August 21, 2007

Kelly McGillis goes to L


Kelly McGillis (Top Gun, Witness) is set to guest-star on Showtime's The L Word. She will play a military lawyer involved in a "don't ask, don't tell" case, according to Variety.

The Golden Globe nominee's most recent work includes the Lifetime network's Black Widower and a turn as Mrs. Robinson in a national tour of The Graduate. (The Advocate)


info from Advocate

Another Title:

Liquid Heat

#501 LGB Tease
#502 Look Out, Here They Come!
#503 Lady of the Lake
#504 Let's Get This Party Started
#505 Lookin' At You Kid
#506
#507 Lesbians Gone Wild
#508 Lay Down The Law
#509 Liquid Heat

Another Title:

Lifecycle



#501 LGB Tease
#502 Look Out, Here They Come!
#503 Lady of the Lake
#504 Let's Get This Party Started
#505 Lookin' At You Kid
#506
#507 Lesbians Gone Wild
#508 Lay Down The Law
#509 Liquid Heat
#510 Lifecycle

Jennifer Beals Interview
This article appeared this morning in todays Guardian Newspaper in the UK.

Didn't know if anyone would want to check it out. The link is: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguide/film/st...2163649,00.html

And the interview is as follows...

Jennifer Beals takes time out from queueing for her passport to chat about athletics, spiders and quantum physics. Pay attention at the back

Saturday September 8, 2007
The Guardian



What's new pussycat?
I'm just standing in line at the passport office in Los Angeles, trying to renew my passport. I'm waiting outside until they call. I might have to jump off the line when they do. Oh, and I did a spring Triathlon last week, that was fun, but excruciating. We swam in arctic-cold water in the mountain lakes of British Columbia; they didn't tell us that at the start. It was the first triathlon I did and I was wondering if it would be my last.


Who do you think you are?
Right now, I'm trying to be patient. I don't think I'm like Bette, my character in The L Word. This year she's really confused, disappointed, challenged at work and in her relationship. That's not like me at all. I think if she had been standing in line for two hours, she would have lost her mind. She'd be shouting at somebody by now. Oh, and she has a better wardrobe than me. Her clothes are fabulous, and I'm a jeans and T-shirt sort of person.

How long as this been going on?
Two hours! Sorry, I can't stop thinking about this passport queue. OK, the L-Word has been going on for over three years. No one was sure that it would run for that long, but its been nice to follow the twist and turns of a character in a TV series. I enjoy it.

How clean is your house?
My actual house leaves a lot to be desired. My internal house, as a human being, I'm fine, but my actual house, well, spiders feel at home there for some reason. I'm not a neat freak. When I get a hotel, I have to unpack my clothes and colour co-ordinate them, but I'm not like at home.

Where's the hood at?
I don't think I have one. I guess I was brought up in Chicago and I feel like home when I get there. I feel that way in a lot of places though; Vancouver, Los Angeles and New York to a certain extent.

Are you lonesome tonight?
Never. If nothing else I have myself. I like my own company.

What the #$*! do we know!?
Oh, yeah, I like that film. My friend, Marlee Matlin, is in it; she's in the L-Word too. Anyway, I think science and spirituality are one and the same, I don't think they're really different. The film makes pretty clear that quantum physics is validating all kinds of spiritual teachings. As time goes on, hopefully we'll be able to understand more.

What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?
Ermm. They're funny in that they're joyful, but they're not funny in a derisive way.

Who wants to be a millionaire?
I guess those who aren't and don't know any better. The more important question is why? Making money isn't pointless, it just depends on what it's for.

Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Nearly everybody. I studied literature at university and I read Virginia Woolf, but I now enjoy more contemporary authors like Toni Morrison.

Where did you sleep last night?
In Los Angeles.

When will I see you again?
Well, I'm starting this project called Manhattan Nocturne, that's starting in February with Cuba Gooding Jr. My character is very troubled; she keeps fucking up.

Should I stay or should I go?
You should go. My passport queue is moving now! They're starting to give me instructions! Bye!

Another Title:

Lunar Cycle



#501 LGB Tease
#502 Look Out, Here They Come!
#503 Lady of the Lake
#504 Let's Get This Party Started
#505 Lookin' At You Kid
#506
#507 Lesbians Gone Wild
#508 Lay Down The Law
#509 Liquid Heat
#510 Lifecycle
#511 Lunar Cycle

'The L Word' Lands On Logo
Logo today announced that it has acquired the first five seasons (62 episodes) of the groundbreaking Showtime lesbian drama The L Word from CBS Television Distribution and will premiere the series on commercial television for the first time beginning in summer 2008.

Logo is the nation's leading 24/7 cable and broadband channel and online source of entertainment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) audience.

"The L Word," which launched a television sensation when it premiered on Showtime in 2004, follows a small group of Los Angeles lesbian friends through their romantic, work and family lives.

A little Helena spoiler; a character named Jackie will be one of Helena's prison mates. She supposedly wants Helena to join her gang, which is followed by quite a hot sex scene. She will be in about 2 or 3 episodes.


info form lwordonline

Marlee Matlin’s Great Lesbian Adventure
by Karmen Ratkovic
2007-09-26






Karmen Ratkovic is a political activist in Croatia, working with non-governmental organizations ( NGOs ) on a wide range of issues. She is also a Deaf lesbian activist, and has been working to expand the visibility of lesbians in her country. One way she has done this is through sports, in organizations such as qSPORT and Bura, a lesbian soccer team, that played in the Gay Games last summer in Chicago. The following e-mail interview was conducted with actor Marlee Matlin in early September.


Academy Award winner Matlin will be in Chicago for a gala benefit featuring her co-stars from The L Word ( Jennifer Beals, Daniela Sea and BETTY ) , along with comic Marga Gomez, Sat., Oct. 6, at The Chopping Block, 222 Merchandise Mart. Chefs Art Smith and Shelley Young will also be featured at this Celebrity Cook-Off benefit for Gender PAC, a national gender-rights group. See www.gpac.org .

Karmen Ratkovic: How do you live in the surrounding of hearing people? Do you have anybody who is Deaf, that is, do you have any contact with Deaf people?

Marlee Matlin: My family [ husband and children ] are not deaf and most of my friends at work and at home are hearing. I grew up in Chicago, where my entire family was also hearing [ mom, dad and two brothers as well as various aunts, uncles and cousins ] . But most of my friends growing up in Chicago were deaf and my classmates were deaf as well. Today, I have some close friends who are deaf, but again, most of my daily friends and acquaintances are hearing. I do well going back and forth between Deaf and hearing worlds. It’s the way I’ve always been.

KR: What was it that moved you to be an actress? Is your choosing the career of the actress in any relation with your Deafness? How has Hollywood stereotyped you and what roles are available?

MM: I’ve wanted to act since I was seven years old; that’s when I did my first play, The Wizard of Oz. My mother said she took me to the International Center on Deafness and the Arts because she saw a desire in me to perform in front of people, and ICODA provided opportunities for deaf children to participate in the arts and drama. But I don’t know if I chose acting because I was deaf. I chose acting because I was good at it!
srExecute();

As for Hollywood stereotyping me, Hollywood stereotypes everyone—men, women, young actors, old actors and actors with disabilities. Hollywood is all about fantasy and drama, and that means we all play characters that are larger than life. Often, this includes stereotypical behavior, behaviors that audiences can easily identity with. As for me, I shun stereotypes and I refuse to take roles which make me look silly or stupid as a Deaf person. It’s also the reason why a lot of the roles I take are ones that I have created together with the writers and producers. Whether it’s been the Dancing Bandit character I played on Picket Fences or the pollster I played on The West Wing or Jodi Lerner from The L Word, the characters I’ve played have avoided the stereotypes of Deafness and have broken new ground in the portrayals of Deaf characters. I’m proud of having opened the doors for other actors in Hollywood who are Deaf.

KR: Your brother is gay. How do feel about that? What can you tell us about the relationship with your brother in regard to your Deafness and his homosexuality—is there any influence in any direction? How about your view of gay people; how do you understand/see them, their challenges, problems, etc.?

MM: My brother is my brother, gay or not. His being gay never factored into how we thought of him in our family or how much we loved him. However, you could say our relationship has been defined by the fact that I’m Deaf and he’s gay because we both come from communities that are in the minority. I think that has drawn us closer to each other. And as Ilene Chaiken, the executive producer of The L Word, said to me as she was developing my character, the issues facing Deaf people parallel the issues facing the LGBT community because both operate as minorities who are misunderstood by the general population. I found this fascinating but not surprising. In any case, as Matlins we are a very close and loving family, and whether we are Deaf, gay, Jewish, etc., we lived by the idea that every person deserves love and respect despite what people label as “differences.”

KR: Here in Croatia, we’ve got no opportunity to see your acting in The L Word, but I’m fascinated by your roles in Children of a Lesser God and recently in What the Bleep. Anyway, I want to know what moved you to choose to join The L Word. How do you feel in this role?

MM: I was challenged by the very nature of the role in The L Word. It was so different than anything I had every played before. I’ve always asked to play roles that were new and challenging and playing a lesbian artist is certainly new for me! I was fortunate to have been cast alongside my friend, Jennifer Beals, who made the transition into playing a lesbian quite easy. She was assuring, as well as funny and she put my mind at ease when it came to playing something I had never played before. I love the cast and crew of The L Word and the role of Jodi Lerner is one of the most fascinating characters I’ve ever played!

KR: Since taking on The L Word role, you have attended many gay and lesbian events and benefits [ in various places ] , including Chicago, your hometown, where your brother introduced you. Can you tell us how being seen as more of an “activist” on the issue of gays and lesbians feels?

MM: I’ve always been a supporter of minority communities and issues, so when I was asked to come out and support the LGBT community, I was glad to lend my name and presence. I don’t necessarily consider myself an activist as much as I consider myself as a woman with an opinion. I wish I had time to be a full-time activist but I’m not so good at politics. But I am good at speaking my mind and my mind has always told me that no one, whether straight or gay, has the right to be discriminated against simply because of their sexual preferences. So, if there’s discrimination out there or people are not realizing their rights, I’m happy to speak out on their behalf and use my public position to focus attention on the issue. That’s what I can do best as an actor!

KR: Can you tell us any favorite parts about playing opposite Jennifer Beals on The L Word, and where this role is going this coming season?

MM: We loved laughing and giggling when we first worked together. Jennifer had already been playing a lesbian for three years on the show and this past season was my first time. She made fun of the way I kissed and held her, and she challenged me to do it better—to do it right. But I told her that I was doing it right!

All through my process of learning, she put my mind at ease and made it so easy for me to slip into the role of the lesbian artist, Jodi. We also playfully argued about who had the better clothes ( Jennifer chic, Marlee funky ) and our past roles. I often kidded her about Flashdance ( she pretended she didn’t like to talk about that movie ) and she often kidded me about Children Of A Lesser God, which I made when I was 19 and looked very different! She is so much fun.

As for this coming season, I can’t say what’s going to happen, but I can tell you it’s going to be very intense—more so than last year—and if you have a chance to watch, tune in!

KR: In your role on The L Word, are you happy with the way the writers have handled your Deafness, making it a critical part of your character and her politics?

MM: The writers on The L Word have been nothing but 100 percent open to incorporating accurate portrayals of Deafness. They’ve brought in other Deaf actors, [ and ] they’ve asked me to help them with storylines; it’s been a dream! There’s nothing on the show that I am embarrassed about [ regarding ] the way Jodi Lerner is portrayed. She is an accurate and very real example of a real Deaf character on television and I am very proud of having the opportunity to portray her.

KR: What do you think of the recent controversial issues in America, including the arrest and resignation of a U.S. senator for bathroom solicitation, and the potential approval of same-sex marriage in Iowa? Where do you think the gay movement is headed in terms of acceptance, and do you see any parallels with the Deaf community?

MM: All of the controversy about how nothing ever changes in terms of how people view gay people doesn’t surprise me. It’s been the same for the Deaf community. As Deaf people, we have had to constantly struggle to be respected and afforded our rights; the same goes for members of the gay community. I’ve learned that the struggle for equality and respect is an ongoing one and it’s the same in the gay community, too. People’s memories are short and every few years there’s an issue ( like the Gallaudet University uprising or the Matthew Shepard case ) that serves to remind us that we will always have to struggle for our rightful place in society. I believe we should never get complacent or comfortable because before you know it, public opinions can change and/or those who make laws or lead us may come into power that takes away everything that we’ve achieved. It’s a never-ending struggle and that’s unfortunate. But it has made me strong and I’m sure that’s the same for any member of the gay community that seeks to make a difference and live a life equal to their straight brothers and sisters.

KR: You are coming to Chicago for a benefit for Gender PAC. Can you explain your support of GPAC, especially as it relates to understanding transgender and gender identity issues?

MM: GPAC is all about gender equality and I’m all for that. As I said, no person should be denied their rights for love and respect simply because of their gender or sexual preference. GPAC works to make sure that no one should be discriminated against simply because of who they choose to love. And in particular, GPAC is working to make sure that LGBT teens—people who need positive reinforcement the most as they grow into adulthood—are afforded love and respect. Too often it is the community of LGBT teens that we see high rates of suicide because of society’s unwillingness to accept them for who they are. GPAC is there to protect and support them—and I’m there to support GPAC.

KR: Thank you very much for your time. We would love to have you in Croatia anytime.

Another Title:

Loyal and True



#501 LGB Tease
#502 Look Out, Here They Come!
#503 Lady of the Lake
#504 Let's Get This Party Started
#505 Lookin' At You Kid
#506
#507 Lesbians Gone Wild
#508 Lay Down The Law
#509 Liquid Heat
#510 Lifecycle
#511 Lunar Cycle
#512 Loyal and True

Flashdance made Jennifer Beals the icon of the ‘80s. She taught us to cut up our sweatshirts, take off our bras with flair and dance until we sweat. She continued her career with diverse roles in films such as Devil in a Blue Dress, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, The Anniversary Party, Twilight of the Golds and Roger Dodger. Then came her role as Bette Porter in the lesbian Showtime series The L Word.
Beals is coming to Chicago for a Oct. 6 benefit for GenderPAC, and Windy City Queercast’s Amy Matheny chatted briefly with her about Chicago, her film career and, of course, The L Word.


Amy Matheny: You were born and raised in Chicago. What are some of your favorite things about the city?

Jennifer Beals: Well, the lakefront; my sweetest memories are at the lakefront, whether it was running or going biking with my family. And the architecture is so spectacular.

AM: Do you get back often? srExecute();

JB: No, I don’t. So I’m really, really excited to come home.

AM: After superstardom in Flashdance, you chose to go to Yale. What was it like for you to immerse yourself in school after Hollywood and the L.A. life?

JB: Well, I had never had the L.A. life. I was in school when I found out that I got the part. So I went and took a term off to go do the film, and then I came back to school. I had already been acclimated and I already had friends there, so it wasn’t that difficult. It really was a relief, because I knew how to go to school, and Hollywood was so unfamiliar to me.

AM: So they already knew you as Jennifer. Even though you’d done the big film, they brought you back down to earth.

JB: With that kind of course load, that will certainly bring you back down to earth. But I don’t feel like I wasn’t on the earth in Hollywood; it just felt very bizarre, like it was just very surreal.

AM: I could talk forever about the films that I [ mentioned above ] , because those are films that I really like a lot.

JB: Roger Dodger…when you mentioned that one, that made me really happy. I had such a good time on that film. Working with my friends and being in New York and telling that story was just so much fun.

AM: It’s interesting to look at your film history, how you’ve had this…core group of people, from Alan Cumming to Tony Goldwin to Marlee Matlin [ that you have worked with and known for a while ] . But let’s talk about The L Word. How was the series pitched to you and the character of Bette Porter?

JB: Well, I read the pilot, and they told me to keep in mind who I would rather play, whether it was Bette or Tina. I felt like I didn’t understand Tina as much as I understood Bette. I really liked all of the complexity that was written in already from the pilot with that, and it’s lucky that I chose that because Lauren Holloman is so fantastic as Tina. I never could have done as good of a job with it as she has with that character. It was proposed to me that it was this group of friends and…we’re going to deal with their lives and see where it takes us.

AM: What was the most intriguing thing about the show? It was obviously groundbreaking at the time.

JB: I never thought about it as being groundbreaking, I just thought, “Wow, this is a fantastic character to play,” and she’s complicated and interesting and it was just a wonderful gift more than anything else.

AM: And I imagine it’s also such a unique experience to work with a mostly female cast and so many women in production.

JB: [ Laughing ] We all tend to cycle at the same time.

AM: It’s got to be a very unique, being around that many women all the time.

JB: It’s a fantastic cast, it is. Everybody is incredibly supportive of one another. The other night we had an eight-page scene around a fire, with 11 characters, and we thought, “How are we going to get through this?” So I just [ had ] everybody come into my trailer the day before we had to do the scene, and we all ran through [ it ] until we all knew it…just so that there were no wrinkles when we finally went to camera, and it was great, and everybody was really helpful to one another, and respectful of one another.

AM: You’ve been friends with Marlee Matlin for years.

JB: I have.

AM: And she has recently been your love interest on The L Word. Did you suggest that she come on the show?

JB: I didn’t. I was told that she was going to have a meeting, and I was really excited about it. It’s just been wonderful. She’s so funny. The only down side is that she makes me laugh. She’s the only person that’s ever made me break in a scene, made me die laughing. … You know, she doesn’t have to sign anything or, you know, she’ll just look at me and it just kills me.

AM: What is in store for Bette this season?

JB: God. Lord, have mercy. It’s going to be drama constantly, super drama. Bette and Jody have all kinds of things they’re going through.

AM: The L Word has definitely expanded your activism. Obviously, before The L Word you were not being asked to be the grand marshal of the Pride Parade in San Francisco.

JB: That was an amazing experience! It was really so much fun. I just wanted them to turn that car around and do it all over again. People were so supportive and sweet, and it was just such a rush. It was such an incredible rush.

AM: Well, I’m sure they would have turned it around and done it all over again for you. They were probably still partying. … They would have wondered if they were having déjà vu. You’re in town with your co-stars from The L Word, Marlee Matlin and Danielle Sea, for the Gender PAC third annual celebrity cook-off. Tell us a little bit about what you’re going to be doing at the event. Are you really going to be cooking?

JB: I’m going to be humiliating myself.

AM: No!

JB: I’m going to be humiliating myself, because I don’t cook. Like, I’m not just exaggerating for the sake of storytelling. I really don’t cook. Under duress I can cook Thanksgiving dinner, you know, with a lot of thought. But…eating a gourmet meal is not at the top of my list. To me, food is energy and I just move on and get through the day. Now I’m being asked to do something beyond opening a can of tuna. So this will be really fascinating.

AM: Do you know what you’re going to make?

JB: Hell, no! Am I supposed to? You’re scaring me.

AM: I don’t know. I just assumed that if it’s going to be a cook-off, we’re going to be watching you make chili and Marlee make…

JB: All I ask is to be the sous chef. That’s all.

AM: Well, make sure you get to be Art Smith’s sous chef. He’s the personal chef to Oprah, [ and he ] also will be there. I’m sure he’ll give you some tips.

JB: Well, I’m hoping to learn something. That’s my goal. AND to not have Marlee make fun of me too much. I can guarantee you that Marlee Matlin is going to be incredibly entertaining. I guarantee it right now.

AM: Do you have a favorite food?

JB: No, I don’t really have a favorite. I mean, I like cereal. I’ve been in love with cereal for most of my life.


Gender PAC’s 3rd annual Celebrity Cook-Off is Sat., Oct. 6, at the Chopping Block at Merchandise Mart. For tickets and information, visit www.GPAC.org/l-word . To listen to this entire interview, go to www.windycityqueercast.com .

According to Saabstory on TWOP:
"Episode 6 - Lights! Camera! Action!

So, Hodie does a piece about gun violence and per Bette, Hodie is the most anti-gun person she knows.
Apparently there is a gun. Apparently people freaked out about it. Apparently Hodie was very noble and was ready to take the fall for Bette. Unsure of the details, but apparently Hodie has to resign.
This is episode 6.

In this same episode, Bette and Kit (who now wants a gun ever since the robbery) come to visit the Lez Girls set. They meet up with Tina who kisses Kit hello and then gives Bette a more awkward kiss hello. Tina is touched that Bette came to the set. Tina tells Bette that she just made it in time. They are on the martini. (Like I have any idea what that means).

