Andy Cohen is confident about the future of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
During Monday’s live episode of SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live, the Bravo ringleader fielded a question from a fan that asked about rebranding the long-running franchise amid a controversial season 14 for Housewives Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania, Margaret Josephs, Jennifer Aydin, Danielle Cabral and Rachel Fuda.
“I think it’s time to do what happened with [Real Housewives of] New York. Bring fresh faces in,” the caller said, adding that while they like the dynamic between newcomers Cabral and Fuda, it may be time to move on from some of the more-tenured stars. “It’s just, there’s all the negativity… Set them free. Let them move on to the new.”
Cohen agreed with the caller’s sentiment that something needed to change on the franchise, promising, “We’re gonna figure something out. We’re gonna figure something out. We are all on the same page about that.”
Last month, Cohen revealed that there will not be a traditional reunion at the end of RHONJ season 14, which is currently airing. Producers made the surprising decision after watching the season finale, which Cohen described as a conclusion and a reunion rolled into one.
“I think that the main thing is this will all make sense once you see the finale. It is one of those classic Jersey finales that people will be talking about for a long time to come,” he said. “When all of us producers saw the last cut of the finale, we all came to the decision separately and then we talked.”
“It’s in the great tradition of absolute shocking, dramatic Jersey finales and they have this final epic group encounter, which is like, it feels like the Last Supper and is just so Jersey,” Andy added. “And it’s shocking and it’s dramatic and it’s amazing TV. I’m telling you, when you see it, I think that you’ll feel complete. I really do.”
ET spoke with Gorga in New York City last week, and she also addressed shakeup rumors amid the tense season.
“I agree with Bravo that there needs to be changes… I agree with that 100 percent,” Melissa told ET. “I think things have gotten really toxic. There’s two of my cast members that have played really dirty behind the scenes and it’s coming out. It’s all coming out, because it always rises to the top, it always comes out in the laundry. It’s been years, so it’s all coming forward.”
Should the cast get revamped next season, Melissa — who had no direct contact with her sister-in-law, Teresa, in season 14 amid their dramatic fallout — said she’s prepared for anything.
“Whatever Bravo decides to do is fine with me,” she told ET in May. “I don’t make demands. I come to work. I have a very strong relationship with the show. So, I feel like whoever they decide to cast — or not cast — I’m fine, in my own lane with my own family and my own kids, and I’ll deal with it when I have to deal with it.”
The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Sundays on Bravo.