The Real Housewives of Orange County

Infobox Television
show_name = The Real Housewives of Orange County


caption =
genre = Reality Show
picture_format=
audio_format =
runtime = approx. 41 minutes
(excluding commercials)
creator =
executive_producer =
starring =
country = United States
language = English
network = Bravo network
location = Coto de Caza
Orange County
California
first_aired = March 21 2006
last_aired = present
num_seasons = 3
num_episodes = 30
list_episodes =
website = http://www.bravotv.com/Real_Housewives/season/3/
imdb_id = 0497079
tv_com_id =

"The Real Housewives of Orange County" is a reality television program on the Bravo network. Created by Orange County producer and Coto de Caza resident [ [http://www.dunlopgrp.com/ent_press2.htm Press Release (undated)] posted on "Dunlop Group" website] Scott Dunlop, [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/communities/cotodecaza/article_1540674.php "Producer gets real about the real housewives"] 10 January 2007 "O.C. Register" article] the show was initially set primarily in the gated community of Coto and followed the lavish livestyles of five "housewives" and their families who resided within Coto McMansions, with the exception of one housewife (Lauri Waring), who lived in comparatively reduced financial circumstances in a Ladera Ranch townhouse. This housewife exception to the rule was used in season 1 to directly contrast with the money-laden existence of the other four housewives who lived behind the Coto gates. However, after seasons 2 and 3, the show expanded its filming locations to include Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera Ranch, San Juan Capistrano, and San Clemente and downplayed the exclusivity of living behind the gates of Coto. [ [http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/desperate-homeowners/27702/ "Desperate Homeowners"] 6 September 2007 "OC Weekly" article] For example, the opening credits removed the commentary saying, "There's a mystique of living behind the gates."

History

The show's title and introduction alludes to the ABC show Desperate Housewives [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/21/arts/television/21mcgrath.html?pagewanted=print "Housewives With Needs and Looks That Kill"] 21 March 2006 "The New York Times" article] as well as the FOX teen drama "The OC" and touts itself as these two fictional shows' "real-life" counterpart. Unlike a true documentary, however, Bravo has monetarily compensated the show participants for their filming time. [ [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-ca-reality11mar11,1,3840448.story?track=rss "Real Housewives of Orange County Eye Greener Pastures"] 11 March 2007 "Los Angeles Times" article]

First season

The show's first season premiered on March 21, 2006. The five housewives featured were Kimberly Bryant, Jo De La Rosa, Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough and Lauri Waring. [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/entertainment/atoz/article_1041399.php "TV: "The Real Housewives of Orange County"] 13 March 2006 "O.C. Register" article] [ [http://www.ocweekly.com/arts/arts/careless-people/24707/ "Careless People"] 16 March 2006 "OC Weekly" article] [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1126467.php "REAL HOUSEWIVES AWARDS: May I have the envelope, please?"] 3 May 2006 "O.C. Register" article] [ [http://www.slate.com/id/2138401/ "REAL WIFE: Desperate housewives, wife-swappers, and the women of Bravo"] 21 March 2006 posted on "Slate.com"] [ [http://www.azcentral.com/ent/tv/articles/0321realhousewives.html "Housewives in a parallel universe"] 20 March 2006 posted on "The Arizona Republic" website]

econd season

The show's second season premiered on January 16, 2007. Four of the five original housewives returned, with the exception of Bryant who was replaced by Tammy Knickerbocker. [ [http://www.azcentral.com/ent/tv/articles/0319realhousewives0319.html "Busting out of 'The O.C.'"] 19 March 2007 posted on "AZ Republic" website] [ [http://parentingoc.com/womens_0702.html "LIFE UNDER THE LENS: Keeping up Appearances on Bravo's Real Housewives of Orange County"] July 2002 posted on "ParentingOC.com"]

