Growing Up Gotti, Season 2 Episode 4: Fur Crying Out Loud

If you've missed this season, you may not know that Victoria has a new assistant, Jay. Her last assistant, Jen, couldn't hack it so Victoria hired her intern from Star. This week Victoria expresses her doubts about Jay. And we get a lovely shot of Jay coming very close to picking his nose. Excellent. Anyway, Jay is supposed to be typing a letter for Victoria and it somehow disappears. Victoria tells us that Jay has been her assistant for a week and it's already chaos. Robert, Victoria's friend and houseguest, watches the scene and lets Victoria know that he doesn't touch the computer. So I guess that he just wants to make sure that Victoria knows he didn't lose anything. Victoria says that Robert seems more "on the ball" than just about everyone else. In the living room Victoria asks Jay what is on the agenda for the day to which Jay smartly answers, "Agenda?" Oh boy.

Meanwhile, Luigi is walking up the front steps and flicks his cigarette to the side before going into the house. Once in the house he asks Victoria for an ashtray. She not only tells him no but says that if he smokes in the house, she'll kill him. She complains that somebody - either Luigi or Jay - has been using the area in front of her house as an ashtray. Jay smokes Marlboro Lights and Luigi smokes Marlboro reds. Victoria, Robert, Jay, and Luigi trek outside to investigate what type of cigarette butts are there. Ha! Well, first they find a bunch of Marlboro reds but then we also find some Marlboro Lights. Jay tried to defend himself by saying that there are way more Marlboro reds. Way to miss the point, Jay. Robert is also smoking out front but he points out that none of the butts are his - he smokes Kools.

Back inside the phone is ringing and Carmine is on the phone, asking Victoria if he can buy a fur coat. He said it's chinchilla and it costs $1,900. Apparently, this is a good deal, as chinchilla is usually thousands of dollars more than that. Victoria is skeptical. She tells Carmine to do what he wants, but she thinks he's being foolish. Carmine brings the coat home. Victoria says it looks like chinchilla and if it is, it's worth it. I'll keep my own opinions on animal fur out of this. Anyway, a tag in the jacket pocket says that it's actually rabbit fur in a chinchilla print. Robert, whose father was a furrier, says that usually rabbit sells for $200. Victoria is calling the guy Carmine got the coat from to straighten it out. Robert says it looks beautiful and Victoria agrees - but not for $2,000. Victoria tells Jay he has to go to the store and return the coat. She also says it's important that he not mess it up. Foreshadowing?

Well, Victoria tells us that she's going to make it impossible for Jay to screw up the coat's return. She makes sure he has the coat and receipt and reminds him to get the money back. She really shouldn't have to remind of that, should she? Anyway, it's raining hard so she also tells him to drive carefully. Victoria also has a solution to the cigarette butt problem - if Luigi quits smoking for one week, she'll give him $1,000. That sounds like a great deal to me, but I don't smoke. But if Luigi starts smoking again, he has to work for her for free for one day. Luigi accepts.

Jay calls and tells Victoria that he couldn't return the coat because he lost the receipt then tells Victoria he has to get off the phone because he's afraid he'll get into an accident and she's getting him upset. WHAT??? Victoria is aghast. So am I! This guy seems pretty incompetent.

The next day Luigi is assessing the damage from the storm and he lights up. The, he walks into the house with the lit cigarette!! She chases him outside and tells him he lost the bet. Now he owes her a day of free labor. Now, as far as Victoria is concerned, Robert is the only person who doesn't mess up. After reminding us that his father was a furrier, Robert takes Victoria and the boys to buy a fur for Carmine. Carmine tries on a real chinchilla coat that looks like the other one to my untrained eye. They're playing Barry White-ish music in the background as Carmine poses. Hee! Anyway, Robert and Carmine both love it. So Frankie tries it on but he wants to know when he'll ever wear it. Wow, a practical question! They buy the coat for Carmine but I don't know how much it cost.

Back at the house Victoria and Robert are going through bottles of lotion. I'm not sure why, but it seems like it might have to do with work. Anyway, she says that she wants Jay to help her out, seeing as he's her assistant, but she's not sure where he is. Robert says that he saw Jay head upstairs awhile ago. Sure enough, Jay is hanging out with John and his friends. Idiot! Victoria tells Jay she wants him to help her and John gets all bent out of shape because he wants Jay to play poker with him and his friends. Robert asks Jay if he works for Victoria or for the boys. Seems pretty straightforward, doesn't it? Not to Jay, who answers that he works for the family. Victoria corrects him. I think Victoria needs an adult assistant. Robert says that Jay isn't responsible enough.

Robert tells Victoria that for him, it's two strikes and you're out. Victoria questions Robert's baseball knowledge (ha!) but sees his point. Jay keeps messing up and she's stressing out because of it. Victoria tells Jay to come over and she tells him how frustrated she's been with him. Jay says that he's like another son. He says that he looks at Victoria not just as an employer but as another mother. Victoria says she'd like to give Jay 19 chances but she's really sorry - she has to fire him. Jay doesn't seem all that upset and leaves. And Victoria's new assistant will be Robert. Victoria says that he at least he won't confuse her with his mother.

On his first day, Robert has to get Luigi to clean up the mess from the storm for free (because of the bet). Robert is pointing out the mess that has to be cleaned up and tells him that the pool area could be beautiful. Luigi agrees that it would be beautiful if there wasn't so much garbage around, "But what are you going to do?" Robert answers, "You're going to clean it up." After Robert goes back inside, Luigi starts muttering to himself, saying it would take a crew to clean the mess, he can't do it himself. He's smoking on the patio and not doing anything. Hard worker, that Luigi. He says he's done enough for one day. Robert goes out to check on Luigi's progress. Luigi tells Robert he can't work anymore because he has to go to the doctor. Oh, please. Luigi leaves and it's strike one for Robert. His next task is getting the boys off to a party on time. They're getting all gussied, Carmine is wearing the chinchilla. I have to say, they all look great and Victoria is impressed with Robert and his handling of the boys. As the show ends, Robert again tells Victoria, "Trust me. My father was a furrier."

If you're an avid Boston sports fan, or want to discuss any reality tv show, email Joan at Joanie1835@hotmail.com. Go Pats!

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