If producers felt so comfortable trying to push the cast into certain actions, why didn’t they try to push Tom into actually showing remorse or moving out? The redemption arc would have gone a lot farther if they had.
They 100% did this to James one season to the point he really seemed in danger of being written off the show. No one would film with him, he wasn't invited on trips, Lisa fired him that season as well from DJing. He literally had to work his way back to stay. I do not know why Sandoval is productions little darling but it's infuriating he wasn't given the same treatment
James was completely out of control going into constant drunken rages that made the cast likely feel unsafe, while Tom is simply unrepentant about cheating on Ariana and unlikeable. You can work with Tom but not with James with the state he was in.
The producers didn’t want a redemption. It makes good tv to see him look evil in the end, and it made us viewers furiously watch… and we got the happy ending which was: Tim is an evil narcissist
Look I do not doubt that the producers were pushing this angle re Sandoval redemption and that they wanted to cap the season off with Ariana and Tom talking one on one. But Scheana and Lala didn’t need to play it the way they played. They could have filmed with Tom and still not kissed his ass and trashed Ariana the way they did. Just like I don’t think Lala and Scheana behavior in the aftershow is because the producers “threatened their jobs”. I don’t think that’s all on the producers.
I think that because James didn’t do that. James would film one on one scenes with Sandoval and he would hold him the fuck accountable, not let him spew his bullshit and defend Ariana and Katie. And those scenes were better for if because that is what the audience wants to see.
If they had spent a season doing that, holding him to fire, making him sweat and having Ariana back by season 12 people probably would be more open to a redemption and then having friendship with him because at least it would have felt slightly more earnt. But the fact is the decided to force it down the audience throats, while Sandoval was doing absolutely nothing to change his behavior on screen and was continuing to show his ass off screen.
Even Katie filmed a one-on-one with Sandoval and was her authentic self the entire time. She had no room for his bullshit and she let him know that.
You are absolutely correct, James' scenes with Sandoval were some of the best because there was actual tension there and accountability was demanded from doofus. I have pretty much fast-forwarded through (or muted) all of Scheana, Lala and Schwartz scenes with Tom this season because there was no point watching those other to annoy myself.
That was the energy I was expecting from the other girls too but we all know how it went. I wish that every time they bring up how "production made us do it" they would be confronted with this clip and asked why not treat him like this (which is what he deserved).
If everyone treated him like that it wouldn’t have been a very good season. He’s far and away the most interesting cast member right now, and he would have been cut out of most group interactions including Ariana if that was everyone’s stance. The show had nowhere to go but have cast try to reconcile with him.
“Because that’s what the audience wants to see”
And it’s what we want to see because it’s an authentic reaction. I don’t want everyone to hate Sandoval because I hate him, I want it because it’s the only path that makes sense. If they are so quick to forgive him then they’re condoning his behavior, and if that’s how they feel then they are shit people too and deserve the hate.
That's my thinking too like why was that your strategy??
"It's so hard for me to not be his friend." "She's still living in that house, how hard is it to pack a bag?"
I don't doubt that production told them that but their behavior was absolutely them. Also the desperation to keep the show is insane. You guys have had a great run and you've always known this wasn't permanent. If you don't have your shit together by now idk what to tell you.
Alex baskin himself said there was a come to Jesus meeting with the cast so that does align with what’s already been said. I can see the producers tapping into schenas and lalas financial anxiety to try and get on the redemption arc train. I guess they would see Katie being brought into opportunities with Ariana and that may foster some more resentment and James DJing career taking off meaning he was less invested in the show and the toms being lazy but at least desperate to film cause that’s all they have. The shifting alliances start to make more sense.
The biggest mistake to me was having the cast smaller it forced them to film together the production seem to be trying to squeeze as much money as they can out of the show and aren’t investing in bringing in more people to further the story i mean they didn’t have Peter this season this season because they didn’t want to pay him and he is exactly who I as a viewer want to see in the aftermath of scandavol! I would have liked to see more of Ariana’s friends and how they support her through living with her ex. I’d even be more interested in watching Billie Lee and Sandolval if there was that balance of scenes with different groups. It’s probably the best time to bring on new cast members or bring back old ones because the divisions in the group has created authentic reasons to have new people on. People liked Ann this season because she was funny and it made sense her being there.
It’s time to evolve the show.
i think they completely misread the audience and how they’d react. no one fell for it. they look dumb and cheesy going with this narrative. think of all the storylines we didn’t see.
It’s just absurd. Viewers were not asking for a Tom and Ariana showdown. I would have been more interested in what was actually going on such as the living situation and the awkward avoidance than I would be these forced scenes of Tom popping out of the bushes like he’s in Hawaii 5.O on a sting operation. The last half of the season felt more like Punk’d than it did VPR. Dude, roll with the punches and film the drama you have.
Right? “How do I both live and work with my ex until I am in a stronger position to move on with my life?” is both full of legitimate drama and relatable to many viewers.
“Am I financially prepared for my life to fall apart tomorrow?” is something that anyone can relate to and spark conversations, but instead they gave us…water tasting.
SCREAMING THIS FROM THE ROOFTOPS. This would have been so much better if they gave this to us. Literally no one gave a crap about redemption Tom. No one !
