For those of you that watch TLC’s great, new redecorating show, While You Were Out, you may have noticed that they have two hosts that they’re switching between. One is Anna Bocci and the other is Teresa Strasser. What you may not know is that Teresa seems to have replaced Anna on the show. Anna doesn’t even have a bio on the TLC site anymore, which is odd, considering that Trading Spaces kept up a page for Alex while they were airing shows with Alex in them.
They’ve since pulled Alex’s bio from the crew page. Interestingly, though, Alex’s page is still up, though it requires a bit of simple URL investigation to find. Similar investigation on the WYWO bios suggests that Anna never had a page at TLC, or that they’ve already yanked it (I believe the first choice).
As for what prompted this, I just saw Anna on a Pizza Hut commercial (for the new Gold Ring pizza). I was surprised, since the commercial was lame, and the show should’ve paid enough to avoid doing lame commercials. Guess not anymore. 
Some random things I found while doing research on this:
- There’s a band that has named themselves after Anna called The Anna Bocci Band. See, TLC, she has fans!
- There’s a WYWO fan group at Yahoo
- Teresa has her own web site where you can find her writing and other work (she’s won an Emmy and has a lot of journalistic writing experience, too).
February 26th, 2003 at 7:57 PM
comment: Theresa Strassers OK but not any better than Anna. I think TLC should post why Anna left in their FAQ section which is what they did for the fans when Alex left Trading Spaces……it’s driving me crazy………….Sam[who needs a life]
March 13th, 2003 at 5:13 PM
In addition to the Pizza Hut & Nutri-Grain commercials, Anna is also in a chewing gum (I think it’s Extra?) commercial, where she’s traveling on a bus, and a little kid is sitting next to her, bombarding her with questions.
I agree with the rest of you, I found it odd that she only appeared in a few episodes of WYWO, then was gone with no apparent explanation.
March 19th, 2003 at 2:43 AM
ok heres the deal folks, i found out why. The guy she married is the show’s executive producer, Stephen Shwartz.(Apparently the “Shwartz was with her”)
March 19th, 2003 at 9:09 AM
You rock Mr Bill, thanks for giving us the scoop!
March 19th, 2003 at 9:12 AM
Hmmm… this http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/2002_07_07_index.shtml#002871 makes it seem like she got married to someone else? maybe not…. but, he’s kind of old for her. Maybe Nick knows?
March 28th, 2003 at 3:30 AM
It seems like if she had married the exec producer of the show, there would have been news made of it. Did everyone watch the Anna episode of wywo that aired today? (3/27) In case anyone doesn’t know this, at the TLC website you can set reminders to e-mail you the morning of an Anna Bocci re-run. I keep saying I’m going to tape all of them, but I always seem to forget. In other news, I haven’t seen the earthlink commercial yet! What channel did it air on?
May 13th, 2003 at 8:32 PM
comment
Hey! I was just reading all your comments and couldn’t contain myself when I read that I am married to Stephen Schwartz from TLC. Listen, here’s what happened so that no more crazy rumors get started.
First of all, Steve Schwartz is a happily married, father of two(?) who was in charge over at TLC and is now at the Style Network.
I am married to an amazing guy named Joel West who is a talented actor, model, artist, the list goes on. Some of you may have heard of him.
When I started While You Were Out, I was hesitant to accept it because of a really heavy travel schedule. They assured me that I would be gone about six months a year and the contract was to be for three years.
Once we started filming, things began to change and the new show schedule had me away from home for about 9 or 10 months a year (for three seasons)!
I just couldn’t commit to that. I was getting married (and no, the planning of the wedding had nothing to do with it - I’m not that high-maintenance) and wanted to be able to spend a lot more time than that with my husband. In my opinion, seeing each other eight days a month is no way to start out a marriage.
So, I decided that my personal life took precedence over my working life and told them that I couldn’t commit to the show. I said that I would be happy to continue until they found someone, up to a year if need be.
TLC was adamant that they needed someone who could commit to the long-haul (for the fans sake, apparently it didn’t go over well when Alex left Trading Spaces) and wanted to find my replacement a.s.a.p. So, I did three more shows for them while they were auditioning people and then Theresa took over.
That’s the story.
I really appreciate people’s nice comments. Hopefully you’ll be seeing me on another show soon. In the meantime, commercials are a great gig, so I’ll be continuing to do them as often as they’ll hire me.
