‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’ ends reality show’s catty 2nd season

‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ ends 2nd season

LOS ANGELES — The tables were safe on the season finale of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

The sophomore edition of Bravo’s reality TV drama concluded Monday with a tense exchange at an empty restaurant between Danielle Staub and Caroline Manzo, but neither woman flipped any furniture. Throughout the chilly second season, Staub tussled with sisters Caroline and Dina Manzo, their sister-in-law Jacqueline Laurita and family friend Teresa Giudice.

Giudice infamously attacked a table in last season’s finale when the women confronted Staub about her alleged criminal past. The confrontation between Staub and Manzo in Monday’s episode was decidedly less heated. Manzo, a 49-year-old mother of three, lashed out at Staub, but the 48-year-old mother of two departed the scene after Manzo called her “garbage.”

“Amazingly, I don’t need you to validate my life,” Staub told Manzo.

The drama will apparently become physical in next week’s reunion episode, which will bring the women together for the first time since last year. Previews prominently feature Giudice and Laurita screaming at Staub and shoving Andy Cohen, Bravo’s senior vice president of original programming and development who also hosts “The Real Housewives” reunion shows.

Bravo is owned by General Electric Co.’s NBC cable unit.

Online:

www.bravotv.com