Transcript
You're listening to Melissa Gorga on display with me, Melissa Gorga on PodcastOne. I was crying next to a salsa bar about my deceased grandma, and it was just like all around a big, hot mess. What's up, everyone? Welcome to episode six of On Display, So exciting, I've had so many amazing guests so far, and I really hope that you guys are all enjoying everything I try to like switch it up a little bit. So there's like a little bit for everyone, and I just hope that you guys are all enjoying. I also wanted to say, Happy New Year to all of my listeners. You guys have been so supportive and so amazing, and I hope you guys all brought in 2022 with a bang. I know I did. I was in Aruba and I had the best time. I literally just put my phone down and enjoyed Aruba. I don't know how many of you vacationed there, but oh my God, like the weather is perfection. It does not rain, ever. It's just, I have to say, I've been everywhere. I've been to Mexico, I've been to Turks and Caicos. I've been, you know, everywhere. Aruba is definitely my favorite and I'm pretty much going to book now for next year because I am just obsessed with Aruba. We had the best time to just take some time to like, hang out with the kids and, you know, float in the lazy river and just be in the ocean. I took my extensions out. I just want everyone to know that took my extensions out for Aruba because the water is so amazing and I wanted to be able to, like, jump in and be free, and I had my my hair up. I don't know if, you know, if you follow me on Instagram, which I'm sure you do. My hair was in like a bun the whole entire time, and I loved it. It was freeing when I came home and put on extensions back, and I was like, Why? Like, I like you with your little bun. That's how I met you. Like, leave your natural curly hair. But I don't know now. I couldn't do it. As soon as I got home, I I went back to Melissa G status, you know, but I really did enjoy it, and I hope you guys, you know, had the best. I am so ready for 2020, too. I mean, with all this nonsense going on in the world, I just hope, like everything is like on the UPS, I am ready for it to, like, start writing on my checks. Twenty two because it's like I'm over 20 and 21 and 19, for that matter. They all kind of, you know, they can all take a hike and it's time to move on. But anyway, I am actually really, really excited about this next guest. So let's get straight into it. He's a successful podcast host. He's a comedian and the author of Fancy af c**ktails. He also has a new book coming out. How do I honor remember this? That's releasing on March eight, and he is literally one of the best people to go to for, like Housewives knowledge. He has such an opinion and he knows everything. He's also like a 90s pop culture guy, so I think you guys are going to love this one. Ladies and gentlemen, Danny Pellegrino, What's up, Danny? How are you? Melissa, it's so good to see you. I'm happy to be here and I'm really excited. You're fairly new to the podcast world, and I was just asking how it's going. Are you? Are you feeling comfortable? Are you excited? How are you doing? I actually am really, really excited. I I'm starting to feel more comfortable. I feel like I'm very good at like talking. I like to just talk. I don't like someone to tell me what to say or like, give me too much of a script when I feel like there's directions I get like, I don't become my natural self doesn't like, come through. If you know what I'm saying. Yeah, I figured you're like, You know, I don't know how we're going to have a nice chat. We're going to just see where it goes. And are you recording from your house? Like, Where's your show and all of this? OK, so Joe is actually going to be here later? I actually went ahead and got myself a small little office, which is just my on display podcast office. So I am here now, somewhere in Ridgewood, New Jersey. I won't say where, but somewhere in Ridgewood, which is Bergen County, New Jersey, which is where I'm from. So yeah, I did this because you know what? I have like kids and people and like the door and the ups guy and like all day, there is no way I could sit here and my dog would have barked seven times already and to go to New York when everyone's kind of doing Zoom right now, it's a Zoom thing mostly would be silly because I would have had to leave my house an hour and a half ago. Already Park do the whole thing. You know, this is just easy, breezy for me, so it makes the most sense. It makes the most sense. You know, I just moved from an apartment and they had been doing construction. Any time anyone would move out of the building, they'd renovate the units. And so it felt like there was constantly construction. And oftentimes I'd say on my show, I'm like, I'm so sorry if you can hear banging, but like, I don't know what to do about it. And so now I'm in a new place and everything. But it was it was hard. I felt like I was always explaining myself in the construction that was happening in the apartment. I hear you. I feel like there's always construction here, by the way. I hear something right now. I don't know if you can hear it, but I can like it's like a village type city. It's like a little city. So you might hear stuff in the background as well. But let me just say, first of all, have I ever met you before in person? Yes. Yes, Melissa. You were actually at my old apartment. You came and did my show. I yes, I know, and I can't wait. I remember. Hold on. Wow. Hold obviously wasn't very memorable for you. No, no, no, no, no. Wait. This was in L.A., right? Yeah, I'm in L.A. And we came. Would you have a dog? I don't have a dog now. No, no. I remember coming to your apartment. I totally remember, you know, I wasn't sure if that was you or not that I went to you. How dare you? We also know that BravoCon, but obviously I'm not very memorable. But I yeah, you were at my apartment. I used to have guests at my apartment all the time. pre-COVID, people would come over all the time, and often times they would always see some of the guests were cool with it, you know, and then other guests, I'd see them like going in my elevator. I'd be like, Where the hell am I? Do you hate me right now? That is terrible that I don't remember that. I do remember that I just need like a refresher. Sometimes it's a don't lie. You don't remember. Yes, I remember. Was I with other housewives? I was with other housewives. No, you were not. It was just you. Yes. I swear it was just you were with. So I think you're with you're with the PR person or something. You're with someone at Bravo Peppers, right? OK. OK. That's what it was. I will say, though, it was a quick one because you guys had stopped by like in between places. So I think it was like a really 50. You know, normally I do longer interviews and it was like a 15 minute thing or something. It was really OK because I'm going to come and talk to you again. Then we're going to talk on your podcast next week. I'm going to make that up to you guys. I love that. OK, good. I thought I knew that. And then BravoCon was like Mithi that you do not know. I don't know. I thought I did. I just don't like to say things if I'm not 100 on them, but I do remember it. And I do remember, like loving you being at your house. I remember the whole thing. I swear to God I could tell you what your whole apartment looks like. I remember it. I just moved out of that apartment, so I'm happy to not be there, but I'm still trying to get my office set up and everything here, so it's not quite where I want to be. All right, good. Well, how does want? Let me just ask you, obviously, you're like a professional. You are like, you know, you've made such a name for yourself just on social with like Instagram and kind of recapping a lot of reality shows and just having a strong opinion. How does that even happen? Like, how do you just break into this world? Well, it's interesting. I I had started making memes about reality TV like way years ago, and at that time there weren't like now there's a million Instagram accounts that make Housewives memes and all of that kind of thing. But I had I had garnered like a little bit of a following from that, and then I segued into podcasting and on my podcast, I have celebrity guests. But then I also recap your your show and other Housewives shows reality shows, and it just took off in a way that I never really expected it to. It was like, I've always been an independent show and, you know, I was just doing it. I was a comedian forever and I was performing, but you know, it wasn't going so great. And so I decided to just start up a show where I could do my bits and do my stuff from home. And then it just snowballed from there. And I didn't expect events weird. It's weird, and I can't believe now. I thought I make a living off of that, but it's it just snowballed for years. I don't know. I don't know. It's weird. And there's this whole genre, as you know, we just mentioned BravoCon, but there's this whole genre of like, not just the reality shows, but the recaptures and the meme accounts. And yeah, and people who make merch and all sorts of stuff. So it's it's fascinating to me. I think the only other world outside of Bravo that has the same kind of fan base or the most comparable fanbase, I would say is like Bachelor Nation, right? But you know, it's rare in terms of TV that reality TV has such a fervent fan bases. Yeah. Well, I would say, especially in the Bravo world, I mean, it's are they are intense, which I'm sure, you know, like they truly feel insulted when like it's it's like nothing we've ever seen, which I think gives that whole network the Bravo network such, you know, it's stands out above the rest because of the Bravolebrity and the fans. It's just such a strong I mean, they give their opinions. They say, who should be fired? They yell at A&E all day. They send emails to the owner of Frickin Bravo. I mean, they're intense people and it's like sports. I feel like fans. We we analyze like casting in the same way that people would analyze like trades on a sports team and stuff like that. So is it's not even just when your seasons airing. I feel like we're everyone's looking at the blogs and trying to figure out, you know, what's happening behind the scenes and and reading even between the lines in the show. I think sometimes something will happen on the show and and the super fans will be like, Well, I wonder if production stepped in there? I wonder if they were told to do that or what was happening right off screen or that kind of thing. So it's fast. Problem is, they started. I think the fans, including yourself, like whoever is into these shows, have figured out the formula. You know, it's a formula that has been figured out pretty much. And so it's very hard to fool anyone. And a lot of times people believe like, Oh, this isn't true. The producers made them say there's the producers made them do this, and I think that's always the biggest misconception on our show, like they can now. No one can ever believe that we really had that argument or that, you know, Teresa and I really felt that strongly about a situation or like, you know, no one can believe