← Bravo's Hot Mic
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- [00:05]
Andy Cohen
Welcome to Bravo's Hot Mic with Lisa Vanderpump.
- [00:08]
Lisa Vanderpump
Lisa Vanderpump. And I have to just tell you and tell everybody that whilst I've been sitting here, I've just heard that Pandy's had a baby. And I said I would go over after this. I can't see him right away anyway, but I just saw him on FaceTime.
- [00:24]
Andy Cohen
Congratulations.
- [00:25]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah. Truly so excited. So excited.
- [00:29]
Andy Cohen
And there's a cemetery, by the way. I gotta go. The shortest episode we've done. Because you were telling me that you were actually at the studio right next to this. There's like a little compound of studios when you were.
- [00:44]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [00:45]
Andy Cohen
Giving people.
- [00:45]
Lisa Vanderpump
And my parents call me.
- [00:46]
Andy Cohen
Yeah. That your brother?
- [00:47]
Lisa Vanderpump
Well, my parents were trying to call me. And then when I got home, I called them back. Cause I knew, you know, them being eight hours ahead and it was something like five, six o'clock. And actually I'd just done an interview and I remember it so clearly. What? I was wearing this gold dress. When I got home, I thought I'd call them back. I knew it was a problem because they wouldn't normally call me at 2:00 in the morning, their time. And to tell me that my brother had died. So to be here again and hear that I've just got my new grandbaby is the circle of life. Yeah.
- [01:20]
Andy Cohen
Life continues even when it doesn't seem that it will.
- [01:23]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah. Very excited. Very excited.
- [01:25]
Andy Cohen
Oh, you should be.
- [01:26]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [01:27]
Andy Cohen
Well, you'll meet him very soon and you will shower him with love.
- [01:31]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah. We're not allowed in straight away. That's why I can stay here. Otherwise I would be in there. I would literally had my hands inside a hoo ha. Trying to get that baby. Because, you know, with me being grandmother to Teddy, it's been absolutely the most incredible experience.
- [01:47]
Andy Cohen
And this is a very lucky baby. He doesn't realize what he's been born into.
- [01:50]
Lisa Vanderpump
I know. I need every one of those little soldiers to help me.
- [01:53]
Andy Cohen
Oh, my God.
- [01:54]
Lisa Vanderpump
Because I'm getting really busy with the business.
- [01:57]
Andy Cohen
So let's talk about some other big news.
- [01:59]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yes.
- [02:00]
Andy Cohen
Which is that the announcement was made a couple months ago that Vanderpump Rules is taking a different direction and that we are continuing the show but with an entirely new group. And we are thanking the OGs for what was a great run. 11 years, but moving in that different direction.
- [02:20]
Lisa Vanderpump
Well, we started it together, didn't we?
- [02:22]
Andy Cohen
We did.
- [02:22]
Lisa Vanderpump
I mean, that was incredible. When we first kind of talked about creating that show and we sat on orange boxes and I Think I brought the cast. I mean, it was pretty much a cast I brought into, was the cast that we used. And they were extraordinary. They were extraordinary then. And they continued to be. They were very open. They were very authentic. And I think that was the most important thing that we looked for for a reality show. But it just took a different direction. And I felt that we told the story and we always said together that we didn't want to go down on a sinking ship. We wanted to actually acknowledge the fact that it was almost unproducible, or they were.
- [03:06]
Andy Cohen
Well, I think that their lives and the situation had changed. And I think the show wasn't grounded in what it originally had been, which was obviously working together. And then it moved into their friendships away from the restaurant, and then they were in. They were sort of living disparate lives. Lives. And it didn't make sense to continue or desperate, which. Well, I. You know, sometimes there's. You could be both at the same time.
- [03:29]
Lisa Vanderpump
Exactly.
- [03:30]
Andy Cohen
But I. But I thought at that point, even though the ratings were really high and, you know, I've seen some chatter on social media, people wondering why we didn't continue when the ratings were so high. And I think the answer is.
- [03:42]
Lisa Vanderpump
But that's. That's when I wanted to kind of, you know, withdraw from it, so to speak, and to make a new show to me is exciting because it's a new set of people, new set of problems. I think we lost that. And even though Vanderpump Rules was. It was a wonderful show. I mean, it was. And I think that was largely due to where it came from, our kind of vision for that, about being a very authentic show, that we showed as much as we could, if not everything. But I think it changed. I don't want to talk to people's assistants, you know, I still don't have an assistant.
- [04:24]
Andy Cohen
You need one?
- [04:25]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, I do need one, actually. But I'm such a pain. I think I'd want to do the job myself, but it just changed. And I think that I still have a great relationship with some of them, but the others, their attitude changed, and it wasn't what we set out to be. So I think it was time to move on.
- [04:44]
Andy Cohen
Who do you have a great relationship with?
- [04:47]
Lisa Vanderpump
I have a great relationship with Schwartz. I think he's truly a lovely, kind person. And it actually hurt me to see him kind of get a beating, you know, around the whole scandal time, I think he made a few silly moves. I think he should have stood up to Sandoval more But I think that's him and his life. He tries to make everybody happy. And he's just always been very kind, lovable, thoughtful person. I love, love. I think Lala, like, with Stassi, I stopped her and Stassi in their tracks, you know, right at the beginning of the show when they got very emotional saying, you can do this. This is something, you know, when they wanted to walk away, which they did. And, you know, to be on a reality show can be truly overwhelming at times. And to actually say, I really believe in you and I think you've got a great future. You've just got to go with it. And I think she's really grown. Really, really grown from it. And I'm proud of her. And, yeah, I think she's a lovely mummy. And she's. Yeah, I think she's gonna be very successful.
