Vicki Gunvalson Calls RHOC Cast ‘Irrelevant’ Ahead of Season 20

Vicki Gunvalson is officially back — and she’s not exactly easing into her return. After Andy Cohen confirmed at BravoCon 2025 that the original Real Housewives of Orange County star will be returning to the franchise, Gunvalson wasted no time reminding fans and castmates alike why she still considers herself the OG of the OC. From calling her co-stars “irrelevant” to teasing major shakeups ahead of season 20, Vicki made it clear she’s coming in hot.

Vicki Gunvalson Calls RHOC ‘Stupid’ and Confirms Filming Plans

Appearing on Nick Viall’s “The Viall Files” podcast, Gunvalson didn’t hold back when asked which current RHOC housewife she finds the least interesting.

“I think they’re all irrelevant,” she said with a smile. “RHOC, to me, has just become stupid. The majority of the people that I speak with [say], ‘You gotta come on and get the stupid out.’”

When Nick asked whether her co-stars might be nervous about her return, Vicki didn’t hesitate. “Well, they all should be,” she replied.

Her comments come amid renewed fan speculation about how season 20 will play out, especially after Tamra Judge announced that she and Vicki were suddenly friends again. Many viewers believe the reconciliation was strategic — and that the season could fall flat if Vicki doesn’t challenge Tamra.

Vicki did make one exception when discussing the cast. She defended Katie Ginella, questioning why fans have turned on her. “I don’t even know why people are mad at Katie,” she said. “Catch her in lies, I guess? Everybody lies.”

Still, Vicki wasn’t convinced Katie should stick around. “I don’t know why she would want to,” she added.

She also weighed in on other RHOC staples, saying she wouldn’t put Heather Dubrow in the “funny” category and naming Slade Smiley as the “thirstiest husband” in franchise history. As for Kelly Dodd, Vicki offered a softer take. “I think she’s just got a fiery personality,” she said. “As long as Kelly likes you, everything’s great.”

Vicki also confirmed that season 20 filming is right around the corner. “We don’t have an exact date yet, but it’ll be mid-February,” she revealed. Before that, she’ll be filming “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip,” adding, “I’m going on the girls’ trip January 18th through the end of January.”

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About Amanda

Amanda is a co-founder of Bravo and Cocktails and co-hosts the Cocktails and Gossip podcast with B, the Prosecco Princess. With a long career in marketing and advertising — and an even longer one as a reality TV fan — Amanda has been hooked since the genre began with The Real World. She grew up devouring blogs like The Awful Truth on E! and Perez Hilton, and treating herself to People and Us Weekly at the checkout line. These days, you can find her cheering on her kids from the sidelines, traveling, checking out new restaurants, and of course, watching TV with her husband. Amanda is also the person behind the scenes at Cocktail Party — if you have questions about the site or your membership, feel free to send her a note at amanda@bravoandcocktails.com.

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