“Donnie Loves Jenny” on A&E ended its second season with a last-minute appearance in St. Charles for a birthday party that Donnie Wahlberg was advised not to miss.
As the finale opens, Wahlberg and his assistant, Johnny, are eating crayfish balls – with predictably ribald jokes – in a café near the venue for that evening’s New Kids on the Block concert when they meet with Frederick Ross, aka Big Freedia, the Queen of Bounce, to arrange her guest performance. When Wahlberg confides his disappointment that he must skip Evan Asher’s 13th birthday party because he risks missing his next concert if he goes to St. Charles, Ross replies, “Every little moment counts that you can spend with your family.”
“Freedia made me stop and think,” Wahlberg later tells the camera. “I’ve missed a lot of birthday parties over the years, and I really don’t want to miss Evan’s first birthday party in our relationship.”
Johnny’s protests, but Wahlberg insists on renting a cowboy costume and booking a flight to Chicago, even as Evan laments to his mother that “none of my dads” will celebrate with him. “I really should do everything I can to be at Evan’s birthday party,” even if he ends up being late to the next concert, Wahlberg asserts. “The fans might kill me, but Evan will be happy.”
Meanwhile, his wife, Jenny McCarthy, her mother and sisters pull out all the stops to plan the perfect bash for Evan. The original cowboys and Indians theme gives way to an ’80s disco revival orchestrated by Shuki, the party planner who organized McCarthy’s and Wahlberg’s wedding last fall. An eclectic group of costumed children and parents boogie to the beat under a revolving disco ball in the family room, while more guests jump and slide on a giant bouncy castle that fills most of the spacious front lawn.
Even a bouncy castle accident that leaves Evan with a broken finger dampens the festivities only while Evan and his mom visit the emergency room – presumably at Delnor Hospital, though the facility isn’t shown or mentioned on screen. Several fans pointed out on the show’s Facebook page that Evan’s left hand is bandaged when he returns to the party, but his right hand is bandaged later when he snuggles with his mom and stepdad.
Shortly after Evan rejoins the party, Wahlberg makes his surprise entrance dressed like John Wayne. He quickly becomes the hit of the party.
“I’m so happy Donnie could get here for the party,” McCarthy comments. “Evan might remember it as the most painful birthday of his life, but at least he can say, ‘My new dad showed up.'”
At presstime, A&E had not formally announced if “Donnie Loves Jenny” will return for a third season.
Denise Linke is a freelance reporter.
Twitter: @TribLocal
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