The eighteenth season of The Real Housewives of Orange County, aired between: July 11, 2024, and November 21, 2024, continuing to star: Tamra Judge, Heather Dubrow, Shannon Beador, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson and Jennifer Pedranti; plus introducing, Katie Ginella. Premiering on Bravo, this season consisted of twenty episodes and premiered to an average of 0.61 million viewers per episode.
Production[]
The season began taping on January 22, 2024 and concluded in late April 2024.
The season briefly resumed filming in May 2024 after news broke of Jennifer Pedranti’s Fiancé, Ryan Boyajian’s, alleged involvement in a gambling scandal.
The 'Reunion' was filmed on October 6, 2024.
Cameras picked back up thirty-six hours after the 'Reunion' concluded taping as news was spreading from Alexis Bellino’s Boyfriend (and Shannon Beador’s Ex-Boyfriend), John Janssen, about Beador’s behaviour on the night of her DUI arrest.
On June 6, 2024, Bravo dropped an official announcement for the latest season of The Real Housewives of Orange County (dropping the Season Trailer, the Season Premiere Date (of July 11, 2024) and official confirmation of the Season’s Cast; including their Promotional Photos and Synopsis' for their storylines).
Cast[]
On November 29, 2023, Taylor Armstrong announced her exit from The Real Housewives of Orange County after starring on the show for just one season in a 'Friend of the Housewives' role (a recurring capacity). The reason for her decision to leave the show is publicly unknown yet she expressed gratitude for the time that she had on the show and the new strong friendships that she had formed. There is speculation that the network and Armstrong did not come to an agreement when she sought obtaining a full-time role on the show; like she had on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and also having had a starring role on The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, more recently.
On January 24, 2024, former 'Housewife', Alexis Bellino, was announced to be returning to the show as a 'Friend of the Housewives'; appearing in a recurring capacity (after holding a full-time status eleven years prior, for four seasons). It is likely that Bellino was only credited in a recurring capacity since the feud with Beador (the Ex-Girlfriend of her Boyfriend) meant that she had less capability of filming entirely with the cast and producers were probably keen to see how Bellino fitted in with the cast dynamics.
On February 26, 2024, Vicki Gunvalson was announced to be returning to the show in a 'Guest' capacity (like last season) and that she had not been offered to return to the show in a main or recurring role. Gunvalson returned to filming to document her comedy show with Shannon Beador, and confront her fallout with Tamra Judge. Also, she joined the 'Housewives' at a couple of events.
On April 19, 2024, Judge posted a picture with original 'Housewife', Jo De La Rosa; who last appeared on the second season of the show, via Instagram, titling the post: "Jo’s back in the mix!". This seemingly hinted at her appeareance on the upcoming season on The Real Housewives of Orange County. She made an appearance on the Season Finale, Unfinished Business.
On June 6, 2024, during the official cast announcement, the addition of Katie Ginella was confirmed and the role as to which she was starring in (a main one). Additionally, after some speculation surrounding whether all the main cast members would retain their 'Housewife' status or whether some may now feature in recurring roles, the return of the entire Season 17 Cast (Tamra Judge, Heather Dubrow, Shannon Beador, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson and Jennifer Pedranti) as 'Housewives', was confirmed. This trailer also confirmed the 'Guest Appearance' of former 'Housewife', Elizabeth Vargas; who last appeared on the show’s fifteenth season, and former and current (respectively) The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills stars, Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave and Sutton Stracke; who would also go onto appear in separate episodes.
Synopsis[]
To Be Added.
Taglines[]
"Just because I drink from a flute, doesn’t mean you can play me."
"Even in the harshest of times, this Storms will always weather it."
"I used to question people for a living, now, I just do it for fun."
"Like the properties I represent, I know my worth."
"When you live your life on the green, envy is just par for the course."
"People bend over backwards to get me and their form is terrible."
"The only thing stuck up about me, is my middle finger."
