Friends come first for 'My Boys' star

For those who have overdosed on "Sex and the City" mania, we have the perfect antidote: the third-season premiere of TBS' "My Boys," the thoroughly enjoyable, easygoing sitcom about P.J. Franklin, a single woman in Chicago who puts friendship and career ahead of fashion and romance. The contrast is so sharp that last season's best episode had the show's heroine reuniting with her old college buddy who had moved to Manhattan and transformed herself into a Carrie Bradshaw clone. The episode's title: "Douchebag in the City."

Jordana Spiro, the 31-year-old star of the show, spoke to us recently by phone about "Sex" and whether her character, P.J., will have any this season:

Q The new season opens with you in Italy. Did you actually get to shoot there?

A Hell, no. That would be a two-hour special. We work for TBS. That was just the magic of Hollywood.

Q I'm having a little problem hearing you. Are you in a tunnel?

A I don't know why. The phone from my private jet should work just fine.

Q OK, now I can hear you. So, how excited are you about the "Sex and the City" movie?

Q When "My Boys" first started, there were a lot of comparisons and contrasts between the two shows. What do you see as the differences?

A Our concerns are different. I'm not a huge "Sex and the City" fan, but every time I tune in for an episode, it's about sex. I don't think that's really a top concern for P.J. She would like to find a boyfriend, and that's a lot of what this season is going to be about, but it has got to be someone who will not disturb her life and her friendships. She's pretty rigid in her traditions and doesn't shake them too much. She doesn't want a guy who's going to pull her away from her weekly poker table. In that way, she's very male.

Q What's that supposed to mean?

A I grew up in Manhattan, and there was a never-ending battle between my mom and dad about food. It's one of the greatest cities in the world for new restaurants, and my mom always wanted to try them, but for my dad, there was nothing outside of Sichuan Palace, H&H Bagels and the Starship Diner. Maybe it was just my parents, but that's where I got the idea that guys stick more to routine.

Q When the show first started, P.J. was often described as a tomboy. Fair?

Q I liked that episode because we got to see P.J. in a hot dress. That doesn't happen very often.

A It's great to play a character who prefers sneakers and jeans, that's kind of slouchy, that doesn't think it's a big deal if she loses or gains 10 pounds. Of course, as an actress, you want to stretch. I would love to be able to play another character that's the complete opposite.

Q In the show, P.J. covers the Chicago Cubs for the Sun-Times. Are you a baseball fan?

A I wasn't, but when the show started I put a lot of attention toward getting to know baseball, especially early on, when the show was more sports heavy. Before we started shooting, I bought two sets of tickets for Cubs games, one where I sat in the bleachers and another where I sat behind home plate. They were two vastly different experiences that were really cool.

Q We should probably wrap things up ...