Melissa and Joe Gorga are “ready” to start filming The Real Housewives of New Jersey season 15 — and teasing what fans can expect from the new cast members.
“I’m excited. I’m actually happy about all the change, everything that’s new,” Melissa, 47, told Us Weekly exclusively at the Vulture Reality Masterminds Celebration in New York City on Thursday, May 7. “I’m gonna miss my girls so much, the ones who aren’t coming back, but I love a little freshening up.”
Melissa, along with sister-in-law Teresa Giudice and Dolores Catania, are the only RHONJ cast members returning for the upcoming season. While Bravo has yet to announce the newbies, Melissa told Us that she has complete faith in the network.
“I know that Bravo is going to make the right decision and pick the right women,” she said. “I know that they’re working really hard to make sure that happens.”
Joe, 51, is excited for more Househusbands to join his squad.
“We’re hoping he gets some fun friends,” Melissa said. Joe added, “I’m going to make sure they’re good.”
RHONJ took a two-year break following its season 14 finale in May 2024. Bravo put the show on ice because of the bad blood between cast members. Melissa and Teresa, 53, reconciled late last year after a years-long feud, which opened the door for the show to come back.
“We’ve done this before,” Melissa told Us on Thursday. “We’ve been on this show for 15 years. We’ve been through a lot of different people, and I’m excited about this crew.”
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However, she would love to bring Margaret Josephs back in a “friend of” role — if possible.
“She’s really great; you can’t take that away from her,” Melissa said. “She’s great reality TV.”
In a separate interview last month, Melissa shared her best advice for the newcomers joining her cast.
“I want them to be authentic, and I want them to know not to be nervous,” Melissa said at the Bovita Health launch on April 15. “I want us all to be as one on this show. I hope that they, kind of, put it all out there, and they don’t prewatch a lot. Just walk in with [your] real feelings and just show us what you got, girls.”
Melissa really just hopes they’re “fun” overall.
“I want to learn about new people,” she added. “We’ll learn about what they’re going through in their lives, about what they’re going through with their husbands and their families.”
