ET goes one-on-one with Barry Watson about his new series, "Samantha Who?," fatherhood and more.

ET: After the ratings struggle you experienced on "What About Brian," was it comforting to go on the writers strike-enforced hiatus knowing your show would be back?

BARRY WATSON: You get nine episodes in and everything starts clicking with the writers and the actors. Everybody is starting to feel real comfortable and knows what they need to bring to the show. Then it's: "Go home and, hopefully, we will be back in a month." Four and a half months later ... it was frustrating. You want to keep the momentum going that you had at the end.

We came back and did three more episodes to complete this season. The first episode was getting our sea legs back, but we did some real good work.

ET: I hear Todd (Watson) has a new girlfriend?

BARRY: Todd has a new girlfriend, played by KIELE SANCHEZ. She moved into Todd's -- it's really Sam's [CHRISTINA APPLEGATE] apartment -- but Todd still lives there. Definitely, I think it will stir up some conflict with Samantha.

Kiele is in a total of three or four episodes. She just came back into this last one as well. We don't know what will happen for next year.

ET: How do you explain his relationship with Samantha? It seems as if Todd and she never should have been together.

BARRY: They were together for three years. The first year was probably fine. The last two years Todd was probably trying to figure out how the hell to get out of this relationship, because he was frightened of Sam. Now that Sam has been reborn and this new, more childlike Sam has come about, there is something more appealing. It might remind Todd of how the relationship started.

ET: Second thoughts about the breakup?

BARRY: We will see what happens. I think Todd is the kind of guy -- even with his relationship with Chloe (Sanchez) -- when you first start a relationship you get so caught up in everything -- everything is so magical -- but you ignore the things that could end up bothering you six months from now. I think that is what is happening with Todd and Chloe. I think in six months, he could wind up being afraid of her, too. I think Todd is afraid of women. He needs them, but he is afraid of them. Todd is just a big weenie.

ET: Is this your first sitcom? How do you like doing comedy?

BARRY: I love it. I think it is good that I am doing it. A lot of people don't know me from doing any comedy. When I first started out, I would guest on sitcoms. But all my work in TV in the last 11 years has been drama. I am sure there was funny stuff that happened in "7th Heaven," but I don't know if it was supposed to be funny. This is good. As an actor, you have to try to do everything to keep your resume well-rounded. Also, working with Christina and JEAN [SMART], who have been doing comedy for so long, I get to steal stuff from them and learn from them.

ET: You did some directing on "7th Heaven." Do you have any interest in pursuing that on "Samantha Who?"

BARRY: I think I had a dream about it last night. I am not even kidding you. I would, but let's see what happens this next year. Also, the people I am working for are going to have to take a chance and see if they will let me do that or not. I would love to be the one in charge of telling all these actors what to do!

ET: Long term, do you think you will end up behind the camera?

BARRY: I am a mediocre actor. I just get by. [joke] I always say the reason I am still working is I am easy to work with. I don't bitch or complain too much. I am always on time. That is half the job. I think, eventually, I could make a decent director. It is something that I want to keep pursing and getting better at. I am somebody who wants to keep getting better and better. Right now in my acting career, I am almost where I want to be. I am not quite there yet. I want to keep improving myself. With directing I would have to start all over again, do my research and study more and get back into that.

ET: What did you do on your hiatus?

BARRY: I hung out with my son quite a bit and had another son in November -- November 13 right after we wrapped. I did a little reading and hung out with my kid. Taking my three-year-old to school and cooking dinner ever night.

ET: Are you getting enough sleep?

BARRY: No. That is why I was so glad to get back to work. I was, "Yes!" For the first time in my life, I am getting more rest at work than at home. I am kind of bummed because we just finished shooting our last episode of the season. I wish we could keep going.

ET: Does work let you opt out of the midnight feedings?

BARRY: Pretty much. As a team, I am more in charge of the three-year-old more than the four-and-a-half-month-old.

"Samantha Who" airs tonight on ABC at 9:30 p.m.