Murray: Oh sure. Dogs tend to be more fatalistic. So naturally they're accused of being apathetic sellouts, happy with whatever slab of meat is thrown to them -- similar to the generation of humans born post-1965. I suppose there's some truth in that. For instance, when an owner hits a dog, the dog might get rebellious and bite him, but more likely the dog will turn that anger into shame and self-doubt and start asking itself: is it something I did? Did I overeat? Was I too affectionate? Not affectionate enough? That's why you have so many dogs who fly off the grid completely and start biting all humans, while others displace their anger onto cats.

So your response to anything that annoys you on the set is to just ride it out.

Murray: Oh yeah. Otherwise I'd be in hell. I mean, I'd like to see some of the other animal actors deal with the egos of these sitcom stars. Let's take Paul Reiser. He's funny, whatever, but any interaction with the guy is like an endless monologue in which he congratulates himself for coming up with this idea, this line, this plot -- basically congratulating himself for existing. I went to lunch with him last week because he wanted to bounce some new ideas for next season off of me. Literally, that's what happened. I was a wall, a silent, nodding wall, with him babbling endlessly: Murr, wouldn't it be wild if we had a special appearance by Lea Thompson or how about if we have Helen deal with a repressed traumatic memory thing, but do it in a funny way. It just went on and on. Several times I had to stop myself from saying, No Paul, what would be really wild is if you stopped talking for 5 seconds, or Paul, you're a sitcom star, for chrissakes. Climb down from the pedestal.

Murray: I think it's good for the show. I mean, Helen and Paul are cute, funny, etc., but their relationship is -- well, can you say flat-line? How about some peaks and valleys? I suppose if more marriages had a laugh track in the background it would delay the recognition of how horribly boring the relationship is -- that's certainly the case with this show. But what's scarier is the angst the producers went through in determining whether this new direction was right for the show.

Why, what happened?

Murray: Oh, they were worried as usual about losing the audience. At one staff meeting, one producer was like: People might feel betrayed if the couple strays and may tune out. Finally they decided to take the big risk, but bring the audience back to a safe place at the end of it all. My big question is: should anyone be this emotionally invested in the show? I mean, if all your conceptions of marriage and commitment are shattered by a direction Mad About You is taking, then maybe you should gradually wean yourself off of the show. It clearly means too much to you.

What do you think of the cast members in general?

Murray: Well, Helen's great. Kind of WASPy, but that's part of her whole persona. I just feel that at this point in her career she's drifting, and I'm worried about that.