Third season

Season 3 [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2008/01/22/2008-01-22_in_real_housewives_finale_thrills_gone.html "In 'Real Housewives' finale, thrill's gone"] 22 January 2008 "New York Daily News" article] premiered on November 9, 2007 with De La Rosa replaced by new housewife, Tamra Barney. [ [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=681479 "Real Housewives defy both reason and gravity"] 3 November 2007 "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" online article] [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/11/06/2007-11-06_orange_county_wives_get_reality_tv_fashi.html "Orange County wives get reality TV fashion sense"] 5 November 2007 "New York Daily News article] Additionally, midway through this season, a sixth housewife was introduced to the cast, Quinn Fry. [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/entertainment/television/housewives/article_1934816.php "A New Housewife"] 4 December 2007 "O.C. Register" article] With the introduction of Barney and Fry and Waring's move to San Juan Capistrano, the scope of the show widened its narrow focus that used to emphasize the privilege and exclusivity of living in gated Coto de Caza to purport the general luxury and materialism of living in the Orange County environment. For example, Waring comments in the opening credits of season 3 that she is now "living the Orange County lifestyle again" with her new wealthy fiance.

Fourth season

BravoTV announced the series' fourth season renewal with the return of three original housewives, Vicki, Jeana, Lauri and season 3 housewife Tamra. [ [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080415bravo01 "BRAVO INCREASES PROGRAMMING HOURS BY 45%, UNVEILS NEW SLATE INCLUDING 12 RETURNING FRANCHISES AND FOUR NEW SERIES AND SPECIALS"] 15 April 2008 Bravo Press Release] Season 2 housewife Tammy and season 3 housewife Quinn will not return. Instead, the cast will add a new housewife, Gretchen Rossi. [ [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-peppard_0831gl.ART.State.Bulldog.4daa06e.html "Alan Peppard on Gretchen Rossi, Tomas de la Mata, Tracy Rowlett and others"] 1 September 2008 "Dallas Morning News" column] This season premieres on November 25, 2008. [ [http://www.bravotv.com/blog/thedish/2008/10/housewives_of_oc_is_back.php "OC Housewives are Back!"] posted on 7 October 2008 "BravoTV's" official "The Dish" blog]

pinoffs

In the wake of the success of the original show, a spin-off series, The Real Housewives of New York City, premiered on March 4, 2008. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23566233/ "Are N.Y., O.C. ‘Housewives’ all that different? One Orange County housewife calls the new cast ‘a little more uptight’"] 11 March 2008 posted on "msnbc.com"]

Season 1 housewife, De La Rosa, received her own dating show spin-off in which a group of bachelors competed to become her new love interest. Her spin-off premiered on BravoTV on July 21, 2008.

BravoTV also announced the development of two additional "Housewife" spin-offs called, "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," and "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," with the latter set to premiere on October 7, 2008. [ [http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/bravo-reveals-the-real-housewives-of-atlanta-preview-air-july-30-7343.php "Bravo reveals 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta,' preview to air July 30"] 26 June 2008 posted on "realitytvworld.com"]

BravoTV is currently casting young adults ages 18 to 21 for a spin-off called, "The Real Kids of Orange County." [ [http://www.newfaces.com/auditions/Reality-TV-casting-calls_5985 11 August 2008 casting call] posted on "New Faces Models & Talent" website]

