The new book, Not All Diamonds and Rosé: The Inside Story of The Real Housewives From the People Who Lived It by entertainment writer Dave Quinn, was released this week and the book takes a deep dive into all the Real Housewives series. The book contains more than 100 interviews with former and current cast members along with the real tea served up by those who have worked behind-the-scenes on the show.
According to Bravo’s The Daily Dish, one of Andy Cohen’s favorite memories of all time goes to none other than Real Housewives of Orange County OG Vicki Gunvalson. And it doesn’t even involve her “whooping it up” in Cabo, arguing with Tamra Judge, or being caught in a web of cancer lies.
Instead, can you say: Family Van. The relatable and hilarious scene comes from the RHOC Season 2. This was back when Andy had no idea he was sitting on a gold mine and this little show about mostly middle age women in Orange County would turn him into a household name. RHOC was the first Real Housewives show premiering in 2006 and would turn into a franchise producing 10 different Real Housewives series and countless spin-offs.
Back in the day when RHOC was kicking off Season 2 and Vicki still had her real face, production told her the start date for filming. However, Vic had already book a family vacation to Greece starting the same day. Production wanted to make sure Vicki was established and in the first episode, so they decided to film her and the family heading out on the vacation.
Vicki’s initial thought was that the crew filming her family getting transportation to the airport was going to be uneventful. So maybe that is why she want to floss a little and ordered a luxury limo along with a catered breakfast and spirits for the drive.
If you haven’t see the “Family Van” clip you are missing out. It was pure Vicki before she became full on RHOC Vicki. “I had ordered a full stretch limo, plus bagels and mimosas from this breakfast store nearby, because we had to go to LAX, which is like an hour and a half away from the house,” Vicki said. “So when this little blue van showed up, I thought Bravo was pranking me.”
RELATED: Andy Cohen Responds To Claim That He’s “Ageist” After Tamra Judge And Vicki Gunvalson Got Fired
But there was no prank. It was a mix up with the company and the poor, poor driver of the “family van” had absolutely no clue what he was pulling up on.
Andy said, “Whenever people ask me my favorite Housewives moment, I don’t know why but I always go back to Vicki and that little family van.”
“She just was 100 percent herself in that moment,” said David Ross executive producer of RHOC Season 2. “She was angry and embarrassed and frustrated and, most of all, just flummoxed that whatever she said to the dispatcher resulted in that janky minivan and not a giant stretch limo.”
The scene gets uncomfortable fast (for husband at the time) Donn Gunvalson. The always cool, calm and collected Donn was trying to take it all down a notch but as usual Vicki wasn’t having it. “I ordered a limo, I did not order a family van! And I was pissed off!” said Vicki. “Donn was trying to calm me down, and the poor driver didn’t speak a lick of English—he just kept waving at me and I kept saying, “No, you need to leave. I need a limo! I need my breakfast!”
RELATED: Andy Cohen Posts Tribute To Vicki Gunvalson; Vicki Thinks Andy Didn’t Have Her Back & That She “Put Him In His Place”
The whole scene was hysterical and as a viewer you had empathy. We have all had situations when trying to go on a vacation or catch a flight and one detail can lead to the derailment before it even starts. So to watch Vicki – who isn’t the best at holding back frustration or anger – completely losing it while her family is trying to fit six people and 15 bags into a little “FAMILY VAN” (that didn’t have mimosas or bagels) DID make for good TV.
TELL US– WHAT IS YOU MOST MEMORABLE REAL HOUSEWIVES’ SCENE? WHICH REAL HOUSEWIVES SERIES DO YOU THINK IS THE G.O.A.T.? AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO STILL THINKS VICKI SHOULD HAVE HELD ON TIGHT TO DONN?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