it, but I'll say it to you, which I'm sure you already know and to anyone, anyone else listening. They set up, there's obviously a schedule. So we're in a situation, right? We walk in the room and we know we're all going to be there. But what we do, what we say, how we react, who we decide to like and who we decide not to like, that's on us. No production comes in and says, Say this to them, that's a script. We don't have a script. What we do have is set up situations, if that makes sense, you know, so it's like we all know we're going to rails tonight for dinner. Well, what we do, it rails. Nobody knows, but we're all going to be there, you know? Yeah. And like the past fashion show, is always such a thing. What was that was we were led to believe that that was like the biggest event of the no biggest event of the season was, Oh, they came. Did it came because you knew something evil was always going to go down and that it was always going to be something crazy because the woman would go to any possible lengths to promote her, her boutique? And she knew like the louder, the louder the night was going to be, the more people were going to pay attention to her boutique. Pretty genius, actually, she was on to something there. Melissa, those early seasons, I mean, when you first came in those early. But I love the cast now, and I think the show is still super amazing, but that your first season with the Oh my god, I mean that opening strippers like stripper. I mean, all of it. Those early seasons, crazy magic. The christening was some of the best television I've ever seen, and I can't imagine sometimes that we, as fans, I think, have almost like a wall up. Like, we forget that it's real life for people. That's a real christening happening. But for us, it's just like, Oh my God, that was the greatest TV of all time. Well, I'll never forget one of our producers, Coachella, texting me after she saw the first episode, which I have never been on TV before in my life, right? So all I know is I went to that christening and I cried for a week after trying to get off the show, trying to understand like what I just signed and what the hell this was like. I was like, That was my son. Like, This is not a joke to me. I don't give a s**t about the camera. I was so in shock that I wouldn't get on the pickup line at school because I was so embarrassed that like I just after it aired, but I cried under a bed. I'll never forget her calling me, saying, Oh my god, you know, where's Joe going to be? Where are you guys going to watch this first episode? I really think I need to be by your side. I was like, Huh, what? What's happening here? Like, she's like, Yeah, well, it's an hour and a half special and it's a banger. And she's like, It's like, it's like, it's like an episode of The Godfather. And I was like. Oh, my God. Like, I had no idea that that christening was just going to change like The Real Housewives of New Jersey and put us in this. I mean that dynamic between the two families at the time, I have the children now because that's how stressful that used to be for me. Like that was not worth the money. I'm sorry. It was not worth the money at the time. I'll tell you that. I mean, maybe now if I because I held out. But you know, at the time, I was like, What the hell is going on here? I want one of those, you know, how sometimes I'm on Bravo. They do those extended episodes, or they did it on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, like the dinner party from Hell episode where it was at High A.C., and I need like a full extended to get a soda of that where you are all talking about it now and everything because it was truly some of the best TV. How do you feel about, you know, an ultimate girls trip, which I loved and I thought it was so fascinating to kind of break that fourth wall? And here you are talking about the show and Luann talking about Cameo, and all that stuff was so fun to watch for for fans of this, this whole franchise. But how do you feel about like that thing you're casting still being this like question mark with you and Teresa, and it's like still feels like it's not cleared up in a way. Is that frustrating to you? Or are you just like, Oh, who cares? It's been enough time. I mean, I have to be honest, I don't think anybody wonders about that anymore, except for Teresa. Let's be real. It's like I. It's just like, it's the oldest story. I'll never forget doing press for season three and seasons four, OK? And the Bravo publicist used to say to Teresa in front of me before we walked out on the stage of The View or Wendy Williams or whatever it may have been, it's I'm Teresa. Please do not bring it up again. No, it's like, what happens is you guys go on a rant and we don't ever promote the show. We just talk about the fact that Melissa's on behind your back and that the Bravo publicist would say, like, Don't bring this up, OK? We don't. We don't care. We don't want to talk about the fact that Melissa's on the show. She's here. Like, Let's talk about the show because you'll go on a rant for an hour and then our time is up, right? OK? She says. Whatever we walk out, she's like, Well, because she came on and I had no idea and I was like, Oh my God. Like, we and then we would walk offstage and they would just look at us and I'm like, Sorry, guys. So now we're filming. Eleven years later and we go to the, you know, we're on the girls trip and she's like. So I was like, Holy f**k, it's like, this is never going to die. It's almost funny at this point. I have my total story about it is she has her story about it. The truth is, Andy has said multiple times like he has told her she did. I did not just show up with cameras at the Kristen. That's not how this went down. And she just wants. I think that was like a good way for her at the time, many years ago. I mean, obviously, we're in a much better place now, but I still feel like you two hate each other. Did you hate each other? I hate is a very strong word. No, we do not hate each other. I actually love her very much. I just think that she is. I'm more of a live and let live like I let go. I do. I let go, and I just I let go of things. She is a major grudge holder, and I don't even know. I don't know what like, it's just it's always going to have a little like champ. It's always going to be where I don't know that we would be best friends if we had the choice, but we do enjoy each other when we're in a good mood. But can I ask you a question like how much of that is a traditional sister in law dynamic and how much do you think? Is it because of the filming of the show? Does that make sense? Yeah, it was way before the filming of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and that's the honest truth. So I do think it's like that typical like Italian Joey's like the chosen one. Who's this girl? Yeah, I'm Italian. I get it. Yeah, yeah, you're Italian. Like, I'm telling you it's it's sad because like and I keep reminding myself, like, don't do that when you meet Gino and Joey's because I already am obsessed with them. And I'm like, What am I going to be like as a mother in law? And how is Antonio going to be? Because it's like just the two girls and like, we have these like, I think my boys are hot, like I really do. I'm like, You got you. Boys are like, so handsome, like, Oh, I hope I just I want to remember the feeling of like entering a very old school Italian family and how difficult that was for me, even being an Italian. And I just I really do, but I don't want to talk too much because I feel like whatever you say in life. Oh yeah, that's being. Yes. So let me just shut the hell up. And I pray for nice. Yeah. Just for girls. For them. Right, right. And your sisters? Was there ever a chance of your sisters joining the show? Because I always felt like that would be a smart dynamic to dive into. And of course. We've seen them on the show, but like, has it ever gone far farther than just them making a cameo or something? No, because they live so far away. So if they and I don't think they would. True. I mean, I I don't know if they would totally want to do it either, but they live an hour and a half away. I grew up on the Jersey Shore, which is an hour and a half from my whole family still lives there, so it's just impossible to film. They won't even cast housewives with people who live like more than 45 minutes away because it's just too hard for filming situation. You know, they'd like to keep everyone in the same area. Whether you're struggling with grief, relationships or stress or having trouble sleeping or meeting goals, online therapy might be for you. 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You'll even get access to amazing discounts with major carriers, including UPS, FedEx and the United States Postal Service. Easily compare carriers and choose the best solution every time. With Ship Station, small businesses can now access the same rates usually reserved for Fortune 500 companies without the contracts or the commitments ship more and less time to use my offer code Melissa to get a 60 day free trial that's two months free of no hassle stress free shipping. Just go to ship station dot com, click on the microphone at the top of the page and type in Melissa. No, I think I'm I'm interviewing Snooki this week or next. And I always wondered, has she been approached to join the show because she knows some of you? I know she was on your show. Yeah, she's I'm. She's friends with me. Andy Cohen gives her such a hard no. Like, any time I don't, he's just like, what? A.? Yeah. Like why. Whenever I would go to him and be like, Hello. She's married now. She has three kids should be around the block like she's great. Like for this, I think. And he just looks at me like, No, oh my god, Melissa. Andy, what the hell, Andy? I just should be serving in his defense. They typically do not like to cast other people who have already been on a different reality show. They prefer to find like an authentic, you know, lady living in New Jersey with a crazy life and a Bentley. Do you know what I'm saying? Like he would? He doesn't want you, but I just think like, you know, he's rich and people love who doesn't love Snooki. I know. I just think that he's he says that's that's wrong. You know what? You know what she's saying to me when she was on my show that he won't even accept her for watch what happens live anymore? Oh yes, they must have had. There must have been something. I feel like there is a part of the story that's missing. Yeah. Well, speaking of casting, if you could go ahead and create a reality TV show, what would it be? What would it be about? Like, what would you create a reality TV show about? Because I feel like you're so good at this? Oh, well, thank you. You know, I feel like I didn't create this one, but I'm very excited about that. I loved Ultimate Girls Trip like I mentioned, and I love it, did you? I do like I swear to God, and I thought it was going to be really bad. Real quick, anything surprise you from personality wise, like when you were watching your true, authentic, like, don't sugarcoat s**t for me. Like, tell me I thought you all came across better on that than you all do on your other shows, except for Cynthia and Ramona. I think they didn't really look great on the show, but I think you came off of it. Kyle came off that Teresa. Everybody else I felt like came across way more likable than you all seemed. More, you and Kyle in particular, seemed so much more relaxed and so much more, just like the kind of fun girls everyone would want to hang out with, you know, and right and have slumber parties with. And I felt that way about you, Teresa Kyle. Kenya, I thought, came across great. Everyone, except for Cynthia and Ramona. Well, that seems to be the the what everyone says. Yeah, I don't know. I wondered what Cynthia already let go of the show when she was filmed from Atlanta? Yeah, I think so. So that might have been like, you know, the insecurity that was coming out all over the place. