Jaime Pressly and Katie Finneran on I Hate My Teenage Daughter: "We're Developing Two Characters That Really Love Each Other"

On February 29, 2012, FOX held a press call with Jaime Pressly and Katie Finneran ahead of the March 6th return of I Hate My Teenage Daughter to the network's Tuesday night comedy lineup. The show, which premiered in fall 2011, follows two best friends navigating single motherhood and daughters who are everything they weren't in high school. Pressly and Finneran talked about the chemistry that made them feel like an old married couple on set, why they actively pushed back against cattiness in the writing, and what it's like shooting a live-audience comedy when one of you has been pregnant — or breastfeeding, or pregnant again — for the entire run. Premier Guide Miami was among the outlets on the call.

We're developing two characters that really love each other and want the best for each other at all times.

An old married couple — who don't realize they're holding hands

The chemistry between Pressly and Finneran was the first thing that came up — and the most consistent theme throughout the call. Finneran described it simply: "We just love working together. We're just trying to develop something like two friends that have great synergy, great chemistry, great special comedy with each other." Pressly added a detail that had become a running joke on set: "I always stand on the left and she always stands on the right. It's like we're a couple, like an old married couple. By the time the interview is over we'll look at each other and we're literally arms around each other in the back and front hands are holding. It's almost like we're getting ready to make out. I don't know what it is, but it's a comfort thing." Pressly also noted that the dynamic mirrored a real friendship: "My best friend since I was five's name is Katie Mack. The chemistry between Katie Finneran and I is very similar to the chemistry my friend Katie Mack and I have. It's just very easy and comforting and supportive."

Pushing back against cattiness

Both women were candid about one thing they actively resisted in the writing: the kind of mean-girl dynamic that shows up so often in female-led comedies. Finneran put it directly: "You see a lot of acidity and meanness on television between women. There's a lot of catty sort of making fun of each other. Whenever the writers write something like that, we always like to influence them to say, 'I would never put her down like that. I would make fun of her knowing that she's going to laugh at herself, but I would never make her feel bad about herself. I would never steal her man.' Those are not women that we want to portray." Pressly agreed: "It's a supporting thing instead of cattiness. These two characters are just trying really hard to do the best they can as single moms. Being a parent is never easy. You're going to make mistakes and it's comforting to know that there is somebody standing by your side that's going to pat you on the back and tell you it's okay."

Pregnant brain — the whole time

One of the funnier threads of the call involved Finneran's ongoing pregnancy situation. Pressly laid it out: "When we shot the pilot, baby Ty was only seven weeks old. When we came back and actually started shooting the series she was still breastfeeding, so she still had pregnant brain. By the time we were finishing up, she was pregnant again. She's not really had a break." Finneran laughed it off: "I'm always pregnant. We hope there's a difference going into a second season. I'll have no excuse if I'm not better." Pressly: "Oh, there will be."

The live audience — and why it matters

Both women were enthusiastic about shooting in front of a live audience. Pressly explained the practical value: "When a joke doesn't work we have the opportunity to take a little time out, the writers can rewrite the joke, and then we get to try it again. By the time the show airs we know that it's funny because the audience has already told us. We have the opportunity to fix it." Finneran added the emotional dimension: "It's your one sort of rollercoaster day. You have one very heightened day, which for us is Tuesday night. When you get that high it's a wonderful feeling and a great feeling of accomplishment. When you're shooting single camera you're just there for 16 or 17 hours a day and you're just kind of tired. There's no high." On dream guest stars, Pressly had a specific wish: "Christine Baranski — I just think she is such a perfect fit to play Katie's mom." Finneran's pick: "Helen Mirren." I Hate My Teenage Daughter returned to FOX on Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at 8:30/7:30 p.m. Central.

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