Real World-er's Surreal Deal
Trishelle Canatella (
The Real World: Las Vegas) has a unique TV career. She's a professional mess! This 24-year-old gal moves into houses filled with cameras, then drinks, fights and mates with her roommates, all to dramatic effect. MTV airs her second
Real World/Road Rules Challenge —
The Gauntlet — on Monday nights. Next up, she's on WB's
The Surreal Life (debuting Sunday at 9 pm/ET) with
Vanilla Ice(aka Rob Van Winkle),
Tammy Faye Messner,
Erik Estrada, porn star
Ron Jeremy and
Baywatch's
Traci Bingham. Here, TV Guide Online gets all the trash on Trishelle!
TV Guide Online: In the Surreal pilot, you complain about your slutty image. Did you watch yourself on RW: Las Vegas or those Playboy DVDs you've done?
Trishelle: When I did Real World, I was 22, naive and single. I really did like Steve. The editing that Bunim-Murray Productions chose to do was tasteless and tactless. They made it out to be all about sex. For me, it wasn't. I thought I was in love with Steve. [Laughs] But me, I think I'm in love with everyone when I'm drunk.
TVGO: In an upcoming episode, Sally Jessy Raphael hosts a fake talk show, where the housemates are confronted with their personal demons. I hear she slams you about drinking.
Trishelle: I can't stand her. She was horrible. She was so rude, so mean and offended the hell out of me. I was very unimpressed with Sally Jessy. I didn't know it wasn't a real talk show. I don't watch TV, so I didn't know Sally Jessy wasn't on the air anymore! She put me on the spot and showed all these shocking clips, with drinking and stuff. You don't do that to someone. I didn't agree to that.
TVGO: Is it true you threatened to quit Surreal Life and walk out?
Trishelle: I was p---ed off at the producers. P---ed! I packed up all my bags and I was ready to go home. My friends that I called talked me out of it. They're like, "You're being ridiculous. It's your last day. Just stay there." I was so ready to go.
TVGO: Do you feel you have a drinking problem?
Trishelle: The couple of nights I did drink, me and Traci got hammered. Lots of times, I went to bed early, but they won't show that. If the producers try to make it like I have a drinking problem, I'm gonna be very p---ed off. In fact, right after we talk, I'm gonna get on the phone and call them. That is not even how it is, and I'm not gonna stand for that. I expect them to play up my drinking because you can only listen to Tammy Faye talk about Jesus for so long, and then you have to move on... But I haven't drank since New Year's. I'm trying to get in shape. I'm not an alcoholic. The thing is, I'm tiny — so when I do drink, I get drunk.
TVGO: You probably can't say what Surreal paid you to participate, but was it good money?
Trishelle: Yes, I'm happy. The Surreal Life lasted two weeks. It was very, very fair and good for me. Definitely better than what The Real World pays for five months.
TVGO: Which housemates will you stay friends with?
Trishelle: You wouldn't think it from the first episode, but Traci's a cool girl. Also, Tammy and Ron. Tammy and I bonded — she called me over the holidays. I think she looks great for 61. She's very talented at designing jewelry and handbags. But when she tries to teach me about makeup, I take those tips very lightly.
TVGO: Did Tammy go overboard with her proselytizing?
Trishelle: The religion thing was an issue for Ron and Rob. Traci and I were both raised Southern Baptist, so we had similar [fundamentalist Christian] backgrounds.
TVGO: Which housemates will you not be friends with?
Trishelle: Someone who I probably won't be hanging out with again is Vanilla Ice. We're just different. [Laughs] Me and Traci used to call him Agro Boy! He's angry.
TVGO: He hates those old photos of himself in the pilot. Why did he even do this show, if he can't take reminders of his Ice fame?
Trishelle: I think he's trying to go more heavy metal with his music... but I don't know how you make that transition from Vanilla Ice. [Laughs]
TVGO: He's scary with all those tattoos and angry outbursts. Were you afraid around him?
Trishelle: I was never worried for my safety. If he were to hit me, I have a bunch of guy friends who would've driven over to the house in two seconds to beat him up! So, no.
