I used to watch the HW as a stress reliever when caring for my mom when she was ill. Honestly, I'd come home at the end of a day and just need something that required zero mental work or stimulation. HWs fit that bill just dandy. But now that's she's gone, I'm not quite as stressed. And so I don't know if it's that, or the shows are getting so crazy, or both, but I find my interest waning. I did watch the NJ episode, and if that's the way the rest of the season is going to go, no thanks, lol. That kind of drama seems to make me more stressed, and boy, was it over the top in that episode!

Oh yeah! It's my favorite show (should I be admitting this?) :D
That first episode is what we usually get for the finale episode! WOW.
SO glad Danielle is gone, she was a firecracker too but in a creepy mental-case sort of way.
Poor Joe (Guidice)...he's gone from high roller to pizza maker with the runs!

Heck, at least the new NJ drama is legit and predates the show! So many times it seems like the producers try to create drama where there isn't any.

flyingflower -- I'm with you on poor Joe Giudice. I'm sure he didn't want to go to that christening/party at all. His finances and business tanked and he has to go watch his brother-in-law spend and behave like an uber-guido? No thanks.

It was a sad situation, Theresa's brother having built up such anger at feeling like his father had rejected him and wasn't proud of him.

I do think, however, there will be some more hair-pulling down the line!

And now we know where Theresa got her table-smacking ways! No table flip this time, tho...

The NJ gang is the only group of housewives I watch. Well, except for RHOMiami, which of course I had to follow.

I got started with it last summer on vacation when my daughter and her BF were watching. A couple of hours' worth and I was hooked.

Agree that it's good Danielle is gone. I suspect there must have been some very weird, probably legally/physically dangerous stuff going on behind the scenes w/her and the others. My daughter showed me a Jezebel story with photos about , who is now stripping at some club. Ewwww.

LOVE Melissa. Too, too funny. I got the very strong impression she is simply green with envy and jealousy that she's never been allowed to be part of the on camera gang till now. And she is definitely going to get her 15 minutes, and then some! Not sure why Kathy, Theresa and Joey's cousin, is officially a Housewife. But who knows, I'm sure it will be amusing especially that oddball husband of hers.

As for the christening, wow. Looked to me like Joey (Melissa's guy) got bombed out of his mind and just decompensated right there on camera. It was simply a child's tantrum but watching a grown man flailing, throwing punches and screaming at his parents, it was quite frightening.

Poor Joe Guidice, I had to laugh. He reminds me strongly of what the guys in our family feel like about our family parties although my own husband is remarkably tolerant of my family get togethers. We aren't Italian and don't have the money or the dramatics of the NJ gang but it is a tight knit group of sisters, and none of our partners particularly like hanging out when we are in gang mode.

Last but not least: Audriana is one of the most gorgeous babies I've ever seen! Those eyes, that curly hair, that adorable little face. No matter what else they may get wrong, Theresa and Joe sure make beautiful children.

Danielle has gone back to being a stripper. At 48 she still has an amazing body. How long can she keep that up, what will she do after that for money? I hate to think. I feel sorry for her daughters.

The latest is that Joe was arrested on 3/27/11 for "using a false identity to obtain a New Jersey drivers license." "He could get 10 years in prison."
Like that's going to happen. Still, he must be in an even grumpier mood now.

How have Teresa and Joe managed to hold onto the house with all the furniture? Last we heard the furnishings were going to be auctioned off, and then it got pulled at the last minute. She must be doing well enough her book and other endeavors to keep them afloat. This show really has saved them, without her popularity they would have sunk.

Audriana is a cutie pie. Gia is the spitting image of Teresa when you see a photo of Teresa at her age. I used to think that Gia's eyes looked so different than either parent but when Teresa takes off the makeup you see the resemblance.

When Joe Gorga complains how Teresa excluded him from her life I have to wonder that he may have a valid point because we never saw him the first couple seasons of the show. The Guidices had parties, where was he? Parents were there why not the brother? Bravo must have known bringing him into the show would set off fireworks between he and his sister. Now that Danielle is gone they want another powder keg to keep the show entertaining. Unless they're all playing to the camera (which is what Gail King thinks) this family is going to break apart even more. High price for fame.

Oh...my.gosh. I finally watched the first eppy last night and during the Christening party I wanted to go to Church and ask for forgiveness for even watching! lol

Melissa is nothing but a trouble maker. She's Teresa's SIL, right? I think SHE is the cause of the siblings not getting along. Her jealousy of Teresa is written all over her.

