MONDO EXTRAS

According to Freer, the conversation "soon turns" to a discussion of "America's strange relationship with nudity." Because America's strange relationship with nudity is what women automatically turn to as a conversation topic when left alone in closed quarters. Now you know, guys. Milano supposes she doesn't "have the issues" others have on the topic because she grew up in a household headed by "'60s parents" who were, by definition, "free and open" about nudity. Her mother often walked around in the nude, though her father was "always a little bit more, like, 'My God, I have a daughter now.'" This all makes me very happy I had Eisenhower parents who were, by definition, fully-clothed at all times. Freer uses this opportunity to segue into a bit of backstory on Milano's early career, noting that Milano's parents' "free and open ways did not extend to the world of showbiz." At the age of seven, Alyssa was shepherded to an audition for the national touring company of Annie by "a stage-struck babysitter." Of the fifteen thousand girls at the open audition, Alyssa was one of four cast, despite the objections of her parents. They relented when she locked herself in her room and "wouldn't eat." Since, out of the current crop of prime time starlets, eating disorders are Calista Flockhart's specialty, I'll let that one slide. After two years with Annie and a couple of years in various Broadway productions, Milano began an eight-year stint on Who's the Boss? at the age of twelve. Freer then goes on to highlight the major bits of Milano's pre-Charmed resume, including Commando (with Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom Milano found "intimidating"), and the Skinemax troika of Poison Ivy 2, Deadly Sins, and Embrace of the Vampire. Milano was also featured in Fear with Mark Wahlberg and Hugo Pool with Sean Penn, before joining the cast of Melrose Place briefly prior to signing on for Charmed. (After Aaron Spelling's initial choice for Phoebe, Lori Rom, left the project for "personal reasons.")