- [05:54]
Andy Cohen
What about your relationship with James? And I wanna talk specifically about a recent. A pickup on part of a quote that was attributed to you, which is that you had spoken to Ali and James about the domestic incident in which James was arrested. Charges ultimately were not filed. So tell me about that. Tell me about.
- [06:17]
Lisa Vanderpump
Well, I hate it if the press are going to, you know, report the story or ask me to stop and talk about something, then put the whole thing out there. Don't just take a little snippet of it, because it's. You know, I don't want to be that person that's blaming, you know, the reports or the editing or. But when you say something in context, what did I say? I was very disappointed, very disappointed with James. Cause I've had these conversations with him that drinking, working, or being a decent person for him are mutually exclusive. They do not go together. And he should be held accountable for that because he knows that very well. He's a little asshole when he drinks. He's aggressive. He is just volatile. So the most important thing in this whole equation. I wanted to talk to Ali. So I spoke to Ali at length and I said, what happened? And she said categorically, no, he didn't hurt me. I said, are you sure? You promised me, Ali, I really need to know this from you. Did he hurt you? Absolutely not. So for me, I was very terse with him. Disappointed in him because I'd been an advocate for him and his success and for him to go down that path. And he had so much to lose. Ali loved him. She's a great girl. And I think, you know, with their relationship now, they've got to take time apart because I don't Blame her. You know, you gotta prove to me you're gonna be the man that I want. And I think he let them both down.
- [07:53]
Andy Cohen
Yeah, I mean, the whole situation is unfortunate and obviously, hopefully this is sort of the final wake up call that he needs. So I wanna talk about the rest of the group. And since the announcement was made that the show is going in a new direction, who else have you spoken to? Who else have you heard from? Who have you not heard from?
- [08:13]
Lisa Vanderpump
Well, I put something out, I mean, on social media to talk about how I love them all. And I do love them all, regardless of their kind of their antics and their foibles. And I do love them all. There's a deep love for just because what we've been through together and seeing them such a young age, even though they've been very frustrating at times, for sure, and they've made mistakes, but it was predictable, of course. Schwartz straightaway called me and said, I just want to thank you for all the opportunities you've given me. And James too. Lala. Yeah, I've always been very close to her. I didn't hear from. I think Ariana texted me or tweeted me or something. Katie, I didn't hear from. But you know, as I say, that doesn't really surprise me. It's strange because I'm not saying they should be grateful to me, but they should be grateful for the show. And, you know, as we were to them, we always kind of celebrated them, but that show gave them a plethora of opportunities they wouldn't necessarily have had.
- [09:22]
Andy Cohen
I think for all of them. I think that distance was kind of needed and so I think that they're grateful for it, but I think they haven't had a chance to even reflect on it. I think the experience was so intense. And so my guess is that things look different in a year or so, but that also is the reason that we couldn't continue. The situation had changed, the relationships had changed. And I think it's strange though, right?
- [09:46]
Lisa Vanderpump
Isn't it? Because I had success before I jumped onto reality television. My life isn't hugely different now than it is when I met you. I had a beautiful house and life and Europe and I'd had 37 restaurants with Ken, but I'd had a successful life. They grew up with this, so they actually don't know almost what it's like to live an adult life without a reality show.
- [10:14]
Andy Cohen
Well, imagine being going from being a server plugged from obscurity to all of a sudden a celebrated person on A show that's on for a decade.
- [10:25]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah. When you're always, you know, you're used to hearing, oh, hey, you, yeah, over here, you know, they're at the beck and call of hundreds of people, you know, as servers every night, and suddenly they're controlling everything. And I think that changed the balance in the show, and it was much more difficult to produce. I loved that. I remember when Jon Hamm came up to me. I was at the upfronts in New York, and Jon Hamm came up to me, and he said, you know, I'm such a fan of Vanderpump Rules. And, you know, I've always thought working as a waiter in, you know, when I was younger, how wonderful it would be to, you know, have a show about a restaurant. And I kind of looked him, and I thought, you know, your show too Mad Men. To me, that gave me such insight into the world of advertising, because my father was a creative director. And when I saw Jon Hamm's behavior on the show, I thought, okay, now, that explains a lot for me, you know, that whole kind of through the 60s. And that was my dad, you know, who recently passed. So that was. But, you know, when he talked about behind the scenes of a restaurant, that was what was so unique about our show. To have the front of house, the back of house. Most of the times, people can't give you access to their business like I did. But coming from the stable of housewives, I was used to it. I was raring to go. I thought, let's do this. But I think most people in business just couldn't afford to do that.
- [11:56]
Andy Cohen
No, I don't. I don't. I don't think they would do it. Usually it's very restricted. But that's the fun of it to me is to see all of the details, to see the kitchen, to see the alley.
- [12:05]
Lisa Vanderpump
Right.
- [12:06]
Andy Cohen
And it has all became memorable places.
- [12:07]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yes, the alley. That setting right out the back there where most of the conversations. Because I would always, yeah, okay, we'll discuss it in your tea break. I don't care. So that became pivotal part of the show, where all the things were hashed out.
- [12:21]
Andy Cohen
So I want to go back in time a little bit. You referred to Pre Housewives, and I want to talk about when you and I met, which is a long time ago at this point. I was trying to think about it. It's probably 2009.
- [12:33]
Lisa Vanderpump
Did we actually meet when I came in for that audition?
- [12:36]
Andy Cohen
I didn't meet you when you came in. I did see your half Assed application where you basically crossed off all the questions because you just didn't want to answer them.
