TV Tango: What is going to happen to your character this year on YOUNGER?

Debi Mazar: I'm still learning a lot about my character. Our cast size increased, so the time delegated to Maggie is important. She gets into some romantic situations and she is still a supportive friend. Some stuff comes up within her work life, and that's really all I can tell you without giving away storylines. She's got more to do. I mean, as the show is growing, it's only 12 episodes per season, so it's not a show about me. It's been great because each one of us has gotten a little more to chew on.

TV Tango: And how are you supportive this season?

Debi Mazar: Well, there's a lot going on. I put her [Sutton's character Liza] in check. I yell at her. I disagree with her. I am always a good friend and I try to tell her, in essence, and this isn't one of my lines, but "f--k it, life is short.” You have to own it and be okay with who you are, and what you're going through right now, because at the end of the day you need to earn a living and support your child.

TV Tango: And who would you like to see Liza with?

Debi Mazar: That is a good question, and the reason it's a good question is because every time I see her in a situation i'm like "oooooh.” And the way they've written it is so that its always so "cliff hanger-y", and you're like "Ahhhh, what's going to happen?" It's like a page-turner and I couldn't really tell you, because the way this season ends. They're so clever. Darren [Star, the show's creator] and his team are such good writers that I don't know who to root for.

TV Tango: What about your wardrobe on the show, it seems like Hilary Duff looks like she has the best wardrobe?

Debi Mazar: She does. I mean number one, Hilary is 27 with a really super tone cute little body, and I mean she's Hilary Duff. I don't wear miniskirts. I never did; my characters never do -- unless I'm playing a hooker, which I have. But for the most part, it's not about my wardrobe for once, and I love that. When I am dressed and looking sharp and on point, it's because I have some place to go, as opposed to me playing the character through my wardrobe, which I often do, because I love clothes. And certain characters need a wardrobe. My character is at home a lot. She's in sweats; she's not about her fashion.

Debi Mazar (continued): I think the fashion got stepped up this season in terms of our budget. We've come from a shoestring budget so costume designers Patricia Field and Jacqueline Demeterio -- they work together in a team -- are both always there, and they manage to pull from vintage stores and consignment shops, and borrow stuff. I've even brought in my own things. It's a real team effort in terms of making it happen. I've been like, "You know what, I really need a new pair of shoes," and if we don't have it in the budget, I'll bring in one of my own pairs just to help the scene so I can feel cute or whatever. Maybe we'll get more budget down the road. But it's been really collaborative, and for me it's really not about my clothes. I find that really refreshing, because as an actor I often rely a lot on threads of the character. I love good clothes, and when I say "good" I mean like I buy simple stuff but it's a good piece that will last for years -- one that's timeless. Whereas Maggie, she wears like sweats and cool tanks and trousers. For her it's easy and with a little silhouette.

TV Tango: Do you wish that you had more of an attitude like her, or that she had more of an attitude like you when it comes to dress?

Debi Mazar: I think that I have more of an attitude than her. I mean I love wardrobe. I think that she's a little more laid back than I am, but I like playing the change. You have to remember the last series I did was ENTOURAGE. I had a fantastic wardrobe, and I was a real bitch, in a good way -- a powerful, workaholic. Here I'm an artist and I'm financially struggling a little bit, so I honestly can't afford to buy -- and I kind of like the idea of keeping realness. You know Sutton manages to transform her look, going from a 40-year-old New Jersey suburban mom into this 27-year-old. I think the way they've done it with the wardrobe is brilliant, and Hilary can pull off anything. And I've had my moments of the sky high heels, and wearing the most modern fabulous things. Now it's nice for me to be able to sit back and focus more on the character and the scene and other things than just the wardrobe.

TV Tango: Do you think that has to do with YOUNGER being a female-driven show, where in ENTOURAGE you could have been the only female in the scene and it was about being dressed up?

Debi Mazar: No. For that there are plenty of chicks to fulfill that female component. I mean on ENTOURAGE there was a lot of skin and a lot of typecasting for that. Me, specifically, I wore the power suit, because I made a lot of money, and I was at meetings, and that's what they wear. That's how you present yourself in a meeting and running around Hollywood. This is a female-driven show, but again, my character, it's just not what I'm playing and I love it. It's just such a nice break for me. I'm finally on a female-driven show where it's not about me having to (dress up). I'm very feminine as a woman, I don't think that me playing a lesbian, I could be a lipstick lesbian or can be butch. I don't think that because of my sexuality I have to dress butch, I can dress however I want, so I don't even play into that much. I just like being more relaxed and letting other people do it. It's easier. I can learn my lines, come to work, put on pajamas. I deliver, I'm funny, I have fun and I'm comfortable.

