Bravo has released a first look at the three-part special of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," showing Joe Giudice trying to cope with the day-to-day demands of being a parent without the help of his wife, Teresa. The "RHONJ" star has been in the Danbury Federal Correctional Institution in Connecticut since Jan. 5, serving a 15-month prison sentence for fraud. In the special, Joe is finding out that being a single parent to four girls is no joke.
In the teaser clip, Teresa is heard in a phone call as she checks in on her husband and daughters Gia, 14, Gabriella, 10, Milania, 8, and Audriana, 5. At the start of the trailer, the 43-year-old celebrity is heard praying, "Please God, I really need protection right now. Please protect our family. Amen."
When asked by her aunt Melissa Gorga about Joe's parenting skills, Gia says that her father is "pretty good" and that he helps out and tries his best, but admits that it's difficult without her mom there.
Joe is seen trying to discipline his children as he stops Milania from drinking coffee, and he also tries to stop the 8-year-old from driving off on an ATV. His protective side also comes to the surface as he tells Gia and her date before their dance that there should be "no close up dancing." Later, Joe is mystified when he sees something on his teenaged daughter's face, which Gia laughingly identified as a pimple.
"A pimple, yeah, I'm a teenager," she said.
Joe admits that it's hard keeping up with all his kids and figures that he has lost at least 10 pounds since he started caring for them by himself. At one point, Gia tells her father to use the Gucci plates, and when he asks why, the 14-year says that it's what her mom told her to do.
"It's amazing how she still controls everything from in there, you know what I mean," Joe marvels.
The family is seen gathering around as Teresa calls from prison, and Teresa leads them in prayer, saying, "Oh please God, bring me home to my family as soon as possible, and bless my four daughters and my husband, Amen."
The three-part special titled "The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In" premieres on Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. on Bravo.
