Mob Wives Chicago: Recap “Party Animals” Ep 106

High Drama in this episode, but first...

Christina is at home working on a garment. She wants to get back into the fashion industry. Pia arrives and Christina tells her she is making something for Renee. Pia tells her she got into it with Nora yesterday. Pia says they started talking about Christina’s party and Pia told Nora that she should go. Then Nora tells Pia that Renee has a problem with Pia stripping. Pia says Nora was a dancer so why is it okay for Renee to hang out with her but look down on Pia? Christina finds it funny that Nora was a stripper. She thinks the bar might lose money with Nora stripping! Pia says Nora accuses her of being a “whore” over and over. Christina says she saw a different side of Nora at her birthday party. Pia says Renee thinks she is better than Pia, so how can she ever get along with Renee? Pia is angry because Nora was her friend and betrayed her with Renee. She is prepared to fight Nora if she gets out of line at the party.

Nora says she has been distracted from what she came to Chicago to do, which is to find out what happened to her father. All the drama with Pia and Renee has sidetracked her. Nora recalls what the funeral director told her and calls for the death records of her father. They tell her the records are private. No one witnessed her father going into the ground. She tells them she doesn’t know if it was her father in the casket and has no closure. She wants the body exhumed. They tell her all the siblings have to agree to that or she will need to get a judge’s permission. Now Nora knows what she has to do next.

Renee feels her life is full of BS. She needs to vent and goes to see Leah. Renee tells Leah all about the drama with Nora including the fact that she told her she hopes she loses her daughter, and she heard she has been talking about beating her up behind her back. Leah tells her to “do what she has to do and not to back down for no one.”

Renee says, "I gotta get rid of this guy."

Renee and Dave are at the store. Renee tells him about her altercation with Nora. Dave seems disinterested and that pisses Renee off. Renee tells him she has to leave on a business trip and Dave gets pissed off. They start arguing and calling each other names. A customer enters the store, but they continue to argue in front of the man. Renee is disgusted and leaves. She plans to hire someone new and cut Dave’s hours. She can’t stand being around him.

Nora wants to focus on something positive. She and her friend, Desiree, go to a wine making place to create a new wine in honor of her father’s memory. They participate in the actual making of the red wine. She and her father drank wine together all the time. She hopes to make a fine, exquisite wine that represents her father, who was the best. She wants her father remembered in a good way.

Pia and her friend, Kamila, are on the treadmills talking. Pia tells her the whole incident with Nora. Leah walks in and joins them. Leah says her idea of working out is “ball busting” and that is what she is there to do. They ask Leah about Nora. Leah says she is nuts and she is making them all nuts. Leah is fed up with the love/hate relationship between Pia and Nora, it’s too much. Pia says she is done with Nora. Leah says she will believe it when she sees it. Pia says if Nora comes after her at the party she will have to go after her. Leah didn’t sound to happy to hear there may be drama at Christina’s party.

Nora and Christina meet for lunch. Christina’s opinion of Nora has changed since she went to her birthday party and saw another side of her. Nora tells her about her wine, “The German,” that she is having made so her father’s memory will live on in a positive way. Christina doesn’t know what to make of this, but jokes and says, “it’s gonna be a killer wine!” Christina asks her about Pia. Nora tells her what happened between the two of them and that they will talk again, it was nothing bad. Nora says she will go to Christina’s party and act with class and hopes her friends will show her the same respect.

At Christina’s house Leah and Christina are getting ready for the big party. Leah brings A LOT of makeup. She wants to look good. Pia, Nora and Renee all hate each other, but Christina hopes they will all get along for her sake. Leah and Christina take a limo to the party. Nora’s friend, Debbie, will accompany her to the party. She fills her in on what has been going on and says she wants nothing to do with Renee.

Christina advises Pia to tell Nora why she is mad at her!

Leah and Christina get to the party first. It starts on a positive note with a toast. Nora shows up with her friend and Christina goes over to give her a hug and welcomes her. Pia goes to the party with Kamila, a friend of hers, who thinks Nora is at the root of the problem. Pia says she has been defending Nora and making excuses for her, but no more! Pia is going to take care of Pia. Pia gets there a little late and hugs everyone. Pia ignores Nora, she is there for Christina. Christina feels Pia is uneasy. Nora introduces her friend, Debbie, to Pia. Renee and Crystal are late to the party. Renee is not happy with Nora. Nora said something unforgivable and Renee needs to talk to her, but she plans on acting like a lady at the party. Meanwhile, Renee is already two hours late to the party.

