Leah | 
11 3rd, 2008| 
Q. Do you still get a chance to visit the Leah Remini Guard forum from time to time?
A. I do, being that there are so many web sites that claim they are mine which are NOT (including a MySpace page) it is refreshing to go to the LRG and know that you guys have accurate information and are very sweet to me! 
Q. A Sofia/motherhood question: What’s your favorite part of being a mom and what characteristics does Sofia have that remind you of yourself?
A. The best part about being a mom is the unconditional love you get from your child. Life just seems better when you wake up to “I love you mommy, want to know how much”? Followed by outstretched arms! Acting, obsessing about the way I look and general BS just doesn’t have any importance when you have been blessed with an amazing healthy child. Sofia wants what she wants when she wants it…. She is headstrong and inquisitive… I guess she gets that from me!
Q. We may know the answer to this one, but: You’ve worked on a few sitcoms. Which was your favorite to work on?
A. My favorite has to be The King of Queens. I have had so many failed shows in my past and this show was a hit because people understood it and could relate. When people come up to me and say, “Your show got me through rough times because you guys made me laugh”, it really shows me how far laughter can go…. I also had so many monumental events happen during this show. It was my first real success in TV as far as a series goes, I got married, I had my first baby (as well as a lot of our crew), Kevin had his first baby, I bought my first house and in general just a lot of laughing and fun times throughout the nine years with Kevin, the cast and crew.
Q. If you could choose, which would you like to do next? Another sitcom, TV reality show, movie, or talk show. For the record, I think we would all love to see you on Dancing with the Stars.
A. That’s very cute! I would love to do Dancing With the Stars- I definitely would get a work out! But, I couldn’t be that close to someone physically every day…. They are very touchy feely on that show, right?
I would only do another sitcom if it was a character like Carrie Heffernan…. It would really have to be something special. I feel a sense of loyalty towards The King of Queens and wouldn’t want to move too far from that. I don’t know yet - my next move has not been decided….
Q. Would you like to do dramatic roles in the future?
A. I would. Again, it would have to be the right thing for me to get up that early and leave my daughter…. Dramatic roles for some reason usually have 5am calls.
Q. Would you consider working with Kevin James again in the future?
A. In a New York second!!!!!!! I am pitching to him that I play a cameo in his next movie…. He might make me audition (don’t know)
Q. What is in your CD player/iPod these days? Any current favorite artists?
A. I really like Freestyle, The Cover Girls, Seduction, Shannon (this is from my Brooklyn days)…. I have a variety in my iPod. I have Old School rap, Latin, Frankie Ruiz, Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz…. I loved songs like Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard so I have a lot of that too, some R & B; all the way through to Barry Manilow and the Cowboy Junkies…I’m all over the place with music. I love music. All music.
Q. What or who has given you inspiration in your career?
A. Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett… They made me laugh out loud (as a child I would often do skits from their shows because I wanted to create the same effect on others that they had created in me). That is WHO gave me inspiration. WHAT gave me inspiration? I wanted to live a better life and wanted more for my mom…. I wanted to do it with something I loved and that is what gave me the motivation to pursue my career. My mom and step-dad were very supportive of me and my goals while growing up and never made me think it was unattainable. I never thought I couldn’t do it!
Q. What are some of your hobbies?
A. I do not have hobbies… I have a four year old. So, basically, it’s being a princess, playing dress up, letting her destroy my makeup, letting her put makeup on me, putting on the outfits she chooses from my closet and makes me wear, coloring, playing with Play-Doh and watching The Disney Channel.
Q. How often are you at Vivian’s and are there any plans to expand in the restaurant business?
A. I am not there often. Angelo has banned me from Vivian’s. Apparently I am too bossy when I’m there. No plans to expand Vivian’s. . . Being so small is part of its charm. As for expanding the restaurant business in general, that’s a question for Angelo and my mom!
Q. What are your favorite places to shop?
A. I can go from Target to Neiman Marcus.
Q. Who are your favorite entertainers? Actors, singers, etc…
A. Meryl Streep, Brando, Robert Duvall, De Niro, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Guest, William H. Macy, Emma Thompson, Catherine O’Hara, Benicio Del Toro, Gary Oldman, Francis McDormand, Kevin Spacey, Joaquin Phoenix, Viggo Mortensen, Edward Norton, Ashley Judd…. I like a lot of things about a lot of actors, but it is usually moments in their work that catch me…..
