Mob Wives Reunion Recap: J is for Giant

Recaps

By PlathAddict | Thursday, May 24, 2012 | 2:00 pm | 31 Comments
Tagged: , , , , , ,
Posted in: Mob Wives, Recaps

We are in for so much fun Gasmii. Welcome to the first part of the Mob Wives Reunion. Words like epic, awesome, crazy, and surprising have been thrown around about this reunion.

OK, those words were mostly thrown around by me. But, still this shit was off the freaking hook! And as much as I thought the overall season was too long, the reunion seemed really short. This was the first time that I ever thought, “Thank Jeebus there is a second part to this reality show reunion.” Because, this shit deserved a second part.

Let’s jump right in to these shark infested waters, shall we?

We start with some clips from last season, narrated by the most ineffectual host ever: Joy Behar. Seriously, what was Vh1 thinking with this choice? Yes, Wendy Williams was boring as a host last year, but the women at least seemed to respect Wendy enough actually answer her questions. Plus, Wendy actually watched the show and knew who the players were.

But, I also suspect that we wouldn’t have gotten as much honesty if Wendy had hosted so maybe these bitches need someone ineffectual enough to let them scream it out for our entertainment. The problem is that we can’t hear all of the awesome verbal jabs when they are screaming at each other.

Anyway, they all look nice sitting there around Joy. Well, CousinSuckUp is kind of cross-eyed, but I guess that’s what happens when you are a duplicitous bitch pretending for the camera.

Andy_cohenDing ding ding!

We start right in with Junior’s betrayal. They show Junior moving in as Renee looks on. She seems to be trying to decide if she remembers this particular part of all of that bullshit.

juniors-watch

I wonder if they purposefully edited that so that it was Renee now and the then image Junior’s watch facing forward – wait, as we learn later, of course they did! Jennifer Graziano knows how to tell a story, as we will find out later on.

So, we get to see all of the facial reactions of the women as they watch the flashbacks. Even Big Ang looks pissed off at that scumbag.

This is when Jennifer Graziano the creator and executive producer of the show first joins the stage. And, my first thought is that this is why I love this show. She has known Junior as a family member too. Of course we have to hear from her. THIS is Reality Television – still staged, but totally real. I can’t wait for season 3 you guys!

Anyway, we hear Jennifer’s perspective as someone who has treated Junior as family and who has decided to film her family for a world wide audience. She is, naturally, very angry that he would do that to Renee and wants to know why. Renee interrupts Jennifer to say that Junior did this because he is selfish, self-centered, evil, no good, the list goes on.

But, what is truly interesting is the look on Jennifer’s face as Renee is saying this. She goes from agreeing, to realizing that maybe she should say something to calm Renee down, to realizing that she totally struck reality gold with her sister. You can actually see her trying not to smile with the thought.

jennifer-karen-smugnessI wonder how many more breakdowns I can encourage her to have on film.

This was one moment that I had to freeze in order to watch a couple of times. I kind of recognize Jennifer’s smirk. Did Jennifer cast Karen as her cipher?

Renee goes on to say that there is something we (the audience) don’t know. We didn’t know that she miscarried because of all of this. She says that was the reason she was hospitalized in January.

Was that the time that she passed out during her father’s arraignment? Because I remember them saying she had to be hospitalized because of the stress. And, I remember truly hating Junior for putting her in a situation like that. I just can’t remember what time of year it was because this has been a seriously LONG season, Gasmii. OMG! I felt like I was never going to see it to the end. I even had a two week break from it and it still seems like I watched 79 episodes.

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PlathAddict

If there were ever a situation where in which I had to choose between cheese and chocolate, cheese would win hands down. I spend my days writing blog posts for the multi-housing industry and my nights harshly judging people who appear on reality shows. If there is the odd weekend in which I am not working, or feeling smugly satisfied about my lack of my own reality show, I will build a blog for my friends. Then, I will spend the rest of my weekend conning other friends, family members, and general acquaintances to donate their talents to help out. I am shameless in my love of free stuff, blue humor, and great or even terrible fiction. I tell my friends that I watch reality shows to feel better about myself. In actuality, I watch them because I am vastly entertained by the things people will do to be famous. When Flipit asked me to join the TVGasm family, I was honored. When he said that I would be paid in Cheetos and M&M's, I was totally in.

