Ella Stiller on ‘Cupertino,’ AI Anxiety, and Her Astrological Insights

How would you describe your experience working on ‘Cupertino’ and with showrunners Robert and Michelle King?

It’s been an absolute dream, she says. The Kings are brilliant leaders whose energy is positive and who truly love the project. Working with what she calls “the greatest television showrunners ever” has made the production feel like a creative haven amid a competitive industry.

You seem to be picking very smart projects.

Stiller deliberately chooses AI‑conscious stories, from the legal drama “Cupertino” to the third season of “The Comeback,” both of which examine the tension between technology and humanity. She explains that finding collaborators who “see you and want to work with you” is essential after years of rejection in the entertainment world.

Any favorite memories so far working with Mike Colter and Rachel Keller?

She laughs that the set is full of giggles. A particularly chaotic day in a New Jersey mansion with co‑star Mike Colter and comedian Busy Philipps turned into a “delirium of giggles,” she recalls, highlighting how odd locations foster strong bonds among the cast.

Christy is a jack-of-all-trades on the show, but she’s key in any investigation. What’s something you’ve had to investigate in your own life recently?

Astrology has become her latest investigative obsession. She spends weeks listening to podcasts and tracking planetary movements, noting that a “crazy summer” astrologically left many people feeling unsettled. Fans now ask her for weekly updates, and she jokes that “Venus is in retrograde” is the headline of the week.

You’re an Aries. Do you think Christy is also an Aries?

She is convinced that Christy is an Aries, matching her own fire sign. As an Aries with a Pisces moon, she admits to being emotionally sensitive, a trait she believes many actors share through water‑sign moons that heighten responsiveness to every interaction.

‘Cupertino’ and the latest season of ‘The Comeback’ are all about technological anxiety, especially related to AI. In what ways have you seen that anxiety come up in your life?

Stiller admits she never used AI when it first emerged, partly because her drama training and lack of academic writing made it irrelevant, and also because she worries about its environmental impact. She champions art as a fundamentally human expression, hoping that audiences will reject AI‑generated content and preserve authentic creativity.

Do you think 20‑episode TV seasons are finally back?

She hopes so. After finishing a season in just a few days, she feels a “separation anxiety” that keeps the show alive during the 16‑week broadcast window. The longer format, she says, allows deeper character arcs and gives viewers a richer, more immersive experience.

You’re canonically in the ‘Sex and the City’ universe as the mother of your real‑life grandmother’s TV character’s great‑grandchild. Did I get that right?

She clarifies that she is the “baby mama” of Brady, the son of Cynthia Nixon’s character Miranda, making her the great‑grandchild of her own grandmother, actress Anne Meara, who appears as Brady’s grandmother on the show. She describes the coincidence as “trippy” and a perfect match made in heaven for her debut guest‑star role.

I can’t help but think of ‘Focker-in-Law.’ What has it been like to bring someone home to meet your dad?

She says that while the “Meet the Parents” joke is inevitable, she finds it funny rather than annoying and always responds with a witty comeback. She is selective about who she introduces to her family, so each introduction feels “real rich” and meaningful.

New episodes of Cupertino air every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on CBS and are available to stream on Paramount+.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Entertainment, People, News, Society, Technology, Leisure, Online, Arts, Hobbies