Will Papa return to L Word Season 5?

Casting -- Janina Gavankar -- best known as Microsoft search engine host Ms. Dewey -- will play a beauty pageant winner with anger management issues in "Dash 4 Cash." Thesp recently played Papi on Showtime's "The L Word." Other credits include the "Barbershop" pics.

Dash 4 Cash (CBS Par TV)
Exec producers: Kelsey Grammer, Steve Stark
Co-exec producers: Boyce Bugliari & Jamie McLaughlin (writers)
Cast: Bert Belasco, Yohann Urb, Jud Tylor, Kevin Christy, Brianna Brown, Serah D’Laine , Maulik Pancholy
Logline: A scripted look behind the scenes of a reality show, which follows six teams who compete in a contest that tests their mettle and brings out the best and worst in each of them.

Interview With Kristanna Loken
by
Malinda Lo
, Managing Editor
April 12, 2007

Openly bisexual actress Kristanna Loken may have made her biggest pop cultural impact by playing the sleek and deadly Terminatrix in T3: Rise of the Machines (2003), but the 27-year-old actress has been acting almost all her life, beginning with a recurring role as Danielle Andropoulos on the daytime soap As the World Turns in 1994. More recently, she played a vampire hunter in the Guinevere Turner-penned horror flick BloodRayne (2005), a tree nymph in Sci Fi's In the Name of the King (2007), and single mom (and Shane's girlfriend) Paige on the fourth season of Showtime's The L Word.
Her varied acting experiences have prepared her well for her newest role, the title character on Sci Fi's new series Painkiller Jane. Loosely based on the comic book series of the same name by Jimmy Palmiotti, the television show is about a covert agency that tracks down neurological aberrants, or "neuros." Loken's character, former DEA agent Jane Vasco, discovers that she has some abnormal skills of her own: She can be injured — and she can certainly feel the pain — but she heals very quickly and can survive experiences that would kill ordinary people. In the process, she kicks a lot of ass while taking down the bad guys.

Loken is co-executive producing the 22-episode series, which premieres on Friday, April 13 at 10 p.m. EST on Sci Fi. I recently talked with her about her new series, her experiences on The L Word, and how she feels about Michelle Rodriguez, with whom she has been linked romantically. "All I can say is I'm a very honest person," she told us, and her honesty just makes her all the more appealing.

[Warning: Some spoilers ahead for Painkiller Jane and The L Word.]

AfterEllen.com: Can you tell me how you became involved with the show? You're an executive producer now too, right?
Kristanna Loken: Sure, yes. I had done a miniseries for Sci Fi called Dark Kingdom [later renamed Curse of the Ring ] that aired last year that did well for the network, and they had been trying to create something and work with me in another capacity. The foreign producers that we worked with for Dark Kingdom were also working again with Sci Fi, and … Sci Fi had been trying to develop Painkiller Jane for a bit. They did a pilot a couple years ago that they just weren't quite pleased with, and they thought maybe they could develop it better with me.

I wasn't sure at first if I really wanted to sign onto a huge commitment of 22 episodes, but I actually fell in love with the comic. I'm not a comic book person by trade but Jimmy [Palmiotti] really created a very rich, very unique character. … Even though [Jane Vasco] heals from her physical traumas, she takes on the mental and emotional pain, so she's a bit tortured without being depressed. So I thought a tamed superhero would be a fun dichotomy of a character to play with.

I had produced my first independent last year called Lime Salted Love that premiered at the Whistler Film Festival and is now going to be at the Long Beach Film Festival, and I've been doing this since I was 13, and … producing just kind of seemed like a natural progression for me. So I decided that if I wanted to come on board for 22 episodes and make this huge commitment … I wanted to have some creative control over it, so that's when they also brought me on as a creative co-exec producer as well.

AE: So how much input do you have into the story lines?
KL: A lot. [Laughs.] Some people say, "Oh well, they give the star a producing credit and there you go," but that really wasn't the case at all and hasn't been the case with me. We're shooting here in Vancouver, and our writing and obviously heads of offices are in L.A. and New York, so … for the first few months I was the only creative producer that was here in Vancouver. So all of the questions were being filtered through me — story line-wise, questions from other actors, locations. You name it, I heard about it — to a fault [laughs].

AE: I had a chance to watch the first two episodes, and I have to say there already seems to be something of a queer subtext developing between Jane and her friend Maureen, another agent. I was wondering if this was intentional.
KL: That story line between Jane and Maureen is more developed in the comic. We unfortunately don't really see any of their personal relationship between the two of them in the series, although in talking to Jimmy, he kind of mentioned the fact that they had been lovers at the DEA in the comic, although we never really explore that in the series.

We do have an interesting, cool model episode where Jane and Maureen go undercover in the model world. You know, who doesn't want to go undercover in that world? We have a model neuro who basically has to kiss these young girls to retain her youth. She's actually quite old, but she keeps modeling through this — kind of the kiss of death theory. So we do explore some alternative story lines.

I, of course, am always for that in my art and craft, and I think there should never be anything left unexplored, so hopefully we'll do more of that.

AE: You've become known for playing action heroes in your films, but you've also played dramatic roles, most recently on The L Word as Paige. Which do you prefer?
KL: I like a combination. I think that was one of the reasons why I was very attracted to the Jane character … [because] she had so many different colors and she was very flawed. I mean, in order to play a superhero you have to have a flaw, so in some way you can root for the hero. Even in T3 when you're shooting children at point-blank range, you have to somehow want to root for me. So you have to find the human aspects, and Jane on that level had quite a few, so that was attractive to me.

I loved playing the character Paige on The L Word, [a] single mother just dealing with having an open kind of sexual mindset. I like exploring all aspects of these characters, and also within myself, so I've really been very open to diverse kinds of roles.

But I did miss carrying a weapon, I have to say. [Laughs.] I like the fight training.

AE: Is that your favorite part of playing a superhero kind of character?
KL: Yeah, it's fun to practice their strengths. I've done some medieval things with swords and shields and axes and spears. I have a dance and horseback riding background, so to me, the choreography is like learning a dance. So it's definitely a fun aspect for me.

AE: Are there any heroes or heroines you've looked to for inspiration in playing the character of Jane?
KL: No, actually, not anyone specific. I think the only thing I can say is that I really got a lot more of the character when I read the comics, so definitely kudos to Jimmy. But as far as — you know, I always liked Sigourney Weaver in Alien . She really has nothing to do with the Jane character, but I always felt she was a real pioneer for strong women in cinema.

AE: In the second episode, Jane receives a call from someone who appears to be her boyfriend. I was wondering if she is ever going to have a romantic life outside of her job.
KL: She does. We do explore a bit of that. It's not a huge aspect of the show. … but we definitely want to give Jane a sexuality, so we'll see some of that.

AE: How many episodes of Painkiller Jane have you shot so far?
KL: We're on about the 13th, I believe, so we're about halfway through. We are actually going to take the last four episodes to Budapest, to Hungary and shoot them there, which is probably where we will find the … internment center, the holding area for the neuros.

I think shooting abroad always gives a show a really rich, interesting [look]. Highlander did it great when they went to Paris . … And it always brings another aspect. I mean, I've shot in Eastern Europe before; the locations are just fantastic, and you really get a sense and feel of the old world, so I think it'll be really good for the show.

AE: You were over there shooting BloodRayne, right? Is that where they shot it?
KL: Well, actually I wasn't in Hungary; we were in Romania.

AE: Oh, OK. How did you feel about your performance in BloodRayne?
KL: Good. For what it was, for what the show is, you know, I always try to do my best work with the material that I'm given and the people I'm working with. It was an adaptation from a video game, but I really enjoyed working with Sir Ben Kingsley, and [director] Uwe [Boll] is always a trip to work with.

AE: Looking ahead a bit, Painkiller Jane has been ordered for 22 episodes. Do you think if it's picked up for another season you'll continue on with this?
KL: Yeah, you know what? I really think I would. It's different for me to be committed to — well, to anything. [Laughs.] My life — I've never been a big one for commitment, but there's something wonderful about knowing you've got a job for eight months and the stability that goes along with it.

It's also hard, too. I generally have been fortunate enough to take a lot of time off in the past few years to go to my beach house in Cape Town and travel around the world and just have a lot of fun. … This show has posed a lot of new challenges for me in my world and in my creative life, and it's really, I think, helped my craft a lot to just be thrown into these situations on a daily basis and have to perform. So I think it's only making me a stronger actress and artist, and for that I'm grateful.

AE: I wanted to ask you about the interview you did with The Advocate a few months ago. What kind of reaction did you get to that interview?
KL: Well, definitely all I can say is I'm a very honest person, and I think if there's one thing in this business, people tend not to be. And at the end of the day, I'd like to go home and know that I was honest with myself and who I am and what I'm about. To me, I've heard nothing but positive feedback from the interview itself and from the photography and everything, so yeah, so I think it was a good article to have done.

AE: You've also said that you are not going to be returning to The L Word. Were you hoping to become a regular on the series or did you just go in thinking it was going to be a one-season thing?
KL: I actually only signed on to do a few episodes in the beginning, and then the producers and writers were enjoying the story line between Katherine [Moennig] and myself, and so they ended up bringing me on for the rest of the season.

And I am actually going to go back, it looks like, and do just kind of one final episode in their fifth season — I think their first episode, just to kind of tie up the relationship.

AE: Some of those scenes that you shot with Kate Moennig seemed like they might be really uncomfortable physically, like the car scene. Was that fun to do or was it really awkward?
KL: No, you know, I think that was what I loved about the show — they just go for it, and that's the way I like to work. I like to bring a real rawness to what I do, and the fact that … it seems like that would be [uncomfortable] or … you'd be in this kind of compromised position — even if it's an action sequence, always add to it, because it gives you another element that you have to work around, which is always a nice challenge.

AE: So you seem quite a bit taller than Kate. [Laughs.] How did that work out?
KL: Yeah, I'm taller than pretty much everybody. [Laughs.] I'm … a little shy of 6 feet, but I don't have a problem with it. I always say everybody's the same lying down; it doesn't really matter. But she — she wasn't all that OK with me being taller. I wore a lot of flats.



AE: What was it like working with Jennifer Beals?
KL: We didn't really have that much to do together one-on-one, so you know, she was fine. She was fine.

AE: Did you have a chance to work with Pam Grier?
KL: Yeah, Pam was great. Pam has a great energy; she's really fun, really out there, doesn't take herself too seriously, very light. She's very likable.

AE: And how do you feel about the character of Jenny [played by Mia Kirshner], the one that everyone loves to hate?
KL: [Laughs.] Mia. Well, actually, Mia — I've known Mia for a long time on a personal level, so it was nice to see a familiar face on set. And I think what she's done with the character is really kind of interestingly conniving.

AE: If you were a character on The L Word other than Paige, who would you be?
KL: I really like Leisha [Hailey] and what she's done with her character [Alice Pieszecki]. I think she's really a talented actress, and she just kind of embodies … a woman who's confident of herself and her sexuality and doesn't need to wear it on her arm to prove it.

My sister's a lesbian and extremely feminine, and I really respect her choice of who to love and be confident within that. So I think Leisha's character is really a character that more women should see and know about. And young girls too, to know that it's OK if you want to wear … what you want to and be feminine and be confident of who you are and who you choose to love — that that's all right.

AE: Leisha Hailey and you are some of the actors on The L Word who have chosen to be open about your sexuality. [Daniela Sea, who plays Max, and Jane Lynch, who plays Joyce Wischnia, are also openly queer.] Have you ever worried that might be detrimental to your career?
KL: I don't really care, you know what I mean? Like … you go to a bakery and they say, "This is the best apple pie you've ever had." Well, not everybody's gonna think that. So people are gonna either choose to like and endorse me for my work, or they're not, and that's up to them.

