5 Shocking Reasons Why 'Vanderpump Rules' Was NOT Cancelled—But Got An 80% Lower Reboot
The question "Is *Vanderpump Rules* cancelled?" has dominated reality TV headlines, and as of December 2025, the answer is a complicated 'No'—but one that comes with a massive, unprecedented asterisk. The beloved Bravo series has indeed been renewed for a twelfth season, but the show you once knew is fundamentally over, having undergone a dramatic, controversial, and high-stakes reboot that has already faced significant backlash and record-low viewership.
The entire original cast, with the sole exception of matriarch Lisa Vanderpump, was officially scrapped by the network following the conclusion of Season 11, a decision that has been directly linked to the fallout from the "Scandoval" cheating saga and a desire to refresh the franchise. This bold move has created a high-stakes scenario where the show is fighting for its life with a new ensemble, and early ratings suggest the gamble may not be paying off.
The Shocking Cast Reboot: Who Was Fired and Who Stayed?
The biggest news to rock the Bravo universe in late 2024 was the confirmation that *Vanderpump Rules* would return for Season 12, but only with a single familiar face. This decision effectively ended the tenure of a cast that had been together for over a decade, documenting their lives, loves, and feuds at Lisa Vanderpump’s West Hollywood restaurants, SUR and Pump.
The network confirmed in November 2024 that the show was getting a complete overhaul, similar to the major shake-up seen with *The Real Housewives of New York*. This meant that the core group of friends and frenemies—including Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval, Lala Kent, Katie Maloney, Tom Schwartz, Scheana Shay, and James Kennedy—were all let go from the main series.
The Scandoval Aftermath and Creative Fatigue
Many industry analysts and fans believe the cast overhaul was a direct consequence of the "Scandoval" drama, which involved the cheating scandal between Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss (who also did not return) that broke up Sandoval's nine-year relationship with Ariana Madix. While the scandal brought the show its highest ratings ever during Season 10, the subsequent Season 11 struggled to maintain that momentum, as the cast dynamics became strained and repetitive.
Bravo executives reportedly felt that the storyline had run its course, and the cast members were now too wealthy and famous to credibly portray struggling restaurant staff, which was the original premise of the series. The reboot was seen as a necessary, albeit risky, measure to inject fresh, authentic drama back into the franchise.
- The Sole Survivor: Lisa Vanderpump. The show's namesake and executive producer is the only original cast member to return, serving as the connective tissue between the past and the new ensemble.
- The Original Cast Reaction: Reactions from the former stars were mixed, with some, like Lala Kent and Katie Maloney, expressing a sense of "peace" about moving on, while others were reportedly blindsided by the news.
- The New Spin-offs: Speculation is high that the original cast may be featured in a new spin-off series, similar to *Vanderpump Rules: Valley* (which was already in production), allowing Bravo to retain their star power without dragging down the main show's narrative.
The New Faces of SUR: Meet the Season 12 Cast
The rebooted *Vanderpump Rules* Season 12 premiered on Tuesday, December 2, 2024, on Bravo, featuring a brand-new group of aspiring actors, models, and service industry workers employed at SUR.
The new cast members are tasked with recreating the organic, messy drama that made the early seasons of the show a cultural phenomenon. Their bios suggest a return to the roots of the show: young, hungry, and dramatic employees working under Lisa Vanderpump.
The new ensemble for *Vanderpump Rules* Season 12 includes ten fresh faces, all hoping to become the next reality TV superstars.
- Venus Binkley
- Jason Cohen
- Shayne Davis
- Chris Hahn
- Angelica Jensen
- Marcus Johnson
- Audrey Lingle
- Natalie Maguire
- Demy Selem
- Kim Suarez
This large, untested group of newcomers presents a significant risk for the network. While the intention is to capture the early magic of the series, the immediate audience reaction has been tepid, with many fans voicing their loyalty to the original stars on social media.
The Ratings Crisis: Why the Reboot is Already in Danger
Despite the massive publicity surrounding the cast overhaul, the Season 12 premiere numbers have fueled intense speculation that the show is now, ironically, closer to actual cancellation than ever before.
The premiere episode of the rebooted *Vanderpump Rules* on December 2, 2024, drew a mere 290,000 live viewers, according to reports. This figure is a staggering and alarming drop compared to previous seasons.
An 80% Viewership Plunge
The Season 11 premiere, which was still riding the wave of the Scandoval fallout, brought in over 1.2 million viewers. The Season 12 reboot's 290,000 viewers represents an approximate 80% drop in viewership, making it the least-watched season premiere in the entire history of the *Vanderpump Rules* franchise.
This dramatic decline has put immediate pressure on the new cast and the network. Low live ratings are a major indicator of a show's financial viability, and a failure to recover these numbers could mean that the show will not be renewed for a thirteenth season.
The challenge for Bravo now is to convince viewers that the new ensemble can deliver the same level of compelling, authentic drama that the original cast did, despite the initial negative reception and the massive ratings deficit. The show's future hinges entirely on whether the new faces can generate a buzz that translates into higher viewership throughout the season, or if the "Vanderpump Rules" franchise will be forced to rely solely on its potential spin-offs featuring the original stars.
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