Pia says her love/hate relationship with Nora is done. Leah thinks Christina is playing with fire by telling Pia to confront Nora and tell her why she is mad. Leah is sick of the “ring around the rosey backwards.” Suddenly, Nora says she wants to leave, she feels sick, she has food poisoning. Christina is confused, they didn’t even eat yet. Nora is pissed that Renee is so late again, like she was at her father’s memorial lunch. Nora leaves because Renee is late. She tells Leah she doesn’t feel well and a few other excuses. Leah says Nora was trying to escape like a fugitive. Renee adds, “Run b!tch, run!”

A truce between Pia and Renee?

Christina is confused by Nora’s exit. Why does she care if Renee is late? She doesn’t even talk to Renee. Renee says Nora was scared and Pia agrees with Renee, they think she pulled her exit to get attention. Christina calls Nora on the phone to get her to come back to the party. Nora says she will come back after she gets some air. Pia and Renee start talking about Nora and tell each other that Nora talks badly about them behind their backs. Pia says she offered Renee an olive branch, but Renee treated her badly. The two form a temporary “truce” because they are both so mad at Nora.

The "eyes" have it...rage!

Nora returns and apologizes to Christina or leaving. There is rage in Renee’s eyes when she sees Nora. Renee immediately confronts Nora. Nora says she doesn’t know who she is. Christina says she doesn’t want them to fight at her party. Renee demands that Nora says what she has to say to her face not behind her back. Nora tells her she doesn’t trust her, she is a piece of crap and low class. Pia joins in the argument and asks why are you pointing the finger at me when you used to dance too? Pia tells her she took care of her daughter and Nora with her dancing. Nora calls her a “whore” again and again.

Black outs and Black eyes

Pia hits Nora in the face. Nora and Pia fight. Pia says she has been dancing for 15 years to support her daughter. Christina notices that Nora doesn’t hit Pia back. Then Renee goes after Nora and hits her between the eyes. Nora feels that Pia and Renee ambushed her. Nora is ganged up on. Christina feels bad for Nora because no one deserves to be hit. Nora yells out, “Your father raped you every day of your life!” Renee goes ballistic and goes after Nora. Pia and Renee “beat the sh!t” out of Nora. To be continued…

MY TWO CENTS

Definitely the hottest episode yet. I have a few thoughts on this party. Why would you have a party when three out of your five invitees are at each other’s throats? Why not wait for things to cool off, for them to make up or call truces first? It’s a recipe for a disaster if you just think about the party, BUT it’s a lottery ticket bonanza for ratings, if it’s for a reality television show. Drama is what viewers live for and drama is what we got!

Now sometimes the basis of an argument on a reality show is just plain BS. There is no substance to it, like on the Real Housewives of New York. But, last night, on Mob Wives Chicago, the arguments were heated and had merit. I have been as angry and hurt as Pia and Renee, at a friend, for a lot less, in my lifetime. I have been spitting nails mad and it didn’t take the degree of provoking that Pia and Renee got from Nora to get me there. I tried putting myself in their shoes and asked myself what would I do if a long time friend of mine called me a “whore” time and time again OR said to me “I hope you lose your daughter.” Fahgettaboudit!!! I would NEVER talk to them again. No way would I show up at any party they were at. I am not the type to confront people or get physical, but I am not on a reality show either. So, that being said, Mob Wives Chicago delivered us a pot full of drama last night.

It was no surprise to me that Christina’s party was a fiasco. I was surprised that Pia and Renee seem to have bonded over their anger for Nora. They had a common enemy! Let’s face it, it wasn’t just anger, although that is what we saw take place. It was more about their deep feelings of hurt and betrayal by Nora. They were both long time friends of Nora and they both helped her over the years. As for Nora, for someone who doesn’t like to fight, she does a lot of provoking and hitting way below the belt. One time can be a “mistake,” but when you say extremely hurtful things over and over again, it’s not a mistake, it’s deliberate. I think Pia finally got it, had enough and decided to stand up for herself. As for Renee, while I have found her to be quick to anger, she had every good reason to be furious at Nora. That line about losing her daughter, I can’t even get over it, how can Renee? On top of that, Nora yells out that Renee’s father raped her every day of her life??? What? Where the hell did that come from? Renee was very justified to snap over that remark. I have to wonder what Nora is thinking by lashing out at lifelong “friends” with comments like these? Even your worst enemy might have a hard time hitting that far below the belt.

