MONDO EXTRAS

Mr. S: Totally, and you can also see it because the show isn't just filmed in HD, which it is, but it's also treated in a way that gives it a unique look. The actual aesthetic of the show is wonderful.

Benz: You see everything. If I have a zit that day, you see it. If I didn't get enough sleep, you see it. It all adds to the humanity of Rita. They don't want the glamour side. They want the realness of it. I find that some actresses would probably be intimidated by it, but for me it was freeing. I was like, after coming off The WB, it was nice to be able to kind of shift gears and not have to worry about that. Plus, I got to sleep in, because my hair and makeup call would be ten minutes!

Mr. S: That is probably pretty nice, I can imagine.

Benz: Rather than two hours! [giggles]

Mr. S: Now, the character of Rita's son, Cody, is being played by a different actor this season, right?

Benz: Yes.

Mr. S: Was that a big adjustment for you?

Benz: No, not really.

Mr. S: No?

Benz: No.

Mr. S: Do you know why he was re-cast?

Benz: I don't, actually.

Mr. S: Huh. Are there any, sort of, subtle nods in the show to his replacement, like when Becky was replaced on Roseanne?

Benz: No...

Mr. S: Okay, I figured probably not. I had to ask.

Benz: [giggles]

Mr. S: Speaking of casting, there seems to be a casting conspiracy at Showtime, because they keep poaching actors from HBO's talent pool. You have pretty much half the cast of Oz over there, you have, obviously, Michael C. Hall who was David on Six Feet Under. Is that something that people joke around about on the set at all?