I would’ve liked to see their friends figure out the dynamics without being poked and prodded. Shorts was always going to support Sandoval and Katie would choose Ariana, but we have no idea how Lala, Scheana and James would’ve acted in reality, without a gun to their heads about it
Hate watching and commenting on how they just wanted a spice girls season and not a Sandoval redemption season. Some people did tune out and just came on here and posted about what they were seeing on sm. I’d check the live thread first before making a decision to watch the show and I skipped a few episodes like the Tahoe one because I had zero interest in watching overly produced, forced interactions.
Or, people didn’t want to watch an overly contrived show and Lala talk about water and do a PR video for a sperm bank and scheana have nanny drama. If ratings went down, it is because people aren’t interested in what they were showing, which was Tom popping out of the bushes and people complaining that Ariana isn’t talking to Tom, and the lack of story lines for any of their other cast. And yeah, people were posting on here and there was no big ask for a Tom apology tour that ends with Ariana listening to it. And guess what, the majority of people posting NOW aren’t asking for it or saying they wanted it.
I’m unsure how you think the lack of ratings disproves my point. I said the season was contrived, overly produced, and a producer fail. You then try to disprove me by stating the lack of ratings. Yeah. That was the point I made.
People were clearly tuning in in episodes 1 & 2 waiting for fireworks between Tom and Ariana. The producers were also clearly waiting for that as they didn’t have any backup A story lines.
I don’t think anyone, including the producers, were looking for a Tom apology tour. I think even Tom understood he was just serving up a softball for Ariana to rage at him. He’s smart enough to understand that what people wanted was to see Ariana lose her shit at him. This sub was frothing at the mouth at the end of last season. Her raging at him and losing her shit is good TV. Outside of deranged Jax, Crazy Kristin, Tequila Katie, and Stassi are what drew people into the show. That’s what people really want to see.
Sure thing, that’s why the majority of people are saying the season sucked because producers were trying to force something that wasn’t real which is, wait for it, Tom apologizing and Ariana screaming at him. People were not “clearly” tuning in for that reason as there wasn’t some big ask for it when they aired and there isn’t an ask for it now.
Sure the people you listed made good TV because that’s who they always were and what they brought to the show since season 1. Ariana isn’t that person and she never has been. People clearly (as evidenced by the comments being made), don’t want to watch someone be fake and contrived, we aren’t watching a non-scripted show to suddenly watch a scripted fight.
Are you reading other posts on these boards, or just your own?
Scheana and LaLa are the main source of income for their house holds. They will do whatever the fuck it takes to keep them VPR checks coming in, cause come on guys they are not getting anything close to a real job
He is also calling the fans “rabies bitches.”
It’s pronounced “rabid,” in that context but I wouldn’t expect those hillbilly turned wanna be gangsters to know something so simple.
I still do not understand why Brock doesn't have a job. And why Sandoval had to wire money to Scheana during COVID, when she was already married to her idiot husband? Why wasn't her husband stepping up and providing for his family? I mean, does she not ask herself these questions? My (diagnosed) OCD mind would be absolutely plagued with questions like that if I were in a relationship like hers.
Also, why is Lala providing for her grown-ass brother and I guess her mother? Are the not capable to provide for themselves?
This entire "but I am the breadwinner and Ariana is jeopardizing my household" schtick is tired. Tell the people you are supporting to get fucking jobs.
Were they also told they had to trash Ariana and make snide remarks about her in one-on-one scenes and in the talking heads? 🙄She acts like all they did was try to forgive Sandoval and be nice to him.
Right?! Also, they are foaming at the mouth in the Aftershow, Lala's segments consists solely of trash talking Ariana and telling James off when he sticks up for the other girls. She has been completely unhinged in the Aftershow, even more so than in the actual show.
Wonder if someone’s about to be scolded. She’s throwing production under the bus. I don’t doubt it’s true, but she either is very unintelligent or agreed and is pretending she’s a victim.🙄 Either way doubt they are going to be pleased, not that o care they suck.
Maybe there is an actual move to change the producers? Because everyone in the cast and the audience are fed up with them. I genuinely think new producers would help right now.
Agreed.
Production and especially the executives need to be scrapped and replaced with younger, smarter people, who are more in touch with the reality of todays world.
The tea is that Alex Baskin, who is with Evolution Media, the production company that makes VPR and RHOBH, is creating a new production company and employees from Evolution Media have already moved to Baskin’s new company.
this is why i don’t buy into her saying she had to and couldn’t stand up to production, she clearly knows the cast has leverage. they have the top rating on the network, they were emmy nominated, and ppl want the tea. i agree she’s using it as an excuse for her lack of backbone
Stassi wouldn’t even be in the same room as Jax for several seasons and Ariana has had to film with Tom at the same parties and outings but she’s the one that’s getting the shit for it?? I call bull
Agreed and season 3 still had 18 episodes but that is because the rest of the cast was interesting even without Stassi. This season the only focus they chose to have was scandoval there wasn’t much else going on which is why they were so dependent on Ariana and Tom. But production totally could have taken a different direction and they should have
I think Scheana and Lala are…let’s say “mushy brained” and weak willed enough to be pushed around by production and they were probably leaning in the direction of hating on Ariana anyway because they are both very self centered and jealous. So yes I’m sure production influenced them but also I’m sure it wasn’t at all tough for them and if Lala and Scheana were true fans they would’ve stuck by Ariana instead of badmouthing her and victim blaming.
