The fifth season of The Real Housewives of Orange County, an American reality television series, was broadcast on Bravo. It aired from November 5, 2009 until March 11, 2010, and was primarily filmed in Orange County, California. Its executive producers are Adam Karpel, Alex Baskin, Douglas Ross, Gregory Stewart, Scott Dunlop, Stephanie Boyriven and Andy Cohen. The Real Housewives of Orange County focuses on the lives of Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough, Tamra Barney, Lynne Curtin, Gretchen Rossi and Alexis Bellino. It consisted of 17 episodes. Production and crew In April, 2009 The Real Housewives of Orange County was renewed for a fifth season by Bravo. The season premiere "When Times Get Tough, The Tough Go Shopping!" was aired on November 5, 2009, while the fifteenth episode "Is This All There Is?" served as the season finale, and was aired on March 4, 2010. It was followed by a two-part reunion special that aired on March 10 and March 11, 2010, which marked the conclusion of the season. Adam Karpel, Alex Baskin, Douglas Ross, Gregory Stewart, Scott Dunlop, Stephanie Boyriven and Andy Cohen are recognized as the series' executive producers; it is produced and distributed by Evolution Media. Cast and synopsis Five of the six housewives featured on the fourth season of The Real Housewives of Orange County initially returned for the fifth instalment. With Peterson's departure midway during season four, it only left five remaining wives. Original housewife Jeana Keough decide to depart from the series on the third episode "It Ends in Coto de Caza" that aired on November 19, 2009. Keough reportedly left the series due to being undervalued saying "I just didn’t feel appreciated by the girls or the network." After the departure of Keough, it made Vicki Gunvalson the only remaining original cast member as of season six. A new housewife was featured on the series to fill Keough's place, Alexis Bellino who is described as a "spicy blonde who unabashedly lives life on her terms." Bellino made her debut to the series on the second episode of the season, and was officially made a full-time cast member in the fourth episode, "It's All About Choices", the episode after Keough's departure. Gretchen Rossi begins dating after Jeff's death, but still remains in contact with his adult kids. Rossi's new boyfriend leaves the ladies talking due to it being Slade Smiley, a former boyfriend of two previous