Which brings me to my next question. We all know that Nora’s dad, “The German” was an alleged “hit man” for the mob. He may not have been convicted of anything, but there has been plenty of talk about it. Considering his reputation and Nora’s great love and devotion for him, I couldn’t help but be surprised that neither Pia nor Renee lashed out by making comments about Nora’s Dad. That’s her real Achilles’ heel, her weakness. A few choice digs at him would have hurt her more than any black eye. Yet, they would not stoop that low as to insult her father. If they said anything about him I sure didn’t hear it.  I have to give them tremendous credit for showing that kind of restraint. They stuck to their issues with Nora the whole time and didn’t drag anyone else into it. Kudos to Pia and Renee!

For comic relief we have the team of Christina and Leah, who had some of the best lines of the night. Christina’s referring to Nora’s new wine as a “killer wine.” was hilarious. She even made herself laugh! Her reaction to Nora being a stripper and the bar losing money, was funny too. Leah, Leah, Leah! It was pure genius having her in the cast. She is never at a loss for new expressions. The only exercise she does is “ball busting!” I want to know how you play “ring around the rosey backwards?” And her makeup case? There is enough makeup there to do all of the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall for an entire year! Leah has many “looks,” but my favorite is when she is doing the “green screen’ and has those beautiful, soft curls!

As for Nora, I did feel bad that she was physically attacked and hurt by both Pia and Renee. I don’t think she could fight them one on one, let alone the two of them together. But, at the same time, her actions and words have consequences. You can only push people so far before they fight back and you don’t know how they will do that. Some people chose to fight back with words. However, when you are very angry and in the heat of the moment, things can often get physical. Last night they did and it wasn’t pretty. Will Nora apologize for her comments to Pia and Renee? Will they accept her apology? Will she lash out at Christina and Leah next? Jennifer promised us a finale that’s “on fire” and I am wondering what, or who, lit that match! What did you think of this episode?

You can catch up on previous full episodes of Mob Wives Chicago at VH1. Don’t miss out on the drama! Stay tuned!

Mob Wives: Recap “Fights and Facials” Ep 206

The episode starts at Renee’s house with Renee talking to Junior. She tells him that she feels like “gloom and doom” with all the girls fighting. She feels distant from her friends. Renee keeps thinking about what Ramona said about Junior, that he married her for her father and would be a loser without her. She doesn’t want to confront Ramona at the spa party, but it is obvious that it is very much on her mind. Junior tells Renee she thinks about everybody else, but everyone else only thinks of themselves. Renee wants to focus on Junior and she is upset he is going back to prison in a couple of months. She feels like she is losing him again just when they are reconnecting. He says it’s only for 21 months and it will never happen again. Renee says she loves him and is depressed.

At Drita’s house, Drita is planning to have a long over due talk with Aleeya about the divorce. Aleeya talks to her dad everyday and Drita asks her if she wonders why she doesn’t talk to Lee. Aleeya wants to know why. Drita asks her if she knows what divorce means. Drita is sad about the divorce, no one in her family has gotten divorced, they work through things. Aleeya says when dad comes home he is taking all of them on a vacation and Aleeya wants to go to Hawaii. Aleeya is sad, Drita cries and tells her she is going to make everything good for her.

Karen arrives at Renee’s house for the spa party with Ramona and Adriana. She says “if I can’t have sex I might as well have a spa party!” Karen wants it to be fun and relaxing for everyone. Renee and Big Ang are already there. Big Ang wants a massage, a facial and a buzz. They all have drinks. Nikole is on her way. Carla said she was coming. Renee announces that she invited Drita…the room gets quiet. She says she didn’t want to leave anyone out like she did for her birthday and that’s it! Karen doesn’t look happy. Renee says it’s her house and she will invite who she wants.

Carla's not coming to the party? Big surprise there?

Karen says it’s her party and yes Renee threw her off her game. Ramona and Karen both say they will respect Renee, it’s her house. Renee says Carla told Drita about the party and Renee told her she could come. The women get spray tans and facials. Renee tells Karen that Carla told her she was afraid to go to the spa party for fear she would be ambushed. Karen says she doesn’t need to throw a party to ambush someone. Carla calls to say she isn’t coming, she is going out with Joe and the kids. Karen is very gracious and tells her she can have a rain check, but she wants to know if it’s because she thinks she was going to be ambushed like she told Renee? Renee says Carla would never have told Karen the truth if Renee hadn’t said something. Renee is upset that everyone doesn’t just say how they really feel.

