Who better to give the new Season 12 cast of Vanderpump Rules well-meaning advice than one of the OG SURvers?
Tom Sandoval had wise words for the fresh new batch of restaurant employees working under the watchful eye of Lisa Vanderpump, imparting his wisdom during an exclusive interview with The Daily Dish over the BravoCon 2025 weekend. “We gave them an amazing platform,” he said, while looking back at his 11 seasons with the show.
“Where that show came from was us knowing each other for many years,” the Tom Tom bar owner continued. “Living together, working together, vacationing, music festivals together, being broke together. Like, we knew each other all really inside and out.”
So, to the new cast, “All I can say is just keep it real,” Tom concluded. “Keep it real.”
How Tom Sandoval feels about the Vanderpump Rules shakeup for Season 12
Tom’s indelible 11-season run, as was highlighted in the “Raise Your Glass to 11 Seasons” special on Nov. 25, ran the gamut from his unbreakable friendships to the far-reaching cheating scandals that shook the Bravoverse.
Just one day after his and BFF Tom Schwartz’s Schwartz & Sandy’s Lounge closed its doors this time last year, news broke that there would be a complete overhaul of the cast. And Tom soon issued a lengthy Instagram post about how grateful he was for more than a decade with a series that became a “cultural phenomenon.”
Related: Tom Sandoval Makes Shocking Confession About Katie and Schwartz’s Divorce in Unaired VPR Moment
It all started, Tom said, with a chance meetup with fellow aspiring model Jax Taylor in Miami, followed by a Craigslist ad by Tom Schwartz seeking a roommate.
“We were unaware as to the effect this show would have on our lives,” Tom Sandoval said, in part. “The foundation of Vanderpump Rules was built on pure, honest, raw emotions… triumphs, struggles, and love that happen[s] between a group of real friends and our relationships. As soon as we started filming, s–t got real and never turned back. It’s been a roller coaster ride, and you’ve been with us through every step of the way.”
Related: Unaired VPR Moment Shows Kristen Giving Tom Sandoval an Eerie Warning: “Truth Always Comes Out”
Who is the new cast of Vanderpump Rules Season 12?
Fresh faces replace Tom and his former cast members for Season 12, serving up a whole new level of drama at LVP’s beloved West Hollywood restaurant, SUR. Among them are Venus Binkley, Jason Cohen, Shayne Davis, Chris Hahn, Angelica Jensen, Marcus Johnson, Audrey Lingle, Natalie Maguire, Demy Selem, and Kim Suarez.
“This season on Vanderpump Rules, the deep-rooted, dynamic group of friends, frenemies, and lovers that have been working for Lisa Vanderpump at SUR for years are shaking things up — from Pumptinis to chaos,” the show’s official release teases. “Despite new uniforms and a few fresh faces in the mix, the drama remains as messy and complicated as their iconic predecessors.”
When does Vanderpump Rules Season 12 premiere?
Vanderpump Rules premieres Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Episodes will be available to stream the next day on Peacock.
Check out Tom’s exclusive update over the BravoCon weekend about where he and Jax stand in their relationship today.