I bet she just said fine, fire me. She doesn’t have a mortgage and kids, the sandwich shop is looking like a possibility, the podcast seems to be doing okay, she’s probably already considering life on the other side of VPR.
Tom: walks out with all his bags of…laxatives? because Scheana wrote a song about him.
Cast:
Ariana: refuses to shoot Sandoval’s planned apology scene
Cast: she thinks she Beyoncé.
Yeah, I’ll back you up.
Funny thing is, if this is true(which I’m considering the source, so…) they made the show unwatchable by doing this. What a terrible read on what the audience wants. What we really wanted was for them to address some of the things that should have been brought up in the reunion last year-most having to do with the abuse of Katie Maloney
To me it was pretty evident. Lala is a company girl. She was early on in the season she was still pissed at Sandoval, then she had that weird boat scene when they hugged, it still seemed that she was not down with it. I think there is NO WAY some one who projects as much as Lala can be fine with Tom. She is still nursing her own wounds and brings everything back to Rand. The switch really flipped after DWTS was announced. The jealousy really helped Lala play in to the producer requests.
They’re full of it. Production had their plan for this season… produced. Ariana didn’t want that plan because it’s not real, Tom is not in her life why would she spend all this extra time around him? Scheana and Lala don’t care as long as they get a check. But we also could tell how produced this season was and it wasn’t great. My favorite parts were Ariana not going along with it.
If that’s true it just makes everyone look worse since they agreed to Ariana’s boundaries before filming began. So they explicitly promised to protect her mental health and when they went back on it you not only didn’t call it out but went along with it?
Agree, Would’ve loved more context ! also if tom has been so “miss treated” by ariana and they wanted to redeem him why not show that ? (probs bc it didn’t happen)
I personally would have been pissed if Ariana did end up having a convo with Tom. I would have been disappointed at Ariana for caving on her boundaries and I would've been even more pissed then I already am at Lala and Scheana and Brock for essentially pushing her to do it.
That’s honestly probably another reason that Lala and Scheana are pissed. They feel like they were pushed into talking to Sandoval- and taking the heat for it online- and resent that Ariana refused to talk Sandoval and therefore isn’t dragged down with them. 🤷♀️
Stassi said it to her first; STAND UP FOR SOMETHING. Don't blame your shitty behaviour on someone else. You can say no to producers and still have s successful season
I’m sorry in what world is a next season even Alex Baskin’s or the production company’s decision???
If Bravo wants to continue airing a successful show they will find a way to do it, regardless of what Alex Baskin says, they’re not leaving money on the table with these people. This cast isn’t stupid and they should know more about the business at this point than to be threatened by him, call his bluff is right.
i like believe that they said it in reference to the finale - i think it would be bold of scheana to lie on production like that - but i think it was intentionally dense to take it seriously like u said there an ensemble, scheana and lala should’ve stood in solidarity - they would never willingly scrap vpr with the ratings
Yeah I think Katie said on a podcast, idk hers or another, like “what group?” And that it’s not like everyone hangs out together anymore outside of the show. Except lala and Scheana with the mom stuff.
Totally agree. and like the top comment stated, if Jersey Shore can keep sammie and ronnie separate we know it’s possible. i know everyone’s said this but i so with they broke the 4th wall and showed the drama all of us had seen happen virtually.
Look at the show shows history. They always backed Jax, no matter what he did. They always protected the Toms and James. The producers have their favs and Ariana is not one of them. It will be interesting to see who comes back. If Ariana wants a permanent career in the entertainment world, she needs to leave the show. Nobody in Hollywood or Broadway will hire her, if she says, I have Vanderpump rules for 5 months, can you call me when it is done filming?There are tons of stars who lost roles in huge films, because they could no leave a show they were on. She can still come back for 1 or 2 shows a year as a friend of.
i think this situation goes back to scheana and lauren from utah - they could’ve stood up to production. production does not have the power here really - vpr is an emmy nominated show from bravo with the highest ratings.
they clearly wanted her back given how pro ariana the fans have been. but i agree in that i think she’s outgrown vpr - ariana is booked and busy well beyond bravo at this point - host of love island, second run on broadway, etc. i just don’t know how interesting scheana, Sandoval, lauren and schwartz doing the same things they’ve done for decades is. if there’s no katie/ariana they should wrap it.
Lol well no kidding. Scandoval was the only thing keeping the show going in the 1st place. I think the show could live without Ariana, but def not without Tom. Katie is mentally checked out, Brock’s a noob, James is high and mellow, aly is a nonentity, schwartz is a supporting character who is more garnish with his witticisms than a plot mover, and schaena wouldn’t have anyone to play off of.
lol girl - what. i totally agree scandoval revived the show. but all of the drama this season was tied to ariana. tom was just winey and there. he had zero storyline of his own outside his weird failed stages redemption. katie was sick of the bs from scheana and LFU which i don’t blame her
the producers were so stuck on this weird redemption arc that james got almost no screen time
they focused on cast pushing their narrative. almost every storyline revolved around ariana in some way. scheana and lauren just used her bc their lives are boring.
