For the first time in the 14-season series, The Real Housewives of New Jersey — and only the second time in the history of Real Housewives franchise — the stars did not reunite for a reunion special after the season finale.
Instead of, the toxically divided cast of the Bravo reality show gathered, in a sense, at a Rails Steakhouse in Towaco, New Jersey, on Monday for a sort of watch party, where they watched the finale together, Variety reported on Wednesday.
The event would have been unusual in many ways: Andy Cohen wasn’t in attendance — despite having hosted every reunion special in the show’s history — and the cast didn’t watch the finale together.
Instead, they were split into two groups and watched the season 14 finale in completely different rooms as their relationships became very divided and fractured – specifically between sisters-in-law. Teresa Giudice It is Melissa Gorga.
Teresa’s room included her ally, Jennifer Aydin It is former enemy turned friend Jackie Goldschneider.
Melissa, meanwhile, was joined by Margaret Josephs, Danielle Cabral, and Rachel Fuda. Reportedly, the cast member Dolores Catania managed to remain impartial and spent time between rooms with both groups.
In June, ET confirmed that the New Jersey Housewives would not be participating. in the usual reunion episode, largely due to significant divisions within the cast. Cohen later clarified the matter. while speaking on SiriusXM Reality Check with Kiki Monique.
O Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen The host revealed that the decision was made after producers watched the final cut of this season’s final episode.
“I think the main thing is that it will all make sense when you see the ending. It’s one of those classics Shirt endings that people will talk about for a long time,” Cohen said.
He emphasized the importance of the finale, describing it as a conclusion to the season and a reunion rolled into one. “When all of us producers saw the final cut of the finale, we all made the decision separately and then we talked it over.”
The Bravo executive described the finale as an epic and dramatic event, akin to a “Last Supper” for the New Jersey housewives.
“It is in the great tradition of absolute, dramatic shock Shirt finals and they have this epic final group encounter, which is like, it feels like the Last Supper and it’s so Shirt“, Cohen explained. “And it’s shocking, dramatic, and incredible TV. I’m telling you, when you watch it, I think you’ll feel complete. I really do.”
Cohen assured fans that Bravo has plans to fill the void left by the traditional reunion and hinted that it would be a “watch party.”
“There will be something that Bravo is cooking up in lieu of a reunion, and that will be announced,” he hinted at the time.
A source told ET in June that the cast had recently been notified of the network’s decision not to film a season 14 reunion. A separate source with knowledge of the situation told ET, “A reunion has to have resolution and it’s clear at the end of the season that there is no path forward in that type of scenario.”
In May, Bravo released the trailer for season 14, which showed another explosive table fight. The scene began with Dolores sitting alone at a table amid broken glass scattered across the floor at Rails Steakhouse — the same restaurant where the cast gathered this week for the screening event.
ET’s Brice Sander spoke to Gorga ahead of the season 14 premiere, and she said she’s reached the point of no return with Giudice.
“Unfortunately, I’ve finally accepted it,” she commented with ET via video chat. “I fought for so many years for other people. I, honestly — more than myself — I fought for family and for my husband and my kids, and I realized that this isn’t worth fighting for, and I’m actually not doing them any favors.”
As for the future of RHONJ, Cohen previously told to ET that the way Bravo filmed this season of New Jersey “probably not” was sustainable, a sentiment Gorga agrees with.
“Whatever Bravo decides to do is fine with me,” she replied when asked about what might happen in season 15. “I don’t make demands. I come to work. I have a very strong relationship with the show. So I feel like whoever they decide to cast — or not cast — I’m fine, in my own lane with my own family and my own kids, and I’ll deal with it when I have to deal with it.”
The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Sundays at 8pm ET/PT on Bravo. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock.
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