Insiders and Eyewitnesses Say RHONJ Cast and Producers Fake and Stage Scenes; Season 5 Premieres June 2, 2013 With the Same Cast

Insiders and Eyewitnesses Say RHONJ Cast and Producers Fake Scenes

In the photo above, Teresa Guidice, Melissa Gorga and Jacqueline Laurita go to Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York City on Thursday, March 28, 2013, to support Kathy Wakile and her Dolci Della Dea cannoli making kit. The following is a report by Naughty But Nice Rob about the event and how they faked and staged the scenes:

If you are expecting to see all the ladies gang up on Teresa Giudice, think again – so far the producers want them all to get along.

“I saw Teresa arriving and saying hello to all of the other ladies, kissing them, and acting very friendly. So that confirms that they are, or at least, were all getting along as of last Thursday,” one source at the taping tells Naughty But Nice Rob. “I took footage on my iPhone and you can clearly see the producer guiding them through conversation and orchestrating the situations. It was kind of disheartening to see how involved the producers get. I over heard them say many times, “make sure you talk about this” – and literally direct people when to walk into certain conversations.”

Another eyewitness confirmed the account adding,

“The producers forced Teresa to have a 20 minute conversation with Kathy Wakile’s mother. They also forced Teresa and Kathy to talk about some incident with Kim D. I couldn’t make out exactly what it was, but I think it had something to do with Kim D insulting Kathy’s appearance on QVC and making fun of her business venture with the cannolis. Melissa Gorga and Jacqueline Laurita also had a long conversation about some situation unfolding with Kim D. I did hear them specifically talk about the upcoming hair salon opening.”

However the biggest moment that was staged was when the women were running late to meet Kathy and the producers told her she needed to act upset and mad that they didn’t show up.

“I have video of one producer basically telling her that if she didn’t cause a scene, they would have nothing to use from that night. So, they made her and Richie have a 10-minute conversation about how annoyed they were that the other housewives didn’t show up, while Richie called all of them on the phone.”

The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 5 Premieres June 2, 2013 With the Same Cast

According to BravoTV’s website, RHONJ will premiere June 2, 2013. The following is part of Bravo’s “overview” of season 5:

• A sense of communal rebuilding encourages Teresa to rise above the past drama with her brother and sister-in-law, Melissa, and mend her family for good.
• Jacqueline struggles to cope with her son’s autism diagnosis while tensions from her fallout with Teresa push her towards her breaking point.
• Caroline fights to shed her reputation as a bully.
• Melissa strives to break free from the weight of her husband Joe’s family drama.
• Kathy attempts to step out of her husband’s shadow to find her own voice and launch her career.

Here is the other part of the “overview” of season 5:

Season 5 welcomes back the entire cast as Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Jacqueline Laurita, Caroline Manzo, and Kathy Wakile pick up right were last season’s contentious reunion left off. This season they are on a mission for redemption, scrambling to pick up the pieces of their fractured relationships. The women also find themselves shifting through rubble after Hurricane Sandy leaves much of the Jersey Shore in ruins, including some of their homes.

“Bravo wouldn’t do bodily harm but it’s completely taboo to say anything [about the upcoming season] and you have to respect the position you’re in because they are my employers. I understand where they are coming from. There’s a lot of money put into these shows and they don’t need a housewife running rampant telling story lines, it’s the last thing they need.” – Caroline Manzo, Naughty But Nice Rob, April 1, 2013

From BravoTV’s website, Teresa Giudice’s biography:

“Teresa Giudice is a true Jersey Girl born and raised. The daughter of Italian immigrants, she grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, where she met Joe, her loving husband of 13 years. Teresa devotes herself to her four beautiful daughters — Gia, Gabriella, Milania and Audriana. A graduate of Berkeley College with a degree in Fashion Marketing and Management, Teresa is an inspirational working mom. She launched her own professional hair care line, Milania, and a line of bottled bellinis, Fabellini, and will soon introduce a line of ready-to-use gourmet foods straight from Italy, Skinny Italian-Fabulicious Foods, as well as Fabulicious Desserts. Teresa has also taken the publishing world by storm with her three New York Times bestselling cookbooks Skinny Italian, Fabulicious! and Fabulicious! Fast & Fit. Her fourth book, Fabulicious! On the Grill will be released in May. In 2012, Teresa showcased her business savvy by starring on NBC’s hit show Celebrity Apprentice where she raised $70k for the charity NephCure.”

