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Following her run as the famously acid-tongued, stiletto-heeled, and viciously cunning Miss Parker on the sci-fi thriller “The Pretender,” Andrea Parker returns to prime-time as a series regular on ABC’s new Tuesday night sit-com “Less Than Perfect.” Elegant and statuesque, with a poise owing much to her background as a classically trained dancer, Parker cuts another visually commanding and memorable figure as Lydia West, one of the crack ensemble of office underlings jockeying for position at a television network. Covetous of the job landed by series lead Sara Rue’s character as assistant to the news anchor (played with relish by Eric Roberts), Lydia incessantly schemes to trip her up, with newcomer Zachary Levi as her ever-ready partner in crime. Rounding out the cast are Sherri Shepherd and Andy Dick, making “Less Than Perfect” a truly laugh-out-loud addition to the new fall schedule.

An accomplished stunt driver, Parker makes the segue from the dark drama of “The Pretender” to fast-paced comedy with the finesse she’d unleash to execute a reverse 180 when burning rubber. It’s a fact, however, that even though recurring roles on three acclaimed dramas— “ER,” “JAG,” and “The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.”— fill out her resumé, Andrea Parker’s very first speaking part was on the now infamous “Seinfeld” episode, “The Contest.” With that impeccable out-of-the-gate comedic pedigree presaging her latest incarnation, Parker’s success on “Less Than Perfect” makes perfect sense. Buoyed by the news that the show had just been picked up for a full season, Andrea took some time to talk with Venice :

Venice : How does being a series regular on a sit-com compare to doing a one-hour drama?

Andrea Parker: It’s the perfect pendulum in my career. It’s a hugely different experience, and I’m really enjoying it—to have the opengunity to rehearse the material all week, and to work in front of a live audience.

The schedule itself is much different, isn’t it?

Very much so; a one-hour drama is much more of a physical grind. With a sit-com, you’re able to have a life as well as fulfill yourself creatively. I wasn’t seeking it out for that reason, though. I think I was just seeking out something completely different.

Leading up to “Less Than Perfect,” you were on “The Pretender” for four seasons.

Right, and then we were picked-up into syndication by TNT, who also made a couple of two-hour movies. That was a trip—after we’d been cancelled for six months, to get a call saying, “Hey, you want to reprise the greatest role you ever had?”

It must have been fun to take on such a diabolical character.

I had the time of my life. I enjoyed every second. It gave me the opengunity to behave in ways I personally wouldn’t ever dream of, and to have complete license to be as malevolent and dark as I could possibly be. To have that freedom was liberating, and often a little frightening, to find those places within myself. Miss Parker lived in a lot of pain, and it was hard to go through sometimes.

That was your first role as a series regular. Wasn’t your first major recurring role as George Clooney’s girlfriend on “ER?”

I was supposed to come in for two episodes, and I ended up doing two seasons; that was an awesome experience.

How’d that come about?

I had worked with John Wells and John Levey the year before on a pilot— a sitcom— which didn’t get picked up, so I had a relationship with them. They brought me in to read for “ER.” That was the first season, before it was the phenomenal success it’s become. What stamina—but if you have good writing, good characters, you’ve got a hit.

You grew up in Southern California , entertainment business central… Did you want to act back when you were a kid?

I didn’t consider being an actress until I was in my early twenties. I was a classically trained dancer. I danced professionally for many years, and finally clued into the fact that it wasn’t something I could do much longer. I really needed to find a vocation that would sustain me.

Why did you feel there wasn’t a future?

It’s physically demanding, the life of a dancer; the career span is pretty short, and there’s not a lot of money in it. It’s a hard life. I enjoyed it immensely and wouldn’t trade it for anything, but I’m grateful that I transitioned into something that’s still challenging. I’m still performing, and I can hopefully continue to do it until I’m very old.

How did you make the switch?

From dance, I was accustomed to the diligence of training. I signed up for a two-year Meisner study, and trained for three years before I got an agent and started going out for professional work.

And then you had that memorable big break…“Seinfeld.”

That was the first audition that I went on after I signed with my agent. And of all the “Seinfelds” to have a small part on… I think that “The Contest,” besides winning an Emmy, is hands-down, the greatest episode.

You’ve guested on a lot of sit-coms since, and now you flex those muscles full-time. What’s the feeling on set at “Less Than Perfect?” The ensemble seems to have gelled right away.

I couldn’t agree more. Even on the pilot, we found a great rhythm. There’s a level of comfort and respect, and it feels really good.

The show has a lot of sit-com archetypes, but each really has individuality as well.

Everyone is unique and dynamic. There’s some nice colors represented in these characters’ personalities. With Lydia , she’s just so insecure and weak and confused— it’s a great challenge!

Will she evolve over the season, or is it too soon to tell?

