Two of the stars of Vanderpump Rules will be bringing their barroom expertise to bookshelves across America later this year.
Tom Sandoval stopped by DailyMail.com headquarters in New York City on Monday to discuss the new season of his popular Bravo reality show and share some behind-the-scenes details about a few of the crazier incidents involving the Sur staff.
He also revealed during his visit that he and girlfriend Ariana Madix would be releasing a cocktail book later this year, something he is very excited about.
‘It’s gonna be really awesome,’ said Sandoval. ‘Before I became part of the book, I was sort of helping Ariana with it indirectly. We’ve changed directions now though as far as where she was going to go initially, and we are going to self publish. Get into Urban Outfitters, bring it out to parties.’
He then added: ‘I already got our first sponsor, and everything else is starting to fall into place.’
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In the works: Tom Sandoval and girlfriend Adriana Madix (above last week) will be releasing a cocktail book together
Wet and wild: Sandoval shared the news about his cocktail book, and some exclusive photos from his photo shoot with Joe Simpson (above) while visiting DailyMail.com headquarters
Big fan: Sandoval raved about his photo shoot with Simpson, which aired on Vanderpump Rules last week
Firm direction: The photo shoot left tongues wagging over a scene where Simpson instructed Sandoval to stand ‘tummy in, d*** out’ (above)
Viewers also watched earlier this month as Sandoval decided to get a bit more serious about modelling by stopping by Joe Simpson’s house for a photo shoot.
And while it was a bit shocking to see Jessica and Ashlee’s Baptist minister father instruct his subject to pose ‘tummy in, d*** out,’ Sandoval had nothing but praise for Simpson.
Trust me, he was totally professional and legit. And also cool in a way. I didn’t know what to expect, if he was gonna be straight-laced or not. I didn’t now what the hell he would be like.
-Tom Sandoval on Joe Simpson
He liked Simpson so much in fact that he even returned for a second photo shoot on the beach soon after that first session, resulting in pictures that Sandoval has exclusively shared with DailyMail.com.
Simpson, 58, set tongues wagging back in 2014 when paparazzi snapped a photo of him while he was capturing his young modeling client Jonathan Keith, 24, during a beach spread.
Sandoval defended Simpson against the criticism and attacks however, saying that he knows what he is doing, and that those shoots always look weird.
‘It’s more about him being in the moment,’ explained Sandoval.
‘I’m telling you I’ve done weird spur of the moment photo shoots like that a bunch of times and they are always weird if you think about it and the people around you.’
Sandoval then explained just how serious Simpson is by describing the state-of-the-art lighting at his studio, which he has set up on a series of tracks and pulleys that allow him to get the perfect light for every shot.
‘I’ve seen photographers snapping pictures that they aren’t even going to use and the lighting is really s****y and they are like, “Oh yeah, these are going to be epic and amazing,”‘ said Sandoval.
‘And the pictures are s*** but they’re just trying to get somebody naked.’
He went on to say about Simpson: ‘Trust me, he was totally professional and legit. And also cool in a way. I didn’t know what to expect, if he was gonna be straight-laced or not. I didn’t now what the hell he would be like.’
I’ve seen photographers snapping pictures that they aren’t even going to use and the lighting is really s****y and they are like, ‘Oh yeah, these are going to be epic and amazing.’ And the pictures are s*** but they’re just trying to get somebody naked.
-Sandoval on modeling’s seedy side
Sandoval also admitted that he had never really heard much about Simpson before the shoot, save the fact that he is the father of Jessica and Ashlee.
And it was under Simpson’s guidance that those two ladies became superstars, thanks in very large part to their starring roles on a reality television series.
Sandoval is hoping to experience some small level of that success later this year with the release of his cocktail book.
This will not be a massive index of endless cocktail recipes however but rather something more fun and curated, with offerings for both guys and girls.
‘Let’s say you’re in a college dorm room and you’re having some guys and girls over and you have half a bottle of vodka and some pickles,’ said Sandoval as an example.
‘What do you do in that situation?’