But I'm confident with who I am and being openly bisexual, and I think … it's up to my generation to be open about that and to let people know that it's OK to be confident with who they are so that prejudice and judgment can become less through the years and for future generations.

AE: Some of the cast members simply refuse to talk about their sexual orientation — a lot of actresses are like that, actually. Do you think that's just a personal choice?
KL: I think it's fear. I think it's fear of "Oh, I'm not gonna get the job," or "Oh, they're not gonna want to hire me for this," or "Oh, they're not gonna want to do that." Well, I can't live in fear of my life. If you hold yourself back personally, I think you hold yourself back professionally; that's just how I feel. And I think people can see it in the work. If you're not honest with yourself, how can you be honest in your performance? That's kind of how I feel.

AE: Well, if you could date any character on The L Word, who would you date?
KL: Hmm … I would say Daniela. [She's] definitely got a hot thing going on, and she's just really a sweet, interesting person, too.

AE: Daniela as the character Max?
KL: Yeah.

AE: All right. Are you dating anyone now?
KL: I'm in a committed relationship right now.

AE: What is the status of your relationship with Michelle Rodriguez now?
KL: We're great friends. She'll always remain a great, close friend of mine. I'll always love Michelle.

AE: Is there anybody that you'd particularly like to work with in the future?
KL: I've always loved Kate Winslet. She's one of my all-time favorite actresses. Ever since Heavenly Creatures, I just fell in love with her and think she's so gifted and gives so much and is so free in her choices and with who she is, and I would just love to work with her someday.

AE: Is there anything you'd like to say to your lesbian and bisexual fans? I know you have a lot of them.
KL: That's good! Hmm, I don't know, let me think about that. … I guess just growing up in the community with my sister, it's always been a really important part of my life, and I can't imagine not being open with my sexuality or with who I am.

For many, many years I struggled with even just choosing a gender. I'd be in a relationship with one, and I'd want to be in a relationship with another one — I mean as far as gender went, and it was really confusing for me until I accepted the fact that I'm simply attracted to a person and loving them on that level, and gender really becomes secondary.

I think the bisexual community is really a difficult niche, because you're not really taken seriously by either the straight community or the gay community, so it's hard to find that acceptance. But I guess I would just say: Be confident with just being able to love who you choose, whether it's a man or a woman, and know that that's OK.

Interview: In the first series Shane has an affair with Cherie, the married film producer. What advice would you give to someone who falls for a straight chick??
Katherine: I hope they're not married, but you really can't help who you fall in love with, so it's all fair game. If you can, don't do it, but life has a really funny way of working itself out sometimes.

Interview: In series one, Tammy Lynn Michaels' character, Lacey, stalks Shane. Any tips on the best way to ditch stalkers?
Katherine: Change your phone number and block their calls.

Interview: Shane's infamous for her one-night stands. What advice do you have for wannabe lesbian players?
Katherine: You're asking the wrong person. I don't know.

Interview: C'mon, any advice from what you've seen your friends do?
Katherine: Erm, the one-night stand thing doesn't sound like fun to me so I don't want to embellish on that.

Interview: Shane says no to several admirers. How does a gay girl-about-town politely bat off the mingers?
Katherine: 'Thank you, you're very sweet but not right now'.

Interview: 'You're not my type'?
Katherine: No, that's a little harsh. Always putting it on you is much better than putting it on them.

Interview: Cherie breaks Shane's heart in series one when - quelle surprise - she decides to stay with her husband. Any tips on dealing with unrequited love?
Katherine: Anger always works. Keeping in mind the things that weren't perfect and not being idealistic helps.

Interview: When Jenny and Carmen get it on in series two, Shane tries to keep cool. How do you cope when a friend cops off with the girl you fancy?
Katherine: I don't know. I don't play into the triangle game. I would just walk away.

Interview: When Cherie comes looking for Shane after she's ditched her bloke, Shane is now shacked up with Carmen. Shane gives Cherie a go - what would you do if a former love rocked up saying 'I made a mistake'?
Katherine: I'd just say 'Sorry, you've had your chance'.

Interview: What's the secret to a successful monogamous relationship?
Katherine: Trust.

Interview: Carmen and Shane get tattoos to prove their love for each other. Dumb or not?
Katherine: Kiss of death. I would never do it. Bonding rituals are cool - anything but a tattoo.

Interview: Carmen says she cheats on Shane. How would you respond to something like that?
Katherine: You have to have some strong will, but pack your bags and leave. You can talk about it and of course it depends on the situation, but I would leave.

Interview: Carmen's family reject her and Shane in series three when Carmen comes out. What's a gay girl to do?
Katherine: You have to be yourself. If you are, hopefully your loved ones will come around, but you should never hold yourself back.

Leisha Hailey’s Hangin’ in La Cucina

While Leisha Hailey has earned raves for her delightful portrayal of neurotic bisexual radio host Alice Pieszecki on Showtime’s The L Word, she’s been spending more time between seasons working on music ( the onetime member of The Murmurs has her own label, Marfa Records ) than on other acting gigs. But finally, the actress-rocker-pitchwoman is putting her dramatic talent to uses for another project—and it’s not Yoplait: The Musical. Hailey is set to join supermodel Rachel Hunter, Joaquim de Almeida ( Desperado ) , and Oz Perkins ( Anthony’s son ) in La Cucina, an indie from first-time directors Allison R. Hebble and Zed Starkovich. No word yet on the plot of the movie, which is still in pre-production, but it’s definitely good news for those of us who want more Leisha in our lives.

The Stars Spill Some Secrets at GLAAD
by
Malinda Lo
, Managing Editor
April 17, 2007
Last Saturday at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, Hollywood came out to show their support for queer folks at the 18th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, which will air on April 21 on Logo, AfterEllen.com's parent company. Among the stars in attendance were Sarah Paulson, Martina Navratilova, Work Out's Jesse Brune, The L Word's Laurel Holloman and Rachel Shelley, and South of Nowhere's Mandy Musgrave and Gabrielle Christian. As they made their way down the red carpet before the show, I had the chance to talk with some of them about the GLAAD Awards and what we can expect from their shows next season.

[Warning: Some spoilers for The L Word, South of Nowhere and Work Out.]

The L Word: "If I could write it, I would have it happen"



Laurel Holloman, Rachel Shelley and Marlee Matlin attended the GLAAD Awards shortly after The L Word wrapped up its fourth season, in which Holloman's character, Tina, spent much of the season in a relationship with a man. Holloman admitted that Tina's relationship with Henry (Steven Eckholdt) was a "challenge" for her to portray.

"Getting stuck with a guy is not a great thing on The L Word and didn't really give me a lot of opportunities to work," she told AfterEllen.com, "and I wish that the story line had gotten explored just so you could see either how unhappy Tina was … or why she made that choice. I think it was a tricky story line, and I really look forward to fifth season, because it's gonna be very different for all of us, but very different for Tina."

Asked whether she felt uncomfortable with the bisexual story line, Holloman responded: "I just didn't see it coming, but that was part of Tina's history. I think it was a story line Ilene [Chaiken] thought was important 'cause she'd seen it happen, and she wanted to put it out there. She wanted to tell the story, and of course it created a really nice drama for Bette and Tina."

Holloman also said she is pulling for Bette and Tina to reunite. "If I could write it, I would have it happen," she said, but she also noted that Tina "just needs to grow up a bit, too, and be on her own and date some women." Holloman believes that Tina has matured quite a bit since the first season, and her relationship with Bette has also evolved — despite their ups and downs and Bette's new relationship with Marlee Matlin's character.

"It's very different, the dynamic" between Tina and Bette, Holloman said. "They're becoming friends. Like if you really look at the end of fourth season, they're talking to each other with complete honesty. … [Tina] can say to [Bette], 'You're a control freak'; 'This is what messed up.' That was never happening before."

Rachel Shelley's character, Helena, has also changed quite a bit since she first joined the show in its second season, but Shelley believes the old Helena — Shelley characterized her as "a very strong, manipulative woman" — is still there. "She's been Californiarized," Shelley told us, "but … those elements of her are still there. Like when she was trying to get a job, she would be quite fierce."

By the end of the fourth season, Helena had tried her hand at a variety of careers (after being cut off from her inheritance at the end of the third season), including salon assistant to Shane, caterer, and gambler/companion to the wealthy Catherine Rothberg (Sandrine Holt). But in the fourth season finale, Helena set herself up for a criminal future after taking a large amount of Catherine's cash.

When asked what sort of career she thought Helena should choose in the fifth season, Shelley responded, "I can't give away what's happening, but I don't think she's gonna have much of a choice."

L Word Convention coming to LA
October 26th-28th
Guest: Leisha Hailey

www.starfuryusa.com

There are two types of tickets available for this event, the Browncoat Pass,
and the Alliance Pass

THE PLANET PASS
• Entry to all guest talks
• The best seating for daytime convention main auditorium events all THREE DAYS
• COMPLIMENTARY AUTOGRAPHS from each of our headline guests
• First to get autographs as they are done row by row and you are in the front rows
• A full colour complimentary convention programme, suitable for getting signed
• Admission to a Planet Pass Holders Only exclusive party on both the Friday and Saturday night at La Cantina Restaurant, to be attended by the headline guests (and a few surprises as well).
• Admission to a Sunday night end of convention party at Element Nightclub
• A Planet Pass is priced at $400 for adults

THE REGULAR PASS
• Entry to all guest talks
• COMPLIMENTARY AUTOGRAPHS from each of our headline guests
• A full colour complimentary convention programme, suitable for getting signed
• Admission to a Sunday night end of convention party at Element Nightclub
• A Regular Pass is priced at $250 for adults

Ticket prices do not include meals or accomodations..


AUTOGRAPHS & PHOTO SESSIONS

The ticket price for this event includes one autograph from each of our headline guests. The guests will be signing on both the Saturday and Sunday afternoons, for the Browncoat Pass holders first, and then the Alliance Pass holders. The guests will personalise autographs if requested.

Should you whish to get additional signatures from the guests, they will be available priced at $30 per signature. A complimentary 10x8 colour photo of the guest will be given to you for each additional autograph you purchase.

Autographs from the supporting guests will be priced at $20 per signature, and will include a complimentary 10x8 photograph of the guest.

Each one of the guests will also participate in a photo session during the event, at which you can have your picture taken with one of the guests by a professional photographer. The photo will then be developed and ready for collection before the convention is over.

A photo with one of the headline guests will be $30; a photo with one of the supporting guests will be $20.

ELEMENT, HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES

Situated in the very heart of Hollywood, Element is Hollywoods most prestigious nightclub, and the perfect setting for the convention. This venue not only has all the facilities that a convention requires, but also offers a touch of Hollywood glamour, and is within walking distance of many of Tinsle Towns most noted landmarks.

For the evening activities, Planet Pass holders will be invited to an exclusive meet & greet celebrity party held at La Cantina. This popular restaurant will offer a relaxed and intimate enviroment for the celebrity meet & greet.

You can learn more about Element by visiting their website at: www.elementhollywood.com

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leisha Hailey’s Hangin’ in La Cucina

While Leisha Hailey has earned raves for her delightful portrayal of neurotic bisexual radio host Alice Pieszecki on Showtime’s The L Word, she’s been spending more time between seasons working on music ( the onetime member of The Murmurs has her own label, Marfa Records ) than on other acting gigs. But finally, the actress-rocker-pitchwoman is putting her dramatic talent to uses for another project—and it’s not Yoplait: The Musical. Hailey is set to join supermodel Rachel Hunter, Joaquim de Almeida ( Desperado ) , and Oz Perkins ( Anthony’s son ) in La Cucina, an indie from first-time directors Allison R. Hebble and Zed Starkovich. No word yet on the plot of the movie, which is still in pre-production, but it’s definitely good news for those of us who want more Leisha in our lives.