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, why is no one bonding with me? And so I think that now that I know had a lot to do with it because I was even baffled at the time because I used to be like, you know, I thought she was just like the peacemaker chill. And like, in every situation, we were all ready to drink and party and like, Look at us together on this gorgeous spot. And she's always like. And I'm like, Wow, Debbie Downer. Yeah, no, I didn't. I never knew that. You know, that's what I was thinking the whole time I was watching because it did make it did seem like she was almost insecure or uncomfortable, or something more so than even on her other show on Atlanta housemates. And I would imagine if you had just been let go or if that's why coming back, you would be a little whatever about it. But yeah, I thought it was just so good and I thought it was going to be really boring and not a whole ton of drama happened. But I think what was fascinating about it was it was just fun to see you all interact and talking about your shows in the filming and. And so I hope for the next seasons of that. They continue that formula of just kind of letting you all talk about the shows you're on, because I think that was really fun. But so in terms of your question of like me creating the show, I am so excited for that season two because it's like you all were kind of like the stable, normal grip and season two or the one that they're doing. It's like the crazy ex housewives. And I mean, that's going to be something it's going to be nuts. Like in everything I've heard from about it, it's just like crazy crazy. And it's a blue stone manor, which I miss Dorinda on New York and I miss that set and everything. So I feel like that. If I could have dreamed up a show that cast is so unhinged in the best of ways. And so I just cannot wait for that. I feel like it's just going to be insane. And also, I hope at some point Bravo when they're doing these. I'd like to see them throw in some of the other cast for these Peac**k All-Star shows. So like, I would like to see some married to Madison people come in or or maybe someone from Vanderpump Rules or just kind of mix them up even more than than they are doing. Wow. Do you know I never thought of that? That is a genius idea, kind of like they did with the Summer House and the winter house, or that all of that right with the Southern Charm? Yeah, because I mean, some of you, some of think the Vanderpump, we call them kids, that it's like some of them are the same age as you or like, you know, like, yeah, I think I'm the same age as Jax. Yeah, well, I don't know. Yeah, yeah. So you know, they get some of the longer we need to get some of the mix in there. You know, I never thought of that. That is that. So that's the show you would create. You're going to pull in, you're going to pull in from all the Bravo shows and throw us on. And I oh yeah. Yeah, yeah. And I would do it for even longer than a week. I would I would make. How long did you film Ultimate Girl Strippers? Just seven days. Seven. But it was law like you could not do one more day. I mean, because it's 24 hours nonstop. Microphone never comes off and like you need to breathe. How did you feel after it? Did you feel like you came across? Yeah, I think my I think I came off what I truly am if I was out on a girls trip with my friends, which is, I'm always the party girl. I'm always the fun girl. It's very hard to piss me off in a beautiful setting, in a nice situation. I truly do love to bring the fun. And if you spoke to any of my real true close friends that you guys don't know, you might see them on Instagram. They will tell you, like, if I'm on vacation with you, it's Melissa's like going to figure out where we're going to have fun today. You know, that's me. That's who I am. So to cast me on that trip, you must know like, OK, well, I'm going to be the one that's like pouring the shots down everyone's throat, because that's what's fun to me. Right, right. So I truly like to see people like, let their hair down and have fun. And I thought, like on a trip like that, I wanted to see everybody not come in with their full glam and like their hair every day. I mean, the Atlanta girls, Kenya and Cynthia had full glam every day, and I was kind of like young. I was like, Come on with the glam people. Like I was like, I didn't do glam on that trip much at all. I think we had like a blowout once, but I kind of wanted it to be a less glamorous situation and more of a like. Let your hair down. Let's have a true girls trip. Can I ask you, were you all worried in the trip because there wasn't a lot of drama and you were the first season of this thing of whatever this was? So was there any moment? Were there any moments where you were sitting there thinking, Oh, we have to start some drama? Because I would imagine if you were filming your other shows, you would all think, Oh, we have to start something. There's nothing happening, right? And nothing big happened on Ultimate Girls Trip, but it was excellent. It was just, I would imagine psychologically you would all be thinking, Oh, is this going to be OK? Because it did you know that they were going to break the fourth wall and let you all talk about your shows? Or or did you ever have that thought of like, we need to start something? Well, one thing that I would definitely say is they did not produce that show at all, which was shocking to me. I couldn't find a producer all day long. Ever. So that's what made me know like this. They totally want it to be whatever it is like. If we were on The Real Housewives of New Jersey having a dinner that way and zero was happening for the last two days on vacation that somebody would have stepped in eventually and been like, Wow, guys fallen asleep back here. Like what? You know, never once did we see a producer ever, ever, ever, ever. So it was what they wanted. They wanted it to be exactly what it was, which was like on produce. Just put these women together. If they fight, they fight. If they don't, they don't. Which I, I love it like that. I appreciated that, you know, did you see the trailer for The Real Housewives of New Jersey than you? Yeah. I cannot wait. I'm so excited. Would you? Yeah, I thought it was great. I am very excited. I think this cast is great. My one concern? This is like a very mini concert is the cast has been the same for so long, and I would love someone just to be at some new freshness to be added. I'm just a little concerned, which I hope I'm wrong because every season has been great. I thought last season was fantastic. The season before was great. That's my only kind of mini little concern. It's like, I hope that. We don't need to change it up. Do we need to change it up? I agree there. You're definitely going to see some new faces, although they're not housewives. You're definitely going to see a lot more new interactions. Jersey is like one of the hardest shows to get cast on. It's like impossible to get in. You can see. I don't know. I love how Beverly Hills like there's a new girl. Every time you turn around, there's not a show. They won't let anyone in. It's the I don't know. I think it's because it was so family driven for so long that they just it's very hard to like mesh with us. I am on your page with this, though. I love a fresh face. I love a hungry girl who comes in hungry and starving and like, What do you guys like? You know, act in a fool all about the hungry girl. And I'm just like, you know, they're the ones who are like, You know, what are we call the great? Don't call me to like, go food shopping for no reason. I am busy. Like, don't call me to like, have a like a closet scene with Joe. Like, Thank you. Anyway, call the new girl. She'll be ready. Her outfit is picked and her makeup is done. Like, Call her and do not call me unless you have like something serious that's going to get cut onto the floor to use up some time. Like, I freak about that. So I am all about I am all about the new girl ready to go like, you know, dressed up to didn't talk about it. Did they try to get Caroline back, or was that a rumor like she wanted more money or something? I don't know, to be honest, I do know that there was like rumor after rumor after rumor. I do think that Caroline has kind of graduated from, you know, she's a grandmother now. She's I feel like she put her back in at this point. I don't know how that would work. I personally love the Mando's always have always had a great relationship with them. I just think it would be far off to put her in now. I mean, she would not want anything to do with any nonsense at this point. You know, was over at her last season. She seemed so. She was over eight years ago when she left the show. Exactly. So I don't I don't. I could never see that happening if we're being totally honest while we're talking about the old cast. I have to ask about the Kathy of it all. Kathy Rosie, when is the last time you talked to them? I know none of you are friendly anymore, but like, when is the last time has there been any family like? No. I mean, did you read Dave's book like this s**t that they wrote in that book? I was like, Oh my God, they're still mad. Like, It's just crazy. I never I have that because so much drama, so much drama. I have never had an argument with Kathy. I've never had an argument with Rosie. I've never had an argument with Richie, the children. I've never did anything wrong other than I was not taken off the show. So that's where I'm sour because I'm like and I get their sour, and it's because Teresa kind of said, like, I don't want them in our lives anymore. I follow the lead of like my husband and his sister with their family. I can't be the one to cause chaos. So I don't argue. I don't fight. But like, I think, you know, I don't know. Well, what did they say in the book? I don't remember. Did they say, you just stop talking to them after they got up? You know, like Rosie calls me like a b***h, wife or something is wife or I don't frickin. I'm like, Where does this come from? I don't even know where it comes from, like the animosity and the hatred is like strong. Like for probably for all of us. And I feel like it's easy to like, just say in his b***h wife because like, I'm not like blood. So it's easy to kind of be like, let's throw a jab that way, because no