Sadly, Sandoval did not reveal the cocktail he would create in that moment, but it will be in the book.
‘And we are going to cover everything,’ said Sandoval.
He also reveled that once the book is released he and Madix will travel with their bar kits to make drinks and give demonstrations whenever he has press or events.
Dirty business: ‘I’ve seen photographers snapping pictures that they aren’t even going to use and the lighting is really s****y and they are like, “Oh yeah, these are going to be epic and amazing,”‘ said Sandoval
Top notch: Sandoval explained just how serious Simpson is by describing the state-of-the-art lighting at his studio (above)
Praise: He went on to say about Simpson: ‘Trust me, he was totally professional and legit. And also cool in a way’
Staying true: ‘I take a lot of pride in my integrity and being able to handle situations in an isolated way,’ said Sandoval
Sandoval’s big book announcement comes towards the close of a new season of Vanderpump that showed him and Madix trying to stay above the drama that surrounds every member of the cast at all times.
‘I take a lot of pride in my integrity and being able to handle situations in an isolated way,’ said Sandoval.
‘The funny thing is, who I am as a person has not really changed [because of the show]. I feel like I’ve always been this person.’
What has changed however is his cast mates, explained Sandoval, and how they treat him this season.
‘In previous seasons I feel like people have always been coming after me,’ said Sandoval.
Scheana just came after us for no reason. She told my friend Jesse I stole his music video idea. It was ridiculous. Every time I showed up I thought, ‘what is Scheana going to do now?’ It was one thing after another, but now she’s really chilled out.
-Sandoval on feuding with Scheana Marie Shay
‘Some people ask for it, like James. James in a lot of situations is asking for it, but I have never been that way.
‘Jax is another person, constantly stirring s*** up, lying or exaggerating, freaking out. I don’t do that.’
Talk then turned to Scheana Marie Shay, who had a tense relationship with Sandoval and Madix last season on the show.
‘Scheana just came after us for no reason. She told my friend Jesse I stole his music video idea. It was ridiculous,’ said Sandoval.
‘Every time I showed up I thought, “what is Scheana going to do now?” It was one thing after another, but now she’s really chilled out.’
A big part of what has helped Sandoval in these situations he said is Madix, and the special relationship that the two have together.
‘I feel like with me and Ariana together we have a really strong foundation. We don’t have to try to have it, we just have it,’ he explained.
That relationship has been put to the test many times on the show due to Sandoval’s ex Kristen Doute being a cast member on the program, though these days she films almost exclusively with the women in the group.
And that is not always the best situation said Sandoval.
‘There is a lot of enabling that goes on, with the girls especially, and that is one thing I try not to do. If I’m messing up or if Jax is f***ing up, I don’t care that he’s one of my best friends, I’m going to call him out on it.’
Excitement: Sandoval promised his new cocktail book would be ‘awesome’ and unlike anything else on the market
Cold shower: Sandoval also opened up about the months after his break-up with girlfriend Kristen Doute, and how he repaired his relationship with best friend Jax
Moving on: ‘Eventually I just let it go, and he has apologized and I know he regrets it,’ said Sandoval of patching things up with Jax
Woke: ‘I don’t blame him as much as I blame Kristen for that because I know that Kristen initiated it big time,’ said Sandoval of Jax sleeping with his then girlfriend
Rinse and repeat: He then explained in further details why he places more blame on Doute than Jax, saying: ‘You know, if you’re wasted and one girl starts going down on you…’
Sandoval then pointed out a recent example of this, saying: ‘Like when Jax showed up at James’ [DJ night], that was complete bulls***. Obviously they didn’t show everything but I f***ing reamed him out, and Kristen.’
When later asked about the young woman who made an appearance that night and handed James a bag of clothes, Sandoval confirmed that the two had in fact been together for at least one night.
He also said that the entire cast was aware of who the young woman was, and that she had long expressed a desire to be on the program in some capacity.
I’m telling you right now, Lala didn’t go on that trip because one of her exes came into town and she just blew that trip off. It was complete bulls***, and that was a pivotal moment.
