Where I come from and where Nick comes from, there are a lot of divorces. People are giving it a second go-around on a bunch of different levels.

It's not about industry people, and it's not a scenario where you go, 'Who the hell are these people and what planet are they from?' It's about real Midwestern families. We're trying to make a show that balances equal parts of heart to humor.

A raw chicken, covered in wrapping paper... from this fan who always insisted on giving us food

I?m not quite as neurotic.

The casting process wasn't so much about them being a character, which is the normal way. The character had to become them.... You've got to bring 70 percent, 80 percent of yourself to the party. And an actor's either willing to expose themselves like that, or they're not.

But it's also a bottomless pit for story ideas.