31 Comments

  1. 1
    NotWithoutMyTV notwithoutmytv
    Posted May 24, 2012 at 2:37 pm

    You had me at “cross-eyed… duplicitous bitch pretending for the camera.”

  2. 2
    hot cawfee
    Posted May 24, 2012 at 2:48 pm

    I agree— I always believed that Karen came on the show believing she was cast to talk about her father Sammy and her book. She was the star and the rest were to be her back-ground. I guess she is like the Mary Richards of the show (toss hat in air).

  3. 3
    PlathAddict PlathAddict
    Posted May 24, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    @notwithoutmytv, when I wrote that line, I was going to put a photo of CSU looking cross-eyed at the camera, but then Miss Andy’s face popped in my head and I had to use him.
    @hotcawfee, I remember when I was recapping the first episode of Season 1, that her sense of entitlement was unnatural for someone who was coming back to face people who she claimed had turned their back on her. I started disliking her immediately. I totally think Jen sold her on the show by telling her that she would be the star. But, I also think that Jen told Renee that SHE would be the star as well. And, if you think about it, Renee tends to act as the Queen Bee (damn, I have to seriously fight the urge to make jokes about drag queens). All of the women – except Carla seem to look to her for approval.
    I also think that the majority of Karen’s animosity for Drita this season came from both CSU, and the fact that Drita was so popular last year. Karen was willing to play second fiddle to Renee because that was the storyline that Jennifer crafted for her, but I also think that Karen doesn’t really respect Renee and feels like she can control her as long as she continues to be coached by Jennifer. Drita is the wild card who surprised everyone with so many people just liking her and siding with her even when they thought she was in the wrong. Karen hated her for that. I think she wanted CSU to help win people over to her side.
    I’ll bet you anything that she didn’t realize that CSU wouldn’t be able to help her cause because, CSU is uninteresting and an interloper in the eyes of the audience; and, because CSU only wanted to further the rift more than she wanted people to see Karen’s side of things.

  4. 4
    Sparkle McSnarkle Sparkle McSnarkle
    Posted May 24, 2012 at 4:06 pm

    Great recap. The replay is on now, I’m going to watch it and look for all the stuff you picked up on. Thanks for the cliff notes, lol.

  5. 5
    PlathAddict PlathAddict
    Posted May 24, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    It was my pleasure Sparkle McSnarkle. I love your screen name!

  6. 6
    labowner
    Posted May 24, 2012 at 4:33 pm

    My gawd Plath. You have my head spinning.

    Sorry Jennifer and Renee are as fucked up as Teresa and Joe. Who does this to their family and is okay with it?

    Wow, just watched the super trailer for the Chicago episode. Looks awesome. Can’t wait for that shit to hit the fan. Love all the “allegedly” when talking about their dads.

  7. 7
    labowner
    Posted May 24, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    Can someone explain to me if Drita and Big Ang have been friends for years, why was this the first x-mas party she was invited to?

  8. 8
    PlathAddict PlathAddict
    Posted May 24, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    I don’t think Drita and Renee ever said they had been friends for years (I would have to go back and check, but I’m pretty sure that they have both said that they’ve known each other for years. Karen has worded her thoughts about Big Ang the same way, as has CSU). All of the women have chosen the wording that “everyone knows Big Ang,” and “everyone listens to what Big Ang has to say). I think that Big Ang is one of those people who has never met a stranger and takes an interest in everyone, but she most likely never invited any of them into her home and life until she started hanging out with them on the show.

  9. 9
    PlathAddict PlathAddict
    Posted May 24, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    Sorry, that first part should read, “Drita and Big Ang have ever said they had been friends for years.”

  10. 10
    SueBabe
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 3:17 am

    Plathaddict- You were SO RIGHT about Karen. It is like she’s playing Jen, right down to speech pattern and facial expressions. When she has to improvise is when yo see the REAL Karen, and there really isn’t much there.

