Checking in with LEIGHTON MEESTER

Leighton “Single “New Meester The Girl’s” “Gossip Parents.” joins Meester Liz other Girl” Meriwether is series a alum married veterans returns and parent “Modern to including weekly in real Family’s” life, work Brad but Garrett as the Jason she ABC has (“Everybody Winer the comedy basics premieres from down Loves Wednesday, creative for Raymond”) her talents new Sept. role and including Taran in 26. Killam children (“Saturday and the advice Night on Live”) life and to play love ... that well, they single offer parents one another. linked by their same-school-attending allows While that Meester “Single says Parents” she enjoyed is “definitely playing more the “really of an outright fun, funny comedy. parts” That’s she found what in we “Gossip play to Girl,” more she (here), but then, there’s still drama. There’s heart. I like finding a mix, but going to work and having such a light, wonderful environment with funny people and just having fun at work is really a big part of it. Having a laugh, I think it’s kind of just where I’m at.” Meester reflects that these days, her overall state of mind is to “feel so lucky being an actor. For so many reasons, it’s my dream ... but also, now that I’m older, my priorities have tipped a bit. When you work, especially on a series, you’re working all day every day –- so there’s not a lot of time for other things. Then, you go through weeks and months of not working.” Raising a now-three-year-old daughter with her actor husband Adam Brody (“The O.C.”), Meester has no worries about working with some much younger actors on “Single Parents,” musing that the child co-stars are “more professional” than the show’s adult actors. “They’re keeping us in line.” Birthdate: April 9, 1986 Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas Current residence: Los Angeles Marital status: Married to actor Adam Brody; they have a daughter Other television credits include: “Gossip Girl,” “Making History,” “The Last Man on Earth,” “The Haunting of Sorority Row,” “Shark,” “CSI: Miami,” “House,” “Numb3rs,” “Surface,” “8 Simple Rules,” “Veronica Mars,” “24,” “Entourage,” “7th Heaven,” “Crossing Jordan,” “Family Affair,” “Once and Again,” “Boston Public,” “Law & Order” Movie credits include: “Unity” (narrator), “By the Gun,” “Like Sunday, Like Rain,” ‘The Judge,“”Life Partners,“”That’s My Boy,“”The Oranges,“”Monte Carlo,“”The Roommate,“”Country Strong,“”Going the Distance,“”Date Night,“”Killer Movie,“”Remember the Daze,“”Drive-Thru,“”Inside,“”Flourish,“”Hangman’s Curse“Favorite movie: “’Beetlejuice.”’ Favorite television series you’re not on: “’Portlandia.”’ Favorite singer: “Joni Mitchell.”