Ghosts of reality TV feuds past! The Manzo family was back to their shenanigans in Manzo’d With Children‘s two-part season 3 premiere on Sunday, September 11. The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum Caroline Manzo and husband Albert were still sharing their home with daughter Lauren and her husband of seven months, Vito. Son Albie faced his 30th birthday, a milestone that he hopes will force him out of a life of complacency. Their other son Christopher was enjoying the success of a new career as a children’s book author, and Caroline was embarking on a new venture as a soap maker.
A Family of Ghost Hunters
In order to develop new material for a book targeted at middle school readers, Christopher organized a family bonding trip to Eastern State Penitentiary, a former prison infamous for its solitary confinement cells and considered to be one of the most haunted locations in the world. “No joke, this cell would be $1,700 a month in Hoboken,” said Chris of Al Capone’s former cell.
When asked by a producer if she believed celebrities receive special treatment in jail, Caroline responded with a smirk: “I don’t know any celebrities that have been in jail.” She paused and then clarified. “Real celebrities that have been in jail.” (Somewhere, Caroline’s former RHONJ costar Teresa Giudice just punched a wall.)
Albert, who admitted he’s not “buying into this ghost horses–t,” wondered if he made a mistake giving his daughter away to Vito, who spent the entire time in the prison standing on top of a table. When he wasn’t squealing about the strange sounds, Vito was avoiding conversation with Lauren about how she wanted them to do more day trips together.
As they laid together on a dank prison cot, Caroline rubbed Albert’s hand and noted that their trip to a haunted prison began with the same attitude they have had in their marriage: laughing and always looking at the positive. An hour into their adventure, they all saw a figure of a man in a long hallway, prompting Vito to lead an Olympic sprint out the prison’s front gate.
A New Book and a New Salon
Back in Franklin Lakes, the FedEx driver delivered Christopher’s new children’s book, leaving Caroline in a puddle of tears. It’s too bad no one else could be here, she explained, but his father wouldn’t answer his phone, and Lauren was getting Botox under her arms.
When Lauren opened a second salon in Wayne, New Jersey, she enlisted Christopher’s help to create a commercial involving Caroline held captive by their toddler cousin Olivia, an odd story line for a hair, nail and waxing salon’s advertisement.
Vito Gets Etiquette Lessons
Albie, on the other hand, utilized his skills as a “business consultant” to help secure a potential investment for Vito to open a Scalia Family Deli in Manhattan. Given Vito’s propensity to drink milk out of cartons, scratch himself in public and wear clothing from a retirement home collection at Sears, he scheduled Vito an appointment with an etiquette expert. “Should I wear a big watch and necklace?” Vito asked the etiquette expert. “What people are you meeting with?” she replied. “Are they with the Mafia?”
Full-Blown Pride
On the day of Lauren’s Full Blown salon opening, Vito brought his wife flowers and introduced himself wearing a new suit, putting to practice what he had learned about manners from the etiquette expert. “I know who you are!” one guest screamed at his face.
Lauren was relieved Christopher’s commercial wasn’t a disaster. After Caroline’s heartwarming speech, the matriarch hugged Lauren and reminded her that none of it was possible without the help of family.
Tell Us: Did Caroline’s quip about Teresa go too far?
Manzo’d With Children airs on Bravo Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
Thank You!
You have successfully subscribed.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tr%2FMmp6aspmjsm%2BvzqZmnqakmr%2B1rcinpJ6mpGS7psPSaKSapqqksW7DyK2fZpuYnrmlvsSnZJyZoqS5qrrEZqSom5uoerWx0Z6qmmWRqXqxvsispqdlp2mAenyPbGY%3D