Alice and Tasha are still together in E12. Tasha is no longer in the army. She has some crappy security guard job that she hates and is making her cranky. She eventually quits said security job and looks like she might become a cop. She also talks about maybe moving in with Alice.

Jenny has been fired from Lez Girls and the rumor has it that Tina's job might be in jeopardy too.

Helena learned to live without money and it looks like Peggy is ready to open up the purse strings again.
Peggy is in the hospital. Some Jellyfish venom issue or something."

there's a new season 5 promo on showtime and it has tons of clips from at least episodes 1-2:
it was sort of Tibette heavy but showed everyone: lots of looks between Bette and Tina, Tina is jealous of Bette and Jodi kiss, blindfolded scene between Jodi and Bette, Tina asking Bette if she is in love with Jodi and of course a long pause and no answer, Jenny asking Nikki to be in her movie, Paige talking to Shane and telling her that she understands her problem, and then Shane asking 2 girls at the wedding who wants to do their hair first and they look at her like who wants to do Her first, Helena is in jail and having sex with an inmate, Kit is under gun, Alice calling Tasha and then crying, Phyllis and Joyce in bed happy

info from l word fan site

Something L Word...Haven't viewed it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/showtime

Hot 'L' Chicago
Showtime series stars get cooking for charity contest

October 6, 2007
BY MIKE THOMAS mthomas@suntimes.com
Hot lesbian action. That's what's on the menu tonight when stars from Showtime's "The L Word" arrive to slave over scorching stoves in the name of a children's charity.

Their impromptu culinary creations, prepared with area chefs, will benefit the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition, which fights discrimination based on sexual stereotypes.

As on TV's "The Iron Chef," each team (including one with a non-celebrity donor) will receive identical mystery ingredients from which they'll have 30 minutes to concoct a cocktail, appetizer, entree and dessert. The scores of spectators who watch them work won't be forced to consume the results -- unless they want to. The event will be catered.
"Thank goodness," says Chopping Block owner Shelley Young with a laugh. "We probably wouldn't get a lot of people buying tickets if they had to eat what we prepare."

Two of the celebrity participants -- actresses Jennifer Beals and Marlee Matlin -- are Chicago natives and longtime acquaintances who both hit the showbiz big-time in their late teens: Beals with "Flashdance" and Matlin with "Children of a Lesser God."

Cookingwise, however, they have little in common. While the latter can slice and dice and bake and broil, the former is pretty much clueless.

"I'm a cereal person," says Beals, who's no maniac on the kitchen floor. (And who, it's a fairly sure bet, adores "Flashdance" puns.)

"I mean, I cook for my daughter if I have to. There's no gourmet things going on. She has to wait for her dad to come home to make something good."

Fortunately, Beals will be ably guided by newly minted restaurateur and Oprah Winfrey's food pharaoh Art Smith.

"I want to tell you something," Smith says. "I will always, always remember the first time I saw 'Flashdance' and Jennifer Beals. I'm tellin' you, she is one beautiful woman. You know I'm a gay man, but trust me, she's beautiful!" He laughs large at the thought.

Unbolstered by her primo partnership with Smith, Beals predicts certain annihilation. "[Marlee] will be highly entertaining and humiliating me over and over and over again," she says.

On the off chance Matlin makes the versatile Jewish dish kugel, a specialty passed down from her mom, church may well be out.

"It's basically a lot of cholesterol," Matlin, who is deaf, says through her spokesman. How's it made? "Egg, eggs and eggs and brown sugar and butter and butter and sour cream and egg noodles. I make noodle kugel, and it's baked. If you're looking for a heart attack, just have a piece."

Matlin has never cooked competitively, but she contends that preparing meals for four kids and her husband comes kind of close. OK, not really, though it can get somewhat hairy with everyone vying for something different. Matlin also notes that she works well under pressure "considering the circumstances that I come from."

Still, aren't there disadvantages to being a deaf chef?

"No," she says. "It's the same thing as being deaf and driving. You're actually a safer driver if you're deaf because you pay more attention with your eyes than you do with your ears. Although I have been caught texting while driving."

Beals, too, is a motoring multitasker.

"I can eat a bowl of cereal while I'm driving a car," she boasts. "It's a talent."

No wonder they click on-screen.

"My husband just loves it," Matlin says of their scenes on "The L Word," now shooting its fifth season. "Every guy who grew up in the '80s, apparently, has a fantasy about the deaf girl and the girl from 'Flashdance.' And now they get to see us playing it out together.' "

But they've never sizzled quite like this.

Katherine Moennig - She's iconic
Diva magazine



It’s fair to say that the enigmatic Katherine Moennig has made more of an impact on dyke dressing and ‘tude as The L Word’s Shane than any other celebrity this century. She tops your list of style icons and she’s back in full effect in Season 4 of LIVINGTV’s hit show. Perfect timing then to ask her a few questions and capture her iconic image on camera.

So, Katherine Moennig – wearing nothing but a pair of pyjama bottoms – is sitting up in bed at home in LA, during a week’s break from filming Series Five of The L Word in Vancouver. It’s 10.30 Wednesday morning, the sun is streaming through an open window, and she’s just reaching for the copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that lies, half-read, on her bedside table when the phone rings.
How do I know all this? Because it’s me phoning. And during our transatlantic one-to-one she tells me everything. Well, not everything, but surely we expect that by now.

What you might not know is that Kate’s dad is a respected violin-maker who still runs the family business in Philadelphia, ( reporter made a mistake....Kate's father died in 04') and her mother, Mary Zahn, is an ex-Broadway dancer. Kate is the niece of actress Blythe Danner (who played Will’s mum in Will & Grace) and cousin to Gwyneth Paltrow. In spite of her artistic pedigree, Kate tells me, ‘I never felt pushed into performing. In fact, I always wanted to be a doorman when I grew up.’ Living on the 12th floor of an up-market apartment block in Philly, Kate spent a lot of time hanging out with the guys who ran the building: ‘They were my friends, I thought the uniform was cool and it seemed like an easy job.’

As a child, she preferred this adult company to that of her peers and, like her achingly aloof screen persona, Shane, Kate grew up as quite the outsider.‘I was kept back a year in Second Grade, which really didn't do me any favours. Because I was the runty, skinny girl I got picked on a lot by the older kids.’ She graduated from grade school to a strongly academic high school. ‘Again I was the black sheep because I wasn't into studying and always felt I didn't quite fit in. I couldn't relate to the other students and I really didn't hang out with them. Instead I spent a lot of time sneaking out to parties in New York.’
It wasn't until Kate started at drama college that she began to find her focus. ‘From then on I knew I wasn't going to be a doorman, or more seriously, a partner in my father's violing business. I wanted to get out of Philly and acting seemed to be the best possible route.’

THE BIG BREAK.
Her first TV role was a girl masquerading as a boy in Dawson's Creek spinoff The Young Americans. Minor film parts followed, most notably Grace in The Shipping News.
Then, in 2004, The L Word came knocking. ‘I've had a complete personality overhaul since working on The L Word - I was 24 when it started, now I'm almost 30. I've grown up on that show.’ Kate says it's something the entire cast feels: ’In fact, Leisha [Hailey, Alice], Mia [Kirshner, Jenny] and I were talking about this recently. We were saying that it really made us aware of who we are, what women are and what we stand for.’

Working every day on a character has also taught Kate a lot about acting and ‘what not to do on screen.’ She says ‘We've all grown and changed so much as people during the show - of course that affects how we portray something. The more we learn about ourselves, the more raw and authentic our performances can be.’
If Kate could start over in The L Word, she'd audition for the part of Jenny. ‘I really admire what Mia does on camera. She's created such a layered and multi-dimensional character. Jenny's not a stereotype, you know, and I think that's why a lot of people don't like her - she's complicated.’
It might be too late to swap roles, but she's certainly given more freedom to develop her own character by the scriptwriters, who, she claims, ‘are very accommodating. If we don't like a line, we change it. I also improvise dialogue in scene with Leisha and Mia. We trust each other so much - honestly, we're like a family - that we're not afraid of making mistakes.’ So if the scriptwriters left it up to Kate to decide on a wipeout ending for the entire show, what would it be? (I suggest that Shane wakes up in bed with a man and it's all been a dream, à la Dallas but she has something darker in mind): ‘Someone burns down The Planet Cafe. We're all in there, talking some crap about waxing or pubic hair, and the place just spontaneously combusts.’

Kate goes on to tell me how ‘gruelling’ the filming schedule is. A typical day on set starts in hair and make-up which, by the look of it, involves Kate getting into a bed, writhing around in it for a bit and coming out as Shane. Then there's lots of waiting around, then the cast all sit down together for an hour lunch break, then ‘Maybe Leisha and Mia will come round to my trailer and we'll all watch a movie... Honestly, it's like camp!’ It sure sounds hard word.
But in among the fun, the long lunches and the lounging around watching MTV mock-reality show The Hills (‘I like Lauren and Leisha likes Whitney’), some serious filming must be happening because Series Five promises hot new characters, some surprising returns and the usual mix of high drama, high jinks and the L.A high life. It's exhausting just thinking about it - but maybe that's because I've still got to get through Series Three and Four.

BEDTIME STORIES
Back in bed with Kate, we're talking guilty pleasures: ‘I'm totally addicted to Perez Hilton!’ - no, not the airhead socialit Paris (‘oh she's hideous’) but the irreverent blogger who's shamed and renamed many of Hollywood's biggest stars. ‘He's a highly entertaining person and has a wicked sense of humour’. As anyone who checks the site will know, Perez can either be bitchy, brutal or gushingly sycophantic when it comes to his celebrity du jour. ‘If I saw a picture of me on that site and Perez had written something awful about me, I really don't know how I'd feel. It could be devastating but I guess it would depend on the context.’

Moving from trash culture to something a little more highbrow, Kate tells me she's just finished Anderson Cooper's Autobiography (Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival.) ‘It totally blew me away.’ Interestingly, Cooper was one of Out magazine's 'Top 50 gays', although he, like our cover star, refuses to talk publicly about his sexuality.
Has a book ever changed her life? ‘A lot of books have really inspired me to go to different parts of the world, like Indonesia or Africa... I wouldn't say his novels are life-changing, but I also love Augusten Burroughs (the best selling author of With Scissors) He has an amazing sense of humour.’ No doubt Kate was suitably amused by the anecdote in Burrough's latest book, Possible Side-Effects, where he helps his 'lipstick lesbian' friend write a personal ad.
She goes on to wax lyrical about the Harry Potter novel, which I'm currently keeping her from getting back to. ‘What would you do if I told you the ending?’ I venture. ‘I'd hang up the phone, no question!’ comes the quick reply.
We've established that spoilers seriously piss her off: ‘And so does technology. It drives me mad when electronic stuff doesn't work.’ On the subject of everyday trials and tribulations, I ask Kate if she's ever sought solace from self-help books. ‘They're just a lot of verbal masturbation. Most of what you'll read in those books is common sense, I've never read one from cover to cover, but when I need to hear something I already know, I guess they're reassuring to turn to.’

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Katherine Moennig. I hate to admit it, as I can't bear the thought of being lumped together with all those superfans who set up camp outside her house and mob her at conventions. But I'm secretly quite pleased that she's charming and chatty on the phone, and I'm secretly even more pleased that she's lying in bed wearing nothing but pyjama bottoms (I'm glad I had the gall to ask).
So when she says in that husky, just woken-up voice ‘Hey, let me ask you something now... what are you wearing?’, I first thank God I'm in Paul Smith boxer shorts and a sexy vest top, not my usual round-the-house garb, and then I go a little bit weak at the knees: ‘Are we having phone sex?’
I laugh, she laughs, and I hear her publicist - who's been silently listening in to the call the all tile - take a sharp intakeof breath: ‘Two minutes of the interview remaining.’ she chimes in. So no time to ask Kate about her charity for gay homeless kids, what she makes of being voted a style icon by 44% of DIVA readers and how she likes her latest hairstyle...

‘Be well,’ she says, signing off. Thanks Kate, I'm feeling better already.

Interviews with Jane Lynch

By BetteAndTinaForever

(Warning: minor spoilers)




After the screening of the “Itty Bitty Titty Committee”, which was pretty good and funny, I went to an After-party at “Club Eleven” where more celebrities had showed up. I went upstairs and soon was socializing and mingling with Suzanne Westenhoffer (comedienne), Michelle Wolff (from Dante’s Cove and “Mango Kiss”), Anne Ramsey (Robin from seasons one and two of The L Word), Jane Lynch, Daniela Sea, Jamie Babbit and later I even spotted the presence of Natasha Lyonne, who played the main character in Jamie Babbit’s movie, “But I’m a Cheerleader.”

It was a great gathering and I met a few new friends and was having a great time. When I saw that Jane Lynch was available to talk, I decided to use that opportunity to ask her some questions about the show. Since we were in the middle of the party and Jane was there with her partner and was there to relax and have fun, I only bothered her for a few minutes.

B&TF: What can you tell me about season 5 without revealing any spoilers?

JL: In The L Word this season coming up…I’m not gonna name characters but there’re going to be people that you would never expect getting together, and people who you might expect breaking up, and people that you would never expect to break up – breaking up, and people who you’d thought would get together – don’t get together.

B&TF: Any of this includes Bette and Tina?

JL: I’m not gonna talk about that…no comment.

B&TF: How many episodes you’re going to be in?

JL: I believe it’s six…five or six.

B&TF: So, you’re still with Phyllis, right?

JL: We’ll have our ups and downs, let’s put it that way.

B&TF: How was it for you to work with Cybill Shepherd?

JL: She’s a joy…Cybill Shepherd is a joy. I think we make each other better, we really enjoy working together and she’s such a professional and I really feel like our characters are grown and I think our relationship inspired the writers to write a little more about and we love doing it.

B&TF: Who’s your favorite character on the show?

JL: It’s hard to say but I love Leisha Hailey. She’s a really good actress, she’s really brought such a light to that part, I think she’s truly a self-center of the show.

B&TF: In season two your character was helping Tina and tried to seduce her…how was it working with Laurel Holloman?

JL: Again, Laurel Holloman was the first person I worked with on The L Word, and she was wonderful, she’s a real pro, she really shows up and for like the first year I worked with only her…I really love her.

More people arrived that Jane knew and I thanked her for taking her time to talk to me. I went in search of others and saw Daniela Sea arriving with Jamie Babbit and some other “Itty Bitty Titty Committee” cast members.

I asked Daniela if she can tell me anything about season five since I didn’t have time for a full interview, but she replied that she couldn’t reveal anything because it’s in her contract not to talk about an upcoming season. However, she added that it’s going to be great and everyone, including Max/Moira, has a much better storylines.

I guess we have to see when January arrives, won’t we? The fifth season of The L Word is coming to Showtime on January 6, 2008.

info from l word fansite

Finally found Episode 6: Lights! Camera! Action!



#501 LGB Tease
#502 Look Out, Here They Come!
#503 Lady of the Lake
#504 Let's Get This Party Started
#505 Lookin' At You Kid
#506 Lights! Camera! Action!
#507 Lesbians Gone Wild
#508 Lay Down The Law
#509 Liquid Heat
#510 Lifecycle
#511 Lunar Cycle
#512 Loyal and True

Not L word related but instead of wasting space making another thread.



"Big Shots," THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Big Shots" stars Michael Vartan as James Walker, Christopher Titus as Brody Johns, Joshua Malina as Karl Mixworthy, Paige Turco as Lisbeth, Jessica Collins as Marla, Peyton List as Cameron Collinsworth, Amy Sloan as Wendy Mixworthy, with Nia Long as Katie Graham and Dylan McDermott as Duncan Collinsworth.

Recurring: Paul Blackthorne as Terrence Hill, Jazzmun as Dontrelle.

Guest Cast: Erin Daniels as Rebecca Parks, Paul Fitzgerald as Phil Fryman, Deprise Brescia as Layla and Emmanuelle Vaugier as Wanda Barnes.

"Three's a Crowd" was written by Emily Whitesell and directed by Jeff Melman.

"Big Shots" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with a 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.

This episode of "Big Shots" will be available on ABC.com the day after airing on the network for users to watch online.

Source: ABC

The lovely, lusty ladies of The L Word cause a stir
Stars of the locally filmed series often seen around town

Yvonne Zacharias, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, October 12, 2007

Just what does the L in The L Word stand for?

Watch a few episodes of the Showtime television series that is shot in Vancouver and you realize it could stand for a few things.

Love. Lust. Life. And lesbianism. Oh yeah, that too. The show revolves around the lives of a group of mostly gay women in an upscale Los Angeles neighbourhood with the odd bisexual and straight character thrown in.

Like most sitcom television, this show isn't meant to be taken too seriously, although it has had some terribly dark moments. The death of the character Dana from breast cancer in a previous season was such a moment.
For Vancouver, The L Word isn't just a show but also a phenomenon since it began shooting here six years ago. Just wrapping its fifth season, it has seen a steady parade of lovely ladies flying here from Los Angeles, turning heads on city street corners where they are shooting, walking their dogs at Kitsilano beach and hanging out in local oyster bars and coffee shops. It has also meant a steady flow of income to local film crews who have become like family to all those pretty actresses.

At times, the show is as weightless as a cloud of fluff, featuring soft-porn romps and soapish story lines. At other times, it strikes universal chords. Some heavy-hitters have been drawn in to act in it.

Jennifer Beals of Flashdance fame has been with it all along. Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God) and Cybill Shepherd are recent inductees, although Shepherd comes across as a little wooden and starchy in her role as a married, middle-aged woman (Phyllis) who discovers late in life that she has been gay all along and takes the big plunge. Her romantic dalliance with Leisha Hailey (who plays Alice) is not terribly convincing.

Perhaps, as with many things, practice makes perfect.

Then there is the outrageously androgynous stick figure of an actress, Katherine Moennig, who plays Shane, a heartthrob to her fellow female travellers of the same sexual persuasion and one who has definite problems with the whole monogamy thing. The message: gays have the same issues that heterosexuals do.

There are no lesbians of the gumboot and flannel shirt variety on this show. Instead, we have mostly a crowd of lipstick-wearing lesbians prancing around in high heels or at least dressed in slummy chic, all looking as though they are recent refugees from a fashion-buying spree.

With the fifth season wrapping, it was time to visit the production, located incongruously in an industrial area below Marine Drive.

The first thing that strikes you is the phenomenal set. It is a whole little neighbourhood of houses crammed cheek-by-jowl into a big warehouse with designs that could sit quite nicely in House Beautiful. There is even an outdoor pool (that is really indoors) for all those gal-pal pool parties. Each house reflects the character of the person inhabiting it.

There is also an undertow of sadness. In today's world of the strong Canadian dollar, such a show likely wouldn't come here, bringing with it all its quirkiness and paycheque happiness.

For Ilene Chaiken, a key creator, writer and director on the show, its location in Vancouver has been a mixed blessing.

The show came here "at a time when it was far less expensive to shoot here and there was a lot of American production coming up here," Chaiken explained during a break in the shooting.

It has meant long stints away from her two children in Los Angeles and facing the challenges of trying to make Vancouver look like the City of Angels.

Nevertheless, "it's a delightful place to work. We have the best crew in the world and it's actually nice to get out of L.A. and work in a kind of sequestered environment."
As for the show, she stresses that it is meant to be fun, which it often is. There are funny lines and poignant moments here and there, too.

She says the show is important in that it is the first time lesbian lives have been represented on mainstream television. "There have been lesbian characters on television but there has never been a show about lesbians."

The whole question of who on the show is lesbian in real life is a touchy one and definitely not the politically correct thing to ask, although readers might wonder.

Chaiken was upfront about being a lesbian herself. "I think it would be hard to do a show about lesbians and not be lesbian." Many of the writers on the show are, she added.

As for the actresses, some like Matlin, Beals and Laurel Holloman are married with children.

Holloman, who did an on-set interview, dismissed the whole issue of a straight woman playing a gay character as being so passé. She said her husband, who is in the process of getting his master's degree in architecture in Los Angeles, thinks it is just great that she is playing whatever character she wants.

"I wouldn't tell him to build anything so I don't think he would tell me what parts to play."

She said she got the part just at the right time in her life. She was getting married and was seeking a show that was bit edgier than average. She had worked on television shows where "you always end up learning your lines and they kind of traffic-cop you around and you spew your lines out." That wasn't for her.

When she got pregnant in real life and had a baby, the show's creators wrote the pregnancy and birth into the show. In other words, The L Word has not disappointed her.

