Well, it’s official.
Despite a ratings free fall that really became worrisome after Farrah Abraham got fired from the show, Teen Mom OG will be returning to MTV for an eighth season.
The Ashley’s Reality Roundup confirms that the network reached a deal with the show’s stars after an unusually lengthy round of negotiations.
Perhaps Amber Portwood and company are unaware of the desperate ratings situation.
Someone may want to inform them that if the opportunity to re-sign again next year should arise, they probably don’t want to push their luck.
Check out all the details on the surprise renewal and the tense negotiations below:
The OGs Are Back! While the addition of Bristol Palin and Cheyenne Floyd didn’t prove to be the ratings boon producers had hoped (and served to make the “OG” title wildly inappropriate) the controversial series will be returning to MTV later this year.
Finally! (MTV) “Everyone has finally signed their contracts, and things are up and running,” a source close to the situation tells The Ashley.
Tense Negotiations Yes, the entire cast is returning, which is surprising for a number of reasons.
Cutting Costs For one thing, as we mentioned, Bristol and Cheyenne failed to boost ratings, so many assumed they would be cut from the cast if the show returned for another season.
Expensive Talent (MTV) Bristol, in particular, was rumored to be on the chopping block, as she got paid more than any of the other moms in her first season.
Another Go (MTV) But both she and Cheyenne will get at least one more season on the once-wildly popular series. And they’re not the only ones whose returns were in doubt.
The Holdout Amber Portwood was reportedly the most hesitant to sign a new contract — but not because she was seeking more money.
Stubborn Star (MTV) “Amber was the last to sign her contract,” the production source told The Ashley.
Holding Up the Parade (MTV) “She actually didn’t sign on officially until last week. She was really the only one who was holding out,” the insider continued.
No Fan of Fame (MTV) Amber has complained frequently and loudly about her role on the show this past season.
The Hand That Feeds Amber publicly criticized the show’s producers on numerous occasions, complaining that she was misrepresented in her scenes.
Fanning the Flames Amber also expressed her anger toward the show’s fans, at one point claiming they were so critical that their comments nearly drove her to suicide.
Andrew Sounds Off Recently, Amber’s boyfriend, Andrew Glennon, echoed her criticisms in a scathing interview with OK! magazine.
Manipulators and Oppressors “MTV silences her voice, oppresses her story, and manipulates footage to constantly cast her in a bad light,” he told the tabloid.
Money Talks Despite those harsh words, Andrew will also be appearing on the show next season. “He’ll be back next season too!” says the insider.
Making the Decision For Them (Getty) The source reports that the decision almost wasn’t Amber’s to make, as producers very nearly fired her as a result of her attitude and antics.
Unberable Amber “She was literally unbearable to work with,” the source said. “She would refuse to film, or start acting like a giant diva.”
Wasting Time “There was always an ‘issue’ on her shoots and it caused a lot of wasted time and people are sick of it. They want to get her reeled in for this upcoming season,” the informant continued.
Compliant Bristol (MTV) Bristol was also quite critical of the show during her first season. But when the time came to sign on the dotted line, she didn’t hesitate.
She Knows Where Her Bread Is Buttered (MTV) “Bristol actually had a shoot schedule this past weekend,” the behind-the-scenes source said. “As far as I have heard, she didn’t give anyone any trouble and signed on pretty quickly.”
The Human Question Mark (MTV) At this point, the only cast member whose future remains in doubt is Ryan Edwards.
Return of the Mack He and Mackenzie Standifer were fired from the show last year, but she made an unexpected return this past season.
Comeback Kid? (MTV) The Ashley was unable to confirm that Ryan will follow suit, but we wouldn’t be surprised if he shows up on the show that made him famous next season.