The Real Housewives of Orange County Bitchfest Is Back!

Bravo's original ladies of luxury return for an explosive season five, and Gretchen Rossi is giving us the scoop

Move over, Atlanta, Bravo's original leading ladies are back!

The Real Housewives of Orange County hotties return tonight, and the premiere gets so heated you'll be wondering why everyone made such a big fuss over those other two—you know, Miss "Tardy for the Party" Kim and her lifelong frenemy NeNe.

It's safe to say that season five will be more drama-filled than ever—and not just between the usual suspects. More marriages are falling apart, the newbies are clashing with the classics, and bitter feuds are boiling over.

We caught up with the O.C.'s kinda-but-not-really-housewife Gretchen Rossi last week, and she gave us the goods on what's up in season five...

"I decided I'm gonna be a little bit stronger," Gretchen told us. "I'm gonna be cordial. I'm gonna be civil, but I'm gonna let her know how I feel. I'm gonna let her know that the way I was treated last year wasn't right."

She's talking about her reunion-show showdown with Tamra Barney (whose marriage is far less blissful this time around).

So does the tactic work? Based on the premiere, we're guessing a big, fat, no. In fact, Tamra calls Gretchen a hooker this week! Still, Gretchen is hopeful. "You'll see the dynamic of our relationship change this season. We're both adults, and I believe at the end of the day both have good hearts and say let's get on with life."

We'll believe it when we see it, but G does have one thing in her favor—there's a new new wifey in town, and some of the cougar-esque ladies are not havin' it.

"[Alexis Bellino] seems like a real, true, genuine person," Gretchen told us. "I've really enjoyed having her as part of the cast, and her and I have become really good friends. There's always drama when you put all of girls together, and Alexis brings some spice to the group."

Spoiler alert: Vicki Gunvalson, the always protective mother hen of the group, does not take well to the newest O.C. transplant.

Vicki's not too happy with Gretchen again, but for a slightly different reason: G is now dating Slade from the Real Housewives season one and two!

"We've fallen madly in love. It's nothing we ever expected, [but] he's taken really good care of me and helped me through a really emotional time," said a smitten Gretchen.

As for the other ladies, Lynne Curtin boasts a thriving bracelet company but is getting evicted from her pad (huh?), and even sadder news, main mama Jeana Keough is out, but we'll see her in the first few episodes. After suffering from a financial slump, O.C.'s original reigning queen returns to season six on the outs with former bestie Vicki (we get to hear the story from both sides, but it looks like Vicki refused to loan Jeana some money when times got tough).