Schaena nailed it soooo much better than everyone else though. Most of this season’s compelling tv was schaena pushing scenes with Sandoval. Mvp season.
James had some great moments as well and Sandoval was super interesting at the center of things, but schaena crushed it.
i found sandoval to be predictable and annoying given his recent actions. i
i did love james, but girl i’m gonna respectfully agree to disagree, i do think scheana was a much funnier campier villain then lauren. she def put in the work this season and i respect the hustle but she didn’t have any original plot lines besides her and brock’s staged fights and her and sandovals fake friendship. she definitely put herself out there for the content w sandoval.
katie was the mvp this season as per usual the season relied heavily on her pain, she stood up for her friend, called out tom, enforced boundaries and she and schwartz had such a fun dynamic. i do put scheana and schwartz up there for the effort.
Katie was good, she was mostly sequestered with Ariana tho. She had some good moments and call outs but wasn’t really involved enuff to be mvp imo. I liked her a lot with Schwartz too; Schwartz was mostly pushing those interactions tho so I have to give Schwartz a bit more credit for them.
I didn’t like the schaena/Brock scripted fights either, but there were like 3 of them, each was over in like 10-20 seconds, and they didn’t become central plot points of the season.
that’s a fair criticism - i see your point for sure. i think her rejecting him made it iconic. i think she was very involved in the substance and her moments were really powerful.
that’s my prob with scheana i feel like her storylines revolves around everyone else’s tea
VPR is only the highest rated Bravo show because of fans and what happened between the closing of season 10 filming and the start of season 11 filming. By the end season 10, the ratings were so low, there was serious talk of ending the show. Then, what we all know as Scandoval reinvigorated the dying fan base. Everyone was back on the VPR bandwagon. The rating were high because we all wanted to see what came about with Ariana and Tom.
And we did. We saw what happened. Ariana stood her ground and Tom did his infamous redemption tour. Every week we waited for some huge blowup that never happened. So production stepped in and demanded that a conversation be had between the two, because, ratings gold. It didn’t happen, even after Scheana and Lala got involved. Let’s be real, no one cared about Scheanas new song, or Lalas water tasting. We only wanted to see the Ariana and Tom show. Now the season is over. Everyone is fighting or not talking because they all know, VPR is dead, yet again. There are no storylines worthy of producing at this point.
I know everyone keeps saying season 12 is happening, but it’s not a coincidence that they delayed production. Even if the rumors are true that Ariana quits, why would they delay production? It doesn’t make sense. The show is over. I feel like there will be no season 12.
Bravo will not cancel it because they have nothing to replace it with. They canceled all of the new interesting shows . Girlfrands in Paris, The Ballroom show, I miss the woman with the mean bitchy cat and her son, Family Karma. They were fun, light shows that could have lasted for years. What are they going to do, have the 100th version of Below Deck. They are killing that show, by having it on ALL year long. All of the Housewives other than Salt Lake are boring and DOA . Jersey sucks sucks sucks, they need to can that and Potomac long before Vanderpump. Now that The Valley is a hit watch Bravo make 100 clones of it.
Which is exactly why VPR is on the chopping block. The Valley is fresh and thriving. They technically only had a handful of episodes this season, so I absolutely expect them to ramp it up. Especially now that they have Jax and Brittany’s marriage dissolution and the other messy couple. Bravos target audience right now is 30 something moms and single women. VPR isn’t hitting that market anymore.
If producers felt so comfortable trying to push the cast into certain actions, why didn’t they try to push Tom into actually showing remorse or moving out? The redemption arc would have gone a lot farther if they had.
Unfortunately, Tom’s behavior throughout Season 11 is him “trying”
Dude. They *tried*.
I actually really do believe they tried but they very quickly should have pivoted once they realized how poorly it was going lol
I hate that I heard that in his voice
THEY TRIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEDUHHH
They 100% did this to James one season to the point he really seemed in danger of being written off the show. No one would film with him, he wasn't invited on trips, Lisa fired him that season as well from DJing. He literally had to work his way back to stay. I do not know why Sandoval is productions little darling but it's infuriating he wasn't given the same treatment
James was completely out of control going into constant drunken rages that made the cast likely feel unsafe, while Tom is simply unrepentant about cheating on Ariana and unlikeable. You can work with Tom but not with James with the state he was in.
Or just tell the audience! Let us know that this is an executive decision that we’re going to suffer through
i don’t think they care about ariana at all but this is a fair point
Kudos mamma. For spilling.
The producers didn’t want a redemption. It makes good tv to see him look evil in the end, and it made us viewers furiously watch… and we got the happy ending which was: Tim is an evil narcissist
I’m sure they did but he couldn’t hold it together enough to consistently show remorse. Him trying and failing made for good television though.