"I think having this job is a gift" although she admitted that keeping up with the daily grind, the Los Angeles-Vancouver commute and keeping it fresh after five seasons can all be a challenge.

Last up for a set interview was Hailey, the one-time girlfriend of k.d. lang in real life. It was late. She showed up at around 11:30 p.m. looking like Farrah Fawcett, which she doesn't really. It was all part of the story line. Amazing what makeup, a wig and clothes can do.

It was hard to take Hailey seriously, given the late hour and the get-up, until she started talking.

The actress and musician spoke passionately about her belief in the show.

She said the coming season, which will air early in the new year, will be more lighthearted than past ones. "The gang is all together again. It is festive."

She would be one of the first to admit the show isn't entirely representative of the lesbian community which she inhabits in real life. The characters on the show "are wealthy and drive fabulous cars and live in beautiful homes. No, that doesn't represent everybody."

Despite its flaws, the cast, who hang out together a lot off-set, really care about the show.

"It's not just another cop show or murder show. It's actually about these amazing women and, for the first time, we get to see these gay characters flourish on television. We get to dive into their lives. It is exciting to be part of something that has never been done before."

OK, Farrah. We'll take it from you.

Something else I found ....I know why post??


News - Music, movie, Entertainment
MOENNIG DESPERATE TO BE A DOORMAN



Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

2007-10-12 17:29:42 -



THE L WORD star KATHERINE MOENNIG was desperate to carve out a career as a doorman - because she loved the smart uniforms.
The 29-year-old actress spent her childhood living on the 12th floor of an apartment block in Philadelphia, and was impressed by the building's attendants so much she wanted to follow in their footsteps.
She says, "I always wanted to be a doorman when I grew up.
"They were my friends. I thought the uniform was cool and it seemed like an easy job."

By BetteAndTinaForever

Disclaimer: this is a very, very biased account of spoilers, promos, podcasts, interviews, rumors and public announcements for season five of The L Word. Also, if you get lost in long and confusing sentences, blame the Russian in me.

******
I don’t know about you but I’m a spoiler-addict. Before every season I tell myself that I won’t read spoilers so I would be pleasantly surprised but I can’t stop myself. It is an addiction without a cure. So, for those of you who can’t help themselves and have to know everything or even something about their favorite couple, character or an event in season five of The L Word, we decided to put together a little summary of what we know so far.

If you are trying to stay spoiler-free this season, this article is not for you, so don’t go beyond this point. I’m not joking. This is all about spoilers, so be strong and stay away from the temptation.

If you are a spoiler-junkie like me, then this is definitely something you might want to read. This is a summary of everything that was released, posted or revealed in interviews, formal conversations, promos, podcasts and scripts, so you don’t have to browse through multiple pages on the spoiler threads on the numerous The L Word-related forums.

Most of spoilers might be familiar to you, especially if you have been following the show for awhile and have been searching for information from the beginning of the filming of season five. Though, to be honest, apart from the partial audition sides from episodes 501, 506 and 512, the rest of the information only comes in pieces and bits, because all of the cast members, extras and the crew are under a tight contract not to reveal anything. For the most part, they are really following it to the letter, but some let slip a few pieces of information that could help to put together the chronology of the new season.

Before we begin, here’s a brief overview of the upcoming episodes with their titles and the directors. To me, personally, most of the titles never meant anything. Some of them were way too confusing or sophisticated and I remember spending numerous hours on forums, trying to decipher them without knowing if we ever got the meaning right.

What I learned was that with Ilene Chaiken nothing is what it seems, so if we don’t know what the titles mean, at least we can use them to identify the episodes. So here’s the list for season five:

501 – LGB Tease - Director Angela Robinson
502 – Look Out, Here They Come! - Director Jamie Babbit
503 – Lady of the Lake - Director Tricia Brock
504 – Let’s Get This Party Started - Director Angela Robinson
505 – Lookin’ at You Kid - Director John Stockwell
506 – Lights! Camera! Action! - Director Ilene Chaiken
507 – Lesbians Gone Wild - Director Angela Robinson
508 – Lay Down the Law - Director Leslie Libman
509 – Liquid Heat - Director Rose Troche
510 – Lifecycle - Director Angela Robinson
511 – Lunar Cycle - Director Bob Aschmann
512 – Loyal and True - Director Ilene Chaiken

So, let’s see what’s happening with our favorite characters in the upcoming season five of The L Word.



Alice and Tasha

From Season 4: “Determined to broaden the relationship horizons of women everywhere, Alice launches her Chart on the World Wide Web. OurChart as it's called is a mega hit, proving to be not only a lucrative new business venture for Alice but also a gateway for her into unexplored solar systems of girls and unimagined sexual and emotional connections,” – from sho.com

“As an officer in the Army National Guard, Tasha has seen combat firsthand. She's still grappling with a recent tour in Iraq when her best friend, Papi, introduces her to Alice. Although Tasha views her role in the war with a unique sense of patriotism and duty that Alice finds hard to accept, it's not enough to keep the unlikely couple apart,” – from sho.com

In the beginning of the season, Tasha is back in active duty in Iraq and her relationship with Alice is limited to their phone conversations, which leaves Alice absolutely unhappy and the viewers heartbroken. Leisha always amazed me at being so capable at comedy and drama and her portrayal of Alice is certainly one of the highlights of the show for me, personally.

While Tasha is gone, Alice is entertaining herself and the audience by helping Tina to find women, since Bette is preoccupied by Jodi. Tasha eventually comes back and apparently she resigns from the army and gets a job as a security guard. There’re a lot of steamy love scenes between those two, though in a few previews that I’ve seen, Alice somehow manages to keep her glasses on, which makes the scenes look even sexier.

Those two characters are really cute together. I loved Alice and Dana, they were my second favorite couple after TiBette and since Dana is gone, I always wanted Alice to be happy. I think Tasha can be the one for her. And it helps that Rose Rollins is a gorgeous woman.

In connection with Tasha military storyline, Kelly McGillis is set to appear in a couple of episodes and she will be playing a military attorney working on a “don’t ask, don’t tell” case. So maybe Tasha won’t actually resign from the army but will be dishonorably discharged, as happened to many gay and lesbian military personnel over the years.

In the season finale Tasha is quitting her job and is thinking about becoming a cop because she met two women she used to know in the army who are cops. One of them, Karen, is a fan of Alice, who is now having a TV show, “The Look”, and she uses it sometimes to make people to come out of the closet. Alice also became a fan and a friend with Clea Mason, a fashion designer, and she goes with her for a ride on Clea’s scooter while Tasha is spending time with her former army friends.

Bette, Tina, and Jodi

From Season 4:

“Emerging from a personal and professional rough patch, Bette regains her footing with a high-profile job and a move toward genuine friendship with Tina, her ex-partner of seven years and birth mother of their baby daughter, Angelica. But unexpected love and a little lust are just around the corner, threatening to knock self-determined alpha Bette off solid ground,” – from sho.com

“Tina's devotion to Angelica is unwavering, but after separating from Bette and returning to a relationship with a man, her ideas about love and family and her identification as a lesbian are less certain. Tina's work-life is also in flux as she rebuilds her career as a Hollywood executive only to become mired in the drama that develops around Jenny and her book-cum-screenplay,” – from sho.com

“An intensely talented and free-spirited sculptor, Jodi Lerner may be deaf but that doesn't stop her from speaking her mind, especially in the halls of the art school where Bette is the new dean and Jodi the new artist-in-residence. Indeed, Jodi is the first woman to challenge Bette, professionally and then emotionally as they fall into a fiery relationship outside of the university,” – from sho.com

The latest Showtime promos features a blindfolded Bette; a topless Tina in the swimming pool; Bette and Jodi trying to have fun and relationship; and Tina asking Bette, “Are you in love with Jodi?”

Though I’m a TiBetter, I do have an open mind and if I see chemistry between Bette or Tina and their other partners, I would honestly say so. I totally enjoyed the interaction between Bette and Barbara in season three, for example, though I was also happy that Bette didn’t do anything with her.

So, when Jodi’s character was introduced in season four, I was trying to keep an open mind, as well. I like Jodi as a character, I do, but I honestly cannot see any chemistry between her and Bette. I see them as friends with a common passion for art but not as lovers.

Since Bette and Jodi are still involved with each other, unfortunately, this last part of my spoiler account will be about Bette, Tina and Jodi triangle.

When we left them at the end of season four, Bette, with the help of her friends and Tina’s blessing, chose Jodi and went after her on a tractor. I don’t even attempt to comment on this whole tractor/grand gesture situation because I don’t have words, only expletives.

In the beginning of season five Bette and Tina are still good friends while concentrating on being good parents to Angelica. Hurray for a return of our little cutie-petutie, Olivia Windbiel, who is playing Angelica (at least I hope it’s her, judging by a few clips from episode 501). In the first episode, Bette and Tina took Angelica to a pre-school with an emphasis on arts and they unintentionally present themselves as a couple. It’s even described in a script as ‘picture perfect’.

On numerous TLW-related forums, fans like to discuss different clues and foreshadowing of the scenes that can shed light on the later episodes or the future of a character or a couple. I hope that ‘picture perfect’ moment with Bette and Tina in episode 1 is a definite prediction of what is their future would look like at the end of the season.

Later, during or after Phyllis’ party, Alice and Shane began their “job” as Tina’s “wingmen” and after checking out potential single lesbians at the Sushi Bar inside the Planet, Alice notices Kara, whom they saw earlier at Phyllis’ coming-out party. Tina likes her but a few months with Henry made her shy in her approach of women and Shane takes this difficult task upon her shoulders. Obviously, for Shane it’s really easy to charm someone and after Kara is practically falls in love with her, Shane tells the woman that she actually came over to introduce her to Tina.

Bette comes in later and right away notices that a new couple, Cindi and Dawn, can create a problem for Kit as they pass around some flyers, advertising their new bar that will be opened soon. While this is happening, Paige shows up and after a little confrontation with Shane, she leaves…and I’m assuming this is the last time we’ll be seeing Paige.

Bette joins the gang and they all began discussing Shane and Paige’s break up. Everything looks like the old times until Jodi arrives from New York and comes into the café with her suitcases, making Bette run to her and give her a long, long kiss. Am I the only one who will close her eyes at that particular moment?

And it won’t be the only moment I will close my eyes or use my fast-forward button. After Jodi’s grand entrance, Bette apparently takes her to the house where they have their private ‘welcome-home’ party as Jodi puts a blindfold over Bette’s eyes. Honestly, I hope that Bette is thinking and imagining Tina since her eyes are closed but I don’t think any added kinky practices in Bette and Jodi sex life will make me believe in this couple. However, I understand that there are a few fans who love JoBette and I’m sure they will enjoy that scene.

It seems to me that Ilene and Co. are trying to keep TiBette/JoBette triangle very secretive. Apart from pretty complete audition sides for episode 501, all we know is the following facts: a) throughout the whole season Tina is working with Jenny on her movie and that business relationship hasn’t improved since the previous season; one of the actresses, Isabella, who will play Bev in Jenny’s movie, introduces herself to Bette in hopes to learn a little more about Bette and Tina’s life that is not written in the script. I’m assuming at this point that maybe we will see some flashbacks that will make Bette remember good times with Tina, though this is only a speculation; c) Bette is trying hard to keep her relationship with Jodi strong and to fit in with Jodi’s friends just as Jodi is befriended by Bette’s friends, but it seems that Bette is the only one who is trying; d) somewhere along the way, one of the owners of “Shebar” (either Cindi or Dawn) will have an eye for Tina, which will make Bette absolutely jealous, which leads to their little (but I’m sure very intense) make-out session.

I’m not sure when the scene in the swimming pool will happen but there Bette is also asking Tina about her sex life. Why would Bette do that if she is happy with Jodi and apparently moved on with her life? I guess, she didn’t and the hope for TiBette reunion is still remains strong.

Helena

From Season 4:“Cut off from her life of wealth and privilege and unable to hack it in the working world, Helena is an absolute wreck. Despite the generosity and heart-warming support of her friends, Helena finds a life of restricted means too unbearable and delves into a dangerous liaison in order to ensure her financial security,” – from sho.com

Okay, what is happening to Helena? The changes that this character went through from season to season sometimes makes me crave the old, powerful, bitchy Helena from season two. Alas, it seems like she’s gone forever.

In the beginning of the season Helena is in jail for stealing Catherine’s money. Her mother is abroad and doesn’t know anything about it because she can be reached only in emergency. Helena’s new cellmate is Dusty who is described as a tough bad person, who is using steroids. Dutch boxer-turned-actress Lucia Rijker, who appeared briefly in The L Word's second season as Dana’s trainer, has been cast in six episodes as Dusty and she also described as a potential love interest for Helena. I guess, since they are sharing a cell for half of the season, it is potential, only I don’t see it as a love interest.

Peggy is still out of reach and Tina, Shane and Alice come to jail for a visit. Even in this awful place Shane manages to make a connection with someone. They all try to cheer Helena up and, of course, Alice comments on the orange suit being Helena’s color. Nothing can make Helena happy, though, because she only wants to hear from Peggy so she could get out.

I guess we will see Helena in jail for at least 6 episodes. When she finally gets out, Helena pretty much became a person who learned to live without money and still keep her friends around. Peggy returns and while she is admitted into the hospital because of the lethal jellyfish venom, she believes she is dying and she wants Helena to be rich again. Peggy even suggests to Helena to buy her friend, I’m assuming she means Kit, a night club or two.

I hope Peggy won’t die because Holland Taylor is such a wonderful addition to the cast and it is such a pleasure to see her again after a season of absence.

JENNY

From Season 4: “As a once struggling writer, Jenny used her pen to exorcise childhood traumas and explore her evolving sexual identity. Now she's a published author — and convinced of her own artistic license — she decides to turn a more critical pen on others and go to duplicitous lengths to defend her work. So while Jenny's writing career skyrockets, it's not long before her relationships disintegrate, leaving her feeling a pariah among the friends and quite lost at sea,” – from sho.com

Some of you were so happy to see Jenny on the raft in the middle of the ocean, hoping for hungry sharks but you will be disappointed. Jenny survived sharks, tsunamis and everything else that the mother-nature might have thrown at Jenny during her lonely journey through the ocean. Jenny's back and her head is even bigger than in the previous season.

Apparently, with her keen sense of direction, Jenny ended up in Telum, Mexico and warmed her way into a billionaire’s heart and a wallet. Using the time and Spiros Stassinopolous’ generosity, Jenny re-wrote her book, Lez Girls, and now she is back as a director of the movie and also as a casting director, since she’s been recruiting young actresses to be in her movie.

One of them is Niki Stevens, a star of the latest James Bond movie, Liquid Heat. She’s eager to play Jesse (Jenny’s alter-ego in Lez Girls) and later Jenny takes it into her able hands to personally coach Niki on her acting, while not only answering questions why it has to be done this way, but also showing it. This approach results in Jenny and Niki having an affair, which is a little creepy, if you ask me. Why? Because when the filming is in progress, Niki began looking so much like Jenny and she is playing her in the movie – it’s like Jenny is having an affair with herself.

Jenny’s movie, Lez Girls, will be actually one of the main storylines this upcoming season. For that purpose we’ll see a lot of additions to the cast, mainly young actresses who will play actresses who will play the characters of Lez Girls.

To make my last statement clearer, see the partial list from imdb.com website that announced a few of those newcomers that will be involved with Jenny’s movie or will have a long interaction with other characters.

Kit

From Season 4: “With a new album and a thriving business as owner of The Planet, Kit's life seems to be right on track. That is until her relationship with Angelica's nanny, Angus, is put to the test along with everything she's fought so hard to recover, including her sobriety,” – from sho.com

There’s not much to say about Kit storyline this season. It’s unknown if Angus is coming back, but he’s not mentioned anywhere, and Papi is also gone. The only spoiler available is the one mentioned above that a new couple in town, Cindi and Dawn, are trying to take over the Planet. Also, there’s going to be a robbery at the gun point and after that Kit is determined to learn how to shoot and she wants to get a gun for protection.

Kit and Bette have a conversation about it in episode 6 and Bette is absolutely against that idea, bringing an example of Jodi, who made a sculpture against violence featuring a gun that was stolen and since Bette is the Dean of the Art Department, she is held responsible. Jodi takes the blame and apparently she is going to resign from her position at the university. Kit still wants to get a gun but it’s unknown if she did it or not, though one promo clip shows Kit learning how to shoot one.

Max

From Season 4: “Never comfortable in his female body, Max is unbending in his resolve to transition. However, family members and co-workers put Max's emotional fortitude to the test as they struggle with or refuse to accept his transgender identity,” – from sho.com

There’s even less information about Max, we don’t even know if she/he went to San Francisco to undergo the surgery. The only thing we know is his involvement with Alice’s interview of Phyllis during her coming-out party that Joyce organized at the Planet. Max helps as a cameraman. In one promo he is also shown flirting with Tom, Jodi’s assistant. Now, that will be something interesting to watch…for some.

Phyllis and Joyce

From Season 4: “Phyllis is Bette's boss at the university — a well-respected member of the academic community and devoted wife to an equally successful husband, Leonard, with whom she shares two college-aged daughters. It's a seemingly idyllic life picture and one that abruptly changes when Phyllis comes out as a lesbian and turns to Bette and her friends for guidance in finding love and dealing with the loss of the family life she once knew,” – from sho.com

Joyce and Phyllis are still a couple and in the beginning, Joyce throws a coming-out party for Phyllis. It seems like everyone at this party from the university are lesbians who knew all along that Phyllis was one. Alice teaches her some new “lesbian lingo” and Phyllis is pleased to find out that she doesn’t look like a lipstick lesbian. Joyce and Phillips have their ups and downs and we’ll be seeing them for at least 5-6 episodes

Shane

From Season 4: “For most of her life, Shane has protected herself from hurt and from hurting others by shutting people out. But when her younger brother, Shay, is abandoned on her doorstep, Shane finally has to let someone in — and in doing so — come to terms with her own fears and insecurities about love, commitment, and the meaning of family,” – from sho.com

Now, Shane…well, Shane finally becomes the same Shane we all fell in love with in season one. I’m not sure how all Shane’s fans will react to her transformation back to lesbian Lothario after Paige breaks things off between them but I personally never thought of Shane embracing monogamy and buying a house with a current girlfriend to live happily ever after, especially after she left Carmen at the altar at the end of season two.

Nothing’s wrong with monogamy and stable long-term relationships, and it’s not that I think Shane is incapable of it, but, as Kate Moennig said in a few interviews, it’s not in Shane’s nature to be monogamous. It doesn’t mean that she’ll be sleeping around forever; it just means that she won’t be playing house any time soon.

In the beginning of season five, Shane and Paige are looking to buy a house/apartment together to live as one happy family. While Paige leaves to pick up her son, old habits came back and Shane is caught in a compromising position with a realtor, christening the sofa. Though later Paige tells that she understands that Shane can’t change, she, nevertheless, breaks up with her.

This is when Shane’s adventures as a Lothario began. First, she is hired to do hair at the wedding. Apparently, Shane is so good at her job that she ends up sleeping with a bridesmaid, the bride and the bride’s mother. This is probably one of those scenes that Jamie Babbit mentioned in her interview that was done for comedy because Shane ends up running away from those angry or maybe horny women, losing a shoe in the process. The whole scene seems to be silly but it will give us a chance to see Kate at her best in a comedic situation.

In the first episode two new characters are introduced that will affect the lives of the main characters up until the finale. It’s a couple, Cindi and Dawn. They moved here from Miami and are opening another lesbian bar, “Shebar”, in the neighborhood. Later, they both invited Shane for a three-some, telling her that they do it as a couple only. But when one of them decides to have Shane all to herself, her partner gets mad and threatens Kit that they will take over the Planet one day. It seems like this couple is creating all sorts of troubles not only for Kit but also for the filming of Jenny’s movie. In the finale it’s apparent they are still in the picture and perhaps became the new owners of the Planet.

If that’s the problem for Shane who unintentionally made the new couple mad by breaking their rules, then it’s not the only one. The place where she works and half owns, Wax, is burned by an unknown arsonist but Shane doesn’t want an investigation.

In this new season, Shane and Alice friendship grows even more deep and they join their gaydars together to help Tina to begin dating by being her “wingmen”. Those scenes produce a series of hilarious and interesting moments in the early part of the season.