Reunion[]
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Episodes[]
| Episode Overall | Episode Number | Image | Title | Original Air Date | Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Exes and OCs | July 11, 2024 | 0.65 | |
| After a difficult year, Shannon is doing her best to move forward as she faces the consequences from her DUI. Emily deals with a new gym obsession. Tamra finds herself down dos amigas. Relationships are put to the test as both Gina and Jenn explore new living arrangements with their partners. Heather’s "New Year, New Me" party brings tensions to a head when Alexis joins the ladies and revels in her new relationship with Shannon’s ex-boyfriend, John Janssen. | |||||
| 2 | 
|
Rent and Reputations | July 18, 2024 | 0.65 | |
| Tamra and Shannon come face-to-face in a heated debate. Alexis shares details of her "promise ring". Jenn’s parents come to visit and help the kids adjust to Ryan’s home. Gina fears her professional reputation is at risk after vouching for Jenn. Heather and Shannon try to repair their friendship. New 'Housewife', Katie, accidentally fuels the fire when she reveals Jenn is harboring a grudge against Gina. | |||||
| 3 | 
|
Red Flags and Flag Footballs | July 25, 2024 | 0.60 | |
| With tensions lingering between Gina and Jenn, the ladies get their aggressions out in a flag football match. Shannon grapples with the fact that Alexis seems to be taking over everything that was once hers. Gina follows through on a tough decision for her and her family. | |||||
| 4 | 
|
Not My Cup of Tee | August 1, 2024 | 0.62 | |
| After Katie shares controversial information about Heather, the two come head-to-head at Katie’s golf event. Jenn is upset with Emily for her comments about her financial woes. Meanwhile, Vicki and Shannon discuss the future of their live show without Tamra as their Tres Amiga, but things take a turn when Shannon reveals John is demanding $75,000. | |||||
| 5 | 
|
Dinner Party Disaster | August 8, 2024 | 0.67 | |
| Tensions are high when Gina is caught between Katie and Heather after the staged paparazzi allegations. Emily and Shane celebrate their fifteenth wedding anniversary. The Tres Amigas come together for the first time, but things quickly go sideways when Tamra confronts Shannon about her DUI. And when Shannon storms off, Alexis shows the receipts John has been holding onto. | |||||
| 6 | 
|
All Up In Gina's Grill | August 15, 2024 | 0.75 | |
| Gina, Heather and Emily whisk Shannon away for a relaxing girls' trip in La Quinta, only for Gina to find herself in quite the mess with Emily and Heather. Meanwhile, Tamra, Katie and Jenn head to Tamra’s Big Bear house, where they dip their toes in the snow and some pie. Katie shares with the ladies that she feels set up by Gina, while Alexis reveals more trouble is heading Shannon’s way. | |||||
| 7 | 
|
The Gloves Are Off | August 22, 2024 | 0.52 | |
| In La Quinta, Shannon breaks down over the impending lawsuit with John, and tension between Gina and Emily finally bubbles over on the pickleball court. In Big Bear, the ladies bond over divorce, but when they pack up to leave, Alexis gets a call from John that sends her spiralling. After hearing that Shannon has changed, Tamra invites her to share a meal to see if there’s any hope of moving forward. | |||||
| 8 | 
|
Once A Traitor, Always A Traitor | August 29, 2024 | 0.68 | |
| Emily analyzes her harsh behavior towards Jenn; Shannon gets a breathalyzer installed in her new car; Katie takes her daughter to legally change her name; the ladies reconvene for a special murder mystery-themed party where the Tres Amigas come face-to-face to hash out their issues. | |||||
| 9 | 
|
A Picture Worth A Thousand Words | September 5, 2024 | 0.61 | |
| The ladies head to wine country for Heather’s fundraising event with Family Equality. Jenn has a court date to determine her financial future. The group navigates supporting Shannon and Alexis during a lawsuit deadline. Shannon finds out about the video from the night of her DUI and confesses shocking details about her accident. | |||||
| 10 | 
|
Catwalks and Catfights | September 12, 2024 | 0.65 | |
| Shannon’s lawsuit takes a turn as she deals with the aftermath of the video news. Katie wants Heather to finally hear her truth, causing an upheaval in her friendship with Gina when a new rumor comes to light about Gina’s career. At Heather’s fashion show, Emily relives her body image issues. | |||||
| 11 | 
|
Singled Out | September 19, 2024 | 0.58 | |
| Shannon and Vicki head to St. Louis for their live show tour. Heather and Alexis attend the GLAAD Awards. Tamra and Katie’s Daughters bond over similar childhood experiences. Jenn hosts a poolside party where Alexis is cryptic about a new development in the ongoing lawsuit. Emily confronts Heather for feeling singled out during Heather’s fashion show, leading to an explosive confrontation. | |||||
