Vanderpump Rules hit a slump over the years, but a producer admitted that Scandoval nearly saved the show from being canceled. The infamous cheating scandal between Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss made the show an instant hit once again, allowing it to become another pop culture phenomenon. With record ratings and the Vanderpump Rules cast members now more famous than ever, the show still continues to have a life, even with some of the OGs missing.

In an interview with Deadline via TV Deets, Alex Baskin, a Vanderpump Rules producer, spoke about the long-running reality show, which is currently filming its newest season. Referring to Tom and Raquel's affair, Alex noted, "The timing of [Scandoval] happened to have been perfect.” He added that the cheating scandal was “insane and proof that there can still be a monoculture. The story of Vanderpump is one of survival more than anything.”

Alex Baskin Is "Thankful" Bravo Gave Vanderpump Rules "Another Run"

Alex, who works for a production company called Evolution Media, mentioned how "thankful" he is that Bravo decided not to cancel Vanderpump Rules. “We were coming off a really tough ninth season and we had the cast firings before the season and there was a low energy season during the pandemic,” he said. “To the network’s credit, they gave us another run at it and we had a resurgence anyway.” Alex also explained that the cast is ready to "tell the real story," even though none of them have filmed with Raquel yet, who recently left the mental facility she was staying in.

After many of the Vanderpump Rules OGs were fired and left the show in 2020, viewers weren't sure about its future. When Vanderpump Rules season 9 aired, it wasn't well-received at all and seemed to be missing something. Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Jax Taylor, and Brittany Cartwright were all a huge part of the show, and the cast didn't seem to vibe as well without them. Unlike many other reality shows, Vanderpump Rules is about a real group of friends who have known each other for years. The show doesn't feel authentic if the cast members don't have good chemistry.

Since Vanderpump Rules season 10 was a hit and season 11 is currently filming, viewers will be eager to see how the aftermath of Scandoval will play out. Ariana Madix is refusing to film with her ex Tom, and she and Katie Maloney decided not go to on the cast trip to Lake Tahoe. The majority of the cast isn't on good terms with Tom right now, but they're willing to remain cordial for the sake of making great television. Thankfully, Vanderpump Rules is still going strong on Bravo, so viewers can see what the cast will be up to next.

Source: TV Deets