BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- FX's "Better Things" (10 p.m. Thursday) marked the debut of another lo-fi comedy, the kind of show that's smart and clever but not exactly full of belly laughs. It's more likely to produce smiles or maybe even a knowing wince of recognizable pain as it chronicles the life of a middle-age, single mom actress played by Pamela Adlon ("Californication").

My favorite scene in the pilot was a sly inside joke that featured Adlon (above at left) auditioning against actress Constance Zimmer of "UnREAL" and "Entourage" (above at right) with whom she shares not only looks but also other similar qualities, including a throaty laugh.

I asked Adlon about the genesis for the scene following an FX press conference last month.