But that’s not the main story here, kids.
Teresa’s getting married!
And sister-in-law Melissa Gorga is not in the wedding.
Melissa Gorga, ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’.Andrew Eccles/Bravo
“Where are those parents to bring them back together?
That’s what scares me here.”
Because Joe and Teresa’s ex-husband, also Joe, never got along and eventually came to blows.
Rachel Fuda, ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’.Andrew Eccles/Bravo
And that’s just the first episode.
Spoiler alert: things aren’t great.
It seems like you’re really getting the villain edit this season.
Jennifer Fessler, ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’.Andrew Eccles/Bravo
MELISSA GORGA:No, that was very tongue in cheek.
There’s just a lot of noise going on right now outside of the show and on Instagram.
And it’s really just, it’s not what it seems.
Teresa Giudice, ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’.Andrew Eccles/Bravo
Where are you both now with Teresa?
MG:We haven’t seen her.
MG:We haven’t seen her since the finale.
Danielle Cabral, ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’.Andrew Eccles/Bravo
It’s been a while.
Do you feel there’s a way back now with you and Teresa?
Is there anything that can fix your relationship?
‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’.Andrew Eccles/Bravo
MG:I don’t know.
We feel like we’ve tried every avenue.
It’s also about what’s right for my kids and my life and my marriage.
And where are you with the other ladies?
We have new cast members this season.
MG:So exciting.
I’m so happy.
I’ve been begging Bravo to do this, so I’m so happy that they finally did.
They’re so different, all three of them.
They all bring a great vibe to the show.
I really love them.
I think everyone’s going to love them, and they’re fun.
I think Jenn Fessler, first of all, is hysterical.
She just brings a lot of fun to the show.
She brings messy moments, and she’s unapologetic about it, which I love.
Rachel is super sassy and smart, and I know her.
Our kids are best friends, our two sons.
That’s really nice.
I have a relationship with her outside of the show.
And Danielle I met through the show.
She’s super loud, super in your face, very extra.
Everybody brings their own little dynamic.
And how are you with the other ladies?
MG:I’m okay.
I do not demand soldiers.
I really don’t.
I don’t believe in that.
I am secure enough that if they are friendly with Teresa, I’m fine with that.
I hate this whole divided thing.
To me, it’s childish.
You’ll see how that ends, but I try.
What are you most excited for viewers to see this season?
MG:Well, I open a new store.
You’re going to see Antonia start to drive.
Joe surprises us both, actually, with cars, and it’s pretty amazing.
We’re starting to look at colleges for her.
Just with my family, everything’s changing a little bit that way, where my kids are growing.
I do not come from that.
I think everyone really needs to know how foreign Teresa and Joe’s relationship is to me.
I don’t come from that.
I don’t understand that, and I would never, ever, ever promote that.
What has been the craziest thing to happen to you on this whole journey of being a Housewife?
MG:For me, it’s the opportunities, obviously.
I bring in a salary.
I bring in money.
That was big for me.
When Joe met me, I had three jobs.
I appreciate that it inspires them.
That’s the best part of it.
And do you watch any of theHousewivesfranchises?
MG:I always did watchBeverly Hills.
I thinkMiami’s amazing.
It’s always like I hear about it.
I’m like, “All right.
I have to catch this episode.”
And I get filled in with all of them.Potomac, I know is awesome too.
I do fill myself in with everything.
A big part of theHousewivesis that there’s always a trip.
Any big trips this season?
MG:Yes, Ireland.
Oh, my God.
Ireland is such a great couple episodes when we get to that.
Beautiful, authentic, very different vacation than we normally take, and I loved it.
I never thought I would even want to go to Ireland, if I’m being honest.
There’s a lot of drama on that trip too, though.
MG:You have no doubt, right?
Anything else you want to say about this season?
MG:I think it’s a season where you guys are looking for a lot of answers.
There’s a lot going on on the outside, and you’ll get it all.
We’ll keep you entertained the whole way through.
Now that we’re in the 13th season ofHousewives New Jersey, how do you feel?
Do you want to keep doing it for more seasons?
Or are you tired of doing it?
But at the end of the day, when it’s time, it’s time.
When it’s time to call it, I’ll call it.
Right now, we’re okay.
We’re making it work with how it’s rolling, and we’ll see what happens.
There is a lot of toxic.
It gets toxic at times, and I’m trying to breathe the fresher air.
I need a break.
You guys could keep talking about the show for another six months.
I’ll see you when it’s time, because it’s just too much for me.
