‘Commander’ Adlon covers all the bases on set of comedy-drama
NEW YORK — Pamela Adlon jokes she knew she wasn’t going to take home an Emmy Award by her seating placement at this year’s show.
The co-creator, director, writer and star of FX’s Better Things was nominated for lead comedic actress. She was seated near Jimmy Kimmel and Stanley Tucci, who also didn’t win.
Adlon found her mind wandering to a possible consolation prize: a gift basket. “I tapped Tucci and was like, ‘Do you know if nominees get like a big gift basket or whatever?’ He was like, ‘I think we used to.’ I was like, ‘OK, I just want to make sure.’”
She brings that realness and perspective to Better Things, which airs Thursday nights. The semi-autobiographical series is based on her life as a single mom raising three girls.
Adlon works steadily in Hollywood but doesn’t have the level of fame that makes her a paparazzi magnet and says she often finds herself making sacrifices to mother those around her. Adlon says she’s always had a maternal instinct.
“It’s never turned off,” she said. “When I was 19, my friends used to call me ‘mother and care unit’ because people would be crashing on my couch. On set, everybody calls me mommy or commander. I like commander.”
Adlon directed every episode of the second season of Better Things.
“It’s the ultimate. I got to do four or five jobs on my show. I got to produce, write with Louis C.K., direct and act. And I got to wear my own clothes and decide what people wouldn’t do to my face and hair, which is my favourite,” she said with a laugh.
She also makes sure to look after her TV daughters, well, like a mom.
“I’m always considering where they are that day. Did you eat? This one is flatlining, go get some food in it. This one is texting, let’s take the phone away. … Things like that.”