Andy Cohen's one on one #WWHL interview with #RHONJ stars Teresa & Joe Giudice.
This Watch What Happens Live is a special one on one with Teresa & Joe Giudice.
This is not your typical fun and games episode. Andy will ask some tuff questions and get the answers viewers and the world want to know.
Teresa Giudice was sentenced to 15 months in prison last week for several counts of fraud. Her husband Joe was also sentenced to 41 months. Now that their fates have been determined by a federal court, Teresa & Joe are opening up about how the news has changed their life to Andy.
Andy Starts off by asking Teresa & Joe how they are doing?
Teresa says, "I feel like I'm numb. It's surreal all I keep thinking about is my daughters."
Andy states, You pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bankruptcy fraud by concealment of assets, bankruptcy fraud by false oaths, and bankruptcy fraud by false declaration. Joe also for pled guilty for failure to file a tax return in 2004. What was your reaction when he heard the sentences?
Joe said, It was devastating he actually felt like he got hit in the back of his head with a bat.
Joe felt 3 1/2 years was a little high, he didn't think he was going to get that much, but it is what it is.
Andy said to Teresa you got sentenced to 15 months. There was a lot of speculation that you wouldn't get any time at all.
Teresa, "I was so nervous yesterday that I was shaking, my nerves were pulling. At one point I couldn't even move my fingers. They were stuck. My nerves were shot. I've had sleepless nights. Of course, I was shocked. Like, I was like, you know, it was very unexpected. I don't even know what to say."
Andy also asks Teresa whether or not she's been living in denial over these past few months. "I do need to read things before I sign them," she says, referring to the fraudulent documents that she signed. "I do need to understand things before I sign them. I'm a trustworthy person. Sometimes I take what other people say and I believe them and I trust them. I can't do that anymore. I've got to make sure I fully understand something or read it or find a lawyer, like a contract lawyer, that can help me."
Andy asks if Teresa is in a depression right now and if she has sought help?
Teresa is frightened & scared but what depresses her the most is she won't be with her daughters. She's been there since they were born, she can't imagine not being there. She's their mom and they need her. It's not the same with a father, a mom is a mom.
Andy asked Teresa why did she agree to a plea deal that could possibly get her up to 27 months?
Teresa says she didn't fully understand that part. Teresa didn't know what to expect after she accepted the plea deal. She hired an attorney and gave them whatever they wanted from her. She followed the directions she didn't want to hide anything.
Andy asks how it's possible that there was all those omissions in their paperwork? It seems like that's why they got such a tough sentence.
That's why Teresa was shocked. Whatever she needed to do she was going to do.
Andy asked then what was the conversation between her lawyers after court?
Teresa didn't have a conversation with them after court they were done, she was done, the judge made her decision, she went home.
Andy then asked Joe (visibly crying at this point)
did he think when he pled guilty that Teresa would get jail time?
No and that's why he pled guilty. They tell you if you get charged you get doubletime. If you lose one count you can get up to 10 years. They had over 40 counts and if they lost on any of them that would've been more time than they got with the plea deal. The plea deal was the best way to go. Joe expected him to go to prison but not Teresa. Joe took all the blame and full responsibility for everything because Teresa had no part in any of the businesses.
Andy asked Teresa how aware was she about what was going on? Was she just signing whatever was handed to her?
Teresa says this was a long time ago it was pre-houswives, whatever Joe told her to sign she signed.
Andy asked Joe if he knew what he was giving Teresa to sign?
Joe gave Teresa whatever the bank wanted Teresa to sign.
Andy says but Joe you were taking out false loans.
Joe says "Alright whatever, I was taking out false loans."
They handed him the paperwork. Teresa had better credit so they used her. Teresa never came to a closing. She only signed one document at a closing to borrow money on their home.
Andy says what was illegal was the things you said to the bank.
Joe agrees, as far as tax returns and stuff like that yes.
Andy asked why did they need to do that was it for the money, did they want to keep up with the Joneses?
Teresa and Joe said, that's what the judge or the government said.
Teresa gets paid, if she wants to go buy something she goes by and buys it. She's not trying to keep up with the Joneses, she's not trying to spend money that she doesn't have.
Andy says Teresa got a lot of flak when she was looking at houses on #RHONJ A few weeks ago she was caring a $3,000 purse.