Guest Stars

From imdb.com. Remember, imdb.com is not always accurate but it will do for the purpose of this article.

Amber Borycki - Marci/Donna (aka Dana)
- #5.8 "Lay down the law" (2008) TV Episode .... Marci/Donna
- #5.5 "Lookin' at You, Kid" (2008) TV Episode .... Marci/Donna
- #5.11 "Lunar Cycle" (2008) TV Episode .... Marci/Donna

Malaya Rivera Drew - Adele (Jenny's assistant: in the early scripts she was called Monique)
- #5.3 "Lady of the Lake" (2008) TV Episode .... Adele
- #5.4 "Let's Get This Party Started" (2008) TV Episode .... Adele
- #5.5 "Lookin' at You, Kid" (2008) TV Episode .... Adele
- #5.2 "Look Out, Here They Come!" (2008) TV Episode .... Adele
- #5.6 (?) (2008) TV Episode .... Adele
- (1 more)

Elizabeth Keener - Dawn Doctor ('SheBar' owner, along with Alicia Leigh Willis – Cindi Denbo)
- #5.4 "Let's Get This Party Started" (2008) TV Episode .... Dawn Doctor

Wendy Glenn - Isabella/Bev (aka Bette)
- #5.5 "Lookin' at You, Kid" (2008) TV Episode .... Isabella/Bev ep 505
- #5.6 (?) (2008) TV Episode .... Isabella/Bev ep 506

Michelle Harrison - Lauren/Helen (aka Helena)
- Lookin' at You, Kid (2008) TV Episode .... Lauren/Helen

Chelah Horsdal – Sally (another assistant working on Jenny’s movie)
- #5.5 "Lookin' at You, Kid" (2008) TV Episode .... Sally
- #5.9 "Liquid Heat" (?) (2008) TV Episode .... Salli

Angela Gots – Cammie/Shaun (aka Shane)
- #5.8 "Lay Down the Law" (2008) TV Episode .... Cammie
- #5.5 "Lookin' at You, Kid" (2008) TV Episode .... Cammie
- #5.11 "Lunar Cycle" (2008) TV Episode .... Cammie
- #5.6 (?) (2008) TV Episode .... Cammie

Lindsay Maxwell - Lexi (the realtor)
- #5.1 (2008) TV Episode .... Lexi

There are other characters that are mentioned on the audition sides but not listed on imdb.com, including Begonia/Karina (aka Marina), Cheryl/Cat (aka Kit), Susan/Alysse (aka Alice), and Gretchen/Nina (aka Tina).

Majority of those characters will appear only in a few episodes, though the movie, Lez Girls, will be filmed throughout the whole season.

Since Jenny’s humility and respect for her friends’ private lives obviously haven’t returned, by the end of the season she will have more problems with the production of the movie and her agents and once again will be fired from her own movie, which wasn’t even finished. Her actions might also cause problems for Tina, whose future with the Shaolin Studios is uncertain by the season finale.

Jenny’s assistant, Adele, who had been humiliated and abused in the beginning of the season, seems to get over it somehow, while stubbing Jenny in the back by having a secret meeting with her agents.

Now Jenny is trying to play nice to keep her job or get another offer but her agents can’t get her work because Jenny can’t afford to write a spec and they only have openings for A list writers, and Jenny is obviously not on it. She doesn’t want to write for TV and later Jenny is trying to sell Tina an idea for another movie that Tina describes as a lesbian Brokeback Mountain.

Enough about Jenny. For many viewers she became a character they love to hate but I realized since season one that we all got involved in Jenny’s web of villainy and menace, whether we want it or not, due to Mia Kirshner’s exceptional acting.

info from l word fansite

Moennig, Bailey to star in 'Remorse'
Feverpitch to produce indie thriller
By DAVE MCNARY
Katherine Moennig ("The L Word") and Eion Bailey will star in indie thriller "Remorse," produced by Feverpitch Pictures.
Jeffrey D. Erb and Joe Nicolo of Feverpitch will produce the pic along with John Lutz ("The Prince of Jersey").

Quinn Saunders will direct. Script by Pete Cafaro and Andrew Kayros centers on themes of love, death and the fragility of the mind.

Lensing begins in March in Philadelphia.

Moennig's credits include "Art School Confidential." Bailey's appeared in "Band of Brothers," "Almost Famous," "And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself." and "Fight Club."

Not really L Word but..........

Ten Minutes with Guinevere Turner

Interview
Article Date: 10/02/2007

By Tracy E. Gilchrist

Super-femme and Hollywood power player Guinevere Turner dishes about playing an uptight talk show host in Itty Bitty Titty Committee, her pioneering role in getting Go Fish off the ground and her latest projects including an all-lesbian reality series and a lesbian erotic show.



A frontrunner in lesbian filmmaking since her auspicious debut as an actress, writer and producer on the benchmark Go Fish, Guinevere Turner has become something of a lesbian national treasure. And, besides her triple-threat status as writer, director and actress, this quintessential femme, is pretty easy on the eyes.

Notches on Turner’s bedpost include penning the screenplays for Mary Harron’s controversial—but ultimately feminist—serial killer flick American Psycho and for that paean to the original fetish model Bettie Page, with The Notorious Bettie Page. Not one to follow the pack, Turner was in on the ground floor, writing for The L Word while she also portrayed one of the show’s most enduring, but rarely seen, characters, Gabby Deveaux.

A tireless renaissance woman, Turner just wrapped two short films she directed and she’s got a slew of projects in the pike, including a lesbian erotic show for here! and a Sapphic-centric reality series. In the much-anticipated Itty Bitty Titty Committee, now playing in theaters, Turner turns in a hilarious, self-aware, if too brief, portrayal of a semi-conservative talk show host.

LesbiaNation caught up with Turner between her myriad of gigs to chat about Itty Bitty, her role as a pioneer for lesbians and celluloid, the joys of running in heels and being a prude.





LN: There’s so much I want to ask you about but since it’s on the verge of its release, let’s talk about Itty Bitty Titty Committee. How was it for you being able to relax into a smaller, plumb role?

GT: Can you hang on a minute this phone is ringing. It’s a land line. It never rings.

LN: It’s probably the L.A. Times trying to sell you a subscription.

GT: Or someone I owe money to.

LN: Like the student loan people.

GT: Yeah. It could be.

LN: It’s good to know I’m not the only one who’s still got student loans officers on me. About Itty Bitty…

GT: It was really fun. I got to play someone who’s campy straight—well until the end—like a Sally Jesse Raphael type. And I got to run in heels across a parking lot a bunch of times.

LN: That’s a big boon in the lesbian community.

GT: I assumed everyone could run in heels.

LN: I’m pretty sure there’s a fair contingency of gay girls who wouldn’t even consider running in heels. Tell us about your involvement with the film besides playing Marcy Malone?

GT: I helped develop the story with Jaime [Babbit] and Andrea [Sperling].

LN: And then they hired some fresh writers to put the script together?

GT: Right.

LN: Now that we have lesbians on pay television ala The L Word and there’s so much more representation than when you made Go Fish, do you think Itty Bitty works as a call to action for feminists and lesbians to remain vigilant in fighting for rights?

GT: I think for the latest generation of lesbians, coming out isn’t as big a deal as it used to be. But when Itty Bitty screened in San Francisco, the primarily lesbian audience was excited to see this kind of lesbian film. It’s a shift. I hope it politicizes a new generation. But I don’t think there’s that urgency of representation that their used to be.

LN: I haven’t seen your name associated with The L Word lately. Do you still have any involvement?

GT: Not anymore but I know my character Gabby’s been mentioned since.

LN: You’ve kind of become like those great mythical television characters that we never see like Cloris Leachman’s husband on Phyllis…

GT: Or Karen’s husband Stan on Will and Grace.

LN: You’re like the lesbian Stanley Walker. You always seem to have so much going on career wise. What are you working on now?

GT: I just finished two shorts a few weeks ago. One is based on a short story by Amy Bender. Quiet Please. It was brought to me by a young producer. It’s about a librarian whose dad dies and she deals with it by having sex in the library.

LN: So you shot quite a few sex scenes in the stacks? And is she hooking up with guys?

GT: Yes. So her sex scenes were with men.

LN: So that’s out of the element of your prior directing endeavors, Hummer and Hung.

GT: I wasn’t sure about doing at first and then I thought, “What are you crazy?” It’s like film school for me. And I piggy backed my own short on with it. One Week Later, about a woman found dead in her apartment. She gets a lot of answering messages from people wondering what happened to her. It’s a comedy.

LN: Hmmm.

GT: There’s a break-up. It’s dyke drama after you’re dead.

LN: Oh God… so we can never get away from it? Are you the actress in either film?

GT: No. I was able to be very present as the director. It was great. No vanity. I didn’t care what I looked like. On Hung, I’d get a shot set up and then I stop to ask, “Is my face shiny?” before getting in the shot.

LN: I loved that you dared go there with Hung. I think it’s fairly typical for lesbians to wonder what it would be like to have a real penis for a day.

GT: I forget that people liked it. It was a frustrating experience and I was mad at it for a while.

LN: I am curious to know if you left any steamy sex scenes on the cutting room floor.

GT: We decided to go the PG-13 route or else it would have had to be porn.

LN: Well the titles for you films are pseudo porn names…Hung, Hummer…

GT: It makes me seem sexed out. Speaking of porn, [laughs], I auditioned for John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus.

LN: I love Shortbus.

GT: I know John and I auditioned for a part where I would have had a scene with the character who’s a lesbian therapist, who’s never had an orgasm.

LN: So what happened? You in a true-to-life sex scene. That would have been very sexy.

GT: I chickened out. I couldn’t do it. I’m a prude. (laughs)

LN: I’m sure that’s not true… Because we were discussing Itty Bitty as a return to the political. You’re really a pioneer for lesbian representation on film with Go Fish. Did you have any idea at the time of the film’s place as a watershed moment in lesbian film history?

GT: You know, we were making it for us. It was from the heart. We were so young and we said we need to make this. We tapped into something at the right moment. It was around the time that New Queer Cinema happened. It was the right movie for the right moment.

LN: You’ve been an actress, writer, producer, director…How do you best identify?

GT: It’s strange even saying I’m a writer. I would write if no one was reading. It sustains my life and my brain. I hate producing. It’s thankless unless you become Christine Vachon. It’s a really hard job. Producers have so much to do.

LN: So you’ve got these two shorts in the pike. Can you tell me what else you’re working on?

GT: I’ve got three jobs right now. I was hired by Lifetime for a show about a girl who tried to start a gay / straight alliance. I’ve got a lesbian erotic show for here! that I’m working on and we’re working on a reality show about a group of lesbians who have seven weeks to make a short film.

LN: That’ll be a whole lot of dyke drama.

GT: I have a secret fantasy of doing a Surreal Life for has-been lesbians. I’d be the host and people would totally melt down.

LN: Hilarious, but you’re still too hot to host a show for has-beens.

GT: Maybe in another 10 years.

For more on Guinevere Turner, visit www.guinturner.com. For more on Itty Bitty Titty Committee, visit www.power-up.net/ibtc.htm.

this TiBette spoiler is really unconfirmed and the person who gave it to me didn't want to provide more information, so here's what i was told: someone from another board somehow got hold of this information and asked me to post with the hope that it's real:

in ep. 511 - Jodi is going to fight for Bette, they kiss in Bette's house (Bette doesn't resist the kiss) & Jodi gives Bette a present and then leaves. So something must have been happening between Bette/Jodi/Tina if Jodi has to fight for Bette at the end of the season. Sounds like Jodi wants Bette but after she leaves, Bette calls Tina...

this is all i was given, if this won't turn out to be true, you can blame me

i think it might be the end of episode 511, if it's true and then in the finale we'll get our answer: TiBette or Jobette because i don't think after IC will make Bette choose again, she will change her mind in season 6, if there's indeed a next season

info from l word fan site

A photo of Katherine Moennig (Shane) by by world renowned lesbian photographer, Catherine Opie, will be auctioned off to benefit PAWS/LA, a Los Angeles-based non-profit agency that assists low-income people living with HIV/AIDS and other disabling illnesses to keep and care for their companion animals.

Their Pet Art event (scheduled for November 4th) is an annual auction at which they raise funds to pay for veterinary care, pet food and supplies, grooming and myriad other services to help the animals of our clients.

This photo shot by Catherine Opie and signed by Katherine Moennig. It is valued at $10,000.

Find out more about PAWS/LA and Pet Art by visiting www.pawsla.org. They are accepting absentee bids by (phone, email, fax) in order to give anyone interested the opportunity to own the photo.

By BetteAndTinaForever

(Warning: minor spoilers)

Last week I went to the premiere of the new movie, “Itty Bitty Titty Committee”, written and directed by Jamie Babbit who many of you know as a director of “But I’m a Cheerleader” as well as the director of a few episodes of The L Word.

Jamie actually directed one of my favorite episodes in the fourth season, episode 408 “Lexington and Concord” and was a director of the second episode in the upcoming fifth season. I was able to talk to her and ask a few questions about her new movie and about The L Word.

B&TF: What is the professional difference for you in making full-length movies and directing a TV episode? I know that you directed episode 502 for The L Word, right?





JB: Right…well, the great thing about working on The L Word is it’s a fantastic crew and they are all union and they all know what they’re doing and they’re very well-oiled machine. And when I work on independent film, I’m working with people who are more inexperienced, and don’t know the ins and outs…they are learning…that’s one of the real pleasures of working on The L Word and why it looks so great and why we can make a great episode of one hour TV in a 7 days.

B&TF: What’s an emotional difference for you as a person and a director or also maybe as a fan of the show?

JB: I think that emotional difference is that the show is really Ilene’s show and Ilene’s world and Ilene’s writing and so, for me I just really feel like I really want to honor Ilene and to honor her vision and I feel like I want to bring my creativity to her vision but at the same time I really want to respect her words and respect the characters. You know, these actresses have been playing these parts for years and I’m directing a single episode so I’m really trying give them the respect that they know their characters but at the same time helping them, you know, fulfill the scene but obviously in the movie project they’ve never played the character before so I have a lot more hand-holding ordeal with the actress and the script is also probably a little more of my vision but I’m so honored because I love the show and I love Ilene’s work and I’m very privileged that I get to work on it.

B&TF: Good that you brought up the question of actors knowing their characters because they are playing them for so long because there were so many interviews where the cast members mentioned that after 3-4 years they know their characters so well and sometimes they want to make some changes because they think, “Well, my character would never say that or do that.” So the question is if they would come to you and ask for some changes do you as a director have the power to make those changes or you still have to talk to Ilene about it or you make it based on what you know about the characters…how does this work?

JB: There’s a conversation with Ilene beforehand about what’s kind of appropriate and what we’re allowed to do as far as making changes on set and she’s very flexible about letting the actors, you know, dictate the line changes or you know, making things more of their own…she’s very flexible about that type of stuff so, it’s very open and I usually tell the actors that it’s totally fine. If I feel like the actor doesn’t want to do something in the scene and they’re saying it’s their character but it’s actually because they are afraid, you know, maybe a really vulnerable moment they have to play or maybe it requires some, you know, clothes coming off (chuckles) or something like that, that I feel like it’s coming more out of fear than out of a real dedication to the character then that’s where I would say, “You know what, we really have to do this.” So I’m trying to use my judgment but for the most part I would say that the actors are usually coming from a place of truth and it’s usually not out of fear and they really know their characters and they always make it better.

B&TF: Can you give an example when it was happening out of fear of doing something or maybe being uncomfortable or when you knew that it was more about the character than about themselves.

JB: Um…I was doing a scene with Kate and an actor who was a day-player from Canada and it was…the whole scene was really more for comedy than it was for anything else. Kate’s very respectful actor and she doesn’t want to put her hands all over someone’s boobs, you know…she was with this nice Canadian actor and she doesn’t want them to think she’s a freak or a pervert or whatever, but after the scene was finished I said, “You know, if you were really…yeah, I know they were playing this for comedy but if you were really getting careless with this girl, your hands would be all over her boobs, I’m just telling you should be bad…

B&TF: Because this is who Shane is…

JB: Yes, it was the character of Shane and I said it in front of the other actor so the other actor knew, “Okay, she’s gonna do this because the director’s telling her and not because she’s trying to, you know, to feel or whatever…” So, that’s very typical. I think most actors are really trying to be respectful of other actors and so they won’t touch them, you know, physically in the sex scene but often it looks fake and you have to push them and tell them that it’s okay and they’re not being perverted.

B&TF: Okay…another question in the same direction. If you’re reading the script, for example, and you, as a director can see that some scene is not gonna work, not because the actors would tell you but because, as a director, you can see this is not gonna work right or it doesn’t look right, again, who’s making the decision about changing things? Like to the script or the setting of the scene?

JB: What happens is that we have preparations so we have 7 days before where we read the scenes, so I would never on the moment when I’m filming something say, “That scene doesn’t work.” Because if I haven’t read the scene and really haven’t thought about it beforehand, than I really haven’t done my job, so what I’ll do is I’ll read it in prep and when I’m preparing this 7 days before we start shooting, if I see like a scene isn’t quite right then I would come to Ilene and I would say, you know, “This scene’s weird to me, what do you think?” and either she would explain it to me or say, “Okay, let’s change it.” So that’s the discussion that I would have before the actual day of filming.

B&TF: One more question about this subject. You know, on OurChart they posted a few behind-the-scenes little videos from the set of The L Word and they are talking about wardrobe and about episode shooting. And there was one podcast where you were talking about filming episode 502 and you were explaining what’s actually happening. Can you maybe tell me shortly about your part? I know it’s only 8 days to shoot the episode but there’s something before and something after, so what is your role apart from the directing? What else are you doing?

JB: Well, I come to Canada like a week and a half before we start shooting, so 7 days before, so I’m doing casting for all the parts, even for someone who’s in the show for one episode or two episodes and then I’m going to auditions and then I’m helping to pick the actors with Ilene. I’m reading the scripts and then I, you know, bring up questions I have, and I’m looking at the set and, for example, I did a wedding episode so I had to help the production designer and a costume designer plan the wedding, so it’s like throwing a real wedding. We have to find a location, we have to think about what kind of food they would have, we have to think about what colors they would have at the wedding, we have to think about who are the bridesmaids, what are they wearing, you know, all that kind of preparation stuff a week an a half before. So it’s a really, really full time.

B&TF: So it’s like you’re working together with all the other people involved so you have to be involved in every part of the process.

JB: Yes.

B&TF: Okay, last question about The L Word. Do you have a favorite character on The L Word and why?

JB: I would say my favorite character is probably Jennifer Beals, um…her character, Bette, because I think she’s so smart and I really respect her and I feel like she’s complicated but just a fierce woman and she’s gorgeous, of course, and I also think she’s just a very intelligent, incredible woman and very talented actress. All these things make her my favorite character.

B&TF: Well, I’m a fan of Bette and Tina, I want them to get back together, I want them to work things out. Without revealing a lot of spoilers, can you tell me if there’s any hope, because there’s more TiBette fans than for any other character…

JB: yeah…

B&TF: yes, so can you tell me anything that can give us hope that something might happen that might bring their reunion?

JB: Well, what’s great about the Bette and Tina relationship is that it goes so deep and they do have their child and I think they have a very deep connection and they always will. So, no matter what, their deep connection will remain and whether or not they actually are able to make their relationship work, I don’t know, I only did episode 2. But, on the other hand, I know that Ilene is really respectful of their relationship. It still goes very deep and actually in my episode that I did last year, that’s where Tina said, you know, “I miss being part of with women…”

B&TF: episode 408, one of my favorite…I loved it…

JB: yes, so I think she really honors their relationship and I think, like with most lesbian couples, there’s always hope of them getting back together (laughing).

B&TF: well, you know that they were the longest one together and lots of people here are thinking that Ilene needs to show some positive aspect of lesbian relationship because everything I see on the screen is them cheating, fighting, splitting up, stuff like that…you want to see something positive that would be great to show that it can actually work, and you’re right, they have such a deep relationship, more than anyone else. It might work, it might not, but they have so much between them…so you think there’s hope?

JB: yes, I think there’s definitely hope, yeah.

B&TF: Great, thanks…now about your new movie. I read a couple of interviews about the movie that you were giving and there were couple of questions that I wanted to clarify. Were you trying to make some kind of political statements with “Itty Bitty Titty Committee”?

