In promotion of Caroline’s new book, Let Me Tell You Something — which is scheduled to be released next week — Caroline has been hitting the town to generate buzz, and during an interview with NY Daily News, she did just that when the conversation turned to the focus of her marriage and previous rumors of cheating.
“I know the man I married. He’s a good man. But he’s a man. I don’t believe there were any long-term affairs. If that were the case, this story would end differently,” she said.
“If something happened here or there along the way; it’s very possible. I have no inclination of that, but logic tells me. … I can’t worry about 20 years ago,” she said.
In an exclusive interview with InTouch — also promoting the book — Caroline commented further: “If Al cheated on me 25 years ago, one night, that was then and this is now.”
Yikes. That’s one serious admission, and I can’t imagine why anyone would want to put that kind of pressure on their marriage by inviting the public into these types of personal and touchy marital topics; unless they were looking to make a a few bucks. Which is exactly what Teresa Giudice did last season in her various tabloid interviews that landed her in hot water with both Caroline and Jacqueline Laurita.
Looks like Caroline wrote the book on being a hypocrite — pun intended.
After news hit last week that Caroline Manzo and Kathy Walkie were getting the axe next season, Melissa told InTouch the rumors were bogus. “Caroline is returning. … Okay, there you go. Caroline is back and so is Kathy,” Melissa said.
Melissa also alluded to another whooper of a rumor: The return of the dreaded Danielle Staub. Cringe.
It was reported last week that Danielle had been offered either a full- or part-time contract with Bravo to return to the series.
“The producers squeezed all the juice they could from the Giudices vs. Gorgas story line and had to think of a fresh outlet for drama,” a source told USA Today, adding, “Having her back on will ruffle a lot of feathers!”
Bravo has yet to comment on either the return of Danielle or the Manzo-Walkie firing, but, again, Melissa had something to say:
“I’m not going to run from her,” Melissa told InTouch. “If she wants to film together, let’s film together.”
She continued, “I don’t think anyone can cause more problems for Teresa and me — not even Danielle.”
I can’t imagine why Bravo would invite even more crazy into the RHONJ lineup with the re-addition of Danielle — the chick is certifiable — but, hey, anything to deflect off the Gorga-Giudice feud, right?
If the rumors are true, it should make for a very interesting season. Hopefully Bravo will let the “official” cat out the bag soon, but until then, we always have Melissa as a news source.
Thoughts on Danielle Staub returning to RHONJ? Yay or Nay?
Both Noelle and Gia are long-time friends of Teresa, and Priscilla is Teresa’s makeup artist and BFF, so it seems T will be getting some much-needed re-enforcements next season.
Bravo has yet to confirm any staffing decisions on RHONJ season 5.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Part Three, reunion episode left me with one initial thought: I wish I could have Joe Giudice’s attitude in the face of turmoil and devastation.
Your wife’s family is falling apart? “Who cares?”
Your closest friends have dubbed you a liar and cheater? “So what?”
You are potentially facing up to 10 years in prison? “Move on!”
Joe’s “gift” of brushing extremely dramatic and potentially devastating situations under the rug is a real talent. Way to not sweat the small, or the really big stuff, Joe.
As to be expected, the final conclusion of the RHONJ season was filled with dramatic accusations that riled up nearly every cast mate, minus Joe Giudice, of course.
The first rage-inducing moment of the night? Joe Giudice claimed Chris Laurita told him he met Jacqueline Laurita in Las Vegas while he was engaged. This instantly threw Jacqueline into a eye-popping fit, where she quickly clarified her and Chris met in Chicago at a trade show right before she attempted to put Joe in his place by exclaiming, “I hope you go to jail.” Wow, Jac. Harsh.
In an equally — or even more-so — intense moment, things came to a head with Teresa Giudice and brother Joe Gorga — who haven’t seen each other in one year — when Joe claimed Teresa “took his parents away from him” and it is her fault “his kids don’t have grandparents.” Teresa yelled, “Mommy and Daddy love you!” and explained that she never influenced her parents to feel any way because she never discussed her problems with her brother or Melissa Gorga with them. This prompted Jacqueline to exclaim, “Yes you did,” which brought Teresa back to her violent table-flipping days, as she got up and started to approach Jac, until Andy Cohen put his hands up, and scolded Jacqueline to “stay out of it.” Poor Andy.
