With Vicki Gunvalson officially set to return for the milestone 20th season of The Real Housewives of Orange County, attention has quickly shifted to the bigger question: who else is coming back, and who didn’t make the cut?
According to Radar Online, Bravo isn’t blowing up the cast for its landmark season. Instead, the network appears to be doubling down on familiarity, opting to bring back nearly the entire ensemble — with one clear exception.
Sources say every current cast member was offered a spot to return for season 20, except Katie Ginella.
“Yes, this means Heather Dubrow, Emily Simpson, Gina Kirschenheiter, Jennifer Pedranti, Shannon Beador, and Tamra Judge were all given an orange,” an insider shared.
Katie’s exit, while disappointing to some fans, wasn’t entirely unexpected. Her most recent season saw her struggling to fully integrate into the group dynamic, often landing on the outskirts of major storylines. While she held her own, insiders suggest the chemistry never fully clicked — and Bravo ultimately decided to move forward without her.
But while Katie’s status appears settled, another familiar name remains up in the air.
Gretchen Rossi, who returned last season in a friend-of role after years away from the franchise, is reportedly still in limbo. Her comeback initially centered on unresolved tension with Tamra Judge, revisiting old wounds that longtime viewers remember well. However, the situation grew more complicated after Gretchen was accused of liking and engaging with homophobic and transphobic content following the season finale.
According to a separate source, the uncertainty around Gretchen’s future hasn’t stopped cast members from reaching out.
“Currently, Gretchen is in limbo,” the insider explained. “Some of the women on the show who are fond of her have been calling her and asking what’s going on and if she’s going to be returning.”
While last season was described as a “rough one” for Gretchen, sources say the door isn’t fully closed — and a return in a larger capacity hasn’t been ruled out.
“It’s still possible she could return, potentially in a full-time role,” the insider said. “It’s uncertain what will ultimately happen with her, but there’s still a lot of drama to be hashed out, and it would make sense to do it in front of the cameras.”
If that proves true, it would signal Bravo’s willingness to lean into unresolved controversy as RHOC heads into its twentieth season — a year expected to spotlight legacy, longevity, and unfinished business.
For now, one thing is clear: season 20 is shaping up to be less about reinvention and more about consolidation. With Vicki back, Tamra locked in, and the core cast returning, RHOC appears to be embracing its history — trimming only where necessary.
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