Lisa Edelstein Interview: ‘Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce and House Finale | TVLine 

Lisa Edelstein one of my favorite interview subjects. Mere seconds into our discussion about Season 2 of her Bravo rom-com

MVP hands me a beautifully gift-wrapped spoiler about Episode 4, airing Dec. 22.

The installment, written by co-star Paul Adelstein, is “a standalone hour about Abby and Jake,” she tells me. “They send the kids away, stay at home for the weekend and just explore what their relationship is. It’s

good. To me, it’s what this show is about — two people whose relationship ended but still love each other but can’t be together. It’s heartbreaking.”

Edelstein’s unprompted scoop set the tone for a spirited Q&A about not only Abby’s looming existential crisis, but also her then-controversial departure from

TVLINE | It’s clear Jake and Abby belong together, but if that happens it sort of nullifies the premise of the show. Is it tricky to keep that tension alive in a way that feels real?

Not really, because it’s that tension that makes the show interesting. When you divorce and you have children, your divorce is never over. You always have to find a way to move through life together, because you have to co-parent. And, eventually, people try to keep their boundaries really strong, but Abby and Jake have definitely not figured that out.

TVLINE | How much of this season is about that relationship?

Jake goes off to Latvia to shoot that independent film for a while this season, so it’s not

about Jake and Abby. And then what Abby is left with is herself. Without divorce to point at, she’s left with the real problem, which is, “Who is she and what the hell is she doing with her life?”

TVLINE | How is Abby going to react to the news that Becca is pregnant with Jake’s child?

It’s complicated. It’s not just that she’s pregnant, it’s that he hasn’t

 her. They’re both keeping secrets from each other.

TVLINE | Speaking of which, does Abby love Will?

Abby loves Will, but she needs to fight for her family if she has the chance. One is a new love and one is an old love with children. And while the new love is exciting and sexy and intoxicating, this other love is historical and there’s a family structure.

alum] Retta represents a grittier, arguably more realistic perspective of the modern-day divorcee. Was that the show’s way of saying, “Yes, we know Abby has ‘white people problems…\'”

I think so. [Series creator] Marti [Noxon] recognized that some people were like, “Well, that’s not what

divorce looks like.” And she wanted people to know that she knew that. Divorce looks like a lot of different things. Sure this is an aspirational show, but we also wanted to make sure that another story was being told, about people who don’t have a wealthy divorce and are not having as good a time and really struggling. What’s nice about Retta’s character is it [forces] Abby to have to defend an idea that she really isn’t living. She is the pretty face of divorce, but her life is in shambles. And it only gets worse. Abby goes down the rabbit hole in Season 2.

TVLINE | Tell me more about this rabbit hole…

] I never quite worked that hard. She’s dealing with a lot. Again, it’s about dishonesty. It’s about when the outsides and the insides don’t match. Abby is so good at faking it that she’s destroying herself.

TVLINE | You’re exhausted but I get the sense that you love this job…

It’s such a special experience. I’m so grateful to be old enough to know

 special this experience is, because a lot of nice things can happen in your 20s, but you just don’t know that they’re incredible. You just think it’s what life looks like. It’s great to have had a long slow build in my career, and I think Paul feels the same way.

TVLINE | What is your working relationship like with Paul?

It’s so easy. From the minute we started we had such a nice, weirdly historical chemistry together, maybe because we’re both Jewish and we’re probably related 10 generations ago. [

] Our ancestors are probably rolling in their graves every time we kiss. They’re like, “Noooo! Incest! Too many shared genes!”

boss Joss Whdeon makes a cameo in [tonight’s] premiere. Are you a

Yes. I initially checked it out thinking, “Oh, this dumb show…” And then I was hooked. That episode where her mom dies remains one of my favorite TV episodes ever.

TVLINE | Was it hard not to geek out while shooting your scene with him?

I met him before, but I don’t know if he knows what a [big] fan I am of his. [

question: How do you look back on that whole experience?

It was a great experience. To be on a show that was such a big hit… it changed my life. It ended sadly, but the ending does not change the whole experience.

TVLINE | Is any part of you bummed that House and Cuddy didn’t ride off into the sunset together?