The most depressing part of the mentioned family meltdown? The in-laws faces. During the confrontation both Teresa and brother Joe looked distraught as their eyes filled with tears, while Joe Guidice looked bored, and Melissa stared at Teresa with a hateful face. There is obviously too much sideline hatred to allow a brother/sister reconciliation. It’s sad.
In the reunion’s final moments, the audience almost gets what it has been waiting for: an appearance from Kim D that will finally expose Teresa’s involvement — or un-involvement — in the whole Melissa Gorga stripper-gate thing. Sadly, Kim D’s confessions offered little insight on Teresa’s hand in the matter, but did reveal Kim’s motive for exposing Melissa was due to Melissa promoting a rival local clothing shop. In reference to Teresa: Kim claimed Teresa knew Melissa was going to be set up, but she didn’t know how, whatever that means. However, Kim did tweet during airing, “For the last time!!! @Teresa_Giudice had NO clue about what I was doing. PERIOD!”
Finally, the former RHONJ stripper was exposed: Joe Gorga willfully admitted he worked as a Chippendales dancer for a year while in college. Barf.
In conclusion, I have to say I am a bit relieved we will be granted a RHONJ hiatus. The combative family dynamic of the series makes it easily the most intense of the franchise to watch, often leaving me feeling depressed for the lives of the cast mates rather than entertained. Here’s to hoping the group will return next season with a little resolve and compassion, although I won’t be holding my breath.
She’s trying. We have to give her at least that, don’t we?
After recently releasing her third single, “I Just Wanna,” Real Housewives of New Jersey star Melissa Gorga unveiled its video counterpart this week to “complement” the tune. Check out her new video below, featuring Santino Noir, and let me know your thoughts.
Does it make you “just wanna dance” … “until you can’t” … “anymore”? Ya, I didn’t think so. Sorry, Melis.
I don’t know what it is about me. Maybe I like to root for the underdog, or maybe I am just a sucker, but after watching theReal Housewives of New Jersey reunion, Part 2, I am starting to side with Teresa Giudice, and I am definitely not buying Melissa Gorga’s “I am the victim” nonsense.
Don’t get me wrong, Teresa has her moments when rage takes control of her tongue and she throws out some low blows, i.e., she should have never questioned Chris Laurita’s fidelity to Jacqueline publicly, which will only breathe air into any speculation on their relationship, but I don’t think she is the monster the other ladies claim her to be, and, conversely, Melissa Gorga is no victim.
When insults and accusations are concerned, Melissa and Teresa are on even ground. Teresa accused Melissa of lip synching at performances, and Melissa accused Teresa of not making her own cookbook recipes. Equally bitchy, and that was just on part 2 of the reunion. They had both been mud slinging throughout the season.
Not to mention, something about Melissa’s arrival on the show is shady. Why would she go behind Teresa’s back and not tell her she was campaigning to get on RHONJ? Why would Melissa reach out to Danielle Staub? These are moves that seem to have a lot of malicious intention.
During the reunion, a tearful Melissa also claimed her reasoning for recently moving out of her expensive home had nothing to do with financial trouble, and it was rather a decision she made based on the fact that she wanted to get away from Teresa and she didn’t want her kids going to school with Teresa’s kids, which I don’t buy; I am willing to bet a move from the former mansion to a smaller space was inspired more by finances. Also, if you wanted to try and remove yourself from the Giudices, why would you inject yourself into the storyline by contacting Danielle Staub years ago? Something stinks.
The reunion’s most intense and anticipated moment was when “Juicy” Joe Giudice joined the stage. When asked who he was talking to on the phone call heard round the world — you know, the one where he called his wife a “b*itch” and a “c*nt” and then pretended to be talking to a non-English-speaking employee — he claimed it was his friend, “Albie,” on the other end. “A friend of mine, a long-time friend of mine that was taking care of things back home,” Joe said. “If I was talking to a girlfriend, I probably would have ripped my mic off and threw it in the bushes.” That logic I am not buying, because I am willing to bet that after one too many glasses of vino, Juicy may forget he has that mic on; he doesn’t seem like the sharpest tool in the box.
