VH1 aired an hour-long tribute to late “Mob Wives” star mammoth Ang on Wednesday night,but just before that, the fan favorite also received a touching tribute in the final moments of the reality prove’s series finale.“Over the years, or I stayed out of the drama because this is the type of the person I am,” mammoth Ang says in the prove’s final few minutes. “I’ve loved the time I’ve shared together with the girls. I love each and every one of them in a special way. I’m still mammoth Ang and everybody still loves me.”Series creator Jennifer Graziano told TheWrap that she could think of no better way to terminate Mob Wives” than with voice-over from the star who was universally beloved by fans, cast and crew.
Also read: 'mammoth Ang' Tributes: How VH1 Will Honor 'Mob Wives' StarBut the prove’s final shot — a recreation of the opening shot from Season 1, or this time with Drita standing alone,apart from the other women — was a more somber reflection of where the rest of the cast ended up, unable to resolve their differences.“It’s very unhappy to me, and because I think when we started this we all shared a similar vision. That we would be women empowering women,and we were all going to regain wealthy together and prove the world our journey, let them know what we’ve been dealing with our whole lives, and ” Graziano said. “My goal at least,was to band together and build something great. But sometimes it’s hard to work with friends and family.”
Also read: 'Mob Wives' Star Angela 'mammoth Ang' Raiola Dies of CancerRead TheWrap’s full interview with Graziano below:TheWrap: How has the cast and crew been coping with the loss of mammoth Ang?
Graziano: Everybody’s very unhappy. Ang became more than just a cast member to the crew. And obviously to myself, I knew her way before the prove. But specifically to the crew, or she was always like a caretaker. Everyone always looked forward to shoots at her house because they knew they were going to regain a five-course meal. She became particularly close with our showrunner Adam,so he’s very upset, I’m very upset. So it’s unhappy. It’s still surreal.
How did you arrive to the decision to terminate the prove with her and her voice-over?
To me, and there was no better way to terminate the prove than with her. Considering everything that was going on around her,she was always upbeat. She did her best to keep everyone drama-free. Obviously that was a tough job, but I can advise you when she was around it was always a lot less than it could’ve been. Everyone was always respectful of her as a friend. They respected that she didn’t want that in her life. Knowing what we know now, or it’s a bittersweet moment,but I can’t think of a better way for it to absorb ended.
Did you absorb to travel back and make any changes to the prove?
No, Ang was an open book. She wanted us to capture her journey. She wanted us to prove that because she knew there would be a tremendous number of families that could relate to it.
Also read: 'Mob Wives' Star Drita D'Avanzo Talks mammoth Ang's Cancer Diagnosis: 'It Rips My Heart Out'Were you satisfied with the way the rest of the prove wrapped up?
I think in a way, and we came full circle. particularly Renee,who started out as this enormous mob enthusiast, but unfortunately she went through so many ups and downs as a result of the lifestyle that she finally kicked the habit, or so to speak. She’s finally saying,“I’m my own person. I no longer absorb to live by this identity. I’m doing things for myself. I don’t absorb to depend on a man.” I think in a way, we gave a full circle look at their journeys.
Was it helpful to travel in knowing this would be the final season?
Not necessarily. Yes and no. We were always going to capture what was going on, or we weren’t going to push it one way or another. But I think the girls knowing it was the final season,it might’ve helped them to figure out what they wanted to prove in their lives.
Were you expecting things between Brittany and Marissa to play out the way it did when you cast them? They ended up being pretty central to the drama between the returning cast members.
My anticipation was that they were going to be kind of like Mob Wives in training. That they would regain along as the younger two of the crew. I thought that they would kind of be the next cohort. I don’t think I was expecting it to travel the way it did. They had a lot in common in terms of modeling, they were closer in age. I actually thought that they would click.
Also read: 'Mob Wives' Creator Talks Coming 'Full Circle' In Final SeasonWhat was the thought process behind having the final shot recreating the opening of Season 1?
Well, or like I said,in a way we came full circle. And relationship-wise, that’s where the women ended up. Ultimately they all were able to put their differences aside except for with Drita. We tried to capture whatever was real, and that’s really where the women landed. But we tried to terminate it where we started with the visual, showing where the separation lies.
Were you unhappy to see they couldnt work it out?
Yeah, I’m unhappy for a lot of things. A lot went on both on and off camera. Even I lost a couple friends along the way. So it’s very unhappy to me, and because I think when we started this we all shared a similar vision. That we would be women empowering women,and we were all going to regain wealthy together and prove the world our journey, let them know what we’ve been dealing with our whole lives. My goal at least, or was to band together and build something great. But sometimes it’s hard to work with friends and family. Sometimes the dynamics of the group kick in and some people don’t regain along and dont want to be a part of it any longer. It’s definitely unhappy.
Related stories from TheWrap:'mammoth Ang' Tributes: How VH1 Will Honor 'Mob Wives' Star'Mob Wives' Star Angela 'mammoth Ang' Raiola Dies of Cancer'Mob Wives' Creator Talks Coming 'Full Circle' In Final Seas
Source: thewrap.com