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The Daily Dish Producer Secrets

A VPR Producer Shared a BTS Secret to Tom Sandoval That Made Him Go "Wow"

Plus, find out what Vanderpump Rules' Supervising Producer, Patrick McDonald, revealed to Tom Sandoval about his own life and past on reality TV.

By Jamontae Hickman

Bravo fans get ready to hear some behind-the-scenes secrets of Vanderpump Rules from a producer, who you might remember from the epic Season 10 reunion. Patrick McDonald, Vanderpump Rules’ Supervising Producer, recently sat down with Tom Sandoval for an exclusive interview with BravoTV.com, where he reflected on his journey from a reality TV star to a producer.

How to Watch

Watch Vanderpump Rules on Bravo Tuesdays at 8/7c and next day on Peacock. Catch up on the Bravo app.  

“I think it was seven or eight years ago, and this opportunity got presented to me to be on a reality show; it was kind of like the gay version of Summer House,” he said in the clip above about the defunct series. Patrick continued to reveal that his love for reality and production led to his “cool job” on Vanderpump Rules.

In addition to sharing details about his career path, Patrick also spoke about how he doesn’t let drama affect how he works with the cast and how he can relate to some of their difficult situations while filming.

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Patrick McDonald discusses working with Tom Sandoval and the Vanderpump Rules cast

“I have to remind myself that 99.5 percent of the time it's not about me. So, I don’t take it personally,” Patrick told Tom, referencing that it can be tough when the cast has “conflicts” with him.

He also noted that he prides himself on being “fair” to everyone in the friend group. You can hear if Tom agrees with Patrick's statement by pressing play in the video above.

A split of Tom Sandoval and Patrick McDonald.

Patrick McDonald on why he relates to the Vanderpump Rules cast

Moments after, Patrick opened up about how his background on reality TV has allowed him to connect with the cast on a different level. “I think that one of my biggest strengths as a producer is I’m coming into with empathy and understanding that most producers don’t have,” he said.

Patrick also mentioned how he helps guide the Vanderpump Rules cast when dealing with sensitive topics on camera because they find comfort in him. “I learned that by doing it, so when I approach a cast member now, I have that experience to draw upon,” he admitted.

You can watch Tom and Patrick’s full interview, including the funny moment that made the Schwartz & Sandy's co-owner say “wow” by checking out the clip at the top of this post.

Watch new episodes of Vanderpump Rules on Tuesdays at 8/7c on Bravo. Stream episodes the next day on Peacock

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