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



La Cucina. The Kitchen. The Heart of The House.

O(PRWEB) April 20, 2007 -- On one warm summer evening, four very important meals are being made.

Thirty year old Lily Ireland (Christina Hendrix, "Mad Men") is making a Insalata Caprese for the new and much older man in her life; a photo journalist, born and raised in Spain named Michael (Joaquim de Almeida, "24"), who she couldn't be more excited about.

I was thrilled to have Rachel on board
In the apartment just across the courtyard, a very pregnant Shelly Hynd (Leisha Hailey, "The 'L' Word") is making her best attempt at Lasagna, while her husband Chris (Oz Perkins, "Legally Blonde") looks on, knowing he is moments away from ordering a Pizza… and when he does the highly hormonal Shelly is out the door and straight up the stairs to her friend Jude's (Rachel Hunter) house for some comfort.

Shelly finds Jude lost in her passion, and just beginning an elaborate Italian meal for she and her lover, Celia (Clare Carey, "Jericho"), whom they both know won't make it home in time.

And finally, there is the culinary extravaganza being prepared in front of Celia, who works on a movie set, where on that particular day, they are shooting a couple cooking, while the crew devours pizza on the side-line.

Over the course of the evening, all of the cooks and the guests of the kitchen, truly experience why it is called "The heart of the house." The discussions organically flow to a place where they are all about relationships, and they are all about truth, and desire, and no one is allowed off the hook about all that they are not saying amidst their words.

Rachel's character, Jude is a lesbian, whose favorite pastime is cooking. She is in a long term relationship and is most concerned with enjoying her life, but because of her life experiences of abandonment and discrimination she has adopted the idea that there are many things in life to appreciate and many that must just be accepted because at a certain point one must accept that this is as good as it gets. The irony is that Jude is the character, in this little story, that everyone goes to for advice… and screenwriter A.W. Gryphon wouldn't have it any other way.

"I was thrilled to have Rachel on board" says Gryphon, "She's talented, beautiful and a pleasure to work with." When Gryphon finished the script Rachel was her first call. She loved the idea of her bringing the character of "Jude" to life and when Leisha Hailey signed on as the pregnant girl in the midst of a melt down, to play opposite Hunter, Gryphon was, "over the moon…and the irony of Rachel playing a lesbian giving advice to a pregnant girl, when Rachel is actually straight and Leisha is a lesbian makes it even more fun!"

"La Cucina" wrapped principal photography on April 5. It was produced independently by Starlotte Smith, Jackie Olson, Zachary Kahn, Crystal Santos, and writer/producer A.W. Gryphon, and was directed by newcomers Allison Hebble & Zed Starkovich.

CYBILL SHEPHERD and MARLEE MATLIN will be returning for another season of "The L Word," it was announced by Showtime, which has picked up the controversial series, about a group of successful lesbians living in Los Angeles, for another season.

For the fifth season, Shepherd, who retains her guest-star status, will reprise her role as Phyllis Kroll, the executive vice chancellor of a university who discovers her sexuality late in life, while series regular Matlin returns as sculptor Jodi Lerner, who is engaged in a torrid affair with Bette (series star JENNIFER BEALS).

In homage to our servicemen and women overseas, ROSE ROLLINS will return in her role as Iraq war veteran Tasha, whose war-themed storyline earned the series a Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) Award earlier this year.

"The L Word" also stars LEISHA HAILEY, KATHERINE MOENNIG, LAUREL HOLLOMAN, MIA KIRSHNER, DANIELA SEA and PAM GRIER.

Production begins JUNE 4TH

Production begins JUNE 4TH
ends OCT. 10TH

Daniela Sea:
The Sea Word

By Gillian G. Gaar

In the early ’90s, when she was all of 16, Daniela Sea left her home base of Los Angeles for Berkeley. “I didn’t know anybody there,” she says, “but I was always kind of an outsider in L.A. I was just searching for people who were like me.” Unsurprisingly, Sea found her way to the Gilman Street Project, the legendary all-ages, volunteer-run venue best known for hosting Green Day in the band’s early days. “You used to go every Friday and Saturday night,” Sea recalls. “It didn’t really matter who was playing. I’d been going to punk shows in L.A., and they had a real different vibe about them. Gilman was more politically orientated and more artsy—there was a kind of a sweeter energy about Gilman.”

One of the bands Sea caught at Gilman was Bikini Kill, her introduction to the riot grrrl scene, which she later experienced firsthand when she accompanied her roommate’s band, Econochrist, to Olympia, Wash., where bands like Bikini Kill and Heavens to Betsy were busy promoting “revolution grrrl style now!” Fast-forward to 2007, and Sea and riot grrrl have crossed paths again in Itty Bitty Titty Committee, a film Sea describes as “a feminist action movie,” directed by Jamie Babbit (But I’m A Cheerleader), which boasts a hot soundtrack of not only Bikini Kill and Heavens to Betsy, but also their post-riot-grrrl incarnations, Le Tigre and Sleater-Kinney, plus Team Dresch, Slant Six, Slumber Party and the Need (whose guitarist Radio Sloan also wrote original music for the film). The sharp-eyed will spy Hole’s Patty Schemel playing drums in a band called “the Cheerleaders” that appears in the film.

Itty Bitty, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February and had its U.S. premiere at SXSW in March, gives the convention of the teen movie a modern twist. Instead of Annette joining Frankie at the local beach party, Anna (Melonie Diaz), a put-upon employee at an L.A. plastic surgery clinic who’s just been dumped by her girlfriend, joins Sadie (Nicole Vicius) and her punk pals in the CIA—Clits In Action—a radical feminist group who engage in such tactics as defacing sexist billboards.

Sea plays Calvin, a soldier just returned from Iraq. “She’s kind of lost in a way,” says Sea. “And then these girls find her and give her a purpose—she’s this explosives specialist and they recruit her! I loved But I’m A Cheerleader, and this just seemed like a special opportunity. It definitely wasn’t for the money; there wasn’t much money to go around. But to be part of something like this seemed really cool. And I liked the character a lot.”

For Sea, working on Itty Bitty was yet another project that gave her “that good feeling of everything coming back around.” Back in the Gilman days, Sea had taken over Matt Freeman’s place in the Gr’ups, when he decided to devote himself full-time to Rancid, and her second band, Cypher in the Snow, played shows with Sleater-Kinney. Years later, Sea joined the cast of Showtime’s lesbian soap opera, The L Word, as Midwest transplant Moira, making the transition to “Max” via some illicitly acquired hormones. And at the club where Max is to pick up his first dose, the band on stage is—drum roll, please—Sleater-Kinney. “It seemed really surreal, because they were part of my reality already,” Sea admits. Even more surreal, perhaps, was the subsequent scene, with Sleater-Kinney still providing background music as Max makes out with Alan Cumming’s character in the club’s back room.

Sea’s entire career has seen her moving from the indie world to the mainstream and back again. After touring Europe with the Gr’ups, she toured the continent again with a performing arts troupe. “Instead of touring with a punk band, this was something that you could bring anywhere,” she explains. “You could go to a village in the middle of nowhere and hang out with the people in Eastern Europe. It just seemed a practical way to live in another country and experience life, a way to participate instead of being a tourist.”

Sea then put her musical interests on hold to pursue acting. Her first film role was in John Cameron Mitchell’s racy Shortbus, and she made appearances in videos by Scissor Sisters and Bright Eyes, but her big break came when she passed on a reel of her work to a friend who was writing for The L Word. Sea landed an audition and five days later was shooting her first scene. Moira/Max added a decidededly butch element to The L Word’s femmey landscape, and one could say it was a role Sea had been preparing for all her life; fascinated by pictures of David Bowie during his Aladdin Sane era, she’d later experimented with gender bending by creating a half man/half woman character during her European performance troupe days, and during one six-month period actually lived as a man in India.

“None of my friends thought [the role] was bizarre at all,” she agrees. “They’re like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s fitting with your crazy life.’ And as an actor, it was a great opportunity; I think we can all relate to the outsider perspective, not quite feeling comfortable in our skin and trying to figure out why that is. And Max definitely tells a story that’s never been told, on TV anyway. And the show itself is pretty exceptional for TV in the sense that it’s pretty political.”

In addition to The L Word and promoting Itty Bitty, which is currently on the film fest circuit, Sea has plenty of other projects going, from auditions, to her own screenplays, to occasional performances with the Exciting Conclusion, “kind of a performance art show” she put together with her girlfriend Bitch, formerly of Bitch and Animal.

“I am interested in trying to show sides of the world that don’t normally make it into the media,” she says. “Each person’s voice or style is unique, and what makes it unique is who’s telling it. I like the idea of being this renaissance person, who is a little bit of an anthropologist, a little bit of a musician, and a little bit of a writer.” By most standards, Sea’s already there.

Interview With Ariel Schrag
by
Heather A. O'Neill
, Contributing Writer
May 9, 2007

At 27 years old, writer and cartoonist Ariel Schrag has published four comic books, penned a big-screen adaptation of one of them, been the subject of a documentary and been a staff writer on Showtime's The L Word for two seasons. And Schrag started her thriving career young — she began as a teenager growing up in Berkeley, Calif., when she scrupulously documented her life in the autobiographical comic books Awkward, Definition, Potential and Likewise.
At a time when most people are painfully self-conscious and protective, Schrag exposed herself with an honesty and sharpness that captured the attention of underground comics and eventually led to a publishing deal with Slave Labor Graphics. Each book in the series examines a year in Schrag's high school experience, including stories about intricate friendships and crushes, smoking pot in her bedroom, her parents' divorce and the process of coming out as bisexual, and then as a lesbian.

After graduation, Schrag attended Columbia University to study English Literature. It was during her senior year there that director Sharon Barnes filmed the documentary Confession: A Film About Ariel Schrag, which won the NewFest Audience Award in 2004 and later aired on PBS.

Things have only picked up since then. Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics From an Unpleasant Age, an anthology she edited, is due out this month from Viking. And her two years on The L Word aren't the last you'll see of her work in Hollywood. Her book Potential — about her junior year in high school — was recently picked up by Killer Films. It will be directed by Rose Troche, and filming is expected to begin this summer. We recently talked with Schrag about coming out to her parents via her comic books, working on The L Word and her advice for aspiring cartoonists.

AfterEllen.com: As a writer and cartoonist, you're known for your candor. How did your family react to the autobiographical comic book series you wrote in high school?
Ariel Schrag: They were into them. People ask that question because there's a lot of sex and drugs, but there weren't any repercussions. I don't even remember feeling awkward about it. When Definition came out, I said to my dad: "You can look at this, but you can only comment on the art. You can't comment on anything that's happening." He was like, "OK, I like this drawing here and that drawing there." He just pushed past the naked pictures. I was so proud of what I had done that I wanted to share it with them; it just seemed silly to let something like that get in the way.

AE: How did they respond when you came out in the series?
AS: I don't have a clear memory of that. After Definition, there was one time when my mom said, "So are you straight, lesbian or bisexual?" I felt awkward even though I had detailed it with precision in the comics, but in a way I think it made it easier. I could say, "Well, what do the comics say?"