Ramona says she doesn’t need to ambush anyone. Big Ang decides to leave, she doesn’t want to be involved with any drama. Ramona says she would never do anything in Renee’s house and feels bad that Carla wouldn’t come because of her. Karen wants Ramona to call Carla. Renee says, no don’t call now. Ramona says she wants to make peace for Renee’s sake because that is what she wants. Renee is still pissed about Ramona’s comment about Junior that he married Renee for her father and would be a loser without her. Ramona doesn’t understand Renee, and says you put me with “sh*t” (meaning Carla) and the other one is even a bigger piece of sh*t (meaning Drita). Renee says she didn’t put her with sh*t and she should stop defending her. Ramona says, no she won’t stop defending her. Renee gets very emotional and starts crying, saying she feels disloyal, like she is playing both sides of the fence. Karen says the spa party is dead, they killed it. So much for relaxation.

Another day Renee has Drita come over to do her makeup. Drita asks about Junior. Renee says that have had a fight the last three days. Drita says she should enjoy him while she has him. Renee says he is home every night and is doing all the right things, but Renee still gets upset with him. She thinks she is sabotaging her relationship on purpose, maybe because he is going away for two years and she can’t deal with it. Drita tells her not to sabotage it.

Karen and Ramona are out riding bikes. They talk about the spa party. Karen is fed up with the Carla thing. Ramona sees Carla as Drita’s puppet. Karen says she likes to address issues head on not by talking behind people’s backs. Ramona wants to talk to Carla and address the “archenemy” comments she was told Carla made.

At the Drunken Monkey, Carla and Drita meet up with Big Ang. Big Ang says the spa party was really nice, but Carla did the  right thing going out with her kids. Drita agrees. Big Ang says Karen was disappointed that Carla didn’t come. Carla doesn’t like what Ramona has been saying and it wouldn’t have gone well. Big Ang says Renee and her wanted Drita to come, the girls were there. Carla says who was there, Adriana? And she laughs, another good reason for  her to have stayed away. Apparently, with one guess, Carla knew who Ramona’s friend was and, as it turns out, Carla had issues with Adriana and is even more glad she didn’t go to the party. Carla says everyone has a problem with her.

Drita visits Renee. Renee shows Drita Junior’s phone and she is going to break into it to see what he has been up to. Renee tries a couple of passwords and gets in. She starts checking messages. A woman leaves a message, but it’s just his cousin. Drita says she is having a heart attack. Renee says the other night his ex texted him and Renee found out about it. Junior walks in, Renee hides the phone. Then Renee calls Junior and tells him she found his phone in the couch. Renee and Drita have a laugh. 

At Carla’s place the phone rings and it’s Ramona. She wants to meet Carla, one on one, to talk. Carla is not interested in meeting Ramona, she doesn’t want to deal with a screaming match. Ramona says she only screams at her kids. Ramona wants to clear the air. Carla relents because she knows Renee wants everyone to make peace. They decide to meet and talk things out.

Drita meets her friend Bridget for lunch and they talk about Lee. Bridget said she heard that Lee is contesting the divorce and wants to know if it’s true. Drita says she didn’t hear anything about it, but it could be a rumor or true. In Staten Island people talk about everyone’s business. Drita says he better not contest it or she is going to be more angry than she already is. As far as she is concerned the marriage was over the day she found out he cheated. She is hurt and there is no forgiveness. If he contests it she won’t be nice any more, she will get ruthless in court.

Carla and Renee meet and Carla tells her that Ramona called to set up a meeting. Renee offers to go with her. Carla says it’s better if she meets her alone without a 3rd party. She doesn’t want Renee in the middle or defending her. Carla wants to confront Ramona and wants to see what she has to say. Renee says Carla should be afraid of Ramona because she fights hard. Carla just wants to talk it out and be done.

Ramona isn't buying what Carla is selling.

Ramona meets Carla for lunch. Carla says she is sick of sit downs, she has had one with everybody. Ramona wants to clear the air with her. She says she doesn’t know Carla, so she was surprised to hear from people that Carla was calling her her “archenemy.” Carla wants to know where she heard it and Ramona answers, from two boroughs, Brooklyn and Staten Island. Carla looks down and denies she ever said it, saying it wasn’t “her word.” Ramona knows she said it because it came from a very reliable source. Then Ramona tells Carla that Drita is a liar and she feels Carla’s brain has been molded by Drita. Ramona says all of Staten Island knows the history between Drita and Karen, Carla doesn’t know it. Carla only knows what Drita says and that’s why Drita can lie to her. Carla is offended at the “molding” of her brain insult and says she has a mind of her own. Carla looks down for most of the conversation. Ramona says she has no history with Carla so she should get to know her. Carla says that if she ever hears anything again she will call and ask Ramona herself in the future. 