TV Tango: There was a clip before the panel where you were having a love scene with somebody, so clearly you're in a relationship this season?

Debi Mazar: That's Molly Bernard and she plays Lauren (Heller), and yeah she's my lover. She's passed by, and she's like a little gazelle, and she is something to be reckoned with. She comes from a theater background and she's just like one of those girls who remind me of Gracie Allen -- quick-witted, super-fast, smart and on point. There's a total character she created. She had a few scenes in Season 1 where she was just so good, and they said this is the breakout star. I'm already a star. But to me she's the breakout star. She's just one of those girls who's is so fabulous.

TV Tango: Do you cook on the set of YOUNGER?

Debi Mazar: I do. Our set doesn't have a working sink or stove, but we act, so I shop and I cook. And when Sutton [Foster] is nervous, she is a maniacal baker. We drink a lot of coffee and we drink a lot of wine. And we're into talking and having heart to hearts a lot, so there is a culinary element. I have the most awesome kitchen for somebody [her character, Maggie] who doesn't have a lot of money. I had a friend who had a loft right across the street from where we shoot actually, who was an artist. And she had the loft for like 20 years and had a long lease, so these situations are possible -- but they're rare. People are like, "How can your character afford that?" And I say, "well, these situations exist." [Scroll to the bottom of this article to read what realtors have to say about her character's living situation.]

TV Tango: How do you enjoy working on your show EXTRA VIRGIN on the Cooking Channel?

Debi Mazar: EXTRA VIRGIN is exciting for me because I got to write, produce, direct and star in my own series that was about food. The food was the star, but for me it was a vehicle of my craft. I write, I produce and I act. I basically married into a culture that I am now an Italian citizen. I will live there in my future full time, and my life is good. The new season will be interesting because it was shot all across America. We went around with our family and made Tuscan food with ingredients from wherever we went, and had a really good time.

TV Tango: One last question. If you could play any character in the history of television, who would it be?

Debi Mazar: Archie Bunker. I am Archie Bunker. He just speaks the truth. He says all the things and he's so politically incorrect, but he presses the buttons and it's great writing that makes people think.

Source: https://twitter.com/YoungerTV

Things we learned at the Television Critics Associastion Press Tour during TV Land's YOUNGER Panel

We got a sneak peak of Season 2 of YOUNGER this past week at the TCA Press Tour, where we learned this season will continue to focus on the balance of Liza's two adult lives, with the "added twist" of Josh, played by Nico Tortorella, knowing her true age. "The lines are getting blurred between her two worlds." says Darren Star, the show's creator.

When asked about her 40th birthday being this past year, the show's star, Sutton Foster (Liza), noted that playing 40-year-old Liza on the show may have helped her prepare for the milestone. How did Sutton celebrate her 40th birthday? Singing at Carnegie Hall, where some of the cast was in attendance to watch her big moment. The cast also shared that there is a lot of singing on set, and that she likes to sing and dance in between takes. She also made her co-stars gush when she exclaimed that her co-stars who are moms have been great for advice when learning to play a mother on the show.

As a huge fan of Darren Star, Hilary Duff (Kelsey) noted how grateful she when this "role worth fighting for" came along after taking a break to have a baby. We were surprised to hear she covered Fleetwood Mac's Little Lies for the show's Season 2 promo video (you can see the video here) when she was asked about how she will divide her acting and music career. "I still want to do music. Could I ever go on tour again? I don't know... It's hard to do both, but they are both a big part of my life, and it's just finding how to make it all work."

We loved hearing breakout Molly Bernard (Lauren) talk about Lauren's expanded role in the show. "She's a full person this season." "She's such a tough cookie and you get to see a little bit of a different side of that, which was really, really fun to navigate and explore.” This season we will also see her parents more (played by Kathy Najimy and Josh Pais.) When asked about Lauren's relationship with Maggie, we were excited to hear that "There is a lot that happens, a lot of romance and sexiness."

The always-funny Miriam Shor's (Diana) when asked whether she ever lied about their age for a part said "I never did. I lost a job immediately once telling my real age”

Playing younger has it's problems for Sutton Foster especially, the latest Millennials fads and techno jargon "Oh, gosh. There's a lot of stuff that -- like truffle butter and the new virtual reality stuff that's coming out. I'm, like, Eah. You try to keep up with it as much as possible, but most of the time I end up asking the young ones what the hell something is.”