Your Entertainment Corner

Recap/Review: The Real Housewives of New Jersey, S3, E12 – “Auld Lang Syne for an Eye”

  • By

  • August 9, 2011

  • 10 mins to read

Airdate: Sunday, August 7th at 10:00 pm ET/PT on Bravo

Rating: ★★★★★

Note: While most of you watched “Auld Lang Syne for an Eye” on Sunday night, I didn’t get to watch it until Monday night at 9:00 pm. The show was pre-empted on the east coast for an episode of Guiliana and Bill.”

The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Jacqueline Laurita, Teresa Giudice, Caroline Manzo, Kathy Wakile, Melissa Gorga -- Photo by: Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Melissa listens as Caroline talks to her “Caroline Rules” fans at the radio station about New Year’s resolutions. Melissa’s resolution is that no matter how much Teresa annoys her, she’s not going to let it get to her. She’s going to be the bigger person. She wants the children to be able to play with each other. So she calls Teresa and invites the girls over for a play date. Teresa doesn’t really want to see Melissa, but does it for the kids’ sake.

Antonia, Melissa’s 5-year-old daughter, is very anxious to see her cousin Milania, who, on the other hand, is too busy throwing a temper tantrum about what she’s going to wear to be ready on time. What a little brat! She stands there throwing her clothes out of her drawers piece by piece, trying to find something to wear as Teresa stands there telling her to stop. In my experience, telling a 4-year-old to do something doesn’t often work if said 4-year-old doesn’t want to do it. Had that been me, I would have given her a swift slap on her behind. Poor little Antonia, she doesn’t understand why her cousins are so late. They only live 5 minutes away.

While the kids are playing, Melissa tries to talk to Teresa about Kathy and realizing she’s not getting anywhere, changes the subject to Teresa’s new book. It’s a family cookbook due out in May, so Melissa asks if Teresa wants any of her recipes. I couldn’t believe how rude Teresa was when she simply says, “No,” immediately followed by, “Do you have any?” Now, why does Teresa ask for Melissa’s recipes when she knows she’s not going to use them? Follow that with what Teresa says during camera time, “Melissa really offered me a pork recipe–we all know that bitch doesn’t cook,” and who’s being the bitch now?

Melissa takes it all in like a good sport, changing the topic yet again, this time to her singing career. And again, Teresa rebuffs her. It seems like no matter what Melissa talks about, Teresa isn’t interested in talking to her. She does ask Melissa to sing for them (as does Gia), but Melissa purposefully declines, saying she has to rest her voice for a few days. Again, during camera time, Teresa shows what a bitch she is. “And what does she think, she’s Beyoncé or something, that she just had a concert? If you can sing, sing. Belt it out. Let us see whatcha got.” Melissa tries to tell Teresa how proud she is of Joey for building the studio and for being so supportive, and Teresa just waves it off. “Yeah, I can believe he did this ‘cause he doesn’t want you going to New York…you know my brother. As long as you make money, that’s all he cares about.” I really felt sorry for Melissa – she was trying so hard to make friends with Teresa.

Jacqueline asks her parents, Jerry and Bonnie, to talk to Ashley about her behavior. I have to say I was a bit surprised when Bonnie tells Jacqueline Ashley will figure it out when she grows up. How much more growing does Bonnie want Ashley to do!? She’s 20 years old already. The time for excuses is long gone. Jacqueline is so right when she comments, “Ashley has to be the one to know that she’s gotta make things happen in her life.” At least Jacqueline’s father tries to talk to Ashley. I was so surprised to see what awesome artistic talent Ashley has as she draws a head shot of Marilyn Monroe as Jerry attempts to talk to her about becoming a professional artist. It’s a shame to see that talent going to waste. Had I ignored my grandfather the way Ashley ignores her grandfather, I would have gotten a good slap upside the head!

Lauren is getting ready for the grand opening of Face, her new beauty bar business inside the Chateau Salon and Spa. Lauren reminds me of myself a little bit. She wants to be her own boss because she doesn’t like it when someone tries to tell her what to do. As a matter of fact, she confesses, “I hate when people tell me what to do. If you tell me what to do, I won’t do it.” I can remember saying something very similar to my ex-husband, which is why he’s my ex. Lauren has asked Ashley to design the tee shirts she’s going to give away at her grand opening and Ashley shows her what she’s come up with. I don’t blame Lauren for being upset because the designs look like “she [Ashley] did them in her car.” I don’t understand what is wrong with Ashley. Lauren has given her this fabulous opportunity to have her work recognized (the press is going to be there), and Ashley gives her designs a child could have created. Lauren lays down the law about their next meeting, telling her exactly what she expects, saying “If I don’t have samples the next time we meet, there’s going to be a sh**storm.” Can you believe Ashley is upset with Lauren? I just don’t get this kid.