Cast

Current cast members

Past cast members

The Housewives

Tamra Barney

Barney joined the cast in season 3 through a casting call launched on the BravoTV website. She lives in Ladera Ranch with her second husband of 13 years, Simon. She recently became a real estate agent [ [http://www.dreamhomesmagazine.com/map/Agent_Map~id~6197.htm Barney's agent listing] posted on "dreamhomesmagazine.com"] in Coto de Caza and Ladera Ranch to achieve a sense of "value" in her family dynamic. However, she makes it clear that her job does not provide her family with its primary financial support and that her husband is actually her family's breadwinner. Her family includes three children from her current husband: Sidney, Spencer, and Sophie all of whom are under the age 10. Barney also has a 21 year old son, Ryan, from her first marriage. In season 3, Ryan moved back in with Barney after leaving the family home at age 18 because of his contentious relationship with Simon. Although Ryan's relationship with Simon has not improved, without a college education and a job, he is forced to move back in with Barney and Simon. Season 3 documents the strain that Ryan imposes upon Barney and Simon's marriage. In response, Simon has Ryan sign a contract listing conditions which Ryan must meet to continue living in his house. After three months of living with Barney and Simon, Ryan begrudgingly accepts a manual labor job that pays $10 an hour in Simon's Newport Beach dealership. [ [http://www.teamsimonbarney.com/ Team Simon Barney] dealership website] [ [http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/says-quinn-one-1938464-see-son "Newest Real Housewife insists she doesn't prowl after younger guys"] 10 December 2007 "OC Register" article] Simon also provided Ryan with the opportunity to attend "Universal Technical Institute", [ [http://www.uti.edu/ Universal Technical Institute] official website] which specializes in auto mechanics. By the end of season 3, Ryan moved out of Barney and Simon's home to live with his grandmother.

As a new real estate agent working the same territory as Keough (a more established realtor), Barney expresses feelings of competitiveness with her. Barney asserts that "it won't be long before she's kicking Jeana's butt" when it comes to selling real estate in Coto. Citing the relative slowness of the Southern California real estate market, she is very pleased that she has four listings explaining that a good-looking female realtor will always make money in Orange County. She flamboyantly calls herself the "hottest housewife in Orange County" and works especially hard to keep herself looking "hot" as she approaches the dreaded 40 during season 3.

Kimberly Bryant

Bryant is a stay-at-home mom whose schedule primarily consists of shuttling her kids from activity to activity, working out, and socializing with her girlfriends. The show highlights her decision to surgically enhance her physical appearance after moving to Coto; her husband Scott asked her to get breast augmentation surgery after noticing that the majority of Coto wives were very well-endowed. Bryant comments that 85 percent of the women living in Coto have had breast implants. She describes how she went from an A-cup to a D-cup in breast size and how her husband's idea of a wife over 40 is a "lingerie model." [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2003014018_dressage24.html "The 40-to-50s look in fashion: Think Stiffler's mother"] 24 May 2006 "The Seattle Times article]

At the end of season 1, Bryant explained her family's departure to Chicago by saying that her medical history of melanoma and her son's recent growth of a benign, but still pre-cancerous mole determined their move from the sunny OC weather. [ [http://www.webmd.com/melanoma-skin-cancer/melanoma-guide/reality-tv-star-becomes-melanoma-patient "Reality T.V. Star Becomes Melanoma Patient"] 2006 posted on "WebMD.com"] "The O.C. Register", however, provided an alternate explanation of why the Bryants left town: Scott purportedly physically assaulted a woman named Jana Kindchadwick after Kindchadwick and Bryant themselves engaged in a physical altercation. [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/columns/article_1236347.php "Housewives' episode you won't see"] 8 August 2006 "O.C. Register" article] [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/columns/article_1237296.php "Superwuss comes to his lady's Rescue"] 9 August 2006 "O.C. Register" article] Scott was eventually found not guilty in his misdemeanor battery criminal trial for assaulting Kindchadwick. [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/columns/article_1722508.php "Molfetta wins round one of Bar Fight"] 8 June 2007 "O.C. Register" article] [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/columns/article_1719222.php "Kimberly: Jana's guy a pervert"] 6 June 2007 "O.C. Register" article]

Bryant makes a cameo appearance at Waring's bridal shower in season 3.

Jo De La Rosa

De La Rosa was born in Lima, Peru and emigrated with her parents to Tustin, California at the age of three. In 1994, her parents won the California Lottery and moved the family to Mission Viejo. She graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in English and Comparative Literature. She then started a career in the title insurance industry where she met Slade Smiley [ [http://www.terrybradfordrealestate.com/PageManager/Default.aspx/PageID=1361173&NF=1 Summary of Smiley's professional history and contact information] posted on "www.terrybradfordrealestate.com"] who served as her entrance into the Coto lifestyle.

