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Since 2006, Bravo fans have ridden the rollercoaster of emotions that is the Real Housewives franchise. And while most of the women are packed with star power, sometimes the husbands take a front-row seat, snagging the limelight away from them. A few men come to mind who are a major asset to the franchise. Here are my personal picks for Real Housewives husbands who are more likable than their wives. Sound off in the comments with yours!
Jennifer Aydin is a powerhouse of mean-girl antics. She bullied a fan at BravoCon 2023 and then had the nerve the double down. She is a staunch supporter of Teresa Giudice and, at times, seems to have a second residence up her derrière. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star often speaks before she thinks, and honestly, it isn’t all that fun to watch. However, her husband, Bill Aydin, is a different story.
Bill can hang with the men of Jersey and often seems like the voice of reason for his nut job of a wife. I think he loves his wife but also (somewhat guiltily) feels she’s a simpleton. Keeping your cool is not easy when you constantly have a spouse ranting about nonsense. However, my favorite part about this Real Housewives husband is his ability to become completely inebriated anytime the gang heads down to the Jersey shore.
While Lisa Rinna was off crying about bunny-gate, shaming Denise Richards, and stirring up drama literally everywhere she went, her husband, Harry Hamlin, was living the simple life. The Mad Men alum was super chill during his time on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and even made Spaghetti Bolognese. I’d much rather watch Harry on TV while devouring a slice of his blueberry pie.
I love Happy Eddie Osefo! I used to be a big Wendy Osefo fan, but her husband has stepped his game up. I find him easy to watch with none of the cattyness. The newest season of the Real Housewives of Potomac is showing Wendy coming in hot for the women. But Eddie is still so chill. Yes, there were cheating rumors out there, but which Real Housewives husband hasn’t had a bad word or two said about them? Give the viewers what they want: more Eddie!
Compared to Aviva Drescher, this husband was super normal. Reid Drescher seemed to be the wife whisperer, often talking Aviva off the edge. The Real Housewives of New York star was obsessed with being famous, and Reid was just her number one cheerleader, which is what made him such a better counterpart on the show than her. Reid wasn’t that bad on the eyes, put up with his wife’s tantrums, which was no easy feat, and came across as the sweetest husband.
I can’t help myself. I could watch Joe Gorga all day long, and while I don’t dislike Melissa Gorga, I find her storyline a bit dull. Joe, however, has given be raging bull in the Catskills, which included rub off hair dye, a Christening from Hell, and calling Teresa trash. The trifecta is unreal, honestly. I stand by my thought that the RHONJ should give a spin-off to their husbands since they are all a sight to see.
Perhaps the GOAT of all Real Housewives husbands was Donn Gunvalson. The man was an absolute treasure and could be the biggest mistake Vicki Gunvalson ever made when she decided her love tank wasn’t full and left him. Donn was not only a saint for putting up with that horror show but also a real addition to the original franchise.
Donn tried over and over again to make the marriage work, but Vicki just kept treating him like trash. Prime Donn was Season 1 at the Lake House when Bravo showed him “whooping it up.” Frankly, Donn was the best part of the Real Housewives of Orange County. Gone but not forgotten.
TELL US – WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE REAL HOUSEWIVES HUSBAND?
We have been raising our glasses high for some time for Vanderpump Rules, but there is no denying that over the ten years the series has graced our screens, it has changed…a LOT. The show has captivated audiences for years, with many of us stopping in for a Pumptini and the famed goat cheese balls. Vanderpump Rules and its associated locations have become a mecca for Bravo fans who want a glimpse of their favorite stars’ lives. Personally, I can’t help but feel the show has changed for the worse.
When the show first debuted in 2013, all roads led to Lisa Vanderpump. The lover of puppies and pink owned a very successful restaurant aptly named SUR (Sexy Unique Restaurant) and came up with the perfect idea—to showcase her servers on reality TV as they all tried their hands at breaking into that Hollywood limelight. The young servers who wore silk scarves as a uniform all had big dreams of making it in the entertainment industry, and this was half the appeal to viewers.
However, as Vanderpump Rules became more and more popular, stars like Stassi Schroeder, Tom Sandoval, and Jax Taylor figured out they could leverage their C-list star power and start their own business ventures. This attitude changed the mindset of the series as it pivoted to watching them all branch out away from Lisa. The group was also friends way before the show took off, but as the series progressed, Bravo started to bring in outside implants that didn’t always mesh.
Vanderpump Rules is no longer about some up-and-coming model/actress or a sugar baby. Each cast member has elevated their stance within the West Hollywood community.