After Potential came out, my dad said, "I didn't know you were having such a hard time." It was sweet. He felt he should respond in a parental way, but they never ever used the comic against me. They never used it as, "You're doing this bad thing" or "You need to tell me about this part of your life now." They were always very respectful.

AE: Were your parents artistic?
AS: My dad was a really good artist. He became a lawyer, but for a long time he did a lot of art. He made an animated film based on Dracula and did illustration and drawings. And my mom is a composer. I was inspired by her when I was younger, living in the same house, because she was always working on her compositions. That just seemed like the thing to do: Stay in your room and work on your art. It's as simple as the person is there doing it constantly. When you realize that's the lifestyle, then you realize you can start doing it, too.

AE: What has the experience been like of adapting Potential into a film?
AS: It's been so fun. When I first took a crack at it, I didn't know what I was doing, but by the second draft I thought I had something very good, and with that we got Rose Troche to direct. We worked together on fixing it up even more, and it became really tight.

Killer Films helped. They came to me and said they were interested in working together, and I said I'd like to adapt Potential. Also, my friends [helped]. I showed it to everybody, which was interesting because with comics, I'm very private. With the script, I held readings at my house. It was much more collaborative.

AE: Speaking of collaborations, how did you get involved in the book Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics from an Unpleasant Age?
AS: An editor at Viking approach me and was interested in doing something together. They have a young adult audience, and I said I had a comic I drew about middle school. They thought it was great [and asked if I could] do a book full of these things. I said what I'd really rather do is create an anthology, because I know so many great cartoonists. I was able to go to a lot of people who I love, so we came out with a really great collection.

AE: What was it like to take part in the documentary film Confession with Sharon Barnes?
AS: That was my senior year in college. Sharon Barnes approached me with the idea, and I thought it sounded totally fun. My whole life people [have accused me] of taking other peoples' lives and turning it into something — writing autobiography is complicated. When Sharon wanted to do this documentary, it felt like a great turning of the tables. The way you're edited completely creates a personality for you the same way creating a comic book character does. I was basically putting myself in her hands and was going to have to deal with the image that she put out.

There are parts that make me cringe, but overall I'm really happy with it. Barnes made me feel really comfortable. They would give me little breaks to rest. You don't realize how exhausting it is to have a camera on you at all times. I didn't think about that part. They would leave the room and let me be alone for like 10 minutes, and I would just collapse. Even though I thought I'd been acting normally, I'd been much more on.

AE: Do you ever cringe when you go back and read your autobiographical series?
AS: No, I don't cringe at all with my comics because they were always within my control. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I'll look back now, surprised with some of the sexual drawings, surprised that I felt no inhibition doing them at the time. But I'm glad that I did, because I think they are a really important part of the story.

AE: Is it more difficult to write about your life with such honesty now as oppose to when you were younger?
AS: There is definitely something about being a teenager that's good for autobiographical comics — though it can be bad, too, because you might think people care about something that they don't actually care about. For me, I was just so excited about all of these things happening for the first time. I wanted to share that and just had no shame. I started them without the idea that they would be widely published. I did it for fun and to create something that I'd wanted to read. There was a freedom to it. Comics were so underground that I was inspired by R. Crumb and Ariel Bordeaux, which were totally exhibitionist comics.

AE: How did you start writing for The L Word?
AS: I watched The L Word and really loved it. I thought: I should write for this. This is what I want to do. My entertainment lawyer at the time represented Rose Troche, so I knew that there was a connection. In one of our meetings I said that I really wanted to work for The L Word. I didn't think anything would come of it, but a couple months later she called me and said, "I gave your script to Rose, and she and Ilene want to meet with you." I worked on the show for the third and fourth season, but I'm not working on it for the fifth season. I started as a staff writer and then was made into story editor.

AE: So you won't be working on The L Word for next season?
AS: No, not for next season.

AE: For any particular reason?
AS: I'm really hoping that my movie is going to be made this summer, and I want to be available for that. I'm doing most of the animation.

AE: Which story lines did you most enjoy writing or working on from The L Word?
AS: The characters that I related to the most, or that I brought close personal knowledge to, were Max and Tasha. I have many friends who transitioned from female to male, all kind of around the same time, and I dated a transsexual woman for a long time, so I was really excited to tell a trans story.

Tasha is based on many different people, and every writer on the show will tell you who she is for them, but for me she's based on my cousin. My cousin is 20 and has been obsessed with the military his whole life. He grew up in a very politically liberal family, the kind that usually doesn't produce kids that want to become soldiers, but that was always his dream. He loves the order and discipline of the military, and he's very patriotic. He's opposed to the war in Iraq and he hates Bush, but he believes in his duty to protect his fellow soldiers and do the best that he can in the given circumstances for his country.

I find his dedication really admirable, but often when people hear of someone in the military, they immediately think that person is either a Bush-loving Republican or was tricked into joining the service because they didn't have any other options. I think [my cousin] is a really important other possibility, and I wanted to bring him out in Tasha's character.

AE: Do any of the people in your life ever object to being depicted in your work?
AS: Some people have seen their representations after they've come out. They knew they were going to be drawn and were fine with it and then after the fact weren't. But it always seemed to me in those cases that it was more of a personal thing — they felt insecure about our relationship or projected onto the image.

There was one girl who got upset, and it was so shocking to me because I didn't think that my portrayal of her was negative — to me it had affection in it. One girl saw her picture and got so angry because she thought she looked fat. Her picture was no different from anyone else.

AE: What inspires you when you're creating a story or drawing an image?
AS: Funny, sad, little things of life. I have a compulsion to create comics. It's about trying to find meaning, rhythms and patterns. The work helps me believe that I can create order out of different things.

AE: Any advice for aspiring cartoonists?
AS: Don't bite off more than you can chew. I've seen so many beginnings of comics that consist of two or three extremely detailed, labor intensively drawn and inked first pages, and then an outline for the rest of the supposed epic story. These almost never get completed. Pick a style you know you can manage to maintain at a steady pace for however many pages you want your comic to be.

I also recommend doing the rough drawings for your entire comic first, before you start inking. Also, don't write a comic just because you want to "write a comic." Write it because you have a story you're inspired to tell.

VAN ARK WANTS LESBIAN ROLE


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

2007-05-15 05:07:37 -



Former KNOT'S LANDING star JOAN VAN ARK is looking to return to TV - as a lesbian.
The 62-year-old actress is looking to revive her small screen career after years spent acting onstage - and she's looking for a role on gay-girl drama The L Word.
She says, "I'd kill (for that). I'd love it." And she already has an onscreen girlfriend in mind: "Maybe with Rosie O'Donnell because she's going back to do it. We'll be the couple."

New type of mainstream lesbian on post-millennium TV

Miscellaneous News
Published: Monday, 30-Apr-2007



The New Yorker's take on the 2004 US TV series The L Word- which emblazoned "Not your mother's lesbians" across a photo of the conventionally beautiful female cast draped around each other in a naked cluster - was typical of recent media articles claiming there was a 'new' type of mainstream lesbian on post-millennium TV, said Rebecca Beirne, who graduated with a PhD from the University of Sydney's English Department last week.
It also exemplified the tendency to stereotype and pit against each other different generations of lesbians.

Dr Beirne's research on representations of lesbians in popular culture, particularly television, and what they mean for lesbian culture and visibility has spawned both her PhD thesis, "Pixellating lesbians: lesbian texts and trends after the millennium" and an anthology of solicited academic essays, Televising Queer Women, accepted by international publisher Palgrave Macmillan.

The 'pixellating' of her thesis title refers to the tendency of the media and academics alike to "break lesbian subjectivity and representation down into pixels, then use these tiny elements of the picture to explain lesbianism", she said. The result was oversimplification, distortion of lesbian pasts, and "an urge to proselytise trends as inherently new despite their often recycled natures".

Though more glamorous, the supposedly new images, Dr Beirne found, "were largely very similar in terms of themes and kind of representation to a lot of popular culture images of the nineties and earlier".

The L Word,for instance, both harked back to nineties 'lesbian chic' and sold lesbian narrativessimilarly to how 1950s lesbian pulp novels were sold. The eroticised images, like those of the pulps' covers, were voyeuristically pitched largely at heterosexual men and, akin to the pulps' obligatory punishment of its lesbian heroines, the women in The L Word led mostly unhappy lives to appease potentially homophobic viewers.

Yet The L Word was "a great step forward, showing lesbian stories on television to a degree we've never had before," Dr Beirne said, serving a similar function to the flawed 1950s pulps whose lesbian readers were still excited to see themselves in print.

In representing lesbian sexuality, mainstream television's impulse was either to hypersexualise - as in the "Hot girl-on-girl action" Channel 10 promised in The OC - or to be very chaste as in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, frequently praised for its lesbian representation.

"While Buffy's other characters are seen having sexual relations with their partners on the show, the sexual contact between Willow and Tara, one of whom is a witch, is displaced into their 'doing magic together'," Dr Beirne said. "People trying to create positive representations are often scared they'll be accused of putting the lesbian in for the titillation factor, so they go too far in the other extreme."

The US version of Queer as Folk was a 'very curious' show, she said. "In most television with mainly heterosexual characters they often have gay male characters who are desexualised and the butt of jokes. In Queer as Folk, mostly about gay men, the lesbian characters take up the position that gay male characters usually do: lots of misogynist jokes are made against them and, compared to the men, they're presented as very straight-laced, very monogamous, very desexualised with the focus on them as mothers. So it's going back to a traditional view of women and situating them outside potential radicalism."

Even though in actual lesbian communities there were a lot of androgynous looking women, feminine lesbians predominated disproportionately over masculine lesbians on noughties TV, Dr Beirne said. Yet while the more masculine lesbians were largely disparaged on TV, they were afforded more authenticity as 'real' lesbians.

When there was an attempt to represent masculine lesbians, they still had to be glamorous, like Melanie in Queer as Folk.

"Mel is talked about on the show as if she's a very butch woman, but you look at her and she's conventionally beautiful and very feminine, though she has short hair. So mainstream TV gestures occasionally at there being masculine women but is still too scared to represent them."

Although the lesbian serial killer image prevalent in the 1970s still sometimes popped up in programs like Law and Order, representation of lesbians was generally more positive than before 2000, Dr Beirne found, though still not very realistic.

"But you don't see very realistic images of women on television", she said. "They're usually hyperbolic".

British was more realistic than US television's representation and also responsible for some complex characterisations in fine adaptations of novels like Sarah Waters' Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith.

A new and welcome trend, Dr Beirne said, was the move towards lesbian characters in TV programming for teenagers - not just as one-off 'special issue' characters as in soapies like Neighbours, but as leads. Notable examples were the UK's Sugar Rush which, unusually for teenage television, foregrounds desire and the US's South of Nowhere with a focus on identity.

Along with mainstream TV, Dr Beirne also looked at samples of lesbian popular cultural production, analysing both in the context of lesbian culture and feminist, lesbian and queer discourses.

Amongst these were the Sydney strip event Gurlesque, which she found synthesised sex-radical and lesbian-feminist perspectives that are often described as ideologically opposed, and Bechdel's ongoing comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For which represented a microcosm of lesbian cultural and political history through engaging its disparate characters in constant dialogue.

Dr Beirne's Televising Queer Women, the first book-length academic work to exclusively discuss the representation oflesbian and bisexualwomen on television, is due out early next year.

Meantime, Dr Beirne's scholarship has earned her nomination as an "expert of international standing" by the ARC College of Experts.

Wilkes University Confers 654 Degrees at 60th Annual Spring Commencement


Wilkes University President Tim Gilmour today conferred 286 bachelor’s, 307 master’s and 61 Doctor of Pharmacy degrees during the University’s 60th Annual Spring Commencement. The ceremony took place at 2 p.m. at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township.

