RIP, Original Vanderpump Rules

Here lies Vanderpump Rules (2013-2024), the little reality show that could, the first Bravo show to break the traditional Housewives mold and become a sensation in its own right.

Vanderpump Rules was a show that was so wildly addicting, and filled with so many colorful characters, unforgettable moments and explosive drama, that we're finding it a little hard to say goodbye.

The End Of Vanderpump Rules As We Know It

It was a Tuesday morning when we got the news of its passing. The news came in the form of a press release that Bravo casually dropped, announcing that one the most beloved reality shows of all time was going through a cast revamp. The entire standing cast is out, and a new crop of SUR-vers will be there to take over their shifts.

Casually. On a Tuesday morning. And during Thanksgiving week, when so many of us are preparing to gather with our loved ones and give thanks for all of our blessings.

Suddenly, the turkey doesn't matter as much. Our friends are gone, and all we're left with are the memories.

VPR as we knew it was over and the internet was flooded with remembrances for the show, with fans creating emotional edits on TikTok ("holding space" for Vanderpump Rules became a running theme, the internet's way of processing its feelings), and cast members posting throwback photos, thanking the fans for a good run.

In an instant, it was done. No more screaming matches in the SUR alley. No more "it's all happening." No more Pride parades. No more "See You Next Tuesday." No more Miami Girl. No more Tequila Katie. No more TomTom.

All of it, gone, ripped away in an instant with a casual press release. No time to say goodbye. No time to give the cast a proper final season. After all their years of service in the art of chaotic reality television, they deserved better. And so did the fans, the faithful fans who stuck with them, even through their flop seasons.

We all deserved so much more.

To make matters worse, we got the news so soon after hearing about another death in the VPR family: Schwartz & Sandy's, the latest bar opened up by VPR stars Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz, will also be closing its doors, another nail in the Vanderpump coffin.

The Wild Ride That Is VPR

Vanderpump Rules has had an interesting reality show arc. Premiering in 2013 on Bravo, the show followed the exploits of a group of young, sexy wait staff with a thirst for stardom. The show was a spin-off of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, an attempt by Bravo to target a younger audience for the network. Little did they know the reality TV magic they were about to release onto the world.

The show took place at SUR Restaurant, the swanky West Hollywood eatery owned by RHOBH star Lisa Vanderpump. As a fan of the show since day one, I can confidently say that the show's first few seasons were something we'll never be able to replicate.

We'll never get to feel the confusion and joy we felt upon watching an episode on the third season of RHOBH, when the episode ended and seamlessly transitioned into an entirely new show: Vanderpump Rules was born, and we didn't even get a chance to decide whether we wanted to watch this mysterious new show.

When we watched Scheana Shay walked out of Villa Rosa after a confrontation with RHOBH star Brandi Glanville, and enter the doors of SUR restaurant, where we met Stassi Schroeder and Katie Maloney for the first time, we had no idea of the impact they would have on our lives. We were so innocent back then.

Soon, we'd make more friends: queen bee Stassi's boyfriend, the manipulative Jax Taylor, villain Kristen Doute and her live-in partner, Tom Sandoval, shy Katie Maloney and her boyfriend, Tom Schwartz. And then eventually, Lala Kent and James Kennedy would arrive, as would Ariana Madix. The cast would come and go each season, some leaving to return eventually, some never looking back.

But through it all, we still loved them. We loved watching them party, fight in parking lots, have meltdowns at work, back-stab, break up and make-up, all under the watchful eyes of SUR overlord Lisa Vanderpump. We couldn't get enough of these new friends, and new Bravo shows like Summer House, Southern Charm and Southern Hospitality, all of which used the VPR method of casting young, attractive people and letting them loose in their natural environments.

'Scandoval' Breathes New Life Into VPR

Losing VPR wasn't a surprise. Fans have known for a long time that the good old days of early Vanderpump Rules were over. Only a few original cast members remained on the show, and it had struggled to find its footing in the wake of "Scandoval," the cheating scandal that broke the internet in 2023. In fact, before Scandoval, there were whisperings that the show would be canceled. Very few of the original cast actually worked at SUR anymore, and they were growing up, moving to the valley, getting married and having babies. Many of them didn't even hang out anymore. They'd moved on.

It was a far cry from the early days of them living in cheap Hollywood apartments, hustling to get to auditions while maintaining their active social lives and their jobs at SUR.

But what to do with a show like Vanderpump Rules, which outgrew its original concept? They tried integrating new cast members during Season 8, but none resonated with the audience like the OG cast. Bravo even spun-off VPR into another, more 30s+ friendly show, The Valley, in an attempt to find a new home for the aging Vanderpump cast to retire.

Pre-Scandoval, fans had complained that the show was in its flop era. But after Scandoval, it seemed that the tide was turning in VPR's favor. The scandal was so shocking that it broke out of the Bravo universe and made it to the mainstream. Suddenly, major mainstream media outlets were discussing Tom Sandoval's cheating scandal with castmember Rachel Leviss. He'd been having a secret relationship with Rachel throughout Season 9, behind the back of his partner of nine years, Ariana Madix.

Overnight, VPR was hot again, with viewers clamoring to watch the latest season, looking for clues of their illicit affair in real time as it aired on Season 10. It was a media sensation, and the cast attempted to capitalize on it through brand deals, commercials, merchandise and more.

Without that affair, the show would have been dead a long time ago. Scandoval kept it alive for another season, and for that, we are thankful.

But after the latest season, Season 11, much of the Scandoval-induced interest in the show died down. Ariana refused to film with Tom Sandoval throughout the entire season, which led some fans to complain that she wasn't doing her job and giving the people what they wanted: a dramatic confrontation with Tom.

The season even ended on an emotional note, with images of the cast during their first season juxtaposed with them now, leading many to believe that this could be Bravo's way of hinting the show may be over before it was announced.

Vanderpump Rules: Always In Our Hearts

And so what are we to do now? Vanderpump Rules is SUR-vived by Lisa Vanderpump, Ken Todd and the ever-loyal Peter Madrigal, the restaurant's actual general manager. While technically it’s true that the show isn’t canceled, without veteran cast members, it will never be the same. And maybe that's the point. Maybe it's time for something fresh.

VPR will be remembered for being chaotic, toxic, unhinged and also, at times, heartfelt.

It always hurts to lose something you loved, but the memories of early VPR will continue to live on in our hearts and minds. And on Peacock. In more VPR news, resident retired toxic girlfriend Kristen Doute announced her pregnancy the very same day as the news broke that VPR would be no more. Our lovable little Crazy Kristen is all grown up. It’s fitting because while the original Vanderpump Rules may be gone, the cast will carry on its legacy for generations to come.

So it's time to say goodbye to our old friends and welcome the new cast with open arms, knowing that they can never replace the originals, but hoping that they might be able to come close.

Rest in peace, original Vanderpump Rules. You will always be famous. Thank you for the memories, and for now, we'll raise our glasses high for the original cast, as those seasons were indeed the best days of our lives.