From BravoTV’s website, Melissa Gorga’s biography:

It’s all about family for sassy Italian Melissa Gorga. She and her husband Joe Gorga have been married for eight years. They have three beautiful children — Antonia, 7, Gino, 5, and Joey, 3. A housewife and proud of it, Melissa blends old school Italian values with a modern lifestyle that allows her to follow her passion. She turned her dream of becoming a recording artist into a reality with multiple songs breaking the top ten Dance/R&B charts on iTunes, including On Display and How Many Times. Melissa is just getting started. Along with her blossoming music career and chasing after three high-energy kids, Melissa has written her first book, Love Italian Style: The Secrets of My Hot and Happy Marriage, coming out in September 2013. Little Miss Everything (as Joe calls her) has a lot going on. It’s hard work juggling career(s) and kids, but somehow Melissa makes it all look easy!

From BravoTV’s website, Jacqueline Laurita’s biography:

“Jacqueline Laurita, one of the original cast members on RHONJ, has been married for more than 11 years to her husband Chris, who is also the brother of another original cast member, Caroline Manzo. Chris is president and CEO of BLK Beverages. The couple has two sons, CJ, 10, and Nicholas, 3, and Jacqueline has a daughter, Ashlee, 22, from a previous marriage. Jacqueline has been a cosmetologist for over 20 years. Aside from spending time with her family, Jacqueline continues her passion and career in the beauty industry as an owner of a beauty Medspa in Oakland, N.J. called, “Altruistic Beauty Medspa” that should be opening late summer/early fall 2013. The spa is dedicated to those who are unselfishly devoted to the welfare of others. This sanctuary is all about giving back. Jacqueline always tries to see the good in people, but can hold her own when challenged. Jacqueline does not take anything for granted and believes that true wealth is about love, family, friends, personal growth and helping others in need. As a Warrior Mom, her mission is not only to recover her youngest son, Nicholas, from Autism, but also to help many other families by becoming an active advocate in the Autism community. You can follow her Autism Journey in Parenting Magazine from February-July 2013 as she is a contributing editor for the magazine as well as having an online blog on their website as well as her own.”

From BravoTV’s website, Caroline Manzo’s biography:

Caroline Manzo is the epitome of a strong New Jersey woman. Always putting family first, she is a devoted wife and mother of three children, Albie, 27; Lauren, 25; and Christopher, 24. Caroline has been married for more than 29 years to her husband Albert who runs The Brownstone, a very successful catering facility in Paterson, NJ. The business has been with the family for over 30 years and is one of the premiere event spaces in the state. Although Caroline spends the majority of her time managing the household, her family has been known to run her ragged as she supports BLK Water, Brownstone Sauce, and Cafface Beauty Bar. Caroline also has a new Podcast on iTunes, “Let Me Tell You Something,” which is a Manzo family roundtable each week. Caroline is affiliated with several charities including SCTNOW, a foundation dedicated to stopping child trafficking within our own borders, CROC, a foundation dedicated to helping cancer survivors, Best Friends Animal Society, Wounded Warriors Project, and The PG Chambers School, a NJ facility dedicated to educating children with physical and mental disabilities. Often described as a feisty spitfire, Caroline manages to have it all — family, friends and a career. In her opinion, that is what makes her a “Real Housewife” of New Jersey.

From BravoTV’s website, Kathy Wakile’s biography:

Since last season, Kathy has developed her hobbies into a career as a domestic diva. Juggling home, career, and family she manages to find time to be involved in raising brain tumor awareness, a cause close to her heart. Her Goddess Eye jewelry line gives a portion of sales to the National Brain Tumor Society and The Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation. Kathy’s dessert line called “Dolci della Dea” — Goddess Sweets — launched its debut product the Cannoli Kit on QVC and is aspiring to branch out to other retail venues nationwide, including Dylan’s Candy Bar in NYC, LA, and Miami. Kathy believes in having your cake and drinking it too. She has found a way with her “Red Velvet Cosmo” cocktail. She resides in Wayne, New Jersey with her husband of 21 years, Rich, and their two children, Victoria,19 and Joseph, 17. Despite all the changes in the last year, Kathy still loves to party and live life to the fullest. While keeping her finger on the pulse of so many different things she effortlessly continues to find the balance in everything she does.

Related:

• AllAboutTRH EXCLUSIVE: Producers Remind Teresa And Kim D What To Say While Taping RHONJ!