Greetings were offered by distinguished members of the platform party including Dr. Gilmour; Dr. Bernard Graham, Interim Provost; Mr. John R. Miller ‘68, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Dr. Arthur Kibbe, chairman of the faculty affairs council; and, Mr. Salman Punekar, a member of the class of 2007 who received his bachelor of business administration. Father Gerald J. Gurka Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Larksville and a member of the graduating class with a master of arts in creative writing, delivered the invocation. The benediction was offered by Ms. Angela I. Hermes, coordinator of campus interfaith.

In his address to the graduates, Gilmour reflected on the class of 1957, a storied class in Wilkes history which includes many scholars, renowned physicians and successful business leaders.

“Pound for pound, any institution would be proud to call the Class of ’57 their own,” said Gilmour. “There are those who believe the Class of 2007 could be another class on whom the stars will fall. We do expect great things from you and, like the Class of 1957, we hope you will give back to your university with your time, your talent and your treasure. And we believe you will do that while doing great, positive things in the world.”

The keynote address was offered by Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin who won the 1986 Academy Award for Best Actress for her motion picture debut in Children of a Lesser God. She currently has a starring role on Showtime’s The L Word.

Matlin, who is deaf, signed her speech. An interpreter spoke to the graduates, family and guests. The title of Matlin’s speech was “From Disabilities to Abilities: The Miracle of Possibilities.”

Prior to commencement, Matlin participated in a meet-and-greet with graduates from the master of arts in creative writing program and graduates of the department of visual and performing arts. Matlin’s production company Solo One Productions optioned a screenplay written by Dr. Bonnie Culver, professor of English and director of Wilkes’ creative writing program. The screenplay, RAINING RAINBOWS, is a full-length feature film about a deaf boy, his estranged father, and a woman (Matlin’s character) who helps them come together.

The university presented Matlin with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letter, honoris causa

By BetteAndTinaForever

I went to the 18th Annual GLAAD Media Awards last Saturday as it was held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. As press representative of L-word.com, I was allowed to take pictures and interview guests and celebrities during their arrivals for the ceremony. It was my second “red carpet” experience for L-word.com, and I was excited to see the cast of The L Word, though I didn’t know who would appear.

When I received the press information on the attendees and celebrities, my eyes immediately went to the cast members of The L Word…after all, I’m mainly doing this for them. Imagine my joy and happiness when my most favorite Laurel Holloman was scheduled to appear, along with Rachel Shelley and Marlee Matlin. I almost jumped happily but had to restrain myself because there were a lot of press and attendees in the room already.

I hate to admit it, but there were a few celebrities I didn’t know, but then again, I can’t possibly watch all the TV shows that have gay and lesbian characters.

I was placed at the end of the red carpet, unfortunately, because all the major news stations, newspapers and websites were given the priority standing. It didn’t really bother me that much because I was waiting for The L Word ladies to come through, hoping that they would stop for the pictures and some interviews. I was so preoccupied with looking for them that when Jennifer Aniston went pass me all I could think was, “Here goes Jennifer Aniston…where is Laurel?”

Finally, about quarter to seven, I spotted Laurel Holloman, Rachel Shelley, and Marlee Matlin. They were, of course, preoccupied with all the other reporters that were ahead of me but I kept hoping they will stop and chat with me. And they did…in fact, all three recognized me and waved at me. Laurel even winked at me, making my heart melt, and then they posed for me for a few minutes. I didn’t have chance



to talk to them a lot because the show was starting at seven but I did managed to ask Laurel a few questions, as well as listen to some other interviewers that were standing near me.

Marlee Matlin was telling about her decision to join the cast of The L Word when she said, “this is one of the kind show…there are so many shows, fantastic shows that feature gay characters but I don’t think that there’s nothing like this particular show. I have my favorite but I won’t mention it, I think this is my favorite. L word is so unique in that the storylines were compelling and entertaining and you know, you tell wonderful stories in twelve episodes and you want more.”

While I was busy taking pictures, Laurel Holloman was talking to a reporter from AfterEllen.com about the storyline of Tina going back to men and how she feels about TiBette storyline. What made me happy as a TiBetter was the fact that right away Laurel said without hesitation that she wants Bette and Tina back together, and if she could write it, she would make it happen but she doesn’t know what Ilene is going to do.

Laurel also said that, though, Tina-going-back-to-men storyline was interesting it was also a challenge sometimes, especially for her because it was not such a great thing to be stuck with a guy on The L Word and she didn’t have a lot of opportunities to work. I think Laurel was talking about the first half of the fourth season when we barely have seen her on the screen. Laurel also said that she wished that storyline was explored more, so the viewers could see if Tina was happy or unhappy or why she made that choice to be with a man. Ilene thought this storyline was important because she saw it happened before. Laurel mentioned a few times before in other interviews that she didn’t see that storyline coming but it was part of Tina’s history and, of course, that storyline created such a nice drama for Bette and Tina, (because we all love drama so much, I thought sarcastically). Then Laurel pointed at Marlee Matlin who was giving her interviews to another reporter and Laurel sort of giggled (very adorably) and said, “I think she created a nice drama too.”

Laurel added that she thinks Tina still have a lot of work to do to get back into that relationship. She still needs to grow up a bit and be on her own and date some women. Tina is more mature now comparing to the first season, though we didn’t see her that much because she was with the guy but the dynamic between Bette and Tina was very different, especially at the end of the fourth season. Laurel said that that difference in Bette and Tina relationship was in their communication because “they are talking to each other with complete honesty … and that has never happened before.”

Laurel also said that she looks forward to season 5 because it will be very different for them all and especially it will be different for Tina, because she will be no longer with Henry. Laurel confirmed that Tina and Henry broke up and that Tina totally dumped him and at the end of the season she definitely had a crush on Annabella’s character, Kate Arden. I don’t know if it means that Kate Arden will be back but Laurel was very excited about the new season.



Then it was my turn for the interview, though I didn’t have much time left. My first question was about Tina’s decision to let Bette go when she came to her for advice about Jodi and how hard it was for Tina to do it, since she’s obviously still in love with Bette. Laurel replied, “I think Tina said it perfectly in that one scene with Kate Arden when she says, ‘I don’t feel entitled to complicate her life right now because I broke her heart’, and … I think that she’s kind of like Cyrano de Bergerac when she’s helping Bette and I think that’s what you do when you love somebody. You do whatever you can and then you just hope that they will come back to you and that’s what I think was happening.”

I also asked Laurel’s opinion about the scene on the beach when Bette called Tina about the last advice what to say to Jodi and that everybody thought that the words were from Tina to Bette. Laurel said, “Of course, it was.” Then I asked if she thinks that Bette understood it the same way. Laurel replied, “I think that if Bette would have seen Tina’s saying it than she might’ve known exactly what was going on. I think that there just too many layers but I think that Tina meant everything for Bette. It was very generous act on Tina’s part.”

I had so many other questions to ask but Laurel was taken away from me because the show was about to start so I pretty much shouted the last question at her, “Do you think that there’s still hope for them getting back together?” and Laurel turned around, smiled and simply said, “Yes.”

Marlee Matlin Responds To My Blog!
Posted May 25th 2007 2:33PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: American Idol, Marlee Matlin

The firestorm generated by my post and poll regarding Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin's attendance at Tuesday night's American Idol has culminated with an insightful and inspiring message from none other than Marlee herself. It all started with a message from her interpreter, Jack Jason.


Here's what he wrote:

Mo. Try and figure this out. Marlee is deaf but her kids are not and they're fans. She didn't want her 11 year old daughter going to the show unaccompanied. Plus, Marlee is deaf not blind. Half the show is about the spectacle and why would a person who is a fan of this kind of stuff want something like deafness get in her way? If that were the case, she would've never entered acting and won an Academy Award because she's "handicapped." Thank goodness comments, even jokingly, like the ones you made don't bother her. But you know what bothers me? Comments like the one you made might come across to people who might have never met a deaf person as fact and just onfirm the misconception that all deaf people do is sit in silence and close themselves off from the world; far from it.

And I'm speaking as a person who knows Marlee well; I'm the interpreter guy, Jack, who's worked with her for 21 years and my parents are deaf too.

Have a good one.
Jack Jason

Then I wrote:



First off, Jack, I thank you for taking the time to write. In fact I don't know any deaf people. And all the comments, including yours, have filled me in on how much I don't know.

Like too many people, I'm afraid, I've assumed that "deaf" means that someone cannot hear at all. Certainly I'd heard of people being "partially deaf," but I've always defaulted to the assumption that a deaf person can't hear at all.

But even if someone cannot hear at all, that person can still appreciate the spectacle that is American Idol. Marlee Matlin is obviously a person of the world - a rightly acclaimed actress, brilliant in Children of a Lesser God, Picket Fences, The West Wing and so many other films and TV shows. And a mother who wanted to take her 11 year old to the Kodak Center for a fun night out.

As for the commenters who've labeled me the deaf community's Imus, they're overreacting. If what people want is an apology, I'll grant one under only one condition: that I get to deliver to Marlee in person. (I'm a huge fan!)

Oh, and Jack, if you can get Marlee to comment on my blog, I'll flip. None of the other aol bloggers have gotten comments from even Oscar nominees.

And then came Comment #1 ... from Marlee Matlin. See below.

1. Mo - here's your dream come true. Marlee asked me to pass along this note to you. Feel free to post it.


Mo,

Thanks for making time for Jack. I agree with you; he made some good points. That's what I pay him for.

Here's the short version of my thoughts. If this kind of stuff bothered me, I wouldn't have ever done shows like "Seinfeld" and "My Name is Earl" where they poked fun at being deaf. But that's what satire and humor is all about. I don't mind that people wondered why Marlee Matlin was at American Idol. Kathy Griffin even said it to me. She asked "Why are you here? You're deaf." And I deadpanned, "Shhh. Don't tell anyone. I've been faking it all this time." After a few seconds of silence, we broke out laughing and she said she was going to use it in her act. I loved that.

At the end of the day it's not the humor or the jokes that bother me, it's the real stuff like discrimination, lack of understanding, and inequality that ticks me off. Even more annoying are people who actually take the humor and use it to reinforce their prejudices. It's true some of your readers might have been sensitive to your comments but that's because they've been on the receiving end of ignorance - big time. So maybe that means we should choose our words carefully. At the same time, I think free speech and common sense are important too. So, you won't see me going Al Sharpton on you if you want to make a joke about me or my deafness. I'd just hope that people would just consider what they say and what they label as "humor" in this YouTube, Instant Message world where things get replayed over and over again until we're desensitized. And I'm referring to both pro and con arguments. Let's just lower the volume, I say. (Pun intended).

Mo, the only thing I can't do is hear. I actually love music and can hear a little because I wear a hearing aid. At concerts, I watch how singers perform on stage (and isn't that what Randy and Simon said, that Blake was the best "performer"?), I watch body movements, observe clothing choices, and can actually tell when someone is a bad singer just by the way they move. But enough of the technical stuff. I bet if we met, you'd find me to be the loudest person you ever knew; I'm anything but "silent."

Speaking of meeting, if you want to fawn at my feet and worship my Oscar, you're welcome to come on up to Vancouver. I'm having a great time being Jennifer Beals' main squeeze on "The L Word" but I'll make time for you. We'll have some milk and cookies.

