Roxanne 
In what’s being described as a surprising development in the Bravo universe, Real Housewives of New Jersey veteran Dolores Catania is reportedly shifting her reality TV presence to the newly announced Real Housewives of Rhode Island.
According to multiple sources cited by OK! Magazine, Catania will appear on the upcoming series “as a friend of” the Housewives. One insider reportedly told the outlet, “Dolores is going to be coming to the new show Real Housewives of Rhode Island. She’s going to rent a summer house there and will be a friend of the Housewives.”
The move appears to be more than a simple cameo. Sources allege that Catania has a personal connection to the new cast, including a real-life friendship with one of the show’s primary women. While there is no official confirmation from Catania or Bravo, speculation is mounting that this could be the beginning of a bigger transition.
“No one knows what the future holds in terms of her being there,” one source reportedly said, “as she could inevitably become a full-time cast member and move to Rhode Island if she takes off on that show.”
This reported change may signal deeper issues within the Real Housewives of New Jersey franchise, which some insiders claim is in serious trouble. “This is yet another indicator that show is completely dead in the water,” one unnamed source told OK! Magazine.
“With Melissa [Gorga] going on Wife Swap and now Dolores making the move to RHORI, the only one really left that fans would follow on RHONJ would be Teresa [Giudice],” the source continued. “Margaret [Josephs] still wants to return, but Teresa was not friendly with Margaret, so that pairing would never, ever happen.”
As for Josephs potentially stepping into a lead role, insiders reportedly cast doubt on that scenario, suggesting, “Leading RHONJ wouldn’t make sense in the eyes of production,” noting that Giudice and Gorga have long been considered the central figures on the show.
“All in all, this is not a good sign for RHONJ,” the source added. “They are moving the women onto new projects and new shows.” In particular, one insider pointed to recent comments by Bravo executive Andy Cohen, saying, “With Andy having already drawn comparisons between RHONJ and RHORI, they are hoping with moving Dolores, fans of RHONJ will follow suit and the new show will have an automatic, built-in audience.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding RHONJ, some see Catania’s reported transition as a positive. “Sadly, it appears RHONJ is more or less done,” one source concluded. “But the good news is fans of Dolores will get to see her in a new iteration and continue watching her.”
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island was officially announced by Bravo on May 7. In a statement, the network teased: “Set against the shores of the Ocean State, The Real Housewives franchise expands into the world of a tight-knit circle of Rhode Islanders who have deep community roots and families that go back generations. With aspirational lives, thriving businesses, and tangled family dynamics, these decade-long friendships prove that in a state this small, there’s no escaping your past… or each other.”
Bravo executive producer Andy Cohen also weighed in on the upcoming series, calling the cast “incredible.” He added, “They are very Italian. Rhode Island is such a small state, and they all kind of know each other and overlap, and it’s an incredible group of women who have really interesting connections. I think it’s going to really surprise people.”
As of now, neither Dolores Catania nor Bravo have formally commented on her reported involvement with the new series.
1 comment
I was looking forward to seeing the new cast of Rhode Island ONLY, Dolores bugs me. I would love to know what the other ladies of RHONJ think about it! I’m sure Melissa and Joe are having a meltdown and I wonder if RHONJ will actually return…