Q. Do you spin or have some other form of favorite exercise?
A. I am not a fan of any exercise. I do it because I have to! But if I had to choose, yeah- spinning….I don’t like to run on the treadmill, but I have to do it. Let me say this, I like the results of working out not the actual working out part. I have a trainer who puts up with me three times a week. I complain most of the hour I am with them!
Q. Are there any plans for In The Motherhood to be a weekly TV series?
A. I have heard the show has been sold to ABC and is in development (meaning they are working on casting it and scripts, but it is not on air yet). As of this writing, they have not made any offers to me to participate, but I wish them all the luck! My part as executive producer and actress was only for the web.
Q. Have you ever thought about doing stand-up?
A. I thought about it. I would consider it if I had great writers!
Q. Any thoughts on having another child?
A. I would consider adoption. I do feel Sofia would like a brother or a sister.
Q. Any plans to visit NY again soon?
A. I love going to NY… I love the people, the food and the energy. Now that Sofia is getting older, I plan to go more often.
Q. What’s your favorite color?
A. White, Cream & Beige.
Q. Are you able to go to normal places, i.e.: grocery store, restaurant, etc., without being asked for autographs?
A. Because our show was so “normal”, people do feel like they know me. I have no issue with people coming up to me and asking for an autograph. It makes me feel good to see someone so excited just to meet me. In my head, I am just Leah, so when people are staring at me, I assume they want to fight or I have something unbuttoned – it’s never “Oh, they must know me from TV”. That is something my family and friends have to remind me of.
Q. What’s your ringtone?
A. I don’t have one. I have my phone on vibrate. I hate apologizing for my phone ringing. So, I just turned it off.
Q. Do you know the exact time you were born?
A. June 15, 1970 @1:25pm (EST)
Q. What am I doing next?
A. I realize that people feel I should be working and I am so appreciative of the fact that I still have people that want me back on TV. There is no real hurry. I am blessed in that I don’t HAVE to work right now and can spend more time at home as well as do charity work. Love that! I am currently developing a few show ideas and we’ll see where that takes me.
Q. Do you stay in touch with Kevin?
A. Of course I stay in touch with Kevin. I love Kevin and always will. He still makes me laugh!
Q. Do you stay in touch with the rest of the cast?
A. I always feel the question should be, “Does anyone from the cast keep in touch with you and Kevin?”, and the answer is: not really. Not because of ill feelings, but we are all on different Coasts, not to mention they all have families and they have full lives themselves.
Q. Have you ever been to (Insert your country, city or state here)?
A. The answer is: probably not. It would be easier for me to just tell you where I have been….Rome, England, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, New York, California, Nevada. Do I have any plans to go anywhere outside the U.S.? Probably not - I hate to fly and I’m not the kind of girl who says “I would love to climb that mountain!” I am the girl who will drive AROUND the mountain and wait for you at the hotel. I am looking forward to traveling to different places in America where I can drive to show Sofia the sights!
Q. What was your favorite episode of The King of Queens?
A. For sentimental reasons, I would have to say the first and last episodes. But, there was something about every episode that made me laugh. I do remember, early on, there was an episode entitled “Cello, Goodbye” where Doug and Carrie were fighting at a concert in silence. At the time, I thought it was so stupid… but when it aired I cried from laughter. My mom went to every show and she was there that night and she was crying from laughter while it was being filmed. I remember asking her “Really mom is it that funny?” Anyway, there is probably a moment I can say something about within every episode we taped. There are a few that were my favorites. I loved the pilot as well…. When I watch that episode, I laugh out loud because we only knew each other a few days and we were so uncomfortable touching each other! There was an episode where Doug takes Carrie to the mountains thinking he had taken her there before, only to find out it was another woman he had taken. There was another episode where we played the Honeymooner’s…. So many…. I can’t pick just one.
