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
The next day, Kathy's daughter Victoria gets ready for her formal, and Kathy tearfully admits she's struggling to come to terms with her kids growing up. Victoria's date Paulie, a classic Jersey boy, arrives to pick her up, and Rich gives the kid a hard time that he didn't bring flowers for Kathy. He takes the kid into the kitchen and cracks some nuts to send him a signal that any misbehavior will have consequences. Kathy finally comes downstairs to save the kid from any more painful metaphors. Victoria follows behind, making her grand entrance in a silver sparkly strapless number. Rich immediately deems it too short and tells her to throw some jeans on underneath. Victoria ignores his ribbing and gives her date a hug and a kiss on the cheek. As he puts on her corsage, Kathy says that she's especially eager to take in every moment since she nearly lost Victoria to cancer a few years back. Rich gives Victoria a huge hug goodbye, noting that she was born on his birthday, and sends her off to the dance.
Meanwhile, Teresa juggles getting ready and her family trickles in for the family portrait. Joe sits down with Giacinto to get an update on his health. Giacinto says he's going to have another operation. Joe admits the illness has been stressful for him, only adding to the strain on their relationship since the christening. Joe tells Giacinto he wants to get a boys-only photo that he can put in his sons' room and his office. He suggests they commune over a glass of wine, which Gia discourages. He tells her a glass of wine "helps the heart pump," but she disagrees. There's hope for the future yet!
Upstairs, Melissa helps Teresa get Audriana into her photo outfit. It's a purple and pink dress with pink marabou feathers all over the bottom and feather flower slapped on the top. Audriana looks appropriately aggrieved to be in that fugly situation. Teresa takes a minute to affirm her love for Melissa and the Gorgas, and they hug as Audriana busts in crying for Melissa to pick her up, her bright blue eyes seeming to ask, "You would never make me wear something this ugly if you were my mother, would you?" Sorry, kid, but you're out of luck there. Everyone around you has horrible, horrible style. Of their momentary ceasefire, Melissa admits she has loyalty to Teresa and hopes it remains peaceful between them. Teresa has a little more edge in her voice, saying, "I hope [Melissa's] sincere back." And that is why this mess never works out. They're always second-guessing each other. You can't half-ass trust. You're either in or you're out. And Teresa is as out as her Yeti boots.