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Suzy Nakamura Talks About Help Me Help You



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Suzy Nakamura gets to show off her improvisation skills in this fall?s new TV show Help Me Help You. As part of a therapy group, her problem is dating. It?s not that she can?t get dates. It?s that she can?t keep them. Having spent years making her millions, she?s been out of touch and the show will chronicle her many disastrous dates, among everyone else?s foibles, when it premieres September 26 on ABC.

This character has social problems, but guys aren?t that picky. What?s the problem?
?I don't think she was putting herself out there. She?s sort of been isolated. Maybe if she had put herself out there, the offers would have come. But she spent so much time developing this software that she has just - it?s like she was stuck in the lab for six years and now she?s come out.?

There must be some guys into a cute wealthy girl that would put up with a lot?
?Would really put up with being really inappropriate and saying the worst possible thing you could on a first date? There are deal breakers and there are red flags and she can pull them all out on the first date.?

Can they keep coming up with dealbreakers?
?I think easily. Just from our own experiences and the writers? own experiences of the worst date they?ve been on, I think she can cover a lot of territory. Maybe ? hopefully - she?ll get better.?

Will that ruin the comedy?
?I think it?s hard enough to date as it is. It?s hard for everyone, so someone who actually has problems being in social situations, it?s going to be extra hard for her.

It?s not like it?s easy for the rest of us to date. It?s hard for everyone, and I think it?s going to be especially hard for her.?

Do you and Darlene Hunt have a special connection being the women on the show?
?Yeah, we do. Girls club?because I knew her before the show because I met her just through Chicago friends. And during the audition process, she was the only person I knew so we bonded during the audition process. It?s just nice to have another woman. Comedy?s a boys club as it is so the fact that we?re both in comedy, I think draws us to each other.?

Do you try to stand out or blend in in group scenes?
?As improvisers, we?re taught not to take focus. We?re taught to just add, bring something to the table and to heighten and to set people up. Your job as an improviser is to make everyone else look good. If everyone is doing that, that makes for a good improvisational situation. I?m surrounded by great improvisers, so at least shooting the pilot, that?s what I found. It worked really well.?

Do you date in LA?
?I have tried dating in LA.?

What are the pitfalls?
?I go through phases. Right now we?re at the ?writing off? phase.?

Do you hang out with friends or enjoy alone time?
?I do enjoy alone time but there?s a core group of friends that I spend time with. They?re all from Chicago.?

What do you do together?
?We like to watch Project Runway. We?ll either meet for a movie or go to each other?s houses and hang out. We have different things. One of my friends just had a baby, one of my friends just got a new house so we?ll find different excuses to get together.?

Do the comedians turn it off in private?
?I wouldn?t call it performing. Just like when you're hanging out with your friends, I?m sure you have a bunch of inside jokes and old stories that will make everyone laugh. It?s just the same.?


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