Feuds are amazing fuel for the drama the drives reality television.
When a feud gets so bad, even off-camera, that it starts interfering with the show … that’s a catastrophic backfire and it can kill a successful series.
The Real Housewives of Orange County may be in hot water, because reports say that two of the Housewives refuse to film together, and this tension threatens to rip the series apart at the seams.
Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Judge used to be friends, as hard as that may be to imagine.
Lately, they’ve been everything but.
And you can basically blame that on the show.
The two struggled with each other for camera time and storylines until Vicki Gunvalson had secured her place as the queen bee on RHOC.
That didn’t mean that Tamra Judge was counted out — as her conflicts with Vicki are a long-running storyline for herself but also for their costars.
In the latest episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County, not one but two other Housewives were dragged into their feud.
That might not say good things about humanity, but it makes for television gold.
Now, though, it looks like it’s become too much.
According to a report by RadarOnline, Vicki Gunvalson is refusing to film with Tamra Judge. Like, at all.
Apparently, Vicki “straight up told Bravo execs that she will not film” with Tamra.
Their insider also claims that Tamra shares those sentiments, though it doesn’t sound like Tamra’s taken her demands to producers.
If you’re thinking that this is ridiculous behavior for two grown women, you’re right.
If you’re also thinking that maybe this kind of prima donna behavior will have repercussions for them on the show … maybe not.
The insider claims that Vicki and Tamra are both very confident in their places.
“Vicki and Tamra are absolutely both coming back next season. The network will not boot either one of them and they both know it.”
That’s pretty true.
Vicki Gunvalson is the one who holds court on The Real Housewives of Orange County. It’s hard to imagine the series without her.
Their bad behavior might actually end up earning them a … reward.
“Producers do not know what to do about it at this moment, and they are considering paying each one of them a substantial bonus to coexist in the same scenes together.”
If you’re wondering why the producers don’t just have them film but separately, there’s a reason for that.
“They are the reason that the Orange County franchise continues to do so well.”
The show needs just the right amount of conflict.
Vicki and Tamra can provide that.
Vicki Gunvalson is indisputably the higher ranking of these two ladies. As we said, it’s hard to see her going anywhere as long as this show is still running.
We have to wonder if, should this continue, Tamra might end up having to leave the show.
Her place might be secure now, but will that always be the case?
After all that we’ve heard about how Tamra Judge treated her daughter, our feeling on Tamra having to leave could be summed up with a famous Kim Kardashian quote:
“It’s what she deserves.”