JB: I think my work always has some kind of political bend to it but I also tried to bring a lot humor to it, I mean I’ve been a part of so many of those political groups throughout my life and what happens inside of them is like truly spirited, ridiculous and funny, you know, there’s romance and intrigue, there’s a lot gong on, so it definitely not meant to be just a political movie, it’s also about relationships, lesbians…

B&TF: What other issues you were trying to explore with this film?

JB: I wanted to explore just women involved in feminism and what it means and how they all have different politics, they all fight and no one can agree on what’s important. Just kind of the chaos and the different groups battling each other.

B&TF: Did you write the show? I read that there were ads posted that you were looking for writers and the winners helped to write the script but were you influenced by something or someone to get the idea for the movie?

JB: yeah, actually I did write the story and it was totally inspired my own involvement with political groups over the years.

(At this moment we were told that it was time to go inside for the screening of the movie and I only had a few seconds left.)

B&TF: Well, thank you for your time.

JB: Thank you.



info from l word fan site

This encounter with the girls of the L Word at the Los Angeles L Word Convention is authored by Meems posted on Media Blvd.

Enjoy

Pictures
The first thing they did were the group shots so my friend and I were waiting in line for that. Once it was our turn Leisha and Kate moved apart for my friend and I to get in there but I asked if I could stand next to Erin. We took the picture and as I walked away I told Erin she did a good job on big shots and she laughed and said thanks. The next line I got in was to take a picture with Erin alone (and also one with my friend, Erin and I). It was funny because one of the first girls asked her to stick out her tongue in the photo so she did it. Then two girls after that (another one of my friends) asked her if they could take a fighting picture and to just pretend to choke her and Erin was like "Seriously? ok!" Then I was next and asked her if we could take a tango picture and she was like "Sure!" Then my friend came up after and asked if we could take a picture pretending to kiss her cheek and I was like, I'm sorry we're all making you do weird things and she was like "No, this is fun."

Question & Answer
During the Q&A Erin said that if her character was still alive she thinks Dana would be a tennis teacher and still with Alice. I think she said something about how she would have liked to see her and Alice's relationship progress. (That might have been Leisha though.) Of course her character death came up and she said something about how it could have made a good survivor story (people cheered) but obviously that's not what happened. When the three of them came out to do the Q&A together they said their favorite scene was the one where Dana is puking over the boat. They said that they were literally just laughing at Erin. Oh, someone asked Erin if it was true she had a book coming out and when could we expect it. Erin said something along the lines of "Yes, I don't have a timeframe but should be out by the end of next year-- well I guess that is a timeframe." My friend asked her if she could be her sailor, referring to the love boat scene and some people laughed and Erin said sure why not. I want to say Leisha was the one that made this comment but I could be wrong. When she was up by herself she said something about how she'll be back later for the threesome and of course everyone cheered. It was pretty funny. My friend asked Leisha something but I can't remember. I just remember she said something about Leisha being cute and Leisha told her she was too. I think someone asked her about her favorite relationship on the show and she said Erin and that she wasn't just saying that cause she was there. She also mentioned Rose. My friend asked Kate what her favorite scene to film with Carmen was and Kate was thinking so my friend shouted out the quincenera scene and then she commented on how itchy the dress was and how heavy the extensions were. Someone asked the three of them who would be the first to talk if they were supposed to be quiet for five minutes and Kate pointed at Erin and Erin said herself. They made a comment about how she can talk to a piece of string or to a wall.

Autographs
Erin was the first one at the table and she asked for my name so I started spelling it out for her and she was like Oh you're gonna all weird on me. Or something along those lines. I told her that I haven't watched since her character died and that I was still bitter and she looked at me and was like yeah that makes two of us. Or me too, or I know. I can't even remember at this point. Leisha was next. She was getting a kick out of the girl in front of me because she gave her a diorama hat and the girl was like I know it's weird and Leisha was like "Stay weird!" It was cute.

La Cantina
We went to La Cantina at eight and I was freezing in there so I was debating going to change into my pants but I didn't want to leave. So finally an hour or so later I decided to go to my car with my friend. As we were walking to my car we saw Erin, Leisha and Kate walk out of the parking lot and my friend went up to them and said sorry for being obnoxious but can we get a picture with you guys. All three of them said sure and were really nice about it. I think Erin said something like how are we gonna do this (since we didn't have anyone to take the picture) So I just asked if we could take one with just Leisha first because we didn't get to get one with her earlier (and she became my friend's and my favorite-- of course we didn't mention that part). So Leisha said no problem and we took a picture and she said she liked my shorts. Then we were just kind of standing around and Erin said something and we took it as okay see you over at the restaurant and we'll do it there so we walked opposite ways.

So we got to La Cantina after I changed and sat at our table and the three of them were walking around group to group talking to everyone. Erin ended up separated from Leisha and Kate. Erin came up to us and was like "There you are! We started walking and then we were like hey where did they go? And we turned around and you guys were walking the other way." So we were explaining to her that we thought she meant we would take the picture later and she was like "No no" We were talking about car accidents and I told her I had gotten hit by a drunk driver earlier in the year and she said she got hit by a sober driver. I can't remember the details of the story though. One of the girls that was sitting with us had ran into Erin in the bathroom at Element so at La Cantina she was kind of buzzed and she was like "Do you remember me?" And Erin was like yeah I remember you. And the girl was like I ran into you in the bathroom. And Erin goes (in a really funny tone), "I know. and you asked me if I was going tomorrow and I said yeah and you said be there or be square and I said.." (I can't even remember the rest) Then she was like, I was the one that gave you the hat. The hate with the figures on it. And Erin said, in the same cute tone, "I know, and it has Johnny Depp on the left and (I can't remember what but Erin did) in the middle, and a white dog on the left." We were laughing after all that. All of us had seen the hat before she gave it to her but I don't think any of us remembered all that detail.

Leisha and Kate came up to us next. Leisha is the sweetest person ever. Don't get me wrong Erin is sweet too and very talkative but there's just something about Leisha's persona that makes her easy to like. Anyways Kate and her said the same thing, that they were wondering where we went and Kate said "So you wanna take the picture?" And we told them that we weren't allowed to take pictures in there. We were sitting at a table with some other friends we met there and two of them were sisters. Leisha asked if they were sisters and they said yeah. And she made some comment about how she thought so but sometimes it happens. (referring to sometimes people who date look alike.) Then she looked at my friend and I and was like "Are you guys..." And we both said friends then I told her she was my ex and Leisha was like really? that's-- She was surprised that we were friends. Then I told her we had stopped talking for three years but I got in an accident and I called her and she made some comment about how crazy it was that my instinct was to call her after. Then she said that our story was interesting. Both of them seemed a lot less shy then Erin but both were sweet.

Info from L Word fan site authored
By BetteAndTinaForever



WARNING: Contains some spoilers for season 5

Disclaimer: I began writing unofficial convention reports since the first one I attended in London in November, 2005. I don’t know why but I always felt compelled to share my experiences and everything I heard and saw with those fans that didn’t have the opportunity to travel to any TLW-related events. So here’s once again my report from The L Word Convention in Los Angeles, organized by Starfury and its founder, Sean Harry. This is, of course, only the account of things that I experienced personally, so if I wasn’t present during certain events, I’m pretty sure there are others who can share their experiences about this Convention.

Friday at the Convention is usually the day of registration, opening ceremony and the Meet&Greet, where the fans can mingle with the cast members in more relaxed atmosphere. Convention in LA was a little different, probably partially due to the fact that it was Sean’s first American TLW convention and partially because Leisha Hailey’s new band Uh-Huh Her was performing the same night at the Knitting factory.

So after the registration and a few leisurely hours spent with friends, we all went to the concert. The small place was quickly filling with the fans. There were people from the convention but mostly those who bought the ticket just to see Leisha in concert. We got our seats on the balcony on the right side of the stage. The concert was great and I took a few shots of Leisha in action.

After a few songs, we spotted Pam Grier in the crowd. She was cheering and taking pictures as well. I turned my camera back on and went down so I can mingle with the audience and find out if any other cast members were inside. And of course, they were. I saw Kate Moennig and Rose Rollins, who were standing at the back of the crowd.

I went to the bar and saw Rachel Shelley buying beer. We said Hi to each other and she told me that they all just came from finishing filming. The filming began at 4:30 am but they came here to support Leisha. At that moment they are still filming season finale. I thanked her and Rachel went into the crowd and joined Pam in front of the stage.

I continued walking around and saw Mia Kirshner, who also moved into the crowd in front of the stage and began cheering for Leisha, dancing to the songs.

After making few more rounds I also saw Ilene Chaiken and Ken Dixon, Jennifer Beals’ husband. They were standing behind the crowd and I stopped by Ilene to say Hello. I’ve met her a few times already and I wanted to share my gratitude about the show again and ask about the new season.

Ilene said that they will finish filming season finale next week and the whole cast is in LA right now for that. When I asked about the possibility of season 6, since it seems like not one Showtime’s show went beyond that. Ilene replied that it’s not a Showtime policy to have only 5 seasons, and though she didn’t know about season 6 yet, The L Word is still strong so the season 6 is a definite possibility, and it also depends on the support of the fans.

I couldn’t help myself but I told her that all she needs to do is put Bette and Tina back together and the ratings will go high up. Ilene laughed at that statement and said, “We will see.” I also told her how wonderful it was to have this show picked up by the Showtime, and that the show reaches so many people and is known in all different countries. I thanked Ilene again and left her to enjoy the concert.

I wanted to go back upstairs when I noticed one more person who looked really familiar. After a few seconds I realized that it was Cynthia Summers, the fashion designer on the show, who was at the club with her girlfriend, Michelle. I introduced myself and also asked her a few questions about the filming, her favorite characters and any spoiler she can reveal.

Cynthia told me that they are still filming and her favorite characters are Bette, Jenny and Alice and a new character, Clea. From the season finale sides we know that Clea is fashion designer as well, and she is a friend of Alice. Cynthia couldn’t remember the name of the actress who is playing Clea, she only said that she was originally from New Zealand…there was an article in the Advocate from last year where I read that Lucy Lawless said that she auditioned for The L Word before but didn’t get the role and she is from New Zealand, so could it be her? Well, we can all dream.

Cynthia also answered my question about Patricia Velásquez, who was rumored to be added to the cast in season 5 and already signed up for season 6. Cynthia said that Patricia is indeed joining The L Word and will play the role of Begonia, the actress who is playing Karina/Marina in Jenny’s movie.

After the concert was over, all the cast members went to a room behind the stage but Pam Grier stayed and mingled with the fans. She was with her hairdresser and she was really friendly and nice, though she would tell me any spoilers. All she said was that season 5 is “Hot, hot, hot and fun, fun, fun…” When I asked to tell me at least if Angus was back, she looked where Ilene was standing just a few feet away and said, laughing “You can’t expect me to tell you things with my boss standing over there?”

Pam is really one of the nicest people I’ve met. She was really excited about the show and the upcoming season, even though she is straight herself. She talked a lot about politics and encouraged everyone to vote for Hilary Clinton because she is electable.

Pam also told me that for the season premiere next year all the cast members are trying to go to different cities but they are told where they will go, so they could all attend many places, but she wouldn’t tell me where she or anyone else would go.

Finally, pretty much everyone left and day one of the Convention was over. I know some people were disappointed because there was no Meet&Greet that night but the concert was great and it was better than Meet&Greet because of so many surprising appearances by the cast members.

Info from thestylephile.com

"L Word" blisters
Proving that some break-ups do have happy endings, "The L Word" creator Ilene Chaiken has recruited her ex, Miggi Hood, to play a small part in the show. Hood, who was Chaiken's partner for 20 years, will play a museum curator in next season's finale. Show stylist Cynthia Summers kitted her out in a power suit that was "very Pirates of the Carribbean, with lots of buttons and big, long cuffs that I folded back," says Hood. She wore a striped t-shirt by Alice + Olivia and silver Rocco P shoes that were "agony", apparently."I had worn the entire outfit two nights earlier at the Guggenheim and had terrible blisters from walking around New York in them," says Hood. "Then I had to wear them all day for the shoot. I ended up with blisters on my blisters."Perhaps she should have broken them in first? Either way, we hear Hood is now confined to a pair of fluffy slippers. (Photo of a Rocco P boot. Best worn with socks.)
Posted 11/1/2007 12:43:06 PM

info from 411maniac.com



Two Tivos favorite Wallace Shawn will appear on four episodes of the new season of The L Word…Also on The L Word in January will be Kelly McGillis...

By BetteAndTinaForever.....from l word fan site


As I mentioned in my report about this event, we arrived at the Wiltern Theater Saturday evening and were escorted to the red carpet area. I joined a few others at the end of the line and prepared myself for the interviews, mentally and emotionally.

Before I was able to talk to Jennifer Beals, she was interviewed by others, and I listened to some of their questions but in all honesty I don’t remember much. It was too loud to concentrate on her answers and I was really nervous, ready to ask my own questions but keep thinking that I was going to faint.

I do remember that one of the reporters asked what she was carrying in her little purse and Jennifer replied that it was her glasses, not the sunglasses, but the ones she wears to see better. Then she was also asked what was the secret to her amazing marriage and after a slight pause, Jennifer said at first that she doesn’t know and then she added, “Love…I think love might have to do with it.”

Finally, it was my turn and after introducing myself as a reporter from l-word.com, I began the interview, though my mind went completely blank from looking at this gorgeous woman and the questions I was planning to ask were all forgotten. I just hope I didn’t make a fool out of myself in the short five minutes I spent with Jennifer, especially because when I get nervous, my accent is much stronger and I had to repeat things a few times.

BetteAndTinaForever: so here’s the first question…what do you think about the hate crime legislation right now here…

Jennifer Beals: Do you mean how it stands now or how they want it to be re-written?

B&TF: Both, you can answer both…and the second question is: Matthew Shepard Act was passed but how do you think it will be effective for the hate crime?

JB: Well, I think it always, you know, takes time to implement itself but at least there’s something in writing, some legal…let me think how to put this (at this moment Alison Sweeney from ‘Days of Our Lives’ was standing right next to us answering some questions and Jennifer was distracted by that, which she mentioned to me, so I suggested that we would move a little further away from everyone, so we both can concentrate on the interview)

JB: I think it’s important to have some kind of legal standard that you can point to if you do need to litigate and pursue the hate crime, it’s incredibly important and it sends the message to legislators…I think it’s a beginning, you know, it’s a beginning to change people’s minds and if they realize that this is the law of the men and this is also may have some cultural impact eventually and hopefully the law will precede the cultural change.

B&TF: How did you get involved with this Foundation…you presenting tonight, did they asked you?

JB: Yes, they asked me.

B&TF: What was your first reaction to that?

JB: I was really excited because I knew about the Foundation, I was really thrilled to be honored to actually present.

B&TF: Well, now a question about The L word. People want to know a lot of stuff but they want to know especially about what’s going on with Bette and Tina and I…well, I’m on the website and my user name is actually BetteAndTinaForever because I want this couple to be together…

JB: Did you create that?

B&TF: No, I work for the site, it belongs to another person, Jacky, I’m just doing the reports, pictures and also write fan fiction about Bette and Tina, of course, but anyway…my question is: you know that the majority of the fans of the show actually follow Bette and Tina and they always tell Ilene and other cast members that they want this couple to get back together, so why do you think they have such a great following, this couple particularly?

JB: (thinking)

B&TF: What is it about them…I mean, I think it’s chemistry, even when you guys are fighting…

JB: I think it’s chemistry, probably too.

B&TF: How was it to act with Laurel Holloman when you’re, like, not in-love couple but you’re screaming at each other or you’re fighting over certain issues, is it harder than to do in-love couple scenes or is it the same? I mean, I read an article before where Laurel said that it was easier for you, as actresses, to do in-love scenes between Bette and Tina than to fight all the time…

JB: Oh no…I mean, it’s taxing but I love fighting. I love doing fight scenes. It’s really fun.

B&TF: Well, is it hard to do it because you don’t really know where the storyline goes or…

JB: It’s not harder than doing the love scenes, because you don’t know where that’s gonna go either, you have no idea…

B&TF: In your opinion…do you want them back together?

JB: I said this before, I mean, it’s not a secret…if they get back together they have to earn it, you know. I wouldn’t wanna see them get back together just because, you know, that would be convenient for somebody, mainly a writer or a network. I want them to get back together because they earned and processed things, these things can get them back together.

B&TF: Do you think season four and then season five…well, you almost finished filming season finale right now…do you think it’s making them to earn it because they already became friends…

JB: They didn’t earn anything in four, what do you mean?

B&TF: Well, you know, like Tina…she did this selfless act of sending Bette after Jodi when she wanted her…

JB: (laughing) You remember much more than I was, frankly…but I, you know, I think in four they still do kind of everything with each other now and again but I think it will take more than that…but luckily, they have a child together and they tried to, by the end of four anyway, to put the child first instead of acting all crazy like they did in the beginning (and then my time was up and I had to finish the interview)

B&TF: Well, thank you so much.

JB: Thank you.

Somewhat L Word related...Just a positive story.



One ‘L’ of a wedding
Lesbian cable series heats up marriage drama for Atlanta couple



By DYANA BAGBY
NOV. 9, 2007







It was Alice, the quirky, sexy character on Showtime’s hit dyke drama “The L Word,” who inspired Atlanta couple Denise Moss and Jane Champ to do it.

During Season 3, when studly Shane appeared ready to settle down (finally) and marry her love, Carmen, in a Canadian ceremony, their friend Alice made a speech about taking a stab at what straight America is failing at and the importance of legal marriage rights for all.

“We liked what Leisha [Hailey, the actress who plays Alice] said, to never take the benefits for granted,” says Moss, sitting in Joe’s on Juniper and splitting a pitcher of beer with her new wife.

“That got us riled up," she says. "We decided, yeah, we want to do this.”

So to celebrate their 20th anniversary, Moss, 44, and Champ, 50, flew to Vancouver in July to get married. Just so happens, “The L Word” is filmed in Vancouver. The Atlanta couple, huge fans of the show, extended July 15 wedding invitations to the cast. They were unable to attend due to the filming for Season 5 (debuting Jan. 6, 2008, on Showtime), but the couple held out hope to maybe, just maybe, run into some of the cast while in town.

“We flew in on July 11 and I was kidding her [Champ] that all I wanted to do was meet Shane,” Moss laughs.

Yes, like most lesbians who watch the show, Moss is hot for Shane, the stylist known for her smooth moves with the ladies.

While walking around Vancouver their first day, Moss recalled a bar where Kate Moennig, who portrays Shane, was known to hang out during breaks in filming. So hanging onto a thread of hope, Moss and Champ plopped down at the bar and ordered a drink.

“Well it’s 7:30 p.m., and she rolls in and sat right next to us,” Champ says.

“And Jane says, ‘She’s here,’ and I say, ‘Who?’” Moss adds. “And she says, 'It’s Kate.' And I look around and I see her tattoo on her elbow, and I know it’s her.”

Moss, a bit star struck, was too afraid to speak to Moennig. So Champ struck up a conversation with the actress.

“I have such a big crush on her,” Moss says grinning.

“She was so nice,” Champ says.


Jane Champ and Denise Moss pose with Leisha Hailey, Alice on ‘The L Word;’
(Photos courtesy of Champ and Moss)

EVENTUALLY, THE TRIO WALKED to another bar where Leisha Hailey and Rose Rollins (Tasha, Alice’s love interest) were hanging out with several other “L Word” cast members.

“They were all there,” Moss recalls, still grinning. “I felt like I was in The Planet.”

(For those not in the know, the Planet is the focal point of the series, where the characters talk, gossip, fight, dance, flirt and hang out together.)

Moss and Champ, Georgia natives ready for their dream marriage, were now actually living another dream in their very own “L Word” episode.

“It was weird — I don’t think of them as real people, and then they’re here,” Moss says.

As if getting legally married and meeting the stars of their favorite show wasn’t enough, Hailey and Moennig invited Moss and Champ to Hollywood during the weekend before Halloween for a huge party with many of “The L Word” cast. Hailey was performing with her new band Uh Huh Girl, and her cast mates and friends were going to be there to support her.

No way the newly married couple was going to turn down an invite like that. They headed west to Hollywood three weeks ago to drink and dance the night away with Pam Grier (Kit), Moennig (who unfortunately was mobbed by women and had to run across the stage to save her life, says Moss), Hailey, Mia Kirshner (who plays Jenny), Rollins, Erin Daniels (who played tennis star Dana Fairbanks) and others.