one wants to throw a jab at Joe because he's it's just like, why do that? He did. He did nothing wrong, either. It was really it was between Kathy and Teresa. It really was. I just always wondered if there was like a cousin or something. You had an anniversary party or another baptism or something. You none of you have run into each other. No, they don't have any other family. So that's the thing. So this is Teresa and Joe's cousin and their only cousin that they have there. Anyone out makes me sad. Isn't that sad? It's so sad. So so sad. And my family still loves them. Like they were very close with my sisters, my mother, my, you know, and my family is a very tight knit family. I, my whole family is family like I am with my cousins, my sisters and my aunts and uncles like we are family. So when I came into Joe's family, I was a little like, Whoa, this is run very different, like even the brother sister relationship. And there is a little jealousy thing. The compact like we in my family do not play that game. We are not allowed to play that game. The jealousy? Yes, there is no competing in the sisterhood and the cousin like there is just it's not allowed. So we weren't raised that way. So when I joined Jo's family, I was just like, Wait, what's happening? Like, I was like in awe of it. And I almost came off like, dumbfounded a lot of the times, and I was the one who got beat up on because I was give in to it because I'm like, No, we don't do that. We don't do this. What are we doing? What do we do? And it's just like, hit her. She's a dumb ass, you know, so like I learned to now. Out, like now I learned like, you can't come with me anymore because I like I see it all, and now I just simply don't give a s**t. Like before I used to be like, Oh my God, I don't want to piss them off. Oh my God, I don't want to piss them all. Oh my God, I don't want my in-laws to be mad. I don't want this. I don't want that. I just now I'm like, Yeah, no, treat me right or take a walk. Yeah, you have to tell people to teach people how you want to be treated. You know I can. I'm going from an Italian family, but I have two older brothers, so we don't have any women in our family, immediate family, and it's always just the protecting of each other. There's not any sort of competition with each other. It's always just like, you know, we're our unit and protect each other. That's all I know. That's all I know. So it's like it was very hard for me, and this just goes for anybody. I know there's a bunch of listeners out there, too, that you know you join and not just Italian families. Listen, there's a lot of like Europeans. There's a lot that goes on out there, but you join a family as like when you join a family that has very strong opinions and they're very passionate and you jump in with good intentions. And there's a lot of women I know because they did me all day and they're in shock. They can't believe how difficult it is or how different their spouses. Family is raw, like rand, like how they handle things and how they're in competition in the house is bigger. And this is that. And it's it's sad because everybody wants to get that experience of joining a new family and like loving them, adding more. And when you don't get that, you kind of feel robbed of it. You feel robbed of like, wait a second. I want to like bond with you. I want to like, go to the mall with you, my new brother in law or sister in law order. And when you don't have that and they're kind of just asks you out, you feel robbed of that in your life and you're like, Wow, I'll never get that. I'll never get that like vibe with them. And you, you just think to yourself, Well, unless I get a divorce, I'm never going to have that, you know, which sucks. Right? That's that's right. If I get so many people who always talk to me about that. How how are you and Theresa now that your most recent season is done filming? How are you two now? Did you end the season on a good place or are you where you? Yeah, we did. I mean, you're going to see a lot of it on, you know, we premiere February 1st, which is very nice, like three weeks away. You know, for me, it's always an issue because Theresa never likes my friends. So you'll see what goes down with that. And it's like, I get into this situation where, you know, it's like family is family and you have to stick with family, but you don't always agree with everything they do or say. So then you're in, then you're in a trap. And that always happens to be my situation, which, you know, you get best about where you get people saying, like, you know, why are you mad at that? Your friend just Teresa's is wrong. Like, Why are you mad? And then you'll get things like stick with your family and you'll get you'll get that. And I'm like, like, you know, I'm always in that position because I'm not a heavy fighter. Like, I'm pretty. You're good to me. I'm good you. And I think people know me by now. I've been on TV for 11 years, 12 years. Like people. No, I'm not in there to come, bring you down and dragged through the mud. If you come for me, I think I surprise people with how feisty I am and how much I will stick up for myself. But you have to throw the first punch, you know? So I think I always get myself into a little situation like pick a side and it's like, I'm not going to pick a side because everybody's a grown adult. So I'm going to tell you when you're wrong and I'm going to tell you when you're wrong. That make sense. Yeah. Is the big thing with Margaret and Theresa. That's what the big thing is. That's a big thing. That's a big thing. OK, OK. Yeah, I've heard so and so of course, I'm very good friends with Margaret. Margaret's been very good to me for a very long time. And Teresa's my sister in law. So it's it's a situation for me. For women who suffer from any of the broad range of postmenopausal symptoms who want safe and effective non-drug solutions they can trust only bona fide bona fide creates natural medical products that have earned the recommendations of over 80 300 doctors. Women struggle with real health issues and deserve to be spoken to in a real, straightforward way that acknowledges their experience. 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You know what I always wonder, especially with households who've been on forever like you or Theresa if somebody were to come for you on the show? Is there some part of your mind that thinks, OK, great, this is making good TV, even though you might hate the person you are? Is there some part of you that's happy? I don't know if I make. Yeah. Thank you. That makes sense. It makes complete sense because especially if you're like me who you're not going to really go for someone because it's not your style, right? And then they just come at you like they hate. You would have left and you're like, You dumb, stupid a*s. Wonderful. Now we're going to talk about this. Do you know what I mean? It's like, Thank you. You just did me a favor. So, you know, they try to like, sneak you, but little do they know you're on a reality TV show. And I would have never snuck them because I don't do that. And you beautiful. Thank you. So now let's discuss this. Just what I needed. Dumb a*s. Like, do you know what I mean? Like, that's what you're 100 percent right? Like. Trust me, if you were on a reality show, you want someone to come and ruffle your feathers because now you feel very strong in your opinion. You're not being told to do something you normally wouldn't do. Where you can't back it up are. You're being insecure about it. You're like, No, I fully believe that they are an a*****e and I am ready to attack them because now I know that they're an a*****e. Do you know what I mean? Right? So it's a gift. It's a gift when you're on a reality TV show. So I love when they ask. Yeah. Bring on all the little newbies who just want to be somebody, because that's great. That's great. What's going on with Dolores? She's got a new man. Oh my god. Yeah. So Dolores does I have not met Dolores, this new man. I'm very excited to meet him. I'm actually very happy for Dolores because she, you know, she needed to like, switch it up. Dolores never worries about Dolores. Did you ever meet? Did you? She was on my show a couple of times, once or twice. Yeah. OK, I think, OK, you love to learn she's a stranger. Yeah, I mean, I love all the tours. I feel like a little bit of a kinship with the Jersey women because I'm Italian from Ohio. I feel like I understand all of you women like I unders, I know all of you women. You understand it. You understand even the craziness. I like where it's coming from. I get the family. I get the Italian. I get. I understand all of that. Yeah, yes. Yeah. Well, most Italians do. They get where we're coming from and even, you know, the non-Italian Italians to, but anyone with passionate, strong feelings are like now we get them and they know that we're not coming from like a bad place. We're coming from a passionate place. Is that you know what I mean? Like, we're passionate about everything. You have any family drama in your family. Like what goes on? Not really, no. No. My mom is the type who's just like, Let's keep the peace. You know, she's the matriarch of the family. And so she's constant. And I have two brothers. They're both married, but we all get along with their wives. Everyone gets along really well. I have a boyfriend who I've had for 12 years. So and were they all supportive of you when you came out and said you were gay and had a boyfriend? And, you know, my mom wasn't at first, which normally it's the opposite. Normally, like the dads have trouble accepting it, but my dad, he's a very he's able to see things and understand things, and he had he's like, Whatever, you're still my son. I got it. Whatever my mom was the one because she's she's constantly worried about what other people think. So I don't even think she was so much concerned with how she felt about it. But she was so concerned with, like, how would other people perceive me? And and when I came out, it was like, I guess, was 13 or 14 years ago, but it was it. It doesn't seem like that long, but it was a different time, sort of. Culturally, it wasn't kind of where we're at now. And so, yeah, and she had a harder time coming around and and I'm the type of person who is like, I'm going to throw it all in her face and like, I'm going to make her meet my boyfriend. Like, right from the start, you didn't even let her ease into it. You were just like, This is it? I remember trying the easing into it at first, and it just wasn't working. It was taking too long. I remember she would tell me when I go home for holidays or something like, Oh, don't talk, don't tell your aunt or your grandpa whoever about it. And it got to the point where it's like, No, I'm just this is who I am, like, Love it or leave it. And that's it. So, yeah, that's the right way to do it. Don't you know, don't you? Then maybe just go full throttle? Yeah. And it was is easier for me, certainly. And then I think it also ended up being easier for her now. She came around and now her and my boyfriend, like they texted me, everyone gets along and she's like, the best. And and my mom