When Andy pressed further, asking him about speaking Spanish on the call when Teresa approached, Joe claimed his friend “Albie” passed the phone off to another employee who didn’t speak English. Ya, OK. What about the fact that he said on the recording, “I am going to hang up. … I am going to talk to you like, whatever” when he saw Teresa coming before he started speaking Spanish? He is obviously lying; denial is sadly a very powerful thing.
Going further, Joe claimed he has never cheated on his wife, a fact which Jacqueline debunked — still reeling from Teresa’s attempt to expose her own husband’s alleged infidelity — by saying that Teresa told her she walked in on Joe and his secretary previously, and also admitted a former fling with a baby sitter. Jacqueline also said the name-calling is a constant in the Giudice marriage, claiming they also “punch” and “hit” each other, an accusation both Teresa and Joe denied.
Whether Jacqueline is speaking truth or not, it is obvious this marriage is full of dysfunction, and it’s just sad watching these women try to expose it. I think I liked it better when the insults were focused on table flipping and plastic surgery.
Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion Part 3 airs next Sunday @ 10/9c.
Part one of the RHONJ reunion, which aired this week, marked a milestone in terms of Real Housewife trash talking, line crossing and profanity, inching the franchise closer to the “reality TV trash” bracket.
As to be expected, Teresa Giudice was standing alone while the other ladies banded together, and I have to say I felt bad for her. Don’t get me wrong, I am not claiming Teresa is innocent, but I don’t think all of the hostility towards her is fully warranted. Throughout the reunion, all of the other ladies, including Kathy, claimed Teresa has tried to destroy MelissaGorga from the moment she signed on to film, with the scene at the Posche fashion show being her final manipulative attempt, but I am not buying it. Why? Teresa simply isn’t that smart. She couldn’t mastermind that kind of sabotage; she can’t even spell napalm, remember? These ladies give her too much credit.
Not to mention, these girls have been riding the Teresa hate train so long they are becoming blinded and hypocritical; they only see what she does and don’t realize they are more like her than they think. The first lady to go physical with the insults was Caroline Manzo when she commented on Teresa’s dress, but when Teresa fires back with a weight comment, the girls are appalled. In terms of low-brow family insults: When Lauren Manzo — who revealed her new lap-band approved physique — commented on how she feels sorry for Gia because her father is a cheater, and when Kathy Walkie dubs Teresa’s mother a “liar” and her father a “coward” the other ladies barely react — excluding Teresa, of course — but when Teresa responds by scolding Kathy for speaking of her father that way, claiming he was “there for you more than your own father,” Rosie goes all, “I’ll kill Teresa” crazy, claiming she will “cut out her tongue.”
The behaviors are identical, it’s just the reactions that are conflicting. These ladies are all to blame for the messy hate fest that RHONJ has become; not just Teresa. They all contribute, they all name-call, they all do press, they all back stab and maybe they should own something and punish themselves for their bad behavior just as harshly as they punish Teresa. Just sayin’.
Some other takeaways from Part One of the reunion:
- Kathy’s plastic surgery: Ick. Sorry, Kath.
- Glitter eye shadow is apparently making a comeback.
- Rosie needs a Percocet and an anger management course, pronto.
- Caroline Manzo isn’t actually going through menopause, she is just a self-diagnosed bitch.
- Lastly, and on a more serious note, Jacqueline Laurita’ssegment where she discusses her son Nick’s autism diagnosis is truly touching and heart wrenching; my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. Also to note, while Jacqueline is discussing her son, Melissa and Teresa are arguing about whether or not People magazine pays celebrities for stories. Classy, ladies; way to have a little perspective.
Part Two of the reunion airs next Sunday @ 10/9c. Who is tuning in?
Seeing as Teresa Giudice’s involvement with gossip magazines was a constant nerve-pincher for her fellow cast mates, I wonder if Melissa Gorga will get the same negative reaction from her Real Housewives of New Jersey buddies, as it is her pretty face gracing the cover of Us Weekly this go-round.
The focus of the story? You guessed it; Melissa is still pissed about that whole stripper thing, which actually happened a year ago, but aired on this week’s episode of RHONJ.
