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Teresa Giudice’s Blogs Explain It All (Updated April 30, 2012)

February 5, 2012 1 Comment

“I do have to address one thing about Caroline. When she said, ‘I will not hate someone because you told me to,’ I’m hoping she was speaking theoretically and not about me, because I never asked her to hate Kathy or anyone else. I do think it’s funny that she talks about not getting on the ‘hate train’ because I remember when it came to Danielle, she not only got on the hate train, she built it, fueled it and was the Hate Train Engineer. Danielle never did anything to me or my family (except for lame insults, but those don’t bother me)… Caroline and Jacqueline telling me that Danielle hurt their families was enough for me to support them. I didn’t need proof. I didn’t need to invite Danielle to my parties to ‘see for myself.’ I trusted my friends and had their back. Caroline and Jacqueline have no idea about the years and years of family history between me and Melissa and Kathy.” – Teresa Guidice, Not My Thing, August 9, 2011

The Teresa Apology Tour

Teresa comments on the awkward apology scene at Jacqueline’s.

By Teresa Giudice
April 30, 2012

Hi baby dolls! It was amazing meeting so many of you in Texas this week at the breast cancer charity event. Thank you all for watching me on Celebrity Apprentice again this week — I’m in the final five! Can you believe it? And as always, thank you for supporting me and my family. I read every one of your comments and Twitter and Facebook posts. I appreciate your prayers and compliments and inspiration!

And thank you for supporting my cookbook Fabulicious! I’m really proud of it, the recipes are delicious, and it’s sold out again everywhere! Amazon just got more in stock, so if you can’t find a copy, here’s the link: http://amzn.to/Jmnw2D

So let’s talk about this episode. Again, and I’m going to keep saying this every week, this season was filmed last year. The stress of filming two seasons almost continuously with family and friends along with everything else… it really took a toll on me. Just like Jacqueline is thrilled to be in a new place with Ashlee a year later, I’m so happy to have moved on personally as well. I do miss my friends, and I do wish things were different with my family, but all I can do is give them time.

I’m beginning to think this season might be the Teresa Apology Tour. Hopefully it’s coming to an end! I did first apologize to everyone privately, I apologized to them on camera, and I apologized to them publicly. I don’t know what more I can do. In last week’s blog I went over the cookbook “insults” and the wonderful compliments I gave them all page by page, so you can judge for yourself.

It’s hard watching the show a year later and seeing for the first time what friends and family said about you when you weren’t in the room. When I went to Jacqueline’s, I definitely felt the awkwardness like everyone was just talking about me, but I wanted to make sure I got my apology out any way. I’ll be honest, I don’t love hearing new “jokes” every week about me and my kids, but I can roll with it. My kids are healthy and beautiful, my marriage is strong, I really can’t ask for more.

I’m sorry that Melissa doesn’t “give a sh–” about my cookbook. I really don’t think Joey read my first one, and it makes me sad, because I did talk about growing up with him. We had an amazing childhood. Skinny Italian came out a year before my brother and Melissa were approached/begged/talked to Danielle/made an audition tape/however it really went down to be on the show, and neither one of them came to a single book signing. To quote the song Alexa Ray Joel sang on last year’s season: “All I can do is love…”

As for the whole “gold digger” thing with Melissa, I’m very protective of my only brother. He was engaged two times before Melissa, and I hated seeing his heart broken every time things didn’t work out. After that, he did date a lot of women who were interested in him for all the wrong reasons. So when he and Melissa were dating, she was at dinner with my family and she made a comment about how when she saw my brother’s house and how well he was doing, she wasn’t stupid, that she wasn’t going to let him go. From our family’s history with actual gold diggers, you can imagine it wasn’t a great thing to hear. She probably said it from nerves and trying to be funny, but it rubbed me the wrong way.

