Last night’s Vanderpump Rules season finale is being described by fans and news outlets as “ominous” – and not without good reason. The end of the episode played out in a way that could have easily been the series finale. 

 

Between the “breaking” of the fourth wall by Lala, the audio of a producer in conversation with Schwartz saying, “That’s the end,” and the emotional montage featuring the cast of the show from some of the preliminary days of casting – something about it all seemed very final.  

 

Immediately, fans began searching online to find out whether this was, in fact, the last season. But with articles everywhere confirming only that the show was headed into an “extended hiatus”, concerns and suspicions were neither confirmed nor denied. Which brings up the question about legacy – and what the legacy of Vanderpump Rules might be if this were, in fact, after 11 long years, the final season?

Season 11 was pivotal – there’s no denying it. We saw the cast return to filming after one of the biggest scandals we’ve ever seen play out in the history of reality TV. And while typically, Bravo shows and other reality shows like Vanderpump Rules exist in their own little universe and are really only watched, celebrated and talked about exclusively among reality TV junkies, Scandoval really shifted that, forcing more of an integration between reality TV and the larger world of pop culture. 

 

Prior to Scandoval, I don’t think anyone would have imagined a world where Tom Sandoval would be a name big enough to garner a mention in a Saturday Night Live skit, let alone a reaction. But back in February, and notably during a very political segment, the mere mention of Tom took centre stage, bringing about some serious applause over discussion of his narcissism, which spurred dozens of articles by different outlets. 

Speaking of outlets, the volume of media coverage of Scandoval was truly unprecedented. The sheer amount of articles and think-pieces being penned by writers in massive, well-respected publications that typically would have never touched reality TV with a ten-foot pole was astounding. The explosion of Scandoval allowed writers who were likely quiet, closeted reality TV fans, fearful that their post-work programming would put them at odds with their colleagues, to really have their moment. It gave them the rare opportunity to break down what the hell was going on and why this was such a big deal to people who, prior to this, never cared.

 

It seemed as if overnight, networks ranging from CNN to The New York Times to Forbes were now indulging in what has historically been chalked up to being mindless TV. And by virtue of indulging, these publications were offering a counter-narrative, suggesting that maybe, this stuff mattered? And not just for the stereotypically-imagined audience of women and gay men at home in their living room drinking wine and yelling at their TVs while live-tweeting about it on Tuesday nights, but to people way beyond those realms of identity.

That unlocking of thought was key. Because there was a level of cultural relevance, and I’d even go as far as to say cultural competence, that came with acknowledging the significance of reality TV, whether one chose to watch it or not. Scandoval, in a way, became a water cooler chat topic, but in the same way sports is a water cooler topic. It may not be everyone’s thing, but it’s enough of a thing that it certainly is impossible to ignore, even if you weren’t going to go home and binge every season or watch every game.

 

This display of cultural relevance is something we also saw a lot of with brands that recognized the opportunity to really capitalize on integrating Scandoval into their marketing strategy. I’ve written before about how Ariana masterfully acquired dozens of brand deals in the days, weeks and months following revelations of the affair. And even still, they just keep coming. Brands realize that they add a layer of relatability and visibility when they make it easier for their customers to see themselves in their products. 

There’s also the question of the impact Scandoval made beyond pop culture. The impact that is likely invisible to most, but the thing that has kept long-time fans loyal. Like the perspective and visibility the situation was able to provide for people who have experienced similar betrayal and infidelity, one where their partner was unfaithful with a close friend. And the visibility Scandoval provided to ex-couples navigating the seemingly impossible situations where frozen eggs, a shared home and a shared group of friends are involved. 

Simply put, Scandoval put reality TV on the map in a way we’ve never seen before. The discussion about what unfolds on networks like Bravo is no longer a language spoken exclusively between people with the niche, mutual interest of what’s often characterized as trashy TV – it’s absolutely becoming a more approachable topic, and certainly a more universal one. 

In a very similar way to how some of the biggest sports moments have helped make it easier for people to understand why sports culture is so popular, why it is the multi-billion dollar industry that it is, Scandoval has had an impact for reality TV fans and beyond. It’s pushed brands, media outlets, news publications, celebrities, and just about everyone to acknowledge the significance of the sub-culture of reality TV within the larger pool of pop culture. 

 

The challenge now, though, particularly if the show does not return to our screens in the future, is for other shows to keep up that momentum. And I’m afraid that in an attempt to do just that, we’ll see a lot of forced interactions and forced drama, when the key thing that made Scandoval the massive spectacle that it was was the secrecy of it all. It was organic. It was real.

In a strange way, despite the demand for reality TV to continue on this trajectory, there is something even more romantic about the idea of all this hype just being a fleeting moment in time, particularly for die-hard fans like myself. Because there was a certain level of vindication in the firestorm of activity that Scandoval received. Validation, if you will. And I imagine it’s much like the feeling sports fans get when that underdog team they’ve been rooting for since day one finally wins a championship. 

The other shows in the reality TV landscape clearly have their work cut out for them, and it makes total sense that Vanderpump Rules is going on an extended hiatus. There is a sort of existential crisis happening with the show. At the time the montage scenes we were shown were filmed, the cast was young, single and mostly intoxicated. Now, they are parents, husbands, wives, and some are sober. And with most of the social media reaction blaming producers for the huge push in a Tom Sandoval redemption arc, it’s high time for a pivot. Much like in the world of sports, sometimes you need a good team shakeup. 

Attached- Lala Kent out yesterday in LA.