Phone Conference with Jenna Elfman, Claudia Lonow, and Mary Pols of "Accidentally on Purpose"

Tonight I had the opportunity of being on a conference call with talented writer Mary F. Pols who wrote her life story "Accidentally on Purpose" and talented comedic actress Jenna Elfman who will be taking the lead in the CBS TV series based on the book. Also on the line was Claudia Lonow, the Executive Producer of the show. Thanks to Bonny & Beth from Role Mommy.com for the invite!

Here's a little about Mary's true life story:

At thirty-nine, movie critic Mary Pols knew she wanted to have a baby. But never—not in a million years—on her own. To take on the physical, emotional and financial challenges of motherhood without a perfect soul mate/husband would be absurd, kind of like not bothering to use a condom during a one-night stand with an adorable but jobless guy ten years her junior.

Click Here to learn more about Mary F. Pols and her unique life as a long-time movie critic and free-lance journalist living in Northern California with her son Dolan.

As a reminder to my previous post about this new TV show on Monday nights, read below:

ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE is a comedy starring Golden Globe Award winner Jenna Elfman as Billie, a single woman who finds herself "accidentally" pregnant after a one-night stand with a much younger guy, and decides to keep the baby… and the guy.  A newspaper film critic, Billie is barely surviving a humiliating breakup with her charming boss, James (Grant Show), who's still trying to resume their relationship.  Suddenly expecting a child with her "boy toy," Zack (Jon Foster), Billie and Zack make an arrangement: to live together platonically. Billie's party girl best friend Olivia (Ashley Jensen), and Abby (Lennon Parham), her conventional, younger married sister, eagerly look forward to the new addition and offer their own brands of advice and encouragement.  But when Zack and his freeloading friends, including Davis (Nicolas Wright), start to turn her place into a frat house, Billie isn't sure if she's living with a boyfriend, a roommate, or if she just has another child to raise.

And now, for interview highlights:

(Questions from a variety of great bloggers are in bold with abbreviated answers following):

To Jenna: What appealed to you about the character?

Jenna: There was so much about it that was not me that I wanted to be her. . . .I thought her voice, charm and wit were so unique and fresh I couldn't stop thinking about it after I read it. I wanted to be that funny person.

Why did you pick TV again?

Jenna: I think of all my endeavors.  . . There is a real enjoyment factor I get out expressing myself comedically.

Mary, how much input have you had?

Mary: It was optioned before it was published. . . .I didn't have a lot to do with it.. . .It proceeded along and I said to myself "This isn't really going to happen." I didn't believe it until I was on the set.

Book very thoughtful and intimate. Show pretty comedic. Is the show going to tackle difficult issues?

Claudia: We are going to handle some of the issues and maintain the comedic parts. Underneath all the comedy, there are some real issues. We will and we are attempting to do so.

Jenna, Happy Birthday! Of all the roles you have done, how is it to portray another person – who is on the set?

Jenna: I wouldn't leave her side when she was there. . . . I feel very fortunate to have two smart witty women contributing to the show. Because it is a comedy, it has its own DNA that Claudia has created. I plan to portray it with my own life force.

Mary: It gets weirder and weirder seeing people portraying the people from my life. It is one thing to write the show, which Claudia is brilliant doing, but seeing how much people add to the part, is [amazing].

Claudia: I am protective of how Mary feels. . . .The first show I created on Showtime was Rude Awakening which was semi-autobiographical. I was protective of myself. . . .I am happy Mary is happy with the project but that we can add our own input.

Mary: I am glad I am not writing this story because . . .she is a different character than me. I am curious how it will evolve.

Your family had varied reactions to your role as a single mom. How are they reacting to it becoming a show?

Mary: They are laughing . . .and happy their names won't be in it. They are enjoying it. We all think, if our father were alive, this would be entirely different. I am rolling with it and so are they.

Claudia: When I made Rude Awakening, I made the mom not based on my mom but my mom got so into it she told people she was that mom.

Mary: My sister facebooked the woman playing her . . .Only person not happy is Matt.

How do you deal with Matt's differences?

Mary: This is Claudia's baby and she reshaped it . . . .though I think it would be great to show him without a job.

Claudia: It mirrored my own experience of dating a younger man and he was a sous chef, not a "fry cook" at a restaurant. These are some of the changes you have to make for a broadcast show.

I am a mother. I work from home. How do you balance?

