Romantically Challenged's Alyssa Milano Interview

[Janice]

http://bostonherald.com/entertainmen...icleid=1250026

'Challenged’ by comedy

New sitcom allows Milano to relive romantic awkwardness

You might find this hard to believe, but Alyssa Milano considers herself to be socially awkward.

It’s a trait the actress shares with her newest onscreen alter ego.

Milano plays Rebecca, a recently divorced lawyer who hasn’t been on a date since the Clinton administration, in the new ABC sitcom “Romantically Challenged”.

“It’s about four best friends who are looking for their happily-ever-after,” Milano told the Herald in a recent telephone interview from her home outside Los Angeles. “They’re trying to help each other and navigate the crazy world of dating.”

So Rebecca has a difficult time maneuvering through the single life. But how could anyone believe that Milano, with her cover-girl looks and successful career, could be romantically challenged?

“I didn’t go to a normal high school,” she said. “I didn’t have any friends my age until I was in my early 20s. I always felt socially awkward.”

Milano - an admitted baseball fanatic who professes a love for Fenway Park [map] and whose signature can be found somewhere inside the Green Monster - grew up in front of the cameras on the ’80s Tony Danza sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” and has worked steadily since. While her career may have led to fewer, or different, dating opportunities, she said her experiences help her channel Rebecca.

“I think people can watch this show and find characteristics of themselves in the characters,” she said. “I’m happily married now, but I truly think it’s because my husband and I were such good friends before we started dating. We never really had to date. I’m convinced he asked me to marry him because he never had to date me.”

Heading back to a television series, her first since “Charmed” ended in 2006, was also an opportunity to work with director James Burrows. Burrows, with his countless comedy credits (“Cheers,” “Friends,” “Will & Grace”), is someone Milano has wanted to work with for years.

“What he does is spend a lot of time listening to how scenes play out instead of watching,” she said. “I think he does that for the comedic rhythm. I think I’ve learned the importance of rhythm from just watching him listen.”

When taping began, Milano found herself thinking back to the earliest days of her career.

“It was almost a sensory memory,” she said of working in front of a live studio audience on tape night. “That feeling you get an hour before the show of excitement and butterflies in your stomach. They were all feelings that were very familiar to me.”

Learning to work on timing with fellow cast members is something particular to comedy, she said.

“There’s a lot more thinking that has to happen in comedy,” she said.

“Especially in front of a live audience, because you’re holding for the laugh. You can rehearse something for four days, and certain times, something doesn’t get a laugh. All of a sudden, in front of a live audience, something you didn’t think would get a laugh gets a laugh. You have to be on your toes and wait for it. Comedy really is a dance.”
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