When will ‘RHONJ’ Season 14 special air? Dolores Catania breaks silence on canceled reunion after cast drama
MONTVILLE, NEW JERSEY: 'RHONJ' will come together for a special episode called 'Off the Rails' to watch and discuss the finale at Rails Steakhouse. This unique episode will air on August 11, 2024, at 8 pm ET on Bravo.
Dolores Catania has spilled the tea on the canceled reunion for 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' Season 14. The season was filled with chaos, making it feel like two separate shows.
Instead of the traditional reunion special, Bravo announced they would be having a "cast rewatch" of the finale, splitting the group into smaller groups with Dolores moving between them.
Many fans speculated that the ladies were refusing to film together or attend the reunion. In an interview with Out Magazine, Dolores revealed that the Bravo ladies were actually prepared to do a traditional reunion and had even bought dresses for the occasion.
"Oh no. They wanted to sit. They had their dresses ready. I had never seen this group so excited to go to the reunion because it was going to be World War III. It was going to be hand-to-hand combat," she said.
Dolores went on to say, "Yeah, that's what it was. They were like, 'I got my dress. I'm ready to go.' It was that way. And then I think it was a decision that they had to make. However, we also all left not so stressed out. The different rooms kind of worked out. It did."
Why was the ‘RHONJ’ Season 14 reunion canceled?
The cast of 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' has gained a reputation for their dramatic conflicts since the iconic table flip by Teresa Giudice in Season 1. However, the intensity of the drama reached new heights in Seasons 13 and 14, leading to Bravo canceling the traditional reunion special to conclude Season 14.
During both seasons, the ongoing conflict between Teresa and Melissa Gorga led to a noticeable rift among their co-stars on the show, including Jennifer Aydin, Danielle Cabral, Margaret Josephs, Rachel Fuda, and friends of 'RHONJ', Jackie Goldschneider and Jennifer Fessler.
The intense feud reportedly resulted in Bravo cancelling a planned reunion where all the cast members would have had to confront each other face-to-face.
“A reunion is meant to have a resolution, and it's clear in the season final that there is no path forward in that type of setting. So the network is figuring out a different concept to wrap up the season," a source told People magazine in June 2024.
Dolores Catania brought everyone together during ‘RHONJ’ Season 14 finale
The long-awaited 'RHONJ' Season 14 finale aired on Bravo on August 4, 2024, providing closure for fans who had been eagerly anticipating the final episode. The episode showcased the cast's final gathering at Rails Steakhouse, a beloved location that had been a staple for the group throughout the season.
Dolores known for her ability to bridge divides within the group, played a crucial role in bringing everyone together alongside Jennifer Fessler, a neutral party. The "Last Supper" dinner served as a symbolic moment, highlighting the importance of unity and forgiveness among the cast members.
"I'm, like, sweating already, I'm getting a little nervous because I care about everybody like family, I want them to get things off their chest civilly," Dolores shared before the dinner.
Dolores's wish for a civil dinner with the cast was only partially granted as arguments quickly erupted between Danielle Cabral and Jennifer Aydin. Things escalated to the point where Danielle threw a pitcher at Jennifer, leading Teresa to intervene and act as Jen's bodyguard until producers separated them.
The drama continued as Teresa and Melissa exchanged insults, with Melissa calling Teresa hypocritical and Teresa retaliating by insulting Melissa's marriage. The dinner ended with tensions still high between the women.
The confrontation between Teresa and Melissa was not the most shocking moment of the season, as that title belonged to Jackie Goldschneider. During a dinner, Jackie's former friend Margaret tried to resolve her issues with Teresa by revealing that Jackie had met with Luis's ex-wife before a video of him shirtless with his friends surfaced. Initially, Jackie denied meeting with the ex-wife but eventually admitted to it and expressed relief that Teresa now knew about it.
Despite the unexpected decision by Teresa to reconcile with Jackie, tensions remained high among the group and there was no resolution at the dinner. Dolores hinted at the possibility of the end of 'RHONJ.'
"Family is everything, but this group is no longer a family. How did it all come to this? It came out of really just people don’t know how to stop hating. It just built up and everybody just cuts so deep. It’s toxic. I look at this sit-down like a death," Dolores said in a confessional.
Is ‘RHONJ’ coming to an end?
'RHONJ' will not be ending anytime soon, but will undergo changes after the finale. Bravo filmed a special where the ladies discussed the season in their cliques, but what will happen after the special episode is still unknown.
In May 2024, Andy Cohen hinted that there may be changes to the cast of 'RHONJ' in the near future, as he mentioned that the current cast is divided into two distinct groups. The producer has confirmed that a reboot will be happening, stating on his Sirius XM show that he agreed changes were necessary.
"We're gonna see what we can do. We'll see. I don't know. Maybe just all fresh faces. We'll see," Andy said.
Andy discussed the possibility of a reboot of the show with Dolores on 'Watch What Happens Live!' on August 4 following the finale. While no official decision has been made to renew the show, Page Six reported that filming for 'RHONJ' Season 15 has been postponed until 2025.