My Two Cents: Where to start? A lot went down in this episode. First let’s start with Renee and Junior. This was filmed before all the news came out that Junior turned informant and Renee’s dad was arrested. Renee is under the impression that they are getting married and working things out at this point. (Let me make it clear, that right now, according to Renee, she will never forgive Junior for what he did and she is not on speaking terms with him.)  However, a relationship has to be built on trust if it is to go anywhere. It’s obvious that Renee will never trust Junior again. She will be questioning his every move and checking his phone, which she is entitled to do after all he put her through, but he would not have put up with that. Even if Junior had not cut a deal with the FBI, their relationship would have been doomed from the start…no trust means nothing to build on. Sometimes love just isn’t enough.

Drita finally tells Aleeya about the divorce. It was a touching scene, but it seemed like there was a lot missing to me, like Aleeya already knew or sensed this was coming. I do not think it would have been appropriate for Drita to address this topic with her daughter, for the first time, in front of cameras and common sense tells me she didn’t. Aleeya probably knew before now and they re-enacted it for viewers. That’s just my opinion. As for Lee contesting the divorce, I have to laugh. He has no grounds to contest it and will never get away with it. Why? Because I do believe that incarceration is very good grounds for divorce, PERIOD. Here is the NY State law: “Three Consecutive Years Imprisonment - This is a ground for divorce if your spouse has been in jail for three or more years in a row beginning after your marriage. Once your spouse has been in jail for three years in a row, you can file for divorce: while your spouse is still in jail and up to five years after s/he is released.” So Drita doesn’t have to lose any sleep over it and it’s something her lawyer should have already explained to her, don’t you think?

The “spa party” was shot to hell the second Renee invited Drita. That was the bad omen that things were not going to go well. Even though Carla and Drita weren’t there to create any tension, drama still exploded at Renee’s house. I’m sure Karen and Ramona both felt blindsided hearing for the first time that Renee invited Drita. Personally I would have flipped out if I were either of them because Renee didn‘t mention it ahead of time, but they both said they would respect Renee and her house. Sure Renee can invite who she wants to her house, but under the circumstances, she maybe should have given them a heads up? Renee is very on edge. It’s not just that she upset over what Ramona said about Junior, but she explained to me yesterday what was going on (See blog “Renee Speak On Disloyalty“) and that she was on pain medication and not thinking clearly. Big Ang ran out of there as soon as things got a little heated. Carla called and cancelled. I’m not sure if she was really going out with her kids or just chickened out. I am going with the latter. Once again Karen extends an olive branch by inviting Carla to the party (like when she gave Drita the first chapter of her book) only to get a slap in the face for it. I can hear Ramona’s words, “STOP…BEING…NICE echoing in my head.

Now the best for last, Ramona and Carla’s sit down! Carla says everyone has a problem with her…when someone says that, they need to look at themselves because it means it’s either you or it’s everyone else and chances are it’s you. Carla definitely wronged Renee twice in a big way: once with the boyfriend and once by not calling or seeing her at the hospital. Karen was pissed with Carla for running around Staten Island spreading lies about Drita beating her up and putting her in the hospital. Karen also has some personal issues with Carla that goes back to their families and Carla knows what they are because they had words on Twitter about it. Now, Ramona has an issue with Carla, who she doesn’t even know, calling her her “archenemy.” Maybe Carla needs to look at herself in the mirror and ask why everyone has an issue with her? But if she can’t find the answers in the mirror, she can read this blog.

Hey Carla, You can't hide your lying eyes...or so the song says!

I hope everyone noticed that 90% of the time, when Ramona was asking Carla about the “archenemy” statement, Carla could not make eye contact with her. She was looking down. That is body language for lying and guilt. Carla should have just admitted it that she said it and looked Ramona in the eye. Ramona would have respected her for doing that and would be more prone to believe her in the future. However, Ramona knows Drita is a liar and now, as far as Carla goes, she has just lied. Not much hope for a budding friendship is there? 

NEWS: I’ll try to blog “The Sitdown” later today so watch for my tweets. Also Karen Gravano will be on The View at 11 AM ET today and I will blog about that! Karen’s book, Mob Daughter comes out tomorrow, so be sure to get your copy early. Everyone will be talking about it. The Mob Wives: Big Ang, Drita and Renee will be on Rachael Ray this Thursday, set your DVRs!