Star of Bravo's The Real Housewives of New Jersey Melissa Gorga is traveling to the Windy City to read drag queens at the judges' table at Spin, Sat., Jan. 21. Her hunky husband Joe will be "On Display" along with her. She really does "live a life that most girls only dream of."
Nightspots Magazine: Hi, Melissa.
Melissa Gorga: Excuse my voice. I am just getting over a cold.
NM: You have to get well for your appearance at Spin. You will be a club where it will be hard to talk loud.
MG: You know that is what happened this weekend and how I lost it. I had an appearance in Atlantic City at a club. I was talking so loud and now I am hoarse.
NM: So you are on break from the filming the last season of "Real Housewives"?
MG: Yes, the new season has been filmed already. It should air in April. They didn't give us an exact date yet. The holiday break has been nice. We don't have any cameras following us around for the next month or two. I am sure by summer we will start filming again.
NM: How did you become a Bravo housewife?
MG: The producers called me up. They had heard about me, that I lived in the same town as my sister-in-law and wanted to interview me. It just went from there.
NM: Was it hard being the new kid on the show?
MG: It was. I don't feel like I am the new kid anymore because we have filmed for a year straight so I am two seasons in. The first season was hard because people already knew who the other cast members were. They know Caroline, Jacqueline, and Theresa so when you come in they don't know how to perceive you. I think it took people from the middle until the end of the season to really see who I was.
NM: What is a misconception about you? There are many comments online.
MG: Oh my gosh, I never realized how crazy blogs are! They will pretty much write what anyone says. The big magazines don't take these stories that have no proof behind them.
NM: One rumor was that you are not 100% Italian.
MG: People think I have Spanish in me or I am half black. I have always had that ethnic look. I am a hundred percent Italian.
NM: What is your opinion of Theresa being on Celebrity Apprentice this coming season?
MG: I think it is crazy. I actually think she will do a really good job on it because she is a fighter. I will be dead honest: I have never watched the Apprentice before and don't know what it is about. I am hearing through the grapevine that they are in a group and have tasks on a team. I am really happy for her and we will see how she does.
NM: She did a cookbook. Would you ever do a book?
MG: We will see. I have turned down a couple of offers so it would have to be the right one. I am not going to do it just to do it.
NM: What is your favorite thing about being on a reality show?
MG: Hmm, there is so much. There are pros and cons. I have people come up to me all day long and tell me they go through the same thing with their sister-in-law or their family. When they talk about my father and how I have touched them with my stories, that is the stuff that is rewarding. When someone is thinking about you in a positive way it is fulfilling. I love to meet the fans.
NM: You are going to be in Naperville the night before Spin.
MG: We are doing a meet-and-greet along with a CD signing at Café Buonaro's Italian Restaurant.
NM: Then you will be judging drag queens.
MG: I am really excited about that. I used to go to a club in the city when I was young and there were a lot of drag queens there. I loved it there. This will be a blast. They will be lip-synching Housewives songs. It will be crazy. I am sure they will sing Kim Zolciak's song, LuAnn's song, and my song.
NM: Will you be singing "On Display" that night?
MG: No, they just called me in to judge and meet fans.
NM: Did you want to make music before being on the show?
MG: I have been singing my whole life but it can be difficult to get the attention worldwide. I showed many videos to Bravo. I have always sung. I did the solo in the school play. I always had to be the lead. I never did professionally because I went to school to become a teacher. I graduated college and married Joe within the same year and right after that we had babies. We put it on hold because my family is first. After I was on the show my attorney called and had some producers help me out.
I am excited (that) in April I have three more songs coming out. I have one ballad that I hope everyone will love. I wrote it to Joe. The other two are dance party songs.
NM: Joe is coming with you to Spin?
MG: Yes, we are looking forward to it.
Don't miss Melissa Gorga at Spin, 800 W Belmont, on Jan 21. Amateur dragsters can break out the heels and register with The Princess by 11:30 to participate in the midnight show, to be judged by a panel including Gorga. For tickets and details check out www.spin-nightclub.com .
More on Melissa visit www.melissagorga.com .