is we've always been so super close. I always say she's my favorite person in the world. But it was just a little bit of a rough, I guess, a year or so when I first came out. But how old were you? I think I was 21 or 22, 21 or 22. Yeah. Are there any of these stories in your new book that you're coming out? Yeah. Yeah, it's in there. There's a lot of stuff in the book. So yeah, my new book, it's called How do I remember this? And on my show, I would often be recapping one of your shows or housewives or whatever, and I'd say, let's take a little detour and I tell a family story or something that happened to me, am I? Personal life and I noticed those were the stories that people would come up to me, I did a tour right before COVID and people would ask me about a story about my mom or my brothers or something that I had told on the show. And so I I had always been a writer. I was a ghostwriter for years, and so I wanted to always do my own collection of essays and comedic essays and sort of my version of a David Sedaris book or or a comedic essay collection. And so, yeah, it's it's full of stories that are family stories. There's a lot of nostalgia in there and a lot of pop culture. I'm a pop culture junkie, so there's tons of pop culture references and in all sorts of stories, you're like a 90s junkie. Right? I now you have like Britney, we love Christina. We're loving who else? We love Nicholas, Shay and Jessica. We love all these people myself. I wake you up and I feel like you are a newlyweds watcher. I don't know why. I feel like we're one hundred percent in. The funny part is I am now friends with Nick Lachey and Vanessa. And it's hysterical to me that like before I was on TV, obviously I used to watch a show like waiting for every moment of it. Between that, my first reality show that I really, really remember was the Osborne's. That was that era of like, Wait, why are we in these people's house? Like, what is happening? I was obsessed with the Osbournes and with the newlyweds. And you know, now I went to Disney with Nick Lachey and OK, wait, you ever asked, Do you ever ask him about newlyweds? Like, you must be one to ask, Oh my God. Never know. Because like, you know, with Vanessa, it's like just not appropriate. I don't bring up. I don't bring his old marriage to me. That's like bringing up his old marriage. Do you know what I mean? I know. So I see. I understand that. But I also feel like they prop so much of both of their careers. And Jessica is like my everything. But they really did profit off of that whole thing in a way that it does. I feel like it is hard because as a journalist, you would want to ask about that period of his life because he was on TV was the biggest show ever, and they were they were touring and doing variety shows and all sorts of stuff related to their marriage. So you would, as a pop culture junkie, I want to know about that era, but I also understand, yeah, it must be hard for him to talk about because it was his marriage. Well, let me just coming from a place of reality TV and obviously not as big as newlyweds are negligee or Jessica Simpson. But just let me tell you this, I know for a fact that fans connect more with someone like so. So there can be someone from, let's say, like Vanderpump Rules or Housewife in the room. OK. And there can be like, you know, Kelly Clarkson or like, so give me like a good singer straight like, Oh yeah, well, let's not go for marriage. I mean, you're going at the top of the top of the top. But you know, an A-list person, these people gravitate, they'll gravitate to the Bravolebrity. And I'll tell you why. Because they know them personally. They want to tell them stories. They're like, Oh my god, we love Gina. Oh my God, how are Omega we like? They feel like they know you where when you're just, you know, when we're watching the people saying, we're watching them thing, you're a mega fan. You just want that picture, right? You just want that picture like, I stood next to them. But when they meet a Bravolebrity or reality star, it's such a personal like, how is your child Geno doing? When I watched you say this, I felt I had open heart surgery to like, you know, it's a different vibe for reality stars, which is it could be rough sometimes when we're out in public because it's not a quick picture and move on. It's a story. Let's chat conversation. It's takes up a lot of time not to be rough with. People are not to be like, OK, nice to meet you and keep it on. They want to know what you know. How is Antonia's name like? They want to know these things and it's like, it's a conversation, so I can tell you him having done both made him a superstar. And I agree with you on that because it's like we know him as as a husband like we know them. Go to every chain restaurant in Los Angeles, every episode they were going to The Cheesecake Factory or Olive Garden. I felt like, Oh yeah, that was some great TV, but no. What was your favorite look? Do you remember the fashion on that show? Like, was there a specific look of Jessica's? Because I feel like that was one of the most influential fashion shows like for me was her hair and her big sunglasses like her hair was. It's still a vibe. Like, I see her on Instagram with that head of hair, and I'm like, Oh my God, like, she's just got, I mean. And then when she did the one movie, when she ripped her body to shreds and her legs, the daisy dukes. Yeah, Daisy Dukes with it, and she and she can wash that car. I was like, She has like, she's she's my type. I love her. Yeah, she sees. Yes, love her. She did the Rolling Stone cover where she had the Swiffer. Do you mean? Yes, yes. I mean, she was just amazing. I would pay money to see if she needs another reality show because she's great reality TV. And then there was like, You know, I know you're good with all this. Christine is in the British, what do you think of Britney on following her sister? You know, I'm so happy for Britney and sort of getting her voice back and and getting away from this conservatorship and everything. And it seems like everything with her family, like they were monsters to her for so long. And so, yeah, I'm glad that she's unfollowing. If they were terrible to her, I'm glad she's getting away from it. I really just like whatever I always say this, it's like, I just want the best for Britney. I feel like she's given us so much. I just want her to do whatever she wants to do. I feel like she they worked her so ragged for so many years and and when she was young and you know, I'm constantly I'm someone who gets in a YouTube spiral at night, and I look at all these performances from these people that we're talking about. And it's like Britney, more than anyone was everywhere at all times when she was 17 years old onward. And I couldn't even imagine the type of schedule at that age or at any age how they ran her. And so I just want her to relax and creatively do whatever she wants to do and only surround herself with good people. And I feel like she's earned a lifetime of happiness. Yes, they have walked her to the ground. That girl they really have. It is time for Britney to be Britney and do what Britney wants to do. And if it's act a fool or act classy or whatever, do whatever makes her happy at this point because she has done everything since she's 12 to make everyone else happy. So I would love some new music out of her, but I want her to do it if she wants to do it. And I also think she's a better actor than there's clips of her from SNL when she hosted and she's done different things. I think she's actually a great actress. I'd love to see her do something creatively, but it's only if she wants to. What's your favorite Britney song? My favorite Britney song? You know what? Song just popped in my mind, but it's definitely not my favorite. Oops, I did it again, but it's not my favorite. It's just the first thing that like comes to me. What's the slow song that she sang once and every time? Yeah. Yes. Beautiful. Hauntingly beautiful. Yeah, right? I always loved every time. That's that is like, she wrote. She co-wrote it or wrote that song, too. Did she? Yeah, yeah. I completely completely like, loved that. What's your favorite Britney song? I love every time there's a song called Just Love Me off her glory album. That is probably my favorite, but I love a lot of it. You know, it was just the holidays and I was listening to her. She did one Christmas song. Santa, can you hear me? Santa, can you hear me? It's so good. Yes, I love that one. It's so good and I want it to. I want us to sort of collectively make it a holiday classic. They used it should be. It should be. And I know it's played a lot, but I feel like that should be as respected as like Kelly's underneath the tree or Mariah as all I want for Christmas. I love Jessica's Christmas album. It's the best thing ever. I guess two of them. She did two of them. Well, the one I like is she has her. She has Nick on and she has the drummer boy with her with her sister. Like, that is my all to me. That's what I play, Melissa. My speakers for Christmas. That Little Drummer Boy is unhinged when she does it with Ashley. It's amazing. I like it's crazy, but I love it too. I love it. I think it's so good. I love that by unhinged. What do you say, Melissa? Have you ever? OK, so Jessica and netted a variety hour to remember ABC. It was like a Christmas. I watch Cheryl and her and Ashley did a duet of Little Drummer Boy, which is from the album OK. But the live performance of It Is Crazy, like it's Ashley singing about being a poor boy, too. It's just crazy. It's like crazy. Oh, OK, gosh, it's crazy, but I love it. I love singing. Yeah, I sing it all over my house at Christmas time. Anyway, speaking of crazy, I heard that you had a crazy couple of weeks, according to your Instagram. Like you're getting tickets, you had COVID. You currently have COVID or no, I'm all good. I have like a couple of lingering symptoms or whatever, but it was just like the worst holiday season. I I, my boyfriend. I moved into a house for the very first times. We've always been apartment, so moving is already stressful enough. I think like the worst, it's the worst. And I was expecting it to be bad, but we were doing it over Christmas, which was maybe not the best idea because Christmas is also very hectic. And then in the move, my car registration was expired. They towed my car and it was like this whole. It was raining in L.A. during the movie, so it was pouring rain. We never get rain here, but it was raining for like a week straight. They told my car I had to get it back from the city, which was like they sent me all over. I had to go to like a vehicle release office, the DMV event at the tow company, and then I tested positive for COVID. It was just like a nightmare week and a half that I felt like after I got through it, I was like, I could get through anything. But it was frustrating because I had taken some time off for my show and some other projects that I'm working on. I. I'm going to have a relaxing time and we're going to easily move and be it, and then it was just like covered and it was a nightmare which so I had covered as well a couple of weeks