by Jessica Blackwell

 

Tonight, on the season six premiere of RHONJ, Bravo gave the cast a major shakeup, the biggest since the show began on Bravo. Jacqueline Laurita and Caroline Manzo are out and Kathy Wakile will be more like an extra than a cast member this season. Three new cast members were added to take the place of the retired veterans and stir the pot, and one old cast member returned! Before I get into the new ladies, I'll talk about what's going on with the seasoned cast members. 

 

Teresa & Joe

Their legal situations made the premiere one of the more emotional episodes of RHONJ I've seen. Joe has clearly stopped pretending that their pending fraud charges are going to go away, and the adults in the situation have accepted that he will likely be serving some time. It's affecting Gia, the only one of their children old enough to know what's going on. Twice in the episode she was reduced to tears, and it's hear wrenching to see her go through this. Bravo included some footage of Joe's father, who passed away a few months ago, and added a nice dedication to him at the end. Tearjerker! 

 

Melissa & Joe

Melissa and Teresa have patched their relationship up, so the Gorgas just seem to be focused on being there for their family during this difficult time and all is pretty well in their home. Melissa, however seems to have some more drama on the horizon because on of the new cast members is on of her former party friends that she discarded once she got married. 

 

And now for the new blood...

 

Amber

Amber is the friend that used to be friends with Melissa. She's a self professed OCD control freak, and she and her husband James are happily married with children. There's a twist to her happy life story, at age 31, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she's a survivor. 

 

Teresa & Nicole

There two identical twins seem like the same person so much that I wonder if Bravo is paying them separate salaries? The only difference between them is that while they've both been divorced, one remarried her husband and the other remains single. Don't ask which is which, because I can't tell you. One thing is for sure, these two ladies are going to stir up plenty of drama on the show - maybe they'll graduate to having separate salaries! 

 

Dina Manzo

Now that her estranged sister Caroline is off the show, Dina agreed to come back. She's not exactly picking up where she left off because she'll have to contend with the new cast members and her life has changed tremendously. She's no longer with her husband, and her daughter Lexie is 18! Her return should make the show pretty interesting..

 

Now that everyone is introduced, let's talk about their first meeting..

 

Amber threw a Harvest Party and provided an opportunity for the ladies to be all be in the same place for the first time. Teresa had to deal with stares and whispers as she walked in, people questioning how she had the balls to show up to the event despite her legal troubles. 

 

Amber wanted to clear the air between her and Melissa, since Melissa abruptly disappeared from her life after she got married, especially since Amber went through that bout with cancer. When Amber confronted her about it, Melissa said that she didn't know. Only problem with that story is that Amber claims she got a Facebook message from Melissa offering her assistance during it. Melissa claimed that she never sent the message. Hmmm...someone is lying. I don't want to go taking sides with the new girl right off the bat, but Melissa is looking less and less like the innocent picture she painted of herself. Amber also claimed during her confessional that she and Melissa both wanted successful futures, but while she attended school, Melissa wanted to marry rich. Well marry rich she did! 

 

This looks like it's going to be a VERY interesting season of RHONJ. Stay tuned! 

 

The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Sundays at 8/9c

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)