In season 1, De La Rosa lived with Smiley in his house behind the Coto gates. Included in her Coto family were his two sons from two different relationships: Gavin (16) and Grayson (6). Smiley is an executive in the title insurance industry and provided De La Rosa with the money and prestige of living the Coto lifestyle. He gave her a Mercedes Benz sedan and a luxurious home and wanted De La Rosa, in turn, to be the conventional stay at home wife and mother. In De La Rosa's words, "He's [Smiley] pretty much keeping me." Despite having all of her financial needs taken care of, she still had trouble adjusting to the traditional housewife role.

In season 2, De La Rosa decided to move out of Coto to take a position as the title representative for her company's Beverly Hills territory. Smiley in turn ended their romantic relationship during a session with a relationship therapist, but becomes her unofficial "guide" [ [http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272621067.shtml "Real Housewives Jo De La Rosa Wants To Set The Record Straight on Slade"] 16 June 2008 posted on "nationalledger.com"] on contract or business issues as she pursues a singing career. [ [http://www.tmz.com/2007/10/30/desperate-oc-housewives/ "Real Housewives Star Really Dropping A Real Album"] 30 October 2007 posted on "TMZ.com"] Another change to her Coto life during this season was that Smiley's younger son, Grayson, did not appear to live with De La Rosa and Smiley.

De La Rosa was not included as a season 3 cast member [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22037977/ "Jo De La Rosa is ready for prime time"] posted on "MSNBC.com"] as she has moved to Los Angeles with a record contract from "Immergent Records" in tow and does not keep in touch with the other "housewives." [ [http://www.tmz.com/2007/10/11/housewives-3-no-jo-and-slade/8 "Housewives 3 No Jo and Slade?!"] 11 October 2007 posted on "TMZ.com"] However, she makes cameo appearances at Keough's backyard cocktail party on the season 3 finale episode and the post-season 3 reunion episode.

De La Rosa and Smiley were spun-off on a dating reality show following her pursuit of love and a music career in Los Angeles. [ [http://www.starmagazine.com/Real_Housewives_Jo_DeLaRosa_TV_Spinoff/celebrity_news_gossip/entertainment/13437 "Real Housewives' Jo De La Rosa Getting TV Show"] "Star Magazine" online article] [ [http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6505147.html "Bravo Orders ‘Real Housewives’ Spinoff"] 26 November 2007 "Multichannel News" article] [ [http://www.newportbeachpageant.com/2008/judges-2008/jo-de-la-rosa/ 2008 Miss Newport Beach and Miss Newport Beach Teen Pageants] website] [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2008/05/27/2008-05-27_real_housewives_star_jo_de_la_rosa_set_t.html "Real Housewives star Jo De La Rosa set to date again"] 27 May 2008 "NY Daily News" article] On July 12, 2008, their spin-off, entitled, "Date My Ex: Jo & Slade," premiered on BravoTV. [ [http://www.bravotv.com/blog/thedish/2008/04/bravos_new_and_returning_shows.php "Bravo's New and Returning Shows"] 15 April 2008 posted on "BravoTV.com"] Before the spin-off premiered, BravoTV aired a one episode special called, "Jo and Slade: The Break Up," on June 30, 2008 that recapped De La Rosa and Smiley's romantic history and previewed their spin-off. [ [http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/bravo-new-date-my-ex-jo-&-slade-reality-series-premiere-july-21-7237.php "Bravo's new 'Date My Ex: Jo & Slade' reality series to premiere July 21"] 5 June 2008 posted on "RealityTVworld.com"]

De La Rosa released her first album, titled "Unscripted," on August 19, 2008. [ [http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blog/2008/09/18/jo-de-la-rosa-debuts-her-new-cd-in-orange-county-at-the-2008-orange-coast-art-house/ "Jo De La Rosa debuts her new CD in Orange County at the 2008 Orange County Art House"] 18 September 2008 posted on "realitytvmagazine.com"]