Anna
May 13th, 2003 at 9:11 PM
Yeah! Anna!!!!!!
thank you so much for clearing up our state of mass confussion! It would have been great if you had stayed on WYWO , I enjoyed your hosting style quite a bit on that show, but having been in a job with high travel myself I “feel your pain.” so to speak. I had no idea the travel schedule for that was so rough.
Anyways, in case you are looking back here, thanks again for the update, and we are eagerly looking foward to your next TV appearance!
May 13th, 2003 at 9:18 PM
Now you’re just kissing up to her, Karen.
Is Joel West the Calvin Klein model Joel West? or some other Joel West? A quick google search only turned up the Calvin Klein, Boss, etc. Joel West. If that is your husband, lucky you… I’m sure many women are quite jealous.
Also, just for the record… I know at least a few Trading Spaces fans that didn’t mind Alex leaving… She just seemed really, um… particular about how things ran on the show. Even though Paige can be over-happy, she’s gives the show a much warmer feel.
Good luck with everything, Anna, and I hope to see you on a show soon.
May 14th, 2003 at 8:45 AM
Hey now! I resent that!!!!
…though I will agree with Sujal’s comment, I was not an alex fan ( I thought it was interesting that she was sort of pushed to the side on that show Joe Millionaire, I cannot say I disagreed with that move either).
I am warming up to Teresa on WYWO though, it took a while, but I am back into watching the show again. Page still irritates me on TS, but not too much.
May 22nd, 2003 at 6:49 PM
You guys are crazy. Alex was great. I can’t stand Page. I stopped watching Trading Spaces when she took over. I like Teresa but Anna was the best. She is so beautiful and I’m heart broken to find out that she is married.
June 7th, 2003 at 12:55 AM
Hey everybody,
I am also glad to have found out what happened to Anna. She just seemed to disappear.
Next question…does anyone know what happened to Leslie? Who is this Adrian?
June 13th, 2003 at 10:20 PM
Same as my question. I see that the TLC “While You Were Out” site lists a link to Leslie’s personal website and on it is a copy of her resume????
June 18th, 2003 at 5:14 PM
I read on the WYWO offical website that Leslie was only taking time off to be with her family and will continue to be on the show as of June 20. I think many of her fans will be happy that little leslie is back. I know I am! she is so great. hope i could help
July 2nd, 2003 at 6:15 PM
saw anna bocci recently on a commercial. she all but disappeared from the screen.what gives? what a cutie!
July 2nd, 2003 at 6:28 PM
What I want to know is what is the deal with that new carpenter on Trading spaces? What about ty and amy?
July 12th, 2003 at 1:02 AM
Anna Bocci is the cutest chick in the world.
August 24th, 2003 at 9:57 PM
I’m an anna bocci fan too.
February 23rd, 2004 at 5:26 PM
Sorry, no offense to Anna, but I’m not a fan. Theresa Strasser’s ok, Alex sucked, the new guy (WYWO)is so much better, Paige is great. I refused to watch TS until after they got Paige. There was just something about Alex that rubbed me wrong. Gotta say, though, that in general, I’m getting more than a little tired of seeing these waifish skinny minnies hosting these shows!
March 28th, 2004 at 5:32 PM
hot!
April 22nd, 2004 at 1:54 PM
Am I wrong, or was Anna Bocci also in a computer comercial a little while back. My husband says it’s not her. But I am sure it is. Can you help us?
May 2nd, 2004 at 10:25 AM
There’s a band that had the same name as her.
http://www.annabocciband.com/
May 2nd, 2004 at 10:28 AM
She may have done a product tie-in with Home Depot. HD is also one of the sponsors of WYWO.
May 2nd, 2004 at 11:09 AM
new york times has her in a quickie
extra gum is her riding on the bus
nutri grain with office workers wearing donuts LOL
earthlink
pizza hut golden ring pizza proposal
PETsMART doggie butt hug
S&W canned tomatoes another proposal
Budweiser forgot which one but the one with the horse fart lit by a candle being held by a woman in a horse drawn carriage was hilarious (the woman’s face was blackened in that commercial)
the referee football one where the guy is yelled at by verbally abusing football players and a verbally abusing wife at home was really cool too (the football commentators were saying that they could not comprehend the way the referee could stand the yapping in his ear)
May 27th, 2004 at 7:18 AM
Taco Bell ranchero chicken soft taco - she’s on a date and pulls her picnic blanket out of the way of a runaway “riding lawn mower.” Believe it - its true.
