When "Better Things" premiered on FX last September, it came off as a placeholder for "Louie," with creator/star Pamela Adlon channeling the angst of her mentor and executive producer, Louis C.K.
"Louie" has yet to return to the air, but in the interim, "Better" has forged its own identity thanks in no small part to Adlon firmly taking control. She directed every episode of the current second season, which has been brilliant in dealing with Adlon's character, Sam Fox, an underappreciated mother who's barely holding it together.
The Emmy-nominated star chatted recently about what makes "Better" one of TV's best series:
Q: Each episode opens with John Lennon's "Mother," which is perfect. How did you get the rights?
A: That was actually a big deal. I wrote a very "Jerry Maguire"-like letter to FX, pleading for them to get the use of the song, which was way more than my budget. I also wrote a seven-page letter to Yoko Ono and included a video package, telling her how much that song meant to me and my daughters. I took my kids to see Yoko's band once and there was one of her films playing in which there's a naked woman with a fly buzzing around her private parts. People were uncomfortable that my kids were there, but I told them to relax.
Q: On the show, Sam's kids don't seem to care about their mother's success as a performer. Is that a reflection of real life?
A: It's veiled in the truth. I think the big thing parents need to learn is that you have to give up on your kids rooting and cheering you on. It's really about them. I throw that bit of advice around all the time, but sometimes I don't remember it myself.
Q: One of the things that's great about the show is Sam isn't always likable. What do you think of her?
