The Manzo Family At Hudson Terrace

Caroline, Albert ,Lauren and Albie at the Trump Golf After Party at Hudson Terrace in NYC.

Caroline and Lauren with Alexa Joel

Caroline, Albie And Lauren At OK! Party

Albie,Caroline, and Lauren attend OK! Magazine USA's fifth anniversary party at Avenue in New York City.

Caroline And Lauren At Chris Benz Show

Caroline and Lauren attend the Chris Benz Spring 2011 Show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.

Caroline,Lauren with Chris Benz

The RHONJ Talk About Gay Rights

Post from Next Magazine.

By:Christopher Dilley

Even without seasoned villainess Danielle Staub, the Real Housewives of New Jersey can truly pack a dramatic punch. Fortunately for us, all of the table-flipping goodness was staged—and for a great cause—on Wednesday, as the ladies started their first stint of performances in off-Broadway’s My Big Gay Italian Wedding, the gay-marriage comedy produced by former cast member Dina Manzo. The ladies started a 4-day run in the show that ends tonight, but they announced at curtain that they'd be returning once again October 20th–23. (A portion of proceeds benefit Marriage Equality New York, so you'll be laughing and doing a good deed.) “The fact that the production was so hilarious and so heartfelt—and that I believed in what it stood for—made me want to get involved,” said Manzo at a post-show reception at Etcetera Etcetera. “It’s so funny and marriage equality is so dear to my heart that while I still have a voice I’m going to use it to raise awareness for good things like this.” Manzo jumped in to help turn the show from a one-night-only performance in Staten Island with writer-star Anthony Wilkinson and soap hunk Scott Evans to its current home at St. Luke’s Theater, where first Reichen Lehmkuhl, and now Big Gay Musical's Daniel Robinson join Wilkinson on stage.

Flexing her acting chops and turning out one of the best performances for the night was Dina’s sister, Caroline Manzo, who took on a matriarchal role not too far from her own on the Bravo hit. “In our family it is all about acceptance and loving one another for who we are” said a newly svelt-and-slicked-back Caroline. Dina and Caroline’s brother (and co-star Jacqueline Laurita’s brother-in-law) is gay, which has been brought up in Real Housewives first-season reunion after a few slurs were thrown around. “I was amazed at my parents, who are old-school Italian, [welcoming] my brother and his partner with open arms” recalled Manzo. “The first thing my mom and dad said was, ‘Be happy.’ My father was that typical Italian guy that you would be afraid of and think, ‘Oh my god, don’t mess with him’ but when you have children, you love your children. The only thing you want is for them to be happy. They taught us that lesson and in turn our children learned that lesson. Wouldn’t it be nice if everybody was able to follow suit?” mused the straight-talking mother of three. “At the young age of 9 I realized ‘Alright, I get it’” echoed Caroline’s daughter Lauren Manzo who also stars in the production.” I realized there was nothing wrong with it so since then it’s always been a normal thing to me.”

Chatting up Laurita and co-star (and Andy Cohen-shover) Teresa Giudice, we discovered the ladies had their fair share of gays even before their hit Bravo show debuted. “I worked with a guy named Matthew who was so flamboyant and over-the-top then with another guy named Dennis who wasn’t and I loved them both,” Teresa revealed. “We worked at Macy's together in the buying office so I was not surprised by our gay following at all. Why wouldn’t gays like me? I love them!” said the hot-headed but charitable gal. “I’m a cosmetologist myself so I’ve always had gay friends,” revealed Laurita, who stars in Wedding alongside daughter Ashley Holmes, and sports a quite convincing Brooklyn accent for a Las Vegas native. “When the issue of marriage equality came up it was a total non-issue to me. Chris’ family was very open and accepting of me and in fact when we moved to New Jersey we lived in Caroline’s house for 6 months, which was a lot of fun,” she told us of the accepting Manzo clan. While some Housewives might seem to be taking the gay community for a ride of late, these ladies are proving the “Real” part of their series title through action! Just no one release a dance single—please!

The RHONJ Talk To Wendy Williams

Post from Absurd To Sublime.

Edited to add: Caroline Manzo’s birthdate is August 23, 1959. Meaning all the well meaning twitter friends and commenters are wrong, and so am I.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey looked good on the Wendy Williams Show. The 25 lb. weight loss of Caroline Manzo didn’t do her face any justice, but at age 55, it’s either face or body. Lauren Manzo and Ashley Holmes were in the audience. Wendy brings up Kim Granatell, briefly, all answers are guarded. Ashley is allowed to speak, won’t answer questions about Danielle Staub stalking, so Wendy turns to Caroline, who claims she found out on the day of reunion show. Wendy shows tape of Teresa’s reunion part 1 tantrum. . Teresa still claims its about Melissa Gorga’s child , to which Wendy implies it was quite an over reaction. Teresa won’t talk about bankruptcy.

After the commercial, they play a game, “Who Knows New Jersey” with Wendy and Teresa against Jacqueline and Caroline. The game ends in a tie, Wendy gives them all pageant sashes and crowns, Jacqueline is funny as she imitates the walk and wave of a pageant winner. That’s it.

Jersey Girls Promo For "My Big Gay Italian Wedding"

RHONJ Attend After Party For "My Big Gay Italian Wedding"

Pictures of the Jersey girls at  "My Big Gay Italian Wedding" ater party at Etcetera Etcetera Restaurant in NYC.

Anthony J. Wilkinson, Daniel Robinson With The Jersey Girls

Curtain Call Pictures From "My Big Gay Italian Wedding"

Curtain Call pictures of the opening night of 'My Big Gay Italian Wedding' at St. Luke's Theatre in New York City.

Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.

Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.

Caroline and Lauren Manzo at Devoted To Life Function

Post/Pic from Reality Tea.

Caroline Manzo and Lauren Manzo attend the Devoted To Life benefit on July 15, 2010 in Red Bank, New Jersey.

Jacqueline- RHONJ summer fun

Pic. of Lauren and Jacqueline hanging out this weekend.

Pic. of Jacqueline at the shore.