- [12:44]
Lisa Vanderpump
Well, I just didn't. You know, I was used to. I had autonomy in my life. I was used to having my own business with Ken. I mean, bear in mind, also, we didn't work, like, now I work with a huge corporation, Caesars. To my point, as I say, I would never even. You know, I respect everything they've given me and so grateful to them for our wonderful relationship. But I was used to. It was Jennifer Stallone that talked me into it, who said, you've got to watch this show, New York Housewives. I watched. I said, that's so not me. How am I going to do. Be involved in something like that? They're shouting and screaming at each other. I thought, you know, and I thought, all right, I'll go in. I'd been asked a couple of times. So when I actually went in, it was at the end of the casting process. They'd come to me because I think I was the quintessential Beverly Hills housewife they were looking for. I had a big business, right, in Beverly Hills. I had that big fuck off house in Beverly Hills. I was, you know, somebody that was up for fun and lived a quite a big life. And I think initially I thought, well, I'm not sure about this. So I went in, I looked at questionnaire, you know, and then I remember you said to me, tell me about your sex life. Or somebody said to me, tell me about your sex life. And I was like, are they joking or what? And I said, what with my husband or with everybody else? Like, you know, I didn't care. I was just, like, having fun right from the beginning.
- [14:12]
Andy Cohen
And then we hit a stalemate in the contractual negotiations over two clauses that you wanted. One was that you wanted to be referred to as Pinky.
- [14:22]
Lisa Vanderpump
Well, yeah. In the main title, my restaurant that I've just opened with Caesar's palace in the Flamingo is called Pinkies. Well, that was my name I was known by. And you were like, no, that's too ridiculous.
- [14:32]
Andy Cohen
Yeah, I was like, I think we're call you Lisa. So I think that's what we're going to go for.
- [14:36]
Lisa Vanderpump
My nickname's Pinky. Yeah, go ahead.
- [14:38]
Andy Cohen
And then the other one was that you wanted a fee for Jiggy.
- [14:42]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, and you gave me a contract with Four Bloody Bones or something.
- [14:46]
Andy Cohen
Yeah, well, I, you know, I did.
- [14:47]
Lisa Vanderpump
What I could because I knew Chigi was gonna be a star. Jiggy was this unique little person and Even now, gosh, I miss him so very much. Still got seven dogs. But he was the inspiration behind the Vanderpump Dog Foundation. So for him, his memory lives on. Yeah. Saved thousands and thousands of dogs now. So, yeah, his memory is definitely living on.
- [15:11]
Andy Cohen
How do you reflect on Housewives at this point? How do you regard your experience with that show?
- [15:17]
Lisa Vanderpump
Season one was so kind of successful for me, and I was kind of like just having fun and living my life. So season two, they gave me a hard time. The audience came back at them. Season three, I had a good time. Season four was a shit show. So it was like almost every other season. The audience would react and they'd behave themselves. So we actually joked about that. I think, you know, after season six and I got to season eight and they didn't come for me, I was like, oh, you know, they're coming for me next time. We skipped a year here. When my brother died, I said to you, I really. I cry if I open the fridge and there's no milk in there. I don't want to do it. I'll do Vanderpump Rules. And I started Vanderpump Rules two days after my brother's funeral. I said, I really don't want to do it. But you persuaded me to do it. Which you did. Came to Tom. Tom, do you remember? I do remember. And I thought, oh, God. But I had so many good feelings and so many positive experiences on it. It wasn't like I could just categorically say, no, I don't want to do that ever again. I only want to do the good bits. But life isn't like that, I think. But I. I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have done it.
- [16:29]
Andy Cohen
I think that's right. I think in retrospect, we probably should have taken the season down and then decided whether you wanted to come back to it at that point or not.
- [16:38]
Lisa Vanderpump
But it was so mean spirited. It was so it. And I just.
- [16:45]
Andy Cohen
Well, I didn't think you had the wherewithal to. I think. I think I didn't realize just how hurting you were. And so I don't think that you had the wherewithal to deal with something that I think at other points you wouldn't have liked.
- [16:59]
Lisa Vanderpump
But I think, yeah, like, season six, they'd come for me in a big way. Season four, they came for me, all of them.
- [17:04]
Andy Cohen
And you could deal with it.
- [17:05]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, I went to Reunion. The whole cast was against me, but the audience were always amazing. The audience always supported me. So I had that. But in season nine, I just thought. And also I suddenly thought, I don't want this to be ambiguous. I don't. I'm just. That's it. When Kyle was in my kitchen, I thought, that's it. To me, if somebody knows you like I know you, if you said to me, lisa, I swear to you on my parents life, that's it, it'd be done, I'll be okay. I believe you. What do we do from here? So when you say to somebody, I swear to you on my children's life, that should be enough. And when Karl looked at me and said, I don't believe you, I was like, all right, we're done. Get the fuck out of my house. That's it. Don't call me a liar.
- [17:58]
Andy Cohen
So you recently left the door open for reconciliation by saying if she were to apologize for you, maybe there might be.
- [18:07]
Lisa Vanderpump
Apologize for me or apologize.
- [18:09]
Andy Cohen
I'm sorry if she were. Apologized to you. That there might be some path forward. And she was on this podcast recently and her message to you was, don't hold your breath.