Not willing to go to such great lengths for the show this season was new addition Lala Kent, according to Sandoval.
He immediately brought up her alleged relationship with a married man which she tried to keep separate from the production, something that irked Sandoval and others in the cast.
‘With everything we have divulged and all that we have been through putting our lives out there, and you feel like you can just walk in and have this secret life,’ said Sandoval.
‘That’s not fair. I wish I could do that. Everybody does. Katie and Schwartz, they have put themselves so out there this season. Jax!’
Sandoval then added: ‘I feel like you get Lala for like ten minutes out of the week … I don’t think Lala has any real friends.’
Things came to a head between Sandoval and Kent when she decided to skip out on Madix’s birthday trip to Sonoma.
‘She had a real opportunity, especially when we went to Sonoma,’ explained Sandoval, who then spoke about how close the group would have become on the trip.
That he said would have then trickled into their dynamic with the others back in Los Angeles he believes, and Kent would have eventually found herself part of the larger friend group.
Sandoval claims that in the end though, a man was more important to Kent.
‘I’m telling you right now, Lala didn’t go on that trip because one of her exes came into town and she just blew that trip off,’ said Sandoval.
I don’t blame him as much as I blame Kristen for that because I know that Kristen initiated it big time. You know, if you’re wasted and one girl starts going down on you…’
-Sandoval on his best friend and then-girlfriend sleeping together
‘It was complete bulls***, and that was a pivotal moment.’
Relationship drama has always been key to the series of course, and there was nothing more tense than the revelation that Sandoval’s best friend Jax had been sleeping with his then-girlfriend Doute.
Over time however, Sandoval has been able to forgive Jax and the two are once again best friends.
It was not an easy road he explained, but their multiple jobs together did make it hard to ignore each other for all that long.
‘We just started having to work together [at Sur], and then we are being asked to do appearances together,’ said Sandoval.
‘So eventually I just let it go, and he has apologized and I know he regrets it. But for some reason I don’t blame him as much as I blame Kristen for that because I know that Kristen initiated it big time.’
He then explained in further details why he places more blame on Doute than Jax, saying: ‘You know, if you’re wasted and one girl starts going down on you…’
Rage: Sandoval expressed his distaste for cast member Lala Kent trying to have a secret life while filming the show
Star-crossed Sur-vers: ‘I feel like with me and Ariana together we have a really strong foundation. We don’t have to try to have it, we just have it,’ said Sandoval
Waterworks: Sandoval said he was very upset with Stassi Schroeder (above) for forcing Jax to apologize for his indiscretions during their relationship on this week’s episode
Getting emo: Jax offered Stassi a heartfelt apologize during the talk, which brought him to tears
Tears dry on my own: Jax’s new lady love Brittany Cartwright played with her hair during the talk in a manner suggesting her desire to be anywhere else at that very moment
That affair was revealed early in the run in the show, with Sandoval saying he got a sudden call from the producers to be at Hollywood hotspot Beso.
‘It was like a surprise party of awfulness,’ said Sandoval.
‘I literally freaked out and thought everyone was lying. I was like, “Oh my god, are you kidding me. This s*** is fake. Yeah right, there’s no way Jax and Kristen got together.”‘
Sandoval went on to say: ‘I just freaked out and I remember screaming, “This is not freaking real.”
‘It was an overload. I overloaded. I shorted out.’
Sandoval was then quick to make it clear however that he does not blame the producers for what they did, and does not think they should ever be faulted for a show that he and the others willingly signed on to do.
It was like a surprise party of awfulness. I literally freaked out and thought everyone was lying. I was like, ‘Oh my god, are you kidding me. This s*** is fake. Yeah right, there’s no way Jax and Kristen got together.’ I just freaked out and I remember screaming, ‘This is not freaking real.’ It was an overload. I overloaded. I shorted out.’
-Sandoval on learning about Jax and Doute’s indiscretion while filming
‘It’s more about the other people on the show choosing what they chose to do,’ said Sandoval.
‘The producers just say, you know what, if you’re gonna do that, were gonna follow it, but don’t put it on us, that’s your choice.’
