Jenna Elfman (Getty Images)

Watching the taping of Jenna Elfman’s new show was a blast. Her bright comedic talent had found a home in Accidentally On Purpose, in which a late-30s-ish gal has a one night stand with a 20s-ish guy and gets pregnant, perhaps accidentally on purpose. It was fun to watch Jenna and cast doing their short little scenes, so relaxed…they’d do the scene, “Cut,” said the director, they’d laugh and joke around, visit with friends, get a little added makeup…  Her husband Bodhi was there that night with their two-year-old, absolutely adorable Story — spitting image of momma but totally tied to his daddy’s heart. Bodhi can hardly put that little one down.

I was watching with double delight.  Jenna saw me sitting in the front row with the audience, she and Bodhi came over to give me the news: This pregnancy…it was for real! Story will have a little sis/bro, and I will have another great-grandchild! Since I am not only literary editor of Buzzine but granny to Bodhi and Jenna, I have followed her career for many years, know her to be the same bubbly, upbeat, funny, talented lady she seems on the screen. So I asked to do the interview for a new star in a new show, a story that will will capture the audience’s heart just the way Dharma did. Dharma is still re-running around the world, actually. This new character is a bit more down-to-earth — funny but also heart-touching as the gal who is not upset by this one-night-stand pregnancy and finds that the young man she absolutely did not hold responsible chooses to be father to this baby, and he’s not only young but handsome and appealing. Well, how on earth is this going to work out, since her old boyfriend, owner of the paper for which she reviews film — a guy her age — is also still interested. Can’t wait for the next episode!

Clare Elfman: The world knows you as Dharma, and the series is still playing in reruns here and abroad. What was it that drew you to the new story?

Jenna Elfman: What drew me to Accidentally On Purpose was the type of humor. I thought the character’s mix of willingness to engage in life combined with her ongoing sarcasm about herself and the situation she gets into was an interesting combination. Not 100% sarcasm, not 100% desperate — a mixture that I thought was witty and funny.

CE: I just heard the wonderful news of your real pregnancy. Did you plan the pregnancy to go along with the character on the show?

JE: I did plan it, only because I knew I wouldn’t have to hide it on the show, so if I was going to have a second child, now would be the time. Timing fortuitous.

Jenna Elfman (Getty Images)

CE: Does being pregnant make your work day more difficult?

JE: Yeah, I find myself being a lot more tired doing the show, promoting the show, and then going home to a pre-schooler. But it’s a problem of riches, really.

CE: Your comedy is so unique. How did you get started in comedy? What was the first role?

JE: When I got an agent, I did a guest-role on Less Than Perfect, which was a show with Nancy Travis. Then I did a guest-role on Roseanne. But my first series regular role was Townies, and that was when I got noticed. I never realized my future was going to be in comedy. I think when I was a kid, I loved comedy and I was inclined toward it. But once I got an agent, I just wanted to work as an actor. “I’ll do anything — comedy, drama…” I wasn’t specifically bent toward comedy. My first series was a comedy, and I think that’s where I realized I could do comedy. People responded to my comedy, and from that role, I got the development deal with 20th Century Fox, and out of that came Dharma and Greg.

CE: What is a typical work day like for Accidentally on Purpose? Do the actors ever get to improvise, or is it totally by script?

JE: I love the writing too much — I don’t have a problem following the script. However, if I have thought of a way that would make it feel more organic for me as the character, I absolutely bring that up, and the writers and I work together to make it right.

CE: Now you have this great two-year-old, Story. How do he and Bodhi fit into the work life? How do you put family and work together to make it come out right?

JE: I usually look a day ahead. Okay, what’s my schedule tomorrow? When am I going to be with my husband and child in a way that is worthwhile and meaningful? So it’s kind of an everyday thing. I arrange my schedule so I can be with them.  Story comes on the set a lot. Bodhi and Story come every Friday night at dinner before we tape the show.

CE: Has Story seen you act? He’s only two. Does he understand what acting means?

JE:  He says, “Mommy acting.” He totally gets it.

CE:  What’s the most fun about this particular story for you? How is it meaningful?

JE: I think it’s this particular family situation. In sitcoms, you always have unique situations, often in the form of a family, in one shape or another. Even in Friends, they were like family. But the fact of a woman getting pregnant from a one-night-stand and they stay in each other’s lives — they’re not having a romantic friendship — this whole situation, I thought, was unique. And this woman having the child was timely in our culture right now.

CE: What draws you most to the character?

JE: I love the way she can make fun of herself — she’s self-doubting but she has tremendous willingness reach in and get involved in life and its experiences. She’s not withdrawing from life, even though she’s doubting herself along the way. I also love that she has this confidence to face whatever she’s got herself into. I find it charming that she’s not this one-note sarcastic, cynical person. She has a lot of joy.

CE: How does your view of life and your character’s view of life differ? How do you see family life?

JE: I see family life as a huge, vital necessity and a very important part of my life that really enhances and nurtures me, and I enjoy nurturing back. I think this character has yet to discover that glory. I think she’s really caught up in this awkward and confusing situation she’s got herself into.

CE: What would you say has been most influential in your career? What were your early influences?

JE: I always had the goal of being an entertainer — something I knew from a young age. I wanted to influence people positively — create a good effect on people — because I think this world is a crazy place, and if you can make someone’s day a bit brighter, that’s valuable. My earliest influence was my dancing because, for me, comedy is rhythmic. I like doing physical comedy, and my dance training allows me to access that and gives me a sense of rhythm. My mom and dad were always supportive and went out of their way to encourage it and always backed me in my endeavors.

CE: I know you have interests outside of the TV screen — that you’re an activist. What are those interests?

JE: This may seem like a non-sequitur for what people would expect me to be interested in, but I really care about criminal rehabilitation. I think our prison systems are barbaric and ineffective. They don’t genuinely turn people around into contributing, ethical members of society.  It’s not being soft on crime, but what are we going to do to help them turn their lives around? The viewpoint is supportive of victims’ rights because those victims don’t want these guys getting out of prison and doing the same things to other people. It’s also being tough on crime but in an effective way. If you really want to be tough on crime, you want to turn the individual around to where they get out and get a job and be worth something. Many of them have drug problems, literacy issues…these things can be resolved, and I don’t feel there are enough effective programs, and that’s what I work on.

CE: You have such an upbeat view of life, and it shows in your roles. You’re just so bouncy and so much fun.

JE: I’ve always felt a joy for life. I have always loved people and been interested in people and life in every aspect. I’ve been studying Scientology for 18 years, and it helps me maintain being myself and strip away the stuff that is not me so I can continue to grow and expand as myself and maintain the joy I came into this world with.

CE: If you were going to give advice to young actors, what would you say?

JE: My two main pieces of advice would be: Be very clear for yourself of what you want to accomplish and what’s true for you. Then stay true to that goal, go after it, and constantly educate yourself along those lines. Don’t give up. Don’t let others influence you negatively. Be clear of what you want, because if you’re very clear, it makes you unshakable to other influences. It makes you impervious to people’s other intentions.

CE: Anything else you’d like to say to the Buzzine audience?

JE: I’d like to acknowledge Buzzine because it’s very supportive of artists and never takes a cynical or attacking stance.  I recognize that and I’m grateful for it.

Accidentally On Purpose Official Site

Mondays 8:30 p.m./7:30 p.m. CST