  11. 11
    Classy Drunk classy drunk
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 4:32 am

    This show definitely could go on without Ramona. Maybe it was just me, but it seemed people were purposely ignoring her.

    Also Jennifer seems to be in the mix as their “friend” but uses that power to manipulate the story lines for the women.

    Either way I love it and I love that they showed us exactly how it was manipulated. I don’t like the show any less for it.

  12. 12
    Yvonne Aranda
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    Ramona is such a joke, no one cares about her, at all !!! Of course she tries to act tough because she knows there is security everywhere. She is just irrelevant…
    The host was lame, she had no idea what was going on. @PlathAddict they should get you to host the reunions, you’d call them out !

  13. 13
    sheesh sheesh
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    Plath would psych break them down, have them crying, hug them, make them feel better, and then move the whole thing to the Drunken Monkey.

  14. 14
    featherhead
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    Aren’t Jen and Karen best friends for years? Maybe that’s why they have the same mannerisms and facial expressions. If I am remembering correctly, Renee has mentioned that’s how she knows Karen cause she’s her sister’s friend.
    I am a little bothered by the “producers manipulation” only for the fact that it always seemed to target Carla.

  15. 15
    labowner
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 2:33 pm

    Featherhead look at Jen and look at Carl. Jealous much Jen? I think Carla and Drita are both beautiful and I see Renee trying to look like Big Ang.

  16. 16
    featherhead
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 2:54 pm

    @labowner – that’s true, I never looked at it as a jealousy thing. Although, Karen is totally jealous of Drita. She and Carla are both beautiful women, Karen not so much. Fatchabruta for sure!

  17. 17
    PlathAddict PlathAddict
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 3:57 pm

    @SueBabe, I’m glad I’m not the only one who sees it. The reason that I have had so much fun hating on Karen, was because I knew she was pretending to be something else this whole time. Now, I know that she was pretending to be Jennifer and it’s kind of weird…

    @classy drunk, Jennifer’s role as friend/family/long time acquaintance intrigues me. She’s a part of the lives that these women have in common. Plus, she has to interact with these women as people that she has known for a long time as she films them and creates storylines at the same time. For me, that just adds another layer to show.

    @Yvonne Aranda and @Sheesh, I would probably be an unfair host for the reunion. I would be too tempted to ignore CSU. Plus, I think that I would be way too afraid of Renee taking offense at all of the drag queen comments I’ve made about her since last season. And, then, there is the fact that I would most likely spend most of the evening trying to become Big Ang’s bestie so that I could go to her house and have her cook for me.

    @featherhead, I didn’t know that Jen and Karen were BFF’s. I only remember Renee saying that Karen was the first person that Jen asked to do the show and that their families had known each other for as long as either could remember. But, it would make total sense for that to be the case. Especially, with the sudden appearance of CSU as a Karen back-up. As BFF’s Karen could have easily said that she wanted someone who was completely on her side the way Carla was completely on Drita’s side. It would also make it tons easier for CSU to think that she was going to be able to push either Drita or Carla out of the show.

    I think that Jennifer is the genius that Renee called her (at least as far as manipulation for a hit reality show is concerned). I think that Jennifer totally wants to keep her mouthpiece happy by adding CSU, but also doesn’t want to lose the reality gold that is Drita. Which is why CSU hasn’t appeared all that likable to me. Now, Carla has suddenly become likable – mainly, because we had the chance to really see how her relationship works with Renee. And I also wonder if Carla was told to stand up for herself more in order to become more noticeable. I wonder if Jen is pitting Carla against CSU, while CSU is trying to stir up more drama with Drita.

    Basically, I wonder if Jennifer is playing the women against each other and then telling them a part of her grand plan after filming the women sitting down for the first time. It would explain a great deal. However she is managing to get these reactions, I think she is a reality show genius. I just wish she would realize we don’t need the drama to be drawn out by adding an irrelevant character like CSU. Plus, I hate that she is so willing to air footage of her sister in such a fragile state. I know that they both say it was Renee’s decision, but I think that people who are going through what Renee went through should be protected, even if they have to be protected from themselves. On the other hand, I love that Renee is so willing to put everything out there. I just wish one of them would know when it’s time to hold back for the sake of keeping some things private.

