Okay this is going to be the longest blog/recap I've ever written because guess what, I was a member of the exclusive #WWHL audience! I knew about this for months, I planned about this forever. I won tickets after purchasing raffle tickets from a Twitter friend @143Bridal to raise money for the American Cancer Society. This is my favorite show hence the recap every night. I loved Andy since the first time I've seen him on my television screen. I've never missed one episode of watch what happens live or an after show. I get to see my idol. This is truly a great moment in my life. I know how hard the staff & Andy work. I wanted to give them all a gift to say thank you for bringing so much joy five nights a week for the last five years to me. I Made the staff a candy bowl filled with lots of goodies all with stickers in them that said thank you all with the Bravo/WWHL logo's all over them.
I also gave them homemade crumb cake and brownies. Nothing says thank you like homemade treats.
I took our 16 year old twins and my sister to NYC for the weekend. We did so many amazing things. Perhaps the best was seeing Idina Menzel on Broadway in If/Then. Luckily we had so much planned, to keep me distracted about meeting Andy. The biggest disappointment of my trip was Angelo's in little Italy. That was Rino & Teresa Aprea's resturant from #RHONJ.
I made reservations 3 weeks in advance, called twice to check and when my party arrived we were told the reservations were lost! They said they would still seat us. We waited over an hour. Several groups that came after I did were seated before me. After an hour of this BS, I begged to know why this was happening, the Maître d' was very rude & said they've been in business 45 years, I could leave if I want. I asked to see the books because I called twice to make reservations and they confirmed them over the phone, so I doubt they were lost. They were just overbooked & didn't want to admit fault. We ate a few doors down at Nono's they gave us great, swift service & their prices were 1/3 of Angelo's. We had a great dinner with my family.
Then the time arrived to leave for #WWHL I got to the Studio about 9:30 PM. I knew I didn't have to be there till 10:15 PM, but just in case I wanted to make sure I was early. The security guard said we should go back out have a drink and come back at 10:15 PM. I asked if I could leave the gifts for the staff. He called upstairs and they sent someone down to receive the gifts.
Diana was very appreciative of the recognition for the staff that I showed. She was very happy to accept them on their behalf and loved that there was homemade treats for everyone. She saw that I had a gift for Andy and said that I should keep those and give it to him later. OMG, I might actually get the chance to speak one on one with Andy! Luckily just around the corner was a bar. We sat down and ordered two amaretto sours. To my surprise Real Mr. Housewife from Twitter & his husband came in to meet me. @realmrhousewife & @mattyp0119 (Follow them for all the latest Deets in Bravo) Mr. Housewife truly has some great real life Bravolebrity connections.
They were going to the show as Ambers & Jim's guests. We had a great time hanging out together, but it was time to go to see the show. We went back to Hudson Street. We stayed downstairs for few moments and then went up the elevator. Danny welcomed us all as we arrived. I went to shake his hand and then I said no and I went around the bar and gave him a huge hug!
We chatted for a minute and then he gave his speech to all the guests. We got to choose our drinks. I had a Fresquila my sister had a Whiskey Gingy. The other choice was a Mazel, I didn't get a chance to sip that. Danny & I chatted some more about my love of the show. I asked about a certain Dolly's sunglasses, sadly he wasn't sure where they were. I learned The Glee project was produced by Embassy Row. (I was so sad that was canceled. My daughter & I loved that show) Danny gave a last call for drinks before he would escort us to the Clubhouse! I talked with some other Audience members while we waited. I met a fabulous doctor & his partner who's love for Bravo was on the same level as mine, if not higher. He never misses WWHL. We talked about That episode with Brandi and how she talked about Joanna's pussy foul smell. I couldn't believe I was talking about that with a doctor! 😂 We shared a love for the same shows and a dislike for the same. I met sisters who spent thousands of dollars to donate to a charity just to get to sit in the clubhouse! I met another set of sisters look they came straight off the Jersey bus. They were Gorgeous and I swore they had to be friends with Amber because of their clothing. Turns out they were just fans of the show dressed in their Jersey best. I watched the Staff break out the expensive drinks for the talent in the Mazel Glasses that were for the show. It was almost time! Danny announced we would be going in now. He warned us not to speak or go to the bathroom during the show. Danny Instructed us not to make any noise during the show and only clap & laugh when he prompted us to. Then he walked us down the hallway.