ago. Did you just have like the stuffy nose, the throat thing or what did you have throat? It was mostly the throat thing. Yes, that's that new variant. Yeah, yeah. And it was I was tired, but I was vaccinated and boosted. So my son doesn't weren't that bad. But I guess I had like two or three days that were more more rough than the others. And then I had like weird symptoms where like I was cold all the time. And that's one that's like sort of lingering. It's like, I feel like I'm cold. My hands are freezing all the time, but mostly, you know, I said that last night I was saying to Joe, we were we were watching TV last night. And by the way, I watched the movie Stillwater. I don't know if anyone's ever watch it. Matt Damon, right? So good it was. It was an amazing, amazing movie. Everybody needs to watch us, but I couldn't get the chill. I don't know if it's because I just got back from Aruba and like, it's freezing in New Jersey. I was like, I've been saying to him every night, I'm like, I'm freezing, I'm freezing, like going to bed with socks and hoodies, and I'm like, I need it. I can't get over it. Melissa, I think that's a thing from it. I was just looking it up because I'm never a cold person. It's like, I'm like, I need to wear freezing f**kin gloves in my house. Like, Why did why am I caught? My hands are freezing, my feet are freezing all the time. And I don't get as I may. Maybe we're being completely nuts. Maybe that's not a symptom, but I was looking it up because I was like, I'm cold all the time. If I could have put on like ends and a hat last night in the bed, I would have. And you know, of course, Joe comes to bad knees like, what the hell you're like in armor? And I'm like, Leave me alone because I was freezing where you were staying away from each other during yours? Or were you guys in the same now? He had it, too. So OK, yeah, I guess we were both just whatever I was going to say. How did Joe do being away from you at night? Oh, but he was saying so. Basically, he was trying to say like, Well, so do I, so who cares? Like, that was Joe's point of view, of course, which was like, Why can't we kiss? Why can't we hug? Like, like, he likes LeBron, and I'm like, Oh, I'm like, Joe, we have COVID. Like, you can't have sexual relations. Like, I can have the variant that you don't have or something like something could happen. And also, you're just like tired and not in the mood. And I'm like, I mean, at least one who even wants it. He's like, I'm fine. So like, let me now. But like, it was like it was the, I will say, the the longest we have ever gone since the day I met him and not having sexual relations. So it was it was a regular test of time. So it was COVID that broke the seal for Joe of like over a week with no sex, which is crazy for him. That's amazing. That's amazing. That's just like a week. Wow. Oh my God, that's unheard of, in his words. So let me ask you, when you're doing like appearances and stuff you've met, you two haven't gone more than a week of even being away from each other. It's been about a week. Yeah, we've never gone about. Joe starts to convulse and not and I don't want to say it's just Joe. I just think that my business and what I do is a little more like lively in the mix. So like, if I'm away on business in L.A., when I'm in L.A., I'm going to stop at catch for dinner when I'm done doing the interviews. You know what I mean? Like, it's a different vibe of what I do. So like, even if I'm going to, I have to go out for a Bravo shoot and we're doing a commercial. Well, then I'm with five housewives. We're going to stop by Craig's when we're done because we're hungry. Do you know what I mean? So yeah. In his defense, it's very it's a lot harder for him to let me go off on these like business trips because technically I'm making money. Number one, it is business. I'm bringing home the bacon on every situation, right? But it's hard for him to be like, OK, she's going to be away for five days, like doing this or on a set because for his business, it's like he works on a construction site. Do you know what I'm saying? So he just it's just it's like a different vibe when I'm away, so it's definitely harder for him. So I try never to be gone. More than two nights, like two nights, is Max. The girls trip was along. That was a seven day that was a long time. And just if I go on any of the The Real Housewives of New Jersey, then you know, those are things where he has no choice. It's where I have to like, fly out to L.A. and like, do a photoshoot or do this or do that, or I have to spend a day or two in New York. Then he gets like a little antsy, to be honest. But I don't know. It's just, are you guys better now? Because I know last season on this show, we saw the two of you kind of having some issues in terms of that. Yeah, I think we were going through it, especially like right before COVID and then that COVID pandemic hit where we had a lot of time together and for him to. b***h, about everything that happened right before the pandemic, so it was definitely a rough time, and then the cameras went up kind of during the pandemic and we were still like just at it and we were real with it. It was like we were just all out to dinner one night and I just said something happened. We were filming and he the way he barked back at me and I was like, Oh, OK, you want to do this? Like, OK, let's talk about it then. And I don't think he wanted to talk about it, but he literally was so upset over everything and we were so, you know, bumping has that he couldn't even control it. He just he was like, we were going through something. But yeah, I think we work our way through it. I mean, we have a long history together. The crazy thing about Joe and I is like our whole marriage. I was with him only for five years, married before I got on reality TV. So and now how many years is reality? 17. Wow. So it's a very long time to be married on reality television. I think we're doing a hell of a good job keeping it together and being in this situation, you know, especially him not meeting someone famous. He met a regular girl from college who was going to be a teacher. And, you know, so this is not what he signed up for in his defense, but he's also you look at him. Let me ask you this question because you're, you know, a comedian like, did you see Joe as a comedian now? Like Joe, no way. Joe's also doing like motivational Instagram quotes are the time to I feel like, what do we die or that about Melissa? Like, does he come up with those on his own? Like, Who's who's making those captions? Is he doing the graphic art? Like, how does that happen? I mean, you can't tell that he's doing that graphic art on his own. He's doing it on his own. Yeah. I mean, let's be real, half the words are spelled wrong. I have to. I have to. I open Instagram. I'm like, Joe, I'm like sitting on the other side of the couch. Delete it. He's like, Why? It's like they'll eat it, Joe. He's like, Why? I'm like, you spelt the wrong. Like, whatever it may be like, it's just it's all him. He does love that, and I will be completely honest with you. Everyone comes up to him and they're like, We love your quotes. We love it. And so he likes when people like he likes to help. He's a big advice giver. He loves that. So he loves that, and he likes to make people laugh. I mean, Joe was making people laugh just like at dinner. And now he's, you know, he sold out Caroline's on Broadway, which I know they're doing comedy. They're touring now, the house husband. Well, they're not know it's just Joe, but they do like one or two things together, but mainly the way it is. Joe going to be touring has a whole thing booked in, like upstate New York, coming up Tampa, Florida everywhere. Yeah. So he's just rolling with it and he's making people laugh and he likes it. I mean, I don't think it's like a serious comedian. I think it's more of like a. Hi, I'm Joe Gorga. Let me tell you about this funny s**t that happens and Melissa's vagina. I'd imagine it's a fun night out, though, for audience, because it's probably they're so excited to be there. It's that's really what it is. It's a fun night out. It's like it's not an expensive ticket. It's go get a drink with your friends. Let's watch Joe Gorga stand on stage and be funny. Hopefully, Melissa's in the audience Typekit. You know what I mean? It's like a fun girls night out when you're looking for something to do. You know, I always think the Countess Louie on her show, it's not so much. What's fun is onstage. I think what's the most fun about that is like being in the audience surrounded by Bravo lovers, because it's like, you know, you're, you know, you're just with people who love it and you know your company. You know what I mean? You know, having company of everyone who just wants to see Luann say something or sing, you know? Yeah. So I think I use that term loosely. She's not really singing a whole lot. I see you saying, Can I say the whole entire girls trip? We were like Monica by your flat. I couldn't stop. I couldn't stop me and Kyle sang that song throughout the house. I couldn't even look at look at Luann. And and she is very serious about her. Like, if you have a conversation, it is not. It is like, very, yeah, she's real about it, most of which you ever like. Pop up on one of her shows to do on display. Because in my fantasy, like I'd show up at a Countess Land show and it would be like, Oh, here's Melissa doing on display like that. Would I would love that. I mean, I think that the fans would think that would be so much fun. I would never rule that out. I would jump on and have a little fun with that. I think so. Yeah, I think that would be that would be very exciting. How many of you wish there was a better solution to paying off your debt? Our sponsor PDS debt has customized zero percent interest options for anyone struggling with credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, collections or any other type of debt. Because of the tough year from COVID 19, certain types of debt can now be reduced and in some cases, completely eliminated from your credit. There are more options now than ever before to take control of your debt, and the experts at PDS debt can help. PDS debt is giving our listeners a free debt analysis and copy of their credit report just for completing the 30 second online debt assessment at PDS debt.com/ Melissa. You will receive a full breakdown of all the interest you shouldn't be paying each month and multiple options on how they can help get rid of it. If you're making payments every month on your debt and your balances aren't going down, this program is for you. The average American with credit card or personal loan debt over $5000 ends up paying back two and a half times what they originally spent PD as debt rolls. All of your payments into one zero percent interest monthly payment. Everyone with over $5000 in debt qualifies, and there is no minimum credit score required. Bad and fair credit accepted PDS debt is offering free credit reports to our listeners just for completing the quick and easy debt assessment at WW W dot PDS debt.com/ Melissa. That's PTSD e b t.com/ Melissa. That's sort