For the first time in the 14-season run of The Real Housewives of New Jersey — and only the second time in the history of the Real Housewives franchise — the stars did not come together for a reunion special following the season finale.
Instead, the toxically divided cast of the Bravo reality show reunited, in a way, at a Rails Steakhouse in Towaco, New Jersey, on Monday, for a watch party of sorts, in which they viewed the finale together, Variety reported on Wednesday.
The event was reportedly 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 different rooms entirely, as their relationships have become so split and fractured — specifically between sisters-in-law Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga.
Teresa’s room included her ally, Jennifer Aydin and former enemy turned pal Jackie Goldschneider.
Melissa, meanwhile, was joined by Margaret Josephs, Danielle Cabral and Rachel Fuda. Reportedly, castmember Dolores Catania has managed to remain impartial and spent time between the rooms with both groups.
Back in June, ET confirmed that the New Jersey housewives would not partake in the customary reunion episode, largely due to the significant divisions within the cast. Cohen later provided clarity on the matter while speaking on SiriusXM’s Reality Checked with Kiki Monique.
The Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen host revealed that the decision was made after producers watched the final cut of this season’s last episode.
“I think that the main thing is this will all make sense once you see the finale. It is one of those classic Jersey finales that people will be talking about for a long time to come,” Cohen said.
He emphasized the finale’s significance, describing it as both the season’s conclusion and a reunion rolled into one. “When all of us producers saw the last cut of the finale, we all came to the decision separately and then we talked.”
The Bravo executive described the finale as an epic and dramatic event, akin to a “Last Supper” for the New Jersey housewives.
“It’s in the great tradition of absolute shocking, dramatic Jersey finales and they have this final epic group encounter, which is like, it feels like the Last Supper and is just so Jersey,” Cohen explained. “And it’s shocking and it’s dramatic and it’s amazing TV. I’m telling you, when you see it, I think that you’ll feel complete. I really do.”
Cohen reassured fans that Bravo has plans to fill the void left by the traditional reunion, and teased the so-called watch party.
“There will be something that Bravo is cooking up in place of a reunion, and so that is to be announced,” he hinted at the time.
A source told ET in June that the cast had recently been notified about the network’s decision not to film a season 14 reunion. A separate source with knowledge of the situation told ET, “A reunion is meant to have resolution and it’s clear in the season finale that there is no path forward in that type of setting.”
In May, Bravo released the season 14 trailer, which teased yet another explosive table fight. The scene opened with Dolores sitting alone at a table amidst the aftermath of shattered glass strewn across the floor at Rails Steakhouse — the same restaurant where the cast gathered this week for the watch party event.
ET’s Brice Sander spoke to Gorga ahead of the season 14 premiere, and she said that she’s reached the point of no return with Giudice.
“Unfortunately, I finally accepted that,” she remarked to ET over video chat. “I fought for so many years for other people. I, honestly — more than even myself — I fought for the family and for my husband and my kids, and I realized that it’s not worth fighting for, and I’m actually not doing them any favors.”
As for the future of RHONJ, Cohen previously told ET that the way Bravo shot this season of New Jersey was “probably not” sustainable, a sentiment to which Gorga agrees.
“Whatever Bravo decides to do is fine with me,” she answered when asked 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 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Episodes stream next day on Peacock.
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