I saw Mary Lambert talking with staff I waved hi and I said my daughter loves you. She said hi back and thank you. We weren't allowed to stop we had to keep going. I cheated at the step and repeat. I made my sister grab a quick snapshot of me. They already planned ahead of where each guest would sit. My sister and I had to sit in the back on barstools. Two guests had to stand against the door. I sat in my stool soaking up all the air & greatness that was in this tiny studio. A flashback of every celebrity and Bravolebrity that had previously been in the same room as I hit me, hard. Just then Andy came running in & welcomed us all! He then said where's my Twitter pal @LauraRHONC! (He actually said LauraRHONC! I waved hi and he thanked me for all the love and support I give. I yelled out I'm sorry Andy for tweeting you so much. He said "I love it, keep it up and never stop. It makes me happy." Did I just seriously have that interaction? I made my sister pinch me. (I'm not joking she seriously pinched me) Andy asked if anyone had any questions. I froze. Someone asked when his next book will come out. He exclaimed November 11! Then the control room put on the Cardinals game for a minute. Andy introduced Mary Lambert & then Amber & Jim! From my seat I could only see Jim and Mary's face. Andy and Amber were blocked by the camera's. It didn't bother me a bit. They had this huge flatscreen tv, I could see just fine. The first segment went by way too fast.
Andy Cohen welcomes Amber & Jim Marchese to the Watch What Happens Live Clubhouse.
Bartender: Mary Lambert (My Daughter was so jealous she wasn't allowed in the clubhouse to meet Mary. 21& up only) Her debut album heart on my sleeve drops this Tuesday! Mary made Andy a Parisian Manhattan. Andy said it was delicious. Lucky for Amber Mary made two. She had one as well.
Drinking Game Alert: BOBBY
Andy thanked Jim for her coming on the show tonight he knew it wouldn't be easy for Jim. Andy got thousands of tweets from fans wanting for Andy to tell Jim that he's a douche bag. Jim was in utter shock over that. 😂 Andy says Jim is a disaster on Twitter. Andy is not alone, am I right? Jim is very combative on Twitter. Andy asked Jim if he thinks he's too combative on Twitter or is he just responding to what people say to him?
Jim is just responding to people on Twitter he's not being combative. 😂(BS) Jim takes it as a complement. Anyone who can make the time to take out such hate and disgust it's like another form of love it's a little bit twisted a little confused probably some intimacy issues going on with these people but nonetheless it's love.
Amber thinks Jim relishes in it. Andy agrees. Amber says she thinks Jim gets off on it. 😂
Amber used to compete in body building competition's.
Damn Amber...
In Florida Amber compared Jim to Hitler. Andy asked Jim what he felt about that?
Jim wasn't very happy about that because Hitler lost the war and Jim doesn't usually lose. Andy says among other things. Jim agrees, yes among other things. In all seriousness Jim says Amber and him have a lot of fun they tease each other a lot and have a lot of pet names for each other and Hitler was not the worst she's ever called him. (I'd like to know what "pet name" is worse than Hitler?)
Andy asked if that was the biggest fight the two of them have ever had?
No they've gone at it a lot worse. Amber goes at him real hard sometimes. Jim says they're both Sicilian and both from New Jersey so this is nothing.
Poll Question:
Here's What:
1) Andy & Staff created a great montage titled "According to Jim" Andy plays it for our entertainment. It was of all the footage of Jim in the best light. (insert sarcasm here) Andy Plays for Jim all the "lovely" things other cast members have said to him or about him this season.
Andy gives Jim 30 seconds to say whatever he wants to respond to these people.
