I have a love/hate relationship with reality TV.  I am not interested in the reality TV currently being filmed in Dallas but I have to admit that New York, my home away from home – Staten Island to be exact – is the backdrop of my reality TV guilty pleasure, Mob Wives.

For those who missed the list of My Guilty Pleasures of 2011, Mob Wives landed  at number two because these ladies are no joke.  The are strong, honest, come from & represent a lifestyle almost all are intrigued by on some level.  Often referred to as “The Lifestyle”, these ladies are “allegedly” connected to the Mob.  The show depicts interactions, life long friendships, old conflicts and general lives of the core cast:  Drita D’Avanzo, Carla Facciolo, Renee Graziano & Karen Gravano.  These ladies either have or had a father or spouse imprisoned for Mob related activities.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Carla Facciolo, often called “The Pretty One” or “The Boring One”.  For the record, they are all pretty & I think all of the ladies on Mob Wives are unique & likable in their own way, but Carla is different from the other ladies.  She is a bit more reserved & I was interested in knowing a bit more about her.

Here is the transcript of part one of my interview with Carla Facciolo:

Hi Carla!  Thank you for having a few moments to speak with me.  My friends and I enjoy the show very much.

Great – that’s good to hear! (Laugh)

You are from Brooklyn, right?  What was it like growing up?

Yes, I am born & raised Brooklyn.  Everyone knew each other &  it was safe, we were all friends & hung out, we could walk down the street.  I can’t let me kids walk down the street alone.  It’s so isolated on Staten Island.  Everyone kind of keeps to themselves.

I told myself that I would never watch a show with the word “Wives” in the title but I watched & loved VH1 Football Wives, it was filmed here in Dallas.  So, when I heard about Mob Wives, I decided to give a try.  This show is one of my guilty pleasures.  I love it!  Did you have any reservations on first doing the show?

I am more quite, you know?  No one really knows my business & I had to think about that before doing the show.  Now it’s out there.  Some of my business is out there.

I think you add an interesting balance to the other ladies on the show.  You are calmer but we have seen you let loose, like during the Season 1 fight with Renee.  What do you think about those that say you are boring?

Yeah, people say I’m boring (laugh) but I try to balance everyone else on the show out.  I can be just as crazy as everyone else but I have more self-control.

What do you like most about doing the show? 

I love the friendships with Drita & Renee.  Yeah, I do.

What do you like least?

The Drama can get out of control sometimes.  Everyone fights & you have to be adult & get over it.  We do that.  Well, we try. (Laugh)

Joe’s out now.  How is everything?

Joe is helping out a lot with the kids.  He takes them to work with him sometimes.  Things are great right now.

Ok, great to hear that Joe is working and that things are good.  I am pull for him.

Have you heard the song “Her Name is Carla”?  Those guys dig you.  How do you feel about being the topic of a rap song?

(Laugh) It’s pretty cool, I was laughing.  I was really caught by surprise. Even my nieces were asking me about the song.  (Laugh) I listened to the words & was like oh my God, it’s pretty cool! (Laugh)

The beautiful lattice heart pendent.  It’s become a bit of a symbol – you are rarely ever seen without it.  Tell me about it?

It was a gift from my husband (Joe) many years ago.  People always ask me about it & I am actually thinking of making a Carla Heart.  An affordable heart pendant similar to it.  My heart is all diamonds but maybe a costume design one & a higher end one.

Oh, that is fabulous!  Being that I love jewelry & am a designer myself, I like that you consider making it affordable.

We know you like to workout & get sun…what are some of the other things you like to do?

I workout everyday it’s a major part of my life.  I used to horseback ride a lot as a kid , we owned horses but I don’t do that much anymore.  I love to ice skate.  (Laugh) I’m not really good at it but I like it.  We have fun. (Laugh)

Your mother helps you with the kids & thus far we have not seen them in Season 2.  Are you making an effort to keep the out of the show?

We filmed with the kids but we didn’t film much with them this year.  I watch the show like you guys, so I don’t know what is coming up, they have to story line it.  So I don’t know if the kids are going to be in this week or that week or no.

I’m just gonna be honest with you, I think you guys are the “realest bitches” on TV.  I do not know how much of the show is production but, I believe each personality I see.  

Sure they have to story line it & some things get played out more that others but what you see is what you get with us.  About the whole “I didn’t call Renee when she was in the hospital” thing…Renee hated me &  I didn’t bother with her the whole summer.  Renee was going round saying she was going to kick my ass.  No one told me she was in the hospital.  Drita was told not to tell anyone Renee was in the hospital by Jennifer, Renee’s sister.  But later Drita was like this is serious & told me. But that was after the fact & Renee had already got out.  I wish I had been able to say why I didn’t contact Renee but they didn’t show that.

Oh, wow.  That has to be hard to not see your full explanation play out in the meantime you are being bashed by the viewers.

Ok, before I let you go Carla, I’m going to say the names of your fellow castmates & I want you to give me your honest first reaction with one word or phrase that describes your feelings.

(BIG LAUGH) OK…

Drita – Tough

Big Ang – Innocent

Karen – Spicy

I totally agree.  She seems really bold this season!  Love it.

RaMona – Troublemaker

Junior – I don’t him that well.

Renee – My little drama queen. (Laugh)

Carla, thank you so much for taking a moment to chat with me.  It has been a pleasure and I can’t wait to see how the season progresses.

I honestly had the best time talking with Carla & I can’t thank her enough for spending, via phone, part of her day off with me.  She comes across as genuinely enjoying her part in the show overall even if it means giving up a lot of her privacy.  Throughout the interview Carla was very much like what we see on TV: relaxed,  laughing &, I believe, honest.  I can appreciate that.

I am eager to interview the other ladies of the show and I hope to have an opportunity real soon.

Stay tune for part two of my interview with Carla posting on Friday!