‘Housewife’ Jeana Keough doubts she’ll return to show

Jeana Keough says of "The Real Housewives of Orange County": "It's a little embarrassing. I'd like to do something I'm proud of and is changing the world a little bit. I'd rather be doing something that I can look back on some day and be proud of.
The cast of the most recent fourth season of "Real Housewives" featured, from left, Tamra Barney, Lynne Curtin, Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough, Lauri Waring and Gretchen Rossi.
The original cast of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" featured, from left, Kimberely Bryant, Lauri Waring, Jeana Keough, Vicki Gunvalson and Jo De La Rosa.
real.0312.mgk8.jpg 2/22/06 photo by Michael Kitada / The Orange County Register Jeana Keough of Coto de Caza is one of the stars of Bravo's, "The Real Housewives of Orange County."
Jeana Keough waits for Virgin America's inaugural flight to Orange County to arrive at an April event.
Jeana Keough is photographed in October 2007, before the start of season three of "The Real Housewives of Orange County."
Jeana Keough poses with Jennifer Dougherty of Irvine at a breast cancer fundraiser staged at Keough's home in October 2008.
Jeana Keough of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" shows off a model of the "Jeana Purse" that debuted at a party in Coto de Caza in April.
Jeana Keough is interviewed on the red carpet before the start of a fundraiser for Working Wardrobes in September of 2008.
Jeana Keough points to a poignant message on the helmet of a crew member from a Marine helicopter that landed on the driving range at Coto De Caza Golf and Racquet Club in March for the Cox Community Golf Tournament to benefit the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
Jeana Keough appears at an event at the St. Regis at Monarch Beach in Dana Point in November 2008.
The cast of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" turn out for the inaugural landing of a Virgin America flight at John Wayne Airport in April. From left are Lynne Curtain, Gretchen Rossi, Jeana Keough, Tamra Barney and Vicki Gunvalson.
Jeana Keough poses for a photo before the start of the most recent season of "The Real Housewives of Orange County." Keough, who has not signed a contract for the upcoming season of the Bravo reality show, says she doesn't think she'll return to the cast, though she has not ruled it out completely.

By Richard Chang | Orange County Register

June 1, 2009 at 3:00 a.m.

One of the original “Real Housewives of Orange County” is probably not coming back for season five.

Jeana Keough, a Coto de Caza resident who has appeared in every episode of the popular Bravo reality TV series, said Monday she didn’t think she would be returning.

“We may not be in the Orange County tornado,” she said, referring to herself and her family, who have also appeared on the show. Keough has consistently topped polls as one of the viewers’ favorite cast members.

Keough said the Housewives recently faced a “drop-dead sign date” to renew their contracts and she did not sign because she didn’t agree with the terms and she was distracted by a death in the neighborhood. She added that she believed all the other current cast members signed their renewals.

“We haven’t signed,” Keough said. “We’re negotiating still. They wanted us for a longer term. I don’t know that it’s dead yet. We’re going to try to give them some time to figure out what they’re doing.”

Calls placed to Bravo on Monday were not returned. Scott Dunlop, the executive producer and creator of the series, declined to comment.

Last week, the Web site RadarOnline.comran a video interview with current housewife Tamra Barney in which she said that one original housewife would not return, and season five would feature one, possibly two, new cast members.

On Sunday, the gossip Web site The Dirtyreported that the Keough family and Bravo could not come to terms on a new contract. The information was unsourced.

Meanwhile, shooting for season five of “Real Housewives of Orange County” is scheduled to start this week, according to Barney.

In addition, discussions have been underway about branching out the “Housewives” franchise to Beverly Hills and Washington, D.C.

“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” currently airs on Tuesdays on Bravo, and the New York City and Atlanta editions are currently in between seasons.

Keough said her family is going in different directions, and she wouldn’t regret not being on the show anymore.

“It’s a little embarrassing,” she said. “I’d like to do something I’m proud of and is changing the world a little bit. I’d rather be doing something that I can look back on some day and be proud of.

“People are losing their homes. But they’re showing people extravagantly buying $16,000 purses and million-dollar (indiscernible). I don’t believe this is reality.”

Contact the writer: 714-796-6026 or rchang@ocregister.com