Jim- He first apologizes to his wife and mother. "A) Only someone with an ass as big as Dina's could actually know how big of a douche bag a whale would need to clean it's vagina. B) Joe I already called you a bitch, so to repeat it I know you only got to third grade, and he only got to B in the alphabet, go on to C, D and E it gets much better. A wolf in sheep's clothing, she's probably right about that, I'll let her go with it. As far as not wanting to hang out with me, I didn't buy any tickets to hang out so it's okay."
2) Andy please Let's Be Nice with Jim. Jim was say something nice about all his cast mates.
Dina ~ she's got blonde hair
Nicole ~ she can be very sweet, especially with children, she's got a good heart.
Bobby ~ he sells a lot of nice cars.
Joe Giudice ~ he's a softy, he's a good dad.
Teresa A. ~ she's Jim's drunken fraternity brother. Jim loves her, anybody who can come at him like that.
Joe Gorga ~ he works out a lot.
Mary felt that was good. She didn't know what was going on in the show but she really like the rainbows and the baby and she thinks Jim made a really good effort.
3) Amy Phillips get the turn at impersonating Jim. (You can watch the clip here.)
Amber is always crying on the show because it was her five-year mark and she had a lot of emotions from that.
Amber says her make up artist is wonderful but the white eyeliner just didn't transition well on HDTV.
Jennifer P. sent in a question asking what Jim thought of Teresa and Joe's sentence?
Jim says Joe and Teresa are good parents and he doesn't know enough about their case to comment. As long as they feel it's fair it's fine with Jim.
Melissa from Minnesota called and asked Jim why would Jim come on the show that Teresa and Joe were on if he didn't want to film with them?
Jim said when they began to come on the show there was no legal issues pending for Teresa and Joe. When the charges were brought it was too late they were already obligated to be on the show through Contacts. Andy interrupts Jim and they hadn't pled yet. Jim corrects Andy and says they weren't even charged yet. They were charged in late July. Andy doesn't believe that is true, he insists that Joe and Teresa were already charged before Jim and Amber signed the contract. Jim is certain and he is incorrect because he would not have signed the contract or it would've been an issue if they had already been charged. Once they were charged and already pled it was a mute issue. It was just that three months in between period that it was an issue.
GIF of the Night:
During the Break Andy watched the Game again. Amber was really getting into it with him. The Cardinals got a home run! Andy really is a Huge Fan! He can't miss it. Then the show was back on, so off with the baseball game and on with Amber & Jim.
Plug Alert:
Mary Lambert's debut album, Heart on My Sleeve drops this Tuesday!
A question comes in for Amber asking why she brings up the "cancer" so much? It makes you look like childish and a little bit like an attention whore.
Amber says go through it and then we'll see how much you can or cannot say about it. Amber earned the right to talk about it she walked the walk.
Another question came in asking how Jim was able to hold a job and tweet all day long?
Jim says it's pretty easy because tweeting only takes about 30 seconds per tweet and it's a release for him.
Andy asks if Jim feels he's justified in the way he talks to women?
Jim doesn't think he talks down to woman at all. We live in a society where men and women are equal and when a woman engages him in a specific manner and uses a specific language she's behaving similar to how another gentleman would behave. And when you call me a dick or a vagina you're no longer a lady to him, you're one of the guys. Jim is going to give you the same amount of respect that he is given. You can't say you're a dick to someone and then go hide, that doesn't work. Jim says he he is the only non-sexiest person in the group because he treats everyone equally.
Chris from Texas called and asked Amber how her first experience at the reunion show went?
Amber thought it went great. She felt it was more of a purging and she was able to get it all out. She walked away with a lot of respect with the woman she did her first season with.
Lori from North Carolina said Jim has been call someone with Napoleon syndrome, Lori asks what Jim's responses to that?
Jim feels it's kind of fitting to be compared to Napoleon, because he Napoleon is 5'7 and Jim is almost 5'7. Being compared to one of the greatest emperors in history is not that bad. It could be worse he could be compared to a Whales vagina or something like that. 😂
Andy adds or Hitler. Jim maintains it's not that bad. You've got to remember then Andy cut Jim off and says let's not talk about that.
Jill from North Carolina asked Jim why he can't get past this and make up with his best friend Bobby?