- [18:21]
Lisa Vanderpump
Oh, gosh. I. Listen, it would be nice for her just to tell the truth, right? But Kyle's not, as we've seen as the show's transpired, not always been that truthful about her own life and her own feelings. So maybe if she kind of came from an honest place and thought, you know what, maybe I did get it wrong. Because why would she want to reignite a friendship with me if she thought I was a liar? Why would you? I wouldn't want to if I truly believe that. So she kind of comes up to me, you know, sometimes, like if I cross paths with her and they say the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference. I'm indifferent with her. That's it. I'm not really. Yeah.
- [19:09]
Andy Cohen
So you don't miss her at all?
- [19:10]
Lisa Vanderpump
I miss what we had, but not the path it went down. I think if anybody's kind of really aggressive with you and they call you a liar. No, you don't. I don't need that person in my life at all. But I miss what we had because I think we had this unique friendship and that's what I enjoyed. I loved the kind of late night phone calls and how we would giggle and laugh together and how I was always. I was always there for her because she had a very tumultuous relationship with her sisters, as we've seen. So I was always a sounding board for her, an advocate of them, kind of always trying to Keep that relationship, you know, on solid ground. Family. But, you know, our antics. You know, Kyle and I could laugh together. Climbing over walls, breaking people's hotel rooms, you know, the cast, other cast members. And getting stuck in the wall. My butt. Getting stuck in the wall. Or pushing her down the hall on the hotel trolley. I mean, we had a lot of fun. That is what I signed up for. All this arguing, bitching and accusations, trying to make somebody look bad. No, not interested. My life's too full and busy for that.
- [20:21]
Andy Cohen
Yeah. At least you guys can be civil and can say hi to each other. And it isn't, you know, I can.
- [20:27]
Lisa Vanderpump
Be if I wanted to be. I don't particularly want to be like, hello, Bye.
- [20:31]
Andy Cohen
And by the way, no one does cold like you.
- [20:33]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [20:34]
Andy Cohen
You're really good.
- [20:35]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, I am. Yeah. What are you? You again?
- [20:40]
Andy Cohen
I thought living in uncomfortable moments is sort of a superpower.
- [20:44]
Lisa Vanderpump
Well, but. Yes, but why not be true to your feelings?
- [20:49]
Andy Cohen
Yeah.
- [20:50]
Lisa Vanderpump
Like, I am not going to. Hi, how are you? I'm very easy to read.
- [20:55]
Andy Cohen
Yeah, that's true.
- [20:56]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, exactly.
- [20:58]
Andy Cohen
You know, exactly what you say.
- [20:59]
Lisa Vanderpump
I don't like you. You stay the over. Yeah, I. I'm not, you know, exactly what you're getting with me. And I tell you to your face, you know, that sometimes you don't wanna hear it. But I'll deliberate Anyway, so I wanna.
- [21:13]
Andy Cohen
Talk about the new vanderpump rules season 12.
- [21:16]
Lisa Vanderpump
Oh, my goodness. Yes.
- [21:18]
Andy Cohen
And so let's talk a little bit back to the.
- [21:21]
Lisa Vanderpump
Not different shows. Gonna be a very different show. Different people, different experiences. But I love, as Jon Hand was saying, the premise of the front of House, back of house, and everybody kind of entwined, and it's always complicated. You and I both know we could have shot Vanderpump rules 12 months a year. I mean, we could have done. Because the story kept rolling. And even now with a new group of people, it's gonna be complicated. And then another thing I'm interested in is bringing in a couple of new people, you know, because it's always a revolving door. People leave a lot of aspiring actors, they get a job, they're off, they come back. So I think that's fun to add a couple of new people. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to going back to a different. A different energy. But, yeah, I think it's gonna be equally interesting. Frustrating.
- [22:19]
Andy Cohen
Yeah, it will be. I think it's the same core principles. It will be reminiscent of the first version, but also completely different at the same Time. And, like, we're not trying to chase what we already did.
- [22:30]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, no, I don't wanna do that at all. I just wanna tell this true story.
- [22:33]
Andy Cohen
It's a different chapter.
- [22:34]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, but how fascinating is it? Because just to see, you know, as a restaurateur, it's always been fascinating to me, the theater of everything being perfect out there and then, you know.
- [22:50]
Andy Cohen
Well, and as a restaurateur, I mean, you've said to me plenty of times that each restaurant is its own story to tell, for sure. And has its own different character.
- [22:59]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [22:59]
Andy Cohen
And Sur has always been, you know, a pretty special place.
- [23:02]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, it. It has. It is.
- [23:04]
Andy Cohen
As is Tom. Tom.
- [23:05]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah. For sure. Well, they all are. They've all. I mean, even my restaurants and Caesars, we've had such great success, you know, in with them. I think Wolf's just was in the top 25 restaurants in the newest restaurants in the U.S. you know, which was voted for by the people Yelp reviews. So very proud of that gorgeous restaurant designed by us. Van der Pumperlain. And then Pinkies is my latest one.
- [23:35]
Andy Cohen
I love Pinkies.
- [23:35]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, it's gorgeous. They're both gorgeous, you know, all of them.
- [23:39]
Andy Cohen
Tell me a little bit about the career shift that you've made from owning and operating all of your restaurants to your partnership with Caesars and the design business.
- [23:48]
Lisa Vanderpump
Well, I would always design our restaurants. With Ken, we had complete autonomy apart from Natalie and Guillermo. We didn't really ever have partners. So it was always Ken and I that, you know, it was largely. Every decision that was made was just between the two of us, and that was a great experience. I mean, they say working with your spouse, of course, sometimes that can be frustrating, and it just. But he can be a pain in the ass, you're saying, actually gotta take responsibility. I think we both probably are paining each other's ass, I mean, when you live and work together. But we also were very great friends, and we always have been and had the same principles. So we work well together, even though we're very different people. But this working with a huge corporation is something that's very different as a woman in business and working with Caesar's palace is not like I thought it would be. I imagined it'd be this huge kind of like, you know, almost you hear about Vegas and you read about it in books and. But they are really just so wonderful to work with, and they give me my head.