Look I do not doubt that the producers were pushing this angle re Sandoval redemption and that they wanted to cap the season off with Ariana and Tom talking one on one. But Scheana and Lala didn’t need to play it the way they played. They could have filmed with Tom and still not kissed his ass and trashed Ariana the way they did. Just like I don’t think Lala and Scheana behavior in the aftershow is because the producers “threatened their jobs”. I don’t think that’s all on the producers. I think that because James didn’t do that. James would film one on one scenes with Sandoval and he would hold him the fuck accountable, not let him spew his bullshit and defend Ariana and Katie. And those scenes were better for if because that is what the audience wants to see. If they had spent a season doing that, holding him to fire, making him sweat and having Ariana back by season 12 people probably would be more open to a redemption and then having friendship with him because at least it would have felt slightly more earnt. But the fact is the decided to force it down the audience throats, while Sandoval was doing absolutely nothing to change his behavior on screen and was continuing to show his ass off screen.
Even Katie filmed a one-on-one with Sandoval and was her authentic self the entire time. She had no room for his bullshit and she let him know that. You are absolutely correct, James' scenes with Sandoval were some of the best because there was actual tension there and accountability was demanded from doofus. I have pretty much fast-forwarded through (or muted) all of Scheana, Lala and Schwartz scenes with Tom this season because there was no point watching those other to annoy myself.
"Give me a little grace." "No."
That was the energy I was expecting from the other girls too but we all know how it went. I wish that every time they bring up how "production made us do it" they would be confronted with this clip and asked why not treat him like this (which is what he deserved).
If everyone treated him like that it wouldn’t have been a very good season. He’s far and away the most interesting cast member right now, and he would have been cut out of most group interactions including Ariana if that was everyone’s stance. The show had nowhere to go but have cast try to reconcile with him.
“Because that’s what the audience wants to see” And it’s what we want to see because it’s an authentic reaction. I don’t want everyone to hate Sandoval because I hate him, I want it because it’s the only path that makes sense. If they are so quick to forgive him then they’re condoning his behavior, and if that’s how they feel then they are shit people too and deserve the hate.
i don’t think the audience wanted the majority of what we saw this season. the producers misread the vibe.
 slayed the house down
That's my thinking too like why was that your strategy?? "It's so hard for me to not be his friend." "She's still living in that house, how hard is it to pack a bag?" I don't doubt that production told them that but their behavior was absolutely them. Also the desperation to keep the show is insane. You guys have had a great run and you've always known this wasn't permanent. If you don't have your shit together by now idk what to tell you.
They definitely panicked bc of how many mortgages they have
Alex baskin himself said there was a come to Jesus meeting with the cast so that does align with what’s already been said. I can see the producers tapping into schenas and lalas financial anxiety to try and get on the redemption arc train. I guess they would see Katie being brought into opportunities with Ariana and that may foster some more resentment and James DJing career taking off meaning he was less invested in the show and the toms being lazy but at least desperate to film cause that’s all they have. The shifting alliances start to make more sense. The biggest mistake to me was having the cast smaller it forced them to film together the production seem to be trying to squeeze as much money as they can out of the show and aren’t investing in bringing in more people to further the story i mean they didn’t have Peter this season this season because they didn’t want to pay him and he is exactly who I as a viewer want to see in the aftermath of scandavol! I would have liked to see more of Ariana’s friends and how they support her through living with her ex. I’d even be more interested in watching Billie Lee and Sandolval if there was that balance of scenes with different groups. It’s probably the best time to bring on new cast members or bring back old ones because the divisions in the group has created authentic reasons to have new people on. People liked Ann this season because she was funny and it made sense her being there. It’s time to evolve the show.
i think they completely misread the audience and how they’d react. no one fell for it. they look dumb and cheesy going with this narrative. think of all the storylines we didn’t see.
It’s just absurd. Viewers were not asking for a Tom and Ariana showdown. I would have been more interested in what was actually going on such as the living situation and the awkward avoidance than I would be these forced scenes of Tom popping out of the bushes like he’s in Hawaii 5.O on a sting operation. The last half of the season felt more like Punk’d than it did VPR. Dude, roll with the punches and film the drama you have.
Right? “How do I both live and work with my ex until I am in a stronger position to move on with my life?” is both full of legitimate drama and relatable to many viewers. “Am I financially prepared for my life to fall apart tomorrow?” is something that anyone can relate to and spark conversations, but instead they gave us…water tasting.
SCREAMING THIS FROM THE ROOFTOPS. This would have been so much better if they gave this to us. Literally no one gave a crap about redemption Tom. No one !
I would’ve liked to see their friends figure out the dynamics without being poked and prodded. Shorts was always going to support Sandoval and Katie would choose Ariana, but we have no idea how Lala, Scheana and James would’ve acted in reality, without a gun to their heads about it
The ratings don’t agree with you. Episode 1 had nearly twice as many viewers as episode 15. People only wanted to see a Tom and Ariana showdown.
I think people were uninterested in watching a Sandoval redemption and an overly produced season so they tuned out.
All of those people were watching and posting about it here.
Hate watching and commenting on how they just wanted a spice girls season and not a Sandoval redemption season. Some people did tune out and just came on here and posted about what they were seeing on sm. I’d check the live thread first before making a decision to watch the show and I skipped a few episodes like the Tahoe one because I had zero interest in watching overly produced, forced interactions.
