Season 18 of the Real Housewives of Orange County has been everything fans had wished it would be. The drama is at an all-time high, and much of that concerns Bravo’s decision to bring back Alexis Bellino. The ‘friend of’ was not re-hired as a way to rattle Shannon Beador during her recent breakup with John Janssen. Alexis wasn’t even dating John when Bravo called her to come back. But could it be that there isn’t enough room in the OC for both of them?
Alexis Bellino has been a great asset
From the moment I heard “There’s the door, Shannon Beador,” I knew Alexis was the right casting decision. Since Episode 1, there have been non-stop fireworks. Alexis has been putting some blood, sweat, and tears into her role and provided over-dramatic performance after over-dramatic performance. Real Housewives of Orange County viewers have been able to watch the $75,000 facelift lawsuit play out in front of their eyes. And see just how personally Alexis is taking the attacks on John—case in point: Alexis kicking Katie Ginella and Jennifer Pedranti out of her house.
I have to be honest. At this point, I am tuning in just to see what Alexis will do next. Shannon has done well managing her run-ins, but her mental health is taking a major hit. So, it makes sense that producers might be scrambling to figure out which one stays and which one goes. Shannon’s been on a rough road thanks to her DUI, and at this point, Alexis is adding a bit more entertainment value to Bravo’s bang.
Reports suggest Alexis Bellino has an expiration date
According to the Daily Mail, Alexis is “at risk of being fired” due to her ongoing feud with Nine Lemons Beador. While producers have every finger crossed that they will be able to keep both women for Season 19, they have to face the facts and devise a plan B. Even though the drama has brought the ratings sky high, poor Alexis might be saying “hello and goodbye” quicker than she thought. A source told the outlet, “Bravo is so happy with how this season turned out, and they know that adding Alexis is a big part of what made it such a success.”
However, the source hints that there is a downside. Viewers have been extremely harsh on Alexis, and production is concerned about how they will move forward. “Everybody brought their A-game this year. But it’s really the drama between Shannon and Alexis that’s made this season a blockbuster hit,” added the source. At this point, “Producers don’t want to change a thing, but they’re not sure how they can bring both Shannon and Alexis back given the current state of their relationship. They don’t want to film with each other, and the audience hates Alexis so much that Bravo may have no choice but to let her go unless something changes.”
Alexis Bellino needs a miracle to stay on RHOC
Not all is lost when it comes to Alexis’s possible return, even amid the fan hate. Another source close to the Real Housewives of Orange County noted, “Nothing has been decided yet. And casting won’t officially begin until this season has finished airing, so nobody has been fired or rehired.” The insider added, “With that said, there’s a lot of people who do want Alexis back next year. She’s easy to work with compared to some of the other women, and she’s authentically friends with the cast, which is hard to find.” There is no doubt that Alexis has made some strong friends on the show, including Tamra Judge and Heather Dubrow. And with friends in such high places, Alexis has a chance.
I think the deciding factor for Alexis will be whether she can figure out a way to coexist with Shannon. The network must see an actual olive branch, not some forced flower arrangement. Everyone thought that Shannon might be the one phased out due to her DUI. But she is still having her best season (thanks to Alexis). Personally, I hope Alexis gets a stay of execution because I think she has a lot more to give.
TELL US – DO YOU WANT TO SEE ALEXIS BACK?