According to Champ and Moss, fans of “The L Word” need to lay off hating Jenny so much.

“Mia’s a very nice person and Kate’s best friend,” Champ says. “She’s a sweet girl.”


Denise Moss with 'L Word' actress Mia Kirshner, who plays Jenny.


The couple also learned that Erin Daniels is still upset her character was written out of the show, that Moennig loves Harry Potter and that Hailey is actually quite girly like her character and plays a mean guitar and keyboard.

“I felt like I was at a Donny Osmond concert — I had to tell myself, 'get control, you’re 44 years old!'” Moss says.

THE MEETING IN VANCOUVER was great but unplanned, and Champ and Moss said they didn’t want to impose on their new famous friends too much. But in Los Angeles, Hailey, Moennig and the rest of the crew quizzed the couple about their lives and asked their secret to 20 years together.

Being life partners takes work, and Champ, a P.E. teacher at Rockdale High School, and Moss, who owns her own pet-sitting service, had to admit it hasn’t been easy.

A “temporary lapse of judgment” several years ago led Moss to stray, and the couple split. When Moennig and Hailey learned this, they scolded Moss for her indiscretion.

“I was trying to win Kate back and explained to her I begged and begged for Jane to take me back,” Moss says.

When “The L Word” actors asked Champ how could she take Moss back after a betrayal, she told them simply, “I love her.”

“They seemed to be, like, OK, we understand now,” Moss says.

But Moennig, far from her Shane character, was still distraught and told Moss, “It’s a good thing you begged.”

Champ wanted everything to be all right between her wife and her wife’s crush, and told Moennig she needed to hug Moss. Moennig gladly obliged, also giving Champ a hug.

“What happened really made us stronger,” Moss says of their dark days. And “The L Word” hasn’t exactly hurt their love life either — Moss was sure to let Moennig know some of her sexy scenes help, well, the lives of real-life lesbians who sometimes need a fictional spark to keep a factual flame alive.

“Thank God for the show — Kate’s pulled us through about four seasons. She gives me motivation,” Moss says with a laugh.

“THE L WORD” MAY INSPIRE ROMANCE, but getting legally married was unforgettable for Moss and Champ. The two had a commitment ceremony Dec. 30, 1988, to mark 10 years together and held an anniversary celebration at The Otherside Lounge.
Now, a decade later and tired of the lack of rights for them here, the two plan a move to Vancouver after first living in L.A. for several years.

“Getting married was very spiritual for us," Moss says. "It was life changing. The city won us over.”

“And everyone there is so happy for you,” Champ adds. “You really can be yourself.”

And in a dramatic example of how real life differs from television, Moss says Erin Daniels congratulated them on two decades together and hinted she had a tinge of jealousy.

“She said it’s hard to have a steady relationship in the industry. She told us, ‘You have 20 years. I’d almost trade that for what you have, because there are so many of us who don’t have that,’” Moss remembers

By BetteAndTinaForever....info from l word fan site

Disclaimer: I tried to write questions and answers as fast as I could but of course I’m only a human. Everything I wrote is not verbatim but the way I remembered it. I had to write so fast that sometimes I couldn’t even understand my own handwriting so I’m trying to do as best as I can here.



Q: Tell us about some of the projects you’ve been doing.
A: Well, I’ve been doing a lot of things actually. I’ve just been on Big Shots recently. I’ll be on another show in January I think. I’m working on CSI: New York right now and then I’ll be starring in a new show, hopefully.

Q: If your character was still on The L Word, what would you want her storyline to be and would she be still with Alice?
A: If my character was still on The L Word, she would be teaching tennis, to be honest with you. Actually, okay, if she hadn’t die (Erin made a face and everyone laughed), if she actually come through and survive the cancer (everyone began applauding and yelling what they though of Ilene and Dana’s dying)…I understand why they did what they did but at the same time has she survived, she would be probably teaching tennis and she would become a spokesperson for the breast cancer awareness and I would love to see her and Alice to stay together and actually have a real solid and fun relationship.

Q: How the cancer storyline affected you personally and how you prepared yourself?
A: Working on that storyline I thought I knew more about it than I did, it really made me be aware of it, about reality of it and how many people were affected by it. I’m sure everybody in this room knows someone they work with or a family member…and being aware of that made me realize how important it was. I made a choice not to invite it into my life, so when we were shooting and after that I was going home and having a bath, relaxing, and trying to take care of myself. I wanted to make sure that it wouldn’t affect me.

Q: Will Dana appears in season 5?
A: I can’t answer that, I don’t know. She comes back from the dead and she dies again…surprise (she was joking, of course). No, I’m actually not gonna be in season 5 (sounds of disappointment was heard all over the room). I guess at this point Dana moved on.

Q: What’s your favorite scene from any season?
A: My favorite scene…there’re so many…okay, have you guys seen the food fight in jail in the first season? (Everybody screamed: No, we only saw a few pictures, they never put anything good on DVD’s, extras suck, etc…) Well, the food fight was great, it was fun, too bad you guys didn’t see it…there were so many great scenes, I love mission impossible scene from 1st season.

Q: What about the drunken Dana dance?
A: Oh, the Dana Dance…I was really nervous to do the dance, I was afraid I would fall off the boat because that part was much higher than the deck and it was really cold and I had to do it once and get it right. At the end it was really fun, making it I was a little terrified I was going to die, but you know, it’s hard to pick one, to be honest with you. There were a lot of scenes that were fun to film, some were just great to film, like Dana after the surgery in season 3 when the whole cast was there in one room, it was really fun to film…yep, it was fun.

Q: Can you tell us what happened with Julie Reno.
A: You know, nothing, it’s sitting on the shelf somewhere, we filmed it and someone just thought it was too much like My Name is Earl, but it was great.

Q: When they were spreading Dana’s ashes in that beautiful river, does Alice still have some of the ashes?
A: I think you have to ask Leisha that.

Q: What was your personal reaction to Dana’s dying and you were going to be off the show?
A: I was upset, hurt, I cried a lot. I didn’t understand why but I knew it was important to writers and to creators of the show (again, people began yelling that it wasn’t that important, that they had the potential of a good story but blew it, etc…) I think, it was potentially good story, but unfortunately the choice you made as a writer is to make it quote-unquote real, you know, people die from cancer…but they live too. If it were up to me, I would love to show a storyline that gives you hope instead of depression. There was nothing I could do about it, so I tried to do as good job as I could, to make it honest and as visual as possible, because I thought that if this is the storyline I had to tell then I wanted it be as good as I could.

Q: What happened to the dancing flower that Alice bought in season 3 when Dana was dying?
A: I don’t know where that is, it fell down.

There was the question about scene between Dana and Alice after they finally made love and Erin joked about that was like 9 and ½ weeks and she said that it was fun to film and they laughed a lot while filming it, they were trying to think of all the things they could possibly do and it was fun. Another fun asked something about the whole story being a dream, but I don’t remember exact question and Erin said: yes, season 6 – Jenny’s been on drugs for 3 years and made it all up.

Q: What is wrong with Jenny?
A: I don’t have a clue, I never tried to understand Jenny, she’s a mystery.

Q: How much of the scenes between Dana and Alice were scripted and how much of it was improvised?
A: It’s a good question…we improvised all the time, especially the comedy stuff, at least half of it we improvised. Leisha’s better at following the script than I am but we improvised all the time.

Q: Jennifer Beals mentioned that you helped her sometimes with some comedy scenes and also you said before that you wanted to direct, have you done it?
A: First, Jennifer has a great sense of humor, very dry, she’s funny, she just didn’t realize that she’s funny…and I did some directing but you know it’s funny, I still love the idea of it but I don’t know if want to do it. I watched these directors and they work so hard and they there from the minute we start until everything is wrapped up. We complain about working 12 hours a day but the directors have no time, they spend 16 hours a day for months on a set.

Q: Are you in love?
A: I’m not in love with anyone in particular at this moment, no but I love many things.

Q: There was a certain picture from season 3 of Dana dancing with some girl that didn’t end up on the show, what was happening? We didn’t get any extras so we didn’t get to see anything.
A: That scene was cut, shortly after the diagnose, Dana sort of rebelled and she wants sex and flirting, to be a woman, to get a reaction if she would show some boobs, to feel something, so she goes to the wax party and picks a girl to do a seductive dance. Lara sees them and she’s really pissed, then Dana goes home and she wants to feel sexy, so the sex scene with Lara followed. They kept the sex scene but the dance was cut off so it wasn’t that clear why she was crying and acting a little strange but it was result of the previous scene, not just a bad acting.

Q: What can you tell us about the road rage scene with Alice in season 3?
A: Oh God, it was so much fun to film, it was crazy. We filmed on the real street in LA, the street was cleared up for us, which was hard to do, because it was in Hollywood and they blocked the whole street and this is LA. Everything is so busy in LA all the time. The cameras were placed in the car windows and we were actually driving. It was scary but it was a lot of fun and then at the end of the day we did some other stuff when they filmed close-ups of our faces to show our reaction but we were not actually driving. So, yeah…we were driving around LA, screaming at each other, it was fun.

Q: What was your first impression of the cast when you met them?
A: It’s such a good question…let me just say that all my first impressions were so wrong. Kate intimidated the hell out of me, I thought that she was too cool and she would never talk to me, she’ll never be my friend. And now she’s my best friend and I love her. Leisha I first met when she was auditioning for Shane and I thought similarly that she was cool but actually Leisha was on the same flight to Vancouver, we met on the plane. I’m not the best flyer in the world, I got a little sick right in front of Leisha and it was really embarrassed, and now we are best friends too. Everybody were intimidated by Jennifer, they were, like, who’s going to talk to her and I got nominated. And of course, I was totally wrong, Jennifer couldn’t be cooler and so down to earth, very nice. The beautiful thing about this cast that everybody was really nice and you know, when you are actress you don’t know how you gonna fit, but everybody was so down to earth.

Q: We know that Leisha and Kate are really great friends and awhile back I heard that the three of you were talking about opening up a club together in Silver Lake, do you remember talking about that?
A: We did, we talked about that few years back that we’ll open up a club and think they still talk about that once in a while to open up a club for…a girl club, for women…I don’t know what happened to that but it’s a good idea, maybe they should revisit that.

Q: Where are you all living in Vancouver during filming?
A: We all rented houses all over, downtown, different places…you know I’m not gonna give away addresses…downtown, gastown, Kits…we were all spread out and then each season the places change. It’s a beautiful city.

Q: What do you do on your time off?
A: When we are not filming we like to eat, the sea food is incredible…we hang out, go to the beach, go to movies, shopping, walking dogs.

Q: How are your dogs?
A: They are good, they are at camp today…the doggy camp.

Q: Was there any negative feedback on your sex scenes or for playing a lesbian?
A: My friends and family are really great about it. I grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri, which is Midwest and it’s pretty conservative. When my best friend got married, her mom came out when she was in college and it was really hard for her to deal with and the beautiful thing is that her mom was there with her partner and then she thanked me for doing what I was doing, being on The L Word and it made me to understand how it is to be in the world that is not open-minded…so anyway, my friends and my family a great about it, which is wonderful. (Then there was silence and Erin asked: Is that it? Did I bore you all?)

Q: Someone told us that you were writing a book, are you writing a book?
A: Yes, I am writing a book. I’ve been working on it for a while and it’s hard to describe…it’s about a woman in her 40’s who is trying to find her place in the world when some women of her age don’t look a certain way anymore and it’s all about her finding her own voice and her confidence by trying to find out who she is. I don’t have a title for that yet, I have 15 titles, and I had talked to a publisher about it, and my goal is to finish it by the end of next year, I guess that would be the deadline. Okay, I think my time is up.

By BetteAndTinaForever....info from l word fan site

I already posted it up on the spoiler thread on this site but I will repeat it here for those who don’t read the threads. And I would like to apologize in advance to all the non-TiBetters here, because the spoiler is about Bette and Tina. As some of you might remember, I learned a spoiler this summer that due to some jealousy on Bette’s part, she and Tina will have little somethin’-somethin’ in episode 504. Now, this spoiler was confirmed at the party. Bette and Tina will have something serious and, I’m assuming sexual, happened between them and in episode 505 they will talk about it and then Bette actually says to Tina that she’s in love with Jodi. However, there’s so much tension between them that the possibility of the reunion is still there.

info from tv guide.com

Those who feared that The L Word's Jenny (Mia Kirshner) may have drifted out to sea for good can now stop guessing. Jenny is back and ready to start production on her movie "Les Girls." She's hooked Wallace Shawn — best known as Vizzini in The Princess Bride — as the financier of her "fictional" flick. Shawn, who will play William Halsey at the start of Season 5, has a four-episode story arc on the Showtime drama.

info from l word fan site

Disclaimer: I tried to write questions and answers as fast as I could but of course I’m only a human. Everything I wrote is not verbatim but the way I remembered it. I had to write so fast that sometimes I couldn’t even understand my own handwriting so I’m trying to do as best as I can here.

Leisha Hailey came next for her Q&A and she was also very friendly and funny.

We heard you’re filming in LA right now, are you almost done?
Yes, we do. We started last Monday. Usually, we come to Los Angeles to shoot the exterior shots and then we put them into all the episodes that showed Los Angeles and then we go back to Vancouver but this year we are shooting the entire season finale here, we never done it before, so the whole cast and crew are here and it’s really great because some of them could show up for my show last night, which was great.

Did you expect Pam to be there last night?
Yeah, I knew they were all coming, because they heard about it and it was fun.

Someone yelled that she did really well last night and Leisha said: thank you, we still working on things, we’ll get better. She then mentioned a few places where they were going to shoot next week.

Who is your favorite character to date on the show?
I would say that Erin is my favorite, we enjoyed working together so much, it was fun and I miss her every day. And I’m not saying it because she’s here, I said that before. Erin and I just enjoyed work every day, it was fun and this is what acting should be, I don’t know, like a big fantasy. I love to work with Rose too, but it’s different, more serious. Erin and I were laughing all the time.

Next question was about Leisha’s playing in other places than Vancouver and she was talking about performing in Blackpool, and where in Vancouver they will be playing and she was talking about her previous band, that they were playing in Toronto and something else that I can’t recall anymore.

What can you tell about the scream during the basketball scene? Was it intentional?
It happened during rehearsing. I’m pretty sporty, but basketball is not my thing, but the first time we were rehearsing, the scream came naturally, so when it happened they decided to keep it.

When we see all those little things, we can see that you guys having a great time, you must have so many bloopers. Why are there no good extras and bloopers on DVD’s?
You don’t even know…but you know, we keep asking Ilene the same questions all the time. (A fan said that we would pay double for the price of the DVD if the bloopers were on it and Leisha agreed, because she said they want to see it too.)

When you were stealing the sign in season 4, did those two dogs belong to Jennifer?
No, no, they were some actor dogs, they were trained and their trainers were there.

If you have to choose between acting and music, what would you choose? And who are your favorite musicians?
I hope I don’t ever have to choose. I’m more naturally inclined to act, it comes naturally, I feel better at it, I feel like I understand it better and music takes more work. It’s fun but more challenging, performing is not easy, it scares me, challenges me. I love music and I love performing live and it’s my favorite part of the whole music thing. There are so many different stages to that, there’s writing and recording and touring and I love it but hopefully I don’t have to choose, ever. My favorite musicians are Björk, Lucinda Williams, Cure, Radiohead, Madonna.

We all know, Leisha, that you’re one of us…does your partner travel with you?
Where? (laughter) Sure, but obviously we don’t smother each other but we travel to see each other often but she has her own career, so we are not together 24/7. She’s awesome.

Erin asked us to ask you this question, when you were spreading Dana’s ashes, you kept some. What happened to it, will we see it at all and where was it?
To be completely honest, I think it really wasn’t exactly what we wanted. For me, as an actor, we were playing the mourning of our friend and lover so we played it more than they wrote. It was interesting to watch, but I wanted them to handle death a little differently. It was in North Vancouver, an hour away and I think Alice still has the ashes but I don’t think they play it, unfortunately.

What is your favorite scene when you had a lot of fun?
I can’t think of one scene, there are so many. It all depends on the day and who you’re working with and how tired I am, or sleepy, or cranky, and if it’s funny. I have a few favorite scenes when we hang out the Planet, we all happy and sometimes I think my character lives there because she’s there all the time. I can’t think of one scene. I have to think about it. Kate and I have a lot of laughs this year. I’ll think about it and get back to you on the favorite scene.

How do you feel about what they did to Bette and Tina, breaking the long time relationship up that everyone wants to see on the screen? Do you want them back together?
Yes, sure, I want them together (lots of people screamed, “We do too”) Yeah, it’s the biggest thing if they ever get back together, you know, it’s Bette and Tina. I mean, they certainly can let it happen, you never know.

Another fan was telling Leisha how we all enjoy Alice’s humor and that she loves to write about Alice in her fan fiction (it was AmandaMG, by the way) and then she mentioned about seeing blue mini on the streets and thinking every time, “Is that Alice?” And Leisha laughed and said that her blue mini keeps changing its colors, one day it has stripes, and then it’s convertible and not even blue. Then she asked if we know about the winning fan fiction story on the fanizode site and then told us that they actually shot it as a teaser and it was hysterical, it was part of Alice’s fantasy. (I got a little more information about it in my interview with Leisha and Kate).

On the podcast that you did with Kate you were asked a question about Jodi versus Tina, and you both picked up Tina, why?
I just think that Bette and Tina belong together, they’re so good together. First of all, I love Marlee Matlin, she’s a great actress and she’s so cool and it’s nothing against Jodi…I don’t know. It’s just seems that they were perfect partners and it’s hard to see them dating someone else. It all would work for the best.

How do you think Ilene feels about Bette and Tina though?
Oh, she loves them (sarcastic noise of disbelief from the audience), no, really, this is her favorite thing to write (more sarcastic noise)…no, no, no, you got it all wrong, she really identifies with them and long-term relationship and, you know, the craziness that can happened. Oh my God, it’s literally her favorite thing to write (people began again saying that we all hope it will work out).

Any news on season 6?
I don’t know about season 6. I have a feeling about it, but that’s just me, which means nothing, but it could happen for sure. The Showtime never got more than 5 seasons of their shows so it would a big deal. If this season will do well, anything can happen, and I have to say, though I say it every year, and I meant it ever time but I think this season is the best season. I’m not kidding, this season is a lot, a lot like first season but better, much better.

A fan said that the best thing that could happen is for Bette and Tina get back together…(and no, it wasn’t me who said this) and Leisha replied, “You don’t say…”, which brought another round of laughter from the fans.

Alice and Tasha should stay together too, as a couple…will they stay together?
I mean, this season for Alice is pretty hardcore, I mean, it will be really serious for me this year, really serious. I can’t talk more about it.

What is your favorite alcoholic drink and if you were a drink, what would that be?
I like vodka, martini. I’m not a fruity drinker personally…and as a drink I would be something lemony, like lemon drop with a little sugar.

Do you go the TLW related websites?
I waste hours on youtube with Kate but the message boards are not so much, they are too scary, because there are so many opinions, so I don’t go there. Nobody cares what other people say, so no, it’s not my thing.

What do you think about Bette and Alice concept as a couple?
It was quick, very quick. I think Bette was irritated by Alice and they had a good time together but it would never go anywhere. It was wrong, I think about it like fun summer fling.

But the opera scene was pretty hot…
Oh, the opera (laughter), yeah, it was crazy. I don’t want to be in this situation with my best friend.

What do you think about Rose’s addition to the cast and why was she better fit than some others?
We do have lots of new people each year and you know, some just don’t go together but Rose was a massive fit. We all have instant connection between her and others. She was like one of us, like she came in the first season. And she has this awesome laugh that I wish you all can hear it. She’s great, really, really great and I love her so much.

Tasha’s character, she’s playing a closeted female in the army…I thought it was so interesting to see how she was treated by her co-workers, so my question is: did you get a negative feedback from the military about this storyline?
I mean, I haven’t, this would be a great question for Rose, but no, I don’t imagining it would happen. It was told really well and this years it’s a really, really, really big, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” storyline. You will see it unfold in the big way.