- [25:03]
Andy Cohen
They've been really supportive, and they've been.
- [25:07]
Lisa Vanderpump
I think that's in business. If you Kind of really, you know, you kind of grow the confidence with your partners, and then they give you much more freedom. So they've been pretty extraordinary. And to be able to create these wonderful venues, come up with these design ideas and concepts, and then build them, bring them to fruition, and see their success is something I revel in. I absolutely love it. I really do. And each concept's different to the last and better than the, you know, than the other. So it's been a wonderful time. And I love designing, as I'm a bit of a control freak. So to actually, you know that. So to have this whole experience is just wonderful.
- [25:51]
Andy Cohen
Yeah. And it's enabled you to do things that you just wouldn't do on your own.
- [25:56]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yes. To build, like. To have a partner like Nicolaine, to actually be able to build your dreams is pretty extraordinary because I think creatively, like, when you walk into Wolf, you do go, wow, this is just something else. And the same now with Pinkies. The same with Vanderpumpari. I think that's, like, the 12th most photographed restaurant in the United States. Woolf's in the top 25 new restaurants in the United States. Pinkies will be there, too. They're all doing very, very well. Vanderpump Cocktail Garden. I think we deliver something that people have a hunger for, Literally, I want.
- [26:34]
Andy Cohen
To cover also, because I know it's been important to you that through the ups and downs of your experience being on and making reality tv, that you felt like you've needed to acknowledge how appreciative you are for having been given the opportunity. And I know that it's bothered you when other people have come out and have knocked the platform that they've been given.
- [26:56]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah. As I said to you a little earlier, it's not just, don't bite the hand that feeds you. Don't bite the hand that fed you, that gave you all this plethora of opportunities. But when I see these other reality stars and I hear their gripes and their complaining and their lawsuits, absolutely. I've stood up and I've been stalwart in my defense of Andy Cohen, in defense of Bravo, that, you know, we're all human beings and we often have, like, altercations or discussions or whatever, but they have been incredible in the opportunities. And I think there's a lot of people we would never have heard of them. And there they are suing, suing Bravo, and trying to take them down and denigrate them. It just does not make sense to me. You know, I think you should Be respectful. And you should be grateful, I think, to be grateful in life, that's what keeps you humble, you know? And I'm grateful to everything. Whether I want to do it now, I might say, oh, I don't want to go back to that shit show with housewives.
- [27:58]
Andy Cohen
You've said that a few times.
- [27:59]
Lisa Vanderpump
I've said that loads of times. And everybody says, why? Because I don't like them. I mean, I love Garcelle. We giggle together, and she's great. And Sutton I've met, she's been very nice. But, you know, all this bitching and arguing nastiness, I don't want to do it. But bravo. On the other hand, I think they've been incredible to me. They really have.
- [28:19]
Andy Cohen
You recently were quoted as.
- [28:21]
Lisa Vanderpump
I'm getting paid for this. Right. No is the word.
- [28:27]
Andy Cohen
I mean, I can lie to you. Yes. Yeah, handsomely. You get a. We give you a glass of water.
- [28:32]
Lisa Vanderpump
That would be the first time you've lied to me. You always tell me the truth, whether I want it or not.
- [28:38]
Andy Cohen
I. I don't know any other way.
- [28:40]
Lisa Vanderpump
Well, no, but that's. That's the essence of our relationship.
- [28:43]
Andy Cohen
It has to be.
- [28:44]
Lisa Vanderpump
So. Yeah. So, you know, I'm. You've said sometimes I'm discerningly. Some. Well, you've said to me, sometimes I'm too honest. I let you know how I feel. So. Doesn't it pain you to. To see these women, like, accusing me? Me? I've never been accused that. Of being a liar. No, I'm not. I'll tell you how it is, whether you want to hear it or not.
- [29:05]
Andy Cohen
Well, I want everybody to be able to work through whatever the issues are. And so obviously, that show is better with you on it. So I hoped.
- [29:13]
Lisa Vanderpump
You want me to go back, don't you?
- [29:15]
Andy Cohen
That there's a. Well, I think you recently said that as soon as pigs fly.
- [29:19]
Lisa Vanderpump
Did I say that? I did say that.
- [29:20]
Andy Cohen
You did say that, yeah.
- [29:21]
Lisa Vanderpump
Didn't I say, oh, there's a pig flying to the moon? Yeah. I'm not on the back of it.
- [29:26]
Andy Cohen
Well, but can you categorically say that you wouldn't go back to that show?
- [29:31]
Lisa Vanderpump
Categorically. I mean, listen, I can always be bored, but I'm really fucking expensive.
- [29:38]
Andy Cohen
Is that your New Zealand?
- [29:40]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, that could be, yeah. I've got so much going on in my life. You know that. And with Vanderpump Rules, that's taken. And, you know, I've been doing another show in Europe for the last two years. I did the show With Gordon Ramsay again thanking Bravo for the opportunities that they've given me. I'm busy doing this new project. I know what you're gonna say. I'm gonna say something inappropriate.
- [30:04]
Andy Cohen
No, I'm hearing maybe.
- [30:05]
Lisa Vanderpump
So why is it there's always a story that I'm going back? Like when I went on the red carpet, you know, this week, I went on, you know, just not at many of these events. But it was a friend of mine that had written a book, and I was there to support them. And there's these viral stories that continually kind of follow me around that I'm going back to Housewives. It's been so many years now. It's been how many years since I left the year? My God, 2019. So, no, it's 2018.
