecting to present this year’s Wifetime Achievement Award, an honor she received back in 2023. But unbeknownst to Vicki, Andy had a major offer up his sleeve.
“Vicki, would you join us as a Housewife for Season 20?” he asked during the live taping as he handed Vicki an orange.
Vicki, clearly overwhelmed with emotions, hugged Andy and shouted, “Yes!” into the mic.
RELATED: Vicki Gunvalson Accepts Andy Cohen’s Offer to Return to RHOC for Season 20
Inside Vicki Gunvalson’s RHOC History
The real estate mogul entered the Bravo-verse in 2006 as an original member of RHOC. She remained a full-time Housewife until Season 13 and then took on a “friend” role in the following season. Vicki officially exited the franchise in early 2020.
“I will always be the OG of the OC, but it’s time to say goodbye to The Real Housewives of Orange County,” she wrote in a January 2020 Instagram post. “It’s been an incredible ride for 14 years and I want to thank all of you for your support, for your love and for ‘whooping it up’ with me along the way.”
Vicki Gunvalson on reclaiming her orange: “Everything was kind of a blur”
Although she made several RHOC cameos in seasons 17 and 18, Vicki had been quite vocal about her desire to go back to the show as a full-time cast member. She reflected on her Season 20 offer during the November 15 episode of her podcast series, My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast.
“What a night! Tears. I cried, I cried,” she told her co-host Christian Gray Snow. “I was shaking because I didn’t know if it was real. Bravo called me up, said they’re gonna bring me on stage to give the Wifetime Achievement Award because you’re giving it to [The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kandi Burruss] … I had a speech memorized; it was about working women and mothers and all of this. And then [Andy] said, ‘Hold my hand when we go out’… Everything was kind of like a blur.
RELATED: Vicki Gunvalson Just Bought a House with Her Boyfriend, Michael Smith: See the “Reveal”
“When he said, ‘We’d like to offer you Season 20…’ Of course, I’m gonna say yes,” she continued. “I kind of lost my world. It just kind of got interesting, euphoric. It was an out-of-body experience.”
Vicki was still holding on to the orange while filming the episode, and she made it quite clear she was never giving it up.
“I’m gonna put it in a dehydrator and put it on my wall next to my Wifetime Achievement Award,” she said.
Vicki Gunvalson teases what she’ll deliver for RHOC Season 20
Vicki said one of the “greatest” parts about her return was all the support she received once it was announced. She then recalled the audience’s standing ovation, saying it was both moving and motivating.
“I have a sense of responsibility to bring a really good show,” she added. “I’m not gonna let you down. I’m really excited.”
Bravo has not shared any more details about the RHOC Season 20 cast; however, current OC Housewife Shannon Storms Beador had an enthusiastic reaction to the Vikci news. Find out what she had to say.