We live in a small town. I heard things about the type of guys Melissa dated before my brother, and I hear things I don’t like now. I pray they aren’t true. I hope my brother and Melissa stay married forever! I never should have brought it up on the show last season though, and I’m sorry. And I’ve learned not to bring up my concerns to my brother publicly or privately! It was a hard lesson, but I’ve learned it. I do really like the song Melissa sang for my brother. She played it for me last year, and I told her so then too. Here’s the link to it on iTunes: http://bit.ly/IdQ0sG. Everyone go buy a copy and support her!

There was a tiny ray of hope this week: after connecting briefly on Twitter, I talked to Jacqueline on the phone for the first time in months to try and take baby steps back towards our friendship. It wasn’t a perfect conversation for either of us, but out of respect for her, I’m going to keep the details of it private. I thought she looked great on Watch What Happens Live and I’m sorry I was stuck in Texas and couldn’t make it. Keep my seat warm, Andy, and I’ll bring you some Fabellini to make up for it!

For more information about the charity I’m fighting for on Celebrity Apprentice, please visit http://www.NephCure.org. I’m blessed and honored to be involved with them. It makes me so happy to be able to use being on TV to bring attention to something positive: finding a cure for a disease that affects so many adults and children. I know we can do it! Please help if you can!

I love, love, love you all more than you know! Thank you for sticking with me through thick and thin! Follow me on Twitter @Teresa_Giudice and visit my website http://www.teresagiudice.com for info about upcoming appearances, where to buy my Fabellini info, cute pictures of my terrorist children, and more!

Tanti Baci,
Teresa xx

Moving On and Up–Bravo Blog Part 1

Teresa is ready to move past the reunion drama.

Date By Teresa Giudice
October 31, 2011

I’m not going to lie, I didn’t watch the reunion episodes. But I didn’t have to because I lived it. We filmed for seven hours and each episode is about forty-five minutes, so I’m going to guess they only showed the most dramatic parts where everyone is either screaming or crying, right?

I can tell you the whole thing was brutal. We filmed twelve hours the day before, I only got two hours of sleep, and then we filmed the reunion. I didn’t go with an agenda. I didn’t go in to attack anybody. I was pretty shocked that everyone else did.

It’s weird that we filmed the Season 3 reunion after filming Season 4, not after Season 3 — that’s never been done before. As you saw in the finale, after months of heartache on both sides, my family and I were in a great place. We’re still a work in progress, but I had no idea Melissa and Kathy would come to the reunion for Season 3 with guns blazing. They had made little lists of how I hurt them, they were throwing jabs at me all over the place. First I was confused, because it didn’t make sense. In real life, we’ve gotten over all that tit-for-tat stuff, so I didn’t know why they were bringing it up again. Second, I didn’t see how it made sense for the Season 3 reunion when we all just made up. Why don’t Melissa and Kathy want to show our family as happy and reunited for even one week? It makes me so sad.

It was clear pretty quickly that everyone was out for my blood. I don’t know why. I really can’t keep up with it anymore. One day Melissa is at my house for dinner, the next day she’s saying we don’t speak. Kathy and I made up, then when Andy asks her if we’re good, she looks at Caroline to see what she’s supposed to say. And Caroline, wow, Caroline, I don’t even know where to begin on that one except to say that I really did think her head was going to start spinning around…

At the reunion, Caroline accused me of lying, and I accused her of the same thing. It’s a she-said-she-said, so you’re going to have to believe whomever you want to believe. I’m not perfect, but for Caroline to act like she always tells the truth is insane. Caroline is so good at making up fairy tales about her life, I think she’s forgotten what she said yesterday.

And I’m as confused as the rest of you that Caroline is blaming any of her family issues on me. That came out of the blue for everyone, because it’s just not true (but as I’ve said before, Caroline is really digging for something to be mad at me for, and she’s got nothing.) I am not responsible for coming between her and Dina. I know a bit about why they aren’t speaking right now, but it’s not my business, and unlike Caroline, I don’t believe it’s my place to judge or to air their dirty laundry to the world.