June 18th, 2004 at 5:36 PM
She was also in a commercial for an allergy medicine. That one included some (apparently intentional) ambiguity about her relationship to her roommate.
Personally, I love that lopsided smile, another Italian girl with a Mona Lisa smile…
January 17th, 2005 at 7:44 PM
I loved Teresa Strasser, it is 2005, and WYWO is in there third season, and I still miss Teresa. I hate Evan Farmer, and Anna Bocci was ok. Alex was awsome. I hope they replace Evan, and bring Teresa back
January 19th, 2005 at 11:49 AM
I just wrote the last comment above, I was on Teresa Strasser’s website, and there was a notice on her homepage stating that she left her Fox show Good Day New York. To all of the Teresa Strasser fans out there, I encourage all of you to write to Teresa, and try to convince her to get back to While You Were Out, where she is severely missed. By the way, I know why Anna Bocci is not on While You Were Out, she got married that August, and the job was to much for her.
August 18th, 2005 at 2:44 AM
I think I just saw Anna Bocci on a Bank of America commercial. She’s the girl who didn’t lose her ATM card.
August 21st, 2005 at 3:35 PM
TLC CANCEL ALL 499 OF YOU CLONE SHOWS.WHAT THERES NOT THAT MANY. IT SURE SEEMS THAT WAY.THERE WAS A TIME I ENJOYED THE TWO SHOWS. THEN THEY HAD BABIES.AND MORE BABIES.IF IT WASN’T FOR THE “MEAT”ON THE SHOWS MOST MEN AND WOMEN WOULDN’T WATCH ANYMORE.YOU MUST BE RUNNING OUT OF 1\2 MILLION DOLLAR HOMES TO REDO ROOMS IN.GOD KNOWS THERE AREN’T ANY 60- 125′000 HOMES THAT COULD USE SOME WORK.BESIDES THESE PEOPLE WORK HARD.THEY CAN’T GET THE TIME OFF OF THEIR SUCKY BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN JOBS TO DO THE SHOW.THAT EXSTRA MONEY THEY MAKE WORKING TWO JOBS GIVES THEM LOTS OF MONEY TO DO IT THEM SELVES.MAYBE THEY’RE NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO FALL FOR THE FREE TRIP AND “JOE” STICKING A CAMERA UP THEIR ASS FOR TWO DAYS.THE MAN DRAW IS GONE, THE GIRLS.ANDREW IS GONE FOR THE WOMEN.THEIR IS THE MUSCLE HEAD CARPENTER.AND WHATS WITH THE JIM CAREY CLONE.PLEASE!!!! OR IS HE FOR THE GUYS THAT DIDN’T LIKE THE GIRLS????? CANCEL THEM ALL.THIS WOULD GIVE YOU ATLEAST 23 HOURS A DAY FOR NEW SHOWS.
August 24th, 2005 at 11:59 PM
Greetings:
I’m trying to track down family…my grandmother’s name was Renata Bocci.
Thanks for whatever answer.
Tom
November 21st, 2005 at 4:42 PM
Yeh i love a.b.b. lol i have no idea if that’s what your still talking about though…..
November 23rd, 2005 at 8:11 PM
Rachel-
What is a.b.b.? Just out of curiosity? And yes, I’m the same Steven that wrote the two comments above just 4 comments ago! LOL!
November 24th, 2005 at 5:04 AM
I think I just saw Anna Bocci on another Petsmart commercial! It’s a Christmas commercial and she’s at a computer smirking at her jumping dog.
November 24th, 2005 at 4:37 PM
Rachel-
What is a.b.b.? Just out of curiosity? And yes, I’m that same Steven!
October 27th, 2007 at 12:47 PM
just saw anna on a nyquil commercial, the one with the “blind rooster”, ha, if you know what i’m talking about.
January 14th, 2008 at 8:50 PM
She’s in an insurance commercial and at the end says, “That’s no ficus.”
November 21st, 2008 at 6:23 PM
Anna seems to be the queen of commercials now. I never seen an actor/actress appear in so many different commercials. the most recent i have seen is where the woman bought all her holiday deco at kmart. Everytime I spie her I saw her name–it’s fun to say