‘The Real’ will live up to name

By ALICIA RANCILIO

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Sitting down for an interview about the new talk show “The Real,” the hosts don’t censor themselves. They snack on junk food. They have a lot to say. It’s kind of like you’re just hanging out.

And that’s the point, says executive producer SallyAnn Salsano, who was also at the helm of “Jersey Shore.” Tuning in to watch Tamar Braxton, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Adrienne Bailon is like spending time with your girlfriends.

“The Real” premieres Monday (it will air at 10 a.m. on WYTV-TV 33 in Youngstown). Rebroadcasts will air on BET. The cast and Salsano talked about getting real for television with The Associated Press.

Q. On some of the other talk shows with multiple hosts, troubles off-camera have transferred over to on-camera. Do you worry about that?

Salsano: I think it’s probably realistically gonna happen. We’d be crazy to think it won’t. The difference is it’s different when you actually, genuinely like each other, and then you fight like sisters. I think the biggest mistake the other shows make are they don’t own it. If Adrienne were backstage and wants to choke Tamar, quite frankly, I think that will start the show. Like, ‘I want to kill Tamar today.’ Like, let’s go there. This is what’s happening, and it will affect the vibe of the show.

Love: And who says we have to fight? ... It’s possible that we’re gonna have disagreements, but we actually like each other.

Q. You say you’re going to talk about your lives on the show. Does that mean you’ll try to not interact too much backstage?

Salsano: I think it makes a better show if what we talk about on the show is not talked about back(stage).

Bailon: We won’t talk about the topics.

Mowry-Housley: I like that. It’s like ready, set, go.

Bailon: It’s better when it’s said for the first time, not like, ‘Girl I just heard that 20 minutes ago.’

Salsano: A lot of the shows do briefings all together, and I feel like that’s a huge mistake. The only person who should have some idea of what might happen is me.

Q. You’ve all been guests on other talk shows. Is there anything that tends to happen that you hate that you never want to do?

Mowry-Housley: For me, you have to engage with your guest. ... I want to feel like we’re connecting. Now when I go on other talk shows, I’m like, ‘You’re not connecting with me at all. This isn’t fun.’