More insanity: Caroline crying over me getting in between her and Dina (which you know is completely untrue) is me “hurting her parents.” What do you call what Caroline has done to get in between me and my family all season, including making up that garbage story about me telling her I didn’t really want to reconcile with my brother. On what planet does she live? I have only one brother, and he means the world to me. I think we all get that. There is absolutely no reason I wouldn’t want him back in my life. For Caroline to say that just to hurt him is so low. And my poor parents who don’t have eleven children, but only have two, what does she think her butting in and winding up Melissa and Kathy when things were finally good with us is doing to MY parents? How dare she.

But that’s what Caroline does. She takes what SHE DOES and pretends other people are doing it to her. She has the gall to say my “indirect” comments about a stripper carwash were hurtful to her son. when a) they were about MY children and b) last I checked, they were all proud of that particular career path of Chris’. And then she spends thirty minutes bashing my ten-year-old daughter, screaming that Gia is “tragic”?

And still, I keep quiet about her grown, adult children. Out of respect for them and her and her parents. Respect she does not have for anyone else. Let’s see, what other crazy things was Caroline spewing? (I’m pretty sure she did vomit pea soup in the bathroom during a break…) She sat there on the couch and rolled her eyes and kept talking about how unintelligent and crazy I am, then I’m a mastermind who “premeditated” doing her family harm and that everyone was just a “pawn” in my game. Which is it? I’m an evil genius or a bumbling idiot? I’ve got my head in the sand and I’m too stupid to even know what’s going on my life or I’m controlling everyone else’s? Make up your mind.

I know Caroline and Jacqueline obsess about things and people and revenge. (What sane person would be friends with Kim G? That’s just ugly.) I think they watched ‘The Real Housewives of New York’ one too many times and tried just lifting storylines from that show for their lies about me. Their garbage about me trying to poison them against Melissa and Kathy and telling them not to film with them is pure Jill and Bethenny. But sorry, it’s not true. I told them how upset and betrayed I felt that Melissa and Kathy joined the show behind my back, and I told them how worried I was that it was going to do to my family what it did to their family. I never told them not to film with anyone. You can’t refuse to film with someone, that’s part of the show and they know it (or else I promise you Dina would never have filmed with Danielle!). It’s just stupid for them to make that up.

Family is everything to me. If my only brother was married to someone who didn’t crave the spotlight, I know we’d all be a family like we always were. Before that christening — the first time Joey and Melissa filmed the show — my family had never, EVER been through any kind of drama even close to this. If I could go back in time, I would gladly give Melissa my spot on the first season so she could live out her dreams, and I would be happy to sit on the couch and cheer her on, with my happy, intact family around me.

I’m not even going to address all the ridiculous questions that only came my way about parts of my blog or things I said on the show. I know what I wrote and I know what I said. I stand by it all. Go back and read Melissa’s blogs — from the very first one — and then read mine. You can decide who was mean to who.

I don’t know how long I sat there on the couch while every one of them ganged up to push my buttons and make me react, but yes, I finally did react. I’ve always owned that. I don’t attack, but I will react if you attack me. Maybe it’s not the best way to be, but it’s how I am. I want peace, I stay out of other people’s business, but if you come at me, I am going to defend myself and my family.

I’m not used to having to defend myself — I had no idea I was walking into a gang-up situation — and I can only guess I looked wild and passionate on the show. (I did stay in my seat though — aren’t you proud of me?) I didn’t meet with anyone beforehand to compare notes and bring little lists of things to fight about. The stuff being thrown around that room was crazy, and I just tried to keep up, but I’m guessing it was just as ugly to watch as it was to live through. I’m not proud of the times I yelled, but considering what I wanted to do, especially when they brought up my children, I’m proud of how I handled myself overall. It was not something I expected, not something I’ve ever been through before, and not something I’d want for anyone. Ask yourself how you would have reacted in that situation. I don’t think I did too bad (you know you’re in an ugly situation when Danielle is twittering that she feels your pain! Ouch!).

