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Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever. (April 18, 2008)

 

WE’RE ALWAYS THE LAST ONES TO LEAVE THE PARTY The Dinah Shore party might have officially ended two weeks ago, but it’s only just ending for us on AfterEllen.com. After days of editing and posting video footage of the weekend’s comedy, high jinks and coordinated chaos, we’re finally coming to the end of our 2008 Dinah coverage. (Thank God we have a year to rest until the next one!)

If you missed Julie Goldman‘s stand-up performance at Dinah when we posted it on the site earlier this week, you must watch it. Seriously. It’s so funny it will make you cry. Go ahead, watch it now – I’ll wait …  

See, you’ll never be able to use the word lezzilla again without laughing, will you?

New Yorkers can catch Julie Goldman in her one-woman show, The Julie Goldman Offensive, tonight at the Puffin Room, or next Saturday, April 26 at the Culture Project (go here for more details on both shows).

(New Yorkers can also catch one of my new favorite comics, Gloria Bigelow, at Ruby Fruit almost every Monday night; check out Gloria’s MySpace profile for more info, and look for an interview with Gloria on AfterEllen.com in the next month or so.)

Many of you have asked Bridget McManus to create T-shirts for her new “sorority” (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch this), and she has kindly obliged through her Zazzle store. Here are a few of the items in her store, including a “Run Cocky Run!” shirt. (Of course she’d take the rooster’s side over mine!) Bridget’s new logo is courtesy of AfterEllen.com reader (and graphic designer) Kayla Jones, who also created new graphics for the Gay Girls Who Game and Retro Reviewing vlogs, and is working on some other cool graphics for us, as well. Thanks, Kayla!

If you live near L.A. and still can’t get enough of Bridget after all the Dinah videos, you can see her live and in person as the main event in her upcoming show, Tall Dark and Random, at the M Bar on May 8 at 8 p.m.; buy tickets here before the show sells out. You can also see Liz Feldman and her blazer performing live at Akbar on April 22 at 8 p.m., and on AfterEllen.com again very soon. Like, this weekend, maybe. (Hint!)

As for Jill Bennett, Dara Nai and Karman Kregloe, you’ll be able to see them on AfterEllen.com again next week when they debut the first of several special (i.e., random) episodes of We’re Getting Nowhere between now and the end of June, when they’ll begin recapping the first season of The L Word. Yes, that’s right, it’s more fun with sock puppets! I can’t wait to see them re-enact the scene in which Dana brings the gang to stake out the Soup Chef’s restaurant.

 

WHO SAYS THERE AREN’T ANY LESBIANS ON BROADCAST TV? Sure, there might not be any lesbian or bi characters on any of the dozens of prime-time broadcast network TV shows, but don’t worry: The crime shows are happy to include us! Of course, only as thieves and killers, but hey, why quibble over details?

AE reader NorthernStar tipped us off to the latest effort at lesbian visibility on this week’s episode of New Amsterdam, courtesy of the Fox network. The mystery behind a number of cons perpetrated against various men turns out to be two lesbians, Kayla and Martine. Martine pretended to be in love with the target, and everything was fine until she actually did fall in love with a target – because lesbians are only one good man away from being straight, you know – and then Kayla killed her and threw her body in the East River.

Dammit, now I’ll have to find a new place to dump my ex-girlfriends!

NOW IF IT WAS CALLED LESBIANS AT RISK, I MIGHT WATCH Ace tipped me off that out best-selling mystery novelist Patricia Cornwell, who is married to Dr. Staci Ann Gruber, has signed a deal with Lifetime to adapt two of her crime novels – At Risk and the upcoming sequel The Front – into movies, the first time any of her books will be adapted for the big or small screen. At Risk (and presumably the sequel, which will be released on May 20) revolves around Massachusetts state investigator Win Garano, D.A. Monique Lamont, and Garano’s grandmother – none of whom, unfortunately, plays for our team (unlike the protagonist’s niece in Cornwell’s best-selling Kay Scarpetta mystery novels). Also unlike most of the books in the Kay Scarpetta series, At Risk has gotten very mixed reviews by readers. But I’m guessing the title of this book alone sealed the deal with Lifetime, whose full network name is A Lifetime of Movies with Literal Titles.

It’s great to see more openly queer fiction writers getting TV deals. Not that I’ll actually watch this movie … but I can’t wait until the next season of Army Wives!

PLAYING CHOPSTICKS WILL GET YOU FIVE TO 10 The award-winning German film Four Minutes, about an elderly piano teacher who trains a young convict at a women’s penitentiary, will be screening in New York on April 18 and in L.A. on April 25. Here’s the trailer for the haunting movie:  

Is it just me, or for a second there did it look like this movie was about to turn into Harriet and Maude? Yikes!

 

IT’S RAINING LESBIANS IN TAIWAN, APPARENTLY There’s a new lesbian film generating some interest in Taiwan. Candy Rain, directed by Chen Hung-i and starring Karena Lam, Cyndi Wang, Josephine Hsu, Jozie Lu, Grace Chen, Belle Hsin, Sandrine Pinna, Waa, Niki Wu and Kao Yi-ling (whew!) is comprised of four vignettes about young queer women in Taipei. We’ll review the movie when it becomes available to us, but in the meantime, you can read Variety‘s review, which describes it as “the kind of lesbian drama that Taiwan is quickly becoming known for with the unhurried pace and aimless narrative that defines many of Zero Chou’s (Spider Lilies) films,”or the Hollywood Reporter‘s, which summarizes it as “another well-executed but far from cutting-edge lesbian drama from Taiwan.”