I don’t think that show was about happy endings. And the truth is, if someone drives a car through your living room you should do what I did and get the f–k out of town. [

. It kind of all worked out. Let’s tell it like it is. He drove a f–king car through her living room.

— and you don’t come back for the f–king [series] finale. [

bless her heart! Lisa Edelstein was and always will be a real gem in the TV industry. I am really excited to watch the new season of GG2D and what she said about House? BLESS! They did not deserve to have her back after such crappy treatment of her and her character anyway! Go Lisa! :)

I will never blame her for leaving House. I quit too. Biggest shark jumping moment ever.

Can someone tell me if she left House willingly, or if she was just written out, and never got her contract renewed?

She left willingly because of a contract dispute with the network.

From what I remember she wanted the same amount of money as the season before, but the wanted to give her a pay cut to save on costs and she said “bye!”.

I cant even remember the last season of House I watched but she was really good in there.

These interviews are always my favorites. Michael asks the right questions, Lisa gives the right answers. It´s a joy to see her so happy about this new experience. House was a bittersweet experience for her. Let´s hope Girlfriends Guide is just a sweet one.

I still wish she told the truth about her House exit instead of deflecting (though quite elegantly). Now is a perfect time to speak out against disparity and double standards, contract or not.

Gotta love people who demand things online but are also too afraid to use their real names. Makes your argument so much more powerful……….. (the periods are to note sarcasm)………..

I dropped GG2D mid-way last season, but now that Retta has joined, it is back in my dvr queue. Looking forward to it.

I’d take Retta over Necar and Beau Garrett any day.

I agree. Necar Zadegan and Beau Garret are a waste of time. Lisa Edelstein, Alanna Ubach, Janeane Garofalo and now Retta would have made the best TV team. The other two are just there because Bravo needed to add a few more pretty faces to the mix. I mean i love the show but i don´t care about those storylines.

I completely agree with her. He drove a ring car through her house! It made sense for her to leave and actually made the last season a lot of fun with actual change.

I do wish she would have came back for a brief dream that house was having.

I only watch GG2D because of Lisa – she’s fantastic in everything. It’s too bad it’s not a better written show.

I agree. I find her growth interesting, the writing ridiculous. But it’s Bravo and as others have said before it caters to the Real Housewives club.

Lisa is such a great actress, loved her in House but hoped she’d find something more intelligent than the boring Girlfriends Guide. It’s no better than The Real Housewives.

We’ve always known she appreciated her experience on House. It was a great opportunity and she was a great fit. The chemistry between her and Hugh as colleagues and their characters was phenomenal. Fans got a real treat. I wish I could say I was a fan of her new show but I barely got through the first season without wretching. She’s great. Adelstein’s great. That’s about it.

I miss Garofalo. It’s annoying the way they all lied about her exit. Marti Noxon and the cast/crew told us her exit was planned and we all knew it was a lie especially when Lisa revealed that Janeane didn’t like where the show was headed and abruptly left. I don’t like being played for a fool. I wish JG taken Lisa with her. Those two in a show together would be a hoot. The rest of this cast you can dump.

House was a great show in its day. Lisa was wonderful on it. But can we put a muzzle on Ausiello and his annoying obsession with talking about her exit? It’s over. Move on.

I never watched House but i love this new show. It´s just so entertaining and real. I really feel connected to Abby in an odd way.

I’m a big fan of Lisa Edelstein, but who calls this show a rom-com? It’s one of the most depressing dramas I’ve ever seen. I have to prep myself for the sad before I watch.

Omg, I’m so in love with Girlfriends’ Guide. I binged it on Netflix a few weeks ago and what an experience. I cried and laughed and felt all of the emotions! I’m so happy it’s back.

David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel\'s Bones Lawsuit: Will It Derail Season 12?

The Flash/Arrow Crossover, Part 1: What\'s Next for Harry\'s Quick Fix? And Will Patty Learn Barry\'s…

Criminal Minds: Aubrey Plaza Scores a Deadly Date With Reid — First Photo

2The Walking Dead Fall Finale Recap: Tower of Terror84

3Once Upon a Time Recap: Dread Pirate — Hook\'s Very Dark Plan Is…82