Not since KimYe has a guilty pleasure reality show catapulted into must-see TV so many years into its run. But that’s what happened with Vanderpump Rules, once simply part of the Bravo-verse, albeit a section that dutifully spit out podcasters and side hustles, and the only one with two physical locations (Pump and Sur, both owned by Lisa Vanderpump) that my friends visiting LA regularly ask me to drive by so they can maybe catch a glimpse of a reality star in the wild.
When season 10 ended with the revelation that Tom Sandoval had a months-long affair with Raquel Leviss—the drama also known as Scandoval—it made its cast members, however briefly, A-listers. (Check out an explainer of Scandoval here, and our cover story with Ariana Madix here.)
Which is why the upcoming season is perhaps the most anticipated yet. Which cast members are returning? Who’s staying away? How can they ever top last season’s drama? Here’s everything we know about Vanderpump Rules season 11:
Toms Schwartz and Tom Sandoval will return.
Of course he is! Tom Sandoval, the “worm with a mustache” who ruined white nail polish for everyone, is probably angling for a redemption arc, or at least is smart enough to know that, if he doesn’t keep telling his side of the story, he’ll just go down in history as a cheater. People reports that his ex best friend and business partner, Tom Schwartz, has also signed on for another season. Why not?
“I don’t know what it’s going to look like,” Schwartz said of the upcoming VPR season. “I will say I’m excited and grateful that we have a new season…. I don’t know what to expect, honestly, but I know it’s going to be a good season. I’ll say that.”
Raquel Leviss and Ariana Madix are maybes.
Understandably, the women involved in this reality-TV drama are on the fence about continuing with VPR…either that, or they know their value-add just tripled and are holding out for the best deals possible. Madix hasn’t been shy about milking the moment for all it’s worth (get it, girl), whereas Leviss is more likely protecting her peace. People reports that “Raquel’s family doesn’t want her to film, but the cast is betting she appears at some point,” and also that she’s currently in a mental health facility. Cameo vibes?
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The Vindication of Ariana Madix
Before Vanderpump Rules, before Scandoval, before the (almost) 2 million Instagram followers, she was a master of reinvention. The newest version of Ariana Madix? Stronger, freer, and—yes—richer.
What about the other cast members?
Though the threesome at the center of Scandoval are the names on the tip of every fan’s tongue at the moment, we assume their costars, including Lala Kent, James Kennedy, Scheana Shay, and Kristen Doute, will make a return for season 11.
Any new faces?
Should Ariana Madix return, it’s possible that we could catch a glimpse of her new boyfriend, Daniel Wai. But again, nothing is confirmed at the moment.