  18. 18
    Cupcake623
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    SoI had time to kill at B&N today so what do ya know there’s Karen’s book. Full disclosure, I skimmed and skimmed like not thoroughly read at all. like skipped every single part that didn’t involve Mob Wives cast members which in Karen’s defense, is like 98% of the content.

    First of all she is awfully smug about her dads connect. Like “the first time John Gotti called the house I was nine.” Maybe I’m just imagining that evil little smirk but its all so gee my family was hard core bad ass. Fuck yeah.

    2nd in response to all the questions about her relationship with Jen – at a certain point she, Jenn, Ramona, and Ramona’s sister with an R name that I cannot recall were super tight – always together three musketeers style. The book doesn’t mention Renee at all really. She talks about how Jenn was a braniac because she was getting a Masters in Business from NYU. I didn’t read closely about that foursome’s exploits cuz honestly I didn’t care.

    She talks about Lee, and how her father helped him move up in the ranks I guess? I have no idea. Lastly she devotes all of 4 paragraphs to Drita. Honestly it felt shoe horned in there so she could make a point about their friendship because the way she describes it they really weren’t that cool! She met Drita at a strip club Drita asked her is she was with one of the strippers and she’s like no and Drita’s like good cuz I’m gonna fuck her face up LMAO that got a LOL in B&N

    Also she says is that Ramona and her sister never liked Drita or that she was friends with her because she was the daughter of Albanian immigrants and not a part of the lifestyle so they have pretty much always hated her for coming into the circle. Honestly she makes it seem like she and Drita were never more than drinking buddies – not anywhere near as close to her as she was to R & R and Jenn. She is pretty dismissive of Carla and her mob ties and also of Drita’s.

    It adds credence to what you’re saying PlathAddict about Jen and Karen being so much alike. And why Ramona is allowed to exist on this show despite her utter uselessnes.

  19. 19
    featherhead
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    Yea!! Cupcake took one for the team!! I don’t know how you were able to read all that, I got a free sample of the first couple of chapters, boy was it bad.
    So I was correct on Jen and Karen being friends, I don’t know why it stuck in my head about Renee mentioning their friendship but it did for some crazy reason. With what you had read about Karen and Drita’s friendship

  20. 20
    featherhead
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 5:27 pm

    Sorry my kindle went crazy – anyway what I was saying about Karen writing that she and Drita weren’t all that tight – then why in the hell is Karen beating a dead horse about Drita marrying Lee? Jeeze she’s a mental case!
    @PA – you have given me a lot to think about dynamic wise. :)

  21. 21
    Cupcake623
    Posted May 25, 2012 at 5:42 pm

    I really think she feels if we were ever friendly my man is off limits? I mean I kinda get it because she explains that Drita and Albert ( her bf at the time) would hang out and double date with her and Lee all the time. Even after I was married, even if I could care less that some girl I barely talk to in the present was married to one of my exes for me I would always wonder were they like making googly eyes at each other the whole time we were dating?

    That said Karen is in fact a mental case.

  22. 22
    Chicken Lips
    Posted May 26, 2012 at 7:32 am

    I’m very late to the party, but as much as I love the show, I can’t really enjoy the reunion shows because when everyone is screaming at the same time I can’t understand what anyone is saying. It’s like the Jerry Springer show where they are allowed to wear shoes and security gets there quicker.

    I was pretty proud of Drita though. Old Drita would have knocked CSU the eff out in no time flat. New Drita didn’t even need anyone blocking her from getting at CSU. CSU, however, had half of the NY National Guard keeping her from Drita because they knew if CSU even went at Drita, someone would be going home in a body bag and they would have to pay a lot of money when Drita put in for reimbursement for the dry cleaning of her dress.

    And I had never even heard of CSU’s grandfather and I never saw the movie. But if CSU had to threaten Al Pacino (yeah, we’ll buy that story for the sake of my comment), then he probably was one of the low level people that on the outside is seen as a weasel but on the inside was seen as a grunt worker bee that got thrown a benefit here or there. I could be wrong – but the fact that CSU supposedly didn’t know of his involvement until years later, I’m thinking the benefits weren’t plentiful. I mean, even AJ Soprano picked up on the fact that something wasn’t kosher in his family and that kid was a moron.

