Tamra Judge is Boldly Taking Credit for ‘RHOC’ Season 18’s Record Breaking Ratings!

The Big Comeback

The Real Housewives of Orange County closed out its 18th season with the largest viewership the Bravo series has seen in five years, TheWrap reported.

Season 18 averaged 3.1 million total viewers and 1.6 million viewers in the coveted 18-49 demographic, according to Nielsen’s live-plus-35-day multiplatform viewing data. These numbers mark the highest total and demo viewership for RHOC in half a decade, with both figures showing a 5% increase compared to the previous season.

Additionally, The Real Housewives of Orange County ranks among the Top 15 entertainment series for 2024 in the 18-49 demo, making it one of five Bravo shows to land on this prestigious list. The other shows that made the cut include Vanderpump Rules — which was recently renewed for a 12th season with a fresh cast — The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Southern Charm, and The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

Tamra’s Impact on RHOC’s Ratings

With Tamra Judge’s return to The Real Housewives of Orange County, the Bravo reality series has found new life. Fans, who were growing weary of the stagnant storylines and lack of real conflict, became fully engaged in the twists and turns that Tamra brought to the table in Season 18. Her interactions with the other women have injected the show with the drama it had been missing, and her confrontational style ensures that there’s never a dull moment.

Tamra’s role as the villain is exactly what RHOC needed to stay relevant in an era where reality TV is becoming increasingly competitive. In a way, her ability to dominate the narrative and control the group’s energy is exactly what has revitalized the show. Without her sharp-edged persona and unapologetic approach, RHOC would likely have struggled to maintain the kind of viewership that it currently enjoys.

Tamra as the Villain

What makes Tamra’s role as the villain so compelling is the fact that she doesn’t apologize for it. As one of the most experienced Housewives on the franchise, Tamra knows exactly how to stir the pot without appearing completely malicious. She’s clever, manipulative, and strategic, but always in a way that feels like a calculated move to secure her place in the spotlight. And that’s why fans love to hate her.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Tamra’s return is her continued conflict with Shannon Beador. The two have a long history, and it seems that there’s no real hope for reconciliation anytime soon. From the moment Tamra returned, she wasted no time in reigniting the tensions between them, often taking jabs at Shannon’s emotional vulnerabilities. In one notable scene, Tamra remarked, “Shannon always plays the victim. It’s getting old.” This encapsulates Tamra’s approach to Shannon: she sees her as weak and manipulative, a trait that Tamra is always ready to exploit.

Tamra’s ability to shift the group dynamics and pit her castmates against one another has been on full display. She has a knack for finding cracks in relationships and exploiting them, a skill she’s honed over years of being in the RHOC spotlight.

For example, Tamra’s targeting of Jennifer Pedranti also played a pivotal role in her villainous arc. During a previous episode, Tamra said, “I’m not the villain here, I’m just a realist,” perfectly encapsulating her ability to justify her actions, no matter how questionable they might seem to others.

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Olivia Davis

Olivia Davis is a Staff Writer at All About The Tea. Olivia’s hobbies include binging Netflix series, and watching Housewives on Bravo. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in History.