Bobby never apologized to Amber about what occurred and that's what rubs Jim the wrong way still. Bobby knew something was going to happen and he owed it to Jim and Amber to give them have a heads up.
A Twitter follower asked if Jim was wearing mom jeans?
Jim stood up took off his jacket showed off his muscles and his T-shirt and asked does this look like mom jeans to you? Jim turned around and said does he want to see my ass on TV? (The entire audience cringed just a little bit at the fear that Jim was going to show us his ass. Luckily Amber stopped him and he sat back down.)
Andy asks Amber if Jim does anything that embarrasses her?
Every husband does something that embarrasses their spouse. Amber respects Jim & loves him. She cherishes him for who he is she wouldn't change one damn thing about him.
They ran a time for Game Time! (I'll always wonder what game they were planning on playing with Jim. Do you remember what they did with Bobby?)
Mary Lambert is currently on tour and she'll be on tour for the rest of her life. 😂
Casey from Pennsylvania asked Jim & Amber if they regret doing the show since they've been beat down so much?
Amber says no, not even a little bit. Jim says the opportunity to do the photo shoot was what made it all worthwhile. Amber learned so much about herself throughout the season.
Andy asked Amber what she learned about her husband?
Amber says she learned don't mess with him. He protects her no matter what he's a night in shining armor to her, he really is.
A question was sent in asking How would Jim feel if his children acted the way he did towards other people?
Jim says they have a simple rule in their house, we believe in being mirrors. If someone is kind you be kind to them if someone asks for your help you assess them, if someone is cruel to you teach them what cruel is. That's exactly how Jim believes they should act in society.
Mazel of the Day: Goes to andy's new glamour Idol.
Jackhole of the Day: Goes to Geraldo Riviera in another shirtless selfie.
Poll Results:
Andy seemed shocked that it wasn't a larger landslide.
Drinking Game: BOBBY was said 8 times, you were drinking along don't be driving.
AfterShow:
Plug Alert:
Watch Amber and Jim Sunday nights on Bravotv on RHONJ. Don't forget to check out Mary Lambert's New album heart on my sleeve out this Tuesday. She's also starting a tour, go to MaryLambertSings.com for more info.
April from Alabama asks why isn't everybody mad at Dina? Teresa and Amber were the ones who got the information for everybody but Dina was the one who is trying to tell it before everyone else. Amber took the fall for that one. She doesn't think that Dina was fair. She did this suspenseful thing that built it up instead of flat out saying Victoria Gotti said this. Amber says it was very shady.
Andy asks Mary Lambert out of all the exciting things that happened to her because of the song Same Love, what was the high point for her?
She performed in Philadelphia right after gay marriage past in Washington. It blew her away that she was the first act to play in her home state that now she could legally get married in. The Grammys of course where the High Point for her. There was a moment where she was crying so much during dress rehearsal for the Grammys that Madonna came and wiped the tears off of her face. It nearly took Mary off her feet. She hasn't washed her face since. 😂
Andy wants to touch your face after the show. Yes ladies and gentlemen Madonna is that powerful.
Grant from Houston Texas I want to ask Jim if he regrets anything that He said to the ladies the season?
Jim does not regret it but he did apologize to the twins for his drunken statements that evening and the way he blurted it out about Reno sleeping with their mother.
Five or six shots of Belvedere earlier he probably would have not divulged that information the way he did. Jim wished Reno was there so he could have had a drink with him and said hey just so you know there's this rumor going around.
Wanda called and asked about when Amber smoked a cigarette after the fight. Amber said it was a very, very, very poor decision on her part. She very much regrets that and it was completely stupid, she takes full ownership of it and she apologizes to everybody.
Octavia Washington from Arizona asked Jim what inspired him to make that dinner date for his wife?
When you have four children and a very busy life you have very few moments to stop and recognize someone in your life that means the most to you. He wanted something special for her, she's an outstanding mom and a wonderful wife. It was the most romantic thing Jim could think of and he is romantically challenged.
Andy finds out the Cardinal game is tied and is a tad disappointed.
Wacha is Chewing up all the Mazel gear.