“In a recent episode, when they show Kim D with Teresa, they edited it to make it seem like she was leaving St. Josephs hospital in Paterson after her father’s heart surgery. This is not true. That morning Teresa and Kim D met at Kafe Neo in Totowa for breakfast. I work there, so was allowed to come with family in order to fill the restaurant without having random customers disturbing the shoot. From what I overheard at my table, it was a conversation about Teresa’s new fitness endeavors and obsession. She was dressed like that because she was shooting a fitness class that morning. Coincidentally, Caroline and Melissa and Jacqueline were also shooting at a gym in the area that morning. So expect for Melissa to play up a new fitness storyline this season to compete with Teresa’s.

“And also Kim D was consoling her about her father, in my opinion, as a way of proving why her and Teresa are still friends. They both were actually very nice and funny, making all of us laugh and taking the time to small chat with everyone there.

“A little insight into their filming: they had to re-film them both coming into the restaurant and eating breakfast. The producers had to keep reminding them to ask about certain things and make sure the conversation was going in the right direction. If Teresa stumbled her words too bad, they would start over and reenact the scene.

“Just like Teresa and Joe at dinner, this part of her filming was entirely cut out. The producers seemingly just wanted her to be with Kim D when she got the text from Caroline, which is such a ‘coincidence’ considering everyone holds Teresa’s continuing friendship with Kim D against her (Caroline even brings it up at their confrontation in the same episode). This is only one of probably multiple incidents where Teresa and Kim film together, for it to only meet the cutting room floor.

“I just found the whole thing quite funny, because the producers promised my employers camera time and exposure for at least our restaurant logo, and instead nothing but the parking lot made the final cut.”

Kim D gives a totally different account in her blog

• AllAboutTRH EXCLUSIVE: Teresa Giudice’s BFF Heather Gives Insight into What Goes on Behind the Scenes

Heather Maclean met Teresa five years ago, a few months after RHONJ started airing. Here are some highlights:

I helped Teresa get an agent and a book deal, and she told the publisher she wouldn’t write the book without me. It’s been 4 books now and we’re still best friends! I don’t ghostwrite Teresa’s blogs. I don’t ghostwrite anything. A ghostwriter is a secret, uncredited writer, and I’m credited on everything I write or edit. Teresa knows every word of her blog is going to be scrutinized though, so she does run her thoughts and ideas past other people to make sure they sound good… She talks about what bothered her in the episode, if she’s being too sensitive, whether she should say something this way or that.

I worked with a lot of different networks, but they’re all pretty much the same: they want great entertainment as cheaply as possible.

I was at the Posche Fashion Show where Teresa was forced to confront Danielle (I was crying in the corner).

I think the best way to describe reality TV is “real people put into unreal situations.” They cast interesting people, but filming them in their normal lives is never going to be interesting enough, so the producers amp up the drama. They’ll tell you, “This is boring! I’m falling asleep! No one’s going to watch unless you guys do something dramatic!” They don’t necessarily give you lines, but they will definitely give you suggestions, or tell you want they need you to say “for storyline,” but to go ahead and “say it in your own words.”

To be fair, the producers try and get as much of a real story as they can, but it’s almost impossible. Have you ever heard of the Heisenberg effect? It’s the idea that nothing can be purely observed because the very act of observing something changes it. The minute a camera shows up, reality changes… Not everyone in a cast member’s life will agree to be on TV, so you’re never going to get a true and complete picture.

Every relationship, especially with in-laws, is going to have its up and downs, but I think Teresa’s and Melissa’s differences have been greatly exaggerated for the show. Before the show started taping, they never missed a single Christmas together.

The Lauritas Are Back for Season 5 Because Hurricane Sandy Gave Them a Storyline That Bravo Really Liked

On September 10, 2012, Jacqueline Laurita was a guest on the Anderson Cooper Show. He asked her if she would be back for season 5, to which she neither denied or confirmed. Chris Laurita said that if asked back, he and Jacqueline would use the RHONJ as a platform for autism awareness.

On September 17, 2012, a former RHONJ post production supervisor said that before the season 4 reunion special was taped on September 7, 2012, Jacqueline and Kathy were not made offers to return for season 5, and Caroline was made an offer but declined (and without Caroline, there was no place on the show for the other Manzos).

Late Monday, October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the Jersey shore and New York Harbor, and shortly thereafter it seems Bravo made the decision to start taping RHONJ season 5… According to a Bravo insider (not a cast member but an employee) the Lauritas weaseled their way onto the show by using Hurricane Sandy for a storyline for season 5:

“Yeah, they’re all back… they weren’t supposed to come back, but then Hurricane Sandy came and their ‘relief efforts’ gave them a storyline that Bravo really liked.”

