Two Cents & Five Questions With...

Jordana Spiro, Actress

Jordana Spiro is known by TV fans these days as PJ on the TBS program "My Boys" which comes back to TV on July 30th!

Last December MY BOYS introduced PJ, a 20-something sports reporter for a Chicago newspaper, and her boys and saw them through some humorous, yet realistic, times including on-the-job romance, a dating slump, the value of honesty in friendship and uncovering secrets kept from close friends.

Jordana knocked critics and audiences out as the ditzy Sherri in Must Love Dogs. The New York Times’ “Arts and Leisure” section devoted an entire piece to her on the film’s opening weekend, and Peter Travers of Rolling Stone raved that “not since the young Goldie Hawn has an actress put a funnier, feistier spin on dumb.”

She has appeared in numerous TV shows, including Cold Case, CSI: New York and Out of Practice, as well as a starring role next to Annette O’Toole in the USA series The Huntress.

This summer, "My Boys" promises more poker nights at PJs, beers at Crowley’s Bar and amusing situations from the whole gang. Andy (Jim Gaffigan) will struggle with his move to the suburbs and another big bombshell from Meredith. Mike (Jaime Kaler), having exhausted every means to kill time while unemployed, strikes ups an interesting business alliance. Kenny (Michael Bunin) continues to search for love in all the wrong places. Bobby (Kyle Howard), who has comfortably settled in as one of the gang, reveals a shocking secret of his own. Brendan (Reid Scott) goes through a disturbing personality change which requires the entire group to get him back on track. Stephanie (Kellee Stewart) runs into some financial trouble this year but has better luck with dating. And more!

Jordana recently took some time out to talk with TheTwoCents and share her own TwoCents and Five Answers with us!

TwoCents: When you did your role in “Must Love Dogs” the media jumped all over it, loving everything you did, writing special stories about your portrayal and more. What about “My Boys” drew you to television after all that?
Jordana Spiro: At the end of the day, I’m an actress looking for work, you know? Let’s call a spade a spade. But you know I’m just always looking for something that I think is good and that I can be proud of. Television has a lot of quality now and it doesn’t have the same stigma that it used to have. Quite often, television shows are far more interesting than a lot of movies we see.

TC: Many people say that the first season of a new show they all hold their breathes the whole season waiting to see if they will be picked up, will be they back again. Your cast has a great vibe on screen with each other. Was there a moment, once it was announced you would be back for a new season, that you were all able to let go of that breath and know you’re doing something good?
JS: Television is so unpredictable. And you can be a part of something so great and not have it picked up. “Arrested Development”, for example, it’s a huge success, everybody loves it, the critics love it, they’re winning Emmys and it doesn’t get picked up. I don’t think anybody can figure out the rhyme or reason behind quality versus ratings. So I think we’re always holding our breath until we actual find out we have an official pickup. But, I think we feel pretty confident that we’re doing some good stuff and that the writing is very strong and that we, as a cast, are definitely operating as a unit. We have a lot of affection for each other.

TC: You play a lot of poker on the show. What hand do you always have to go “all in” on?
JS: What’s it called? A king and an ace for sure!

TC: The “Big Slick”?
JS: Yeah, that’s it! The Big Slick! That’s the word I was looking for.

TC: Thanks for your time today!
JS: Thank You!

So, be sure to check out Jordana and the boys on "My Boys" on TBS starting on Monday, July 30th at 10pm EST!

[Photo by: Ben Watts, TBS]