How did you and Cam meet and form your band?
I met Cam (Camila Grey) at the party and she was playing tambourine. She was just so cute. I waited about 5-6 years to miss music and I wanted to wait until I want to get back to that. People approached me before to start bands but I thought about couple of people but for it didn’t feel right, and for some reason with Cam I got this feeling. So I called her and we met and talked. She has a degree in music history and she worked with Dr. Drey. Music is her life and we really liked each other. It was really fun and now that I’m done, I want certainly start writing more music. We have a full CD coming next spring hopefully

Info from l word fan site

Disclaimer: I tried to write questions and answers as fast as I could but of course I’m only a human. Everything I wrote is not verbatim but the way I remembered it. I had to write so fast that sometimes I couldn’t even understand my own handwriting so I’m trying to do as best as I can here.

WARNING: Contains some spoilers for season 5

Day 3 began in the same way as the previous day. We had more pictures taken first thing in the morning. This time Erin was gone but Anne Ramsey (Robin from seasons 1 and 2) took her place. Anne was lovely and very friendly, just like she was during the first convention. She was also the first one to participate in Q&A. I wasn’t present during most of her talk because I had a one-on-two interview with Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig at the same time. Check Part 2 for the complete interview.

After a little rest, Kate and Leisha came out for another Q&A session and here’s the recount of it with the help of my imperfect memory and ineligible handwriting. I apologize in advance if the answers seem a little abrupt but I’m not that young anymore and my memory knows it.

You talked before about practical jokes, are any of them ever backfired?
Mia played one on us and Rose but we knew about it before it happened so we decided to pay her back. We got those things that make boobs look bigger, like gelatin, put them on Mia’s car for two weeks…we put fake boobs over on her bumper so we could take a picture and send it to her, but we decided to see if she notices it first. Slowly, crew began realizing that something was there. It was really funny.

(To Leisha) How did you come up with the name for your new band?
It’s actually a title of PJ Harvey’s album, because in the beginning it was three of us and the song is about three girls.

(To Leisha) Would you be offended if someone gave you a lesbian sex book?
No.

(To Leisha) Did you actually ride the Zipline in season 4 finale?
No, I didn’t ride it when we filmed it because of insurance policy but after the filming I went back to do it.

How is it different this year comparing to other seasons? Are they still unhappy that Erin is gone?
It was more about the change than just being unhappy. We all like to go out, to do group things, but a year before Erin left and Sarah, the show was overloaded with new personalities all at once. This year there it is much more balanced, more mellow, or maybe we just used to it by now.

Is Olivia back playing Angelica?
Yes, Olivia is back and she’s got really big, older.

Do the family members visit the cast on set?
Family members do visit but for them it’s a fun part, the kids have their nursery but in reality we need a dog park more than a nursery.

What happened with Kristanna Loken and why is she leaving the show?
(Kate) There was some animosity and she simply didn’t fit but everyone was so shocked when they read what she said. The things she said about the cast was uneducated and to read that in LA Times was a shock and unfair. It wasn’t true because she was saying first how great was her work and it’s unclassy to talk about the cast that way and distasteful, especially because she didn’t even work with all the cast a lot.

Have you thought about having kids?
(Leisha) Well, I stopped saying Never but at this point I don’t want kids; (Kate) I need to grow up myself first.

What was your celebrity crush?
(Leisha) Molly Ringwald. I’m begging Ilene to bring her to the show and I would freak out if that happens; (Kate) when I was in 7th grade it was New Kids on the Block, Facts of Life, Different Strokes, Beverly Hills 91210, especially Dylan; (Leisha) I think Shane’s based on Dylan; (Kate) Yes, and I liked Brenda, she was a real bitch.

In season 4 when Alice confronted Jenny about the book, how much of it was improvised?
Most of it was improvised. We asked if we can embellish it and then we came up with Monet thing and Ilene let us do almost the whole thing improvised.

When you were filming the basketball scene, who among the cast was more sporty?
(Both) Jennifer Beals is good at everything, she’s superwoman; (Leisha) I’m a little bit sporty; (Kate) I’m good at surfing, good at certain things but everyone pretty much sucked at basketball.

(To Leisha) Why did you slap Helena in the ass during that scene?
I have a thing for spanking (laughing), even Cybill complained that I did it too hard with her…so maybe I did it a little harder than I should but that’s what you do in sports, right?

From all the cast members, who surprised you the most after your initial reaction and what was your first impression after meeting them?
(Kate) Seems like I just answered that question just recently but my impressions were exact opposite about them all; (Leisha) I saw people a lot more differently than they are, I thought Mia was really, really shy; (Kate) I thought Laurel was a republican housewife from Connecticut but she’s exact opposite, she’s still a very mature woman but she’s also a lot of fun and has a great sense of humor.

Is Peggy back in season 5?
Yes, she’s back.

(To Leisha) You played a werewolf once…
Yes, it was so much fun to play but it was crazy itchy. Dustin Hoffman once said that every actor has to play a monster at least once, so this was my monster.

Can you tell us about any emotionally heated debate or argument you had on the set?
(Kate) We are people, we get moods and guilty of taking things the wrong way; (Leisha) I had it more with directors than with actors, especially guest directors, who come with their own ideas but sometimes they have just seen one episode and they got ideas but don’t even know who Dana is. There was nothing dramatic among the cast members because we’re like a family. The best part is that the cast members are all super beautiful, supportive group. It’s a best job ever, especially considering how well we get along.

If you had a choice to play another character on the show, who would it be?
(Kate) Jenny, because she was conceived with a least amount of caricature qualities, she’s an open book with that, she has so many colors to that role, she’s interesting; (Leisha) Ironically, Jenny is the most talked about character and it’s not easy to do. You need a character like that on TV, people liked to be freaked out by her; (Kate) she’s the one that fans love to hate; (Leisha) I’d liked to play Tina.

Is Jenny still in the sea?
We can’t really say anything, let’s just say that she fell on dry land.

(To Kate) you were compared a lot to Patty Smith, would you like to portray her in the movie?
She’s great and I don’t know if it will be easy to do. She’s very protective of her life. There was one book written about her and it was all wrong. She got upset and now she’s writing her own book but the movie would be hard to do.

(To Kate) What was your most comfortable and uncomfortable love scene partner?
Most comfortable was with Rosanna, she’s really giving, free spirit and I loved working with her. Most difficult is with people that I don’t know. They all blended in together, like one-night stands extras. You don’t know them and feel like you violating them but they signed up for it (laughter). It’s all very technical, awkward and hard to do.

Tell us favorite thing about your character.
(Leisha) Alice says whatever’s on her mind, loud and obnoxious, making people laugh; (Kate) drug abuse…just kidding. I like how she’s quiet, settled, I like her clothes.

(To Leisha) How was it working with Cybill Shephard?
I love her. First I was scared, I watched her TV shows and she’s so great. I loved the storyline as Alice went for an older lady. Cybill is eccentric, open and you never know what to expect from her. This year we didn’t work together as much and I missed working with her.

(To Leisha) Season 3 after Dana’s death, how did it make you feel, dealing with that?
It was torture, especially everything that was leading up to that. It was really like losing best friend because she was leaving us. When we were reading the death scene script I had to leave the room because I couldn’t handle it, because it felt like I was experiencing this in real life, it was horrible and emotional. We tried to separate ourselves from that but it takes awhile to shake it off, it lingered there. We know it wasn’t real but it still affected us.

(To Leisha) So, did losing Erin as a cast member blended with your personal life?
Exactly, it was all too similar, it was easier to play because it felt real but it sucked.

(To Kate) Where do you get your tattoos?
There’s a tattoo place on Sunset, called Shamrock, there’s one in Venice, in New York, different places; (Leisha) where did you put my name again? (everyone’s laughing)

What is your favorite food?
(Leisha) Ice cream, muffins; (Kate) cheeseburgers and French fries, I’m actually craving it right now.

Did you ever get a laughter attack during sex scenes?
(Leisha) yes, with Erin and Rose; (Kate) with Sarah. We just stop acting and start laughing, saying to each other, “This is so fake”; (Leisha) This year I was laughing so hard about something with Rose but my face was hidden, if you know what I mean.

What is your family origin?
(Leisha) I’m half Italian; (Kate) Irish and some German.

What is your favorite thing to do in spare time?
(Leisha) I like to see my friends, go to dinner, paint, I’m trying to fill my time laughing with people, and lately riding my scooter with Kate; (Kate) Dinner parties at my house, I love to cook; (Leisha) It’s been six years and you still haven’t cook for me, I’m hungry; (Kate) I like to cook on Sunday when we watch the show, I have a great kitchen and like to make dinners for people.

What do you didn’t like about your characters?
(Leisha) I didn’t want Alice go all crazy in season 3. I know it was funny and I understand how you can get nutty in those circumstances but I wanted to play it differently; (Kate) I didn’t like Wax, so I’m glad something is going to happen to it this year. I didn’t like the episode where Dana dies. It was so farfetched, they wanted Shane to go to masseuse and have sex there and I said, “No, let’s not bastardize this episode with this ridiculous thing.” They changed it because I found it insulting.

What’s your favorite storylines?
(Kate) I love storyline with Cherrie Jaffe. It was dysfunctional fun. I liked relationship with Carmen to but when it was a triangle thing with Jenny before the domestic part; (Leisha) I’m happy with most stuff, even the vampire, it was so crazy and I like that Alice has so many different experiences, crazy situations. And I like what they did to Alice at the end of this season.

Are you still involved with OurChart?
(Leisha) We were involved a lot more in the beginning but we don’t run it, just supply the ideas and participate in podcasts, or tell them what we like or don’t like; (Kate) I think they will continue to make it better, especially when the new season starts.

What is your favorite Broadway musical?
(Leisha) Wicked; (Kate) I liked Cats as a kid, now it’s hard to say. I don’t live in New York anymore so don’t see so many.

Would you like to work in UK?
(Kate) Yes, I’d love to be in London. My favorite way to travel is for work because I don’t want to go and be just a tourist for 3 days.

What is your favorite movie?
(Kate) Cool Hand Luke; (Leisha) the original Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

What is your favorite color?
(Kate) Dark blue; (Leisha) I like many colors but for a long time not it has been deep dark purple.

What’s your favorite memory growing up?
(Kate) I grew up in the building with a doormen and I even wanted to be one, because I hang out with them all the time. It seemed to be like the best job in the world because it wasn’t hard, you just open the door. Those guys became my best friends and my mom still lives there with the same guys still working there as doormen.

Favorite quality in a woman?
(Leisha) sense of humor, nice lips, power; (Kate) assertiveness, sensuality, pretty eyes.

Who would you invite to a dinner party?
(Kate) Madonna, Oprah, lead singer of Metallica, Marilyn Manson, Anderson Cooper, Cher; (Leisha) Liza Minnelli, Axl Rose, each other.

Deep Inside Hollywood
by Romeo San Vicente




Moennig Shows Remorse

Queer fans of Katherine Moennig, The L Wordís shaggy-haired, womanizing, underwear-modeling Shane, will have a reason to leave their televisions for movie theaters when the actor stars in the new indie thriller Remorse. First-time feature director Quinn Saunders will helm the project, which costars Eion Bailey (Band of Brothers).

The plot is still mostly under wraps, but an ominous poster image for the film already is online that suggests the movie will serve up a fairly large serving of insanity and fear. And no matter what the story line, it simply will be good to see Moennig onscreen for more than a few minutes at a time, after her tiny roles in films like Art School Confidential

Info from l word fansite

Disclaimer: I tried to write questions and answers as fast as I could but of course I’m only a human. Everything I wrote is not verbatim but the way I remembered it. I had to write so fast that sometimes I couldn’t even understand my own handwriting so I’m trying to do as best as I can here.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Leisha, we had another 30 minutes with Kate Moennig. Kate was really great. She came out with her Starbucks coffee cup and while everybody was taking pictures, she was just sitting there, drinking coffee and smiling. Finally, the photos were done and the Q&A began.

Your brother on the show, Shay, was really cute. How was it working with him?
It was really easy…when you work with a child actor, they only required to work about 8 hours a day so my days were very short. He did a really good job and it was a very good casting.

In the last 4 seasons what would you change about your character? If you can change one thing, what would it be?
In terms of character or storyline? Hmm…there’s not much I would change. I definitely would change her profession, I hate Wax. I hated it from day one. But in season 5 something will happen to Wax. In regards to storylines, I would extend a relationship with Carmen a little bit longer (applause from the audience, and someone yelled that Carmen was hot, and Kate replied, “Yes, she’s cute”). I would just make it more realistic, not make it rush through the season. And if I could I would change the storyline with Paige last season because it was boring. It wasn’t my favorite. I liked the idea on paper, it was a good idea but sometimes things don’t work.

Do you like reality TV shows and would you be on one?
I don’t watch anything like Survivor, really. I like the mocumentary actually, don’t ask me why, I just like it, I find it entertaining. And I’ll never, never be on a reality show, I’m too shy.

Do you give the writers feedback to change anything in your storylines?
Yes, because the writers and producers, like Ilene, do hear what we have to say and they are very open. If you don’t love the idea completely, it’s a different story, but if you just want to prove the point why this scene doesn’t work then for the most part they listen and it never happens in television, never.

Do you have some crazy fan stories when someone tried to get your attention?
Sometimes, I get grabbed a lot. I get a little manhandled. It happened once or twice. Last year in London we got presents from fans and we were in the room, going through the gifts and some woman in her bag left a dirty pair of underwear. I just threw it across the room, the bag was flying…I don’t know what kind of attention she wanted from that. But person to person, nothing really happened.

Anyone gave you their room keys?
Room keys? Not yet (laughing)

Your hair is short…would you like to have it longer or keep it short?
I’d like it a little bit longer but my hair grows really slow, so it takes awhile.

How much are you like your character?
I think we’re pretty opposite, though I’m also attached and loyal to my friends. Actually, you know, my character and I sort of blended together, and we kind of became one. Her and I actually have similar walls around. I don’t know if it’s a trust thing or what but yeah, we are similar in some ways but my morals are different.

What do you want for your birthday?
Well, it’s a pretty big birthday, I’m turning 30. I want Rolex, are you buying?

I read that you like horoscopes…
Yes, I’m really into astrology. I don’t know what is it about, it’s a sick obsession, it fascinates me. I’m a Capricorn (then she asked fan what was her sign and planet or something, but the fan didn’t know).

Some people have an idea, not me but others, but do you think that Shane has a crush on Tina?
Say what? Where did you get this idea? No, no. I love Laurel and I love Tina but no. I think that Shane is looking at Bette and Tina as the big sisters of the group…everyone was looking up to them, you know, Bette and Tina.

Do you want them back together?
Sure (with an exaggerated sigh that made everyone laugh). Yeah, but I began to like Jodi. Maybe it’s because I love Marlee so much but I think Jodi is really interesting character, so Shane is torn right now.

Everyone began yelling that there’s no chemistry between Bette and Jodi and Kate said, “Okay, I hope Bette and Tina get back together.”

A fan began telling a little story about some haunted house in Philadelphia because it was almost Halloween…
We filmed this year in this shut down old mental asylum in Vancouver. It’s apparently wickedly haunted and they gave us lots of rules to follow, especially not to wander around. Leisha and I were so excited so we brought the camera and went around, taking pictures and after we checked them, and we were seeing a lot of orbs.

What is your favorite scene with Carmen?
I liked the whole triangle storyline. I thought it was interesting, especially because the friendship between Shane and Jenny was becoming apparent. And I liked to fight, I liked fighting with her.

What about quinceanera?
It wasn’t fun, the dress was itchy. And it was also pouring rain outside and I was freezing, because it was May, and May in Vancouver is still kind of chilly and it was a birthday cake dress and so I was freezing the whole day. I liked the scenes where we fought.

Fire extinguisher?
That was another one that wasn’t fun to film…it’s all over you and it tastes horrible and then you stink, but I liked screaming.

Have you thought about putting on another puppet show?
We have hours of puppet show outtakes and a lot of it was just us laughing. It was so funny. This little project was 3 days of fun. We were planning to do it this year too but we worked so much, so were too busy and Erin was gone.

Ilene said that Shane’s storyline is the best this season, do you agree with that? Is Shane back to her old ways or there’s a little more character development?
I actually had the best time doing it this year. Shane is back to her old days 100%, oh yeah. I never know what to say and what not to say before season airs so I won’t say anything. But she definitely has a storyline behind it and I had a lot of fun this season, so I agree with Ilene. I personally think it’s a lot better than last season, especially for my character. I really believe that this is the best season, a lot of party scenes, a lot of group scenes, a lot more lighthearted.

Did you have a lot of heat over your commentary on season 2 DVD and that’s why there aren’t any in the latest DVD’s?
(laughing) What do you think? Yes…we had a lot of fun and we just found out that Dana was going to be killed off. We had a lot of resentment, anger, confusion. I don’t know where it came from. I feel bad that we went as far as we did but it’s over, what you gonna do?

We enjoyed it, we did.
I’m glad. So they don’t have any good features on DVD? (Everyone yelled that extras sucked) I can’t believe it and every year we’re always saying, “Why there’re no good extras?” and everyone agrees, even Ilene agrees but it’s not up to anyone on the show. People at the network, DVD department, make those decisions. I know Showtime is in charge of the DVD’s extras and I know they suck and every year we asked for it.

How was it to film the pool scene with Cherie Jaffe?
(laughed) Physically, it was really cold, we were filming at 2 am and the water was really warm but the air was really cold and, I’m not sure if I should say it or not, but Rosanna and I got a little drunk to keep warm. Rosanna was a little more tipsy than I so part of the scene I had to hold her up so she wouldn’t fall backwards. But when you do the sex scene, part of you blocks it out, you just go for it. But you know there’s camera and you might feel self-conscious but you shut down for a moment and we were a little bit choreographed.

What’s your favorite drink of choice?
I like beer and my favorite is ‘Pacifico’. You know it? I don’t really drink hard liquor but I like vodka. And I think this is it for me...

Info from l word fan site

Disclaimer: I tried to write questions and answers as fast as I could but of course I’m only a human. Everything I wrote is not verbatim but the way I remembered it. I had to write so fast that sometimes I couldn’t even understand my own handwriting so I’m trying to do as best as I can here.

WARNING: Contains some spoilers for season 5


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At last, just as many fans wished for a long time, the “three musketeers” or as the fans call the trio, AlShaDane, all three came up on stage together for the last Q&A.

After Kate was done, all three of them came back together, three musketeers and it was so much fun, watching them interact with each other. They were laughing a lot, especially when they remembered good times together. They were joking and it was really obvious that they are such good friends.

As soon as they figure out the seating situation, the Q&A session began and, as I said, it was a lot of fun, though it’s hard to write about all the jokes they made. I could hardly concentrate because there was so much joking and laughter that most of the questions and answers might not make any sense at all. Enjoy!!!

You told us to ask all three of you again about your favorite scene from all the seasons.
Leisha: Oh yeah, we talked about that. Personal scene or with each other? I would say that with Erin my favorite scene was when Erin was puking on the boat (laughter from the audience). We were laughing so hard.
Erin: It was a catastrophe but that was fun…for them.

We heard that you guys were planning to open a club together, are there other joint projects that you would like to do together other than The L Word?
Leisha: How in the hell did you know about that? (laughter)
Kate: No, seriously…how did you know about that?
(the fan answered: “I pay attention”)
Leisha: Yeah, Kate and I were talking about that.
Kate: We think it’s a great idea but we realized that we have no idea how to execute it. You can’t open the bar if you don’t know how to run the bar. And when we kinda got distracted by other things.

Any other joint adventures?
Leisha: There are so many things.
Kate: Leisha just bought this really cute scooter, and it was a freaking cute scooter, so when I saw it in the store, I asked her, “Do you mind if I get one?” She said, “Yeah, it’s okay” (Kate was using Leisha’s tone of voice, it was funny). It was reasonably priced, and we were joking that we can use them to drive people around and get really good tips.
Leisha: Yeah, and Kate looks really, really cool on it (now Leisha was imitating Shane’s riding the scooter, it was even funnier. I’m telling you, when those girls get together, it’s a lot of fun to watch them. Kate was laughing hard and then they just began joking with each other about it, about safety school and leather jackets.)

You know how Katie Holmes was a fan of Tom Cruise and now they are married…so, would any of you ever date a fan?
Leisha: Well, first of all, if you met them somewhere before you knew they were fans, and then they would say, “Oh, by the way…I’m in love with you…” (laughter)
Kate: If it was some fans who weren’t watching the show and weren’t crazy because some of them actually manhandles you, and I don’t think there could be the love at first sight…
Erin: It would be love at first touch. For me, yeah, why not, but I would never date Tom Cruise.

