Andy Cohen is providing an update on 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' and Kathy Wakile possibly rejoining the show.
Andy Cohen is providing an update on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
The host of SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live took a moment during Monday's episode to address circulating a rumor that Kathy Wakile might return to the hit Bravo show.
The topic came up after a caller asked about Wakile's recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen and whether it signaled her return to RHONJ. Kathy Wakile was a guest on season 2 of RHONJ and a main cast member from seasons 3 through 5, later appearing as a friend in seasons 6 and 7.
"It's funny that you say that," Andy responded to the caller. "I wanted to bring this up because I went online this morning and I saw last night on Watch What Happens Live, the doorbell rang, and Kathy Wakile showed up with cannolis. The speculation online was that it was some sort of subliminal signal or we were testing things to see how people responded to seeing her in the clubhouse as a possible return to Jersey."
Andy clarified that there was no hidden agenda behind Kathy's appearance. "There was no intention behind her visit besides seeing an old friend. We wanted to surprise Gary Janetti, who we know loves her and her cannolis. And so we just thought it would be fun if we had a, you know, vintage housewife come through the door."
He added, "Everyone is speculating that it was kind of a soft launch to getting her back. We haven’t even started talking about next season. We want this one to end, let it sit, and then we will get into it. But thank you. She did get a lot of love, I will tell you that. She got a lot of love."
ET spoke to Melissa Gorga earlier this month at the New York premiere of Tyler Perry's Divorce In the Black, and she addressed shakeup rumors amid a tense season with castmates Teresa Giudice, Dolores Catania, Margaret Josephs, Jennifer Aydin, Danielle Cabral and Rachel Fuda.
"I agree with Bravo that there needs to be changes... I agree with that 100 percent," Melissa told ET. "I think things have gotten really toxic. There are two of my cast members that have played really dirty behind the scenes and it's coming out. It's all coming out, because it always rises to the top, it always comes out in the laundry. It's been years, so it's all coming forward."
Should the cast get revamped next season, Melissa -- who had no direct contact with her sister-in-law, Teresa, in season 14 amid their dramatic fallout -- said she's prepared for anything.
"Whatever Bravo decides to do is fine with me," she told ET in May. "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."
Last month, news broke that there will not be a traditional reunion at the end of season 14 of RHONJ. Andy Cohen revealed on SiriusXM's Reality Checked With Kiki Monique that producers made the shocking decision after watching the season finale, which he described as a conclusion and a reunion rolled into one.
"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," he said. "When all of us producers saw the last cut of the finale, we all came to the decision separately and then we talked."
"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," Andy added. "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."
The Watch What Happens Live host went on to promise that "there will be something that Bravo is cooking up in place of a reunion, and so that is to be announced."
Melissa hinted at that as well, telling ET on Monday, "We are going to end up doing something. You guys will see something to kind of piece it all together. It won't be a full-blown reunion, but I'm sure there will be something."
For now, Melissa and her husband, Joe Gorga, are focusing on spending time together. They did just that at the premiere, where Joe proudly snapped pics of his wife, with whom he tied the knot with in 2004.
"She's amazing," Joe, brother to Teresa, gushed. "Look how beautiful she is. I like to capture these moments."
"We like to make memories. We create the memory, save the memory," Melissa added. "One day, we're going to be in our rocking chairs at 80 and be like, 'Remember when I looked good and we were at that Tyler Perry movie premiere?' We want to remember these things."
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