Teresa didn't pay $3,000 for that purse. Teresa doesn't pay retail for a lot of things.
Joe asks Andy how much he thinks his suit is worth?
Andy guesses $600.
Andy's wrong! Joe gets two suits, two shirts, two ties, two jackets for $250 and they taylor it and it's Italian!
Andy's suit he did not pay retail for it.
Teresa says that's the point when you're on a TV show you don't pay retail. People give you things for free.
Andy buts in and says the difference is that he paid his taxes on his suit.
Teresa says she's always paid her taxes.
Andy asks Teresa to describe her night last night after she got home from the sentencing?
All of her family & friends were in her home. It was very hard just walking in. All Teresa wanted to do was see her daughters. Teresa's mom started crying. Teresa asked her mother to be strong for her. Teresa's heart was breaking seeing how upset her mother was.
Andy asked how Gia got the news about the sentencing?
When she came home Teresa told Gia. Gia was upset and Joe and Teresa were both talking to her. "She was being strong for me, I could tell," Teresa says. "She said, 'Mommy, don't worry about it. I'll be there. I'll help daddy with the girls. That will make me a better mom. That'll prepare me for when I'm a mom." At this point, Teresa fights back tears, before saying, It broke my heart when she said that."
Gia will be getting help from her school's guidance program. Teresa got a phone call from the guidance counselor. She told Teresa she met with Gia.
Teresa said "Everyone's been great, the school's family and friends, and the school said they spoke to her. They're going to take her out of gym period once a week and just talk to her. And see how she's doing. She likes that idea. The one person she's worried about, she said, was me."
Teresa does everything for her daughters. She drives them everywhere. Teresa is old-school. When she asked Joe to do something he does it, but pretty much she's all hands on. Teresa just wants Joe to take care of her daughters that's all she asks while she's in prison.
Teresa is to report for her prison term January 5th 2015. That leaves Joe's with the girls alone. Andy asked what does that look like to Joe?
Joe says it's going to be a lot of work. They are his daughters and he's going to do what he's got to do. He guesses he is going to be the housewife now. (I think he's trying to be funny but it wasn't funny.)
Andy asks what they've told the other girls?
Teresa says nothing they haven't told them anything.
Miliana is 8 years old now & in the third grade. Andy worries that the kids in school will tell her what is going on.
Joe says Miliana actually came up to him and said do you have something to tell me? Joe thinks she knows. She's not stupid. Joe also things Gabriella know something. Today Gabriella give Teresa a kiss goodbye. That's not normal for Gabriella. Teresa feels Gabriella senses what's going on as well. Miliana asked Joe last night why is everybody over? (More reason to believe the girls know more than they think they do.)
The last time all these people were at their home was when Joe's father passed away. (Joe is really crying now)
Someone at the party said to Miliana that everybody's over here because were celebrating grandpa.
Teresa is grateful to the judge. The judge could've taken them both instantly if she wanted to. The judge could've made them serve their sentences at the same time leaving no parent for them. So for that Teresa is grateful. Joe would've been much happier if Teresa wasn't going away. He was fine if it was just him. Joe doesn't want Teresa to go to jail, she doesn't deserve that.
Teresa wants Joe to come with the girls and see her while she's away at least once a week. Joe wants to bring them twice a week. Teresa doesn't want the girls daily schedule to be disrupted. She just wants once a week that's all she needs.
Andy asks how Teresa think she'll do in prison?
Teresa doesn't care about her looks in prison so just like her hair back and go about her day.
What's your biggest fear about going to prison?
Teresa's just thinking about her daughters that's it.
Andy asked Theresa if she's worried about losing her temper in prison?
Teresa says, no!
Andy reminds Teresa you pushed me at that reunion!
Teresa has changed since then.
Andy says Teresa is tuff.
Teresa just kinds of feels that she is numb to it all.
Thursday night don't miss Part 2 of Andy's one on one interview with Teresa & Joe Giudice.
What were your thoughts? Did you feel Andy asked the right questions?
Was he too hard on them or was he not hard enough? Do you think Teresa is lying? Do you think Joe was lying? Will we get more answers on part two? Tweet me your thoughts or leave a comment. I personally feel that Teresa is going to ask for a reduced sentence because her lawyers didn't do a proper job. I think will hear about that in the coming months.