Long-running reality show “Vanderpump Rules” captivated audiences for nearly a decade with its dramatic portrayal of the personal and professional lives of current and former employees at Lisa Vanderpump’s West Hollywood restaurants. Now, a new spinoff series titled “The Valley” will follow three fan-favorite cast members as they embark on the next phase of adulthood in California’s San Fernando Valley.
Departure From West Hollywood Signals Shift to Suburban Family Life
After years situated in West Hollywood, Jax Taylor, Brittany Cartwright, and Kristen Doute are packing up and heading to suburbia in the upcoming spinoff announced this week by Bravo. The series has been picked up for one season so far and is expected to premiere in spring 2024.
Centered in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, “The Valley” will follow the former SURvers as they trade wild nights out for suburban family life. As reported by Variety, the spinoff promises to show “life in the Valley is not always as uncomplicated as one would think.”
| Cast Member | Relationship Status |
|---|---|
| Jax Taylor | Married to Brittany Cartwright |
| Brittany Cartwright | Married to Jax Taylor |
| Kristen Doute | Dating Alex Menache |
The cast shift speaks to wider changes underway for the “Vanderpump Rules” stars. After years cultivating their party credentials on the show’s West Hollywood stomping grounds, Taylor, Cartwright, and Doute find themselves settling down and confronting new adult responsibilities.
From SUR to Suburbia: What Prompted the Move?
So what prompted this particular trio to depart from Lisa Vanderpump’s glitzy restaurants and embark on a more domestic adventure in the Valley?
The birth of Jax and Brittany’s first child appears to be a pivotal factor. As Brittany shares in the newly released trailer, “Now that Cruz is here, everything has changed.” Jax echoes the sentiment, saying, “Being a dad is, like, my full-time job now.”
The spinoff promises to chronicle Jax and Brittany adjusting to life as new parents, with all the chaos that brings. Meanwhile, Kristen inserts some classic drama by moving into the neighborhood unbeknownst to the couple. The former enemies appear destined for clashes as Kristen threatens the stability Jax and Brittany are trying to build.
What to Expect From “The Valley”
If the trailer is any indication, fans can anticipate no shortage of relationship ups and downs, parenting mishaps, and suburban hijinks.
“It’s all about crossing into the next stage of life,” executive producer Alex Baskin told Deadline.
“There is incredible history built into these relationships as they enter marriages, navigate parenting, and pursue careers.”
After years pushing boundaries in Hollywood, the question becomes whether Jax, Brittany, and Kristen can adapt to more ordinary suburban settings like grocery stores and neighborhood cookouts.
Add in vibrant Valley locales, new friends and foes, and the inevitability of some castmates from “Vanderpump Rules” popping up, and “The Valley” indeed promises to unveil a captivating new chapter.
Potential for Ongoing Series or One-Season Wonder?
Early indications point to “The Valley” having legs as an ongoing franchise if the first season captivates fans.
As Baskin hinted to Deadline, “If audiences connect with Jax, Brittany and Kristen’s next journey I could see this series having a long, fruitful run.”
The kicker will be whether Jax and co. can sustain viewer interest without the Bottle Service world of SUR as their backdrop. By introducing babies, marriages, and mortgages to the mix, the producers seem to be banking on relatable adult storylines hitting home.
Of course, Bravo also has the option to make “The Valley” a limited one-season spinoff to satisfy fan curiosity. Similar to how Vanderpump Rules itself originally spun off from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, this suburban sojourn could end up being short-lived.
Regardless, when the original “Vanderpump Rules” finally embarks on its concluding season later this year after 11 years on the air, “The Valley” provides an intriguing bridge for select cast members carving out new paths beyond reality TV fame.
The End of an Era for SUR’s Sexy Unique Staff
As Jax, Brittany, and Kristen uproot to the Valley searching for their next act, it feels like the end of an era for “Vanderpump Rules”.
Viewers watched the likes of Katie Maloney-Schwartz, Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix, and others transition from twenty-somethings working at SUR into bonafide Bravo celebrities with flourishing businesses.
Now in their late 30s/early 40s with many embracing marriages, children, and sober lifestyles, the dynamic that originally fueled “Vanderpump Rules” has irrevocably shifted.
The rides of Pride parades and 24-hour ragers in Vegas have mostly been replaced by more domestic pursuits. And the central anchoring point that is Lisa Vanderpump’s SUR no longer houses enough core cast members to sustain the show’s original premise.
While Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz still co-own West Hollywood bar TomTom with Lisa, the restaurant workplace culture that delivered so much chaos will soon be resigned to Bravo history.
What Comes After “Vanderpump Rules?”
As Andy Cohen reflected to Variety,
“It’s been incredible to watch the cast of Vanderpump Rules mature over the years, from their early days hustling at SUR to today as successful business owners, wives and mothers.”
He added, “I can’t wait to see what happens next for them in The Valley as they enter this exciting new phase of their lives.”
For her part, Lisa Vanderpump promises she is not done with the world of reality television and hinted to People Magazine about visualizing “ways we can follow everyone’s ever-evolving lives.”
As for what shape additional future spinoffs or Vanderpump-led shows might take, fans will have to stay tuned.
One thing we know for sure is Jax, Brittany, Kristen and company aren’t done with reality TV fame just yet. And if “The Valley” performs well, their journeys through marriage, parenthood, and suburban hustles could just be getting started.
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