The insider says Kathy, Caroline, and Jacqueline were OUT and Teresa’s makeup artist was in, as well as some other people they were auditioning. This was a FINAL DECISION, and it was all over the blogs, too, because it was true.

Caption: Damian and Beau Monde Salon & Spa’s Inaugural Holiday Party for Charity at the 201 Club in Englewood on December 6, 2012

So what happened for them all to return for season 5? How did they weasel their way in? THROUGH TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE SANDY. Yes, really.

Bravo taped the Gorga’s “relief efforts” shopping at Target, the Manzo’s/Laurita’s “relief efforts” by promoting Cafface/blk as a dropout/delivery site for donations, and the Manzo boys raising money as guest bartenders at the opening of their new restaurant. These staged events under the guise of charity were followed by the taping of the Hurricane Sandy fundraiser at Space Odyssey, which all of the cast attended, except for Caroline, Jacqueline, Chris and Albie, who were in California promoting blk at a Walgreens’ grand opening.

So basically, Bravo cameras were rolling when the Manzos and Lauritas were blowing up Twitter with all their “information” about Sandy, and when they were loading the blk van with donations dropped off at Cafface, etc. — and if they looked super super happy, it’s because their supposedly good-hearted relief efforts were their tickets back onto the show:

“We are collecting things @ my store to bring to shelters! Using our twitter flwrs to spread the word! My stores in Franklin lks ” – Lauren Manzo, November 3, 2012, Twitter

“Feeling so lucky to own a public store that my fam & I can use to take donations and get them where they have to be! Thank u all for ur help!” – Lauren Manzo, November 3, 2012, Twitter

“Let’s all pull together 2day&bring as much supplies 2 Cafface in Franklin Lakes so that we can donate2those in need! Team Blk will deliver!” – Jacqueline Laurita, November 3, 2012, Twitter

This probably means the Manzos/Lauritas will be getting the super-angelic storyline edit as usual… saviors of humanity. Remember Jacqueline’s comments toward Teresa about how she shouldn’t be “doing things quietly” — well, Jacqueline returning because of her Hurricane Sandy relief effort storyline puts that comment into context:

“Now is NOT the time2silently do good deeds4others,use ur Voice2encourage MANY 2join in.THATS how I was raised!ESPECIALLY if given a platform.” – Jacqueline Laurita, November 5, 2012 4:04 PM, Twitter

Let’s hope the storyline isn’t that Teresa did nothing while they were saving the world:

“Of course we are helping every which way we can too but I’m just not one to take pics of it. Sorry, not how I was raised xx (Matthew 6:1-3).” – Teresa Giudice, November 4, 3:13 PM, Twitter

Season 5 Hurricane Sandy RHONJ Cast Member Relief Efforts Taped by Bravo (Bravo Showcases the Manzos, Lauritas and Gorgas):

• October 29, 2012 – Hurricane Sandy hits the Jersey shore and New York Harbor late Monday, October 29, 2012
• November 2-3, 2012 – Laurita/Manzo camp tweets to bring donations to Cafface for delivery by blk van to shelters
• November 4, 2012 – Joe and Melissa Gorga shop at Target for Hurricane Sandy relief effort and drop off items to donation centers (plus Joe the lumberjack cuts downed tree in neighborhood)
• November 4, 2012 – Lauren tweets to stop dropping off clothes to Cafface — says to drop them off at the Red Cross or a shelter
• November 9, 2-12 – Lauren tweets to stop dropping off donations to her store Cafface — says it makes more sense to send donations directly [well or course it makes sense to go directly to the shelters and donation centers, which is why it is obvious they were merely promoting their businesses and trying to lure Bravo into recasting them when they tweeted for people to drop off items to them]
• November 10, 2012 – Jacqueline tweets: “We’ve been helping out w/out Bravo filming but that doesn’t mean we r going 2 stop helping 1ce they r”
• November 15, 2012 – Joe and Melissa worked the phones during MTV’s ‘Restore The Shore’ special
• November 20, 2012 – Manzo boys promote their new restaurant by advertising they’ll be guest bartenders at the Village Pourhouse in Hoboken to raise money for Hurricane Sandy victims
• November 26, 2012 – Gliz, Glam and Gifts, an event held at the Brownstone by The Sparkling Event (run by Candice Laurita and Cristina Granelli, Jacqueline’s nieces) “Benefits Sandy Victims” (housewives donate items to victims of storm and offer holiday shopping)
• November 30, 2012 – Hurricane Sandy fundraising event at Space Odyssey — Teresa, Melissa and Joe, Kathy and Richie, Kim D, Elvira, Jennifer, Lauren and Christopher attend
• December 6, 2012 – Damian and Beau Monde Salon & Spa’s inaugural Holiday Party for Charity at the 201 Club in Englewood — Teresa and Kim D, Elvira Grau, Caroline and Jacqueline attend

