I don't know if Paula Marshall's a show-killer, but she can certainly save a press conference.

Marshall, who since 1994 has been a regular in a half-dozen canceled series, including the aptly titled "Cursed" and the late, lamented "Cupid," will be back again this fall in CBS' "Out of Practice," in which she plays an ER doctor in a family of physicians (and one psychologist).

"I don't feel like I'm a show-killer," Marshall said, facing an obliquely worded question head--on. "Though Entertainment Weekly might disagree."

She then revealed that co-star Christopher Gorham -- who's been on a canceled show or two himself -- had e-mailed her a list of fake questions she should expect to hear, including, "Paula, what happened to your talent?" (Shortly afterward, an obliging reporter asked, "Paula, what happened to your talent?")

Having show after show canceled early has its problems, even if she keeps getting hired.

"It's frustrating because I never know if I can do the kitchen over."

This time's going to be different, anyway.

"I've never been a lesbian before, so I'm really excited about that," Marshall said. "I don't have to make out with ugly men. Ugly women, I don't know."

But "I still haven't told my mother I'm playing gay because she's old and she's not going to understand," she added.

And if you're one of those people who have trouble telling Marshall apart from Carla Gugino -- they each played opposite Michael J. Fox in "Spin City," and Gugino's starring in another new CBS show, "Threshold" -- Marshall's happy to offer tips.

"Oh, God. Carla's t--s are much bigger than mine," she said, then noted that any evidence to the contrary, as demonstrated by the very low-cut top she's wearing today, were due to her having given birth four months ago.

Oh, and Gugino's hair's curly.