| 12 | 
|
The Elephant In The Room | September 26, 2024 | 0.54 | |
| Tamra and Jenn try to find common ground between their men. Gina reflects on her Ex-Husband's new engagement. Shannon is rocked by a bombshell article about the lawsuit. Heather accompanies Terry to get rhinoplasty. Katie hosts a couples dinner party where Ryan finds himself in the hot seat with Tamra. | |||||
| 13 | 
|
You Are Cordially Not Invited | October 3, 2024 | 0.54 | |
| Tamra reveals more surprising information about Ryan, leaving Jenn to question her friendship with Tamra once again. Emily and Heather discuss body image. Shannon hosts a tea party to reveal she’s taking (almost) everyone on a trip to London to celebrate her sixtieth birthday. Alexis learns her olive branch to Shannon didn’t blossom the way she intended, and she’s cordially not invited. | |||||
| 14 | 
|
High Tea and High Tension | October 10, 2024 | 0.55 | |
| The ladies travel to London for Shannon’s sixtieth birthday, but things quickly take a turn when Tamra and Heather question Shannon’s radio interview regarding the lawsuit and details about the night of her DUI. Katie opens up to the group about her birth Mother. When confronted with alleged contradictions, Shannon storms off and reveals proof that Alexis was tied to her lawsuit in 2018. | |||||
| 15 | 
|
Double Decker Drama | October 17, 2024 | 0.56 | |
| Shannon’s sixtieth birthday extravaganza continues, but the mood is anything but celebratory when Tamra and Shannon continue their friendship war. The ladies hop on a double-decker bus tour where Gina questions Heather about another issue in their friendship and Jenn finds out there is gossip surrounding her financial decisions. When secret texts are exposed that allege Tamra dug up dirt on Ryan, Jenn confronts Tamra in an explosive showdown. | |||||
| 16 | 
|
Sunday Roasted | October 24, 2024 | 0.64 | |
| Jenn demands answers about the background check on Ryan, but Tamra explains the twisted truth as Shannon departs from the group to meet up with her Daughters. Heather learns that Katie is spreading rumors about her that involve the kids. After the ladies explore the English countryside, Gina becomes collateral damage when Tamra reveals that Shannon allegedly had damning info about Gina to expose at last year’s 'Reunion'. | |||||
| 17 | 
|
Unfinished Business | October 31, 2024 | 0.56 | |
| In the Season Finale, Jenn returns from The Bahamas and announces her engagement. Alexis and Katie host an engagement party where Heather and Emily confront Katie over allegations made about Emily’s twins, leading Katie to reveal she has more proof that Heather is liar. Gina and Travis discuss the future of their family. Ryan makes headlines when his name is involved in a national bombshell that sends shockwaves in the OC. | |||||
| 18 | 
|
Reunion, Part 1 (RHOC S18) | November 7, 2024 | 0.67 | |
| The OC ladies come face-to-face for a dramatic 'Reunion'. Shannon and Tamra hash out their conflicting versions of events following Shannon’s DUI. Heather confronts Katie on the paparazzi rumors before teaming up with Emily and Gina to grill Katie about recent shocking headlines, forcing Katie to defend her past. Jenn is placed in the hot seat when the group brings up details of the FBI investigation involving her fiancé, Ryan. | |||||
| 19 | 
|
Reunion, Part 2 (RHOC S18) | November 14, 2024 | 0.57 | |
| The 'Reunion' continues with Jenn questioning her rocky friendship with Tamra while taking heat for her financial choices. Emily addresses Heather about the fashion show fallout. Emily and Heather interrogate Katie about her Daughter’s social media antics. Alexis Bellino joins the women on the 'Reunion' stage. | |||||
| 20 | 
|
Reunion, Part 3 (RHOC S18) | November 21, 2024 | 0.60 | |
| The 'Reunion' concludes with a heated face-off between Shannon and Alexis as they discuss discrepancies in the lawsuit with John Janssen and their dating timelines. Emotions run high as Tamra and Shannon discuss the future of their friendship. The ladies react to unseen footage of John’s interview where he opens up about his relationship with Shannon. | |||||
Gallery[]
Promotional Photo[]
Left To Right: Katie, Gina, Heather, Shannon, Tamra, Emily and Jennifer
Chapter Card[]
Theme Song[]
Left To Right: Jenn, Emily, Tamra, Heather, Shannon, Gina and Katie
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Confessional Interview[]
Trailer[]
Reunion Look[]
General[]
Left To Right: Katie, Jenn, Gina, Shannon, Heather, Emily and Tamra
Trivia[]
Production[]
- This is technically the one-hundredth season within the American side of The Real Housewives franchise.
- It was the first eighteenth season of any The Real Housewives installment.
- This season drew in the biggest audience in five years for the show.
Casting[]
- It is the first season to feature Katie Ginella.
- It was the fourteenth season to feature Tamra Judge.