Instead of living like sardines in a one-bedroom apartment, most have bought McMansions within Valley Village, complete with pools and double driveways. Until her separation, Lala Kent lived in a Bel-Air mansion, and Scheana Shay purchased a new apartment on Sunset Boulevard. No one from the cast is saying goodbye to Hollywood, they are all just moving on up.
The Vanderpump Rules cast always had their fair share of drama, especially when it came to incestuously sleeping with everyone within their friend group. Before Season 10, it was silly arguments like the ones Kristen Doute and James Kennedy routinely had or Stassi freaking out over her annual birthday party. Stuff like that. But as the show grew bigger, so did the pressure. Scandoval rocked the Bravosphere and turned the show upside down.
Actually, Scandoval saved Vanderpump Rules. The series was on its way out. Lisa had planned her goodbye speech, which was aired. Everyone knew it was the end, but the affair between Tom and Rachel Leviss was just enough to make him and her the most hated reality TV stars in America.
I’ve personally known this for a while, but the series has no need to keep featuring Lisa on the show. Thanks to the Scandoval Era, Lisa has taken a back seat to her once-former employees.
Season 10 showed Lisa even being called out by some of her former staff, which viewers would have never seen before. Lisa was dealt some hard truths as Lala especially talked back to Lisa, noting she always protected the boys. There is no doubt her screen time has been reduced, and I personally think it is for the better of the show.
Without a doubt, Vanderpump Rules needed to evolve, and nothing proved this more than the worldwide pandemic. Thanks to COVID-19, restaurants in Los Angeles were closed for months. So, how do you film a series that revolves around the restaurant business? You don’t.
The last season before the pandemic showed Jax and Brittany Cartwright’s wedding, which was a main storyline for far too long. No one believed the OG cast would even be working in the food industry. Frankly, the group dynamics had shifted from something that felt so natural, to a Twilight Zone of forced fun. Vanderpump Rules was once a breeding ground for partying and rough relationships. My, how times change.
Bravo decided to give the OGs their own spin-off because fans love to stand by the GOATS of any franchise. But another way to revitalize the show is to reboot Vanderpump Rules with a fresh, all-new cast.
With Season 11 lurking around the corner, you can bet that the storyline will be heavily Scandoval-centered, with many of us longing for the days Stassi asked, “I’m not really sure what I did to you, but I’ll take a Pinot Grigio.”
TELL US – HOW DO YOU FEEL VANDERPUMP RULES HAS CHANGED OVER TIME?
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Dorit and Paul “PK” Kemsley are no strangers to rumors, as they are currently fending off accusations left and right this season on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. From whispers of a divorce, to Garcelle Beauvais’ shade over Dorit’s claims of theft, people are talking. As the Kemsleys owe a lot of money to Uncle Sam, we can understand, and even appreciate, Garcelle’s observations of Dorit’s still-seen jewels. I mean, someone has to address the plot holes for us viewers at home, right?!
Speaking of theft, one of Dorit’s storylines right now is her PTSD, which began after their most recent home invasion. On-air, Dorit explained that PK just wants her to move forward from this event. Um, easier said than done, PK. Unfortunately, Dorit’s still-felt struggles, alongside their other life stressors, has seen their marriage starting to decline.
However, this family doesn’t seem like it’s at its tipping point just yet. There’s a lot of love and support still in place. Therefore, we truly hope that these two will make it past their current struggles, for many reasons. Here’s why we think that Dorit and PK shouldn’t split up.
On the RHOBH Season 13 premiere, Dorit confronted Erika Jayne over her antics at last year’s BravoCon. When questioned by an audience member on which Real Housewives couple would be the next to split, Erika said Dorit and PK. “What you said about PK and I was mean-spirited,” Dorit explained. Erika apologized, explaining that she was just putting on a show, which, cool cool, good friend, Pus.
After Erika’s performance last year, Dorit posted the comment, “Misery loves company.” PK also chimed in, hitting back at Erika’s shade. Clearly, this attack on their marriage was unfounded.
Their comments didn’t stop the rumor mills, though. In October, whispers of a divorce began to swirl. Therefore, Dorit and PK released a joint denial statement to People. “We have not separated nor are we planning to do so,” they said.
When November rolled around, Dorit once again shut down divorce rumors through E! News. “PK and I are committed to continuously working on our marriage. We have made it to the other side where we’re good and we both want to keep working on our marriage. I wouldn’t say that we are without our challenges, but I think that when you’re committed to working on things and making the changes necessary and listening to one another, that your relationship takes a turn for the better and that’s definitely the place that we’re in right now,” she stressed.
