By BetteAndTinaForever
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Copyright 2008 L-word.com |
While I was still reeling from my interview with Laurel and
the happy news about her little daughter, I realized that Jennifer
and Ilene were still doing some interviews not far away from
where I was standing. I took that opportunity and shot a few
pictures of some other celebrities, including Angela Featherstone
and Michelle Paradise from Exes and Ohs; Janet Jackson who was
getting a Vanguard |
award in recognition of her efforts to promote equal
rights for the community; Rufus Wainwright was honored with the
Stephen F. Kolzak Award which honors a media professional who, through
their work, has increased the visibility and understanding of the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; Gabrielle Christian
and Maeve Quinlan from South of Nowhere; Kathy Griffin; and Adamo
Ruggiero and Lauren Collins from Degrassi: The Next Generation (this
show was nominated for the best drama along with Brothers &
Sisters, The L Word, Greek and Dirty Sexy Money).
Finally, Jennifer and Ilene reached me. They posed for some photos
and then stopped to answer a few questions. Since I’ve read
a few interviews with Jennifer regarding her thoughts about Bette
and Tina getting back together and asked that question myself before,
I really wanted to know what Jennifer and Ilene were thinking of
the end result. Here’s a short interview with Ilene Chaiken
and Jennifer Beals.
B&TF: Jennifer, what do you think about how Bette and Tina got
back together through an affair? Do you think they’ve earned
it? Do you think it was a good thing or not really a good thing?
(While I asked that question, Jennifer turned to Ilene with this
funny look, like she was asking, “What do you have to say
for yourself, Ilene? You’re the one who wrote it.” I
wish I could have taken her picture in this moment.)
Jennifer Beals: I hate that they got back together
through an affair. It was very, very upsetting. I let Ilene know.
She’s standing right next to me and I think we should ask
her about it. Why through the affair, Ilene? (smiling with a sinister
look on her face…)
B&TF: Yeah, why through the affair, Ilene? (Jennifer laughed)
Ilene Chaiken: (smiling back) Because it was irresistible?
JB: It was dramatic.
IC: And dramatic…
JB: And Bette hasn’t learned anything…
IC: No, I think Bette learned a lot of things. I think Bette really,
really articulated what she’d learned in that elevator scene.
JB: Yes, that’s true.
B&TF: (to Jennifer) Are you happy that they got back together?
JB: Yes, I’m happy they got back together.
B&TF: I hope you didn’t want Bette to stay with Jodi.
JB: Oh, listen to you…(smiling)…listen to you talking
like that…
B&TF: I like Jodi, I do, I just don’t like her with Bette.
There’s no chemistry, I’m sorry.
IC: (laughing) You just love Bette and Tina
B&TF: Yes, since season one.
Jennifer was whisked away to do another interview. Again, I wish
I had more time with her so I hope I will have that opportunity
in November when I will go to L5 in Blackpool.
While Jennifer was busy answering to other reporters, I took more
pictures of Ilene and asked her a few more questions about the sixth
season.
B&TF: Why are there only 8 episodes in season 6? Is it enough?
IC: Showtime is doing a lot of eight episode orders. If you look
you’ll see that many of their other shows also are being picked
up for eight episodes. It’s a number that seems to make sense
with the new business plan, the new programming plan. It has nothing
to do with The L Word in particular and more to do with the network
and how the network is programming.
B&TF: You know how on OurChart there’s a petition to
have more seasons. Do you think something like a petition to Showtime
would help because lots of people would like to see more seasons?
You’ve said yourself you have so many stories to tell.
IC: So many stories. I don’t know. I don’t know whether
the petitions will have an effect but they certainly won’t
hurt.
Ilene actually looked excited that fans are signing petitions and
ask for more seasons of The L Word. Here’s
one of the petitions if any of you would like to support the
idea of more seasons for the show.
After I finished with my interviews I waited a little longer to
see if Sharon Stone or Ellen DeGeneres would walk by me but I didn’t
see them anywhere so I packed my camera and went to find my seat
in the theater so I could watch the show.