In case you missed it, the trouble began — unsurprisingly — when Kim DePaola invited Angelo Vrohdis, a former manager of the New Jersey strip joint, Looker’s Gentlemen Club, to her fashion show. As Kim D and Teresa are getting their hair done before the show, Vrohdis revealed Melissa used to “dance” for him. Teresa made it clear she was uncomfortable with the conversation, and left the room as Kim D foamed at the mouth, asking Angelo to reveal more of the juicy details, which he did, with the Bravo mic securely fastened, of course. Angelo later confronted Melissa at the fashion show, asking if she “remembered him.” It has since been revealed Melissa only worked as a bartender at the club, and never took off her clothes, or danced.
Melissa, convinced — then and now — that the entire thing was a setup birthed by Teresa, is taking to the news stand one year later to publicly voice her disdain for her sister-in-law.
“It was vindictive and disgusting,” Melissa said in her Us Weekly interview. “Maybe she thought my husband didn’t know I worked there. … Maybe she was trying to hurt my marriage. Maybe it will make her happy when everyone is as miserable as Teresa is. That’s a sick individual. It’s even sicker that she would put this on national TV.”
Continuing, Melissa claimed she was “set-up,” using Teresa’s random desire to get her hair and makeup done at a new salon as evidence; although it has been rumored all of the ladies were scheduled to get ready at the salon before the show, but they all cancelled separately — maybe because they hate each other.
“She never wants to be the one to look bad. … She finds soldiers to do her dirty work. She pretends, like, ‘No! Please! Don’t talk about my family! I don’t wanna hear this!’ While Kim asks all the questions, then she comes back to get her hair done. .. The acting could not have been worse,” Melissa said.
I have to agree with Melissa that the pre-fashion show meeting with Angelo wreaked of intention. However, I am not convinced Teresa was pulling the strings. Could it be that Melissa is paranoid? Kim D does always love to bring the drama; could this have been a Kim D solo mission?
Also, while Melissa does have a right to be pissed, maybe she should throw some smaller stones, as she previously tried to set up Teresa as well when she fed Danielle Staub personal Giudice-Gorga family drama before the former RHONJ reunion. And some may say giving Danielle — easily the craziest Real Housewife of all time — inside intel may be a worse offense.
Maybe that’s where these ladies have it all wrong. Maybe they should just admit they were all bit by the Bravolebrity Real Housewives bug, and now a false sense of fame is pumping through their veins and they can’t help but torture and obsess over one another; its only natural for them; they are all guilty.
Not to mention, even if the Melissa Gorga stripper rumors turned out to be true, is that so tragic? It’s not like she was a prostitution whore…
After getting booted off the Real Housewives of New Jersey for being bat-sh*t crazy, she successfully weaseled her way back into the RHONJ story line and officially acted as the nail in the coffin of Teresa Giudice’s and Jacqueline Laurita’s friendship. Now that’s an exiting twofer.
Last night’s episode began in the aftermath of last week’s awkward conversation, where both Jacqueline and Caroline Manzo rejected Teresa’s friendship because — well, I am still kind of lost on the solid reason for the dramatic friendship-ending conversation, but it seems it was Teresa’s tweet to Danielle Staub — thanking her for exposing that Melissa Gorga had feed her secret Gorga-Giudice family drama during season 2 — that officially sent Jacqueline over the edge. While Caroline Manzoseemed completely unaffected — and probably ecstatic — about the death of the friendship, both Teresa and Jacqueline seemed devastated, carrying on and crying for days. Sad.
In the aftermath of the argument, Teresa reaches out to Kathy Walkie by setting up a lunch date, and brother Joe Gorga by finally complying to attend therapy with him — but of course not before making it clear she isn’t the one with the problem, she is doing it to help him. Whatever you say, Tre. I would like to think all of this healthy reconciliation is simply the product of maturity, but it seems to come at a time of convenience, at the heels of Teresa’s demise with the Manzo’s.
