Laguna Beach Stars Reunite for Special: A Reflection on Reality TV's Evolution

Twenty years after the conclusion of the groundbreaking reality series *Laguna Beach*, original cast members Lauren Conrad, Stephen Colletti, and Kristin Cavallari are reuniting for *The Reunion: Laguna Beach*, a special set to stream on The Roku Channel starting April 10, 2026. This event brings together much of the original cast to reflect on their high school experiences and address past conflicts. The reunion was inspired by the success of Colletti and Cavallari's rewatch podcast, *Back to the Beach*, which featured various cast members and sparked interest in a collective gathering.

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Conrad, who has largely distanced herself from reality television since her departure from *The Hills* in 2009, expressed the need for a compelling reason to return. She stated, “I wanted to make sure that it felt like we did it in the right way, which was we wanted this to be a positive, nostalgic, warmer show.” The trio, along with original show creator Liz Gateley, served as executive producers, ensuring they had significant input in the production. Colletti emphasized the importance of creative control, noting, “It was an important thing for both [Conrad and I] that we were going to have some creative control and tell our story about this experience.”

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The cast members acknowledged the significant changes in the reality television landscape since *Laguna Beach* aired. Cavallari remarked that the original series might not resonate with contemporary audiences, stating, “I do not think it would do well, I think it would be too boring.” She highlighted the innocence of their experiences, contrasting it with the fast-paced, drama-driven nature of modern reality shows. Conrad added that today's reality stars often seek to leverage their appearances for brand-building, a stark difference from their motivations as teenagers.

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Colletti expressed concern that attempting to recreate the original series' format could undermine its legacy, suggesting that a brief special is more fitting for the nostalgic nature of the reunion. He noted, “If we tried to shoot a multi-episode arc again, I’m afraid that it would do something to the original version.”

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The reunion has been framed as a chance for healing and reflection among the cast members. Conrad has indicated that this special will likely mark her final interaction with reality television, stating, “I think this is the last time I’m interacting with cameras.”

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• “I had a lot of questions, [Colletti and I] had some conversations about it. I wanted to make sure that if we did it, we needed to have a reason to do it — how is this going to be different than anything we’d ever done?” — Lauren Conrad, Reality TV Star

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• “I don’t think it would even get a pilot. People would be like, ‘Nothing is happening on this show, there’s nothing going on.'” — Kristin Cavallari, Reality TV Star

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The reunion special promises to offer a nostalgic look back at a formative period in reality television history while acknowledging the genre's evolution over the past two decades.

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