Credit: Instagram/Melissagorga
Real Housewives of New Jersey producers are reportedly “continuing to scramble” to save the show.
Nearly a year and a half after the final episode of season 14 aired, and after Jennifer Aydin, 48, confirmed her departure from the Bravo reality series, there are said to be just four women who are likely to return as a former member of the show is being considered.
“What they keep coming back to is the same issue,” an insider explained to Radar Online on January 23. “The cast right now is still really good. It’s just a matter of trying to figure out how to make it work with them, as last season was more or less impossible. While Jen Aydin confirmed she’s not back and Rachel Fuda is not expected to return as well, there’s still a solid foundation with Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania, and Margaret Josephs.”
As for Danielle Cabral, 40, the source said she could return, too.
“But all of these women have had major issues with one another in the past,” they continued. “Even though Melissa and Teresa made up, there’s obviously still potential for drama as the reconciliation is new. And Margaret and Teresa don’t have a relationship… and Danielle also had issues with Teresa.”
The source then noted that bringing back Kim DePaola, 65, was an option since she is not “scared of the drama.”
“She’s friends with Melissa now. She’s friends with Margaret. And she’s always managed to navigate drama with Teresa and still come out alive,” the insider noted. “She knows all of these women well — their history, their relationships, their ups and downs, and how to work a room with them all.”
Although producers have also allegedly considered new cast members and even arranged for them to test film with the remaining cast, the source went on to say that bringing back someone with a history with the women might be the better option.
“What [Andy Cohen] and Bravo will ultimately do remains to be seen, but this would definitely be a simpler solution than continuing to comb through women who don’t end up performing well on camera and who have no history with the existing group,” the insider added.