- [30:36]
Andy Cohen
Aired in 19. 2018.
- [30:37]
Lisa Vanderpump
Seven years ago. And there's still talk about me going back. As I said, I mean, it's a wonderful compliment when people say, we still want you back on a show. Thank you so, so very much. And to still be in those favorite housewives, you know, when they have votes and everything, it's wonderful. Oh, my God. The support, the fans. I've always been, like, very connected to my fans, you know? Cause I live in that public arena of restaurant business.
- [31:04]
Andy Cohen
So being on a reality show, the fans connect to you really personally.
- [31:08]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [31:08]
Andy Cohen
And so, you know, it's a meaningful relationship. I think that it comes up because I think you did mean you were so foundational to that show. And then everyone related to the show is asked about it. So I think sometimes, even when it seems like people are bringing it up all the time just because they're asked about it. And I think recently Garcelle was asked about it, and I think she said, yeah, that would make sense. She has unfinished business. So then I think that creates a whole new round. Right, Right.
- [31:33]
Lisa Vanderpump
Andy, say something because.
- [31:34]
Andy Cohen
Andy. Andy. And then I think Andy said, I don't see that happening, because I think he was, like, tamping down on it. You've also been on other shows also.
- [31:42]
Lisa Vanderpump
Because I'm a difficult bitch.
- [31:43]
Andy Cohen
Well, there's that.
- [31:44]
Lisa Vanderpump
You know me. I do exactly what I want. I mean, I always have.
- [31:48]
Andy Cohen
But I think you left the door ajar here. That's what I heard. I think it's possible, I think by. I'd say season 18.
- [31:57]
Lisa Vanderpump
Oh, really?
- [31:58]
Andy Cohen
Yeah, that's my prediction. Oh.
- [32:00]
Lisa Vanderpump
Just hopefully that I'm still alive then. What are they on now?
- [32:04]
Andy Cohen
Well, we're Season 14 is airing right now.
- [32:06]
Lisa Vanderpump
Doesn't Kyle say every season? I don't know if I could do it anymore. And then she's right.
- [32:12]
Andy Cohen
Everyone says that.
- [32:14]
Lisa Vanderpump
Do they?
- [32:15]
Andy Cohen
That isn't just her. Oh, yeah.
- [32:17]
Lisa Vanderpump
Really? Everybody says.
- [32:18]
Andy Cohen
I hear that from everyone every season.
- [32:20]
Lisa Vanderpump
Oh, I think there's some very hungry people out there who wouldn't give it up. No.
- [32:23]
Andy Cohen
But I think in the moment when it gets difficult, I think there's a natural thought that's not true.
- [32:28]
Lisa Vanderpump
When you say everybody says that people have been devastated when you've dropped them.
- [32:33]
Andy Cohen
Well, I think that. I think that's different. I think they say a lot of.
- [32:36]
Lisa Vanderpump
Hungry people on that show.
- [32:38]
Andy Cohen
I think they famished. I think they say that.
- [32:40]
Lisa Vanderpump
I think they undernourished.
- [32:42]
Andy Cohen
I think they say that they don't want to come back. And then I think when they don't get to come back. Yeah, yeah. Then I think that's a whole different story. But I think even people who want to be on the show want. People who want to be on the show, I think, go through an emotionally difficult experience at times.
- [32:58]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [32:59]
Andy Cohen
Right.
- [32:59]
Lisa Vanderpump
I mean, but I often hear, and I don't know if you'll agree with me. I promise you this. And again, you. You know, we have very straightforward relationship. I have not seen the show since I left. So when people say, oh, I don't believe that. Well, why would I? I would comment on it, probably in a negative way, but I would comment on it. I haven't seen it. I've seen some excerpts occasionally, like on social media, where I've clicked on something, but I haven't seen it.
- [33:26]
Andy Cohen
But you should binge it. It's really good.
- [33:33]
Lisa Vanderpump
But I do hear that the relationship I had with Kyle, the playful, funny banter that is not as prevalent on the show as it used to be.
- [33:46]
Andy Cohen
Well, that was really fun. And that was. I think people have a nostalgic relationship to those early years, and we were kind of making it up as we went along, and I. You know, some of the classic season one, season two, you and Adrian living across the street from each other in Beverly park, and I think Villa Blanca as a hangout. I think you and Kyle and your hijinks. I think all of it. Right. I mean, I think that it took all of that to make it.
- [34:15]
Lisa Vanderpump
Don't you think that's what life should be? You should. I mean, I still have those relationships with friends where we play tricks on each other and have a laugh and kind of have a giggle and, you know, get up to. That's what life is. I mean, you can have a little bit of the other Disagreements. But, yeah, I. I can't live my life just in this kind of negativity. And, no, it.
- [34:39]
Andy Cohen
I think it shouldn't be. I think the show is at its best where I think there are disagreements as they arise, and I think you work through them and get over them, and I think there's fun. I think you celebrate life together. I think you're there for each other through hardship, and I think you keep doing it. I think that's when it's at its best. I mean, the show's at its best when it doesn't feel like a cast. It's a group of friends.
- [35:00]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [35:00]
Andy Cohen
You know, but that goes back to what we. The. The. The sort of the end of the original run on Vanderpump Rules, and we were capturing.
- [35:09]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah. So what are we gonna do? We're gonna make it up. No, thanks. Rather quit when we're ahead.
