Bravo fans expecting a routine “Peaks & The Valley:” panel at BravoCon 2025 were hit with a surprise when two very familiar faces entered the room — and they didn’t come quietly. Lala Kent and Tom Schwartz shocked the audience when they joined the panel mid-event, confirming the growing rumors that both “Vanderpump Rules” alums are making their way to “The Valley” for season 3.
Lala Kent and Tom Schwartz Surprise BravoCon Crowd
During the “Peaks & The Valley” panel presented by Carnival Cruise Line — hosted by Danny Pellegrino and featuring Danny Booko, Nia Booko, Luke Broderick, Jason Caperna, Janet Caperna, Brittany Cartwright, Kristen Doute, Jasmine Goode, Jesse Lally, Michelle Saniei, and Zack Wickham — fans erupted when Kent and Schwartz walked onstage.
After everything that happened during “Vanderpump Rules” post-Scandoval era, Kent admitted she needed a breather from reality TV. But joining “The Valley” felt natural. “It’s weird because I’ve been friends with a lot of these people for a long time,” she said. “I am like, ‘Oh, you guys are also filming a show, but I only know you when we’re in our cute little bubble.’ It’s just a different game when you’ve got cameras on you.”
Kent revealed she didn’t feel “done” with reality TV before returning.
“Everyone is wonderful, and everyone is pulling their weight,” she told OK! “They all have kids except [Tom] Schwartz. It’s a different environment than ‘Vanderpump Rules.’”
Lauren WeigleSince she has been “out of the game” for several years, she admitted, “It was definitely a shock to me to be back [filming]… I’m having a good time, though.” With most cast members in full-blown parent mode, filming looks nothing like it did at SUR. “I love when I see so-and-so is having a party, and it starts at 6 p.m. I am like, ‘I can get down with that!’ We are living the dream.”
Kent, now mom to Ocean and Sosa, said filming feels like “riding a bike,” even if she’s in a completely different phase of life. “I get to hang out with my friends, which I would be doing anyway.”
She also confirmed one friendship that won’t be returning to the screen.
Lauren WeigleDoute shared that Scheana Shay discussed appearing on season 3 with higher-ups but ultimately declined. “I don’t know exactly why,” Doute said.
Schwartz says He’s ‘Establishing [His] Own Identity’ on ‘The Valley’
Schwartz told the BravoCon audience he was nervous to appear, admitting he feared he might get booed. Instead, he received loud cheers. “It’s nice to establish my own identity,” he said, reflecting on stepping into a new series without being overshadowed by former castmate Tom Sandoval. Still, he emphasized that Sandoval remains “family.”
Lauren WeigleWhen asked about his personal life, Schwartz got unexpectedly candid, saying he is “definitely in a relationship” and even calling someone “the love of my life.” Fans in the room audibly gasped. He also confirmed that he and ex-wife Katie Maloney are on “great terms” and that he still “loves her.”
Kent joked about the dynamic between them: “It’s fun to flirt with Schwartz,” she said, but quickly added that she “would eat him alive.”
With filming for season 3 underway since August 2025, Bravo has not yet announced a premiere date. The new season is expected to debut sometime in 2026. Seasons 1 and 2 of “The Valley” are now streaming on Peacock.