Mary: I am making puntesca (or dinner) for Dolan right now.

Jenna: I am stuffing my face with Cheez-its.

Mary: I haven't been a perfect mother but most days he gets a vegetable. I stay up really late. If I ever write another book, I will have to stay up really, really late.

Jenna: My husband is a saint helping out with Story and does night duty so I can get some sleep for the show. .. We film for three weeks and have a week off. Whenever I have time off, I am with him, even if it is an hour on the set. The main thing is making sure we are together.

Mary: I get tons of help from Mat
t, especially when I wanted to see a movie last night.

Claudia: You get to see movies?

Does it hurt to play a cougar (or older woman)?

Jenna: No pain here. I am in great place.

How you get through a day when personalities clash?

Jenna: With this show we are all totally tight. We are buddies. That is so rare – to be surrounded by such cool people. It is not always the case. I can't believe how much respect there is. It is already like a family.

Claudia: One of the reasons the cast is getting along so well is because of Jenna. . . . . She made it her job to make sure they were bonding as a cast. I am grateful for her. It comes across on the screen that people really like each other.

Jenna, Why do you collect dictionaries? How is this different from the character Dharma?

Jenna: I like to see the different, articulate definitions in old ones. . . .They inspire me. . . .Having a child has changed me in the most beautiful way. It took some doing to find a role for me now as a comedic actor.. . When I read this, I knew there was the joy I find essential but wit and a newness. I went. . I can do this. I had to find out where homebase was to me as a character. . . .I didn't realize I was going to do comedy. I grew up doing wacky things.

Mary: The first thing I thought about Jenna is she's cute and fun and warm. I was grateful it was her. You don't know what is going to happen. My family tried tasking who might play this. It was sad who they thought may play it, i.e. Janine Garafolo who is brilliant and funny but not me. Friends will say things like Jenna is blonde and you are brunette.

Jenna: I am not naturally blonde anyway.

Mary: [On other similarities]. . . Matt and Jon both just grew a beard. Funny to see a boss/ex-lover since I wasn't seeing anyone else. Jenna's character gets laid a lot more than I do.

What do you think about being on primetime Monday night?

Mary: I believed it was great so I am incredibly excited. It was more than I imagined. You should see my nails right now.

How will the show handle the pregnancy?

Claudia: It will progress along like a real pregnancy. I hope we can deal with it in a way we haven't see before – dates while pregnant, etc. The finale will be her having the baby. It will follow the natural course and she will be pregnant.

Any dumb mom moments?

Mary: I put Dolan in the car and locked myself out of my house while he was locked in car. Matt saved me with an extra key. I had visions of social services taking him away.

Mary, as a single mom, what made you decide to bare so many dirty secrets, emotions, etc. in your book?

I was thinking "write the truth" including all sides. I was asked if I was embarrassed. You can't be too honest. The books I want to read are ones that expose truth about human beings. What makes people tick? Flaws are there. It is a learning process. You do what you can.You can't regret a book. What are you going to do? Buy up all the copies?

Mary, when your son becomes older, how will you feel about him reading it?

Mary – I am not sure he will. A lot of writers say that when kids are young. By the time he would read it, there won't be too many surprises. He will see sex and doubt but hopefully take away love.

As a mom of 3 boys myself, do you have an tips for moms (new or experienced):

Claudia: Take back all the clothes 0-3 mos. They are gone in a second.

Mary: Breastfeed in bed. One boob is now bigger.

Jenna: I let him have control over his belongings, his motions . . . . within reason and safety. I consider his determinism a lot. I remember feeling young and feeling like I had no rights, even though my parents are awesome. He is a very confident, able kid and it has been a successful tool.

Claudia: Just because you hear things are going to happen remember those things are not necessarily going to happen. Teenagers might not become monsters.

How do you protect your kids from the press?

Jenna: We live a normal life. When the show hits, there might be more press but I don't know. If you let press have a shot, they go away. I don't take him places he will be photographed a lot.

Mary, how has your life changed since the show has come out? Are you writing?

Mary: Day-to-day my life has not changed at all. I have the same concerns I had before. A mom asked for a playdate with Dolan because she read my book and decided I was okay. . . . I still have all these goals. I can't believe I wrote a book knowing how difficult it is. . .

Enjoy the show!

(If I had one more question to ask, I would have asked Claudia if Mary or her family will be doing any cameos on the set? Mary, if you read this, do you know?)