The "Real Housewives of New Jersey" returns tonight, and in the likely event that last season depleted too many brain cells, we're here to bring you up to date on our returning housewives, introduce the two new ones, and give you a hint of what's to come this season:
Caroline Manzo of Franklin Lakes: Wife of Al, who runs Paterson's Brownstone banquet hall, mother ofAlbie, Chrisand Lauren, sister ofDina, who left the show last season(and who is married to Al's brotherTommy, whom we have never met), sister-in-law to Jacqueline Laurita(who is married to Caroline and Dina's brother Chris Laurita), and friend to Teresa Giudice. A mother hen with a sharp tongue, Caroline has been focused on getting her children started in their careers -- Lauren in cosmetology and Chris as an entrepreneur (possibly in the strip club/car wash business). Albie was enrolled in law school at Seton Hall but was being asked to leave for bad grades (he has some sort of learning disability). Caroline got very weepy and wanted him to fight to pursue his dreams, but at the beginning of this season, he has apparently abandoned law school and is looking for a new career. He and Chris have moved into a Hoboken condo, stoking Caroline's empty nest syndrome. And Lauren is still dating Vito.
Jacqueline Laurita of Franklin Lakes: Wife of Chris, mother of Ashley (by her first husband, but raised by Chris), young C.J. and baby Nicholas, friend to Teresa. Now that Danielle Staub is gone, all of Jacqueline's drama has shifted to bratty Ashley, now 20. Between the first and second seasons, tensions escalated between mother and daughter, prompting Ashley, who apparently just barely graduated high school and has zero sense of direction, except when it comes to malls) to move out, although with boyfriend Derek's help, she did seem to reconcile with her mother and return home. I will say that the third season does not begin auspiciously for these two.
Teresa Giudice of Montville: Wife of "Juicy" Joe Guidice, mother to Gia, Gabriella, Milania, andAudriana, friend to Caroline and Jacqueline, sister-in-law to Melissa Gorga (she's married to Teresa's brother Joe Gorga), first cousin to Kathy Wakile, and adversary of many collection agencies and various former business partners. Teresa has emerged as one of the largest personalities of the "Housewives" brand, mainly due to her instantly-iconic table-flip in the season finale of season one. When it was revealed in the middle of the last season that Joe's real estate ventures had gone belly up and the Giudices had to file for bankruptcy (without interrupting their lavish lifestyle), she became all the more interesting/despicable. Teresa parlayed her fame into a bestselling Italian cookbook (she just released her second one), and she and her husband opened a pizza parlor in Hillside and plan to open a restaurant in Parsippany . It appears that Joe is out of the real estate business and Teresa is bringing home the bacon now. The bankruptucy case is ongoing, Joe served a 10-day sentence for DUI, and was recently arrested for obtaining a driver's license fraudulently.
Melissa Gorga of Montville: Wife of Joe Gorga, mother of young childrenAntonia and Gino, and baby Joey, sister-in-law to Teresa, and cousin-in-law and friend to Kathy Wakile (she is Teresa and Joe Gorga's cousin). Melissa and Kathy are the newcomers to the show, and with Danielle gone,Melissa's frosty relationship with Teresa is likely to drive the drama this season. Joe Gorga is a real estate developer and the couple has a huge mansion in Montville. Melissa is also pursuing a pop music career.
Kathy Wakile of Wayne: Wife of Rich Wakile, mother to teenagers Victoriaand Joseph. The other newcomer is related by blood to Teresa, but she appears to be one Melissa's side of the family feud. According to Bravo's website, "Kathy works hard to keep her family's world in order and carefully monitors her children's social lives. However she loves to party and have a good time."
Caroline Manzo of Franklin Lakes: Wife of Al, who runs Paterson's Brownstone banquet hall, mother ofAlbie, Chrisand Lauren, sister ofDina, who left the show last season(and who is married to Al's brotherTommy, whom we have never met), sister-in-law to Jacqueline Laurita(who is married to Caroline and Dina's brother Chris Laurita), and friend to Teresa Giudice. A mother hen with a sharp tongue, Caroline has been focused on getting her children started in their careers -- Lauren in cosmetology and Chris as an entrepreneur (possibly in the strip club/car wash business). Albie was enrolled in law school at Seton Hall but was being asked to leave for bad grades (he has some sort of learning disability). Caroline got very weepy and wanted him to fight to pursue his dreams, but at the beginning of this season, he has apparently abandoned law school and is looking for a new career. He and Chris have moved into a Hoboken condo, stoking Caroline's empty nest syndrome. And Lauren is still dating Vito.
Jacqueline Laurita of Franklin Lakes: Wife of Chris, mother of Ashley (by her first husband, but raised by Chris), young C.J. and baby Nicholas, friend to Teresa. Now that Danielle Staub is gone, all of Jacqueline's drama has shifted to bratty Ashley, now 20. Between the first and second seasons, tensions escalated between mother and daughter, prompting Ashley, who apparently just barely graduated high school and has zero sense of direction, except when it comes to malls) to move out, although with boyfriend Derek's help, she did seem to reconcile with her mother and return home. I will say that the third season does not begin auspiciously for these two.
Melissa Gorga of Montville: Wife of Joe Gorga, mother of young childrenAntonia and Gino, and baby Joey, sister-in-law to Teresa, and cousin-in-law and friend to Kathy Wakile (she is Teresa and Joe Gorga's cousin). Melissa and Kathy are the newcomers to the show, and with Danielle gone,Melissa's frosty relationship with Teresa is likely to drive the drama this season. Joe Gorga is a real estate developer and the couple has a huge mansion in Montville. Melissa is also pursuing a pop music career.
Kathy Wakile of Wayne: Wife of Rich Wakile, mother to teenagers Victoriaand Joseph. The other newcomer is related by blood to Teresa, but she appears to be one Melissa's side of the family feud. According to Bravo's website, "Kathy works hard to keep her family's world in order and carefully monitors her children's social lives. However she loves to party and have a good time."