Caroline calls Kathy to invite her and the rest of the Wakiles to the family party at the Brownstone on New Year’s Eve. While Caroline acknowledges the problems between Teresa and Kathy, she doesn’t let that stop her. As she says, “I like to think that we’re all adults and we can get together in a room and just have a good time and act appropriately. So…I am not ‘not’ going to invite you because of an issue that really has nothing to do with me.” While Kathy is somewhat hesitant, still she gladly accepts the invite.

It’s New Year’s Eve and Jacqueline is at Caroline’s where they’re both getting ready. The Manzos decided to have a family party so the adults can be with the kids to stop the underage ones from drinking illegally. So when Ashley texts Lauren asking if she can bring friends, Caroline puts her foot down. “No, no. The answer is no. Aunt Caroline said the answer is no.”  I guess that has something to do with past New Year’s Eves together.

Teresa is also getting ready while her girls are eating pizza. She’s bringing them with her and Joe to the party because they’re so good. All the while Teresa is talking, telling the viewers how proud she is of her girls, they’re fighting with each other, and Milania says Gabriela is a “little tiny brat,” and prances around the room in her mother’s high-heeled boots, spritzing water all over the place. And when Teresa tells Milania to keep quiet because the baby is sleeping, Milania comes back with “Who cares?” Right Teresa, they’re all so good. They wouldn’t know good if it came up and smacked them in the face!

The Wakiles arrive at the Gorgas so Kathy can have her makeup done by the guy doing Melissa’s makeup. It must be nice to be able to afford a professional makeup artist. Just sayin’. Melissa and Kathy talk about what Kathy’s going to do when she sees Teresa at the Brownstone and then goes on to tell her a story about what Teresa said to her about putting Melissa’s picture in her cookbook. I have to give Melissa credit – she’s really trying. I think I would have lost my cool a long time ago, and it hasn’t been that long since the Giudices and Gorgas decided to let bygones be bygones.

It’s party time! Let’s hope everything goes ok because Teresa isn’t too thrilled that Caroline invited the Wakiles. She also doesn’t understand why she should be happy Melissa and Joey spent part of their Christmas Eve with her before going to Kathy and Rich’s – even though Caroline tries to explain it to her. I am dumbfounded she’s still talking about this!

I thought it was really nice of Kathy to bring a basket of home-baked cookies and pastries to the party as a way of saying “thank you for inviting me.” It looks like everyone is going out of their way to be nice to each other – everyone except Teresa, that is, as she completely ignores Kathy when the Wakiles walk in. I’m glad to see Joe and Rich hugging, despite the profanity they were initially using with each other. It’s all in good fun I suppose. I also like the way Rich intervenes when an older guy starts dancing with his 16-year-old daughter Victoria. He and Joey handle it beautifully without the trouble that could have ensued under other circumstances. On the other hand, I can see Caroline grimacing when Teresa says how nice it is to have the entire family together on New Year’s, when in the next breath, she admits she probably won’t feel that way once New Year’s is over. Melissa tries desperately to get Teresa to understand New Year’s is the time to put family problems behind and start over again. On the other side of the table, Jacqueline looks like she wants to kill Teresa as she listens to the conversation between Teresa and Melissa. Melissa even suggests the Giudices come on vacation with them and the Wakiles, but Teresa’s having none of that. “Vacation? You go on vacation with people you want to hang out with! … Hangin out with Richie? Oh my God, I don’t think so! That would be deadly. I would have to drown him.” Caroline asks her if she really wants to be the bad guy for turning her back when offered a chance to reconnect so many times. Teresa finally wavers a bit when she thinks it would be good for her and Joe to have some alone time, so she finally gives in and says she’ll think about it.

It’s 30 seconds to midnight and everyone is partying hard, counting down to the New Year. It’s nice to see everyone kissing each other, including Teresa when Kathy approaches her. Could this family feud be coming to an end? Something tells it’s not quite over – not yet.

Tune in next week for another drama-filled episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Sunday, August 14 at 10:00 pm ET/PT only on Bravo.

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!