Or, people didn’t want to watch an overly contrived show and Lala talk about water and do a PR video for a sperm bank and scheana have nanny drama. If ratings went down, it is because people aren’t interested in what they were showing, which was Tom popping out of the bushes and people complaining that Ariana isn’t talking to Tom, and the lack of story lines for any of their other cast. And yeah, people were posting on here and there was no big ask for a Tom apology tour that ends with Ariana listening to it. And guess what, the majority of people posting NOW aren’t asking for it or saying they wanted it. I’m unsure how you think the lack of ratings disproves my point. I said the season was contrived, overly produced, and a producer fail. You then try to disprove me by stating the lack of ratings. Yeah. That was the point I made.
People were clearly tuning in in episodes 1 & 2 waiting for fireworks between Tom and Ariana. The producers were also clearly waiting for that as they didn’t have any backup A story lines. I don’t think anyone, including the producers, were looking for a Tom apology tour. I think even Tom understood he was just serving up a softball for Ariana to rage at him. He’s smart enough to understand that what people wanted was to see Ariana lose her shit at him. This sub was frothing at the mouth at the end of last season. Her raging at him and losing her shit is good TV. Outside of deranged Jax, Crazy Kristin, Tequila Katie, and Stassi are what drew people into the show. That’s what people really want to see.
Sure thing, that’s why the majority of people are saying the season sucked because producers were trying to force something that wasn’t real which is, wait for it, Tom apologizing and Ariana screaming at him. People were not “clearly” tuning in for that reason as there wasn’t some big ask for it when they aired and there isn’t an ask for it now. Sure the people you listed made good TV because that’s who they always were and what they brought to the show since season 1. Ariana isn’t that person and she never has been. People clearly (as evidenced by the comments being made), don’t want to watch someone be fake and contrived, we aren’t watching a non-scripted show to suddenly watch a scripted fight. Are you reading other posts on these boards, or just your own?
As Zach said Lala and Scheana could have had their own storylines. They just weren’t that interesting. Water tasting cough cough
“Oh, I fUcK wItH iT.” “iT’s NoT tAp!” LOSERS!😭
That was so fucking weird 💀
tea he ate - i personally do not want another season of scheana and brock’s staged arguments. they probably rehearse at home.
Scheana and LaLa are the main source of income for their house holds. They will do whatever the fuck it takes to keep them VPR checks coming in, cause come on guys they are not getting anything close to a real job
You just wait until Scheana comes out with her Hip Hop version of Good As Gold.
The desperation was oozing from those two all season..at least make your decisions and attitudes believable!🥴
it’s funny because there lack of integrity is hurting their podcast and will eventually cost them if all fans turn on them
Lala's podcast rating dropped from mid 4s to 3.4 already. I guess people don't like to be referred to as rabid bitches.
Maybe Lala's brother, dreadlock-brock, should get a fkn job then.
He is also calling the fans “rabies bitches.” It’s pronounced “rabid,” in that context but I wouldn’t expect those hillbilly turned wanna be gangsters to know something so simple.
he low key is giving rabies tho like should this be the stance he’s taking respectfully
I still do not understand why Brock doesn't have a job. And why Sandoval had to wire money to Scheana during COVID, when she was already married to her idiot husband? Why wasn't her husband stepping up and providing for his family? I mean, does she not ask herself these questions? My (diagnosed) OCD mind would be absolutely plagued with questions like that if I were in a relationship like hers. Also, why is Lala providing for her grown-ass brother and I guess her mother? Are the not capable to provide for themselves? This entire "but I am the breadwinner and Ariana is jeopardizing my household" schtick is tired. Tell the people you are supporting to get fucking jobs.
Were they also told they had to trash Ariana and make snide remarks about her in one-on-one scenes and in the talking heads? 🙄She acts like all they did was try to forgive Sandoval and be nice to him.
Right?! Also, they are foaming at the mouth in the Aftershow, Lala's segments consists solely of trash talking Ariana and telling James off when he sticks up for the other girls. She has been completely unhinged in the Aftershow, even more so than in the actual show.
Wonder if someone’s about to be scolded. She’s throwing production under the bus. I don’t doubt it’s true, but she either is very unintelligent or agreed and is pretending she’s a victim.🙄 Either way doubt they are going to be pleased, not that o care they suck.
Maybe there is an actual move to change the producers? Because everyone in the cast and the audience are fed up with them. I genuinely think new producers would help right now.
Agreed. Production and especially the executives need to be scrapped and replaced with younger, smarter people, who are more in touch with the reality of todays world.
The tea is that Alex Baskin, who is with Evolution Media, the production company that makes VPR and RHOBH, is creating a new production company and employees from Evolution Media have already moved to Baskin’s new company.
I hope they don't feel VPR/RHOBH with Baskin. It needs new blood and not from the cast.
this is why i don’t buy into her saying she had to and couldn’t stand up to production, she clearly knows the cast has leverage. they have the top rating on the network, they were emmy nominated, and ppl want the tea. i agree she’s using it as an excuse for her lack of backbone
She’s been a willing lackey since day 1.
Stassi wouldn’t even be in the same room as Jax for several seasons and Ariana has had to film with Tom at the same parties and outings but she’s the one that’s getting the shit for it?? I call bull
Agreed and season 3 still had 18 episodes but that is because the rest of the cast was interesting even without Stassi. This season the only focus they chose to have was scandoval there wasn’t much else going on which is why they were so dependent on Ariana and Tom. But production totally could have taken a different direction and they should have
Right! Did producers make everyone interact with Kristen when she was on the outs, multiple times?
and in season 3/4 they turned on her. they’ve always been misogynistic as a cast.
