Real Housewives of Orange County Season Five Premieres November 5

For fans who have been waiting patiently for the return of the "original" housewives, "The Real Housewives of Orange County," the wait is over. The fifth season of the popular Bravo show premieres November 5 at 10 p.m. ET.

While the "Real Housewives of Orange County" have been away, there's been plenty of action. Blonde bombshell, Gretchen Rossi, hooked up with Slade Smiley, who is Season One Housewife, Jo de la Rosa's former live-in boyfriend; Lynne Curtin, who proved unpopular with her fellow Housewives, was served with eviction papers; Jeana Keough's estranged husband, Matt, was arrested for a DUI. To shake things up even more, a new Housewife will join the fray; 32 year-old, Alexis Bellino, whom Bravo describes as a "gorgeous honey blonde."

According to Bravo, the failed economy will take center stage in many of the Housewives lives. The aforementioned Curtin will have to cope with her family's money woes and the show's third blonde, Tamra Barney, will deal with a potentially faltering marriage and financial issues (possibly connected to Barney and her husband, Simon's, recent efforts to sell their LaDera Ranch home? According to the Orange County Register, the Barneys took their home off the market after some "lowball offers.") However, the glue of the show, Jeana Keough, who once famously declared she had four homes and her husband "could live in one of them," has apparently fallen on hard times. The Orange County Register reported that Keough had received a notice of default on her multi-million dollar Coto de Caza home. She later negotiated a loan modification and declared she would likely sell the house. Keough will depart the "Real Housewives of Orange County" sometime during the season to focus on her family and getting her business back on track.

One Housewife who doesn't seem to be feeling the heat is wild workaholic, Vicki Gunvalson. Gunvalson, who owns her own thriving life insurance business, visits Italy for a family trip. An ongoing storyline throughout the series has been Vicki's somewhat difficult marriage to her husband, Donn. Vicki's obsession with her work has always put a strain on that union, though there are hints she may finally find time to devote to the long-suffering Donn.

Other Season Five tidbits from the OC include continued cat-fights between dueling blondes, Barney and Rossi, Curtin's plastic surgery and girlfriend getaways to San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Additionally, Bellino, though cast in the role of sexy blonde, considers herself a traditional housewife straight out of the 1950's who caters to her husband's every need. This will likely put Bellino at odds with the career-minded Orange County Housewives.

"The Real Housewives of Orange County" will air Thursdays on Bravo.

http://www.bravotv.com/

Mark Eades, Real Housewife Saves Coto Home from Foreclosure, Orange County Register

Mark Eades, Real Housewife Takes O.C. Home off the Market, Orange County Register