Nearly a year after Bravo announced that it would be starting from scratch with its Emmy-nominated reality series “Vanderpump Rules” — by rebooting the show entirely with a new cast — the network has set the premiere date for Dec. 2 released the first trailer for Season 12. The names of the new cast are below.
During Season 10 of “Vanderpump Rules” in spring 2023, the veteran Bravo show hit new ratings highs because of a cheating scandal within the show that came to be known as the “Scandoval.” The show became an international news story, its ratings spiked and it was nominated for two Emmys. The fractures within the group, however — with some of the cast siding with Ariana Madix (who’d been cheated on), and others agreeing to film with Tom Sandoval (who had cheated) — made filming for Season 11 mostly unsustainainable. As a result, Bravo and the show’s producers decided that, rather than to continue with some of the show’s cast, “Vanderpump Rules” would be rebooted, once again drawing from staffers at SUR, Lisa Vanderpump’s West Hollywood restaurant.
Along with setting the premiere date for Season 12 of “Vanderpump Rules” was the announcement of a tribute to the show’s first 11 seasons titled “Raise Your Glass” (a reference to the show’s theme song), which will premiere on Bravo on Nov. 25. According to the press release, “The special will pass the glass to the new crew and feature an exclusive first look at the upcoming season.”
“Vanderpump Rules” first premiered on Bravo on Jan. 7, 2013, as an offshoot of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” on which Vanderpump starred at the time. The show — revolving around the servers and bartenders at SUR, with Vanderpump presiding over both their work and (somehow) personal lives — was about the messy, bed-hopping lives of struggling actors, musicians and models in Los Angeles who needed restaurant work to sustain them. It made reality stars of freshman cast members Jax Taylor, Kristen Doute, Stassi Schroeder, Scheana Shay, Tom Schwartz and Sandoval, who would later be joined by Madix, Lala Kent, James Kennedy and Brittany Cartwright, among others.
“This season on ‘Vanderpump Rules,’” reads the official logline from Season 12, “the deep-rooted, dynamic group of friends, frenemies and lovers that have been working for Lisa Vanderpump at SUR for years are shaking things up – from pump-tinis to chaos. Despite new uniforms and a few fresh faces in the mix, the drama remains as messy and complicated as their iconic predecessors.”
“Vanderpump Rules,” which will also stream on Peacock, is produced by 32 Flavors and Evolution Media, an MGM Company. Alex Baskin, Michael Beck, Natalie Neurauter, Brian McCarthy, Joe Kingsley, Jenn Levy, Anne Swann, Barry Poznick, Vanderpump and Ken Todd executive produce.
Here’s Bravo’s list of the new cast of “Vanderpump Rules”:
- Venus Binkley sees himself as the glue that holds the SUR staff together and the confidant everyone turns to for advice … and the latest gossip. Venus feels out of place in the West Hollywood dating scene, but his friends encourage him to step out of his comfort zone. When he finds himself roped into the drama between Marcus, Kim and Natalie, diplomacy goes out the window and he’s forced to pick sides.
- Aspiring actor Jason Cohen is a happy-go-lucky server who has charmed everyone at SUR. His infectious personality and good looks have won over a few of the ladies and disarmed many of the men. He works at SUR alongside his cousin Chris and the pair have been attached at the hip since childhood. In between acting classes and shifts at SUR, Jason tries to date a new co-worker, but his attempts backfire.
- Shayne Davis winds up in the center of the drama at SUR, even though he’s the only one of their friends who doesn’t work there. He’s laser-focused on his sobriety, but that doesn’t stop him from a night out on the town. Between acting, improv and screenwriting, Shayne’s social calendar is close to capacity, but he always makes time for dating. With one foot in and one foot out of the pool of ladies at SUR, Shayne might just make a splash he’s not ready to clean up.
- Jason’s cousin Chris Hahn is a bartender at SUR and has been living in Los Angeles for three years. He moved to the city with a dream of becoming an actor, but pivoted to pursue music and views SUR as a stepping stone to larger opportunities. Single and mingling, Chris is looking for a partner and a long-term commitment. When Chris and Audrey start dating, discussions of a future trip cause complications.
- Angelica Jensen is the newest addition to SUR’s staff, but immediately makes waves within the group. She set her sights on modeling, acting and … friends Jason and Shayne, but a game of broken telephone threatens their possible connections.
- Marcus Johnson has been working at SUR for years, but after the loss of his parents, he has been struggling to focus at work and prioritize his relationship with his girlfriend, Kim. Closest to Venus and Shayne, he leans on his friends to help him move forward. Marcus is all about new beginnings and is shifting his energy to his DJ career and social life, but will need to learn if his fresh perspective and newfound career ambitions will strengthen his relationship or strain it.
- Audrey Lingle is all bubbly charm and girl-next-door charisma, making her loved by (almost everyone on the staff. She’s recently single, chasing new flings and her dream of being on the big screen, but when someone at SUR catches her eye, a certain bad boy might just get the best of her.
- Natalie Maguire has been SUR’s lead bartender for two years and is ready to level up to bar manager, but Lisa may not be on the same page after her recent outburst. Closest in the group to Venus, the two started at SUR on the same day and have been inseparable ever since. Outside of SUR, Natalie is pursuing her pop music career with full force but still makes time for men, making her love life a major source of friction within the group.
- Demy Selem has been the manager at SUR for seven years and as the longest-standing employee among the group, she knows all the inner workings of the SUR employees. Demy is all business when it comes to her role at the restaurant, but being the boss has an impact on her friendships, especially with Natalie. Can she sip the tea with the crew and also call the shots?
- Kim Suarez works at SUR while juggling her aspirations in the entertainment industry and a tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend, Marcus. When others in the group meddle, Kim wonders if her on-again, off-again romance will affect her performance at SUR.
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