And what caused Joe to throw a tantrum to his dad? I couldn't understand why it was brought up.

I must live a very sheltered life, but we don't throw big parties for Christenings and get drunk. We have a nice family/friend dinner afterwards, maybe a BBQ with a few beers!

Every time Melissa said "Thank you Jesus" I wanted to smack her. I felt like I was in Sodom and Gomorrah and would turn into a pillar of salt if I kept watching! lol

I had to FF through Caroline though. She and her family are too normal. Lovely, but too normal for entertainment value. :)

I also finally watched it yesterday, Joe and his wife are something else, I think they were brought in to create drama, it all looks too staged to be true. I agree that they are playing to the camera, enjoying their season of fame.
Italians are notorious for the big christenings, it's like a small wedding.

I think it is over the top also....I was wondering how you can file bankruptcy and still live in a huge house and drive an expensive suv, and have some one come to your house to do your hair? I don't think I will be watching any more, last night was a bit much.

And on to Episode 2 !!!

Kim D and Kim G are BACK? Eww. Which one is which? I can't keep them straight! Kim D is the clothing store owner, and Kim G is the older woman who did the pole dance last season, right? When I saw her back on the show tonight, that memory flashed back and I just can't shake it! LOL! She's a gossip who just tries to stir up trouble. She wasn't integral to the show at all (other than playing both sides), so I don't know why they brought her back.

Tonight's episode was kind of boring, I think. What did you folks think?

I agree Pammy, last night was a dud, they rehash the previous episode with flashbacks. I've been watching cause DH is away and I had the time.
I prefer the New York hwives, the scenery and locations are more interesting
and the clothes are more of my liking. Still fluff though. I did enjoy the Bethenny shows this season, fluff but no fighting.

The opening episode was a tough act to follow.

Is BRAVO trying to turn this season their own version of Jersey Shore? Teresa is Snookie, her SIL is JWOWW, and her brother, husband and BIL are the gold chained, spray tanned, bicept bulging Vinny, Pauly, & Ronnie.

you're so right Flyingflower.

Aren't I always?
:D

I'm Italian and from NJ......here is my take on it:

Melissa is a BIG troublemaker. In our family, I am the sister in law, I would NEVER allow my DH to not speak to any of his family, just because I had a falling out with them, and trust me it HAS happened. To me it looks like Melissa and her sisters are a little pack egging Joe (teresa's brother) on. Teresa went over to her brother and SIL to congratulate them, and they were HORRIBLE to her. I am NOT a fan of Teresa either, her excessive spending and spoiling she does w/ her kids annoy me, but she was clearly being the bigger person there. Her brother was drunk and ruined his own son's christening by reacting to his sister that way. Melissa's sister should have kept her mouth shut, how do you say to the Aunt of the child being christened you were invited on a technicality. Clearly they all exhibited a lot of class right there. I can't believe Melissa and Joe are expecting an apology.

Disclaimer: In NJ, we do not all have larger than life christenings, homes, cars and hair- even if we are Italian.

Brownstone restaurant from âÂÂReal Housewives of New Jerseyâ catches fire

6/8/2011
Alec Campagna

Tuesday night a fire broke at the Brownstone catering hall, which is owned and operated by Caroline and Albert Manzo of Real Housewives of New Jersey fame.

Following the incident, Caroline went to her Twitter to say, "Thanks for your concern everyone @thebrownstonenj fire is contained no injuries back to business!"

According to Perez Hilton, firefighters contained the blaze, which started in the kitchen, in two hours.

Fans of the hit Bravo series will certainly be familiar with this particular catering hall. It has hosted the infamous Posche fashion show, and Caroline often refers to this successful enterprise.

Here is a link that might be useful: Real Housewife Caroline Manzo's NJ Restaurant Catches Aflame

I've missed some of the shows, but caught RHoNYC in Morocco last night. What the heck was up with Kelly? It was like a subdued version of off-the-wall Island Kelly. Telling Alex she had to 'reenter the room' normally, not boot clomping, if she wanted to be heard. Then switching gears and having a swearing hissy fit because her henna tattoo was messed up and "who's gonna fix this, Santa Clause?". ROFL. And if she said "shhhh....shhhh" to Alex one more time....wow, that was strange.