Sal from Long Island (Jim's Twitter buddy) & asks Jim since you been on the show besides the relationship you have with people on the show, how is this affected your other friendships, and more importantly how does this affect your relationship with your business associates?
Interestingly enough most people outside of the show understand that in a professional environment he is very professional. He conducts himself with Pacific standards. They get a kick out of seeing them on the show they didn't realize he drank that much. It hasn't really affected his business in a negative way. People kind of see it is fun. They see him being a little goofy than he usually is. People in his inner circle knows that's not the way Jim normally conduct's himself.
And with that Andy bids the viewers a good night. For more click around Bravotv.com
Andy then says goodbye to Mary. She leaves. Then they shot a YouTube video of Jim Asking Andy some questions. Jim pretends to read questions from note cards, but they were blank. I spoke to Jim's sister about this. She said it was all spur of the moment & Jim came up with the questions on the spot. I'm sure it will be up on the YouTube channel if soon as soon as it is I'll be sure to tweet the link out for everybody.
Andy then said good night to Amber and Jim and we all applauded as they left. Andy thanked us all for coming and then as he left, he pointed directly at me and said "Don't you leave Laura! I'll be back in a bit." I nearly fell out of my barstool. Everybody in the clubhouse turned directly at me with their jaws dropped to the floor. I made my sister pinch me again because I did not believe what just happened. How on earth is it possible that I deserve this moment?
About five minutes later Andy came back into the clubhouse. Three more people waited in the clubhouse with me. They took a picture with Andy and then were escorted out. Andy look at me and said give me a second and he went on his phone. While I was waiting asked if I could sniff the Lady Gaga perfume. I wasn't allowed but I was allowed to touch it! Danny let my sister and I get a picture behind the bar.
Then Andy turned on the game. He stood next to me gave me a hug and said how nice it was to meet his biggest fan. He apologized that the show wasn't that great tonight. I said with Jim being on it was hard, but I'm sure he got great ratings! Then he turned the TV and held my hand for a second. The Cardinals won the game during that second. Andy jumped up and down in excitement. I patted him on the back and said congratulations. I told him I was a Mets fan. He laughed and laughed. He tweeted something I don't know what. Then he posed for a picture with me and my sister.
We talked about where in New York I was from and that now I live in North Carolina. Andy then he invited me to have a seat in the chairs. I was sitting in the chairs! Somehow I'm supposed to remain normal here and not completely fan girl out. He asked if I'd like a picture of us together in the chairs.
I seriously said Duh! He laughed we posed. Then I gave him some gifts that I bought him. He really love the wine stopper that I got for him made with his and Wacha's face etched in it.
He promised he would use it and keep it in his office. @KathyMFish gave me some maker Mark gifts for Andy that I shared with him. He loved them and told me to make sure I thanked Kathy. Then we talked for a few more minutes about this recap I do every night. He said he really appreciates it and that he looks forward to reading it. He then said I could ask two questions but I wasn't allowed to blog about them. I promised and I won't tell what they were, don't ask I never will.
I will say he is a lovely honest man. As we were saying goodbye he noticed my nails. He saw Wacha was on them. He said Aww that's so sweet & he asked to take a photo of them. Ladies and gentlemen my photo is in Andy Cohen's phone!
Then he hugged me one more time and we said good night. I was escorted out of the building by all the security guards to make sure I actually left, no I'm just joking. 😂
I thanked Danny as a left and a couple of staff members. As I left I saw Mary waiting to speak with Andy. I don't know what they spoke about after I left, but I think they just wanted to hang out for a little bit together. This was the most amazing night. If you ever get the chance to go to the clubhouse do it! It doesn't matter who the guests are, Andy single-handedly is the nicest celebrity in the entire world. He really loves and appreciates his fans. I will never forget how lucky I am to have had this experience. I still need to remember it wasn't a dream.
Did you enjoy this episode of watch what happens live? I had to watch it when I got home because I couldn't remember any of it. I was so #StarStruckByBravo Tweet me and let me know your thoughts.
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Enjoy some more pics from the night.