James White, CBS Jenna Elfman Click photo for larger image.

She's back. Jenna Elfman, the happy hippie star of "Dharma & Greg," has returned to television in a new CBS sitcom, "Courting Alex," airing Mondays at 9:30 p.m. Elfman plays a high-strung lawyer in the show, a blend of romance and humor. In real life, she's married to actor Bodhi Elfman.

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Q. Any thoughts on love, romance and roses?

A. Well, my husband should have "the husband of the century award" for his amazing Valentine's Day, anniversary and loving surprises. He is very creative. One time, we were in a hotel on Valentine's Day and I had been out. When I came back to the room, he had the room full of balloons. But, attached and hanging from each balloon by fishing wire was a red rose. So it looked like a room full of red roses floating in the air. It was incredible.

Q. That sounds like an Andy Warhol exhibit!

A. [Laughs.] Yes. And another time, while I was sleeping in the bed, he slipped out very early in the morning and got a big cooler filled with blocks of dry ice, came home and snuck it back into the bedroom and set big pans of dry ice all around the bed. So, when I woke up -- oh, and he opened the window to the view, we had a view home at that point -- it looked like I woke up in the clouds. All you could see were clouds.

Q. You and Bodhi have been married about 10 years. That's a lifetime in Hollywood.

A. Actually, it will be 11 years this Feb. 18. We have been together 15 years in February. I think that if you keep agreements, you don't cheat on each other. You stay honest with each other because secrets start to drive you apart. Then you are afraid the person might find something out, and you start going away and individuating from each other. Communication should be able to flow freely, and it can only flow freely if your hands are clean, you know?

Whatever you do, you have to communicate. That is our staple. And you have to create it every day, too. I think some people get married and they say, "Oh, we can check that off the list now. That's done." That's just the beginning. You have to put it there because it's only what two people create.

Q. You are so right about that.

A. I got that from L. Ron Hubbard [science fiction writer who founded Scientology]. So I can't take credit for that. It makes sense right? It's one of those things that is so simple, you think, 'Why didn't I think of that,' but when you hear it you are, like, oh yeah, totally.

Q. So, in your opinion, why does Scientology get such bad press?

A. Because it's not understood. I think people get scared of anything they don't understand. My whole thing is just ... it actually helps people and it works.

Q. Do Scientologists sometimes feel like they are being persecuted?

A. No, I don't think we feel like victims. We just keep helping people and studying about life. There is no time to be a victim. I don't think that helps anybody. I don't think we consider ourselves victims because we understand why we get attacked. I just tell people if you want to know what Scientology is about, read a book. Then you can find out if it is true for you or not. Don't take hearsay as source. It's the easy thing to do, but it's not good common sense.

Q. Did you have any reservations about returning to the sitcom format?

A. I didn't, actually. I was very excited about it. I feel very at home in the sitcom format. And it seemed that there was a lot of interest from the networks to have me participate in television again. The thing that was important to me was that we had the right writer for me at this point in my life, with the right character, with the right humor. I was very clear what I wanted and how this should be. CBS was very supportive and also was the same in that they were unrelenting and persistent about getting it right. I didn't want to get into filming it and still be in that discovery process. So I was in development for like a year and a half.

Q. Do you exhibit the same energy off screen as on?

A. Well, I just love life and living life and I'm interested in people and experiences, and that has an energy to it. I am not resigned or apathetic about life, you know? I am not bored by life.

You seem to have maintained your confidence, without becoming arrogant.

A. My parents raised me with a really good value system, and I learned so much in Scientology about human behavior and about people. It's about the human mind and the soul. I just want people to do well in life and to go after their dreams, achieve their dreams and become happier people. I think arrogance comes when you are an "only one." When you think you are the only one.

I think anyone who is aware that man, on this planet, isn't as happy as he could be and that there are problems and that we all need to help each other, it's hard to become arrogant when there is a job to be done. When I have my wins, I take them and I celebrate them, and I pat myself on the back and I say, 'You worked hard and you did good -- continue.' I don't become an only one. I am very aware of the world around me and that I need to contribute to improving it.