The Real Housewives of New Jersey

**The Real Housewives of New Jersey** (abbreviated **RHONJ**) is an American reality television series that premiered on May 12, 2009 on Bravo. It is the fourth installment of The Real Housewives franchise and focuses on the personal and professional lives of several women residing in New Jersey, United States.

## Overview

### Season 1-5

The series was announced in April 2008 as the fourth installment of The Real Housewives franchise. The first season premiered on May 12, 2009, and starred Caroline Manzo, Jacqueline Laurita, Teresa Giudice, Dina Manzo and Danielle Staub. For the first time in the franchise, the series followed cast members who are related to one another: sisters Caroline and Dina Manzo are married to brothers Albert and Tommy Manzo, and Laurita is married to Caroline and Dina's brother, Chris Laurita. Dina and Tommy Manzo would later end up separated.

The second season premiered on May 3, 2010, with Dina Manzo departing the series after the seventh episode. Staub left the show ater the second season.

The third season premiered on May 16, 2011, with new housewives Melissa Gorga and Kathy Wakile. It delivered the highest rated season premiere in Bravo's history and the highest rated season premiere in The Real Housewives franchise at that time.

The fourth season premiered on April 11, 2012.

The fifth season premiered on June 2, 2013. Caroline Manzo and Laurita left the show after the fifth season.

### Season 6-10

The sixth season premiered on July 13, 2014. It featured the return of Dina Manzo as a full-time cast member and new cast members Amber Marchese, Teresa Aprea and Nicole Napolitano. Wakile was demoted to a friend of the housewives role, while Laurita appeared as a guest. Marchese, Aprea, Napolitano and Dina Manzo left the show after the sixth season.

The seventh season premiered on July 10, 2016 and saw Laurita return as a full-time cast member. The season also featured Dolores Catania and Siggy Flicker as new cast members, while Wakile and Rosie Pierri appeared as friends of the housewives. Aprea and Napolitano also appeared as guests. The season marked the final appearance of Laurita, Wakile and Pierri in the show.

The eighth season premiered on October 4, 2017 and Staub returned to the show as a friend of the housewives. It also featured Margaret Josephs as the new cast member. Flicker left the show afterwards.

The ninth season premiered on November 7, 2018, featuring Jennifer Aydin and Jackie Goldschneider joining the cast. While Staub returned as a friend once again.

The tenth season premiered on November 6, 2019. The season marked Staub's final appearance, as she announced her resignation from the show for a second time in January 2020.

### Season 11-present

Filming for the eleventh season was postponed by Bravo in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Timeline of Cast Members

### Main Cast

* Teresa Giudice (Season 1-11)
* Melissa Gorga (Season 3-11; guest in Season 2)
* Jacqueline Laurita (Season 1-5 and 7; guest in Season 6)
* Caroline Manzo (Season 1-5)
* Dolores Catania (Season 7-11; guest in Season 1 and 3-4)
* Margaret Josephs (Season 8-11)
* Dina Manzo (Season 1-2 and 6; guest in Season 4)
* Kathy Wakile (Season 3-5; friend in Season 6-7 and guest in Season 2)
* Danielle Staub (Season 1-2; friend in Season 8-10)
* Siggy Flicker (Season 7-8)
* Jackie Goldschneider (Season 10-11)
* Jennifer Aydin (Season 10-11)
* Amber Marchese (Season 6)
* Nicole Napolitano (Season 6; guest in Season 7)
* Teresa Aprea (Season 6; guest in Season 7)

### Friends of the Housewives

* Rosie Pierri (Guest in Season 3-6; friend in Season 7)