Best,
Marlee Matlin

A Cup of Coffee with… Jane Lynch

Steve Stajich, Mirror Contributing Writer

You’ve seen and enjoyed Jane Lynch; you just might not know Jane Lynch. A regular in the ensemble of Christopher Guest’s comedy films, she’s also played a “shrink” on CBS’ Two and Half Men and had a recurring role in Showtime’s The L Word. On Sunday, June 3, Lynch will appear in “What a Pair,” a benefit for breast cancer research at the John Wayne Center at Saint John’s to be held at the Orpheum Theater. Over a cup of coffee, the Mirror’s Steve Stajich talked to Lynch about acting and being a female comedy performer.

It’s tough times for TV comedy right now. What’s on that you like or think is funny?

I think that The Office is brilliant. I read the pilot for My Name is Earl and that was a fantastic, dark, quirky pilot and [now] it’s not so dark and quirky.

Is it difficult to sustain more interesting tones in television series?

I think so, because the audience doesn’t want it. The people who watch network TV don’t really want – they want… They don’t want to think too hard. And that’s why Arrested Development went away and it was one of the smartest things on television.

You have a long list of credits; you play a wide variety of roles. Does that condemn you in some way to being one of those “Oh, it’s her…” kind of actors where people don’t quite know who you are?

That’s all right, I don’t mind that. What I’m concerned about right now is that I’ve done almost every kind of television show! I’ve done a lot of guest spots. But I like it all. I did a thing yesterday for a friend where I wasn’t even sure what the thing was. He says, “Oh, it’s a show demo.” I kind of show up and do it.



Certainly the Christopher Guest movies have a more subtle kind of comedy than, say, an Adam Sandler movie. Is subtle comedy an endangered species?

I don’t know. I don’t think it will go away, the more subtle, understated stuff. But it’s never been the most popular, and the people who love it, like the audience that loves it, feel like they’re a special group of people. Like if somebody says to me, “I love the Christopher Guest movies…” we kind of wink at each other like, “Yeah…” Like we’re in a special club. It’s never been big in [our] pop culture, like in England. They allow the laugh to be just a chuckle. They maybe let the writing not be so great, but the characters are so wonderful.



You’ve played shrinks on several TV series. Any personal attraction to that?

I am kind of fascinated, I’ve been in therapy. And especially with one therapist, who was so colorful and had so little [trouble] with her own issues. And I always found that interesting, and I hope I bring that to the more comedic [role]… like in Two and Half Men, she’s probably the most messed up person in the room. But she has such a sense of self and self-confidence, you know? [laughs] I mean, what kind of a patient would you have to be to go to Dr. Laura? If you’re going to her for help…



Is there any kind of glass ceiling for female comedy? There seems to be an ongoing sense that men–

They get the good stuff.



But for example, there’s no female Judd Apatow… is there?

Very rarely. Like an equivalent of him. I think…Judd has all this confidence and he’s so good just making something out of nothing. Women need to do that, too. And they’ll come along. It’s not like it’s, “Oh, we can’t do this.” I think we have to kind of step out. It’s just harder for us. It’s not our nature so much. It might not be the easiest thing to get a meeting. And I don’t know who’s measuring these things, but male “stuff” does better, even in drama. So it’s kind of in the nature of Hollywood, and I’d love to see a change. I don’t know if I’m the one to do it, if I have that kind of confidence. But if there’s some chick out there, I’ll ride on her coattails.

They’re not interested in taking those meetings. I just pitched an all female sketch comedy show. And we got meetings because of [male partner on project], but really, nobody was that interested. I think it’s just because it hasn’t been offered. Again, you look at England and those girls on Absolutely Fabulous were the two most popular [TV comics] in England.



The L Word was never really attacked from the right or threatened with boycotts like you might have thought. What’s your take on that?

Yeah, that’s interesting because I know Megan Mullally of Will and Grace and they told her and the cast in the beginning, “Be prepared for an onslaught from the right wing,” and then it never happened. And it didn’t happen with The L Word either, and it has nudity and sex scenes. Maybe this anti-gay, anti-woman thing isn’t as strong as we think. I tend to think that if the networks allow more women-based shows, and I don’t mean exclusionary, but allowed women to take the helm more, I think you’d be surprised how well the audience takes to it.



You have so much variety in your roles… is there any criteria for you before you’ll take a role?

It must be offered. [laughs] No, it depends on the writing. I’ve not done things because the writing was bad, if it’s gratuitous. But I’ve been really lucky. Everything that I get offered or audition for is good.

After so much comedy do you have a yearning to do, say, a serious play?

I haven’t yet had a “yearning.” I’m so enjoying what I’m doing right now. I really am, I dig it so much. Every time I work, a different muscle gets flexed and I feel like I’m growing. I’m in a really good place right now. However, I did do a character arc on Criminal Minds and I played the mother of one of the regulars and I’m in an insane asylum. And it was pretty heavy stuff and I loved it.

Are commercials a good situation for actors?

I’ve done a lot of commercials. I really don’t think you register in commercials. That’s been my experience. Unless you’re in a role where you get to show some chops. A funny or “cult-y” commercial. I don’t think network execs go, “Hey, that’s the DiTech guy…”

Ever think about what the actual product was?

No. I never thought about that. I was not a principled commercial actor, not at all. [laughs] You’re jumping up and down when you get the job. You’re just trying to get your SAG insurance and make a living. I have no principles, if that’s what you’re asking. [laughs] I did turn down an adult diaper ad. Bladder, what d’ya call it. I would have been sitting in an airplane seat, needing to go. I didn’t want my public to see me in that light.

Episode 501)

Seems there's to be 2 new characters who are set to stir things up with Shane & The Planet.
At this point we are not sure whether they are just guest characters or a permanent addition to the S5 cast.

They are 2 girls name Dawn and Cindi, who are partners not only in life but in business as they open a lesbian nightclub, SHEBAR, in the neighbourhood (sounding very reminiscent of GIRLBAR owners Sandy Sachs & Robin Gans).

They tell Shane that they have managed to stay together for so long because they are honest with each other. If they want to have sex with someone else, they only do it together (with the third party).

The girls then show Shane the, as yet, unfinished VIP room upstairs. Dawn then kisses Shane. Shane hesitates a moment before Cindi also kisses her. Then Cindi kisses Dawn. Shane says "Fuck it" and all three start making out standing up.

At this point it is unclear whether this next part happens within the same episode or a few episodes later (it does say this is now ep 505).

Shane walks past the new nightclub which has now been transformed into a cafe (complete with drive through) with her cup of Planet take-away coffee.

Cindi intercepts Shane and they chat about coffee and breakfast with sex metaphors thrown in. Cindi invites Shane to come over to their place that afternoon so they can cook her up something special.

Shane turns up later at Cindi & Dawns place but she only finds a buck naked Cindi. Shane asks her where Dawn is. Cindi tells her that she wanted Shane all to herself. Shane asks if Dawn will care. Cindi tells her no. Shane doesn't argue and they fuck on the white leather couch.

Later that night at The Planet, while Shane is making out with some girl at the bar, Dawn confronts her. She tells Shane that she's gone and messed with the wrong bitch. An argument ensues about Shane cheating with Cindi. Kit has to step in and tells her to get her ass out of her bar. Dawn calls them all a bunch of losers and tells them that she is going to put them out of business, then she's going to buy The Planet, so that she can have the pleasure of kicking Shane out of HER bar!

After Dawn storms out dragging Cindi with her, Kit stands there glaring at Shane.

info from lwordonline

Season 5 Titles

Episode 1) LGB Tease

Episode 2)Look Out, Here They Come!

Season 5 Premiere:

January 6th, 2008

those spoilers for episode 1 came from TWoP, from saabstory

Helena is in jail and waiting to hear from Peggy.
Alice is trying to get a hold of Peggy.
(I am assuming to post bail or something)
Alice and Shane and Tina visit Helena in prision.

The sides are various pages of the script and there are many missing pages, but so far, no mention of Kate, Papi or Tasha.

Bette and Tina are being interviewed by a prestigious pre-school for Angelica.
They are working together...on the same page, so to speak.
Bette talks about "our" and "we" when explaining her home and "them" and realizes what she says and shoots Tina a look that says, WTF did I just say?
Tina affectionately squeezes Bette's hand to let her know it is okay.
Angelica is supposed to come into the room and crawl into her "mamas'" laps. Sides say, "Picture Perfect Family"
Later Angelica is supposed to use ASL to say "play".
Bette explains that she..uh..they have a good friend who is deaf.
After the meeting, Bette apologizes to Tina..."Sorry. It just came out"
Tina tells her it's okay. Being a lesbian couple is good for diversity points but the pre-school is probably not ready for a divorced lesbian couple and that Bette's white lie was for the greater good.

Seems to be alot of scenes with Alice, Tina and Shane.
Tina wants to start dating again and Alice and Shane are being her wingmen.

Later at the planet, Bette joins the table but not before whispering something in Tina's ear and sitting down next to her.
They talk about what Paige is doing there since apparently, the Shane/Paige breakup didn't go well.
Then Bette looks across the room to see Jodi walk in...suitcases in hand.
Bette runs to her and they "fall into each others' arms or something like that and kiss for everyone to see.

Jenny is now apparently directing Lez Girls, much to Tina's surprise and dismay.

Apparently WAX burns down and the fire inspector suspects arson. Asks Shane if there are any disgruntled employees or someone who might be mad at her...she shakes her head "no".
I think that's all........

It appears that Paige catches Shane and a real estate agent in a compromising position in the house that Shane and Paige just either bought or rented from said real estate agent. Paige brings Jared over to take a look at his new room and....you know the rest

JennyX1,000 has an assistant and she abuses the sh!t out of her and treats her like crap. Assistant promptly quits...by storming out of the Planet. And, Sounder II did not run away yet

More from SaabStory on TWoP:


Tina hurries to a meeting and is surprised to see JennyX1,000 sitting at the table with Aaron (Tina's boss) and some hedge fund billionaire. Tina greets Jenny, but Jenny ignores Tina.

Apparently, Jenny met the billionaire while in Mexico where she re-wrote the Lez-Girls script. Jenny re-wrote the script on spec while she was the billionaire's guest (set up by her agents). What other choice did she have, she was fired from her own movie.

One part Jenny re-wrote was the part where "Jessie" gets separated from her boyfriend at a party and is hit on by "Nina". Tina is confused about "Nina" hitting on "Jessie", but Aaron loves that part.

So Aaron and the billionaire are praising Jenny for having the initiative to re-write the script. The billionaire praises Jenny's vision and says that she is the only one who can direct this movie.

At this point Jenny's assistant comes in with Sounder, but Jenny sends her back out to find an orange ribbon for the puppy. The assistant couldn't find an orange ribbon and thought a different color would be okay. Jenny told her she doesn't pay her to think and to go find some orange ribbons. Hence, JennyX1,000.

The The L Word is getting some new blood. According to Variety, Malaya Rivera Drew will be joining the Showtime series.

Drew will play the assistant to Mia Kirshner's Jenny Schecter character. The cable series revolves around the lives and loves of a small, close-knit group of lesbians living in Los Angeles as well as the friends and family members that either support or loathe them.

The series has enjoyed four very successful seasons. The fifth season is currently shooting in and around Los Angeles.

From E!'s Watch With Kristin website:

"Jenny’s movie, based on the lives of her friends, is moving forward, and we're told she becomes romantically involved with the Lindsay Lohan-esque actress who wins the lead role."

Sexy roles just come her way
B.C.-born Lauren Lee Smith plays seductive TV 'weather girl' in latest movie
Michael D. Reid, CanWest News Service
Published: Thursday, June 21, 2007
It's not everyday a middle-aged movie writer gets to talk about steamy sex with a hottie half his age -- so a recent coffee date with Lauren Lee Smith went down as one for the books.

Smith, 26, had sex on the brain as she sipped tea in a Victoria cafe on a breezy, sunny afternoon.