of the dream is to just have one good pop song, at least for me, I always feel like I want like one. And I think you've always been up, do you think? No, I don't. I'm tone deaf. I'm terrible. But I would love to have a song like an on display that it was just like this. I mean, now you have a little song on display like, you know, I think everyone kind of wants their little pop anthem and you got it on display. I know I always say that and I love that my kids love it, and it's just like a catchy and it's and what it means, like being on display. I do. I do love that idea each and every day, each and every day, every day. There was a time I looked back at it and I was like, What did I do? Like, was I being serious or like? But then I like, listen to the other songs and I'm like, No, I'm they're actually good. It's just very hard to get taken seriously when you're being a housewife and you're like, Oh, guess what? I can like, sing a little bit. And so like, let me try this and everyone's like, Oh, scratch, you're like, You know, you're not. They don't want to take it serious. But I literally had Johnny right as my manager. Like, he took it serious. He came in and was like, grabbed me after the first couple of songs and he was like, I want to manage you, like I want to help you. And I mean, Johnny Wright made Britney and Justin, you know, so it's like, I was like, Wait a sec, it really is like, Yes, and you know, I signed on with him for a minute, too. So I did try like, I don't believe anything I do is like, I have to try out this podcast. I'm going to try and make sure that I like, do the best I can and really, really love it because that's who I am. I don't just do things have asked, you know? And so I tried. I will say I did try with the music and I felt like I was hitting a point where I'm like, I have like three kids. Well, like, I just thought it was better if you really got to put it. I mean, it's all of your time. You got to put into it. Yeah, it's on display was a good. Nightclubs, yeah. And display is really good. And I don't remember the other ones. Forgive me, I'm going to go the other way. But honestly, I was legitimately great and I will say people are going to roll their eyes listening to this. But if you listen to Heidi Montag's music, you remember Heidi from the hills. Yes. Yeah, she had good music back in the day, but I remember when she was trying to make it happen. Everyone is just kind of like, Oh crap, as I kid, you just don't look just like Paris, like Paris. Like something stars are blind is honestly a great song. Right? But you don't want to hear Paris say, What about Kim Kardashian? She, like, came out at one point where she wasn't it jam I think she came out with was kind of like a Mariah without the pipes, because it's like they both don't want to move on the show. They're not like dancers, you know? Yeah, you got to do it. We need a little choreography. We do need a little choreography, a little more. For me personally, that's why I always was a Christina fan because I'm like, she can sing and she can move, you know? Tyra Banks had a song, too for a minute. She came up with the song, Yeah, yeah, that's the dream is to come out with one song. Anyway, so I know New Year's Eve just happened. OK, obviously. Were you sick during it? So, yeah, like, yeah, nothing I didn't do. You didn't do anything at all. I watched a lot of TV. I was asleep before the ball dropped out, really. I didn't even watch the whole thing. No, I I did watch crazy. I watched Andy on CNN and I fell asleep. I mean, I fell asleep after the ball dropped on the East Coast, so I watched Andy until the ball dropped and then but on West Coast Time, it was like 10 o'clock. I was asleep, but I watched Andy and I thought he was great with Anderson. I like when they get sloppy and messy and yeah. All right. Well, give me your give me your top. I want Danny's top three days of 2021, so give me your top three favorite movies that came out in 2021. Oh my god, this is, you know, I just saw this movie coda. Did you have you heard of Coda? No, it's really good. It was on Apple. I Marlee Matlin is a fantastic coda. OK, I'm putting it on my list. I'm trying to think, what else did I just watch something the other night? That was fantastic. We started watching Yellowjackets, which is not a movie. It's a TV show. You mean Yellowstone? No yellow. There's I haven't seen Yellowstone yet, but I know everyone was talking about Yellowstone. But Yellowjackets, it's a new show on Showtime, and we just started watching it the other night. But it's very dark, and I'm not sure I can get through it because there's a lot of gore and and that whole I'm not a gory, I'm not a gory girl. Anything else good that I need to catch up like as I feel like you would? I mean, I'm a big Bravo junkie, so I feel like I loved this show called PEN15. It's like if you grew up, if you were a teenager around the year 2000, I think you'd love it. It's on Hulu. I think that's great. My dreams, I was a teenager. I think I was a teenager. Probably. Yeah, I was very, very close. OK, what were your three iconic Bravo moments in 2021? What are your three faves that are coming out in your mind? OK, the thing that's popping out from Jersey was that cheese throwing that you had that was this year, right? Crazy. That was 20 21. Yes. I would say that's on the list. I think and Salt Lake City, the Jen Shah arrest has been just like some of the best TV. There has been an outside of the Jen Shah that on Salt Lake City. Are you watching Salt Lake City? I am watching it on and off Lake. Not religiously, but I'm catching up. It was like a little bit of a slow start to the season, but then I feel like every episode has been delivering, like after the first couple. And there's a great stuff with Mary, and I think the dynamics on that show are just like, fantastic right now. And then I think Beverly Hills this season with all the Erika Jayne stuff, I feel like they had a breakthrough year. Does that make you guys feel pressure because, you know, everyone's talking about the arrests and the law stuff? And yes, I mean, but we have Teresa Giudice, you can't really top it, can't top off the arrest in the law and all of that. We've been there, done that. Honey, they're just trying to follow in our footsteps. You got me. Wait, let me ask. I'm going to try to get some tea out of it real quick. So this season on Jersey, we keep hearing that there's something that rivals the table flip. Is that like the situation between Margaret and Teresa? Well, you know, not giving too much away, but there is definitely there is definitely a moment that is like, Oh my God, like savage mode. I always get nervous because every time Dolores is in an interview, she always says it's the best. You know, like, she overhyped that a little bit and we got stories. Yes, we need Dolores to scale it back a little bit. We love Dolores, but the fans are starting to worry like Dolores ESOP overhyping it because then we watch it. You know, I always learned under-promise, overdeliver, of course, with everything in life. But like, I don't know if I'll be good at this. I don't know. I mean, we'll see. And then it's like, Bam, it's amazing. And I tell you guys should do it with the Bravo, you know, hyping it up because Dolores comes on, she's like, This is the greatest episode of all time. And then we're expecting that. And I think if we didn't expect it, we would be like, Oh, this is great. But now, you know, and Dolores says that it's like, All right, we'll watch and see our own opinion and see how that goes. I can't. No, I know that is like, you are so right about that because I do see every interview she does, and it's very much so that way. So you guys aren't going to believe it. It's the greatest thing I've ever seen in my life. Like, it's unbelievable. You're just going to be blown away and then it's like, it's good. But we would have liked it more if Dolores didn't say it. The greatest thing about tonight, but we love I love Tyler. We love you now. We all do. We all do. All right. So also, I just want to know also your top three, like what is the craziest thing that happened to you in 2021? Like what stands out for you? Three things that you're like Wow, wow. And wow, just that whole end of the year, I think I had a great year professionally. There were certain guests I had on my show. I interviewed Miss Piggy, which was like a weird kind of thing for me, like Miss Piggy, like they actually stole my show. Yeah, like piggy still kick in and and I had some really amazing guests and I finished writing this book that's coming out in March, and I have a few TV things and movie things that I'm working on. So it's just like career wise. It was really exciting and great year, and I'm grateful now I have my my podcast that I'm able to do full time now and everything. So it was a great year professionally and then the end of the year just was real s**t, though. Well, I'm really happy for you, just in the fact that you truly do get to do something that you really love, that I feel there's many people out there that would love to be in your situation with the audience that you have made for yourself. I mean, it's you really have like made yourself an audience. You have people that want to hear your podcast, want to know your opinion and want to read your books. I mean, you've you've really that's a congratulations because that's not easy. There's a lot of people out there that want to tell us their opinion on everything and they want to. And you know, for some reason, you attract us and you keep us interested. We do a congratulations to you that's not interested enough for you to remember who I am. No, no. All right. Stop. I, you know, I frickin spent my thing. I know. I knew. I'm really not going to say that. But the problem is stop. Do not admit to the price for that. I knew when I saw you, I'm like, Wait, I and I knew your name, of course. But when I saw you, you know, this is the problem. This is a problem. I don't follow you on Instagram. I need to follow you on Instagram, because then I like, that's the world we live in. Then I be like, Oh yeah, I know him. Like, if you like pop culture throwbacks, I'm that's like, That's all I'm going to do right now. I'm grabbing my phone and I'm following you. I will follow. I'll follow you. Taylor will follow each other. Yes. Were you supposed to follow me? What the hell? Why don't you? Do you remember who I was? So you can't yell at me? Fine, fair. I just followed you on Instagram because now we're like legit friends. Like now it's like the real thing we could jam. We can talk. OK, now we're going to keep this going. But let's say this was so fun, though I'm I'm so glad we got to chat and I'm trying to think for the fans because I know people are listening. They want me to ask you questions. I'm trying to think, Is there anything, anything you told them you were talking to me? Was there any me? You know, is there anything I can tease about? Anything else you could tease? Like, give me something that like hasn't been told. We know there's a Margaret and Teresa situation. Is there something you could tell me that hasn't been highlighted