The whole presentation was interesting and entertaining. Kathy
Griffin was a special guest who opened the ceremony and she was
hilarious. She invited her mother on the stage (I think she was
her real mother, unless Kathy was just joking. One can never be
sure with her). She asked her some pretty funny questions. They
were along the lines of - what did it mean to be gay in her time
(the woman was about 70 years old), how does she like living in
West Hollywood and if this area is as gay as it’s supposed
to be, what is the most gayest thing she had ever done, etc. Her
last question was: who in this audience looks the gayest of them
all? Her mother looked around and then asked: Is Ryan Seacrest here?
This was really, really funny.
The nominees for the best drama were announced first and I was
really hoping that The L Word would win. Unfortunately, they lost
again to Brothers & Sisters. You know, after Brothers &
Sisters won in this category last year, I rented the first season
out of curiosity and I can honestly say that, though it’s
an interesting drama about a family with one gay member, I did find
it a little bit boring and predictable. I read in Entertainment
Weekly that with each season it got even more boring so I didn’t
watch anything else. Maybe it did get better after they cast Ron
Rifkin as Uncle Saul, and of course Sally Field is in that show
as well. But, quite honestly, The L Word is so groundbreaking, it
amazes me that they were overlooked in the Award Department.
The presentations went on and sometime in the middle of the show
Jennifer Beals and Laurel Holloman went on stage to present the
nominees for the best comedy in a TV series. They didn’t speak
directly to the microphone and it was hard to hear from where I
was seated but here’s a rough and not verbatum dialog that
they had before the announcement.
Jennifer: You know, it feels really good to be
back together.
Laurel: Of course we’re back together (laughing)
Jennifer: Well, I mean, you know…are we talking
about the same thing?
Laurel: What are we talking about? We see each other all the time.
Jennifer: No, I mean our characters, Bette and Tina…they are
back together.
Laurel: Oh, oh, okay.
Jennifer: They are with each other.
Laurel: Well, for now…we’ve been picked up for the sixth
and final season and you don’t know what’s gonna happen.
I mean, anything could happen.
Jennifer: Do you think they just will ride off onto Sunset Boulevard
together?
Laurel: As long as the audience doesn’t mind but after all
this lesbian drama it’s nice to be here to present the GLAAD
Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Jennifer: The nominees for this category just reminded us of the
common ground we all share. Here they are…
This is when Laurel looked at Jennifer and laughed; Jennifer looked
back and laughed too. It was really cute.
The ceremony continued with other awards. The late fashion photographer,
Herb Ritts, was given a Pioneer Award and Cindy Crawford accepted
it on his behalf. She told a story of when he called her and asked
her to be a prop in his photo shoot of k.d. lang for Vanity Fair.
It turned out that he actually wanted to photograph Cindy, straddling
k.d. lang in a barber chair while pretending to shave her face.
A limited edition of that photo, signed by the photographer, was
sold in the auction during the dinner for some big money. I don’t
remember exactly how much, I was too busy savoring the tender chicken
and some delicious dessert. Did I mention that I was starving because
all I had all day was one little bagel with cream cheese at 11 am?
After the show was over, we all went to the fifth floor for the
after- dinner party. I think Laurel left right after the show because
I didn’t see her anywhere. Jennifer was there and she was
sitting at the same table as Ilene and some other lucky people.
While we ate, the silent auction results were announced. I didn’t
bid, so I have no idea what else was given away, except a trip for
2 to London and a few Thailand vacation packages. After a while
I went outside the dining room for some air and I saw Jennifer Beals
leaving. I asked if I could have my picture taken with her because
in all the times I’ve seen her, I was never able to do it.
I’m always busy taking pictures of her. She was in a hurry
and she promised that we would do it the next time she sees me.
I wish the next time was tomorrow.
When the dinner was almost over, I saw that Ilene was still at
her table and she wasn’t particularly busy with anyone or
anything, so I approached the table and talked to her a little more.
I told her how grateful we were for the show and that I was sad
that The L Word didn’t win. She replied that it’s okay
they didn’t win because they were happy just to be there and
to be acknowledged. I told her a quick story of my conversion to
TiBettianism (I claim a patent on this word) and how I love Bette
and Tina and that she made all TiBetters happy, and Ilene said,
“They are a great couple.”
Ilene is getting an award in 2 weeks in San Francisco as part
of the GLAAD Awards ceremony and Jennifer Beals is the one who will
present it to her. I’ll be there and I hope to bring more
pictures, interviews and stories from that event.
Until next time, The L word fans…
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