Oh and one more thing, despite the ravings of a lunatic on Twitter (once again) I do not have anything to do with magazines writing bad stories about me or anyone else. If I did, you would see me quoted in those magazines, which you don’t. But I would never do that because it’s not my style. I’m too busy living my life to worry about other people who don’t have a life. I don’t have a “contract” with any magazine for cover stories — that’s just crazy, it doesn’t even exist.

The one thing I haven’t been able to talk openly about with you all is my legal situation, and I wasn’t happy to be asked about it on the reunion. It’s still an open case and anything I say about it could be twisted and used against me in court. My lawyer wasn’t sitting there with me. I’d be insane to say anything about an open case. But believe me, the day this case is closed, I will answer any questions you have, because the truth is not even close to what’s been reported. It’s frustrating to not be able to defend myself or call out the lies, but I know the day will come when I can finally speak. Thank you all for being patient until then.

One thing you can see though is that even though people try to knock us down, Joe and I haven’t sat around and felt sorry for ourselves. We didn’t give up, we just dug in, we’re working our butts off, and there is light at the end of the tunnel! You have all inspired me with your stories, and I hope we have inspired you a little too.

And thank you so much for your support! I saw all your sweet messages and emails and prayers and worry. Joe, the girls, my parents, and I are GREAT! Reality TV doesn’t define me, big fat bullies who puff hot air because no one will listen to them don’t phase me, rumors don’t keep me up at night. I have my family, we all have our health, we live a very normal, happy life of Sunday school and dance lessons and birthdays and trips to Costco. I am moving on and up to amazing new things. Believe me, I am surrounded by true friends who would never even want to be on TV. I have the best, most inspiring fans in the world. And most importantly, God has me in the palm of His hand. With faith, you can get through anything!

Love, love, love you all!

Tanti Baci,
Teresa xx

My Bravo Blog–Part 2

By Teresa Giudice
November 1, 2011

My blog for the Reunion episodes is *finally* up on Bravo.com. Here it is: “Moving Up And Moving On.” I don’t know what took them so long to get it up, but I do want you guys to always hear things directly from me. Unfortunately, they did edit a lot out (for length…?), but that’s what my own blog is for! So here are the pieces they cut…

I can’t believe Jacqueline thinks I put out a magazine story that says bad things about ME on the cover. How does that even make sense? I’m not even going to try and follow her logic anymore. I just hope she gets well… I can’t believe Caroline told the media her “children didn’t sign up for this.” They are grown adults and they actually did literally sign up for it. They have contracts and got paid. What do you call that? And Caroline keeps telling Jacqueline to let Ashley grow up?… I know Caroline and Jacqueline obsess about things and people and revenge (What sane person would stalk Danielle’s ex-husband? What sane person would be friends with Kim G? That’s just ugly.).

Here’s the thing… Caroline and Jacqueline and Dina signed up for the show TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. It was the first time a family joined any Real Housewives show which I think is what made it so interesting from the beginning. I was just the friend on the sidelines with my juicy husband any my fab-u-lous girls. I thought it was very brave to go on a show with your family, and I wouldn’t have done it. Watching what being on TV together did to the Manzo and Laurita family is EXACTLY WHY I didn’t want my family on the show with me. Seeing all the hurt they went through, I would be crazy to want the same thing for my family.

Unfortunately, it was a risk my sister-in-law and cousin were more than willing to take. They knew it would hurt me, so they joined the show behind my back. And they didn’t come on like the Manzos first did, just to show the world how a real family looks. They came on to hurt me, insulting me and my husband and my kids from the very first episode through the last (is there a single episode they didn’t say something nasty about me? My own family?). I would hope Melissa and Kathy wouldn’t have sold their own sisters down the river for a shot at 15 minutes of fame, but I’m not their sister, and I think they don’t think they care about the hurt it causes me and my parents because we’re not their immediate family.

