Wendie Malick Enjoys Being 'Hot in Cleveland'

A lot of the discussion about TV Land's new comedy 'Hot in Cleveland' revolves around two of its stars: 2010's "It Girl,' Betty White, and Jenny Craig advocate Valerie Bertinelli. But the show's other two stars, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick, aren't exactly slouches. In fact, it's not often that four such accomplished actors of any gender have been assembled for a new sitcom.

Malick has been gracing America's television screens for close to 30 years, twenty of which have been spent on hit shows. From 'Dream On' to 'Just Shoot Me' to even the last year of 'Frasier,' Malick has brought her unique ability to play wicked but endearingly funny to a number of memorable roles.

Her role in 'Cleveland' is similar: she plays Victoria Chase, a former soap star who is now dealing with her fading fame. Earlier this month, Malick and I talked about the show, how TV Land was able to assemble such a stellar cast, and if middle-aged women really are "invisible" in Los Angeles.

What kind of level of excitement and anticipation do you have for 'Hot in Cleveland' compared to stuff you've done in the past?
Well this is particularly sweet, in part because we're breaking such new ground here with trying to brand a network that is a little obscure at the moment, that we would be the first original scripted series on TV Land. And that combined with the fact that this is a show all about women of a certain age, who I think have been terribly overlooked in popular culture, it gives us the chance to really make a mark in a very innovative and exciting way.

When you first heard about the show, how much of the cast had been set?
No. At that point, I think they were talking to Val. And Betty they knew they wanted for, it was supposed to initially be in the Pilot, and then was maybe a recurring role. And then they were kind of putting together the pieces, and from what they said, you know, of course you never know if they're telling you the truth, but we 3 had been the names that they thought, if we could put together this cast, it would be our dream team.

And we all knew of each other. I knew Jane from working that last year on 'Frasier.' I was technically her mother in law, which she pointed out to me, because I married Frasier's father and she married his brother. She and Val knew each other years ago because their kids went to the same school, or her nephew and Val's son. And Betty, I had known from various animal events, animal rights events. And Sean Hayes, who was an old pal from my 'Just Shoot Me' days, because they shot 'Will & Grace' right across from us. We had studios on the same lot.

It was just kind of one of those serendipitous things where it really felt like they were putting together a great puzzle that maybe could do something fresh and different, and represent women my age, and their age, and Betty's age, and sort of open up something new.

Hot in Cleveland
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Were you surprised that they were able to get this cast together?
Yeah, I mean, this is a huge gamble on their part. And they went for it with a vengeance. I have never seen anybody sort of be this proactive about launching a show. And they have been so lovely, and so supportive, and really a lot of creative leaps to kind of go our own way. They trusted us to carry the ball and make it the best show that we could. And I think they value the experience of all of the players in this. We have very seasoned writers with a great pedigree from classic comedy, and all of us. I think at one point, we were laughing and trying to add up the number of years we've all been doing this, and it's like 162 or something. (laughs)

I think so much of this (show) is about experience. Women have, for so long, been trying to hide their age and their maturity, and have been such slaves to trying to remain youthful, instead of saying what's the best I can be at this age, you know, what else do I have to learn and how can I move forward from here. So we're trying to sort of let women know there is no expiration date on them.

Is there truth in the show's conceit, that older women are invisible in LA, no matter how attractive?
Absolutely. I think it is a truism that I happen to live on one of the coasts where people are really obsessed with staying youthful, and that often times when you get out of L.A. or out of NY, you realize there's a whole other set of values on what it is to be beautiful, and desirable, and vital, and interesting. And we, by the way, span a much greater thing that just our 40's... Val just turned 50, Jane's in her late 40's, I'm 59, and Betty's 88. So it really does cover a pretty wide range. Yeah.

Now you're originally from Buffalo and you went to college in Ohio. Is Cleveland being used as like substitute for a large, midwestern city?
I think it is. I think it's more of just that heartland of America, where so many good, kind, generous people live, and we tend to overlook them as we fly from one side to the other. And sometimes I think we kind of lose our way in terms of our values. And it's great to be reminded.

Do you get back to that Ohio or Buffalo at all?
I do. In fact, I gave the commencement address at Ohio Wesleyan about 5 years ago... 8 years ago... I can't remember (It was in 2001 -- Joel). I still have very good friends from Ohio. In fact, a group of my college friends and I get together every year now. It's called GOOF, the Gathering of Old Friends. And we realize that we've known each other since we came of age and that we are some of our favorite people. And we make that pilgrimage. We variously meet in New England, or in California, or wherever somebody has a big place that we can all convene.

One of the things I notice when I watch the pilot is it felt very retro. And I don't mean retro in a bad way.
I like to think of it as classic.

OK, we'll call it classic then. When you read the script, did you get that feel for the show? Did it remind you of shows from the past?
Absolutely. Yeah. I think this one is going back to that classic, old sort of sitcom formula, which is putting together interesting sort of exaggerated characters, and putting them in wonderful situations to find the comedy. And then just finding writers who really know how to be funny, but at the same time, how to develop characters and make you care about them, and have relationships among leads that are meaningful to people, that they can relate to.

What are we going to be seeing during this first season?
There's going to be a lot of dating, which is inevitable. And the nice thing is, with the exception of Jane, we tend to date people who are our peers. (chuckles) And I think that's often true. Women and men, well, I can't speak for men, but I would say that a lot of women really enjoy being with men who are their peers, because we have the same frame of reference. We come from the same place, same music. It's just, it's so much easier, and we can kind of relate to the issues that we're going through. And I think there's something really very relatable about that.

