VANDERPUMP Rules alum Peter Madrigal said fans of the franchise will be in for a wild ride if Bravo greenlights a spin-off with new staff at SUR in West Hollywood.
The U.S. Sun confirmed filming has taken place at Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurant and bar, but Bravo has yet to announce it has been greenlit.
Season 12 of Vanderpump Rules is currently on hiatus as the network decides which direction to go in post-“Scandoval,” which saw Tom Sandoval cheat on Ariana Madix with her close friend Rachel Leviss.
None of the current cast work together anymore after becoming rich from the show and working on their own businesses.
Bravo is looking to go back to day one and focus on 20-somethings at SUR, which is still a popular spot in Los Angeles.
Manager Peter Madrigal was never a main cast member but appeared in every season except the last. He says he’d love to see the restaurant be the focus of the show again.
He spoke to The U.S. Sun about the future of the franchise at author Thea de Sousa’s launch party for The Unofficial Vanderpump Rules Ultimate Trivia Book, powered by CellSound.
When asked if he’d love to see SUR staff on screen again, he said, “Of course, why not? Let’s do it. If that’s what it takes to get another show up and running. Let’s do it. Just… pay Peter.”
It has previously been reported that he was paid much less than other cast members over the years, but he refused to confirm how much he made from the show.
Despite dipping out of the last season of Vanderpump, he feels a season at SUR would be a chance to see new, iconic reality TV characters, as the workplace has never changed.
The only difference is that I’m the grizzled old man.”
Peter Madrigal on a possible SUR spin-off
“We’re always dramatic here,” he laughed. “It’s the same thing as season one! Exact same thing: drama, drama, drama.
“Same sh** different year. Getting drunk, chilling out with each other, partying all the time.
“The only difference is that I’m the grizzled old man. I’m not Wolverine in X Men, I’m Wolverine in Deadpool.”
When asked why he has worked at SUR for so many years, he said, “I enjoy the company, I enjoy the people, I love my bosses. That’s what keeps me here.
“I still have my own stuff outside of here, but yeah, for the most part… it’s a lot of fun. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, right here at SUR.”
He said Vanderpump Rules had been “quite the journey,” but he has no regrets years after it first aired in 2013.
“I look back fondly at my memories of the show. I’d like to see another series, but I have no idea who is coming back and who is not.”
He shot down any ideas about him joining The Valley as he doesn’t get on with Jax Taylor.
“I don’t watch that. It’s just people trying to figure themselves out who should have alre ady figured themselves out.”
When asked about Jax’s divorce from Brittany Cartwright, he joked, “Who? Who?” adding that she will “kick a**” after years of putting up with her ex and his bad behavior.
He said, “I saw that she was dating someone. I think she deserves a lot of fun right now, absolutely.”
Peter also had wise words of advice for any newbies starring in a spin-off, saying, “I’d say keep moving forward, going slow and… I don’t really watch the show, so I don’t judge myself so much. I don’t watch it, so that’s the advice I’d give.
“Don’t watch the show, and don’t judge yourself.”
TOM’S SIDE
And he’s not the only one who will not be tuning in.
Tom Sandoval, who also made an appearance at the book party with girlfriend, Victoria Lee Robinson, said he’d like to see a SUR spin-off.
But he revealed, “I probably wouldn’t watch much of it, because I already get enough anxiety from my show, so I don’t really watch a lot of reality shows.
“But I would say just be yourself, live in the moment, connect, focus on the connections.”
He said the reason Vanderpump Rules was so big was because of the relatable cast.
“We’re a group of friends, work together, go out together, vacation together,” he said.
His time on reality TV has been a rollercoaster as he was vilified for cheating on Ariana Madix with their friend Rachel Leviss with the fallout nicknamed “Scandoval.”
“Definitely some ups and downs,” he said.
“I would say it’s funny because some of my favorite parts of the show are maybe not other people’s, but other people’s are definitely not mine.
“I’d have to say it’s been a ride, a huge learning experience, it puts things under a microscope and in perspective.
“No matter what happens between me and my other cast mates, there’s always a sense of like, respect and pride, when people are putting themselves out there.
“I’ve grown a lot. I’ve learned a lot, sometimes the hard way, a lot of times the hard way, but it seems to stick better that way for some reason.”
Tom said most of the cast seem keen on another season, and he’d happily film, but they are still waiting on the call from Bravo.
He has already appeared briefly on The Valley and has gotten close to former co-star Jax again amid his divorce and stint in rehab for mental health struggles.
He said, “He seems to be doing better, obviously it’s a journey so I wish him the best. I’m here, you know.”
Despite dipping his toe in the spin-off world, he admits he’s thought of quitting reality TV altogether if Vanderpump does end.
“I’d just have to sort of revisit and think about things,” he said. “I would probably like to pivot to something a little different. I don’t know. Just have to wait and see.”
But he certainly won’t be quitting the industry anytime soon or moving out of Los Angeles.
“I mean, if you want to dance, you gotta be where music is playing,” he said.
“I love my band. I’ve got Traitors [on Peacock] coming out. There’s other things in the works. So you know, it’s where you gotta be.”