NEXT STEP: NeNe Leakes, famous for “Real Housewives of Atlanta” (above), stars in “The New Normal.” (
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NeNe Leakes wants to be the next Bethenny Frankel — and host her own talk show.
“I would keep it real for the whole hour!” the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star says.
“Whatever the topic is, I feel I could talk about anything. Politics, men, money, shoes . . . anything. I wouldn’t want to do a ‘Maury Povich’ show. Baby daddy! Who’s your daddy? Who’s your mama? I wouldn’t want to do that kind of show.”
Leakes — who makes her acting debut tonight on NBC’s “The New Normal” says she’s already “had interviews” about getting her own daytime series — but nothing has firmed up yet.
“It’s just a matter of time,” she tells The Post. “I am here now, because I am supposed to be here. And I guess when it is my time to cross over there, I will be over there. I am not religious, but I am spiritual, honey. My day is coming!”
Q: What did you think of Bethenny Frankel’s talk show?
A: I did catch it. I thought she did a wonderful job.
Q: What’s your TV obsession right now?
A: I am obsessed with trash TV. I watch all reality shows. I watch all the “Housewives.” I am a huge fan of “New Jersey.” I like that Teresa [Giudice] and her sister fight. I hope they continue to fight. I hope they never like each other.
Q: “Bad Girls Club”?
A: I don’t watch them though. They do too much. They just screamin’ all the time. I need two Advils and four Tylenols. It’s too much.
Q: Are the “Teen Moms” trashy enough for you?
A: “Teen Moms”! I started watching them like the first two seasons, and I stopped. I stopped because they are too young. I feel sorry for them. And I didn’t watch that show “Hoarders.” That thing would made my skin crawl.
Q: As your acting career gains traction, do you slowly want to get away from reality?
A: At some point I do. I love the acting world. So at some point. . . I can’t continue to be a Housewife. At some point, I have to back out.
Q: How much does “The New Normal” challenge your acting range. Do you get to mostly be funny?
A: There is a lot of drama with me. Like you didn’t know that!
Q: Have there been opportunities you have missed because of your reputation from “Real Housewives”?
A: Probably. I don’t know that for sure. Just the thought of me being a “Housewife,” they would probably say “Hmmm. We may not want to use her.” Just the whole persona of being a Housewife. The cattiness and the bitchiness and the fighting. People see you as that is who you are.
Q: If they did an all-star “Housewives” edition, who would you like to see on it?
A: I would probably do me, Bethenny, I like Jill Zarin even though she’s not there. I think she is everything of New York City. Her accent and everything is just great. I would probably grab Gretchen [Rossi] from “Orange County,” Teresa from “New Jersey,” and we could work it out.