Jacqueline and Teresa don’t meet again until the release party of Melissa Gorga’s “On Display” single (take two), where Teresa breezes past Jacqueline as she greets every other party guest. Jacqueline eventually decides she wants to talk to Teresa because she wants to know “where they stand”, so she approaches Teresa at the bar, where Teresa acts a shadow of her former table-flipping self, keeping her cool and calmly telling Jacqueline she was “hurt” and “disappointed.” But Jacqueline pushes on, saying she doesn’t trust her former friend, who is now filled with “lies” and “contradictions.”
Enter Melissa Gorga, who seems upset people’s attention is starting to waver from her to the pending scene at the bar, where the conversation turns back to Danielle Staub when Teresa confronts Melissa about feeding Danielle gossip. This prompts Jacqueline to kick rocks after a quick flip of the bird and a “f*ck you” thrown Teresa’s way.
Melissa shockingly admits to being a mole for Danielle Staub, and quickly apologizes — kudos — as her and Teresa embrace and agree to let this little hiccup slide for the sake of the family.
Teresa is no angel, but what are these “lies” and “contradictions” that Jacqueline speaks of? And, why the hell would Teresa approach her at a party when the night before Jacqueline said she wants to “distance herself from Teresa and her family”? Sorry, but I don’t get it. None of Jacqueline’s allegations seem to be holding up, and it seems she is simply pissed that Teresa tweeted Danielle, which doesn’t seem that tragic to me.
The episode closes with Jacqueline taking a shot to a “lost best friend” as Teresa stands a few feet from her, and it all just seems a bit too dramatic for a bunch of mothers in their 40s-50s. A tweet and a cookbook comment started all this? Whatever happened to not sweating the small stuff, ladies?
Hot off last week’s unpleasant conversation with brother Joe Gorga, where he called her a “f*cking b*tch,” the reality star tries to confide in her husband, Joe Giudice, only to get another verbal beating.
“You’re a f*cking idiot for even going to f*cking talk to your f*cking retard brother. … We can’t get along with those people. They’re jealous, no-good idiots. I don’t want to hear about them any more.’” he told his wife after she tried to recollect the conversation from the day before.
“When I say something, you f*cking listen — and shut up! … “Try to get me around your family, just try it; I’ll leave you as well — I swear to you on my kids.”
According to Teresa, the hurtful rant was the product of Joe’s “true Gemini” personality, but I just think he is a massive asshole. Anyone agree?
And, to make matters worse, Teresa then tries to reach out to Jacqueline Laurita about her brother’s words, but her distant bestie seems to be more concerned about her lame field day event than her friend’s family issues. Jacqueline asks if Teresa has spoken to her brother since, and Tre responds that she hasn’t.
Fast forward to Joe and Melissa Gorga on their way to The Laurita’s field day event: As Joe recollects the fight with his sister, he claims he feels bad for calling her names, and talks about how he sent her an apologetic text message the following day. Melissa then reads the text aloud so the viewer can see how “loving” he really is.
When the Gorga’s arrive at the Laurita’s, the conversation — per usual — stays stuck on Teresa. And when Melissa tells Caroline and Jacqueline about the heartfelt text message her husband sent, Jacqueline gets pissed, claiming she feels manipulated by Teresa since she told her she hadn’t spoken to her brother since the argument. And that’s all Carolyn needed to try and fuel the feud even further, calling Teresa a “liar”and referring to Joe Gorga as a “poor man” who was trying to reach out. A “poor man”? On the episode I saw Teresa was crying as Joe called her a “mook” and a “b*tch.” But leave it to Carolyn Manzo to constantly stick her nose where it doesn’t belong by blindly commenting on a conversation she knows nothing about. Someone needs to kick Manzo off the high horse she has been riding since last season wrapped.
In summation: It seems Teresa can do no right. She lit the torches with her cookbook comments, and her cast mates — excluding Kathy Walkie — won’t be happy until she is crucified.
And, lastly, I guess the Gia Giudice tantrum is worth mentioning as well, but in my opinion the whole situation already received too much attention — and airtime. A 10-year-old little girl has a mini meltdown when she loses at a few field day events? It happens; it’s not that tragic.
Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Sundays @ 10/9c
It seems another Real Housewives of New Jersey couple is taking a seat in the infidelity arena.
It seems Bravo may be doing another round of “Real Housewife” cuts, and its the ladies of New Jersey that are on the chopping block this go-round.
This week’s episode of