Growing Up Gotti, Episode 9: Fixer-Upper

You may have forgotten because it hasn’t really been mentioned since the first episode, but Victoria is putting her house on the market. The boys are less than thrilled but Victoria is determined to get her house ready for buyers. In its present state, although still an impressive estate, it leaves a bit to be desired. The pool needs to be fixed up – hence, Luigi’s return – and the boys’ rooms need to be overhauled.

First, reader Wendy astutely pointed out that I had a misprint in last week’s recap and “stocky” is date-code for fat, not bald. Thanks again, Wendy!

Second, I’d just like to say that although the Red Sox lost last night and it hurt, I have faith that Pedro will pull it out tonight. Go Sox!

As we begin this week, Victoria says the boys aren’t too sure about selling the house. They’re tearing the place up every day. She’s a neat freak but the boys are not. And the boys don’t exactly help clean. She says that their dad spoils them rotten but admits, “I guess he’s not the only one to blame. I’ve been guilty of the same thing from time to time.”

Apparently Frankie is making a home theatre in his room. The television arrives and it is HUGE. The delivery guys have to wear plastic bags on their feet because it’s not safe for them to take off their dirty boots, as Victoria requests. Um, I can’t see walking around in slippery plastic shoes being any safer but whatever. I guess there’s no accident because we don’t hear anything else about it.

Realtor Mona Gold is back. She wants to discuss pricing and feels the house should be listed at around $4.5 million. She’ll do the showings privately because Victoria doesn’t want a parade of people. Remember that, people: Victoria doesn’t want a parade of people traipsing through her house. Apparently people were looking at the house before and a group of yentas (Victoria’s word) came through the house gossiping about Victoria’s divorce and she-caught-him-in-this-room-with-another-woman stories.

The boys’ rooms are a point of contention. Carmine’s looks like a frat room, while Frankie’s is locked and Victoria can’t get in. John’s isn’t bad but at night when he gets dressed he throws everything on the floor. Well, I do that too. Victoria is talking to her friend Tula about the rooms and getting more and more frustrated so she takes Tula up to see for herself. Carmine has a girl over. It that his girlfriend? I got an email last week from reader Erin who says that she’s heard rumors about Carmine having a girlfriend. Well, Erin, maybe that’s her! Victoria bawls him out over his room and Carmine falls backward out of his chair. Um, okay.

John’s room is next and he’s telling the camera that he’s obviously not the favorite son because unlike his brothers he doesn’t have a big-screen TV. Hee. I have to say, maybe it’s just because I have a crush on 17-year-old John, but the look on his face when he talks to the camera is pretty funny and I laugh out loud. The electricity is out in Frankie’s room so Victoria can’t check it out. Apparently he’s got too many electronics in there and blew a fuse. Yes, that happened to me when I was 14, too. My black-and-white television (complete with round antenna adorned with aluminum foil) and bedside lamp couldn’t be on at the same time as the hair dryer. I completely understand Frankie’s frustration. Yes, that is sarcasm.

If you remember, Victoria has given her old handyman Luigi the task of fixing up the pool. We see shots of him and his crew, complete with gas masks, fishing things out of the couple of feet of brown water sitting in the deep end of the pool. But in spite of any misgivings we or Victoria may have had, Luigi and his team do an incredible job with the pool – it is sparkling and gorgeous!

Mona checks out the pool with Victoria, who is duly amazed, and Victoria explains that her father, John Gotti, never saw the house finished, but he was with her during the building process, giving advice.