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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on 'Ellie' comebackWatching Julia
Editor's Note: CNN Access is a regular feature on CNN.com providing interviews with newsmakers from around the world.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- For years, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been making us laugh, first on "Saturday Night Live," and then as the incredibly self-absorbed, yet charming and lovable Elaine Benes on "Seinfeld." Now she plays a lounge singer in L.A. in her own NBC sitcom. "Watching Ellie" is back for a second season after a short run last year. DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The show has undergone a little makeover, shall we say, and the star herself, Julia Louis-Dreyfus [is] with us to talk about that. It's a pleasure to meet you in person. You've been in my living room for many, many years. JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS: Oh well, it's nice to be here on your set. KAGAN: "Watching Ellie," if at first you don't get it completely right, you get a second chance to come back and make some changes. LOUIS-DREYFUS: Well, we're on for a second season, so we've made -- not too many changes this season, actually... KAGAN: Live audience. LOUIS-DREYFUS: We have an audience this season, and that's really the most notable change. KAGAN: That helps, and you're trying to do some different things like have the clock, but that went away, the clock on the screen went away last season. LOUIS-DREYFUS: The clock on the screen went away about halfway through the season last season, because we all found it kind of irritating. KAGAN: But you tried something new, so good for you. You also tried doing it with just one camera, but now there's three cameras. LOUIS-DREYFUS: Well, actually there are many cameras. We're doing everything. We're sort of hybrid, because a couple of days a week, we're shooting it single camera, like we did last season, and then we're also shooting it in front of an audience, so we're trying to do it all and make it work. KAGAN: And doing a big push. And trying to go for that success. So many try to make that -- you had such success with "Seinfeld." That's such a high bar to match, and then people try to come with the "Seinfeld" curse. Do you get sick of that, hearing about that? LOUIS-DREYFUS: Well, I think it's just a sexy phrase that sort of caught on. I don't think it means anything, really. Except that it's really hard to have success in show business, period. KAGAN: The odds are so stacked against. LOUIS-DREYFUS: Always, no matter what you're doing. So it's important -- I don't want to say keep it in mind, but that's the reality. KAGAN: So it's hard enough anyway, there is a lot of pressure. This is a family affair for you. You're doing it with your husband [Brad Hall]? LOUIS-DREYFUS: Yes, my husband creates this show, and he's executive the producer, and my sister plays my sister. If my grandmother hadn't passed away, I suppose she would be the show, too. KAGAN: You'd find work for her as well. But how is that, keeping it altogether with the family? LOUIS-DREYFUS: It's nice. We're all very close, it's a very congenial group, and my husband and I have very similar tastes. We have a clear vision for what we want for the show, so it feels good. I think it's just lovely. KAGAN: On a personal note, how do you work all day with your husband, your sister, and then you go home, you've got kids, you've got the grocery list to worry about and you've got to decorate the house. How do you separate those things? LOUIS-DREYFUS: With some difficulty, but we do it. We just try to keep work out of the house and keep the groceries in the house. KAGAN: And just shoot for that high level. Well, good luck with the sitcom. "Watching Ellie" is on tonight on NBC. You want to give us a little preview of what tonight's episode is about? LOUIS-DREYFUS: Actually, tonight is a particularly funny episode because Ellie has a date with a guy she hasn't seen in a year that she used to have a crush on. And things have changed in a year when she sees him. KAGAN: That they have. Good luck with that. It's not even past our bedtime for me and Bill. We can make it up that late. So we appreciate the early evening entertainment. LOUIS-DREYFUS: Oh, you're so welcome. Anything I can do. KAGAN: Thanks for being with us. LOUIS-DREYFUS: Thank you.
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We just try to keep work out of the house and keep the groceries in the house.