Then they were again talking about their favorite scenes to shoot, like the boat scenes, lesbian cruise and some others. More jokes were made and I think I lost the momentum there and forgot to write everything. Erin was talking about some sex scenes and make up, but I honestly can’t remember it anymore. Sorry.

I have another sort of a Bette and Tina question. There was a scene at the Planet in season 1 when you were talking about ‘Ze penis, ze pussy, ze baby’, how did you make it laughing so hard and how did Laurel managed to sit there and not to even to crack a smile?
(They were all answering together): It was all Jennifer…she began laughing from nowhere…and we all began laughing. When they said "Action," we continued laughing, and we had to take a few takes. When they were shooting that scene, we had to repeat that line over and over and over.

What are you going to do now that season 5 is almost done?
Erin: (first she made some jokes) When I’m not working I like to travel a lot.
Kate: I like to stay home and also work on some projects, so yeah, it’s pretty much it, home stuff and constantly working on projects.

So it’s like a vacation and you chill out?
Leisha: If I wanna chill out, I call Kate. I’m really never home. But we like to watch movies.
Kate: Yeah, movies and TV…I just finished all seasons of Sopranos.

If you have stay quiet for 5 minutes, who would lose?
(Kate pointed at Erin)
Erin: (answered, without seeing what Kate was doing) Me…I can’t stay quiet, I can talk to a wall. I leave such long messages on answering machine, Kate doesn’t even listen to them anymore. (And then they began joking again with each other, and all I remember was just laughing).

Now that you all have a great experience in Television series, is it something that you would like to do again after The L Word is over?
Leisha: I’m all about TV and series and I want to do it again, I love it. Erin: it’s fun, it’s really fun. Leisha: I mean movies are great but you don’t know the people you work with. You just show up and go through this thing but on TV you became like a family. I like that everyone is all outgoing. Erin: The cast, the crew, everybody’s so great…it’s like a camp that goes on for years.
Kate: Gay camp…even during the hiatus when we’re not working, there’s always something to do in May or June, it’s like a vacation, only our vacation is flipped in a way.
Erin: And sometimes you come back and school is not there (Erin was referring to her character being killed off and she didn’t have to go back to work)

Next question was about Olivia cruise they did for season 2, if they actually went on that cruise and they talked a little about that they did go and they were filming during. They had their own suites and bodyguards, but everyone was great and they were shooting for hours and working hard, so it wasn’t all partying for them. They were constantly reminded that they weren’t on vacation, but they were working. And than Kate told a little story about a real beer she was drinking during the shooting of the panel scene, and she was told to put it down.

Angela Robinson is a director on the show, how was it working with her?
Leisha: She’s great, I think she really put the heat into the show again, put the fire into it. The stuff that she writes is my favorite.
Kate: Angela is really, really good at keeping things light and fun, they are not depressed and heavy, she has good humor. That’s why her scenes are really good.
Leisha: She’s a producer on the show now. She brings a good balance with fun and serious stuff. You get fun and then you get, you know, Bette and Tina, something serious. It was really great this year and Angela, I think, is responsible for that.

They were also talking next about taking care of each other, giving an example of Erin being sick one day, and they took care of her. It was during the election and everyone was upset. More jokes followed but you had to be there to really appreciate it.

Last season when the Papi storyline was introduced it was said that Papi would give Shane a run for her money, what do you think about this storyline?
Kate: Do you think it’s really possible? I think that the idea was interesting in a theory, but I just think it didn’t work on film. The character was rushed because of time. I don’t know what it was but it didn’t work, it didn’t evolve as they planned. It happens…just like some storylines don’t go, so Papi just disappeared.
Leisha: It’s just like Shane and Carmen’s dog from season 3.
Kate: Yeah, it just went for a walk and never came back.

Any music performances will happen this year?
Leisha: Iit’s over, no music performances.
(At this point I said, “No more Betty” and they all laughed, “Yeah, no more Betty.”)

(To Kate) You starting a new project next year, what kind of character are you playing?
Kate: I start filming in March but it might change. I don’t remember the storyline well, but I’ll be playing a straight girl…really, I don’t really know my role. I’m so wrapped up in finishing The L Word that all I can remember is that she has an unstable boyfriend with mental problems. It’s sort of a thriller.

(To Erin) Was it fun to work on “House of Thousand Corpses”? You were screaming a lot, did it affect your voice?
Erin: It was an open audition. My agent told me to go for it and yes, I lost my voice completely for week and a half.

It was pretty intense movie, did you like being in horror movie, would you do another one?
Erin: It was fun but if I’ll do another horror movie it has to be very different. It was crazy, being chased around by zombies, big guys in bunny suits…it was totally ridiculous, it was crazy but fun too. We had so much fun working with the director, he was so laid back and we improvised a lot.

(To Erin) How was it working with Robin Williams and Michael Vartan on “One Hour Photo”?
Erin: it was so much fun. I shot right after I shot “Thousand Corpses”, and it was fun working with both of them. I just actually worked with Michael again on Big Shots few months ago, he’s a really nice guy. And Robin is one of the most hysterical persons to work with. He’s incredibly professional and he’s like a child in some ways. He’s like this kid who constantly entertains you and he’s a really good guy.

Did you know at a young age that you wanted to be an actress?
Leisha: I knew I wanted to be an actress. Acting was something I always wanted to do, for sure. Kate: No, not at first. I think, I actually wanted to be a violin maker, like my father and when I got into acting, I started to enjoy it and I think after I went to college and finished drama school, it became important. Erin: I think I did to a certain extent when I was a kid, I always wanted to act but was talked out of it. When I got older, I wanted to be an architect, and when I went to college and they had good drama program so I studied drama and then realized that acting was something I wanna do.

After being on the lesbian show for so long, do you afraid of typecasting or stereotyped in a future shows?
Erin: No, I’m not afraid of being stereotyped at all, it could happen that you asked to play certain roles, but no, it didn’t happen at all to me, actually. Of course, they are so eager to type you in general because it’s so easy way to categorize you. They think that Erin can play a detective and they type you that way, because it’s easy for them but if you force yourself and you step outside of the stereotype than you can do anything.
Kate: Well, I get typecast and typecasting would be easy but if you push yourself and it requires more work and it’s good because you won’t be lazy.

Did you ever think that this show will become so popular as it is today?
Leisha: I never thought that, I thought that it’s gonna be a little tiny show. Kate: I thought it would be something big but not as big as it became.

Leisha then talked about how she was involved with a movie All over me. She was buying coffee in the morning and was invited to audition for the movie by a friend, and she thought it was weird and strange, but she auditioned and got a part.

We heard that you always film alternative endings to the finale in case the show doesn’t get pick up, is it true?
Kate: We never filmed an alternative ending. Leisha: we’d never done that, what you see is what we shot. I mean the finale this season is more subtle so if it’s the last season then it will make sense to end it but there are a lot of little cliffhangers to keep going. Kate: The show on a cable rarely goes more than 5 seasons but also the same time, if the show has been on for so long, if it’s their last season, they usually announce that show has been renewed for another and final season, just give an idea to the audience that it will be the last one, but that never happened, so we all speculate about what will happen.

If the show went for another 4 years are you ready for that?
Leisha: I think, if it’s back then only for one more season, you know, due to people’s contracts, money, it would feel like it was time to leave. I think if it was for one more year, I think everyone would be excited to do it but beyond that, I’m not so sure. We often joke about what it would be like in season 19 (they were laughing and joking); Leisha: I can’t stand watching myself age on TV. Kate: Let’s just say that show will go for another year, if that, but let’s say it will, I think creatively it would suck dry, you wanna do something else. You’ve been playing the same thing year after year… Leisha: Yeah, you sort of like to branch off.
Kate: Yes, you want to do something different. Imagine like season 56, they have the whole new production crew and the cast because all old people are passed away (they were making more jokes about season 6 and everyone was laughing).
Erin: And they bring Dana back because they are all so out of it, they are hallucinating and it turns out to be a Jenny’s story. (More jokes from Kate and Leisha).

What changes we might expect in the new season?
Leisha: Some people real estate situations are changing.
Kate: I think some people’s professions are going to change.
Leisha: Mine will change, I like my new profession this year; Kate: my dumb-ass character will never move out of Jenny’s house.
Leisha: Maybe Alice will move next door.

Did you ever think about the idea of The L Word, the movie? Like SpongeBob became a movie after all the seasons?
Leisha: Are comparing our show to SpongeBob? Ilene has mentioned it, but I don’t know, would people want that? (“Oh, yeah…” from the audience)
Kate: Yes, we talked about it, but I think we more curious if there’s season 6, but yes, Ilene talked about the movie.
Leisha: It’s possible.

At the end of season 5 are the majority of the fans of the show will be frustrated or happy?
Kate: It depends on storyline I guess. I think you will be happy because this season is really better. (“No tractors then, right?” some fans said and they laughed)
Leisha: Yeah, I think you’ll be happy.

Another fan asked about Kiki Smith print that Bette sold, and Leisha replied that it wasn’t mentioned in season 5. Then she repeated that we all gonna be very, very, very, very happy this year. Someone said that we want Bette and Tina back together to be happy (and no, it wasn’t me) and
Leisha said: Well, you might want some couple to stay together, but after you watch it you might not want them to stay together. (And they made more jokes about all the fans here being Bette and Tina fans).

Is Shay’s coming back?
Kate: No, Shay’s gone, he may come back, but there’s no reason why.
Erin: He’s walking the dog.
Kate: Yes, he’s walking the dog with Papi and Carmen.

Is Max back from San Francisco?
Kate: I don’t know, we can’t say…Max is around.
Leisha: He went there, yes.
Kate: But he comes back, absolutely but we can’t say what else. In the beginning of the season a lot happens.

Info from l word fansite

WARNING: Contains some spoilers for season 5

Some of you might be wondering why I don’t have a Q&A session with Anne Ramsey, who was present during the third day of the LA Convention. Here’s your answer. While Anne was on stage, Kate and Leisha were doing individual interviews that Sean Harry arranged for a few representatives of TLW related websites and news stations.

So, right before the both of them came back for another Q&A session, I had a chance to sit down with Kate and Leisha and asked them a few questions that came from me and some other fans of the show.

B&TF: How do you feel about filming seasons 4 and 5 without Erin Daniels, how was the whole atmosphere on the set, and how it affected the cast?

Leisha: At first it was very sad and it felt like something was missing. Our friend was gone and our routine was gone, it was like a giant loss. I mean, at this point it has been two years and we got used to it.

Kate: We got over the hump.

Leisha: But that day when she came back to work it was really exciting.

Kate: Yes, it was, and everyone cried because we were so happy but you know, even on the show, you always miss her.

B&F: Were you surprised when she appeared in season 4 because you don’t read all scripts right at the beginning?

Leisha: Well, we knew a little bit before she was coming.

Kate: Yes, we knew there would be something special in the finale last year but we didn’t know what it was and I guess the cat was let out of the bag and it was the greatest surprise.

B&TF: Name an actor or actress who you haven't worked with so far but with whom you'd love to star opposite in a TV show or movie.

Kate: Edward Norton, I think he’s good and wickedly talented.
Leisha: I’d love to work with Tina Fey or Lisa Kudrow.

B&TF: Because they are funny?
Leisha: Yeah, and they are brilliant.
Kate: Edie Falco, she’s also wickedly talented.
Leisha: Sarah Silverman.

B&TF: If you could change one thing about yourself as a person, what would it be?

Leisha: I’d like to carry less guilt around constantly. I always feel guilty for no reason.

Kate: I’d like to not think so much sometimes.

B&TF: Can you tell me anything about you personally that the fans don’t already know?

Leisha: It’s hard to answer because I don’t know what you already know and what you don’t know.

B&TF: Okay, what can you tell us about your personality then that no one knows or you rarely talk about?

Leisha: I don’t really have a personality before I drink a cup of coffee in the morning, I know that. I’m not sure that anybody knows that, but I’m no fun.

B&TF: It’s kind of like Shane in season 1 when you couldn’t talk to her before she had her espresso on the morning.

Leisha: Yes, that’s exactly what I’m like.
Kate: When I’m ready to go, I’m kind of notorious for just leaving when I wanna leave from some place.

B&TF: Who is your most favorite character you have played so far and why?

Kate: I don’t think my roster’s that big.

Leisha: Yeah, mine’s not big enough too.

B&TF: Well, if did you have to choose from what you have?

Leisha: Then I think it’s Alice for me.
Kate: For me it’s Shane.

B&TF: What has been the craziest, funniest and the most interesting thing that has happened during the filming of season 5?

Leisha: I don’t know, there are different situations that happened. Just when you think you had a great day and then another one comes along, funnier than the last. Just off the top of my head, it seems like the funniest thing I remember. We did a fan fiction scene, the winner of the fan fiction thing and we filmed it as a teaser and it was so funny.

Kate: Yes, it was Leisha and myself and Rachel and we were dressed up as a…

Leisha (interrupting): No, you can’t say it.
Kate: I’m not going to.

B&TF: I already know, I read the winning episode because they posted the winner on their site so everybody could read it. One thing people were asking, if Dana was going to be on it because Dana was the major character in that scene. They were teaching her about the gaydar or something. That’s the winning episode, right?

Kate and Leisha (together): No.

B&TF: Did they change it then?
Leisha: Maybe it changed after Dana, I don’t know.

B&TF: But it’s about Charlie’s Angels, right?
Leisha: Oh, yeah.

B&TF: They just probably cut it and only chose one little scene, because the winner wrote this huge piece and seems like they just chose part of it.

Leisha: Oh, okay.
Kate: That was fun.

B&TF: And you said before that it was Alice’s dream.
Leisha: Yes.

B&TF: Can you describe The L Word in one word, what does the show mean for you personally?

Kate: I’d say ‘Friendship’, that’s what I think of the show, personally.

Leisha: I was gonna say it.

Kate: You can steal it.
Leisha: Yeah, it’s ‘Friendship’ for me too, it’s perfect.

B&TF: Now I have some separate questions. Can you describe Alice in one sentence and then Kate can do the same about Shane?

Leisha: In one sentence? I think Alice is very open-minded, open-hearted, accepting, funny person.

Kate: Okay, I feel like I should do haiku or something (laughing).

B&TF: That would be fun.
Kate: Yeah, I know. I see Shane as someone who’s very difficult and a bit tormented but very sensitive and kind.

B&TF: Many times on the show it was mentioned that they see Shane as Yoda, why do you think that is?

Kate: I think she has good insight, she’s perceptive. People who are like that tend to listen to because they are usually right.

B&TF: But she does keep it to herself sometimes.
Kate: Yes, exactly.

B&TF: If you were a writer or producer, what kind of a storyline would you envision for your characters? You know, sometimes you hear from the cast members that they don’t like where their story’s going or don’t agree with that, so if you were the writer for Alice or Shane, where would the story go?

Leisha: Actually, it’s going exactly where the end of the season takes my character. I like what happens to her and all the changes in her love life. I think I would write exactly the way they did it.

Kate: Well, it’s kind of a shitty answer but there’re a lot of seeds planted for a sixth season if and when there is a sixth season. There’s a little seed planned in the finale that could provoke things for the following year and those seeds are the things that I’m actually very excited to play of. They are different and not obvious. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific…

B&TF: No, it’s okay.
Kate: We can’t really talk about it so I won’t.

B&TF: Another question about Shane. I was at the Ribbon of Hope event last year and you were saying that Shane is not a long-term commitment kind of person. Do you think it’s ever gonna happen? It didn’t work with Carmen, didn’t work with Paige.

Kate: I don’t know if it’s gonna happen. I don’t know if it’s gonna work for her and if it does, like I said, I think it will be something really special if it does, and this is something I can’t really discuss right now.

B&TF: Oh, you know how many speculations will come about this statement?

Kate: Right, but I think it will come from a very random place. This is when that will happen.

B&TF: After playing a character, some cast members were sort of becoming their characters and some were changing their characters to fit their personalities? What do you think about it

Kate: I think we all kind of blended into the roles we played after so many years, don’t you agree? (asking Leisha) I mean, I don’t know the difference between me and who I play and I don’t think you do either. I don’t think anyone really does at this point.

Leisha: As an actor anyway, you always want to bring quite a bit of yourself into it because this is when you can play the truth.

Kate: And you want to keep it fresh every year.

B&TF: So it’s like you’re bringing your personality more into the character?

Kate: Yeah, but actually really defining the differences between who we are and who we play, I don’t know. The lines are pretty blurry at this point. That’s the best answer I can give you.

Leisha: I agree.

B&TF: Kate, you were talking about your new movie project in March, anything else you would like to do? The filming is almost over, you have one more week to shoot the finale and then what are your plans after that?

Leisha: I’m gonna focus on music, for sure, but I don’t know, if the time comes that I need to start new auditions as well. There’re no plans for anything like that for me right now.

Kate: Well, and it’s also the holidays.

Leisha: Yeah, we all need a big break.
Kate: I need to chill out before the New Year.

B&TF: This is sort of a multiple answer question. After 5 years of filming TLW, what is the most important thing that you had learned about acting, cast members, fans of the show and yourself? Let’s start with acting.

Leisha: I feel like this show’s really given me a very rare opportunity that you don’t get on a lot of shows when you have a giant range of what you’re given as far as what you play. Like, we had to play love, separations, and death, career trauma and we’ve really been given an opportunity to play out different story lines. Usually, you’re stuck on a show where you’re just playing a cop and you stay the same, and I think we’re lucky that way and as an actor I learned to act different things.

Kate: And we also are given a lot of freedom from our bosses to collaborate.

Leisha: And improvise.

Kate: Yes, this is very, very rare, especially on television. So, I think we all really learned a lot, and I will speak for myself, learned a lot with trials and errors on this show and it’s a really safe place to do it because everyone’s really trustworthy.

B&TF: Since we’re talking about others, what did you learn about other cast members?

Kate: It’s kind of like anything. It’s like having a roommate for many years or being in a high school for four years. You spend your time with the same person or the same group of people year after year after year and you begin to know each other very, very well and there’s not much you can hide and there’s this unspoken language that we all share.

Leisha: It sounds cliché but we really are like a family at this point, even with the crew.

Kate: Not to repeat myself but again, it is a very safe environment to feel safe to take risks and be open to one another.

Leisha: And also, I think, we’ve learned from each other. Not just about each other but from each other.

Kate: Absolutely, because we’re all very different and we all picked up things that someone else has that we should probably practice more. It’s always give and take with all the cast members.


B&TF: What did you learn about the fans of the show?

Leisha: That they are amazing, supportive and they blow my mind every day, and how beautiful and lovely they are.

Kate: And their respect and their patience is just great.

Leisha: And their loyalty.

Kate: Yes, their loyalty and their opinions, they are priceless.

SpinDaily.com: Internet Video Shopping with Katherine 'Kate' Moennig of The L Word

Watch, shop and buy your favorite L Word star's signature style.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 1, 2007 -- Katherine Moennig plays the "player", Shane, on Showtime's lesbian drama, The L Word. Her sexy, androgynous style is very similar to her character, Shane. Katherine "Kate" likes comfortable jackets or vests, super soft tee shirts, black bras, skinny jeans, flats and the occasional newsboy cap.

"I don't like what designers do to girl's clothes," says Kate, who usually buys men's clothes in a small and then has them tailored. With the body and face of a supermodel that could wear anything and look good, Kate keeps her style very low key. Kate's fashion advice: "Less is more ALWAYS!"

Last week, SpinDaily.com (http://www.spindaily.com) went shopping with Kate Moennig to see how to get her signature cool look at Kin Boutique and Gallery on West Sunset in Los Angeles. "You are basically going to be my puppet," says Kate with a Cheshire cat grin, "I can do whatever I want?"

Kate dresses Katherine in Clu Shirtdresses, Bloch Couture Gold Ballet Flats, Tiny Pony Vintage One of A Kind Tees, J Brand Jeans, a Balenciaga handbag, and her favorite, a Vivienne Westwood Satin Velvet Jacket. Accessories are also important to The L Word star -- especially those of New York jewelry designer, Dirty Librarian, who makes five chain necklaces.

SpinDaily.com launched a beta video blog in February 2007, by feature film producer, Kendall Morgan (Southland Tales, Mail Order Wife), and targets women 24-40 years old who are busy professionals and want fashion, beauty, and style in daily, 3 minute videos! Once viewers watch the 3-minute video, they can shop directly from SpinDaily.com to achieve the Kate/Shane look