The fourteenth season of Real Housewives of New Jersey was not up to the standards of previous seasons.
Season 14 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey The show didn’t live up to the previous seasons. Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga settled their long-running feud at the Season 13 reunion when Teresa disowned her brother Joe Gorga and his wife Melissa. No more cookies!
But Melissa and Teresa refused to interact on camera, which is not ideal for a reality TV show. It felt like RHONJ was two different shows edited together. But the sisters weren’t the only ones at odds. Jennifer Aydin and Daniel Cabral got into a physical altercation over a charity and a hairdresser. Ugh.
This season, friendships have changed and everything seemed off balance. When Bravo announced the cancellation of the Season 14 reunion after the explosive finale and some of the ladies refusing to film together, it seemed ominous. There will be some kind of special to wrap up this sordid season. Looking ahead to Season 15, there are four possible paths for RHONJ to take. So, what are the options? Let’s find out.
Andy Cohen Sparks Controversy Over ‘Rebranding’ RHONJ
According to Bravo national treasure Andy Cohen, there are four possibilities for the future of the franchise. Of course, if the situation is so bad that the reunion has to be canceled, a cast change is expected in the Garden State.
Even Dolores Catania knew when to wave the white flag. The finale, filmed at Rails Steakhouse, erupted in screams and shattered glass. “It was definitely a happy ending for people,” Dolores told US Weekly. “You can’t come back from the things you see in the finale. There’s no going back.”
And now Andy has confirmed that RHONJ will be getting a “rebrand.” He took a call on his Andy Cohen Live show on Sirius XM about the changes to the Jersey franchise.
“I think it’s time to do what happened with New York. Bring in new faces,” the caller said. She was referring to how the Real Housewives of New York season 13 cast was fired and the show was rebooted with new faces. As you may recall, RHONY season 13 was the only other Real Housewives show that didn’t have a reunion.
Additionally, the caller noted the “negativity” of the old cast members. “Let them go. Let them move on to the new,” the fan added. But she called for Rachel Voda and Danielle to be kept.
“We’ll figure it out,” Andy said. “We’ll figure it out. We’re all in agreement on that.” So it sounds like a full reboot could be on the table, and a viable option. And honestly, if there was ever a time for it, it would be now.
Partial Reboot with Teresa Guidice for RHONJ
Another option is to keep Teresa, the show’s main character. Fans have seen Teresa change a lot over the course of 14 seasons. She’s gone to “camp” (but not summer camp), gotten divorced, and remarried. But her behavior has made her a somewhat controversial character.
Fans used to enjoy watching her scenes with her family. But now, Teresa’s new husband, Luis Ruelas, is among them too. Many fans want this man, and his controversial pregnancy, removed from their television screens.
Plus, Teresa and Jennifer were recently accused of leaking details about RHONJ to bloggers. And Andy doesn’t like leakers. Oh!
If Teresa stays, her most loyal supporters, Jennifer and Dolores, will likely stay, too. Of course, adding more new faces to the cast will be necessary. But keeping Rachel, who has been at odds with Teresa all season, could be a smart move.
Partial reboot with Melissa Gorga
Then we have the other side of this divided franchise. If Bravo decides to axe Teresa, keeping Melissa and her gang might be an option. She’s been a cast member since season three, but part of her main storyline has always been her feud with Teresa.
Melissa has also grown over the seasons. She gave up her musical ambitions to open a small boutique, Envy by Melissa Gorga. The store is doing so well, she has opened a second store. Viewers have also watched her children grow up right before our eyes, just like Teresa’s daughters.
If Melissa stays on RHONJ, her crew members, including Margaret Joseph and Danielle, could remain. Again, as the Switzerland of the group, Dolores could also be part of that crew. There will be a need to add new blood.
Even Melissa agreed that the franchise needed a revamp. “I agree with Bravo that there needs to be changes… I think things have gotten really toxic. So, I feel like regardless of who they decide to cast — or not cast — I’m fine with it… and I’ll deal with it when I have to deal with it,” Melissa told Entertainment Tonight.
Just press the pause button on RHONJ.
The final option might be to go on hiatus or cancel, as happened with The Real Housewives of Miami. Miami was taken off the screen after season three, then rose from the ashes eight years later. The cast included familiar faces, like Alexia Nebula and Lisa Hochstein, along with some new faces, like Dr. Nicole Martin. It was the great show that fans had been missing.
Taking a break could give Bravo enough time to see if temperatures will drop among the Garden State ladies. They could also decide whether a full reboot of the series is necessary, or a partial reboot, like the Real Housewives of Atlanta. The franchise has undergone a major overhaul, with the departure of key cast members like Kandi Burruss and the return of former cast members like Porsha Williams. They also brought in some newcomers to add to the excitement.
So, these are the four ways RHONJ could go in season 15. Now viewers need to watch the rest of season 14 and wait for casting news.
Tell us – what do you think of the four paths Rong could take in season 15? Which would be the best option?