Q. What shows do you normally watch?
A. Being that the traditional sitcom is getting lost in the shuffle, I have resorted to watching Reality shows. I like mindless shows like I Wanna Work for Diddy, Flipping Out, Project Runway, Splitting Ends. I also watch A&E’s The First 48. I am really into this new show called “Whatever Martha”, and I watch a lot of Style Network shows, Bravo and TLC. I am all over the place. I also watch shows like Dateline, Primetime, anything on HBO that has to do with real stuff. I love MSNBC Investigates… I am just obsessed with a show called “Lock Up”:)
Q. What other Celebrities would you like to meet or work with/What Celebrities were you excited to meet?
A. I have met a lot of stars and celebrities. Here is the thing, I remember starting out in this business and wanting to meet this one and that one because I was star struck. As I really became part of the business, I saw that these “idols” of mine were just people. I really had to look at why I wanted to know them and back then, it was because I wanted to live the glamorous life like they were. However, it was not always glamorous; they had struggles, marital problems, girlfriend/boyfriend problems, financial problems, ego problems, self-esteem problems, family problems just like I did! Therefore, in the end you realize we are all just human. Being an artist has rewards, but it also has many downfalls.
I admire certain actors for what they do on the big screen as well as small, but more importantly, I care about what they do with their star power. I am not in the Hollywood game: I do not schmooze, I am not in the magazines a lot, I do not like paparazzi, I do not do drugs and I do not BS with people. If I connect with someone at a party or an event, they go in my little “Possible Friend” column and I see what they bring as a person. And, I hope they are sizing me up as well.
Who would I want to work with? I would love to work with many actors/actresses. However, that list changes every day, depending on my mood. So, I better not list them all by name here…
Q. Do you have any pets?
A. Yes, I have one doggie. His name is Blue and he is a Siberian Husky. He is getting old, poor thing! I love him so much…. He was my first baby!
Q. Were there story lines that you wish KOQ would have done looking back now?
A. I wish we had done a story where Doug questions the relationship. Ultimately he did in the last episode, but I wish we had done a two-parter earlier in the series.
Q. Where did your jewelry/clothes come from on the show?
A. All the jewelry and clothing were purchased by the show’s stylist. The clothes came from all over the place and from all price ranges.
Q. Was it hard working on the show with your husband, Angelo?
A. We all loved having Angelo around Jerry and Angelo were the only ones who knew their lines and were professional.
Q. How do I get an agent?
A. There are books, online and in bookstores, that list various agents and managers. You can seek out one of these books, then you mail your headshot and resume to the agents of your choice. Hopefully one will call you in and you can read for them. If you personally know someone who has an agent, it is always good to ask them if they can pass along your headshot and resume.
Q. How was Carrie’s profession as a paralegal decided?
A. That was a writer’s choice.
Q. Did you take anything from the set at the end of the show?
A. Yes, I took the “welcome mat” from the front door, one of the “clappers” with the final episode number on it (the director gave it to me with signatures from the entire cast) and my “wedding rings”. They are all displayed proudly in my home.
Q. Do you watch any sports?
A. Only under duress. I am partial only to the teams my husband likes and those are: The Jets, The Cowboys and The Knicks. Please don’t comment on this, because:
A. I have familial ties to The Jets
B. The Cowboys are my husband’s childhood favorite and
C. The Knicks, of course, are an NY thing….so, don’t say
“Why would he like The Jets, they are (place statistics here)”…. I do not care! I do like to watch with Angelo because I have very definite ideas about how a sport should be played and he actually does get a kick out of my commentary. I ask very smart questions like “Why don’t they make the yellow line for real so the player can see how far he has to go?”
Q. What brand of make up do you use?
A. I use all different brands. I love to try different bases and different shadows all the time. I go from Armani, to Scott Barnes, to Chanel to Revlon… It’s just what looks good. I have switched my blush to cream blush because someone told me it is better to use creams as you get … a little…. Older:)
Q. Do you have advice about weight loss?
A. Yes, on my blog there is one entitled “Phat!!!”. That is “my story” and there is lots of advice in there. Most diets work. You have to find one that will change your bad eating habits. If you tend to eat a lot of fried foods, I would do Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers & the NutriSystem type diets. Why? Because even though it is not the healthiest food, it is yummy, and the amount is cut down drastically. After that, you should look at an alternative diet. I recommend the Zone (you can get the book or go online), Sun Fare or Eat Right for Your Blood type. There are so many things on the market. The bottom line is always: protein, veggies and minimal carbs. No carbs after 3pm. And by the way, I am not paid by any of the above companies just so you all know. My personal opinion is: you just have to want to make a change. Check with your doctor before starting any program. I also got a web site from my personal trainer that may be of help for advice on diets: http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/
Q. Where did you meet your husband?
A. I met Angelo at a Club/Restaurant in Los Angeles. Yup, it does happen…. You can meet a guy in a club!
Love,
Leah