My first reaction when I heard they joined the show was shock, and then worry FOR THEM. I said it in season 1 and I’ll say it again–I don’t have any freakin’ skeletons in my freakin’ closet, thank you, thank you very much! I wasn’t worried that they would come on and expose me because there’s nothing to expose (I could have done without the disrespectful insults, but they’re just words…). I don’t lay in bed at night worrying that my porn past or previous arrests or unstable history is going to come out because I don’t have any of those things.

I was however worried–like an idiot I guess–about my poor brother and Melissa and Kathy and their kids experiencing the ugly part of being on TV. After seeing how the tabloids go through my garbage and make up stories, I would think any sane, intelligent person would run the other direction from a chance to experience that. And I warned them. I told them stuff they didn’t want to talk about would come up, that people from their past would try and take them down, that journalists would dig through their lives… Melissa told me she didn’t care. They signed up anyway. And then it started to happen to them. The New York Post wrote a mean story about them. My brother Joey actually called me and screamed at me that I “wasn’t a good sister” because I “didn’t warn them about all the ins-and-outs.” I did. I told Melissa, and she didn’t want to listen. Then Melissa brings it up at the reunion as if I was trying to scare her off the show? It’s just twisted. Sad and twisted.

Family is everything to me. If my only brother was married to someone who didn’t crave the spotlight, I know we’d all be a family like we always were. Before that christening–the first time Joey and Melissa filmed the show–my family had never, EVER been through any kind of drama even close to this. If I could go back in time, I would gladly give Melissa my spot on the first season so she could live out her dreams, and I would be happy to sit on the couch and cheer her on, with my happy, in tact family around me.

As far as the other women’s characters and morals and ideas of “loyalty” (I almost fell of the couch when Melissa used that word!)–I didn’t purposefully join a show with my family and bash them. Every single other one of the current cast members did. I didn’t expose my daughter’s problems to the world, judging her for a difficult time in her life in front of all of America. That was Jacqueline. I didn’t make fun of my niece/cousin and criticize her all the time and tell the world I thought my daughter was fat and ugly. That was Caroline and her kids. I don’t have a pre-teen son on Twitter using curse words and insulting my own family. That’s Kathy. Bravo, ladies! Class acts, all of you!

To my amazing fans, thank you so much for your support! It breaks my heart that any of you are attacked on Twitter or Facebook for defending me. Please don’t engage with mean people. I love that my fans use humor and not hate. I saw all your sweet messages and emails and prayers and worry. Joe, the girls, my parents, and I are GREAT! Reality TV doesn’t define me, big fat bullies who puff hot air because no one will listen to them don’t phase me, rumors don’t keep me up at night. I have my family, we all have our health, we live a very normal, happy life of Sunday school and dance lessons and birthdays and trips to Costco. I am moving on and up to amazing new things. Believe me, I am surrounded by true friends who would never even want to be on TV. I have the best, most inspiring fans in the world. And most importantly, God has me in the palm of His hand. With faith, you can get through anything! Thank you all for inspiring me!

Tanti Baci,
Teresa xx”

Caroline? Really?

By Teresa Giudice
October 9, 2011

So Sunday Night is our Season Finale for RHONJ. I can’t wait for you to see how my family finally comes together after this crazy season! It started out so terrible, and ends so perfect. Everything about our family photo was just perfect. My brother, my dad…

I wish the episode ended with that though… I was really upset to watch Caroline and her family talk about my book like they do. Like I said in my blog last week, I had no idea all season the way other people were talking about me and my family behind my back… insulting my husband, making judgments about my kids, and saying mean things about me and now my job. But even if I’d known, I wouldn’t have done it back.

What really shocked me when watching this episode though–and when Jacqueline first told me about Caroline’s “concern” about Fabulicious!–was that Caroline would be offended. Caroline? Really? Caroline and her kids make fun of everyone and each other all the time. That’s one of the things that makes them fun to be around–they’re always joking. Me and my family are the same way (as you saw with my husband and Joey in Punta Cana).

