“The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” cast took the field during Bravo Night at Fenway Park on Friday, with Alicia Carmody tapped to throw out the first pitch.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
As “a huge New England sports fan,” cast member Jo-Ellen Tiberi said it was “unbelievable” and “a surreal feeling” standing in front of the Fenway Faithful.
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“Growing up, you think like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna make it,’” Tiberi told the Globe during Friday’s festivities. “Being at the Red Sox game, throwing out the first pitch, I think you made it when you’ve thrown out the first pitch.”
And while she doesn’t originally hail from Rhode Island, “RHORI” cast member and former “The Bachelor” contestant Ashley Iaconetti has become a bit of a New England sports fan herself courtesy of her husband and fellow reality show star Jared Haibon, a Rhode Island native and an alum of “The Bachelorette” who was also in attendance for Friday’s game.
“My son’s middle name is Brady, which isn’t very unique around here,” joked Iaconetti, noting her affection for a certain former Patriots quarterback.
Iaconetti credited costar Rosie DiMare, a Massachusetts native and former Rhode Island TV news anchor, for helping her get acclimated to life in the Ocean State.
“Rosie has helped me a lot with getting acquainted, because with her, I have a friend who comes over and sits on my couch with sweatpants and is there within an hour of me texting her,” said Iaconetti. “It’s just really nice to have a friend like that.”
From left: Ashley Iaconetti and Rosie DiMare during Bravo Night at Fenway Park on Friday.Brian Fluharty/Getty
While DiMare and Iaconetti seem to have a friendly relationship, “RHORI” is, of course, known for its more chaotic moments and gossip-fueled drama. In addition to the “friendship dynamics,” DiMare is excited for fans of the show to see the uniquely Rhode Island “way that people think, the way that people act” in the state.
“It’s literally unlike anywhere else you’ll ever be in your whole life,” said DiMare. “I grew up 15 minutes away from the border, and even sometimes I feel like I’m on a different planet.”
DiMare admitted that her “life is literally no different” now following the show’s debut, noting that she and her husband, Rich, a singer who performs Frank Sinatra tunes, were already “somewhat well known before the show happened.”
“Whether we’re in New England, Boston, Rhode Island, whatever, it wouldn’t be weird for people to stop us or talk to us, so nothing’s really changed in that way, which I kind of like,” said DiMare. “I don’t want it to change. I’m trying not to go online. I’m trying not to let it get to my head or anything.”
While cast members like DiMare and Iaconetti are no strangers to life in front of the camera, it’s been a bit of an adjustment for others.
“It’s been uncharted territory,” said “RHORI” star and self-proclaimed Rhode Island “cannabis queen” Liz McGraw. “Every day is something new. It’s been pretty surreal.”
Costar Rulla Nehme Pontarelli described the experience as a bit “overwhelming,” but also “very exciting” thanks to the positive reaction from fans.
“I think the thing that humbles and flatters me the most is all the fandom and all the outreach and love and support,” said Pontarelli. “The response is absolutely just, it’s over the top, and we’re so grateful.”
“The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” stars Rulla Nehme Pontarelli and Alicia Carmody posed for a picture with fans before Friday night’s game at Fenway Park.Brian Fluharty/Getty
As the show puts relationships and family drama front and center, Pontarelli hopes folks can “dig deep” when it comes to her storyline so they can “maybe appreciate how I’ve had to keep a hard exterior while handling things my own way, and that it has not been a sign of weakness, but actually my own strength.”
Tiberi shared a similar sentiment over the portrayal of her personal story on the show, including the issues with her mother that have been teased, and hopes that it will resonate with audiences.
“I think a lot of people, especially, you know, there’s so many millennials and a little bit older that are watching this that can relate to having issues with their parents,” said Tiberi. “So I think that one’s gonna really hit home with a lot of people.”
And while they tend to fight a lot on the show, all of the cast members agree that they want viewers to see the beauty of Rhode Island, from its luxurious vacation spots to its deep historical roots. However, the “RHORI” stars disagree over whether the Ocean State or Boston is more deserving of being the true center of attention in New England.
“Although Boston is a beautiful city, Rhode Island is just very intimate,” said Pontarelli. “We have so much to offer in a very small state.”
Costar Kelsey Swanson is also in Rhode Island’s camp, calling out the way in which people “never leave” the state, while noting that Boston is “a great city,” but filled with “a bunch of transplants.” Carmody is team Ocean State, too, praising the history of Rhode Island and how it “has a lot more families.”
“I think that Boston is incredible, and it’s like so old school, and it’s obviously very original,” said DiMare. “But I feel like you could also be in any little city, whereas Rhode Island, everyone acts a certain way. And it’s just like a totally different universe.”
From left: Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Rosie DiMare, and Ashley Iaconetti at Fenway Park on Friday night.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
For Iaconetti, the reality TV veteran thinks Rhode Island “makes for a better show,” but wouldn’t go so far as to say that it’s a better destination than Boston.
“I think Rhode Island works for the show because everything [is] just a one degree of separation from everyone, so everybody knows each other,” explained Iaconetti. “[In Boston], not everybody knows each other, not everybody even cares to know each other. In Rhode Island, everybody cares to know about everything.”
And while Tiberi has a lot of love for Rhode Island, her heart belongs to the Hub.
“Boston is the capital of New England. It truly is,” said Tiberi. “Rhode Island’s getting a little piece of that pie right now, which is unbelievable. Rhode Island is so beautiful, but nothing compares to Boston.”
Matt Juul can be reached at matthew.juul@globe.com.