It was only because she was reminiscing about Lie With Me (2005). And who could forget how Toronto filmmaker Clement Virgo's raw tale of sexual obsession aroused controversy because of its full-frontal nudity and graphic sex?

The statuesque Vancouver actress -- in real life fresh-faced, girlish and so wholesome she makes Mandy Moore seem like Paris Hilton -- scorched up screens as Leila, an emotionally vacant nymphet who uses sex as a form of empowerment.

"That was a turning point for me personally and career-wise," recalled Smith, who raised a few eyebrows when she accepted the risque role.

Smith also gained a following for her recurring role as lesbian sous chef Lara Perkins in Showtime series The L Word.

She says she savoured getting to showcase her acting chops as Lisa, the overbearing Wisconsin wife of Casey Affleck's cuckolded character who mistakenly believes having a baby will save her marriage in Tony Goldwyn's The Last Kiss.

"Sometimes it's fun just to let it all hang out, like when I played this bitchy, horrible mother," says Smith. "It's fun to show up and not have to worry about looking pretty and getting to scream and yell and be a nasty person and get paid for it."

The Chilliwack-born actress and former model says the truth of the material and the chance to play a character she can sink her teeth into are what first attract her to a film -- all the better if it's Canadian.

This is why she found herself in a Victoria television studio playing Sherri Banks, a seductive TV "weather girl" who has an affair with Walt, a college professor played by Callum Keith Rennie, while shooting scenes for Carl Bessai's drama Normal.

The film, about disparate characters who have lost their ability to communicate following a tragedy, co-stars Carrie Anne Moss, Kevin Zegers, Andrew Airlie, Gabrielle Rose and Tygh Runyan.

"Sherri uses her sexuality to rein Walt in but things get too serious," explains Smith. Before filming, she rented To Die For, the thriller starring Nicole Kidman as an aspiring TV news star who uses her feminine wiles and sex appeal to get ahead.

She said shooting Normal was a blast because of Bessai's organic and improvisational techniques.

"He really got into it and inspired me," she said. "That's how he works, to where you're feeling the vibe."

Smith, who made her big-screen debut with a tiny role in Get Carter, is no stranger to such adventurous filmmaking.

On Art School Confidential, in which she played a beatnik art student, director Terry Zwigoff asked her to do a "jerky dance." He then demonstrated by weirdly undulating through a routine inspired by a dance in Being John Malkovich.

"Terry's a little bit nutty," laughs Smith. "He was worried I wouldn't get it right so he started moving about like a maniac."

Smith recently survived visits to a morgue in Los Angeles to research her role as a pathology student challenged to devise the perfect murder in MGM's upcoming thriller Pathology.

She will also soon be seen as a Halloween reveller who dresses up as a storybook princess and embarks on a nocturnal adventure with her kid sister, played by Anna Paquin, in Trick 'r Treat, a dark and stylized Halloween horror fantasy.

Bessai's only half-joking when he says he was lucky to get Smith since he'll no longer be able to afford her.

"Oh, that is so not true!" shrieks Smith, after learning what Bessai said.

"I've never considered any of that. Maybe I should be caring more about the strategy of my career."

This was sent by Amanda;

I have a friend in Vancouver who just auditioned for the part of a woman named Jackie. She is in Prison, and Helena is there too. This is for episode 2 and 3..possibly more. She supposedly wants Helena to join her "gang" And, then I guess there is quite the HOT sex scene. Gotta love that!

Alliance Atlantis announces fall line-up
by Jesse Kohl & Terry Poulton




Showcase: The net's 10 pm time slot will serve up new programs such as The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle (Sept. 2), starring Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous); and Saving Grace, the new drama in which movie star Holly Hunter makes her series debut as a cynical police detective, which is set for Mondays starting August 27.

Other returning shows include Rescue Me with Denis Leary (Aug. 28, with streaming eps at Showcase.ca); Weeds, starring Mary-Louise Parker (Oct. 10); The L Word with Jennifer Beals (Aug. 30); and the irreverent comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia with Danny DeVito (Nov. 4).

More Titles:

1) LGB Tease

2) Look Out, Here They Come!

3) Lady of the Lake

4) Let's Get This Party Started

SEASON 4 DVD RELEASE DATE:

OCTOBER 23RD

SEASON 5 BEGINS
January 6TH 2008

UK Diva Magazine
August 2007



Where has Bette gone with Angelica? How will Helena manage on $200 a week? Will Kit and Angus be parents? And will Jenny ever be normal?
While we wait impatiently for these burning questions to be answered in Season Four of The L Word, Jennifer Beals steps up to answer your queries about herself and the life of Bette Porter

Jennifer Beals made her name playing steelworker-slash-exotic dancer Alex in Flashdance in 1983, and now the smash hit TV series The L Word has catapulted her back into the limelight. But how come the confirmed heterosexual is so good at playing a lesbian? And doesn’t she ever get sick of it? We asked you to ask the questions, and here’s what she had to say.

So, what are you working on at the moment? ~ Kendra, Hull
Nothing much. I’m just enjoying time off before shooting the series’ fifth season – that’ll take me up to November. And I’m about to start preparing for a reading of The Vagina Monologues.

The relationship between Bette and Tina is so realistic, I honestly thought you must be gay until I did my research. How do you manage to play such a convincing lesbian? ~ Louise, 21, Ormskirk
Because I play the love, and when Bette has sex I play the emotion, not the gender. To begin with, I was so focussed on Bette’s career when I started playing the part. I was thinking what it meant to be a museum director, and the following week it was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m playing a lesbian; what am I supposed to be doing?’ In the pilot before the first show, I realised the love scenes are about love between two people who are at odds with each other and who’ve been like that for so long. After that, I realised that doing a love scene is like any scene; you have to put as much into it as you do any other. Those scenes can be so varied, anyway. I have to think what kind of love it is. There’s a scene where Bette picks someone up in a bar and that’s just about sex, not love, so I play it from that emotion.



Anyone out there that has the UK DIVA post the rest of article.

Have a great day.


Peace, Light & Love

Wicked, Wicked Games's Kate French is becoming a lesbian. According to Variety, the actress has just nabbed a reoccurring role on the Showtime series The L Word.

French will be starring as the owner of a rival club looking to steal business away from the Planet. The lesbian-themed drama follows the lives and loves of a small, close-knit group of friends living in Los Angeles as well as the friends and family members that either support or loathe them.

French is to begin her stint on the show in time for the series' new fall season.

Introducing Uh Huh Her
by Shauna Swartz, Contributing Writer
July 22, 2007


Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey, members of the Los Angeles-based musical duo Uh Huh Her, seem to get along as mellifluously as their voices blend. Throughout our interview, they often finished each other's sentences and kept up a frisky banter as they talked about their debut EP, I See Red, which will be released tomorrow digitally.

"Indie electro-pop" is how they describe their sound. "That's [it] in a nutshell," Grey said, "but I think it's a lot more involved than that. Then again, I don't know that we have a specific sound. We try to be all-encompassing or something. Whatever. I just had a bunch of sake."

Hailey promptly steered things back on track: "And it's going to evolve. This is just the beginning of what we'll do together, I'm sure."

I See Red was produced by Grey and recorded primarily in a bedroom at her Los Angeles home. The ethereal vocals were recorded in the bathroom, Hailey pointed out. A limited number of physical copies of Uh Huh Her's five-track EP will also be available soon, and listeners will be able to snag a bonus track, "Mystery Lights," on the band's website tomorrow and iTunes in the coming weeks.

For Hailey, the EP marks a return to making music after a five-year hiatus. In the '90s, she was one half of the alt-pop band the Murmurs, which released four albums and then later reformed as Gush. That gig ended once Hailey began her ongoing role as Alice Pieszecki, possibly the most popular character on The L Word.

How does it feel to be back? "Amazing," Hailey said. "I knew that I missed it, but I didn't know how badly, so it's been really, really fun for me to get back into it."

She copped to a slight case of stage fright, though: "I'm nervous about performing live, which is my favorite thing to do on earth, so it's weird. It's just because I haven't done it in so long. I'm sure once the first show is over, it'll be fine."

Grey was a member of the lo-fi rock band Mellowdrone and has also played bass and keyboards for Dr. Dre, Busta Rhymes, Melissa Auf der Maur and Kelly Osbourne. She said she's also got some jitters: "I'm always shy. But I'm so used to being a bass player or a synth player that performing is really fun, because there's no pressure. But now the pressure's on."

Mostly, Grey is excited to leave session work behind and write, record and produce her own material. "I've been working on my solo stuff for years; I just never released it," she said. "And I've done production before, but it was so much fun to be able to do it and let it see the light of day. It's very exciting."

These days Hailey and Grey are getting ready for a free, all-ages "fan appreciation" show on Aug. 19 at the Los Angeles offices for their record label, Nettwerk, which has a large stage set up for live shows. "You don't have to worry about being of age, and you don't have to worry about buying tickets," said Grey. "It's just kind of a place where everyone can come on a Sunday and hang out and listen to cool s---. I don't know. [Laughs.] We're just trying to get bodies in there."

Uh Huh Her are also working on material for their first full-length album, which is slated to drop in March 2008. They plan on recording songs and playing clubs in October after filming wraps for The L Word.

For now, they squeeze in time to write and rehearse amid Hailey's filming schedule. The show is shot in Vancouver, but Hailey flies home almost every weekend. "I'm a little jetsetter," she said over the phone from her house in Los Angeles a few days before returning to Vancouver.

"Cam and I have been seeing a lot of each other and doing what we can when we're alone and what we can when we're together. It's hard, because we have a lot to do. We have to work on our live show; we have an album to write. So when we see each other on the weekends it's like, OK, what should we do? What should we concentrate on?"

Both women have been logging a lot of air miles. Grey has been flying up to Vancouver and staying with Hailey. "That's been really fun — more fun than work," Hailey said.

Ziptrekking in Whistler is just one example of the antics these two have been up to in British Columbia. For those unfamiliar with the concept, the participant straps into a harness and glides along steel "zip lines" suspended over the tree tops, high above a white-water river. L Word viewers may recall Hailey's character Alice taking part in the activity along with the officiant for Shane and Carmen's wedding in the Season 3 finale.

Hailey and Grey have also enjoyed cramming together onto Hailey's one-person electric bike and riding through the city streets.

"It's so much fun," said Hailey. "You can really only do something like that in a place like Vancouver. You could never do that in L.A. So we geeked out on that. It was like Dumb and Dumber."

Grey elaborated: "It goes probably 10 miles per hour, so you can imagine both of us on this little bike in the middle of traffic, people honking at us. We'd ride to our manager's office on it, pull up, and they'd be like, 'What the hell are you guys doing?'"

"I'd had it a while but I'd never experienced it in that way before," Hailey said.

The two first met a year ago after one of Grey's shows with Mellowdrone, and they began working together this past January. They could tell immediately that they'd make a good team.

"To begin with, we had a really good time together, and that certainly helps," Hailey said. "You have to really like each other if you're going to start a band. Ideas started coming together really well, and then when we sang together it was like, oh wow, this is cool. Our voices really complement each other."

Their collaboration is pretty fluid, according to Hailey: "It just sort of comes as it comes. There's no system or formula to it."

Both band members contribute bits of material that they then work on together. It's a new type of process for Grey, who is used to working either alone or on a for-hire basis. "This is the first time I've worked with somebody else in that kind of collaborative way where it's equal," Grey said. "So this is great, bouncing it off somebody who's an equal partner in it all. It's definitely a different process for me. I like it. It's much better, in fact, with another brain involved."