Quinn Fry

Fry joined the cast mid-season 3 on December 11, 2007 by answering a casting call advertisement in a local newspaper. She was born in 1955 in Fort Knox, Kentucky, where her father was stationed in the military. Married twice before and now single, she lives in San Clemente. She has two children, one from each of her marriages: Shannon (31 at the time, a Eureka resident) and Colin. Colin lives with Fry and attended San Clemente High School as a senior at the time. [ [http://www.sanclementetimes.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=783&cntnt01dateformat=%25B%20%25d%2C%20%25Y&cntnt01returnid=99 "The Next Real Housewife"] 6 December 2007 "San Clemente Times" article] She works as an internet marketing manager and managing editor of an Orange County-based lifestyle and entertainment website and has also appeared as an on-air personality for the "Cox Communications" cable program, "OC Lifestyle". [ [http://www.ocregister.com/article/fry-county-orange-1937113-think-little "Newest Housewife worried about baring all on TV"] 7 December 2007 "O.C. Register" article]

She is portrayed as a "cougar" as she is casually seeing a 26-year old named Jared and she comments that "I love having a younger man in my life." However, she is more seriously dating a 40-year old golf pro named Billy. The other housewives meet her for the first time at a Mission Viejo restaurant where they immediately ask Fry a number of personal questions, such as, her age (52 at the time) and the name of her plastic surgeon. At this meet-and-greet, she calls the other housewives "catty" [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/12/10/2007-12-10_orange_county_rookie_wants_to_get_real-1.html "Orange County rookie wants to get real"] 8 December 2007 "NY Daily News" article] in response to their derisive comments after being introduced to Jared. For example, Barney comments in her camera confessional about Fry dating Jared that "I think if you're super hot like Demi Moore you can get away with it, but that's not the case."

As a devout Christian, Fry's debut season chronicles her search for a committed relationship that will lead to marriage. She struggles to balance her self-purported "sensual" side with her religious conviction that she is meant to be married. She describes her most recent relationship with a man that she lived with for three years as a waste of time because he was simply not interested in being married. At the end of season 3, Fry breaks up with Billy because he could not even call her his girlfriend let alone marry her.

Vicki Gunvalson

Gunvalson's family include her second husband Donn and her two children, Michael (who attends the University of Colorado at Boulder [ [http://www.smhs.org/wings_newsletters/2004-2005%20School%20Year/05%20Summer%202004%20(Alumni%20Issue).pdf "The Eagle Newsletter"] Summer 2004 "Santa Margarita Catholic High School" publication] ) and Briana Wolfsmith (who attends nursing school at Azusa Pacific University located in Azusa, California [ [http://www.smhs.org/wings_newsletters/2005-2006%20School%20Year/06%20Winter%202005%20(Alumni%20Issue).pdf "The Eagle Newsletter"] December 2005-February 2006 "Santa Margarita Catholic High School" publication] ) from her first marriage.

Gunvalson is the dominant force in her family and has been described by her family and friends as "controlling" and a "workaholic." Her children repeatedly call her "crazy" both to her face and during their camera confessionals during all three seasons. She has worked extremely hard to achieve financial success as an independent insurance agent and expects her family to toe her party line. Gunvalson herself admits to having control issues but maintains it is this very characteristic that has brought about her success and desired lifestyle. For example, in season 1, when the housewives go on a private jewelry shopping spree, Waring laments that she does not have a man in her life to buy her the beautiful jewels in the shop; Gunvalson responds by telling her that she does not need a man to buy her things because they can earn the money independently through their insurance leads and purchase the jewels themselves.

