Divorce & Dating With Zach Braff’s Mom Dr. Anne Brodzinsky

On this episode of Fake Doctors, Real Friends, Zach Braff’s mother, child psychologist (and real doctor) Anne Brodzinsky comes on the show to talk about her new children’s book The Falling Down Time: One Child’s Story About Divorce – but she also shares great stories about Zach’s worry dolls and makeshift theatre company when he was a kid, when she realized that Scrubs was going to be a big deal, how much she loves Sarah Chalke, and much more. Then Chrissie calls in from Illinois to ask about talking to her two sons about her divorce, and how to get back out into the dating world again as a single mom.

Anne wrote her book because she found many existing books are “based on the parents’ wish that the child is going to be okay, so they’re all really cheerful,” focusing on the extra toys and second bedroom that the kids will get; she wanted to show “what the child remembers: Everything being alright, and then suddenly for some reason everything is not alright.” Donald Faison cried reading it, because when he was divorcing his ex-wife, he was afraid he’d never see his kids again. Now they live with him, “but I couldn’t see that light at the end of the tunnel at the time.” When Chrissie calls in to ask about talking to her kids, Anne gives her great advice about drawings and games they can do together to help the kids open up about their feelings, and Zach and Donald have suggestions for how best to get back into dating as a single mom. “I never thought I’d be getting dating advice from Zach Braff and Donald Faison!” Chrissie laughs. 

But it’s not all helpful psychology on this episode; Anne also shares great memories of Zach as a child. For example, when he was 7 years old, he asked for a curtain he could hang in the middle of the TV room, as well as clip-on lights with timers so he could rig his own lighting board. He would put plays together with his siblings and even sell tickets to his mother’s friends. “My mom’s trying to have a dinner party and I’m out there selling tickets to a play the guests don’t even want to go to!” Zach laughs. Plus, the moment Zach realized he wanted to write as well as act, Donald’s obsession with his wife, and so much more; hear the entire hilarious conversation on this episode of Fake Doctors, Real Friends.

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