Hailey immediately piped up: "A very large one, I'd like to add."

Together their brains settled on a band name inspired by P.J. Harvey. "It's a song that [Harvey's] had for a long time, a B-side that didn't end up making the record," Grey explained. "I've always liked the name of that song, and then coming across it again later and deciding, oh wow, it's a great name for a band."

Halfway through the interview, throughout which she was mostly audible, Grey suddenly said, "Sorry. Can you even hear me? I'm pointing the phone down."

"Cam mumbles," Hailey said.

"I tend to mumble," Grey confirmed. "She calls me Droopy. That's her nickname for me."

"It fits so well," Hailey said.

"We're not talking about the obvious," Grey quipped. "They're not quite there yet."

Grey then joked that her nickname for Hailey is simply Number One, ever since Hailey topped the AfterEllen.com Hot 100. When asked to vouch for whether Hailey has kept up her hotness as promised, Grey confirmed that Hailey is "ridiculously hot."

Hailey then deadpanned, "Oh yeah, if you could see me right now."

Originally, Uh Huh Her included a third member, Alicia Warrington, on drums. She can be heard on I See Red and seen in a video on the band's website. But Warrington left the band in May to pursue other musical opportunities.

It was an amicable parting, as Hailey explained: "We're a new band, and it's risky to do something like this. She's also a hired musician, and she plays with a lot of people and gets hired to go on tours and make money. And right now we're just like a baby band. You sort of have to weigh out your lifestyle — or risking your lifestyle. She's great. There's no hard feelings or anything. She's just going along her path."

So for now Uh Huh Her lives on as a duo, with both members lending their vocal and instrumental talents. At their live shows, they plan on playing dueling keyboards and dueling basses. But they also plan on expanding the band in the future.

"It's definitely not going to just be a duo," Hailey said. "We're going to get more band members. I don't know if it'll just be one or two or what it'll end up being. It's just this for now. Temporary."

The band likely won't lack for would-be new members, given Hailey's television fame. Grey is grateful for her bandmate's fan base. "It's great, because everyone loves her so much," she said. "Without it, not a lot of people know who I am, because I'm always doing these weird projects and I'm always in the background, so to have that is very, very good."

Hailey said she's excited for Grey to get more exposure: "I think at this point people know about me, but I just know that when they hear Cam sing and see her and all that, they're going to be super fans of hers. I'm a fan."

The women certainly hope their appeal will reach beyond Hailey's L Word notoriety. "We feel lucky that we have people that are even paying attention to us at all," Hailey offered. "So, in that sense, it's fantastic. That's not where we want it to start and end. Obviously, we want people beyond the show to know about us. We're so grateful and happy that people even know about us at all."

At that point, Grey said something unintelligible, and I asked for clarification.

"Yeah, if I only knew," Hailey said dryly. "I can't understand her."

Another title:

1) LGB Tease

2) Look Out, Here They Come!

3) Lady of the Lake

4) Let's Get This Party Started

5) Lookin' at you Kid

Something I found



i'm in Vancouver at the moment and here's one spoiler... i met a girl i knew before who is a permanent extra on TLW and she was filming an episode last week (i think ep. 504), she said that there will be some woman who wants to take over the planet and she has eye for Tina or she's dating Tina or something like that and Bette sees Tina with her and is jealous and B&T had a make-out session....when i asked if it's true because my poor heart won't survive the heartbreak , she laughed and said, yes, something will happen between B&T in that episode (i'm thinking 504 or 505)

Uh Huh Her 'See Red' on Debut EP
Posted Jul 27th 2007 4:15PM by Jessica Robertson
Filed under: News, Album, Exclusive

Let's get this straightaway: Uh Huh Her is a Los Angeles-based band -- musician/actress Leisha Hailey and singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Camila Grey (Mellowdrone, Dr. Dre, Melissa Auf Der Maur) -- named after a PJ Harvey B-side from the identically titled 2004 PJ Harvey album.

"It's a great song," Grey tells Spinner of the Harvey tune and subsequent band name. "And we just liked the way it sounded, really."

Uh Huh Her, who released their debut EP, 'I See Red,' this week, marks Hailey's formal return to music after her previous outfit the Murmurs, and later, Gush, disbanded more than five years ago. Though she garnered success with her portrayal of journalist Alice Pieszecki on Showtime's 'The L Word,' Hailey, who's currently in Vancouver shooting the show's fifth season, considers herself equal parts musician and actress. "I don't feel torn at all," she says. "I find that they inspire each other. They help me, especially with the live show. In a way, you're playing someone else when you're onstage. As far as time commitment goes, it's hard. But it's how I like to live [laughs]. I'm an overachiever. It's kinda my thing."
Hailey and Grey first crossed paths one year ago following a Mellowdrone show, which brought forth the impetus for UHH, a self-described indie electro-pop hybrid. "I had been waiting to meet someone who I was really into," Hailey says. "[Cam] and I started talking about it and met up a couple of times. We just really liked each other."

The two, together with drummer Alicia Warrington, whom Grey knew through their mutual work with Kelly Osbourne, began writing and recording songs for 'Red,' last January. In May, however, Warrington took her leave in pursuit of other musical opportunities. Despite the amicable split, Hailey and Grey are in no rush to find a replacement. "The plan was kind of to deal with it as a duo," Grey says. "And then when Leisha's done with the show in the fall -- when we actually start touring -- to go ahead and hire somebody then."

"For now, we're just going to play with the electronic drums," Hailey chimes. "Cam was just up here [in Vancouver] for a couple of weeks and we rehearsed it like that. It sounds really cool."

The two are currently writing songs for a proper full-length album to be released early next year, with a sound that finds sultry crashing head on with profound, replete with elastic bass lines, ambient synths and hypnotic backbeats. "[The sound] is the evolution from our backgrounds," Grey says. "We slammed them all together and that's what came out."

While Hailey got her pedigree in indie rock early on, Grey grew from her classical piano studies as a child and her father-fed Neil Diamond diet, to eclectic ventures providing vocals for film score composer Hans Zimmer, Dr. Dre and Busta Rhymes, among others.

"It's such a weird world," Grey says. "Here I am, little me with all of these crazy hip-hop superstars. I didn't feel like I fit in, but one day I played Dre one of my songs, and he was impressed that I could actually play something. We became buddies and I'd go there and hang out, and we'd play each other music. They couldn't be more lovely people -- and smart. To be able to go into that world and have the two collide is really interesting."

Meanwhile, the duo, whose single 'Say So' landed at an impressive No. 28 on iTunes' pop chart this week, will play a free, one-off show in L.A. on August 19, with more dates expected later this year. And though Hailey's stardom has ensured Uh Huh Her a ready-made fan base, she's not interested in incubating that support. "I love the fans that we have because of ['The L Word'], and all the good things that come with it," she says. "But I don't want to be referenced as that 'L Word' chick's band. I worry about that. To me, they're completely different worlds. It will be a challenge but it's up to us to prove that we're something beyond that. Of course, we are. That's a no-brainer to us."

"Hopefully, people will hear the music first," Grey says. "That's the hardest part -- trying to get out of that shadow. It's a beautiful shadow, but a shadow nonetheless."

Jennifer Beals and Marlee Matlin Send Sparks Flying on 'The L Word'




Feb. 12 -- Who says friendships in Hollywood don't last?

Accomplished actresses Jennifer Beals and Marlee Matlin have been close since the '80s. Now the two are starring opposite each other on the hit Showtime drama, 'The L Word.'

Matlin joined the cast this season, as Jodi Lerner -- an artist-in-residence at the art school where Beals' charcter, Bette, is dean.

Beals and Matlin (through her interpreter Jack) opened up to AOL Television editor Geoff Bennett about their decades-old friendship, the simmering controversies surrounding their show and Matlin's unshakeable Blackberry adddiction.

When I heard you two were longtime friends, I thought it would be cool to interview you together.

Beals: Yeah, it sounded like fun, but I wish we were in the same room.

Matlin: ... and because Jennifer is a lot better to look at than Jack. (Laughs)

Can't argue with that. So how did you two become friends?

Beals: How did we meet? Did we meet at the Paramount thing?

Matlin: We met originally at the airport on the way to Los Angeles. I remember saying to Jack, "I think that's Jennifer Beals." She had a leather coat on and she looked very sort of 'Flashdance.' (Laughs) Sorry Jennifer, I had to put that in. But she looked very smart because she had all her school books from Yale with her. We were introduced to each other, and then we found out we were going to the same event, which was the photoshoot for the 75th anniversary of Paramount. Because we were the new kids on the block, we instantly were attached at the hip.

Beals: Because we were both from Chicago.

Matlin: That's right. And we've been friends ever since. And Jennifer helped me pick out stuff to wear to parties because she was more worldy than me.

Beals: That is so untrue. She's delusional. She has a really good memory about a lot of things, but that's totally delusional.

Jennifer, did you suggest Marlee for this role on 'The L Word'? How did that come about?

Beals: No, I never suggest anybody because they don't listen to anything I have to say. (Laughs) No, I just was delighted when they brought her name up. I said she's a really wonderful person and obviously a great actress.

For those who are unacquainted with the show, Marlee, what's the role that you're playing?
Matlin: I don't know how much can I say, but our characters hook up. I'm a visiting artist and she's a dean at a university, and sparks fly. You see that the first moment we meet. I have a drill and sparks are flying. (Laughs) It couldn't be any more literal. Literally sparks are flying. You'll notice I have the drill, so I don't know if that indicates what part of the relationship I am.

Does your friendship make the hook-up scenes easier to shoot?

Beals: Oh, it's horrible. We laugh hysterically the whole time. It's horrible, it's horrible. I try to be professional, and she looks at me and gives me one little look of mischief and we just lose it, and it takes forever to shoot.

Matlin: And the crew is standing there just rolling their eyes, thinking "What are these two doing?"

Beals: And it's 3:30 in the morning and everyone wants to go home.

Matlin: But you know what? I don't think that we care. At the end of the day, the job has to be fun. And this is one fun job.

Since the show shoots in Vancouver, how has it impacted your personal life?

Matlin: They were very accomodating. When I started, the kids were out of school for the summer and were busy with camp and vacation with grandma and grandpa. They almost forgot that I was in Vancouver even though I would come home every weekend, so I think maybe next year I'm going to have to change that schedule. (Laughs) It worked out very smoothly.

Beals: But I remember you missed them very, very much. It was hard sometimes.

Matlin: It helped to work with Jennifer since we had so much fun. And Jennifer is a mom and very private, and that helps a great deal because we can share intimate discussions. We're fine -- we don't need to be entertained or be out partying when we're on location.

Jennifer, a question about Bette's evolution: She started out as a classic type-A and later ends up kidnapping her own daughter and taking her cross-country. Is Bette unraveling?

Beals: I think that when you introduce a child into someone's life, they begin to realize all the things that are really important to them. And that, perhaps, doesn't become as important as the love of a child. And so they are capable of doing all kinds of things to protect that. I think she realizes pretty quickly that she made a mistake and tries to make amends for it.

Marlee, how did tackling this role compare to others you've done?

Matlin: Although some people might think developing a deaf character is difficut, it really isn't. You just write and then incorporate deafness into it. But [the production staff] has been nothing but open and receptive. For example, in our first meeting, I sat with all of the writers and they told me the character's name. I asked if they wouldn't mind changing it to Jodi because I had a friend who was a mom and a lesbian who passed away, and her name was Jodi. I thought it would be nice to honor her, and they were more than open to it. Most television series would never do that.

A few conservative Web sites took issue with the unconventional Barbara Bush sculpture featured in a recent episode. Marlee, wha