Cast Shake-Up on 'RHOOC' Leaves Room for a Spinoff

There's good news and there's disorienting news. The good news is that there are rumors floating about that Real Housewives of Orange County stars Alexis Bellino and Gretchen Rossi have been fired from the show. According to Star magazine as well as E!, the two were not asked back after Season 8 wrapped. Meanwhile Vicki Gunvalson, Heather Dubrow, Lydia McLaughlin, and Tamra Barney have, in fact, been asked to return for another season on the Bravo reality show.

Now for the disorienting news. More like "news", I should say, with quotes, since it's more just my deep-seated fears slash hopes for the future. Gretchen's exit from RHOOC might mean she's getting her own spinoff. Makes your head kind of spin, doesn't it? Because on the one hand, you can't wait to watch, and on the other, oh dear god, no.

Here's the thing: It makes sense that Alexis would be given the boot (apparently, Bravo didn't even want her for Season 8 but when a newcomer backed out, Alexis was called up from the bullpen), but it doesn't necessarily add up that Gretchen would be fired. She's an excellent source of drama on the show... why would they get rid of her?

She fights with Vicki, she fights with Tamra, and she sleeps with Slade... the poor decisions this woman makes on a regular basis is super fun to watch. She's a pile of contradictions but can talk her way out of a hole — Gretchen's got mad skillz when it comes to being a reality TV personality. You hate her one minute, and bow down to her the next. You sort of want to be her friend, but can't wait to talk shit about her awful plastic surgery. She's the best slash worst, and deserves to be on TV slash I never want to see her again.

There's no real reason for her "firing", which is what makes me think she's negotiating her own series with Slade. Those idiots probably want to share their married life with the masses, and since Bravo loves nothing more than a Housewife newlywed spinoff (see: I Dream of NeNe, Bethenny Getting Married?, Tamra's O.C. Wedding, Don't Be Tardy for the Wedding), I don't know whether to cheer or protest the idea that Gretchen may be following suit.

I'm sure Gretchen and Slade Forever is but a production assistant away from beginning to film. As for Alexis: it's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Bye-bye, Bellinos.