RHOC: Tamra Returning To Cast As a 'Friend Of' After Kelly's Exit
In the midst of quite the cast shakeup, Tamra Judge will be returning to The Real Housewives of Orange County for season 16, but not as a housewife. Although she was not an original cast member, Tamra joined the show during season 3 and was a housewife for 11 seasons. Producers and fans wanted to steer away from the "Tres Amigas," a self-titled clique that consisted of Tamra, Vicki Gunvalson and scandal-hungry Shannon Beador, from continuing to run the show. In efforts to do so, Bravo demoted Tamra and Vicki to "friends" for season 15 but both reality stars declined the offer.
The absence of Tamra and Vicki did not help the show by any means as The Real Housewives of Orange County ratings dropped 25 percent in the season 15 premiere. Last season's cast consisted of Shannon Beador, Kelly Dodd, Braunwyn Windham-Burke, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson and rookie Elizabeth Vargas. In their true stirring the pot fashion, Tamra and Vicki mocked the lack of episodes and entertainment in the first season that they were not a part of. The Real Housewives of Orange County usually films over 20 episodes per season. However, there were only 15 episodes for season 15 due to production conflicts around the coronavirus pandemic. Fans claimed the show hit an all-time low and the once top city of the franchise hit rock bottom. The declining ratings called for yet another cast shakeup so Bravo decided to fire Kelly, Braunwyn and Elizabeth and bring back Heather Dubrow as a full-time housewife.
Just when RHOC fans thought there couldn't be any more news regarding the upcoming season's cast, word spread that Tamra Judge will be returning as a "friend of" during season 16. A former TMZ reporter by the name of Anthony Dominic tweeted the newest update of the Bravo show on June 15. "I’m told Tamra will be a friend of the cast in some capacity. Which explains her recently saying she wouldn’t return full time. #RHOC." Although Bravo and Tamra have not commented on the news, a source told Entertainment Tonight, "Don't count Tamra out for a return sometime in season 16."
Returning housewife Heather, who is responsible for many of the show's most iconic moments, is good friends with Tamra, so fans should expect the "friend of" to appear during her scenes. Fans are anticipating the casual return of the RHOC icon. A Twitter user commented under the news saying, "I hope it’s a situation where she starts out part-time but delivers so much that she ends up full time," and included a gif of a woman praying. Another Twitter user laughed at Tamra's decision to return in a smaller role, saying, "Lol didn’t she say especially that she didn’t want to return in a limited capacity ie friend of & that’s why she refuse the contract last year?" They continued, "Now she’s desperate & trying to switch that narrative lol totally contradictory."
Tamra may have accepted a minor role, but it's clear she's going to appear on The Real Housewives of Orange County full throttle with the drama, which is what the show needs. She's going to be like a "friend of" Marlo Hampton from The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She may not be a housewife, but she's sure to bring drama and chaos in every scene that she's in. Additionally, Tamra's friendship with Heather will help bring the dramatics to the upcoming season. Bring out the Veuve Clicquot, please.