Let’s face it, guys. As Real Housewives of New Jersey fans, we are currently looking down a long tunnel with very little light at the end of it. Season 14 is anything but exciting. The cast is split down the middle. And I think I can safely say I have had enough of the Gorga/Giudice feud for a lifetime. The franchise has grown a bit stale between the physical fights, petty arguments, and lack of a storyline from the stars.
The slow-moving Season 14 has caused me to become a bit nostalgic for the good old days. It was a time when platform shoes were in, the hair bump eas everything, and Teresa Giudice still had her widow’s peak. So, if we could pick a few alumni to return to save the series possibly, who would it be? I have my list; let’s see if you guys agree.
Danielle Staub, classic Real Housewives of New Jersey
Long live the original villain of the Real Housewives of New Jersey. Danielle Staub was a perfect villain: ridiculous, overly dramatic, and easy to dislike without any actual malice. I mean, she even had her own bootleg mafia. I have to give credit where credit is due. Danielle was Real Housewives gold, and no one can tell me otherwise. The mother of two made the perfect foe for Teresa. Danielle was one-half of these memorable moments between the country club chase and the table flip. No one but Danielle ever enticed me to do so much research on a name change in my life. Even if Bravo had just brought her back for one season, I know it would have been electric.
Dina Manzo, sisterly RHONJ
Even though she was Caroline Manzo’s little sister, Dina Manzo stood strong on her own two feet. The mother of one was a bit cooky about her new-age beliefs. But her heart was always in the right place. I don’t think Dina was ever the perfect angel. She tried to portray one, which made her extremely unpredictable on reality TV. She had a holier-than-thou attitude and, at times, was a bit of a mean girl to those she didn’t like. She refused to get her hands dirty but was great when it came to stirring the pot.
If Bravo could coax her out from hiding behind her crystals to reprise her role I think we would get some fireworks. Dina and Tre have always been close, but in recent years, especially after the OG’s wedding, it feels like they have drifted. Bringing in a once close ally to Tre could turn the tide.
Caroline Manzo, original RHONJ
So, even though I am exhausted by the Gorga/Giudice family feud, Bravo hasn’t even begun to scratch the surface when it comes to the Manzo family. Caroline and Dina started as close sisters, but everything had gone very wrong by the time Dina left the series. The two sisters don’t speak, and Chris Laurita, their brother, also doesn’t speak to Caroline. If fans could just get a tiny kernel of truth, I think it could reignite the passion for the Real Housewives of New Jersey. To this day, we still don’t know what caused the sisters to fight.
Caroline, in her own right, was also very much the leader of the group. Her no-nonsense attitude won over viewers easily, as she showed what it really meant to put your family first. I think bringing Caroline back would stabilize the series and hopefully put a stop to the trashy element that has formed. However, I doubt that Bravo would ever be able to coax Caroline back after her issues when filming Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.
Amber Marchese, forbidden RHONJ
At this point, it is a battle between the lesser of two evils. No one liked Amber Marchese or her husband, Jim Marchese, but imagine the dynamic if she returned to the Garden State. Jim, in his own right, was a cad and spoke poorly to women. The couple were opposites from the rest of the cast in every way. I didn’t like them. But at this point, we need something to shake up the franchise because Jennifer Aydin’s impressions can only go so far.
Catch RHONJ episodes streaming on Peacock.
TELL US – WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE BACK ON THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY?