I didn’t take offense when they were all making fun of Skinny Italian on camera because I knew they were joking. What I wrote about the Manzos in Fabulicious! was the same thing: a joke. And not even a mean joke, a repeated joke that was made up for a fake feud on the “Rachel Ray” show. And I think my millions of compliments to the Manzos in the book make it very, very clear I was kidding. Actually, since the book came out, not one person, not ONE, has ever written me or said to me at one of my book signings that what I wrote about Caroline was mean. And I sold a lot of books. I think everyone gets it about my books.

No, they’re not regular cookbooks. That’s the point. I’m not a fancy chef. I’m a celebrity mom with an Italian heritage who wanted to share her family’s recipes. And I write the same way I talk–not always perfect, but I try to make it interesting, it’s easy to read, the recipes are delicious, and yes, I make jokes. Lots and lots of jokes. Jokes about priests and KY and Olive Garden, jokes about my friends, my family, my husband, but mostly jokes about ME–my mistakes in the kitchen, how I didn’t know how to cook, how I mispronounce things… I think the fun of my books (AND the amazing recipes) are what makes them so successful. And I do warn you about my jokes right in the introduction: “Buckle up, Baby Dolls, this is not your mama’s cookbook!”

I’m also thinking it’s pretty clear the Manzos never read “Skinny Italian” because I joked about everyone in it too–myself of course, Andy Cohen, the Atlanta, New York and OC Housewives, Danielle, even Dina (I joked about her insane love of meat… AND I said she was sexy AND I included sexy pictures of her in the book…). My cookbooks are not “bashing books”– they’re fun and funny and unique… like me. I tell you the history of pasta, the Italian belief about not making homemade sauce when you’re on your period, how to make quick, inexpensive, and healthy meals for your family.

But just to make sure, sure, sure that Caroline would know I was joking, I did also write that I was “a huge fan of Caroline Manzo,” that “Albie and Christopher Manzo are adorable,” and that I considered them all “family.” And the ONLY picture of a friend I put in my FAMILY cookbook was of Caroline–a big, beautiful color picture of the two of us. Under I wrote: “Me with another famous Italian mom, Caroline Manzo.” Not “famous fake-Italian mom” but “famous Italian mom.” I think you know where I’m going here…

To be honest, I don’t think Caroline is really upset. I think she’s trying to make up a reason to be mad at me and she doesn’t have anything else because I’ve never done anything to her or her family. (And you know if I had, it would have been all over Radar Online or US Weekly by now…) This is all she’s got? Fake mad about a joke I made on Rachel Ray TO HER FACE? That played on national television? That she wasn’t upset about then? She joked about my meatballs too, and I wasn’t upset because they were jokes!

I think it’s pretty obvious considering this is my second book like this that didn’t go out of my way to single out Caroline and insult her. She and her family are known jokesters and I thought she could take a joke. If I meant any harm, I wouldn’t have put a big, beautiful picture of her in there (you don’t see any of Danielle or Kim G. in there, do you?).

And ask yourself when you watch the episode: WHY would I? Why would I purposefully insult someone I had only ever been nice to–even nice to behind their back, unlike how they were to me? How would writing a “bash book” help my career? Why would I even want to bash the Manzos? I have no problem with them. Never have. I’m focused on moving forward, taking care of my 4 girls, working hard, writing books, promoting my books at book signings around the country, launching my Fabellini drink, launching my make-up line, and getting ready for a HUGE project…

So on the flip side, WHY would Caroline? Why would she pretend to be upset about something so small and obviously a joke? To create bad feelings for me and my book? But why? Maybe because she was mad it’s me that got a cookbook and not her?