In season 3, Gunvalson and her husband are empty nesters and purchase a smaller home in Coto with the goal to downsize and simplify their lives. However, they still reside in their large residence and Gunvalson expresses anxiety of moving to the smaller home because of her perceived connection between financial failure and downsizing her home's square footage. She explains to the camera, "What will people think?" and eventually decides to sell her smaller house (4,000 s.f. initially listed at $2.1M) through Keough. The show repeatedly depicts Gunvalson associating financial success and material possessions with personal triumph, for example, in season 1 she explains that she divorced her first husband because he did not want nor could provide the lifestyle she desired and in season 2 she likens herself to the "Joneses" in the phrase, "Keeping up with the Joneses."

Gunvalson appears to have expanded her business to include business associates in Bellevue, Washington [ [http://www.1888pressrelease.com/efinancial-goes-prime-time-pr-973o8ust3.html "Efinancial.com" Press Release] 19 December 2007 posted on "1888pressrelease.com"] and Atlanta by season 3. Michael starts an internship in Bellevue saying that he sees the lucrative income that his mom earns in insurance and wants to make that kind of money. Briana, however, thinks that he is crazy to want to work with their mother. Gunvalson is pleased that Michael wants to follow in her footsteps and looks forward to "passing the baton" if he meets her work standards. She announces to the staff in Bellevue that Michael shadowed his father as a carpenter last summer engaged in manual labor and she is glad that he is choosing to use his brain instead.

Jeana Keough

Keough is a former Playboy Playmate of the Month (November 1980) and actress (featured in such films as the 1982 "Beach Girls") from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She currently works as a realtor for RE/MAX. In season 3, she legally separated from her second husband, Matt Keough, with whom she has three children: Shane, Kara, [ [http://hughescapitalentertainment.com/karakeough.cfm Kara's booking profile] "Hughes Capital Entertainment" website] and Colton. Matt is a former major league pitcher [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE5DD1638F93BA25750C0A964958260 "BASEBALL; Keough, Recovering From Surgery, Watches a Replay"] 18 March 1992 " The New York Times" article] for the Oakland A's and several other major league teams. He is currently employed as an executive with the Oakland A's.

Keough often described her experience as a mother as tough and her children are often seen battling with one another over the usual sibling rivalries and the not so usual sibling rivalries, such as, who has the newer BMW. Kara talks on-air about her family dynamic by saying, "We show our love by buying each other things." [ [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002200317 "Desperate Housewives"] 22 March 2006 "Hollywood Reporter" article] [ [http://www.orato.com/node/12397?page=1 "Real Daughter Of Orange County: Exclusive Interview With Kara Keough"] 13 March 2008 posted on "Orato.com"] During both seasons 1 and 2, Keough explained that Matt was often out of town on business which left her as the primary parent and disciplinarian to her three children which resulted in a very hectic household. Part of this absence can be attributed to him serving time in jail for a drunk driving accident in which he hit a bicyclist, Keough's latest legal trouble that stem from his ongoing abuse of alcohol. [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/14/SPGQ8H86DV1.DTL "Life-changing moment leads to jail, rehab, perspective"] 14 February 2006 "San Francisco Chronicle" article] [ [http://www.tmz.com/2007/12/20/real-housewives-husband-really-arrested/ "Real Housewives Husband Really Arrested"] 20 December 2007 posted on "TMZ.com"] Season 2 continued to document Keough's marital struggle and one of her closing statements is that "We have four houses, he [Matt] can choose one."

In season 3, Keough's Coto family has gotten smaller as she and Matt have legally separated and Colton is the only child living consistently at home. Shane plays minor league baseball in Vancouver, Canada for the Vancouver Canadians [ [http://www.canadiansbaseball.com/profile_player.php?id=143 Shane's player biography] posted on the "Vancouver Canadians" website] and Kara (a former child actor) prepares to attend UC Berkeley in Northern California. In prior seasons, Colton was depicted as the reasonable, obedient, down-to-earth child with Keough describing him as her "golden child." However, this season shows Colton defying his mother, Coto HOA rules and traffic laws; with Keough now saying that she doesn't trust Colton alone and she really wants to keep a closer eye on him.

