As a hardcore gamer who has seen more reality TV drama than some people have played video games, I can confidently say that the Real Housewives of New Jersey is on the brink of a major shake-up. The latest season finale was nothing short of a train wreck, with accusations flying left and right, alliances shifting like sands in a windstorm, and even a martini metaphor for death. It’s clear that the toxicity has reached levels that not even Andy Cohen’s reunion special could handle.
Is the Real Housewives of New Jersey headed for a reboot or a cast shake up?
After the mind-blowing Season 14 finale of Bravo’s show that aired last Sunday, I can’t help but wonder…
As a diehard fan of RHONJ, I’ve been noticing some hints that this might be the last season for the current cast. If you look closely, there have been signs since the beginning. New Jersey truly made its mark on the Real Housewives map when Teresa Giudice infamously flipped a table in the season one finale, labeling an ex-castmate as a “prostitution whore”! That was just the start of the countless memes, Bravo merchandise, and tabloid headlines that have come from this city, which was then the fourth to join the hit reality TV franchise.
Fast-forward to Sunday’s finale, and there was more than just drama. Teresa Giudice hurled another derogatory term, this time at her estranged sister-in-law and fellow star Melissa Gorga, calling her a “whore.” The tense atmosphere continued with the cast gathering for yet another dinner table confrontation, which they nicknamed the “Last Supper.” This gathering aimed to give the divided group an opportunity to air their grievances and strive for reconciliation. It all started when someone tossed a glass of water across the table.
The key difference, however, is that this could be the end — or at least, the end for some.
Teresa’s table-flipping incident ignited a 14-season rollercoaster of drama, with events unfolding not just on screen but also behind the scenes. This turbulent period in her life began when her brother, Joe Gorga, and his wife Melissa joined the show, leading to a family rift. However, they eventually reconciled following the passing of their parents. Throughout this time, Teresa’s family was also grappling with her divorce from husband Joe Giudice, their subsequent prison sentences for fraud charges related to Joe’s bankruptcy case.
However, when Giudice introduced her second husband, Luis “Louie” Ruelas, into her life, Teresa and her brother Joe, as well as Melissa, started to drift apart once more. This rift deepened throughout the 14th season, causing such a significant estrangement that this explosive finale marked their first sit-down filming session together in the entire season.
Dolores Catania has consistently attempted to foster harmony among her feuding friends on the show. However, the cast has divided into two main factions: Team Teresa and Team Melissa, with tensions running high even within their own groups. The season finale functioned as a recap episode, summarizing each character’s current position and reminding viewers of their past interactions, hinting at the significant impact this show’s history might have on its future.
On one side, Teresa was seated with her longtime ally Jennifer Aydin and friend Jackie Goldschneider, who joined Teresa’s camp this season in an unexpected turn of events. Opposite them were veterans Melissa and Margaret Joseph, together with more recent cast members Rachel Fuda and Danielle Cabral. The latter two found themselves on Melissa’s side following a dispute with Jennifer Aydin, while Jennifer Fessler, another friend of the cast, entered the gathering as an impartial host for the meal.
Although Dolores and Jennifer Fessler aimed to create an atmosphere for closure with everyone given a chance to express their final thoughts, the situation quickly spiraled into chaos as personal insults were hurled beneath the belt. This led to Danielle throwing a glass at Jennifer Aydin, which in turn ignited more conflict between Teresa and Melissa. Teresa accused Melissa of being a whore multiple times, to which Melissa responded with a meaningful glance and asked her to repeat that comment in front of Teresa’s niece. The escalating drama made it evident that any resolution had flown out the window. Producers intervened, and Jennifer Fessler, finding the level of violence unacceptable, decided to leave the dinner, stating that she isn’t accustomed to such behavior.
After everyone gathered at the table once more, Margaret and Teresa tried to resolve their ongoing legal dispute, which has predominantly occurred off-screen, originating from Teresa accusing Margaret of conspiring with Louie’s ex-wife for a supposed smear campaign. This conflict traces back to the previous season — marked by an alleged cast confrontation prior to the reunion and Louie hiring a private investigator to gather intel on the cast. At dinner, Margaret exposed Jackie as the one who initially met with Louie’s ex. Despite this explosive revelation, Teresa backed her new ally, and all of the women shrugged their shoulders and walked out: Jackie was left alone; Teresa was with Jennifer Aydin; and Melissa, Danielle, Rachel, and Margaret stood together. In summary, according to Melissa, the meeting was a total bust.
At the table remains Dolores, pondering over the recent events. Taking a sip from her martini, she muses, “This gathering is no longer a family. I wonder how we ended up here. It seems people can’t seem to stop harboring hatred. It’s been growing, and it’s left such deep wounds. The atmosphere… it’s so poisonous. This meal feels like a funeral.”
Approaching the series finale, Bravo and “Real Housewives” executive producer Andy Cohen announced that for the first time, “RHONJ” would skip its traditional reunion special. Viewers would later comprehend why Cohen made this decision. After watching the finale, it becomes clear that his choice was indeed appropriate. Given that Cohen is in charge of all “Housewives” reunions, it seems unlikely that he would have any more success attempting to get these women together.
Instead, Bravo organized a finale watch party for the women in July, which was recorded. As reported earlier by The Hollywood Reporter, they reunited at Rails Steakhouse in Towaco, NJ, and divided into rooms according to their alliances to watch the final episode. While Bravo’s cameras were recording, Teresa had Jennifer Aydin and Jackie in her room, while Melissa was with Margaret, Rachel, Danielle, and Jennifer Fessler. Dolores moved between the two rooms. This special will air this Sunday, Aug 14, with the potential for more episodes to follow.
Bravo has yet to speak about their strategies for season 15, probably won’t do so soon either. Just like with other Bravo shows, the casting conversations don’t start until the ongoing season ends. However, the unique finale of season 14 has fueled several weeks of conjecture regarding a potential reboot or overhaul of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Meanwhile, sister series The Real Housewives of New York City recently underwent a cast revamp, and Vanderpump Rules is currently on break following its post-Scandoval season and contentious reunion. At this stage, it’s clear that unexpected changes could be in store.
During the final episode’s discussion on “Watch What Happens Live,” Cohen expressed a sense of finality but didn’t reveal any future plans for the series. Instead, they delved into the lingering events without resolution. Cohen also stated that no decisions have been made yet regarding the show. He further mentioned on his SiriusXM radio show that they will revamp the series in some fashion.
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2024-08-05 17:55