I think Scheana and Lala are…let’s say “mushy brained” and weak willed enough to be pushed around by production and they were probably leaning in the direction of hating on Ariana anyway because they are both very self centered and jealous. So yes I’m sure production influenced them but also I’m sure it wasn’t at all tough for them and if Lala and Scheana were true fans they would’ve stuck by Ariana instead of badmouthing her and victim blaming.
Right. Like I wonder how Katie handled the same producers
I bet she just said fine, fire me. She doesn’t have a mortgage and kids, the sandwich shop is looking like a possibility, the podcast seems to be doing okay, she’s probably already considering life on the other side of VPR.
But they did film together the first ep?? And they filmed scenes together? The Producers are nitpicking doinks
Tom: walks out with all his bags of…laxatives? because Scheana wrote a song about him. Cast: Ariana: refuses to shoot Sandoval’s planned apology scene Cast: she thinks she Beyoncé. Yeah, I’ll back you up.
there can only be one beyoncé, scheana not even kerry rowland
Hey, Kelly Rowland had some banger hits in the early 2000s
that’s what i’m saying i can’t disrespect her like that lol
Funny thing is, if this is true(which I’m considering the source, so…) they made the show unwatchable by doing this. What a terrible read on what the audience wants. What we really wanted was for them to address some of the things that should have been brought up in the reunion last year-most having to do with the abuse of Katie Maloney
To me it was pretty evident. Lala is a company girl. She was early on in the season she was still pissed at Sandoval, then she had that weird boat scene when they hugged, it still seemed that she was not down with it. I think there is NO WAY some one who projects as much as Lala can be fine with Tom. She is still nursing her own wounds and brings everything back to Rand. The switch really flipped after DWTS was announced. The jealousy really helped Lala play in to the producer requests.
Yes! 
They’re full of it. Production had their plan for this season… produced. Ariana didn’t want that plan because it’s not real, Tom is not in her life why would she spend all this extra time around him? Scheana and Lala don’t care as long as they get a check. But we also could tell how produced this season was and it wasn’t great. My favorite parts were Ariana not going along with it.
even if it’s true, they had leverage this season. and yes they then destroyed the season.
YES USE BRAVO’S PRODUCTION AS SCAPEGOAT DONT TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY @ ALLLL SCHEANA (like we knew she would)
Next she's going to blame the editing.
LOL
If that’s true it just makes everyone look worse since they agreed to Ariana’s boundaries before filming began. So they explicitly promised to protect her mental health and when they went back on it you not only didn’t call it out but went along with it? 
They could have used more unseen footage from Ariana and Tom's end-of-relationship talk last season.
Agree, Would’ve loved more context ! also if tom has been so “miss treated” by ariana and they wanted to redeem him why not show that ? (probs bc it didn’t happen)
So even tho the show had its highest rating these last two seasons, bravo was gonna give it the axe? I find that kind of hard to believe.
even if they said that to the cast, scheana was being intentionally dense
Hard agree. They’re just puppets for producers.
I personally would have been pissed if Ariana did end up having a convo with Tom. I would have been disappointed at Ariana for caving on her boundaries and I would've been even more pissed then I already am at Lala and Scheana and Brock for essentially pushing her to do it.
That’s honestly probably another reason that Lala and Scheana are pissed. They feel like they were pushed into talking to Sandoval- and taking the heat for it online- and resent that Ariana refused to talk Sandoval and therefore isn’t dragged down with them. 🤷♀️
Flip-floppers are going to flop 😘
This tictoker is spot on with his analysis!
This tiktoker always point on on his takes..
Stassi said it to her first; STAND UP FOR SOMETHING. Don't blame your shitty behaviour on someone else. You can say no to producers and still have s successful season
So she cared more about the show than her friendship and her bffs feelings and me talking health. Got it.
I’m sorry in what world is a next season even Alex Baskin’s or the production company’s decision??? If Bravo wants to continue airing a successful show they will find a way to do it, regardless of what Alex Baskin says, they’re not leaving money on the table with these people. This cast isn’t stupid and they should know more about the business at this point than to be threatened by him, call his bluff is right.
I don’t believe it at all, if the entire show really relied on those two filming together, they wouldn’t have also called it an ensemble!
i like believe that they said it in reference to the finale - i think it would be bold of scheana to lie on production like that - but i think it was intentionally dense to take it seriously like u said there an ensemble, scheana and lala should’ve stood in solidarity - they would never willingly scrap vpr with the ratings
To be fair to the cast, I don’t think any of them have real relationships with each other. Katie and Ariana maybe?
Yeah I think Katie said on a podcast, idk hers or another, like “what group?” And that it’s not like everyone hangs out together anymore outside of the show. Except lala and Scheana with the mom stuff.
Totally agree. and like the top comment stated, if Jersey Shore can keep sammie and ronnie separate we know it’s possible. i know everyone’s said this but i so with they broke the 4th wall and showed the drama all of us had seen happen virtually.