- [35:14]
Andy Cohen
Yeah. It didn't. It didn't really make any sense because once we. If we were to get to the point where they were really only getting together because they. The thing they had in common was doing a show together, we shouldn't keep doing it.
- [35:24]
Lisa Vanderpump
Well, this is what I loved about the show at the beginning, that people have to come back together because you have a nucleus in the middle of a show. That's very hard to achieve. When you produce a show, say, okay, what do we have that's gonna hold this all together? And I think like on Housewives, sometimes you say, oh, we're, you know, going on a trip. It's a girls trip. Or, you know, we're having a dinner or. But when you have a restaurant or something, whatever it is, a book club or something, and you're all in it together, there's no escaping it. And I think that's when the interesting conversations really happen. I think that's why Below Deck works so well as well. It's like they're there. That's it. You know, you've got a lot to lose if you walk away.
- [36:08]
Andy Cohen
That's right.
- [36:09]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [36:09]
Andy Cohen
Yeah. I mean, that's the secret ingredient to, you know, a television show that covers a group of people.
- [36:16]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, for sure. I just don't think there's. I don't think there's space in my life, honestly, for any negativity. Want to live a positive life. I don't want to sit there if you said to me, lisa, will you go back? We're gonna have a bloody good time. We're gonna have, you know, you're gonna have real relationships and friendships and live Your life. We're documented. Yeah, that would be. That's not what it is. There's all this bitchiness and listen, if that works for them, works for you, works for Bravo. Keep doing it. But I don't wanna be any part of it.
- [36:53]
Andy Cohen
I mean, it worked for you for a while.
- [36:56]
Lisa Vanderpump
How many times did I say I want to leave? Every time I had a bad experience on the season where they ganged up on me, I still showed up to those reunions. I would sit there with all five of them against me. Sit there, and I'd go, no, that's not true. That is not. And that's exhausting. It happened 2, 4, 6, and on 9, I was like, right, I'm done. Fuck it, I'm done. No regrets. No regrets.
- [37:22]
Andy Cohen
No. It was a hell of a run.
- [37:23]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah. Still, I did nine and a half years.
- [37:26]
Andy Cohen
Yeah. That's a long time.
- [37:28]
Lisa Vanderpump
And, you know. You know, you. Why don't you admit it? You're in the hot seat. You must be. I don't give a shit.
- [37:36]
Andy Cohen
I think a group is. I think it's tough when it feels like it's everyone against you. I thought where season nine was especially difficult, I think if you were in a different place.
- [37:49]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, maybe.
- [37:51]
Andy Cohen
And I'm not saying I'd have kind of gone. Yeah.
- [37:54]
Lisa Vanderpump
Like I had before.
- [37:56]
Andy Cohen
That's what I think. And I'm not saying you would have enjoyed it and it might have been your last season anyway, because I think every time you had a tough season, you were probably closer, especially with Vanderpump Rules. Yeah. So I think that might have been, you know, the case anyway. But I think that. I think it would have been a different experience, and I think that it wouldn't have been as difficult as it was for you to your core. I didn't. Like I said, I didn't think that you had, at that point, the strength to go through that and to feel like you didn't have anyone supporting you.
- [38:26]
Lisa Vanderpump
But I was so excited also. I remember saying, you know, talking about Congress, they just acknowledged the fact that resolution was passed that day. And then I found out that day we were opening our first restaurant in Caesar's palace, and they weren't interested in any of that. They were interested in Radar Online. And, like, this didn't even make sense to me. I mean, I. I don't want to.
- [38:53]
Andy Cohen
Yeah. Go into that. Yeah. But.
- [38:54]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [38:55]
Andy Cohen
Yeah. No, I. But I. I think, Ian, I think those are the. Those are The. The group dynamics, and I think it becomes an echo chamber and. And and again, I think that because you didn't have the wherewithal to combat it, than I think they were talking about it.
- [39:09]
Lisa Vanderpump
I had the wherewithal. I just didn't have the energy. I think I was emotionally spent. And to go down that kind of tunnel again, I was just like, you know what? That's it. There's no ambiguity about this. I'm walking out. I'm not going back. I'm done. And they were still. So we want to film with her. Bullshit. Wasn't interested. I was finally. I knew it was time.
- [39:30]
Andy Cohen
Yeah. Do you talk to any of them? Have you spoken to PK or Dorit since their separation?
- [39:38]
Lisa Vanderpump
Definitely. There's no. And I actually. Because I don't, for the most part, believe or follow anything that's out there. I just am not somebody. I don't have a Google alert on my. I really am unaware. Just. It's more word of mouth of what people have told me. I think they're separated now. Are they? They're separated, yeah. So. And I knew that for a long time he was living in a hotel. And I don't. I don't know the story they've told. I really don't. Yeah. There would always be room in my heart for pk. He was my friend. Not great friend, not a very close friend, but we were in the same circle in Europe. So, yeah, I would definitely like to have a conversation with him or, you know, I think he's a great guy.
- [40:28]
Andy Cohen
What about Doritos?
- [40:30]
Lisa Vanderpump
Not so much. I knew her more because of him. And I remember in that scene in Pump, I say scene. But the reality of it, when I said, but no, Tariq, we're not going forward. J. Yeah, we can go forward. No, we're not going forward until you say to me that you don't believe what they're saying. No, no. And when I said about swearing in my children's life, PK turned around and said, dorit, I know Lisa, if it's good enough for me, it should be good enough for you. And I thought, wow, that's him as a husband standing up to his wife in my defense. And I thought that meant a lot to me. And she went, no. I said, okay, we're done. Forget it. Fuck off.
- [41:15]
Andy Cohen
Yeah. That was all you needed?
