Time flies when you’re having fun, and that is very evident by the fact that the Real Housewives franchise is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026. We’ve loved every minute we’ve had with the Real Housewives in our lives. In case you’re wondering what the first Real Housewives show was, the answer is… The Real Housewives of Orange County.
How to Watch
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. Episodes stream next day on Peacock.
The Real Housewives of Orange County kicked off what would become a reality TV phenomenon on Bravo and across pop culture. The premise was simple: follow a group of friends in a gated community in Orange County, CA, and give an inside peek at their glamorous and dynamic lives.Â
The rest is history. RHOC started airing its 20th season in 2026, allowing fans into the lives of this SoCal group of women, including original cast member Vicki Gunvalson. Read on for more on the early days of RHOC as well as how the Real Housewives franchise has grown two decades later.Â
What was the premiere date for the first Real Housewives?
Who was in the cast for Season 1 of RHOC?
That premiere season followed a group of women who mostly lived in Coto de Caza, the affluent gated community in Orange County. The Season 1 cast for RHOC included:
What were the taglines for the cast in RHOC Season 1?
Below are the taglines from The Real Housewives of Orange County cast in Season 1:
- Vicki Gunvalson: “I don’t wanna get old.”
- Kimberly Bryant: “85 percent of the women around here have had breast implants.”
- Jo De La Rosa: “He’s pretty much keeping me.”
- Jeana Keough: “It’s just money, you can’t take it with you.”
- Lauri Waring Peterson: “Are the police involved?”
How many Real Housewives shows are there since the first one?
Since RHOC premiered on Bravo in 2006, the franchise has expanded to many cities across the country and the world. As of July 2026, there have been 12 Real Housewives cities that have premiered on Bravo:Â
Vicki Gunvalson reflects on the start of RHOC
Vicki, who is, of course, “the OG of the OC,” spoke with Bravo ahead of the Season 20 premiere, where she reflected on the early days of shooting RHOC and the evolution of where the franchise is today. “Think about 21 years ago, we started filming a little four-week pilot,” she recalled about the start of the Real Housewives phenomenon with that RHOC pilot kicking it off. “Never did I ever imagine, 20 years later, I would be here with a new cast, new people… press, which we never really had then. So, it’s been a great ride.”
Andy Cohen reflects on the 20th anniversary of RHOC and the Real Housewives
When Vicki stopped by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on July 9, WWHL host and Real Housewives executive producer Andy Cohen opened up about the last twenty years of RHOC, as well as the Real Housewives franchise, in which he praised Vicki’s contributions to it.
“I mean, first of all, it’s unheard of for a series to be on the air for 20 years, 20 seasons. It really is, but also it’s incredible. You know what a run you’ve had, but I have known you since day one, and our lives have changed so much because of this show,” he said. “So, I feel very connected to you in a really nice way, and I feel like this has been such an amazing ride. And I’m so grateful for it, and I’m grateful for you. And I’m grateful for every Housewife that has stepped in front of the cameras and opened up their lives to fans of the show… it’s an amazing thing.”
RHOC debuts Season 20 in 2026
As the Real Housewives franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary, The Real Housewives of Orange County‘s Season 20 airs in 2026 with Vicki back in the cast, alongside Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti, and Carmella Garcia.Â
Fans can see how the show has evolved over the years by tuning into RHOC Season 20 on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. You can hear from Andy and Vicki about the landmark anniversary by checking out the video at the top of the post.
