‘The Mob’ Exit Interview: Joe Gorga on Why He Stirred Up Drama as the First Don and Knew His Days Were Numbered

Joe Gorga fully embraced becoming the Don on The Mob. Charismatic, fearless, and always ready to stir up a little trouble, he played as if the game had been designed specifically for him. With no blueprint to follow, Joe found himself at the head of the family and set the strategic pace for the season, making bold decisions, creating unforgettable drama, and ensuring there was never a dull moment under his reign.

But power is never secure when everyone wants the title. As Don, Joe was responsible for deciding who to whack, rewarding the family after each job, and building enough loyalty to protect his position. His approach did not always sit well with the rest of the house, but every choice reflected his understanding of what the role demanded and his commitment to making the game as entertaining as possible.

Pop Culturalist spoke with Joe about why he never hesitated to take power, the strategy behind his most memorable moves, and whether the family acted too soon in overthrowing him. He also reflected on the allies he trusted, the warning signs that his time was running out, the camaraderie that allowed the cast to leave their betrayals inside the game, and why he is already prepared to reclaim his place as Don.

PC: I have to give you so much credit because you really set the strategic pace for the game. Your first two eliminations caused relatively little friction, and I think the way you used the money from the challenges will influence future seasons. But it also feels inevitable that the Don will eventually be overthrown. Did you ever consider holding off on taking power? What move are you most proud of, and what do you think future players could learn from it?
Joe: Being the Don puts a target on your back, but being the Don is what the game is about. I’ll never take that back. That was the most fun I had in the game. I really enjoyed it.

But it’s how you play the game. I could’ve whacked Harry [Jowsey] and gotten him out, but I kept him in because I wanted an exciting game. I wanted to pit him against Demi [Engemann] and Demi against him. It would drive everyone crazy and make for a great show. That’s what I’m all about. Winning isn’t what drives me. It’s about creating a great game and having some fun. I loved the challenge.

Even if you whack the right person as Don, they’re all coming after you anyway. Everyone wants that position. It’s a tough game, which is great. This is what it’s all about. I could’ve become the Don again. Next season, I’m coming back.

PC: It would’ve been cool to see you stay on as Don for the entire season or reclaim the title later on. The show wouldn’t have been the same without you. One of the biggest challenges of being the Don is that so much of your information comes from the family, so you need eyes and ears you can trust. Demi and Romeo [Miller] seemed to be your most loyal allies, but you still needed more votes to secure a majority. Who else did you feel you could count on, and whose betrayal surprised you most when you were overthrown?
Joe: I felt good about Debi [Mazar]. I was starting to work with her, and we were getting closer. She was in my corner. And that was it. Everyone else wanted to take me out. They wanted my position.

PC: The way you distributed the money seemed to rub some people the wrong way and ultimately played a part in your being overthrown. When you first heard that the family might be coming for your position, did you consider using that money to buy more votes and stay in power? Do you think the family made its move too early?
Joe: We’re playing the mob’s game, and the mob’s got to eat. Fifty percent goes to the house.

The house always has to eat. The real mob doesn’t say, “Go rob that bank and bring me back all the money,” and then give it all away. They take their cut before they pay anybody else. And that’s how the show should go.

PC: When Parker [Posey] first announced the double elimination, did you feel like your days were numbered, or did you still see a way to keep yourself safe?
Joe: I felt like my time was coming to an end. I knew they wanted me out. Too many people were coming back to me and telling me who wanted me gone. It’s like in the movies. You’re the Godfather. You’re the Don. You’ve got the power in the family, and everybody wants to take you out because they want your position. I knew my days were numbered. I just didn’t know when. So I played the game the way I wanted to play it. I wanted to cause drama. I wanted to cause friction. It was fun.

I loved the part when they were like, “You whacked Bruno [Tonioli]!” I was like, “No, I didn’t. You all did. Don’t trust anybody.” [laughs] They were all looking at each other. [laughs] No one knew how to play this game. There were no instructions. They put us in a room and told us to run with it. We didn’t have any previous seasons to watch. I think it turned out great. It really did.

PC: You definitely stirred up plenty of drama in that house, and it was so much fun to watch. Like you said, you had no playbook, and you helped set the pace for future seasons. Betrayals and eliminations on shows like this can leave people with hard feelings, but your cast seemed able to leave what happened in the game there. Why do you think you were able to build that kind of camaraderie even after competing against one another?
Joe: It was a really good cast. Everyone was a professional. Most of them knew how to play in the reality TV world. You had someone like Debi, who’s an actress, but everyone played it right. They were coming for your throat, and then we’d all sit down and break bread. We all enjoyed each other’s company, and we all stabbed each other in the back, which is kind of weird. [laughs]

Everybody knew what they had to do to play the game. No one got offended, which was a good thing. People could’ve gotten mad and said, “You whacked me,” or “You said this about me.” People can take that to another level and end up hating you. With this crew, everybody was awesome. I call them professionals. They’re all great.

Make sure to follow Joe on Instagram. Stream The Mob on Hulu today.

Photo Credit: Disney/Andrea Miconi