I remember when I was writing my very first book proposal, Caroline was also trying to sell her own cookbook (and 5 other Housewives were too!). Caroline told me I was doing it wrong, that I wasn’t smart enough, that I didn’t have the right agent, the right co-writer, the right anything. I took her criticism like I always do, with a smile, and did what I wanted to anyway. And my book got picked up. Caroline’s didn’t. Not one publisher wanted it. I don’t know why. I wish everyone success in all they do, but I can’t help it hers didn’t get published. Go buy blk water! Eat at the Brownstone! Download “On Display”! Buy Fabulicious! I want the best for everyone.

I’m not sure everyone else feels the same, but what can I do? I’ll just keep being me–the same person I was on Season 1, the same person I was before the show, the same person I am when you meet me anywhere at any time.

Sorry this is so long and seems like I’m defensive, but I guess I am because I’ve worked so hard on my cookbooks, they mean a lot to me, and I’m not going to sit quietly while someone tries to make up YET ANOTHER FAKE STORY to make me look bad. First it’s my marriage, then my kids, then my own family, now my job… enough! I’m sure this will cost me another round of tiny tweeter attacks, but that’s fine. At least my fans can hear my side directly from me.

Love to you all!

Teresa xx

PS–I DID apologize to Caroline as soon as I heard she was upset about the book and told her to her face I didn’t mean any harm by it, that it was just a joke. I seriously don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings with a joke. Heck, I’ll throw in an apology to Danielle right now for naming a Puttanesca sauce in Skinny Italian after her. I’m sorry, Danielle, if that joke hurt you or your daughters in any way. I truly am. (I’m sorry though, I can’t apologize to Kim G. for anything because it’s against my religion to worship the devil…)

Celebrity Apprentice: Teresa Giudice on What Really Matters in the Boardroom (Excerpt)

By Shannon Kellogg
April 6, 2012

This season of Celebrity Apprentice has no shortage of drama. Apprentice player Teresa Giudice, star of Real Housewives of New Jersey, has thus far been relatively low key in the drama arena. As a psychologist, watching the conflict and tension that has been building all season between the players is fascinating. What must it be like behind the scenes dealing with such intense animosity, all under the microscope and pressure of the cameras? Teresa stood out to me, because unlike her interactions with her close relatives on RHONJ–yes, we all know about the infamous table-flip and catty fights– she has been fairly calm thus far on Apprentice. Why the change?

If I have learned one thing through my work as a psychologist, it is that people are typically more complex than we first assume. Whether or not I agree with Teresa’s behavior toward her family and friends on RHONJ, I found myself seeing her differently on Apprentice. I was curious to know more about how Teresa coped with the drama, and what accounted for the differences I noticed. Teresa agreed to share with us her insider view.

Dr. Kellogg: On Celebrity Apprentice, you seem to have a different approach to getting along with others than we’ve seen in RHONJ. What was your strategy for getting along with the other players?

Teresa: I didn’t really have a different approach. I used the same approach I use in my everyday life: I give people my heart right away, I don’t hold anything back, but if you cross me, you will hear about it. What people forget is that I was on Housewives with some of my best friends and we got along great for the first two seasons. The only drama from me came when I stood up for my friends out of loyalty.

My strategy for Celebrity Apprentice was to go in being myself because I knew that would throw people off, that they would be expecting the table-flipping Housewife, and really, that’s only a small percentage of my personality. I have degree in fashion marketing, was a buyer for Macy’s, and wrote three successful cookbooks.

I think the big difference in the two shows is how they’re filmed. For Housewives, they film us here and there for months and months, and then pick and choose little pieces to show, sometimes out of order. Like someone can pick at your nerves for months, and when you finally blow, that’s the scene they show first. You could take the same 1000 hours of footage and give it to 10 different editors, and you’d come away with 10 different versions of who that person “really is.”

For Apprentice, they filmed us for two solid months, and we did so much during that time, so many tasks, that they have to use a lot more of the footage, and mostly in order. And we all lived together in Trump Tower with almost no breaks so what you see is real: our real tension, our real frustration, and our real bonding.