EXCLUSIVE: 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' on Bouncing Back From 'Downer' Season & Bringing in 'New Blood'
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills are back for season seven -- and back to having fun!
“You know, this season's really glamorous,” Lisa Rinna tells ET. “What I love about this season is, if we get into something, we move out of it and move on quickly.”
“I'm not gonna lie, I laughed more this season,” Kyle Richards says. “I didn't cry as much as I have in the seasons past. So, for me, that's a good time.”
ET caught up with the cast at their premiere party in, where else, Beverly Hills.
WATCH: Lisa Vanderpump Shares More Season Seven Secrets
“We brought back the fun this year,” Rinna adds. “It was not fun last year. It was a downer. We were in it. It was a downer. Not to judge it, but this year we have more fun … We're up this year!”
Of course, Rinna is referencing season six’s months-long look at Yolanda Hadid’s Lyme disease diagnosis and the cast’s constant discussion of it. (Who can forget Munchausen Syndrome?!) That talk will seemingly be non-existent this year, as Hadid is no longer part of the cast.
“I get to know everyone else a little bit better, which is kind of cool,” Erika Girardi, whom Hadid brought into the group, admits. “I was able to develop different relationships this year … I got closer to every one of them: Rinna, Eileen [Davidson], Lisa Vanderpump.”
Speaking of Vanderpump, she agrees with Rinna that season seven is way more fun than season six… or five… or four.
“I would say it was refreshing,” Vanderpump shares. “I've had three seasons where they come at me … I'm always beaten up, really, let's be honest, [but] they gave me a year off!”
WATCH: Kim Richards Returning for RHOBH Season Seven, Feels ‘Better Than Ever’
Still, it’s (thankfully) not a drama-free season.
“When you have these women that have these strong personalities, things are going to happen,” Eileen Davidson notes. “So much happens … Big personalities. Big trips. Big stuff.”
The target seemingly shifts from Vanderpump to cast newbie Dorit Kemsley, a recent Manhattan transplant, this season. Vanderpump introduces the former fashion designer to the ladies.
“I can tell you that there are definitely some challenging moments,” Kemsley confesses. “We have our disagreements for sure, which leads to, I think, an exciting season, no doubt. Overall it was really enjoyable to meet these women... I think some of them more than others.”
The season trailer teases major moments between Kemsley and Girardi, with Girardi telling Kemsley she thinks she’s “bulls**t” at one point.
“I think that's more Dorit's issue than my issue,” Girardi remarks.
“We had our little moments, but I actually think she's a fantastic addition,” Richards says. “I think she's going to be great for the show, and I think the audience is really going to respond to her.”
WATCH: Camille Grammer Teases Her ‘Dramatic’ Real Housewives Return
Still, Girardi warns her castmates should leave it up to the audience to judge whether that’s true.
“[Kemsley] took a little bit of heat,” Vanderpump reveals. “I didn't really like to see that, 'cause I thought, ‘I brought her into this hot mess!’ But, she's a strong woman … I think that's what we need to see on television. We need to see people with opinions! For me, people who sit on the fence, I'm not interested in people who are like, 'Well, I see both sides...' No!”
Judging by Vanderpump’s words, she won’t be seeing eye to eye will Kemsley’s fellow cast addition, “friend” Eden Sassoon.
“When there's a new year, there's some fresh blood going on,” Sassoon teases. “Vanderpump likes to call me 'Switzerland.'”
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills returns for season seven on Tuesday night at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. Check out the video below to hear Andy Cohen’s thoughts on the new episodes, plus his take on where The Real Housewives of Orange County goes after that explosive season 11 reunion.