Book signing

You guys get TWO posts today since I wasn’t able to give you all of the gossip from the book signing that I went to on Wednesday night. Yes, despite CP’s rolled eyes after I told him who I was going to see at Borders, I went to see Teresa from RHONJ. It turns out, I’m glad that I went!

I knew it was a bad sign when I pulled into the parking lot and it was PACKED. People were rushing into the store so my thought was OMG. There are this many RHONJ fans????

People were lined up to get their book signed so I hustled over to the corner of the room so that I could at least get a glimpse of Teresa. I started talking with the person next me and we traded stories about how our husbands were embarrassed that we watched the show and that we were coming to the event. I admitted that I was a bit embarrassed to be there in general- almost like I’m egging these women on with their bad behavior. I mean, what woman with any sort of class flips a table at a restaurant? Or has a shouting match in a public place?

Anyway, I justified being there by saying that I wasn’t financially helping her because I didn't buy a book (despite the fact that she desperately needs it, what with being $10 million in debt). I was just there for entertainment value.

Here is the line that I am SO GLAD I didn’t have to wait in:

That was only PART of the line too. A couple girls arrived at 2PM (!!!!) for the 7pm signing. Okay, I like the show and all but REALLY???

Surprisingly enough, Teresa sauntered in 15 minutes late, sat down and started signing books. I thought that usually they read a passage or something from the book? At least thank everyone for coming???

She has lost the baby weight from this past season (they stopped filming in February) and looks great:

People crowded around, trying to take pictures of her. The book line was going very slow because every.single.person wanted to ask her a question, take a picture of her, etc.

I went to leave when in my left ear I heard a guy talking about the reunion show. Hmmm. He seems to have inside knowledge of the show. I better move closer to him and get some gossip. And boy did I. Turns out Daniel works for Sirens Media, the production company for RHONJ (every city has a different production company). He is Teresa’s makeup artist for the book tour.

For your reading pleasure, this is what I remember from our interaction:

*Teresa will be coming out with a makeup line soon (in partnership with Daniel). They aren’t worried about the makeup lines from other housewives (like Gretchen) because Gretchen’s fans will buy her makeup and Teresa’s fans will buy her makeup.

*Most of the book tour events are one day trips so she was headed back to NJ that night.

*The last time Teresa came to CT for a book signing they had to close the store down at MIDNIGHT. People were still waiting in line. She does stay until the last book is signed.

*Gia (her oldest child) is the only kid that will travel with her to an event. She is the only kid that can stand sitting around while her mother signs books. He admitted that Milania would be running around the store trying to throw every book on the floor.

*Danielle is DEFINITELY off the show. Teresa announced it early on in the signing and Daniel confirmed it.

*They are currently looking for three more housewives for the NJ cast. One to replace Dina, one to replace Danielle and then an extra person.

*Kim G is still in the running for one of the slots, but Daniel hopes that she doesn’t get it. He said that she was trying too hard to get on the show (which I agree with).

*There is no word on whether Danielle will get her own show.

*He said the reunion show is going to be great. He was at the taping and there were FOUR bodyguards off stage. At one point, he had to run in to break a fight up (he said that he is actually in the previews for the reunion show).

*Teresa makes all of her own recipes and she is a great cook.

*All of the housewives from the different cities know each other.

*It is written into their contracts that all of the housewives must have at least one interaction with each other each season. That is why Dina meet with Danielle before she left the show and why Caroline had a meeting with Danielle before the season ended.

*That is also why Danielle ended up showing up to the fashion show. She was wavering, but producers reminded her that she had to get it over with at some point.

*In their contract they must have interaction, but they are just required to say hi. That’s it. No matter that the production company feeds them lots of alcohol and lord knows nothing odd happens when there is alcohol involved!! ;-)

*He said that Danielle is actually very nice and sweet in person. He used to do her make up last season.

*Bravo pays for all of the trips on the shows. Ramona’s girls weekend in St Barts or wherever they want? Paid for by Bravo. Teresa, Caroline and Jacqueline going to Italy with their families? Paid for by Bravo. Which is why I don't understand why Joe was complaining about the cost of the hotel room??

*When a lady first becomes a housewife, Bravo tells them to live it up. They explain that if they have a talent (singing, making jewelry, etc.) that they don’t have long in the spotlight and that they need to use the show as a promotional tool.

*The pizza place that Joe (Teresa’s husband) was putting together in one of the episodes is up and running. It is doing okay so far.

*When Danielle talks about her bodyguards packing guns and whatever, Daniel just laughed that off as big talk. He said that Danielle likes to be a bit overdramatic. (I’d say!)

*He agreed that he is amazed that Danielle’s kids are as grounded as they are. He said that they are super sweet and very polite. Almost parenting Danielle at times.

I wanted to ask about the whole bankruptcy stuff, but really? That would have been rude. Daniel says that he and Teresa are good friends (he goes down to the Jersey shore with her family all the time). It’s kind of an embarrassing thing for her. So I left it alone. (Despite the fact that my coworker and I were talking about it and she said that I totally could have taken Teresa down if she came after me. HA!)

After about an hour, I left the event. Feeling a bit dirtier, but oh well. My Facebook status that night was, "just got back from a book signing for Teresa from the Real Housewives of NJ. I spoke with her makeup artist for a while and displayed WAY too much knowledge to just be a casual fan." One of my friends from junior high commented that didn't I know that the show makes me dumber every time I watch it? But OF COURSE. :-)

There was even a story in the paper about the event. (when they took that picture I was standing just to the left of the old woman with the camera!)

What else should I have asked Daniel about?