My personal icon and hero, Amy Sedaris, is about to kick off a guest arc on The Closer, starting Monday 2/16. I was lucky enough to participate in an press call with Amy, where we took turns asking her questions. What did I learn? Well, that Amy says “you know” a lot, Jerri Blank may be at large in Florida, and she’s currently on hiatus from her cupcake business.

What did you find challenging about this role?

Just the fact that it was an hour long drama was kind of, you know, challenging. And [it was] challenging to play a psychic when I didn’t, you know, do a whole lot of you know research for it. But it was fun because the writers wrote a really good part. And I didn’t have to bring too much of my own stuff to it. Do you know what I mean? So I mean, all of it was challenging. Every job I get is challenging.

A few months ago, it was reported that you were working on a new project with Paul Dinello for Fox. Has there been any development on that? Can you talk about that at all?

Yes. We turned in a couple drafts and we’re really happy with it. And so is Fox. But it’s still one of things when I hear myself talk about it out loud, it doesn’t feel right. So I haven’t really found the right terms to describe it yet. So that’s why I just don’t talk about it.

But we feel good about it. That’s all I can say.

On The Closer, you play a psychic or an intuitionist. Have you ever visited a psychic? And do you have any crazy, wacky stories about if you have?

No, I’ve never been to a psychic, but I have a friend whose mom’s an astrologist. And I wasn’t freaked out by her, but that’s a whole — I know it’s a different thing than psychic and astrologist really. But no, I’ve never been to one.

But I’m not saying I don’t believe in them. I just, you know, have never been.

(TOO MUCH FREE TIME) Are there any dream shows that you’d like to guest star on? Do you have a favorite show?

I like the show, “House,” a lot. I think that’s a really fun show. And you know of course, shows like “30 Rock.” I love “30 Rock.” And “Ugly Betty,” I think is fun. When I think of, you know, because they’re in New York, too. It’s fun to shoot a show in New York, just kind of different because you know all the crew members.

When filming “The Closer,” how is the chemistry on the set? What did you enjoy most about filming the episodes?

Well, the cast and the crew really got along really well. And that’s always a good sign of a good set. you know. because when you know working on “Strangers with Candy,” we always included our crew. you know what I mean? They were there for all of it. Sometimes I’d go to them and say, “Hey, I need a funny line. What can I say here?” You know? So it reminded me a lot of a theater set where everyone got along and everyone’s role was to make a really good episode. So that really made everything a lot easier.

Kyra Sedgwick’s character on “The Closer” is known for people being able to get people to confess. How do you think you, mean Amy, not your character, are at getting people to confess?

For some reason, I’m really good at it. Like, I can be talking to someone for 10 minutes and then walk away from them, and have their entire life. Like a lot of times, people will say, “How did you find that out?” You know, because you find that when you ask somebody something, a lot of times they’re going to want to tell you, because they’re not used to talking about themselves. And then once they know you’re actually listening, they’re going to keep talking. I’m the kind of person where I get a lot of information out of people.

What was your most memorable moment from filming “The Closer”?

My most memorable moment of filming “The Closer?” I guess my first day. It’s the first day where I got to meet, well, I got to — you know Fritz is my brother, so I got to see him again. I got to see his house, and then meeting Brenda because here it’s his woman. It’s his girlfriend and a lot was going on with her and me playing the psychic, you know. It was really like seeing her for the first time. So I think the first day was probably my favorite and most memorable.

I keep reading about your rabbits and how you make cheese balls and cupcakes from your apartment to sell. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Yes, my rabbit’s sacked out on top of my bed as we speak. She’s just sacked out. She’s exhausted.

And then my cupcakes, I sell at a bakery up the street, but I haven’t made them since the summer just because, you know, butter went up so high, and I just decided I didn’t want my apartment extra hot during the summer. And cupcakes are everywhere now. So I haven’t been making them. But I’ll start making them again in a few weeks.

You’ve done a lot of work with Comedy Central, and you’ve done this piece with TNT and “The Closer.” Can you tell us about some differences you may have noticed between working for these cable-based programs versus having a larger network?

Well, the last larger network thing I did was when I did the Jack Spade show. [TMFT note: I believe she's talking about "Just Shoot Me," where she played David Spade's girlfriend. Hee!] And they were really loose and fun on that set, so that was my big experience working for a network show.

And then working on TNT and you know Comedy Central, they kind have the same vibe, like you didn’t really get a sense of a lot of grownups were around, but I’m sure they were around. But I didn’t feel any kind of weird pressure or shadows on the set. You know, everyone got along and the director was up for input as well as you know the crew and the cast. So there’s a lot of communication going on. It just seemed like everyone trusted each other. So it was all a good experience, but there wasn’t a major difference.

If you had to venture a guess, where would you say Jerri Blank is now and what’s she doing?

That’s a really good question. I wonder that sometimes. I think Jerri Blank is working in a hardware store somewhere in Florida.

How important do you feel it is to include humor in oftentimes dramatic shows like “The Closer” to kind of break up the tension?

Well, I normally don’t like things like that. Like for example, funny cookbooks, jokey cookbooks. You’re not going to take it seriously. And sometimes I’m like, commit. It’s going to be dramatic or it’s going to be, you know, funny. But don’t mix it up.

But I think they do a really good job and I think that’s because they have really actors on the show. Like, Kyra Sedgwick’s a good character and a real actress. And I think that – that’s why they’re allowed to get away with it. Same with “Monk.” You know without Tony Shalhoub, forget it, you know? “Monk” is real and funny and interesting and I think it’s all thanks to the person who’s driving the bus.

What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

Oh, my – thank you. I mean, it’s funny you know. You don’t know you have an audience unless you go out there and meet them. And, you know, on the paperback tour of my book and still, I go around and I didn’t know I had so many people. Like especially people from “Strangers with Candy,” and the Letterman audience, and, you know, it just seems like a different, you know, craft group, so it’s like a nice combination of different people and it’s always nice when you get to actually go and meet them.

I’m a big fan of your book and I was just wondering if you had any plans for a follow up.

I am. I’m doing a crafts book.

So, what we’ve seen is you’ve been the harbinger or the leader in the cupcake craze and crafts. What else are you going to be the pioneer of?

The pioneer of – well, I’m working on a craft book right now. And I haven’t made cupcakes since the summer. I might – I’m thinking about getting out of the cupcake business just because they’re everywhere and they’re very – they can get pricey to make just for the butter, and the eggs, and the milk, and all that. And then you get cockroaches. And I’m in the process of moving. So I might just not want to get into that and bring cockroaches into my new place.

So I’m just going to keep venturing in the same, you know, just maybe focus a little bit more on craft projects right now than cooking projects.