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Home » More Lesbians Than Ever on "Nip/Tuck"

More Lesbians Than Ever on "Nip/Tuck"

by
Teresa Ortega
, Contributing Writer
October 28, 2007

While watching her act, it's easy to forget that Richardson is British. Her American accent is light and credible, without any forced harshness. Richardson said that she views Julia's relationship with Olivia, who works as a doctor of Chinese medicine, as a healing one. "Her relationship with Olivia is very different from anything she's ever experienced," Richardson explained.

"Julia's relationship with Christian and Sean is very categorized, very male-dominated," she said. The competition between Dr. Christian Troy and Dr. Sean MacNamara for Julia's love and attention is a major aspect of the show. "Julia, so far, for her part, has let herself be dominated by these men for basically all her life."

Richardson continued: "Obviously there's lots of talk of her sexuality. Is she bisexual? Is she gay?" Richardson offered a tentative answer. "She — from what I can read in the scripts — she doesn't know. Her main thing is, 'I don't want to be put in a box. Why do we all have to categorize it?'"

Regarding the emotionally fraught scene in which Julia and Olivia are kidnapped, Richardson said: "Portia is just excellent to act with, or beside or whatever. She's a real actor's actor or actress's actress. She's just really giving. She's very present in a scene whether she's on-camera or off-camera. So if you're going to do a scene like that, she's a very good person to do it with."

Further discussion with the show's representatives about the Olivia and Julia story line indicated there will be many twists and turns in the plot that have deeper ramifications for the characters than what has been suggested online.

Despite the tensions over Julia's sexuality, she begins the season on a happier note than she has in the past. In fact, all of the characters have been given a chance at starting over. After four years set in Miami, Nip/Tuck has switched its location to Los Angeles. In the premiere episode, McNamara/Troy has relocated to Beverly Hills.

Maffia said she sees the new location as a natural choice. "If they had to go someplace else to establish themselves as doctors of plastic surgery, why not Hollywood?" Maffia said. "It's like, if I'm hungry, let's go to the banquet."

FX has ordered a longer season for Nip/Tuck this year, with 22 episodes scheduled to air. As Maffia said of the upcoming year, "It's going to be interesting to explore and see what really reveals itself."

While I was on set, I toured the new, expanded set designs, including the posh L.A. offices and sparkling O.R. of McNamara/Troy. My favorite piece of set décor, however, was a prop left over from an earlier season: a sign that reads "Gender Reassignment Unit." It was hanging on the wall just outside Ryan Murphy's office, an enduring reminder of the show's decidedly queer sensibilities.

Season 5 of Nip/Tuck begins on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 10:00 p.m. ET on FX.

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imthey's picture

NIP/TUCK...

Submitted by
imthey (562 posts)
on October 28, 2007 - 10:29pm.
NIP/TUCK has always been one of those shows that I really don't want to watch, but catch myself coming back to week after week... never really knowing whether I like the show or am even comfortable watching it, but coming back to watch nonetheless.  This show can (for me) be equated to the traffic accident one passes by and can't help but slow down for so one can take a glance at what happened.

I am quite interested in seeing how the Julia/Olivia storyline plays out, since I have never been very satisfied with the lesbian relationships on the show thus far.  Having been a fan of Portia de Rossi's work since seeing her in the film Sirens, I'm on board this seasons NIP/TUCK mainly for this storyline.

"If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself.  What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us."  -Hermann Hesse

Maybe the above quote is one of the more interesting ways of looking at my discomfort with NIP/TUCK?  Perhaps I find too many things about NIP/TUCK disturbing (and too relatable?) and therein lies my discomfort with watching the show.  Okay... that's enough for my armchair psychiatrist for the evening.

"Think Sideways"
    I M THEY

Melissa Hsu's picture

All I can say is finally!

Submitted by
Melissa Hsu (not verified)
on October 28, 2007 - 10:59pm.

I love the sick, sadistic mind of Ryan Murphy. Each week I find myself irritated, shocked, laughing or drooling. One thing I can count on is that I am never bored. Last year stretched the senses a bit but I cannot abandon the Drs. or the ladies in and out of their lives.

I like the twisted world that mirrors the one I read about in the papers and watch on the local news. Some of Murphy's stories are outlandish but not too far from reality. This takes the show to a level few others can. I love it!

Danielle Riendeau's picture

I kind of love this show...

Submitted by
Danielle Riendeau, Contributing Writer (67 posts)
on October 29, 2007 - 9:48am.
It takes every taboo from modern culture and throws it up on the screen for all to see, and if its uncomfortable at times, I believe that might be the point. And it's very playful, with gender/sexuality as well as all other topics. 
CaroL's picture

oh God..