Keough explores the dating scene in season 3 explaining to friends that she and Matt did not have a real marriage, just a relationship that used to be based on a strong physical and sexual attraction. According to Keough, Matt does not really like or love her; they got caught up in the sex at first, then the children came along and they just got on with the "business of marriage." She continues to explain that when she gained weight he, being an athlete, could not understand and so stopped being "nice" to her.

Tammy Knickerbocker

Single mother Knickerbocker joined the cast in season 2 through Keough's recommendation. She has been friends with Keough for over 15 years and her family include her two daughters from her prior marriage, Megan [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/homepage/article_1565676.php "Right under Coto's nose"] 6 February 2007 "O.C. Register" article] and Lindsey. Her first marriage to Lou (who died of a heart attack at age 67 on April 24, 2007 [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1671130.php "Reality show husband dies at 67"] 26 April 2007 "O.C. Register" article] ) ended when he had an affair with his assistant and their lucrative business went bankrupt. Her lifestyle has been "reduced" from being married and owning one of the largest houses in Coto de Caza to being single and renting a $1.3 million house in the community while her permanent Coto home undergoes renovations because of severe water damage.

Knickerbocker works as a loan officer and also has a young son, Ryley, from a 10-year relationship with a man named Duff who, in Season 2, worked in Gunvalson's insurance business managing her home office. Duff and Knickerbocker struggled to balance their "friends with benefits" relationship with jointly raising their shared son. At the end of season 2, Duff and Knickerbocker decide to end their sexual relationship and Duff proclaims that he is "done with the crazy women in Coto de Caucasian."

Season 3 documents Knickerbocker's and her two daughters' struggle with Lou's death. Used to having Lou buy them BMWs and bail them out financially, Megan and Lindsey experience reduced financial circumstances after Lou dies without leaving a will or any life insurance. Without a will, Lou's estate was left to his latest wife with no provisions made for Megan and Lindsey. Since season 2, Megan has lost her job and Lindsey appears to be living off her savings earned from a promotional job with her late father's company. [ [http://www.ocenergydrink.com/index.php "OC Energy Drink"] official web site]

In 2007, Knickerbocker launched a website called "Veriya" with the purpose of branding the Orange County lifestyle. However, in 2008, the website became defunct. [ [http://www.veriya.com/ Veriya website currently registered but parked] ]

Lauri (Waring) Peterson

In season 1, Waring was a multiple-divorced single mother who used to live in a grand house with maid service in neighboring Dove Canyon with her ex-husband, but in the aftermath of her latest divorce had to downsize to a smaller townhouse outside the gates in Ladera Ranch. Her family included Ashley, Josh and Sophie.

Although 46 at the time, Waring, a former model, still attended parties at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion, though she was quick to point out she was never a Playboy bunny. To make ends meet, she worked in Gunvalson's home insurance office. Her daughter Ashley moved back home to escape the difficulties of paying her own bills and her son Josh spent time in juvenile detention.

In season 1, Waring struggled with the adjustment from her former affluent lifestyle provided by yet another wealthy husband to a more modest standard of living on her own. She has said that she has gone from being poor to being rich to being poor again, and that "having money is easier." However, her perception of "poor" still includes her purchase of jewelry valued for thousands of dollars during a private shopping excursion with the housewives. During Season 1, Gunvalson hired Waring into her home-based insurance company, however by season 2, after forming a relationship with a rich land developer, Waring appears to have a less active role in Gunvalson's insurance company and by season 3, Waring never appears working with Gunvalson or in the insurance business.

During season 2, Waring became engaged on Lake Como to a wealthy real estate and land developer, George Peterson [ [http://www.centrarealtycorp.com/ Centra Realty Corp] Peterson's company's official website] . Season 2 focused on Waring's relationship with Peterson and the financial improvements to her lifestyle that this upwardly mobile relationship provides her and her children. Waring identifies herself as a Republican (although she is unable to define what that means to her) and attends a Republican Party fundraiser as part of Peterson's social obligations.

