Fran Drescher guest-starred on a recent episode of Mr. Mayor, Ted Danson’s latest NBC sitcom. She played a love interest, who was dating around after her divorce. Fran has been married a couple of times. She married her high school sweetheart at a young age and they were together for years. After they divorced in the late 90s, he came out as gay and they’re still quite close and work together. She later was married for a couple of years to an engineer and wannabe politician named Shiva Ayyadurai. Um, I’ll let his Wikipedia page speak for itself.
Like her Mr. Mayor character, Fran is dating around and has been for a couple of years. And she has thoughts on the world of dating apps and the many, ah, personalities that populate them. Stars, they’re just like us!
Drescher plays Angelica, a famed TV commercial actress, who has a fling with Danson’s character.
“I loved that the character that they wrote for me was kind of out there and sexy and free and living her life her way,” Drescher explained. “It’s not the norm that they write a woman who’s 60 necessarily that way. So I really responded very favorably to that.”
Unfortunately for Danson’s character, Angelica is on a post-breakup “trampage” of one-night stands. Drescher admits she can “without question” relate to the character’s situation.
“I mean, not right now in my life,” she said, “but you know when I first got divorced and I was in my early 40s, forget about it. I was like the animal let out of the zoo.”
Drescher also has her fair share of hilariously relatable dating horror stories.
“I’ve been on dates with guys who we got into a fight about how we would raise this imaginary kid that we were never gonna have because we clearly were completely different people who would have different styles of parenting,” the SAG-AFTRA president shared. “Anybody that ever says anything that even suggests or hints at any kind of prejudice of anybody, that is like, ‘OK I have a headache, we’re not even gonna order dinner.'”
When it comes to online dating, Drescher revealed, “I tried one app once and I found that none of the guys seemed to be honest about how they presented themselves. They weren’t as successful as their profile suggested, some of them smoked.”
She continued, “All in all I think that they kind of fudge their age, they fudge their accomplishments. And although I’ve been with guys who weren’t as successful as I am, I’ve learned the hard way that it’s fun for a while but then but then eventually they begin to resent you for paying for everything and for having more than they have and for being more successful than they are. It starts to chip away at the male ego. So I’m not gonna do that anymore because it’s too painful for me. I don’t wanna be resented for my success.”
Drescher concluded, “I think I’m at a place right now where I’m just beginning to want to stick my toe back in the water and put the word out there to look for me. After my last relationship and certainly through COVID, [I went through] a period where I kind of got more into having a relationship with myself and that’s been going very well.”
Arguing with a date about a hypothetical kid is a bit hilarious, especially if it was soon after meeting. Otherwise, what she said rings so true. Maybe some people lie out of insecurity, but it’s really just a sign their intentions aren’t pure and they’re looking for a little hit it and quit it. Story time! I also once went out with a guy who lied about his age — and his first name. He was listed as [K-name] Smith, 31, and I went out with him and he was late and totally annoying and overly touchy, but not hot enough to make it work. A couple of days later, I looked back at our thread to see if he’d unmatched me and noticed his K-name was now spelled with a C. Reverse Kardashian, hm. So I Googled his phone number, and discovered that while his surname was truly Smith, he had a completely different first (and middle) name that also started with a C and he was 34! While I at first use a Google voice number and a shortened version of my uncommon first name for safety reasons, I never outright lie! And since I was 28, he was definitely lying about his age to appeal to women in their early-mid 20s. Anyway, I waited for him to text me again (he did), gave him an opportunity to tell the truth (he didn’t), then declined a second date and called him out. So the moral of the story is don’t be dumb enough to give someone your real number if you want to lie about your name and age.
I think a lot of people who weren’t already in a relationship before covid began are getting back out there now and ready to start dating again. So what Fran says is also relatable in that sense. The only place she lost me is when she talked about the male ego and being resented for her success. Though I also like to date men with a similar accomplishment level to mine, I would like the opportunity to be resented for my success at least once.
Photos credit: Instar and via Instagram
I love Fran Drescher. The end.
Same here! She can always make me laugh (and I still rewatch The Nanny every so often, and yes, I laugh out loud 😄). I like her show “Happily Divorced” as well.
Fran! The Nanny is still pretty good tv. 😀
How is a funny, beautiful, survivor like Fran not involved in a happy relationship?
I wish her many years of good health and happiness.
Guys, you’d be very lucky to be dating FD 😀
“The only place she lost me is when she talked about the male ego and being resented for her success. ” – this is a very real thing. I lost an engagement because the guy could not get over the fact that I earned twice as much as he did. Not my fault that he decided to ditch his well paying job to start being an artist. Not my fault that I earned more. He absolutely resented me for it and it killed the relationship. The next guy had a problem with it aswell. We worked the same job but I had the higher salary and it really nagged at him.
At this point I refuse to tell potential love interests my salary because it so often causes issues.
Why did she lose you?
Yeah, guys being unable to be normal when with a woman who is more successful or has more money is a real thing. Not every guy, but enough of them. And just a hunch, but I’m guessing a Venn diagram of those guys and the ones who pretend they are much younger then the really are would have a lot of overlap.
Are women any more honest on dating apps? In general, I mean. And who trusts dating app list of accomplishments.
Fran is the best. I re-watched the entire Nanny series last summer. It holds up – maybe not the fashion though!! Also, she looks stunning still.
Hi @north of Boston, from the south shore 😜 and, yes, can confirm that even in our liberal state it’s one thing to be a successful woman – it’s another to be a *more* successful woman. I’ve found that even if I try to date men who clearly make less than me – based on their career vs. mine – they start making small digs at my car, my clothes, my house…digs about how busy I am because I can only meet them for an hour and a half for lunch, digs about “career women”…it’s exhausting and weirdly demoralizing. Like Fran, I just won’t do it anymore. I shouldn’t have to feel like I have to downplay my accomplishments for a man to feel comfortable around me.
Hoo boy, her second “husband” sounds like a complete nutjob. I had no idea!
Wow, I’ve just been thought that wikepedia entry. That’s a lot.
That was a lot to take in! He is certainly a whacko! How TH did she end up with HIM? My gawd, what an awful time and experience that must have been for her!!
Though I do love Fran Drescher!! She still fabulous!!
Love her! I stopped using dating apps about three years ago. While I know there are exceptions; I agree with her that most of the men on there are dishonest. Often I would get very explicit messages right off the bat; there was no concept of courtship at all. Call me old-fashioned!
Fran is a queen, and I adore her! I’m obsessed with her Oscar look this year- what a dish!
And if you lie to Fran Drescher, you’ll lie to anyone!
I think She looks great. She’s gained a little weight but carries it well. Not fair!