The LA Times' Mimi Avins catches up with DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES star Felicity Huffman and her best friend Patricia Wolff, who collaborated on the humor-laden guidebook A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK FOR THE BOYFRIEND, in stores this week. And both authors are well aware that if Huffman's name wasn't on the book, it may not have sold well - or to a publisher. "Any group of girlfriends who wonder why men don't get it could have written their own book," Wolff said, "and it would have been a little different from ours. Our approach was that men and women together are funny. If it's not tragic, it's hilarious."

"We started writing the book because we wanted it to help guys figure women out," Huffman said. "We weren't presenting ourselves as experts. The book is a little bit of advice and a lot of funny. We thought women would read the book, and hopefully they'll give it to their guys." Brenda Copeland did. The executive editor of Hyperion Books gave a copy to her brother. "He's newly single," Copeland said, "and he hasn't a clue." In other words, at least anecdotally, the book's working...