During the season 4 reunion special, it was obvious that Kathy’s days on the show were over. She stirred the pot against Teresa for two seasons, but she must have known she wasn’t bringing any real storyline. Kathy is rumored to have a limited role in season 5… could she be reaching out to Teresa as a way of getting more camera time? It would explain the recent favorable tweets between them:

Related:

• Gorga Photo Opportunities — Charity or Publicity?; Joe and Melissa Appear on MTV’s ‘Restore The Shore’ for Another Photo Op
• Lauren Manzo Tweets to Stop Dropping Off Hurricane Sandy Donations to Her at Cafface; Manzo Boys Guest Bartend at Their Restaurant for Hurricane Relief
• RHONJ Season 5 Taping Has Begun — Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga Were Spotted at Elvira Grau’s Hurricane Sandy Fundraising Event at Space Odyssey
• Gorgas and Lauritas Socialize Together Post Season 4
• Producer-Driven Scripted Drama and Bravo’s ‘Real Housewives’ Series
• Bravo Insider Says Andy Cohen Hates Teresa Giudice
• Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s $18,000 Claim Against the Laurita’s Bankrupt Company Signature Apparel
• The Laurita Bankruptcy – Signature Apparel LLC Was Drained of Its Funds and Assets to Support the Laurita’s Opulent Lifestyle

Will the Truth Come Out with Danielle Staub’s Return to RHONJ? Melissa Gorga Says, “I’m Not Going to Run from Her”

According to exclusive reports from sources to various bloggers, there will be a large cast for season 5 of RHONJ:

Teresa Giudice	Kathy Wakile	Gia Casey
Melissa Gorga	Danielle Staub	Linda Berger
Caroline Manzo	Kim DePaola	Noelle Brescia
Jacqueline Laurita	Priscilla DiStasio	Jennifer Dalton

Some of the cast for season 5 are what Jacqueline Laurita refers to as “extra B-role people for others that need someone to film with.” – 20 Questions With: Jacqueline Laurita, Ashlee Holmes Interviews Her Mother for Buzznet, November 20, 2012

“All of the Housewives are back for the 5th season. Danielle has NOT been asked back and Kim D has not been given a contract, but has a small role (and not that of a Housewife). Teresa has friends they they have asked to film with her but not offered contracts yet or to be Housewives.” – Jacqueline Laurita, as communicated to her friend Tom Murro on November 21, 2012

In Touch is reporting that Danielle Staub is heading back to The Real Housewives of New Jersey — and she plans on revealing some pretty big secrets while she’s at it:

“Danielle will set the truth straight and shed light on all the little stories they have been telling on the show,” an insider tells In Touch.  “She will say whatever she wants.”

During Danielle’s short two seasons on RHONJ, the former stripper managed to single-handedly turn every cast member against her— and she plans to remind them why upon her return.

“Danielle knows what people want to see and she’s going to make a big return,” an insider tells In Touch.  “Not everyone liked her and she is going to steal the spotlight away.”

And while the former reality star’s calculated moves may anger many of the remaining cast members, it’s exactly what fans of the show are dying to see.

In Touch is also reporting that Melissa Gorga is not shaking in her boots over Danielle’s return:

“I don’t think anyone can cause more problems for Teresa and me — not even Danielle,” Melissa Gorga, 33, told In Touch.

As In Touch first revealed, Bravo is bringing the previously axed Housewife, 50, back to the series that made her notorious.

“I’m not going to run from her,” Melissa insists. “If she wants to film together let’s film together.”

“Bring on the drama!” says Melissa of firebrand Danielle.

Related:

• In Touch Magazine is Reporting That Danielle Staub Will Return for Season 5 of RHONJ But Danielle Tweeted That ‘Bravo Didn’t Offer Me Enough to Go Back on’ the Show; In Touch Source Also Says Filming for Season 5 Has Begun Already
• Andy Cohen Teases Fans by Hinting That Danielle Staub Could Be Returning to RHONJ