Bravo struck reality TV success earlier this year with the scandalous affair between Vanderpump Rules castmates Tom Sandoval and Rachel Leviss, now dubbed “Scandoval.” Following TMZ’s initial revelation and a highly-rated 10th season of VPR, other reality shows are delving into the controversy this fall.
Sandoval, seemingly looking to improve his public image after a clumsy initial response to the backlash, has expressed his desire to face challenges on the second season of Fox’s “Special Forces,” which premiered on Monday. This reality-competition series tasks celebrities with enduring military-themed challenges in harsh environments, with this season’s setting being winter warfare in New Zealand. Notably, there are no eliminations; contestants are informed that they can either voluntarily withdraw from the competition or potentially face severe consequences.
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In the first episode of the season, Sandoval embarks on what seems to be a redemption journey. He acknowledges the turmoil he’s faced, stating, “These past few months have been the darkest months of my entire life. Sandoval has become Scandoval. Yeah, the whole country’s pissed off at me.”
This season of “Special Forces” also promises other intriguing moments. Where else can you witness Tara Reid discreetly storing three packs of cigarettes in a pair of cargo pants or hear Jack Osbourne share that his post-9/11 plan to join the Army was sidetracked by the filming of MTV’s “The Osbournes”? For fans of Vanderpump Rules, it offers an opportunity to witness Sandoval confronting some level of accountability for his actions.
It appears that Tom Sandoval might not be limiting his reality TV appearances to just one show. There are widespread rumors suggesting that Fox has retained Sandoval for a featured role on the upcoming season of “The Masked Singer,” set to premiere on Wednesday. Clues hint that he could be the Diver, who remarked in a promo, “Usually, I’m pretty pumped, but lately I’ve been lost in the abyss,” and added, “I might be the most hated creature in the ocean right now.” Some viewers have connected the Diver’s first clue, a cardinal, to Sandoval’s hometown of St. Louis.
In the midst of these reality show ventures, Sandoval’s ex-girlfriend, Ariana Madix, made her debut on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” on a Tuesday. Her narrative on the show is expected to revolve around the recent breakup and her ability to bounce back, despite the fact that the exes are still living together. Next month, following a stint on “Stars on Mars” amidst the scandal, another Vanderpump cast member, Tom Schwartz, will likely face questions related to the Scandoval controversy on Bravo’s “Winter House,” a project from which Sandoval was rumored to have been dropped during the peak of his social media scrutiny.
Rachel Leviss, the third person in this complex love triangle, seems to have chosen a less public path by severing ties with Bravo and opting out of the next season of “Vanderpump Rules.” Nevertheless, the fascination around this scandal continues to captivate, extending its influence to other Bravo shows like “Southern Charm” and “Summer House,” whose current storylines are being compared to the drama of “Vanderpump Rules.” The show’s resurgence aligns with an abundance of reality TV programming on the network this fall, partly driven by the WGA strike and subsequent tentative deal.
The impact of this scandal has even spilled into scripted series. In the premiere of “American Horror Story: Delicate” last week, Emma Roberts’s character made jokes about both killing and having romantic encounters with Sandoval while appearing on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.” As the dust settles on the Scandoval affair, “Vanderpump Rules” itself is set to return for its 11th season, likely in early 2024. Whether the current frenzy will have evolved into fatigue by the time of the premiere remains to be seen, and only time will tell.