in the trailer or that the blogs haven't picked up that you could give me like a little tease for? I mean, there's some infidelity on the show, can you tell that from the teaser now where infidelity with wit between her and not you and Joe? You know, there's definitely infidelity. I can't tell you who, but I'm curious about the moment in the trailer where Teresa is talking to Louis and she's like, The cameras are there. Like she said, like, I'm alone there alone. So I'm curious as well, to be honest. I think that she's trying to give him a little heads up because he's new to the situations. And maybe he doesn't realize, like when you're in these vans and you're driving to the next location, you are being watched and filmed and miked. And I think she's just trying to, like, give him a heads up, but I am interested as well. Do we like him to be like, How do we feel? Yes, I like him. I like him a lot. Yes, I think he's great for her. I think they are completely in. I keep like a love bubble. They're like overly PDA. They are all over each other. And I always giggle because Teresa always tease Joe and I that were like, So like, I would never want anything like that. No, now she's like slobbering on this man as they walk down the street. It's hysterical. But I think she finally found, like, he's definitely the one. Obviously, they're getting married, but I'm happy for her because. And they fit each other. I feel like they look good together. They have a good vibe there. They're, you know, nostalgic. They they they work, they really do. And I think he's a great guy. Rumours are that Jennifer's sort of on the outs. Was she on the outs? I mean, well, let me ask you this. Hey, what do you think of Jennifer? I like Jennifer because she give me reasons why. To me, Jennifer feels like an early season housewife, and I mean that. And as a compliment, I feel like she reminds me of someone who would have been cast on the show very early on. Does that make sense? She tried to get on our show for a very, very long time. You hate. You must hate her. You hate. I don't hate her. I'm being completely honest, giving you facts. What do you think about her on the show? I have said before that I feel that she's more of an actress than a real personality, and that's just my opinion. I see her see the cameras come in and I see her personality change, and that's for me. That's why it was always very hard for me to vibe with her because I don't like someone who sees the cameras coming and she sees them coming, which I'm sure you like. Great for you. But in my situation, I'm like. But like you say one thing and then you say, like, I don't like that and you give me an example of like what changes or how does it change? Or was there one specific timeline it turns on like she it's like, it's like, you know, it's like, Oh my god, I, you know, I come from an old like a first. First thing, I brought her in. She comes to N.B. to shop at and be, and it will be like, Oh my God, I wear high necks and like, I don't drink alcohol and I'm always on with my kids and I don't dress like this. And then like, she sees me like, if I if I have fun in a scene and I get drunk and everyone's like, Oh, f**king drunk, Melissa, she's so fine. Jennifer's like pounding it the next scene. And I'm like, Well, which one is it? Do you know what I mean? Like, it's it's I'm very good at this. And so that was always my issue was the inconsistency. I think Jennifer and I have come a long way. I think that we try, you know, I think that we really try. I don't think she truly has any issues with me if I'm being totally honest. I think she thinks I'm fine. I think that she thinks like she has a good time with me, and she gets more upset that I don't. Like, hang with her more, which I'm going to pay attention to that, and I'm trying, I'm trying and I want to, I want to, I want to. I just, I don't know, but I could see as a viewer why people love her for the show. I agree with you guys. I think she's wonderful for our show. I think she's a great addition. I think that she knows when to bring it. Yada yada yada. What about her and Jackie? Are her and Jackie going to be buddies now? Well, I can't talk too much about The Real Housewives of New Jersey because Bravo gods are probably listening, and it's just not the time to talk about the new season yet. Danny, I know, but I will come back on your show. OK, yep, cheering. And I will give you all the juicy scoop, I promise. I also want Jackie and Teresa to get along like I want them to have. Oh, so you're OK. So yeah, keep watching. Good. I feel like it would just be fun to see a different dynamic out of that. Agreed. Agreed. Agreed. OK, well, wrapping up, I have to. I have to give you some. It's called, you know, I do grilled with warga. OK, every every ending. And we're going to end this with girl with Gorga because I need to grill you, OK? They're just going to be some random rapid fire questions. Just answer me and keep it moving. Sounds good. Yeah, let's do it. Your first celebrity crush, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ryan Phillippe. Wow. Ooh, your favorite 80s song ! Oh, I guess. Take me home tonight as the first one that popped in. I don't know if that's my favorite, but take me home tonight. OK, I love it. OK. Your biggest regret in college? I used to wear my cell phone on a belt clip. Do you remember those like they were popular for a hot minute and I'm so embarrassed by. It's my biggest regret in life. I see pictures of me in college and I had like, I look like my dad. My dad had the same cell phone belt clip and it was like the phone with Petrova. You know what I think of my clear beeper that was like clear that used to, like, put on my belt? Oh my god. I don't even I don't know your best decision you've ever made. Starting my my podcast. It took me a while. I remember my, my friend and my boyfriend had been saying, Just start it. And I was so afraid for a while and I finally did, and I wish I would have when I had initially wanted to. Your pet peeve? And mustard, I don't know, that's just the first thing that came to mind, I hate mustard, I hate hate, that's that's something you don't like. What your pet peeve, what do you hate? My pet peeve is when people put mustard on a burger fair friggin know mustard. OK? Your worst date? Tell me your worst date. Oh my god, I actually. I write about this in my book, but I had a guy that I thought I was in love with and he took me to. I think it was an El Pollo Loco. It was like a fast food taco place. You know, they have me here in Los Angeles and it. My grandma had just died and it was the worst date and I was like crying when he went to the bathroom. And then I was using the napkins to wipe my tears, and it made my eyes already because the napkins at a place like that are the s**ttiest napkins you can possibly have. And so I was like crying for them. I was crying next to a salsa bar about my deceased grandma, and it was just like all around a big, hot mess. It was just a hot mess. OK, fair. It was hot, though. Oh, what a waste. Tell me something that would surprise us about you. Give me something that that all of your listeners do not know. I don't think people, I'm a big video game junkie and I feel like I talk a lot about pop culture and stuff on my show. But I don't know if people really know or realize like, I love Nintendo, and I'm a huge kind of video game person, and I just it's something like I never really post about or talk about just because it's I don't know, I'm more of a pop culture guy on my show. But yeah, I love I love Nintendo and video games. Did you get any Dreamcast games? I just got a Dreamcast. It's I. I'm sure somebody told you yes. For for Christmas. My boyfriend got me an old Dreamcast, which was a system from 1998 and he got me a couple of games for it and I've been playing. And yeah, I had a I had all the old systems and my mom got rid of a couple like the Nintendo, like the original name and like with the Mario brothers and Mike Tyson's knock out like, that's my vibe. Yeah, the original Nintendo. The Super Nintendo. Oh yes, we have a spare room here and I keep we don't have any kids. We want kids eventually. But for now, I'm like, We need to make that like my dream is to make it a video game room with all the old systems, and I would be amazed that such a good idea for my new man. I love that. I think my kids would love that. Just like, yeah, every single old system and the old games and everything I just walk into like a paradise. That's awesome. OK, first concert you ever went to? Oh God, it was ever last. Ever last year. Yeah, they had one song. It was like it was at the House of Blues. I remember somebody spilled beer on me. My friend wanted to go. They had a song called What It's Like. Then you really might know what it's like. Oh yeah, I know that song. I was like, I don't know ever cast, but I know that song. It might have been ever clearer. Everlast, I can't. I might be mixing up the groups, but they was my first concert and then I went to the American Idol. Like when remember, they used to tour like in the early seasons of American Idol, like the top tour? I remember going to bowl and watch them or something? Or was that Dancing With the stars? Yeah, OK. Your first job? I worked in a factory. I was I worked in a line on a factory when I was younger. Yeah. OK, your favorite late night snack? I'm a chocolate person, so I love. I'm a psycho. When you're watching Housewives, what are you eating? Yeah, I'm eating. I'm eating chocolate. Eminem's I love anything chocolate, peanut butter, chocolate, mint. I actually the last night I was eating with a Big Ben of Andy's candies. Do you know those like the little Yes, I love like after dinner mints, but I was like, I can eat like a million in a row. Other people just have one. I had like a bowl in front of me. All right. And I always end with, how do you treat yourself? So if it's your day and this is like a day for you, what do you do? You know, when I was sick with COVID and I was stuck in the room, I was watching a lot of real houses in New York. So since we're talking housewives, I do treat myself with old New York housewives like they're the one that's the franchise where I can really relax too. Or I'll put on one of your old seasons, like when I when I'm feeling a little bit more energy, like the christening season, but New York really settles me down. And then I think outside of that, I like to go get a massage. I'm like a big massage junkie lifestyle. I love it. All right. Danny Pellegrino, I had an incredible time talking with you. I really did. You are a gem. Thank you, Melissa. It's my pleasure. No, you really are a gem. And listen, everyone, you need to go check out Danny's book March 8th, correct? Yes, it's called How do I remember this though? Pre-order it wherever and you can pre-order wherever I am. Definitely. You better send me a copy I need. I will be at this. OK. Good luck. Have a great twenty twenty two. I wish you nothing but luck and it was so great talking to you. It was my pleasure. I can't wait to see the new season of Jersey. Thank you. So.
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