I can only hope she’ll begin to figure out who she is, what she wants, and how to get it. She’s fairly complicated; she’s certainly gullible and easily manipulated, and she can be a tad snotty. But she’s unintentionally mean; it’s almost like it’s a side effect of her narcissism— it’s not like Miss Parker, who was intentionally cruel. With Lydia , it’s almost like she’s looking in the mirror, and doesn’t realize she’s affecting someone behind her.

But like Miss Parker, she’s an indelible character in the making… and the newsroom setting is classic, one that’s generated outstanding shows before, like “Mary Tyler Moore.”

Right. All the antics, the office politics— it’s a great spin.

Sara Rue has such great presence.

She’s a sweetheart, a beautiful girl. It’s so refreshing to see a voluptuous heroine.

And ‘Kit,’ your cohort... what a great foil.

Zachary Levi’s so talented. I can’t believe he’s as young as he is.

There’s a lot all around for people to connect to…

I agree, there’s something for everyone to relate to. No matter what kind of office you work in, it’s going to be clique-y and there’s going to be politics. There’s a dysfunctional character in everyone’s life, and everyone can relate to back-stabbing. Just think back to high school!

What’s it like working with Eric Roberts?

He’s just fantastic, so supengive and kind. I feel so blessed to be working with all of these people. We’ve got such a good thing going.

It’s interesting to see so many actors we primarily associate with films taking roles on TV.

It’s so wonderful to see Eric in this light. It’s something totally different for him. People are used to seeing him play really twisted, dark characters. To watch him play this suave, debonair, handsome, man’s man is really fun. He brings a cachet to the cast.

And Andy Dick… that office ‘Buddy’ episode was great. Will you be paired with him more?

Each episode it seems like we’re paired up in different combinations; it keeps it fresh and interesting. That was so much fun to work with Andy, though. He’s just wonderful. Everyone is so talented. I just watch and learn.

But you have a deft touch for comedy yourself. You do a lot with subtle gestures.

Thank you for saying that. I really hope that it does [come across that way].

There’s an economy to your movements that’s visually powerful. Do you think there’s a connection between that and your background as a dancer?

Most definitely. It’s almost something I can’t get away from. It’s been beat into me, for so many years— even my posture, it’s natural for me to stand up straight and carry myself in a certain way. And Lydia is just so pretentious and shallow, that seems to fit well.

So it’s vocabulary of movement that’s always with you?

Well said, thank you. That was much better than I could have ever described it.

Speaking of movement, you’re quite the stunt enthusiast, aren’t you?

I’m game for any stunts that don’t require heights, fire, or genuine life threatening danger. I am a stunt driver; it’s something I’m trained to do, and I enjoy it immensely. I can’t get enough of it. I have a coach, and he trains me to do all kinds of squirrelly stunts.

How did you get involved?

I think for “JAG,” it was required that my character come to an abrupt stop, or pull away, something like that. I remember saying to my man at the time how I wished I was more familiar with automotive stunts so I’d feel more comfortable during this minor move. He suggested I call the stunt union and see if there was anybody who teaches those things, and I found Bobby Orr, an awesome stunt man in his own right who holds many world records. He also teaches stunt people how to drive and do stunts. So, there’s me, a little silly actress, in a group of really hard-core stunt people, and I held my own. I got addicted to the adrenaline and the excitement, and I kept it up.

Would you be interested in a role with a lot of stunt work?

I hope that some day I’ll work with a director who has the guts to allow me to do the stunts I’m trained for. A lot of times, they don’t want to take the risk of my getting hurt, or hurting someone else. You have to be able to stop on a dime, make your mark and not take people and equipment out. So I can understand why producers don’t want to take that chance. On the other hand, how cool would it be, especially as a woman, to go from a long shot into a close-up without editing, do some fantastic stunt, and then get out of the car so there’s no question that it’s actually me. That would be awesome. I’d want to see that. If it happens, I’m ready, if not, I’ll just continue to burn rubber on my own time.

What else do you like to do on your own time?

I like to spend time with family. I like to entertain. I’m always in for a good slumber party. I like to garden. Go to the gun range.

Did you start shooting the same time you started stunt driving?

I suppose around the same time, but it really came into play when I started working on “The Pretender.” As a secret agent, it was imengant to me that I looked like I knew what I was doing.

Well, you certainly look like you know what you’re doing on “Less Than Perfect.” Is ABC happy with the show?

I think they are. We’ve been doing well in the ratings, the whole Tuesday night lineup is. We just got picked up for our back order, so we’ve got a full season now. It’s great news, and it also tells us we’ve got to keep our nose to the grindstone; it’s time to reinvest.

They’re sort of building a whole new slate of shows over at ABC now. It must be an interesting time there.

It is kind of a fresh start for them, and we’re really excited to be a part of it. It’s just very much like life—things go through cycles. Hopefully, this will be the birth of something really successful and exciting and entertaining and wonderful.