Season 19 of The Real Housewives of Orange County started on an emotional note that piqued viewers’ interest, but it appears the interest isn’t as strong as it once was. With small cliques among the cast, the series could be on its way to a major cast shakeup.

According to the trailer, Season 19 has a lot of promise for this group of Housewives, but the drama may be too much for some of the show’s stars. Between the numbers showing that viewers aren’t as interested as in previous seasons and the Housewives having a dark time in their storylines, fans should prepare themselves for a cast shakeup. Should Bravo place the series on pause, or should they fire everyone and do a fresh cast like they’ve done with other franchises? Time will tell.

Some Of The Housewives Could Be Leaving After Season 19

Season 19 could be the last season for a few iconic Housewives, including Heather Dubrow.

According to Bravo Insider, Heather may be leaving the OC… again. A source told the US Sun, “I think [Heather’s] done after this season. She’s made her mark, she did what she needed to do but her heart isn’t in OC.”

The source continued that the news shouldn’t surprise fans. “That’s no secret. She’s all over the world, she’s in LA. She’s not close with the cast.”

Heather first joined the cast in Season 7. She showed off her beautiful family, wealthy lifestyle, and new friendships with the cast for five seasons before moving on from the series to focus on her family. She didn’t stay gone for long, however, because she was back for Season 16 and has become an important part of the series ever since.

As a Housewife, Heather can often be seen as the voice of reason in long arguments. While she’s level-headed and has a cool demeanor, she’s not someone a Housewife wants to argue with. On a personal level, her outlandish lifestyle is what has bewitched her fans. Between her $55 million home and her relationship with Dr. Terry Dubrow, she’s what makes the franchise so spectacular.

Heather isn’t the only Housewife who may be leaving. Katie Ginella is another Housewife who may be on the outs sooner rather than later. The former golf reporter has struggled to make authentic friends in the group since joining in Season 18. She’s also at the center of most of the drama in Season 19.

According to Entertainment Now, a source close to Katie shared some insight about her future on the show. “Katie just doesn’t fit in with this group and fans will see… things are going to get a lot worse for her,” the source shared. “She is not cut out for reality TV. No way she’ll be back.”

Although season 19 is in its early episodes (as of this article’s publication), she’s already feuding with:

• Emily Simpson
• Shannon Beador
• Gina Kirschenheiter
• Tamra Judge

What Happened In Amsterdam?

It’s been shared on social media that the cast of Season 19 goes on a cast trip to Amsterdam. However, Katie reportedly never got the invite, according to Reality Blurb. A source shared, “It’s been a really hard season for Katie and the women have thrown some wild accusations against her.” The source continued, “She’s been called a liar, but she’s 100 percent held her own and not relented.”​

…And In New Orleans?

Unfortunately, it’s not just Heather and Katie who may leave RHOC; Tamra is rumored to leave the series during the cast’s trip to New Orleans.

Reality Blurb shared more details from a close source. “Tamra quit in the middle of the New Orleans trip with the girls.” They continued, “It was just after filming an emotional scene that turned into a heated discussion and then a shouting match with Gretchen and Shannon. Ultimately, Tamra can dish it but she can’t take it, which longtime viewers well know.”

With Heather, Katie, and Tamra allegedly leaving RHOC, will the network revamp the cast like they’ve done for The Real Housewives of New York? Or will they place the series on pause like they’re doing for The Real Housewives of New Jersey?

Do Cast Shakeups Work For Bravo?

A cast shakeup isn’t foreign to The Real Housewives. Cast members leave, return, and are added all the time. However, what shocks audiences is when the network places a franchise on pause or when they wipe the slate clean completely.

The Real Housewives of New York was one of the franchise’s leading series for years. The original cast was made up of luxurious, hilarious, and delusional Housewives who made sensational reality TV. Over the years, however, storylines faded and the cast lost its sparkle. After Season 13, the network placed the series on pause, fired everyone, and hired new Housewives who reflected today’s New York.

While fans were excited about some of the new cast members, it became obvious that the women could never compete with the original. It lacked authenticity, substance, and intrigue. Now, the series is on pause.

Similarly to RHONY, The Real Housewives of New Jersey is another heavy hitter in the franchise that was not renewed for a new season this fall. Instead, the series is on a break until the network decides what to do with the very separate cast.

Although there hasn’t been much news on the cast of RHONJ, fans worry about the series’ future.

Sometimes, starting over isn’t the best thing in reality TV. Going back to the golden years and seeing what worked, however, is key. In the cast shakeups, Bravo must hire Housewives who already have an authentic connection to the group. If not, it will resemble RHONY’s failed attempt.