Andy Cohen is addressing the buzz surrounding the absence of a traditional reunion for he Real Housewives of New Jerseyseason 14.
Over the weekend, ET confirmed that the New Jersey housewives would not partake in the customary reunion episode, largely due to significant divisions within the cast. Cohen provided clarity on the matter while speaking on SiriusXM’s Reality Checked with Kiki Monique.
"I do want to give some context to the announcement over the weekend that there was gonna be no Jersey reunion because I feel like there are a lot of theories about what this could mean," Cohen began.
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. "There will be something that Bravo is cooking up in place of a reunion, and so that is to be announced," he hinted.
Cohen further elaborated on the context of the announcement, explaining the timing and the process behind it. "This season, it is really catching fire. There's stuff happening with everyone. I feel like this announcement about the reunion came without much context, and so I just wanted to fill in some of the blanks for you," Cohen continued. He pointed out the practicalities involved, saying, "If you think about the timing of when we tape reunions, typically we tape them about six weeks before the end of the season, which means that we would've been taping this one in a couple weeks. We were letting the cast know. And of course it leaked as things do."
A source told ET that the cast was notified about the network's decision not to film a season 14 reunion on Tuesday, with a separate source with knowledge of the situation confirming to ET that thefranchise will not have a traditional reunion this season. The source added, "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."
What's more, the source says Bravo "is figuring out a different concept to wrap up the season" and that "nothing official about the future of the show has been decided." ET reached out to Bravo, and the network had no comment.
ET's source confirmed what Cohen said, noting that "a dramatic, all-cast dinner in the season finale will make this decision clearer to the audience."
The website All About the Truth, which is dedicated to covering all things Housewives, first broke the news.
The reunion cancellation comes as season 14 is currently unfolding. It was just last month when Bravo shared the season 14 trailer, which teased yet another explosive table fight. The scene openedwithDolores Cataniasitting alone at a table amidst the aftermath of shattered glass strewn across the floor at Rails Steakhouse in Towaco, New Jersey. A sense of unease hangs in the air as a producer probes, "How did it ever come to this?" While the specifics of the restaurant altercation remain shrouded in mystery, it's clear that tensions are running high among the Housewives.
Melissa Gorga'staglinefor season 14 all about sums up her relationship, or lack thereof, with sister-in-lawTeresa Giudice. The two cut ties for good after tapingthe season 13 reunion, and had no contact while filmingseason 14. Viewers will see the two attend the same events, but according to Gorga, they didn't interact once -- and Gorga doesn't see that ever changing.
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 Giudice, she recently told ETshe can't wait for fans to get a look at the finale, adding that, at last, she'll come away "victorious" after years of feeling under attack.
"I'm so over it," she said. "August is gonna be two years that [Louie Ruelas] and I are married. It's like, I know they're obsessed with me.It's OK. I get it, you know, you're obsessed with the queen."
As for the future of RHONJ,Cohenpreviously told ETthat the way Bravo shot this season ofNew Jerseywas "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."
"I'm confident enough to say, whoever you have in the room, I'm good with that," she added. "Why should I stress over things I can't control?"
The Real Housewives of New Jerseyairs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT son Bravo. Episodes stream next day on Peaco*ck.
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