You're talking about Jane's character not dating her peers, correct?
Jane's character, yeah. She dates a much younger man in the second episode, which is quite funny. And there's a whole reveal in that one. But for the most part, we just find ourselves suddenly viable again, and it helps us see ourselves in a new light. And we all get into trouble and have our flaws, but our girlfriends keep us from going over the edge. And that's, I think, very true of life.

Hot in Cleveland
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How has Betty's role developed? In the pilot, she was pretty much the crusty old lady saying unexpected things.
(laughing) She pretty much does that. But I think what happens with time, I mean, she is just such a killer. She's just hits the spot on amazing timing and you know, everybody's just really on their game in this thing. And they've obviously expanded her part a little bit. But she basically comes in, does something really outrageous or funny, or has a comment about something, and then leaves. But she's also becoming a friend of ours, you know, a 4th sort of point on the compass. And so the 4 of us now are fully integrating in this household.

I saw a review that mentioned that Betty's now the Sophia of the group, alluding to her 'Golden Girls' years.
Yeah. Well of course, it's hard not to make those comparisons, yeah. And she had said something so sweet a couple weeks ago, after Rue (Mclanahan)'s passing She said it's wonderful to have a new family. eah, we are her family now.

She has just been part of so many classic, amazing comedy families over the years, and it truly is how you feel. Because you spend so much time together and you get out there in front of an audience together, and you just hit the ball, knowing somebody's going to hit it back to you and set you up, and you get to set them up, and it's, when you're working with people you really respect and get along with and enjoy and love, it does feel like a family. A really great family.

You shot the pilot in February, during the height of Betty White mania, the Facebook campaign and all that kind of stuff...
When we all decided to do this, everything sort of came together right after Christmas. And then that Snickers ad happened on the Super Bowl, and she just was catapulted into the public eye again, I mean, in such a humongous way. So it was so great for all of us. We were so fortunate.

How did she feel about it? Did you guys talk to her about that at all, or did she mention it?
She just thinks it's extraordinary. And I think she has more appreciation and gratitude about her career, and her life, and all the good things that have happened to her. She is a living example of how to grow old gracefully and joyfully and beautifully. She's the one.

Do you find it amazing that it's not like she ever went away really, she's always been around.
Oh not at all. She's been working consistently. Absolutely consistently. But she now is off the charts in terms of, she's probably the most popular woman in America, you know?

I think that's not a bad thing.
(chuckling) No, not at all. And if anybody deserves it, it's her. It's her.

With Valerie, did you know her at all before this show?
No, Val I had never met before. I'd never met her until we... we all decided to go out for lunch the week before we started shooting. So we got familiar with each others' lives and styles and all that. And we hit it off immediately, which I had a feeling we would.

It's been awhile on a series for her but she's an old pro at this too...so did it seem like she just got back into the swing of things pretty quickly?
Oh absolutely. She's a total pro. She kind of, I think, will forever be sort of America's sweetheart. She is the definition of an ingènue, even though she's now an experienced, mature woman who's been through a lot and come out the other side. But another one who has amazing gratitude about everything that's led to this moment. And I think that's part of what makes this team so great. Jane is the same way. We all just are grateful to be gainfully employed at this point in our lives, and doing work with people we really, really like and respect. And it's so much fun to go to work and laugh every day. It's a gift.

What are the executives at TV Land telling you guys, or telling Sean, about what it would take for the show to live beyond the first season?
I don't know the exact numbers, but I know that they're just going to really be watching, and they're hoping to get more people, more viewers than they've ever had before, for anything. So it'll probably be on the TV Land Awards show, and the things that really get the numbers for them.

You've had experience on a big time network sitcom... are you seeing that the quality programming trend is now moving towards cable?
Oh I think so. Yeah, I think networks have kind of lost the edge in all of this. And now that people all have DVRs, and very few people ever watch things in real time, I think it's just open season. It's, so many cable stations have rebranded themselves, and come up with original shows, so it seems to be the future. Definitely.

So do you think that a show like 'Just Shoot Me!' can survive on network television now?
A show like 'Just Shoot Me?' Oh yeah. We found an audience, and we actually were in the top ten for quite a few of our seasons. We did very well on NBC until they started moving it around. But I think now you have to find your way much sooner than you used to. And they don't always give you the chance.

I remember 'Seinfeld' took like a whole season to find their audience, you know? And there just isn't that kind of patience anymore with networks. They can't afford to do it. TV Land has been so nurturing, because this is their first baby. And they are just pouring everything they have into helping this thing fly. It's kind of like being in Houston right now. We're waiting for the launch.

Do you see a trend that women who are in your age group, are getting meatier roles and not just playing somebody's mom? It seems to be the trend, especially on cable.
Oh I think they're so smart. Because (networks) are missing such a bet by ignoring this group of people. It is such a huge demographic. I mean, I'm at the beginning of the baby boom, Jane's on the end of it. It's an enormous group of women who often have disposable income, own their own homes, you know what I mean? It's like this is a huge bet in terms of the audience you're trying to reach.

And all of us like to see stories where the characters are mirroring where we are in our lives. As much as I can enjoy watching younger people and older people, I want to see people my age, my peers, and what they're going through. And I want to hear stories about that.

And not just being the mom of a teenager.
Absolutely. And not just being the principal, which I was twice last year. There's more going on than just (that in) the business. Women still rock at this age. And I think it's about time somebody shows it.

['Hot in Cleveland' airs on TV Land Wednesdays at 10PM ET.]

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