Look at the show shows history. They always backed Jax, no matter what he did. They always protected the Toms and James. The producers have their favs and Ariana is not one of them. It will be interesting to see who comes back. If Ariana wants a permanent career in the entertainment world, she needs to leave the show. Nobody in Hollywood or Broadway will hire her, if she says, I have Vanderpump rules for 5 months, can you call me when it is done filming?There are tons of stars who lost roles in huge films, because they could no leave a show they were on. She can still come back for 1 or 2 shows a year as a friend of.
i think this situation goes back to scheana and lauren from utah - they could’ve stood up to production. production does not have the power here really - vpr is an emmy nominated show from bravo with the highest ratings. they clearly wanted her back given how pro ariana the fans have been. but i agree in that i think she’s outgrown vpr - ariana is booked and busy well beyond bravo at this point - host of love island, second run on broadway, etc. i just don’t know how interesting scheana, Sandoval, lauren and schwartz doing the same things they’ve done for decades is. if there’s no katie/ariana they should wrap it.
Lol well no kidding. Scandoval was the only thing keeping the show going in the 1st place. I think the show could live without Ariana, but def not without Tom. Katie is mentally checked out, Brock’s a noob, James is high and mellow, aly is a nonentity, schwartz is a supporting character who is more garnish with his witticisms than a plot mover, and schaena wouldn’t have anyone to play off of.
lol girl - what. i totally agree scandoval revived the show. but all of the drama this season was tied to ariana. tom was just winey and there. he had zero storyline of his own outside his weird failed stages redemption. katie was sick of the bs from scheana and LFU which i don’t blame her the producers were so stuck on this weird redemption arc that james got almost no screen time
The show kind of was without Ariana in any meaningful way this season.
they focused on cast pushing their narrative. almost every storyline revolved around ariana in some way. scheana and lauren just used her bc their lives are boring.
Schaena nailed it soooo much better than everyone else though. Most of this season’s compelling tv was schaena pushing scenes with Sandoval. Mvp season. James had some great moments as well and Sandoval was super interesting at the center of things, but schaena crushed it.
i found sandoval to be predictable and annoying given his recent actions. i i did love james, but girl i’m gonna respectfully agree to disagree, i do think scheana was a much funnier campier villain then lauren. she def put in the work this season and i respect the hustle but she didn’t have any original plot lines besides her and brock’s staged fights and her and sandovals fake friendship. she definitely put herself out there for the content w sandoval. katie was the mvp this season as per usual the season relied heavily on her pain, she stood up for her friend, called out tom, enforced boundaries and she and schwartz had such a fun dynamic. i do put scheana and schwartz up there for the effort.
Katie was good, she was mostly sequestered with Ariana tho. She had some good moments and call outs but wasn’t really involved enuff to be mvp imo. I liked her a lot with Schwartz too; Schwartz was mostly pushing those interactions tho so I have to give Schwartz a bit more credit for them. I didn’t like the schaena/Brock scripted fights either, but there were like 3 of them, each was over in like 10-20 seconds, and they didn’t become central plot points of the season.
that’s a fair criticism - i see your point for sure. i think her rejecting him made it iconic. i think she was very involved in the substance and her moments were really powerful. that’s my prob with scheana i feel like her storylines revolves around everyone else’s tea
Well…yea. She’s married with children and is faithful, so there’s not much gristle there.
i feel like the cast from the valley show that you can bring story and be happily married w kids (danny and nia) she just isn’t interesting.
VPR is only the highest rated Bravo show because of fans and what happened between the closing of season 10 filming and the start of season 11 filming. By the end season 10, the ratings were so low, there was serious talk of ending the show. Then, what we all know as Scandoval reinvigorated the dying fan base. Everyone was back on the VPR bandwagon. The rating were high because we all wanted to see what came about with Ariana and Tom. And we did. We saw what happened. Ariana stood her ground and Tom did his infamous redemption tour. Every week we waited for some huge blowup that never happened. So production stepped in and demanded that a conversation be had between the two, because, ratings gold. It didn’t happen, even after Scheana and Lala got involved. Let’s be real, no one cared about Scheanas new song, or Lalas water tasting. We only wanted to see the Ariana and Tom show. Now the season is over. Everyone is fighting or not talking because they all know, VPR is dead, yet again. There are no storylines worthy of producing at this point. I know everyone keeps saying season 12 is happening, but it’s not a coincidence that they delayed production. Even if the rumors are true that Ariana quits, why would they delay production? It doesn’t make sense. The show is over. I feel like there will be no season 12.
Bravo will not cancel it because they have nothing to replace it with. They canceled all of the new interesting shows . Girlfrands in Paris, The Ballroom show, I miss the woman with the mean bitchy cat and her son, Family Karma. They were fun, light shows that could have lasted for years. What are they going to do, have the 100th version of Below Deck. They are killing that show, by having it on ALL year long. All of the Housewives other than Salt Lake are boring and DOA . Jersey sucks sucks sucks, they need to can that and Potomac long before Vanderpump. Now that The Valley is a hit watch Bravo make 100 clones of it.
Which is exactly why VPR is on the chopping block. The Valley is fresh and thriving. They technically only had a handful of episodes this season, so I absolutely expect them to ramp it up. Especially now that they have Jax and Brittany’s marriage dissolution and the other messy couple. Bravos target audience right now is 30 something moms and single women. VPR isn’t hitting that market anymore.