But wait, as there’s more. During the “Fashionistas” panel at this year’s BravoCon, Dorit further stated, “We’re both hopeful and we remain positive.” Time after time, Dorit and PK have shut down divorce rumors. These two aren’t throwing in the towel, so we think that an actual split at this point isn’t the answer.
Rough Seasons are Common in Marriage
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After Dorit and Erika cleared the air, Dorit shared with Erika about how she and PK “had a really difficult year.” Dorit stressed how much she loved her husband, but in a year where she needed him the most, he was absent, due to his long stretches of work in the UK.
At BravoCon, Dorit also revealed she had sought advice from others about her marital challenges. “As I’ve spoken to people that are married or were married for a long time, everyone seems to say the same thing—this is marriage, and you have your ups and downs,” she explained. “PK and I really didn’t suffer any bad years in the 13 years we were together. I guess it’s our time, and we’re working through it,” she ended.
Being in an almost 20 year-long marriage myself, Dorit hit the nail on the head. Marriage for sure has its ups and downs, and if this is truly their first rough patch, they are fortunate. Knowing this, we think that it’s way too soon for this couple to call it quits. Instead, we hope to see Dorit and PK ride this out, coming out stronger on the other side.
Dorit and PK dated for four years before marrying in March 2015. They now share two children together: son Jagger, 8, and daughter Phoenix, 7. Their love for each other and their children is obvious, both on-air and off. From sappy anniversary posts to sweet moments spent as a family of four, the love that this family has for each other is genuine.
“We may not always have it all together, but together we have it all,” Dorit wrote on the couple’s 12th anniversary. On his end, PK shared, “All love stories are great, ours is my favorite. Happy 8th Anniversary my love.” Sketchy split storylines and questionable narratives aside, there’s still a lot of love remaining between these two Bravo stars.
To conclude, we really think that Dorit and PK shouldn’t split, because never is any patch of grass, anywhere, EVER, any greener. They just need to take the time to water their expansive, lush lawn.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK THAT DORIT AND PK KEMSLEY SHOULDN’T SPLIT? WHY?
Despite this recent downward trend, there were quite a few Bachelor Nation weddings in 2023. Many of these couples were from older seasons, back when the success rate was just a bit higher. However, other Bachelor Nation members have since found love with individuals outside the franchise, which is also nice to see.
These eleven Bachelor Nation couples got married in 2023, and we ship them all!
Clare Crawley had a pretty disastrous journey in Bachelor Nation, but she finally found her happy ending in 2023. On The Bachelor, multiple seasons of Bachelor in Paradise, and the short-lived Bachelor Winter Games, Clare repeatedly had her heart broken. When she became The Bachelorette, Clare thought she had found her true love in Dale Moss—she even abandoned the show to be with him. Unfortunately, their relationship was a mess and they eventually split for good.
After walking away from Bachelor Nation, Clare met Ryan Dawkins, who has never been on reality TV. Though the couple initially were planning a larger wedding, they eventually eloped in February. On social media, the two seem very happy, and Clare and Ryan are expecting their first child together via surrogate,
Colton Underwood was originally the lead of The Bachelor Season 23, but the former football player had other plans in life. Long after his season, Colton came out as gay, and Bachelor Nation accepted it with open arms. Shortly after, Colton revealed that he had actually met a special man named Jordan Brown.
In May, Colton and Jordan officially tied the knot and got married in a touching ceremony. Colton looked as happy as ever, and Bachelor Nation fans were elated to see him finally find true love. After the wedding, Colton officially added Brown as the first half of his surname. The couple are currently living their best lives as newlyweds, and we love to see it!
Hannah Godwin and Dylan Barbour tied the knot at the end of August after getting engaged during Bachelor In Paradise Season 6. The couple was an instant fan favorite, and viewers were pleased to see them find a rare happy ending in the franchise. Since their time on BIP, Hannah and Dylan have regularly shared updates on their relationship with fans via social media.
The couple got married in Paris, and the event was no small affair. Many fellow Bachelor Nation cast members were in attendance, as well as several from other reality shows as well. Fans referred to the event as the Bachelor Nation royal wedding, and to be honest it should have been!
Caelynn Miller-Keyes and Dean Unglert were another BIP Season 6 couple that married in 2023. The couple tied the knot in September in Colorado, near where Dean grew up. In honor of Dean’s late mother, who passed away from breast cancer, both Dean and Caelynn changed their surname to her maiden name, Bell.
