The TV Land network has a fresh idea with its new show, Happily Divorced. A florist from L.A. ends her 18-year old marriage when she finds out her husband is gay. It's loosely based on the real-life adventures of Fran Drescher and her ex-husband, Peter Marc Jacobson, who worked together on the successful sitcom The Nanny.
The television icon had a quick chat about the concept and supporting her gay friends.
Windy City Times: Hi, Fran. I just watched your first two episodes and they were very entertaining.
Fran Drescher: Great.
Windy City Times: How does it feel to have the show out there and people watching it?
Fran Drescher: It feels good. The numbers are strong and we are getting a very positive response. I feel that all of the hard work has paid off. We worked so hard to try and make it good. I went on the mother of all press tours in New York last week and came right back into shooting another show so I would feel defeated if people weren't enjoying it. It is good to hear that it is well received.
Windy City Times: You should come to Chicago and promote.
Fran Drescher: I was there quite recently. I did the Oprah Winfrey Show. I love Chi-Town. I don't know when I will get back there but it might not be until my children's book comes out in the late fall.
Windy City Times: Keep me posted on that. It is very interesting that you drew from your life and made this into a show.
Fran Drescher: You know I always write about what I do and draw from my real life experiences. Over the past decade Peter and I have evolved into a new version of ourselves and each other. It seemed like it was fertile ground for a fresh relationship to explore in writing for the screenplay. I was approached to pitch ideas over for a series. People wanted ideas for a story that I could star in. I said that would have to be my gay ex-husband and our friendship and how he helps me with my dates.
Windy City Times: Gay sitcoms have now evolved from Will & Grace. There are all types of relationships out there on television now.
Fran Drescher: Yes, absolutely. It is the 21st century and I am happy to say that we are living in a society where God willing things are becoming more tolerant. I am glad to see that New York passed gay marriage. I was very involved in trying to overturn Prop 8 in California. It is unfortunate that there are people that are prejudiced but I think we are moving in a positive direction. I hope there is a change into the integration of gays for a normal part of the human experience.
Windy City Times: The gay community appreciates you being a big supporter of our rights.
Fran Drescher: Civil liberties is a big platform of mine and I am proud to say that I won the Ally for Equality Award for the Human Rights Campaign.
Windy City Times: Congrats on that. How is it working with the cast on Happily Divorced? You have Rita Moreno playing your mother.
Fran Drescher: She is fantastic. Everyone on the cast is great. It is just a wonderful experience. I love everybody. Everybody is mature and at a place in their life and appreciate the good fortune that we have particularly with this comedy, to be working with such talented people. We have such quality writers. We are just all appreciative and happy.
Windy City Times: You play a florist. Do you have a green thumb and good with plants?
Fran Drescher: I love arranging flowers. I am not really a gardener. Peter was always the gardener but I love arranging flowers. We were looking for an occupation that would keep us close to the home and give us the opportunity to have nice flowers in the house. It is a pretty set and I enjoy it.
Windy City Times: Having such a huge success with The Nanny, is comedy like this easy for you?
Fran Drescher: We are finding our ground on the show in the same way that we did in The Nanny. The first year is really critical with building a foundation and developing a formula. We have all of the great writers from The Nanny working on this. I think they are succeeding. This is a little more mature and adult of a show. It is about something. The global message of The Nanny was it doesn't matter what you look like or sound like but it is what is in your heart that counts. The global message of this show is love is love.
Windy City Times: Is there a member in your family that you talk similarly to?
Fran Drescher: Probably my mom and my sister all have similar voices.
Windy City Times: Are you doing any more stage acting? I know you did Love, Loss and What I Wore.
Fran Drescher: Yeah, that was the last play I did. I love doing theatre. I can't right now because the show is all-consuming. It is all I can do to portion out time just to keep myself looking presentable and exercise. Even to find a small amount of culture and socializing to rejuvenate me is a miracle.
Windy City Times: You look amazing. How do you do it?
Fran Drescher: I work seven days a week on the show. I am going on a hike this morning. At three o'clock I have reflexology. That is the way I do it. I make a plan and that forces me to finish by a clock.
Windy City Times: Well, thanks so much for taking time to talk to me today. Great to see you back on TV.
Fran Drescher: I appreciate that. Thank you!
New episodes of Happily Divorced air every Wednesday. Details and listings are at www.tvland.com .
