While on our set visit of the show Melissa & Joey, I not only got to walk around the set and see them in action, I also got the chance to chat with Joey Lawrence and Melissa Joan Hart. Oh, did I mention that I also took a selfie with each of them? Yep. That happened.
Check out what Melissa Joan Hart had to say about Melissa & Joey, her character and motherhood.
How is your character’s marriage different than other comedies on TV?
In a lot of Comedies where it’s a married couple, the Female is the one that’s the sort of nagging one. The wife is the smart one or she’s the one that’s keeping the family together and the husband gets to be total fruitcake. In this show, I get to be the fruitcake so I love that. That’s what I wanted.
I was so afraid when they were getting these Characters together that I’d all of a sudden have to become the strong center pole where funny things happen around me but not to me, which is what happened on Sabrina. I felt like I didn’t like playing that Character for that reason. I didn’t feel like I didn’t get a lot of opportunity to be a goofball. But on this one, I get to be a complete lush and completely self centered.
Even though the dynamic of the Show has changed 3 times, I still get to play that Character.
What experience from being a Mom have you brought to your role on this Show?
The exact opposite. Everything that I know about being a Mom, I try to do the exact opposite of my instincts for Mel cause she doesn’t know.
She didn’t have a baby. It’s so different when you have a baby and you raise a baby, and they become these little people, and you know their personalities all throughout. Then all of a sudden, you’re given Teenagers and you’ve known them and you’ve spoiled and they’ve been your Niece and Nephews and you spoiled them your whole life.
What is a live taping like?
It’s like a Pizza Party. There’s Disco lights up here that go off and there’s a DJ.
What’s the crew like?
We have a really great crew, it’s been a pretty tight crew for all these years.
What’s it like balancing your career and motherhood?
My family is on the East Coast so this is a whole other obstacle for me now
Do they come out to visit you in LA?
They’re here right now. Every since I had my third son, they come with me now. They’re in School here half the year … and then I’ll be here by myself for 6 weeks. It’s harder on me but it’s better for them.
Be sure to check back later this week for my interview with Joey Lawrence!
Melissa & Joey Synopsis
Melissa & Joey is a half-hour comedy that follows Mel, the grown-up former wild child of a political family, who is now a local politician herself. When her sister ends up in prison and her brother-in-law flees after a scandal hits, Mel must take responsibility for her teenaged niece, Lennox, and nephew, Ryder. Help comes in the unlikely form of Joe, who moves in and becomes the family’s manny.
Melissa and Joey will be back on ABC Family this Wednesday, 1/14 at 8:00pm/8:00c so don’t forget to tune in.