The theme of the wedding was summer camp inspired, due to Caelynn’s childhood love of going to camp. It was small but romantic, with each guest having their own cabin nearby. We love a rustic Bachelor Nation wedding!
Sarah Herron was introduced to Bachelor Nation on Sean Lowe‘s season, and it was clear from minute one that she had a heart of gold. It was hard to watch her have her heart broken again and again, and clearly, none of the Bachelor franchise men she dated were worthy of her.
Unfortunately, Sarah has had an enormously difficult year in 2023. Though she found love with non-Bachelor Nation man, Dylan Brown, the couple suffered a devastating miscarriage when Sarah was 24 weeks along. It was absolutely heartbreaking, but the pair are still hopeful that they will get the chance to be parents via IVF. Despite their struggles, Sarah and Dylan got married in September in the Grand Canyon, of all places. We wish the couple the best of luck in the new year.
Serena Pitt and Joe Amabile were a surprising couple to come out of Bachelor In Paradise Season 7, who have been going incredibly strong since. The couple officially got married back in 2022, in a simple courthouse ceremony. However, Serena and Joe promised they would be back with a bigger wedding, and they did not disappoint.
The couple wed once more in September in a ceremony in Charleston, South Carolina. Neither Serena nor Joe had any important ties to Charleston, but the duo fell in love with the location after visiting. Over 100 guests were in attendance, and some of them, of course, were fellow Bachelor Nation stars!
Becca Kufrin and Thomas Jacobs got off to a rough start. The pair met on Bachelor in Paradise Season 7 and quickly developed feelings for each other. However, before the finale, Becca decided to leave Paradise alone. But in a surprising move, she and Thomas reconciled after the show and were in a full-blown relationship by the time the season aired.
Thomas and Becca initially planned to get married in early October this year, but after unexpectedly getting pregnant, the couple decided to push their wedding to 2024. Becca and Thomas welcomed an adorable baby boy in September, and then, in yet another twist, the couple got married in an intimate courthouse wedding. Though the pair still plan to have a larger wedding in 2024, they’re already happily married.
Former Bachelor lead Ben Flajnik has been away from the franchise for a while—a decision he couldn’t be happier with. Though he got engaged at the end of his season, it was a short-lived relationship, and Ben spent several years single.
In November, Ben surprised his followers with an Instagram post revealing he got married in October. Ben has been tight-lipped about the identity of his bride, referring to her only as his “best friend” in the post. While Ben may not be a major player in Bachelor Nation, it’s still nice to see that he’s found happiness.
Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin also got engaged during BIP Season 7 and got married in November in Puerto Rico, one of the world’s most romantic places. Despite their 15-year age difference, Kenny and Mari fell hard for one another during Bachelor In Paradise. Their relationship has been solid since.
Mari explained that she and Kenny specifically chose to get married on 11/11, since it is a lucky number that can mean good things. The couple tied the knot in Puerto Rico, which is also where Mari’s family is originally from. The wedding was a somewhat small affair, with only 65 guests in attendance to watch the couple say their vows.
Teddi Wright made her Bachelor Nation debut on Clayton Echard‘s season of The Bachelor. She didn’t find love with Clayton, nor did she find love on Bachelor in Paradise Season 8. Teddi quit BIP in week 2, cut her losses, and left Bachelor Nation for good,
Instead, she found love with Nicholas Meyers. The couple got engaged in April and tied the knot just a few months later, in November. Teddi and Nicholas had an intimate Napa wedding, and Teddi’s decision to look for love in the real world and not in Bachelor Nation clearly paid off.
Bachelor Nation fans first met Tia Booth on Arie Luyendyk‘s season of The Bachelor, and some would argue that she dodged a bullet when he sent her home just before hometowns. Tia tried her luck again on BIP Season 5, where she unsuccessfully pursued Colton Underwood. As Colton eventually came out as gay, things obviously wouldn’t have worked out between Tia and him.
Fortunately, Tia found a wonderful partner in Taylor Mock, a friend of her’s who isn’t part of Bachelor Nation. The couple got engaged in April 2022, and then, in a twist, surprised fans in June with news that they were expecting their first child. Their son was born in December 2022, and nearly a year later, Tia and Taylor got married this November.
TELL US – WHICH 2023 BACHELOR NATION WEDDING WAS YOUR FAVORITE? WHO DO YOU THINK WILL GET MARRIED NEXT?