By season 3, Waring, Ashley and Sophie have moved in with Peterson into his home in San Juan Capistrano. She is shown planning her expensive third wedding and riding horses at Peterson's ranch. After leaving rehab, Josh moved into Waring's Ladera Ranch townhouse with Ashley, however, Waring purports that Josh broke a number of "house rules" and she evicted him. [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/columns/article_1564960.php "Lauri says Josh broke their pact"] 6 February 2007 "O.C. Register" article] After leaving his mother's townhouse, Josh moved in with Peterson's ex-wife, Gina. [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/columns/article_1581883.php "Housewives couple in family court"] 16 February 2007 "O.C. Register" article] [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/columns/article_1574421.php "The real reality gets ever uglier"] 9 February 2007 "The O.C. Register" article] Josh doesn't appear in the credits as part of Waring's family and Waring has alluded that she doesn't see him anymore. [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/columns/article_1562611.php "Housewives son lashes out at his mom"] 2 February 2007 "O.C. Register" article] Despite the appearance of numerous children from Peterson's former marriage and Waring's repeated commentary about their "modern Brady Bunch family" in season 2, only one daughter, McKenzie (18), appears to live with Peterson and Waring during season 3. The season 3 finale [ [http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/season-housewives-bravo-1966856-network-total "Real Housewives finale breaks the show's rating record"] 24 January 2008 "O.C. Register" article] included an extended psychotherapy session attended by Waring and Josh where they achieved resolution to their conflicted mother-son relationship. As a result, Josh was included in Waring's lavish wedding ceremony [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/entertainment/television/features/article_1964245.php "Guest column: What it was like to be at the 'Housewives' wedding"] 22 January 2008 "O.C. Register" article] to George as his grandmother's escort down the marital aisle.

In June 2008, Josh was charged with two felony counts of possession and intent to sell heroin and ecstasy, one misdemeanor count of unauthorized possession of a hypodermic needle, and being under the influence of heroin. He has subsequently been sentenced to 240 days in jail. [ [http://www.theinsider.com/news/939880__The_Real_Housewives_of_Orange_County_son_Josh_Waring_busted_for_herion_and_ecstasy "The Real Housewives of Orange County son Josh Waring busted for heroin and ecstasy] undated 2008 post on "theinsider.com"] [ [http://www.theinsider.com/news/940879_A_Real_Housewife_s_son_busted_for_drugs "A Real Housewife's son busted for drugs] undated 2008 post on "theinsider.com"]

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0497079|title=The Real Housewives of Orange County
*imdb name|id=0866460|name=Jeana Keough
*imdb name|id=0449088|name=Kara Keough

Show web site
* [http://www.bravotv.com/Real_Housewives/ Official web site] Housewives' official web sites
* [http://bellaroche.com/ Bella Roche] online jewelry shop run by Waring
* [http://www.ocnow.com/ OC Now] Orange County lifestyle web site managed by Fry
* [http://www.realocbrand.com/ The Real OC Brand] online fashion shop run by Gunvalson, Keough, and Waring - "currently defunct"
* [http://www.veriya.com/ Veriya] online entertainment web site founded by Knickerbocker - "currently defunct"
* [http://www.dunlopentertainment.com/ Scott Dunlop] official web site
* [http://www.quinnfry.com/ Quinn Fry] official web site
* [http://vickigunvalson.com/ Vicki Gunvalson] official web site
* [http://www.jeanakeough.com/ Jeana Keough] official web site
* [http://www.lauriwaring.com/ Lauri Waring] official web site
* [http://www.ashleyzarlin.com/ Ashley Zarlin] official web siteArticles
* [http://www.ocweekly.com/letters/letters/letters/24814/ Monster's Bawl] 30 March 2006 Kara Keough's letter to the "OC Weekly" editorOther Sites
* [http://www.cotonews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/ Coto News] Official Coto de Caza community website
* [http://www.mapicurious.com/realhousewivesoc Mapcurious.com] Map of featured show locations