- [41:16]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, that's it.
- [41:17]
Andy Cohen
Yeah.
- [41:18]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah. He's a great guy. So he's a good guy. Yeah. I would enjoy reconnecting with him at some point.
- [41:24]
Andy Cohen
I want to talk about how difficult it was to make this past season of Vanderpump Rules. So let's go back in time a little bit. Because the group was more splendor than it had ever been before. The show had garnered more attention than ever before.
- [41:38]
Lisa Vanderpump
Oh, I mean, I was sitting at the White House Correspondent's Dinner, and it was in the roast of the President. They were talking about Vanderpump Rules. I mean, how did that ever happen? It just took on a life of its own. And it was. And it was extraordinary. I don't think we'd ever seen anything like it. I mean, it wasn't that unusual. Somebody's shagging, you know, somebody else on a reality show. That's kind of par for the course a lot of the time. But this just had a very different energy.
- [42:06]
Andy Cohen
It took on a completely different life. And it's. The show was introduced to an entirely new generation, too, that it discovered it through TikTok, which I found interesting. But it became very difficult to make the show because there was so much attention on the show, so much interference.
- [42:24]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah, I felt very.
- [42:26]
Andy Cohen
Yeah.
- [42:26]
Lisa Vanderpump
You start talking about what it says in the press, and you're thinking, like, let's just go back to living your lives and your relationships. But also, I felt with Tom. I mean, Tom's not a character. And I say that. I don't mean a character he plays, but I mean a character in life that really evokes much sympathy, clearly. Yeah. No, but, I mean, he doesn't, does he? He kind of misjudges the situation, always calls it wrong. But his mental health did worry me greatly when I'd had conversations with him on camera and off camera, that it was just too much for one person to go through. I didn't think the crime, the punishment, befit the crime, you know, have the whole world against you called a piece of shit. Maybe Adele would be singing at her, you know, concert and call him out. That, as I said, the. It was everywhere. It just didn't. It was too hard. It would have been very, very difficult as an individual. In fact, he probably dealt with it better than most people would. Cause he's almost impervious.
- [43:34]
Andy Cohen
No, he put. He. He put blinders on. That, I think would have been difficult for other people to do.
- [43:38]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [43:39]
Andy Cohen
And then on the other side, Ariana showed a poise and a strength that was pretty remarkable.
- [43:45]
Lisa Vanderpump
Thank God. I love that when you see somebody step up to the challenge and have courage in the face of adversity, because I knew them all very well. But if I predicted it, I would have worried that she would have shrunk back Into a dark hole. Because I talked to her about her depression over the years, but she didn't do that. She came out swinging. And I love to see that. I love to see. To see it, you know, to see a woman actually stand up. And she was the character that. She was the person that. She surprised us all. And good for her.
- [44:24]
Andy Cohen
It was pretty inspiring to see her come out in her revenge dress.
- [44:27]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yes. I love that. Yeah. And the dark stars. Yeah, that was all so good. You know, to see somebody come out fighting and win the battle was amazing. Amazing.
- [44:38]
Andy Cohen
And I think that's what keeps people coming back to the shows, is the unpredictability of life. Like, who possibly would have thought.
- [44:46]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [44:46]
Andy Cohen
That any of that would transpire the way that it did.
- [44:49]
Lisa Vanderpump
Well, it's always that. Like that old adage, you know, when they say now. So strange as life, you know, it's. You couldn't write the ship. Really. You couldn't.
- [44:59]
Andy Cohen
I always say that whenever we're accused of the script, Most annoying thing in the world is, first of all, we're not that clever, so we wouldn't possibly come up with this. And then the other thing is, if you think that we could get everyone to agree to go in on something. Yeah.
- [45:14]
Lisa Vanderpump
You've got to say this.
- [45:15]
Andy Cohen
Yeah. No, you can barely get people to show up.
- [45:17]
Lisa Vanderpump
Exactly.
- [45:18]
Andy Cohen
It's a. Yeah.
- [45:20]
Lisa Vanderpump
But I do love. You know, I do think that courage in the face of adversity is so important in life. Just when you have that moment when you can take one or the other path and you suddenly think, can I do this? Can I do this? You know, she could have been like that, and suddenly she's, like, emboldened.
- [45:40]
Andy Cohen
Lovely. Yeah. No, she really rose up through it, which is. Yeah, very cool to see.
- [45:44]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yeah.
- [45:45]
Andy Cohen
Well. Lisa Jane Vanderpump.
- [45:47]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yes, Grandmother, for the second time.
- [45:49]
Andy Cohen
Congratulations. Thank you. For making this your last stop before you meet your new grandson.
- [45:56]
Lisa Vanderpump
I'm just, you know, as I said, I felt a little emotional coming into it, knowing that this was, you know, the place that I was, you know, when I heard when my brother passed. So to be here, I've got to go because I've got a baby to meet.
- [46:11]
Andy Cohen
Well, go meet him. I don't know what you're doing here anymore. Thank you.
- [46:14]
Lisa Vanderpump
All right. Thank you so much. As always, a pleasure.
- [46:17]
Andy Cohen
For an exclusive segment of my interview with Lisa Vanderpump. Especially the ones that you officiated.
- [46:23]
Lisa Vanderpump
Yes, exactly.
- [46:24]
Andy Cohen
You have a really terrible track record.
- [46:25]
Lisa Vanderpump
Great. Hold on a second. Second. Tom and Katie. That's it. Jax and Brittany. That wasn't anything to do with me.
- [46:34]
Andy Cohen
Go to bravo tv.com podcast.