Dina Leaves Real Housewives of New Jersey

After yet another cat-fighting reunion show from New York, we segue into the latest episode of The real Housewives of New Jersey (or should I say New Joisey)?

Dina, for some strange reason ( probably helped along by a producer with a plan), meets with Danielle to tell her that she no longer wants her in her life. After a short but loud conversation with talk of “boundaries” and “Don’t call me crazy…EVER, EVER, EVER”, the meeting ends with Dina embarrassed and Danielle ready to call her posse of pseudo hit men from central casting. I have a question, why, if Dina truly didn’t want anymore to do with Danielle did she meet her in person instead of sending her a text or email? I guess it simply made for better television to do the in person thing.

Caroline is as boring as ever and isn’t shown in much of this episode (thank God) and Teresa and Jacqueline linger in the background like obedient Italian wives as they prepare $500 worth of food for the men while they play poker and stratagize how to torture Ashley’s boyfriend. I wasn’t sure if I was watching some kind of Animal House movie or a reality television show. Serving him bitter tasting wine and bringing out a mallet was the extent of their torture because Ashely came into the room after being her usual mature self (not) and getting kicked out of the house while her boyfriend had the courage to stay behind which rendered him a newly “made” man. This obviously earned the respect of the boys and he was pronounced “okay for a chick”. The whole scene was a desperate bid for something interesting to happen on this otherwise boring series. The Manzo’s and Teresa and Joe are just not that interesting and without Danielle and her insanity there would be no show at all.

Dina later announces on “Watch What Happens” with the ever child-like, nebbishy Andy Cohen, that she is leaving the show because of Danielle. Smart lady, I’d get out while the getting was good too. This show is a stinker and Dina knows when to exit!! She will bve missed if for no other reason than her cat, Grandma Wrinkles, was the true star of the show. The cat waas the only character with any charisma.

What can they do next to hold the attention of the viewers? Here are a few of my own suggestions:

1.) Danielle bursts into the Brownstone with ten felons, guns blazing and shoots up the place.

2.) Danielle shoots all of the Manzo’s in the kneecaps.

3.) They announce that Grandma Wrinkles is getting her own spin-off show with no Manzo’s allowed on set.

4.) Ashley gets beaten black and blue in a ham fight with Caroline’s ever so mature sons.

None of the above are terribly exciting, but they beat what they’ve shown thus far on the season. Perhaps they could line up tables full of food and have Teresa knock them down for an hour?

The Housewife series is a brilliant concept and fun to watch most of the time. Sadly, New Jersey has turned into a major dud with one villain and four angels. It has no plot without the raging battle between nasty Danielle and the super, clean cut Manzo family so that’s what they show week after week. Obviously these people are a total bore without an antagonist to spur them on and when that’s not happening we get trips to a farm to watch the kids climb haystacks. It’s similar to watching paint dry only with farm animals.

Dina and her new age beliefs will be missed because she is the funniest and most intelligent of the entire cast and Grandma Wrinkles was a true star.

Until next week…and more Danielle bickering and threatening…arrivederci