Andy Cohen and Bravo already stretched out the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" with a "leftover" episode last Sunday. You could have defined it as "stuff that didn't make the cut from the regular season" or as the publicists might hype "never-before-seen footage!"

This week, Andy spent an hour talking to NeNe Leakes, one of the biggest stars out of Bravo's "Housewives" franchise. The most surprising to me is how much she slags Sheree Whitfield, who NeNe recommended to be on the show. 

"I think she's very mean," NeNe said. "She's a true b****... She brought a lot of negative energy to the cast."

Even before the first episode in 2008, NeNe said she and Sheree already had conflict. NeNe felt Sheree would try to glean information from others while revealing nothing herself. "I hated that about her, "she said. "I'm the kind of friend, if I tell you something, you tell me something. She would never tell me about stuff. She was super secretive."  

While "Real Housewives" has been a net positive for NeNe, she regretted her marriage being out there publicly. "I regret some of the fights I had with Kim," she said. "I hate they happened on camera." Then one more time about Sheree: "I hate I ever told you guys about Sheree."

"She's not a grateful person. She feels very entitled. She was the wrong referral. I take it back."

NeNe is the only person left from the original season. (Sheree was out after four seasons.)

But with NeNe busy with her acting career on NBC's "The New Normal," she was in many ways reduced to a secondary character this past season as Kenya Moore sucked up all the oxygen.  

Not that this hasn't stopped her from saying she's the star of the show.

"I am definitely it," she said. "I think when people think of Atlanta Housewives, they think of NeNe Leakes."

She has a point there. Even folks who don't follow the show know who NeNe is.

Ultimately, she feels rightful ownership and pride when it comes to the success of "Real Housewives."

"It has opened up so many doors and opportunities for me. I'm so blessed. I thank you guys for loving me. When or if I leave the show. I will always be in the background. I will help you find other housewives. I feel like I'm the madam of the show."

Andy showed footage from her "Real Housewives" audition when NeNe was not a blond and her nose was different. 'I'm full of life. I'm fun. I'm outgoing and I tell it like it is," she said in her audition tape.

Five years later, "I feel like I've grown and I'm in a different place," NeNe said. "I don't want to be like Kim and say, 'I'm in a different place. Goodbye!' "

Ultimately, "I'll be around as long as you guys want me," she told Andy.  (Or as we all know, as long as they are willing to compensate her well for the privilege. And it's hardly a guarantee "The New Normal" will come back in the fall though "Glee" is set for two more seasons.)

NeNe helped place Kim Zolciak on the show.

Early on the show, they were tight. In the first episode of "Real Housewives," she noted, "Kim always has my back."

"I see some naiveness [sic] in me," NeNe said in retrospect and sees a little of herself in Porsha Stewart, who joined the cast this year.

NeNe felt Porsha was being "controlled" by Kordell Stewart and couldn't be herself on the show. So before he announced he wanted to divorce her, he would have recommended she leave the show.

Now that Porsha is on the road to divorce, NeNe is totally on board Bravo bringing her back. She also has been in regular touch with Porsha since the surprise divorce filing. She felt she didn't get that type of support while she and Gregg were divorcing. (They are now remarrying and NeNe is getting a reality spinoff.)

NeNe doesn't really believe she and Kim can be true friends again though they are on friendlier terms now. "I wish her all the best," she said. She did say the whole crumbled friendship was "sad." "I want to trust her," she said. "It's hard for me to trust her."