    Excited for the live tweeting, PA!

  23. 23
    Chinyere
    Posted May 26, 2012 at 11:54 am

    I love this blog. I wish that I had found it earlier. You wrote the absolute truth. I love how you called Ramona Cousin Suck Up. The way she circled the table when she thought Drita was coming after her showed how scares she was. I couldn’t have said it better myself. You included things like the stuff about Jennifer that I didn’t even notice. Carla, Drita, Big Ang and maybe Renee are the characters I like. The so called cousins need to sit down somewhere and shut up. They talk a lot but they can’t back it up. Not that they can back it up and I don’t think anyone cares.

  24. 24
    Jenni
    Posted May 28, 2012 at 6:23 am

    First time writing here but just want to say i LOVE the recaps. Everything I think about Karen and CSU is put into words for me here and when im watching the show I find myself wondering will PA comment on it? I HATE them Karen makes me feel violent!
    @chicken lips i have Donnie Brasco and the guy was a loser. He was a foot soldier nothing more. Got passed over for moving up the ranks everytime. He never had a dime and was a bum. Why CSU brags about this “mobster” is beyond me.

  25. 25
    Mylia Saa
    Posted May 29, 2012 at 11:30 am

    hey plathaddict!! I love how you describe lucifer lol! Do you ever go on any on the wives facebooks? I just wanted to say that drita said in her status that ramona is a “single white female” because drita was invited to a party in L.A. working and lucifer came and was UNINVITED and no one sat with her. Drita kept moving away from her but lucifer kept stalking and following her. Ramona is “fatal attraction” for drita it’s creepy. She’s clearly obsessed with her.

  26. 26
    labowner
    Posted May 29, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    Sorry Chickenlips, but did you just compare a real person to a character from a tv show?

  27. 27
    Sunshine
    Posted May 29, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    Awesome recap of the reunion….Ramona makes my blood boil….she wants to be relevant so badly but she just isn’t.

    I totally think that Karen and Ramona and the producer bitch are jealous of Carla’s looks, her body, her hot husband who obviously cares about her still and her overall life. She’s a true friend to Drita and I am glad she told them she wouldn’t hang with them because all they did was talk shit.

    That was a real surprise to me that they were actually trying to keep Carla from knowing how sick Renee was….who does that shit? What a loser….and is it me or does Rene look really good considering all the hell she’s been through?

    Love all these babes except for Karen and Ramona….they could leave and nobody would care.

    I watched Mob WIves Chicago… I COUNT NOT LOOK AWAY. What.A.Mess. : ) Bring it on.

  28. 28
    Sunshine
    Posted May 29, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    sorry…should be “COULD not look away” dummy

  29. 29
    RPS
    Posted June 6, 2012 at 8:12 am

    Hi – Sorry to be a pain but do you know when can we expect the Part 2 Reunion? Dying to hear your thoughts…I know…I have no life!

  30. 30
    labowner
    Posted June 6, 2012 at 11:19 am

    RPS I am re-watching part 2 again and I was wondering the same. Hope Plath is whooping it up on some island on vacation.

  31. 31
    leonie
    Posted September 28, 2012 at 10:10 pm

    I like Renee quite a bit and don’t think Carla ever acts like much of a “friend” in fact seems like a cold person. She has treated Renee badly. Renee always seems to mean well, has a good heart and they should all know that and assume she means the best with everything. I like Drita too. Renee is actually so beautiful, just needs a softer hair style to really bring that out more. The super-straight hair doesn’t flatter her that much. The ” Stay perfectly blank and let this conversation pass” photo of Renee looks a little like what I mean, her bags were rounded a bit and look how great that is on her.
    And she could learn to like exercise it can be easy….position a TV across from a treadmill, do a half hour a day on the treadmill and either before or after do some yoga stretches. That’s it– and maybe a few LIGHTWEIGHT dumb-bells to firm upper arms.

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