Do you want to keep doing it for more seasons?
Or are you tired of doing it?
TERESA GIUDICE:Listen, I started this.
I’m the OG, and I’m sticking.
I want to ride the wave till it’s done.
Because right now I’m so happy.
I just got married.
I think every year I bring it to you guys.
TG:I’ve been through so much.
I don’t have to make up any fake storylines or anything like that.
Every year, there’s something.
So I feel like I have a lot more to give.
So if you guys want to keep seeing it, I’ll keep bringing it.
So where are you with Melissa and Joe?
How are you with those kids?
TG:Well, we do not speak.
How’s that been?
TG:The season, it was a very emotional season for me.
There’s highs and very low lows.
So right now, I’m just concentrating on myself, my family, and I’m healing.
Then let’s start with the highs.
First episode, we see your 50th birthday.
What was it like turning 50?
Was there anything you expected?
TG:Oh, at first I didn’t want to turn 50.
I was just like,Oh my God.
It’s just a number.But I have to say, I found love at 48.
I got married at 50, remarried.
I found the love of my life, my soulmate.
So I have to say, 50 was pretty fabulous.
What do you think is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your 50 years on this planet?
I’ve been through a lot.
And I feel like I’m just getting better with age.
I’m like a fine wine.
I just keep getting better and better and growing and learning more.
Just don’t think you know it all because every year you just learn something new.
It seems you’re in a very good place at the start of the season.
You reached out to Margaret.
You’re in therapy for your anger.
How has that been for you?
TG:Really good.
It’s been very good.
So like I said, you’ll see me working on myself throughout the season.
Is there one thing you credit to helping you to deal with your anger?
TG:I have to say my husband.
He had a big part in it.
And of course, I wanted to better myself for my daughters.
Because they’re looking up to their mama.
What was it like, the buildup to the wedding?
What was the most stressful part of that for you?
TG:You’re going to watch this season, and you’ll get your answer clear as day.
Unfortunately, yeah, unfortunately.
Because I was so happy.
I was on such a high, and you will see.
You’ll get your answer.
Now, Jersey has had the same Housewives for the past few seasons, which, no complaints.
But now we have two new Housewives.
How’s that been with the new women?
TG:Oh, great.
I’m all about new blood.
I love meeting new people.
So yeah, it’s great.
What do you think they bring to this season?
TG:I guess young-ness because they’re younger.
They’re in their 30s.
They’re the youngest of the Housewives.
I would say [they bring a] freshness.
Because when you’re young, you bring freshness.
Where are you with Margaret and the other ladies?
TG:I think I’m good with all the other ladies.
The only one I don’t speak to, unfortunately, is my sister-in-law.
And that’s very deep.
And that’s very deep.
That’s very deep.
But we see in the first episode that you invite Marge after not talking to her for a while.
Were you nervous with that meeting, about talking to her and apologizing?
TG:No, I wasn’t nervous because I was speaking from my heart, and so …
I wasn’t nervous at all.
I don’t want to have bad blood with anyone.
That’s really not my thing.
It’s really not.
Especially at this point, at 50.
Don’t want that.
I’m all about peace and love, happiness.
That’s what life’s about.
And you want people around you that bring you up, not bring you down.
That’s what you learn.
I’m all about good energy.
That’s why I named my podcastNamaste, Bitches.
I’m about the namaste.
I agree one million percent.
Right back at her.
And I just want peace in my life.
And I’m healing.
I need a lot of time to heal.
It’s been a long road, a long, hard road.
In the first episode the producer asked if you knew what a fluffer was.
Did you ever figure out what it was?
Where did they say that?
The calendar shoot for the men.
TG:Oh, yeah.
I figured it was something, of course, sexual.
So I was thinking of fluffer, like a feather fluffer.
That’s what I thought.
Is that what it is?
[laughs]No.
TG:Oh, it’s not.
What is a fluffer?
It’s someone on the set of a porn film that gets the guy hard.
I didn’t know.
[laughs] Oh my god.
I didn’t know that.
I’m thinking it’s a fluffer, like a long stick with feathers on the end.
And you’re going to fluff him and tickle his balls or something.
[laughs] That’s what I thought it was!
I didn’t know that a fluffer’sthat.
So you taught me something new.
See, I learned something new!
Glad I could help.
Anything else you want to say about the season?
TG:I can’t wait for everyone to see my happy ending!
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
The Real Housewives of New Jerseyairs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.
Each week, the latest episode will stream the next day on Peacock.
