Just 2 weeks after news broke that Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon and Alex McCord were fired from “The Real Housewives of New York,” Bravo execs are reportedly discussing changes with the cast of the New Jersey “Housewives” franchise, cutting both Jacqueline Laurita and Caroline Manzo from the show.
“Jacqueline and Caroline were told months ago that they wouldn’t be returning for a 5th season if they didn’t create more drama,” a network insider said. “This season has been dominated by Melissa [Gorga] and Teresa [Giudice] drama and season four, that they are filming right now, is going to be no different.”
Manzo, who has served as the voice of reason among the group since day one, has always refused to be involved in any of the set-up drama that has translated into huge ratings for the show. Similarly, Jacqueline Laurita’s entire story line, which involved her troubles with her daughter Ashley, has disappeared since Ashley’s departure from the show.
“Producers have been showing all the ladies private footage of what they have all been saying behind each others’ backs hoping to bring Jacqueline and Caroline into the drama,” the Bravo insider said. “But so far, they have kept their cool on camera and saved the drama for Twitter, not TV.”
Laurita also refused to attend the reunion taping for the season currently airing, further hurting her chances of being invited back after she completes the next three weeks of filming for the upcoming season.
“Jacqueline refused to come out of her house the day of the reunion taping,” the insider said. “Bravo’s car sat in the driveway all day and she just refused to leave her home even if it meant she was violating her contract.”
However, unlike the fired New York ladies, this parting appears to be mutual. Caroline Manzo’s sister and Laurita’s sister-in-law, Dina Manzo, said publicly just a few weeks ago that some of the women currently on the show were not having fun anymore and might follow her lead and leave the show.
So the drama is orchestrated by Bravo – who knew?!