Submitted by
CaroL (127 posts)
on October 29, 2007 - 1:21pm.
I think I'll have to wait about a year to watch this season here in Brazil :(
BetweenThaLines's picture

love it!

Submitted by
BetweenThaLines (353 posts)
on October 29, 2007 - 2:37pm.

I really love this show, it's so diffirent from other shows. I can understand how people wouldn't like it... but still I do. I even love it so mich that I've got the starting date of the 5th season marked on my calendar. I've been looking forward to it for weeks! One day left!!!

Great that the actresses took time to talk to AE! I'm looking forward to the new stuff with Roma, since I think she has gotten way too little screentime... And of course the Portia and Joely stuff:d I too am always amazed at Joely's American accent. I've known her as a British actress before Nip/Tuck, so seeing her do a perfect American accent on the show keeps on surprising me. Just can't find any fault:p Well, anyways, if I didn't make myself clear: can't wait!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=kisshester

Amy M's picture

Nip/Tuck

Submitted by
Amy M (248 posts)
on October 29, 2007 - 5:23pm.

Is it a coincidence that the two shows with the most bi-visibility (Nip/Tuck and a Shot at Love with Tila Tequila) are both on at the same time (10PM on tuesdays)? (admittedly two of the most screwed up portrayals of bisexual people)

I've had mixed feelings about the queer visibility on Nip/Tuck. On the one hand, there's so much of it, on the other, most  of the characters are so twisted they can't possibly be good (fictional) publicity.

Not that a soap opera is an ideal place for role models.

Nathiest's picture

i hate myself for never

Submitted by
Nathiest (831 posts)
on October 29, 2007 - 8:10pm.

i hate myself for never watching this show.

-Nathiest

Lunakiss's picture

Nip/Tuck : In all its odditiy, just rocks!

Submitted by
Lunakiss (2084 posts)
on October 29, 2007 - 9:34pm.

I sometimes wonder about sadisticness part of myself.  Six Feet Under and Nip/Tuck are both shows that goes to dark side of self.  I love how Nip/Tuck b/c of its oddness, and illness of people want to be cut on.  They pay tons of  money to transform themselves to their ideal image of a different self.  I'm more of a dark  fictional writer anyways and I love this show.  I'm glad there are more Lesbian visiblity on Nip/Tuck. I hope this time around they actually have a true purpose on the show. no stereotypes just create them as part of the show. 

This discussion just inspired me to write about a short story involving sadistic and strange plots.

Thanks!

Tease's picture

Oh crap

Submitted by
Tease (361 posts)
on October 30, 2007 - 7:02am.

Ryan Murphy, and his show, are the most misogynistic things to ever hit television. Not one good thing ever happens to the women on this show, despite their goodness, and Christian and Sean treat the world like shit, and are rewarded for it.

It amazes me that people think this is Murphy making us look at some absurdity in this world. The only absurdity here is Murphy's world.

 

Lisa

Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security -- B. Franklin
sonrisaysol's picture

fx

Submitted by
sonrisaysol (62 posts)
on October 30, 2007 - 7:22am.

I have always wanted to watch this show but ended up watching something else like law & order but I might actually have to start watching it to support the ladies, of course.

http://onefootinonefootout.blogspot.com/

Rachel JW's picture

Yay

Submitted by
Rachel JW (327 posts)
on October 30, 2007 - 6:07pm.
I'm excited. I've always loved this show. But I can't really sit still and watch anything anymore on the TV. I'm too ADD for it unless I'm assured some lesbian action. =P BUT this is what seasons on DVD are for correct? -Rachel
grandma's picture

i wonder if anyone here is

Submitted by
grandma (31 posts)
on November 2, 2007 - 7:31pm.
i wonder if anyone here is going to recap or do a vlog about this show now that it has more lesbos on it than all the other networks combined practically.
Keeva99's picture

Nip/Tuck

Submitted by
Keeva99 (254 posts)
on November 3, 2007 - 10:06pm.

I just finished watching season three, and was just mesmerized the whole way.

I don't really like any of the characters, the surgical procedures are just freaky, and the storylines are random and weird to say the least, but I just can't help myself :/

I even think the whole Julia & Olivia storyline is gonna be weird...buuut I'm not complaining :D

Dunja's picture

I enjoyed the new season untill now...

Submitted by
Dunja (4 posts)
on November 16, 2007 - 6:19am.
...but I hate Olivia's daugther, don't even know her name. She's disgusting. Ahhh.
demoiselle cyan's picture

love love love

Submitted by
demoiselle cyan (258 posts)
on January 5, 2008 - 7:12pm.
I am fascinated by the show, it is not like other medical crappy tv shows. It actually deals with every topic, so everybody can relate to it. I like its rawness and the lesbian encounters are pretty cool. By the way is Roma Maffia a lesbian in real life? There's not much info about her.

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