Sandoval next answered what may the biggest mystery of all to Vanderpump Rules viewers – do any of the cast really work at the restaurant?
‘It’s Los Angeles so everyone is part time,’ explained Tom, who then launched into a brief breakdown of the need for residents of the city to be able to drop everything for audition, photos shoots or gigs.
‘There are no full-time employees at Sur. The most I have ever worked there was three days a week. But I am still there. And Lisa and Ken are always at one of the restaurants, more Pump now and Villa Blanca during the day.’
Sandoval was less enthused a bit later in the interview when asked about marriage, releasing a long sigh before he spoke.
‘I just… I don’t know,’ said Sandoval.
‘Me and Ariana just have way more important priorities than getting married. I’m so particular and I would not be able to do it half-a**ed so it would suck so much time, passion and energy out of our life. And money.
‘We would rather spend our money on something else like a down payment on a house.’
Who’s that lady: Madix (left) will be joined by a new hot blonde (right) in New Orleans on next week’s epsidoe
Bros and brews and terrycloth robes: This season will end with the wedding of Sandoval’s best bud Tom Schwartz (pair above)
Who run the world…: Lisa Vanderpump (above with husband Ken Todd) is still a frequent fixture at Sure as well as Pump and Villa Blanca said Sandoval
Another one for the books: The current season will wrap up next month and the reunion will film soon said Sandoval
Sandoval pepped right back up while speaking about this week’s episode that saw the group down in New Orleans, and made it clear he was not happy with the behavior of one Stassi Schroeder.
More specifically, the scene where she brought her ex Jax to tears by demanding he apologize for cheating on her, years after their break-up.
‘It was one of the most selfish things I have seen a person do. It’s just typical Stassi deciding that she needs to get an apology from someone and so she goes after Jax for cheating on her six years ago,’ said Sandoval.
The most interesting thing that happened was cut out of the show and it f***ing pissed me off, and that was that me and Ariana actually went over to Kristen and [her boyfriend] Carter’s house. And it was the first time we actually had a constructive conversation. I brought over old photos that i found while cleaning out my extra bedroom. You could ear a pin drop in the room for how awkward it was. They thought we were the pizza [delivery].
-Sandoval on his recent day with his ex and her new boyfriend
‘So then Jax is apologizing and just saying over and over again, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I was a piece of s***.” Then he starts crying and she just lets him keep going and then finally she says, “Thank you.” And then she walks away!
‘Just like gets what she needs from the situation and walks away. It was one of the grossest things I’ve seen. So selfish and so inappropriate. And then Brittany gets so mad at Jax.’
Sandoval then explained that the problem with the show is that there is too much content, which leads to some scenes and moments getting completely cut, including what he thinks was the best part of the current season.
‘On World Dog Day, the most interesting thing that happened was cut out of the show and it f***ing pissed me off, and that was that me and Ariana actually went over to Kristen and [her boyfriend] Carter’s house,’ said Sandoval.
‘And it was the first time we actually had a constructive conversation. I brought over old photos that I found while cleaning out my extra bedroom.’
The meeting did not start off however on the best note, according to Sandoval.
‘You could ear a pin drop in the room for how awkward it was. They thought we were the pizza [delivery],’ said Sandoval.
‘Jax had invited me and Ariana an so we were like, let’s just go by there. I was like, we do have these pictures we got to give her, so we just showed up.
‘We went there and it was just like, “Uhhh …. Hi. You guys, I guess, come in.” Then Kristen went outside and was like freaking out and pissed because she thought it was like, whatever. I don’t know. It was really strange.’
When asked if it worked out in the end, Sandoval said it did, and the two couples had a nice day together.
‘And they cut it out,’ said Sandoval.
One moment that will not be cut out is ‘another thing coming up at the end of the season that I can’t tell you.’
Sandoval said those exact words four times during the hour-long interview but offered no hints.
The current season will wrap up next month and the reunion will film soon said Sandoval.
As for next season he said there was still no word on timing yet, and then revealed that the cast is only informed about the start of filming two or three weeks in advance.
