She’s an Emmy Award-winning writer, Emmy-nominated TV host and a best-selling author, but look up Teresa Strasser on urbandictionary.com and you’ll see she’s the “hot Jewish broad on the Adam Carolla show.” Now she has brought her incomparable wry wit and poignant perceptions to Phoenix, where her syndicated cable show, “The List,” uses that very thing to look at daily consumer issues and the hottest news trends. On her official bio on The List website, Teresa says of lists: “You are either angry that the thing you love isn’t on the list, or you’re validated because your thing is on the list. Either way, it’s always something to talk about.”
Teresa began her TV career in 1997 as a writer on “Win Ben Stein’s Money,” for which she won her Emmy. After writing for “While You Were Out,” she stepped in as host for the final 50 episodes after host Anna Bocci left the show; Teresa earned an Emmy nomination for her work on that home makeover show. She became co-host of Adam Carolla’s radio show and podcasts in 2006. In our Q&A with Teresa, she calls Adam Carolla “a genius.” Can that possibly be because of his complimentary comments about her LA Times best-selling book, Exploiting My Baby: Because It’s Exploiting Me? He wrote: “Teresa’s pain is your gain. The toll pregnancy and birth have taken on her marriage, career, psyche and cervix are all laid bare for your info-tainment. Her neurotic neonatal journey will make you laugh and cry.”
According to her bio, Teresa’s other TV credits include creating and writing the pilot for a potential ABC series “Mother Teresa” based on her book Exploiting My Baby, and writing for ABC’s “The Chair,” “It’s Your Chance of a Lifetime” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”
She’s been a host on numerous shows including “Tips from the Set,” “My Parents Are Gonna Love You,” “TV Watercooler,” “How to Get the Guy,” and “Lover’s Lounge.” Teresa grew up in southern California as the daughter of a single mom, whom Teresa has described in her columns as being not always reliable. After studying journalism at New York University, she returned to California where she honed her journalistic talents writing for the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Jewish Journal. She has earned three Los Angeles Press Club Awards and a Simon Rockower Award (from the American Jewish Press Association). Rob Eshman, editor of Los Angeles Jewish Journal, notes: “Teresa is a natural storyteller, and an honest one. She’s fearless in her self-reflection, and she manages to balance very difficult truths with very sharp humor.” Regarding Teresa as a person and a journalist, he adds: “You can ask Teresa what’s up, and always get a raw, honest, funny, insightful answer. She has rare talents as a performer and a writer – she’s funny, fearless and honest, and she also cares deeply about the craft of writing.”
When we reached out to Teresa, she proved to be every bit as funny, friendly and open as we had been told. Here is our question and answer session with Phoenix’s new cable television series host.
When and why did you move to Phoenix?
I moved to Phoenix in July to co-host a new syndicated news magazine show called “The List,” which tapes at KNXV. At the time, I was seven months pregnant, and I questioned my own sanity about the move. It was so hot my earrings would burn my ears, and I was covered in Albert Brooks-from-”Broadcast News”-style flop sweat every time I stood in front of the camera. It was relentless. I kept telling myself, “self, you are a Semite. You
should be able to handle the desert.” After which I would just silently cry into a Rita’s frozen custard.
Can you tell us about your current TV show, The List (airs in Phoenix on Channel 15 at 4:30 pm Monday-Friday)?
The show is little pop culture, some humor, some news. It’s pretty much a half hour to fill you in on all the things you need to know so you don’t seem like a total knob when interacting with people. Trust me, before this gig, I wouldn’t have been able to talk viral videos and Psy and Popping Tags, but now I feel better in the loop. We are like a quick digest for busy people.
Which of the TV shows you’ve been involved with was the most fun? The most rewarding?
Obviously, my favorite show is the one I’m on right now! You hear that, bosses? To be totally sincere, Scripps, which produces this show, did something totally unheard of in the world of television when they hired me. Despite knowing I was pregnant, they moved me out here from Los Angeles, launched a show with me when I was 38 weeks pregnant, paid maternity leave so I could be with my little one and created an amazing work environment for a mom of two. I was working so close to my due date, I was pretty much crowning when we premiered. I mean, this is truly family friendly. I also loved hosting TLC’s “While You Were Out” and “The Adam Carolla Show” – one because it was fun making over the rumpus rooms of America and the other because working live for four hours a day with a genius like Carolla is a real privilege.
