Parham, St. Clair are still 'Playing House'

Gary Levin | USA TODAY

Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham are still Playing House.

USA’s comedy series, starring, written and produced by the two real-life pals, last week began its second season (Tuesdays at 9 ET/PT), in which they play a divorced woman raising a baby and a best friend who moves in to help.

Since both were members of the Upright Citizens Brigade troupe, “We improvise all of the episodes,” says St. Clair. And “this season we decided to go for broke,” and created a “dream board” of folks they wanted to be on the show.

“We wrote a personal letter to Kenny Loggins,” who was game to appear, along with Jack McBrayer, Rob Riggle, Darius Rucker and Keegan-Michael Key. Both have an easy rapport and a rapid-fire speaking style, in which they finish each other’s sentences.

After a low-rated first season — last week's premiere drew 413,000 same-day viewers — the network renewed House, and Parham recalls, “We thought it was a prank; no way, this isn’t happening.” But in a new wrinkle, USA is putting episodes online before they air.