RHONJ Has Lowest Rated Episode in Show History, See Numbers

Credit: Instagram/Melissagorga

The latest episode of Real Housewives of New Jersey reportedly had the lowest ratings in the show’s history – as a source shared details behind the mysterious reunion, which felt like the “closing” of an “era.”

Earlier this week, Bravo exec Andy Cohen claimed the show was getting rebooted amid the cast divide, and he suggested they might have a whole new cast. He later clarified that no decisions have been made.

This year, instead of a traditional reunion, the cast filmed at the Rails steakhouse – where the dramatic finale took place. According to reports, the show’s two factions filmed in separate rooms (except Dolores Catania, who went to both groups).

Per @tvdeets, the latest episode of RHONJ earned 589,000 viewers – which is a “new series low.”

Meanwhile, episode 125 of Watch What Happens Live – featuring castmate Melissa Gorga as the guest – took in 392,000 viewers.

Around the same time, a source shared more details of what allegedly took place during the alternate reunion at Rails.

“When the cast gathered — albeit in separate rooms — they were shown a video montage that sort of recapped the entire show,” said the insider, speaking to OK! Magazine. “Remember what happened at the end of the Vanderpump Rules finale? That was kind of what happened here with the cast watching it in real time.”

“They saw their kids young, and they saw all the years of them filming from babies to growing up,” the insider added.

The source then addressed the future of RHONJ.

“So much is in limbo,” they shared, “and no one knows what exactly is going to happen with the show. However, the montage kind of felt like the closing of a story arc and a way to say goodbye to this particular cast. It was like closing out this era.”

“[But] no one has been fired yet … [and] no casting decisions have been made,” the source went on. “[It also] could have just been a nice way of showing the kids growing up on the show since so many of them had monumental graduation milestones this year.”

“No one is truly sure what it meant,” said the insider. “But the vibe definitely felt like they were closing this out.”