Episode Report Card Lady Lola: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Fabu-lash Out
By Lady Lola | Season 3 | Episode 19 | Aired on 10.09.2011
Everyone gets together in the living room to sit for the photo, and man did Audriana get shafted with her feather situation. Sure, the others are wearing clothes that look like they've been vomited all over by a sequin monster, but they'd pass in everyday society. Audriana's outfit is the kind of thing kids get beat up for. Of course Giacinto is ready to quit this bitch about two minutes into the picture taking. All the while, Teresa claims she's loving the togetherness of her family. As the guys, including Juicy, sit down for their portrait, Jacqueline interviews that she hopes Teresa and her family can remembers what's important and stay strong through thick and thin. Then the girls take a picture -- or try to because Milania is acting up. Teresa threatens, "If you want to see Justin Bieber tomorrow, let's go!" Caroline interviews that she's amazing the Giudices and Gorgas could all come together without incident, but that's what family's all about. Finally, Teresa, Joe, and their mother take a smiling photo. Says Kathy, "When you have your family, no one else can hurt you."
Meanwhile, Kathy gets choked up as she and Rich watch Victoria take group pictures before the formal. Rich can't help himself but mock her for it. As Kathy dabs her eyes, the kids get into their cars and head off to the dance. Rich tells her she's done a great job, and Kathy is affirmed in her decision to wait until the kids are fully grown to start her own business.
Back at the Giudice house, the families sit down for dinner. Teresa acknowledges it's been tough going with her brother and Melissa this year. She's validated that things seem finally to have settled down and vows to do whatever it takes to keep the family together for her children's and her parents' sake. Juicy makes a toast to Teresa for putting together the photo shoot and throws in a little ribbing at his mother-in-law's expense. She laughs it off and clinks everyone's glasses. Joe joins in and says, "Family's the most important -- that's the main thing." Everyone raises a glass to that.
Bonus! Joe describes all his kids and credits himself for all their good features and good looks. Which is especially silly for little Joey, who is the spitting image of Melissa. Joe says he'd like to have another daughter and name her Joelina. I suspect Melissa is not on board with this idea.
The next day, the Manzo boys and Greg return home for brunch. Lauren mentions that she got hold of a copy of Teresa's new book Fabulicious! and was surprised to see a negative reference to Caroline in the first few pages. So she brings out the book and a passage when Teresa knocks Caroline for frying meatballs (she says deep, but Caroline clarifies that it's pan-fried). Christopher notes exactly what I was thinking: These Jersey folk really should stop reading altogether -- it never comes to any good. Teresa also hates on deep-fried Twinkies. To which I say, "Too far!"