Andy Cohen is all for the new “Vanderpump Rules” reboot.
The Bravo executive addressed the network’s decision to replace the series’ longtime stars with a “new group of close-knit SUR-vers” on Monday’s episode of his SiriusXM show “Andy Cohen Live.”
“Bravo announced, or word got out, that they are revamping the show and I have to say, this is, first of all, the absolute right thing to do,” he told listeners.
Cohen, 56, said he was “so impressed” that producers were able to keep “the show going” over the last couple of years despite the main stars no longer working at SUR — the West Hollywood restaurant at the center of the earlier seasons.
“The entire point of the show morphed and changed as it went on, and it wound up that James Kennedy was the only one with any kind of footprint at SUR because he was DJ-ing there occasionally and now he’s gone on and he’s got a residency in Vegas and he’s having great success and they’re all having good success outside of SUR,” Cohen explained.
Cohen pointed out that several stars — such as Tom Schwartz, Lala Kent and Scheana Shay — have “very organically” moved onto “The Valley,” which he said “makes perfect sense.”
The Bravo head honcho also noted that it was getting more difficult to film due to feuds between castmates — such as Ariana Madix’s bombshell breakup from Tom Sandoval and her falling out with Kent.
“And then you have others who don’t want to be in the same room, much less on the same show with each other, and that makes sense too,” Cohen continued. “So what you were left with was really just a few pieces of what the original ‘Vanderpump Rules’ was. So I think this is a very smart programming move.”
He likened the shake-up to the “Real Housewives of New York” reboot, explaining that all good things must come to an end.
“In ‘RHONY‘s case, we had 13 seasons of a show that was so beloved and so great,” he said. “And it went on and on, and sometimes for a show, it’s the end of the road or it’s time to curve or swerve or pivot, and that’s where we were with ‘RHONY’ and that is what is happening with ‘Vanderpump Rules.’”
Despite it being the end of an era, Cohen said he is “so impressed” that everyone stayed “true to themselves” until the very end.
“Like it or hate it, or like them or hate them, they were always very much themselves and that’s what made that show so entertaining and surprising,” he said.
Cohen’s comments came nearly one week after the network announced that Lisa Vanderpump would be the only star returning for the 12th season.
Although most of the legacy stars were reportedly “upset” by the news, they weren’t “necessarily surprised,” a source told People.
“It just didn’t make sense to continue. This is an attempt to recalibrate and bring the show back to the thing that made it such a success to begin with,” the insider said.
“It’s a fresh start, and the players they have are interested and motivated to participate. Fans will be happy with what they see. It’s going to feel like a return to form.”
While the new cast has yet to be revealed, we’re told production will begin next year.