You seem equally accomplished as a writer and TV personality. Do you see yourself as more one than the other, or do they complement each other?
The truth is I’m far better at writing than anything else. However, that career involves lots of isolation, angst and second-guessing, things that come naturally to me, but that I should avoid in heavy amounts. In television, I often write the bulk of what I say, so it’s a career path that uses my skill set while also allowing me to wear false eyelashes and concealer and heels.
You’ve won an Emmy, three Los Angeles Press Club Awards and a Simon Rockower Award from the American Jewish Press Association. Which accomplishment are you most proud of?
There’s an obscure law passed federally in 1987 which requires I answer thusly: my proudest accomplishment is being a mom to my two gorgeous sons. But let’s face it, Emmy-winning writer will be in my obituary, so that’s pretty sweet. Wait, so will mom of two. Wait, this is getting really dark. Wait, now I need a drink. Wait, I don’t want to end up in Tent City. Wait, make it a Xanax, and I’ll catch the public transportation. Wait – did I mention I had a VBAC here in Phoenix? For those who don’t know, that means vaginal birth after cesarean – turns out, this is a great city
for VBAC-supportive hospitals and doctors. I love my doctor, Kathleen Schwartz – and all the nurses at Scottsdale Healthcare. It felt like a major accomplishment to give birth the old-fashioned way, especially at my age (42). Wait, why did I admit that?
Before you married Daniel Wachinski in 2008, you won at least one award for your singles writing. Do you have any advice for Arizona singles?
Join The Village (health club) or check out OHSO (eatery and nanobrewery) in Arcadia – I see lots of single folks at both those places. And get a cute dog.
Are you involved in any Jewish congregation or organization in Arizona?
This is no exaggeration. Being involved with Temple Solel changed my life here. I showed up pregnant with no friends, and within just a few weeks of joining, I made the best mom friends I’ve ever had. That sounds cheesy and incredible, but it’s true. The new rabbi there, Rabbi Ilana Mills, also moved from LA around the same time I did and also has little boys. I feel very at home there, and it’s a real comfort.
Do you celebrate Shabbat or any of the holidays at home?
Through my toddler. He brings tzedakah to school every Friday and loves singing his Shabbat songs. Having kids brings you back to your faith in the most beautiful ways.
What Jewish values/traditions do you hope to pass on to your sons Nathaniel, 3½, and Drew, almost 1?
Obviously, Purim is always fun for kids. This year Nate made his own menorah, and every couple weeks he explains that he wants it to be Hanukah again. I love having Shabbat dinner – or as they call it at Temple – Tot Shabbat. Eating and communal singing, two things that make a Jew a Jew.
Do you plan a sequel to your LA Times best-selling book,
Exploiting My Baby? Exploiting My Toddler?
You’ve written seriously and humorously about mental illness and anorexia. Do you want to share your thoughts on either of these?
Well, as an Ashkenazi Jew, I come by my neuroses honestly, right? All I can say is that therapy is a life-changer, and if you find you have an eating disorder, 12-step programs or any recovery- based support group can save your life. Saved mine.
Is there anything else you would like to share with readers of Arizona Jewish Life?
Initially I moved here because a TV show was willing to employ me pregnant. Now I’m madly in love with the families I’ve met here. This is a paradise. Even in July.
Teresa Strasser says one of her favorite lists from “The List” is niche dating sites:
“You’ve heard of Match.com, eHarmony and OKCupid, but what if your requirements are a little more specific? It’s love week here on the List and we took a look as some dating websites for the pickier partner. Niche online dating is what’s trending. With 40 million singles across America, many have turned their search for love to the web. And the explosion of dating websites means you can find exactly what you want. Forget tall, dark and handsome, if you want tall, taller and Yao Ming, you can aim high with niche websites such as datetallpeople.com, tallpassions, tallsingles or even
theTallStreetJournal.com. But that’s only one niche.
Here’s a list of a few others we found:
FarmersDatingSite.com
PokerSingles.com
DarwinDating.com
TheUglyBugBall.com
Meet-An-Inmate.com
singleArtistDating.com
Fitness-singles.com
FindYourFacemate.com
Niche websites aren’t just trending. They are helping you find love.”
