Monica Potter's role comes with a glitzy throne

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - Chairs are set up just outside the sets where the TNT original series "Trust Me" is filmed. Each rather plain-looking seat is marked with the name of one the show's stars: Eric McCormack, Tom Cavanagh, Griffin Dunne, etc.

Then there's Monica Potter's chair.

Although similar in design, it is pink and covered with glittering decorations. It is like Hello Kitty and Barbie got together to make a seat for the queen of the fairies.

Potter has an explanation.

"I guess they had my chair at the mall. They were shooting some scene, and I wasn't there. But the prop guys put it out and someone stole it. So I said, 'If you get another chair, can I get some pink lettering or something fun?' So they surprised me and got a whole pink chair. And I decorated with my butterflies," Potter says, her face turning almost the same hue as the chair.

Truth be told, Potter would have been happy to sit on an apple crate. She's just excited to have the job playing Sarah Krajicek-Hunter, a flawed character who occasionally gets to smile.

Her character is part of a Chicago advertising firm filled with offbeat creative types. Sarah is an advertising whiz. She's just got a few personality quirks to control long enough to get the work done.

"I like the fact she is broad. I like the fact that she is very competent with her job. She has to put on this facade of acting tough in this sea of men. What I love about her are her vulnerabilities," Potter says. "Those round her out."

The show is giving Potter the chance to have fun at work. That hasn't been the case with many of her other acting jobs. Potter's resume includes the very serious television drama "Boston Legal" and horror and thriller feature films "Saw" and "Along Came a Spider."

This Friday, Potter can be seen in the updated version of "The Last House on the Left." There aren't a lot of laughs there.

So, her furniture is designed for the positive work world. The brightly colored chair has at least one fellow cast member pretending to be jealous. When Potter sees McCormack laughing, she asks him what is so funny.

"I am just wishing someone had stolen my chair," McCormack says as a friendly jab at his fellow cast member.

Potter just smiles.

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TRUST ME

10 p.m. Tuesdays

TNT

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© 2009, The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.).