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Arts & Entertainment

'Real Housewives:' In the Brother-Sister Fight, Who's the Real Turkey?

Friends-giving vs. Thanksgiving in 'Gobblefellas.'

In the roundup of northern New Jersey landmarks in "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," we've now got Corrado's in Clifton for the Gorga Thanksgiving and Goffle Road Poultry in Wyckoff for the Giudice friends-giving.

"Turkey isn't even an Italian holiday," explains Joe Giudice. And we're off.

Actually, Rich has to have the best unintentional comedic asides. Just looking at him might elicit a laugh. Standing around as his wife prepares tiramisu and endless pastries: "So you're making all this stuff to take to Joe and Melissa's house for Thanksgiving?" Really? Do we need a narrator for the shoot? Your wife is wired for audio, guy.

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*Not* known: Caroline used to shoot groundhogs at a country house?? Less surprising: Teresa's rumination on turkey language, one factor in her decision to purchase an "already dead" turkey.

From the start the Gorga Thanksgiving played out as the positive, happy-go-lucky celebration. Bullriding, matching leopard blouses, a veritable Venetian table of a dessert grand finale. Until we get to the part where Joe says he has fractured ties with not only his sister, but also his parents. Who are conveniently in Punta Cana. (They obviously needed a break after the christening of the century.)

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The mood already seemed a bit somber at the friends-giving, either because of the episode soundtrack itself or the aside from Jacqueline about Teresa's money woes. It then took a decidely awkward turn. The Guidice girls went into hysterics and Vito suddenly became Vito-gate. Why oh why would he divulge his proposal story to Gia, at friends-giving nonetheless? Even if the Manzos did know about that private moment, the model-actress-gymnast wasn't about to let it slide, and Lauren wans't going to deny it. Unless his reaction was a product of editing (and it may have well been), Albert quickly tensed up and started talking about stuffing.

It was such a pity, too, after the Manzos had such a pleasant meeting with Vito's family at the deli, apart from a possible dig about the idea of slicing deli meat after getting a Fordham degree. Who said working a meat slicer wasn't a marketable skill? Anyway, nice shot of the store sign: they "now carry gluten-free products."

A big theme of the show, if not just "attacking and attacking back" and the big one, family, is becoming more specifically brothers and sisters. And cousins acting as siblings. Kathy tears up lamenting the possibility that her son and daughter could be at odds in the future, like Teresa and Joe, even though no ill words between them have been committed to the screen.

Ashley, on the other hand, comes a-knocking  at the Hoboken abode of Albie, Chris and Greggy, nearly sobbing about how she can't make her New York City apartment happen. It's obvious she either 1. values their advice about making good with Chris and Jacqueline or 2. sees taking that advice as a viable fast-track to making them spoil her with a car or apartment money. Even though she says her parents won't do any of that, her actions speak louder. She's actually doing stuff for once.

Actions, too, will determine the future of the Gorga siblings and their families. Teresa's already given her words. It's not looking, good, however, if Joe Gorga disappoints his darling niece, Gia. Such a stunt may well hit lower than any cheap cards, cookie insults or misphrased congratulations.

By the way, the show moves to 10 p.m. Sunday nights on Bravo starting this Sunday, June 12.

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