Um, they say that like it’s a bad thing! I’d love the day to come when we’re swimming in so many good lesbian movies that we can complain about them not being “cutting-edge” enough, but I don’t think we’re quite there yet. (Speaking of Spider Lilies, that movie comes out on DVD in the U.S. on May 6.)

JAPANESE FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS AE readers Emis and KC tipped us off to the lesbian subplot in the new drama Last Friends that debuted in Japan on April 10. According to KC: “It’s a show about a lesbian character coming to terms with her feelings for her best friend. She has short hair and is very cool and sometimes aggressive (she stands up for herself). I don’t know what the story will be like but it is in my opinion, very bold for Japanese prime-time TV to feature a lesbian kiss in the last scene in the first episode!” But where are their matching fanny packs? (How do you say “fanny pack” in Japanese?)

Here’s the big kiss scene:  

Emis notes that in Tokyo, where she lives, “Lesbians are just invisible, not like gay men, who recently became popular in TV programs. The DVD of The L Word was released this year, but it’s introduced as an ‘L.A.-based fashionable, stylish drama, showing struggle for love and life.’ The fact that the characters are all lesbian is not the focus; it’s like, ‘BTW, they are lesbians.'”

But since the cast of Last Friends is full of popular young actors, including the one who plays the lesbian, this new drama may have a bigger impact.

Maybe it’s just a translation issue, but the name of the show sounds a little dire to me. Reminds me of The Last Unicorn, actually, and that movie freaked me the hell out as a kid!

Keep tabs on the show and discuss it with other Japanese AE readers here.

 

“YEP, I’M GAY,” PORTUGAL-STYLE Last month Portugal’s biggest newspaper, Expresso, featured a local cable TV talk show host, Solange F, on the cover with the headline “Sou lésbica! E então?” (“I’m a lesbian! So what?”) According to AE reader Mariana, Solange is the very first lesbian to really come out publicly in Portugal, causing other newspapers and Portuguese blogs to write about it afterward. Although the 12-page article focused mostly on Solange, it also profiled a handful of other out lesbians in Portugal. “Six lesbians come out publicly for the first time on the Portuguese press,” the newspaper touted in the introduction. “Some of them have kids from previous heterosexual relationships and others want to become mothers through artificial insemination. The new generation comes out earlier and earlier, plans on getting married and wants equal rights. All of them want to be seen as completely normal people.” When asked why she decided to do this, Solange said in a video: “I did this because I think there’s a lot of people who are afraid to be happy. They’re afraid of what other people might think, they’re afraid of judgment and discrimination. The question I have for them is: for how long are you going to postpone your happiness? And for whose sake? Everyone should act as they feel, with their head held high. Always. Love can conquer anything. Good luck!” (Thanks to Mariana for the translation!)

And regarding the ladder picture – did anyone else immediately think, “How many Portuguese lesbians does it take to screw in a light bulb?” No? Just me, then?

 

CYNTHIA NIXON’S MESSAGE FOR GAY WOMEN Cynthia Nixon publicly revealed this week that she successfully underwent treatment for breast cancer last year, and has now been named an ambassador for the world’s largest breast cancer advocacy organization, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, knowing my personal risk made me more aware and more empowered when I faced my own diagnosis,” Nixon said in a statement.

She told Good Morning America on Tuesday: “I didn’t really want to make it public while I was going through it. I didn’t want paparazzi at the hospital, that kind of thing.” She also talked about how the news affected her partner, Christine Marinoni. “My girlfriend was very scared,” she said. “She was in a panic. She was just trying to calm herself down any way she could.”

As an ambassador for the organization, Nixon will appear in a series of TV and radio public service announcements to educate people on the disease, including a promo she recorded specifically for gay women discussing the fact that “we tend to visit the gynecologist less often than straight women do,” so we’re at higher risk of not detecting breast cancer early enough. I’m afraid Cynthia has a point, and I’m guessing I’m not the only AfterEllen.com member willing to admit that. Between her and Melissa Etheridge – and June Jordan, Audre Lorde and Susan Sontag – I’m starting to think maybe I’ll finally keep my next OB-GYN appointment instead of coming up with an excuse to reschedule.

But back to Cynthia: Is it just me, or does this woman pretty much do everything with class? If we only we had a few more Cynthias in the entertainment world and fewer Lindsays and Britneys …

IN MEMORY OF MAHINARANGI TOCKER AE reader Jackqui wrote in to tell us that very much-loved lesbian Maori singer-songwriter Mahinarangi Tocker has passed away. The death of the 52-year-old New Zealander from an asthma attack was marked with a minute of silence in Parliament. Earlier this year, Tocker became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her considerable musical accomplishments. Read more about her legacy on GayNZ.com, and this tribute to her by a lesbian fan.

 

COMING SOON TO DVD: CURRY, CHEYENNE AND JILL BENNETT This week there’s lots of good lesbian DVD news, for a change! Last week Looking for Cheyenne came out on DVD in the U.S. (order), and next Tuesday Nina’s Heavenly Delights will be available (order). (Warning: The latter’s extensive Indian food cooking scenes will make you hungry!) Meanwhile, lesbian web series 3Way just announced that its first season will be available on DVD sometime this summer, and here! TV’s third season of Dante’s Cove (pre-order) – featuring Jill Bennett, Jenny Shimizu and Michelle Wolff in a lesbian love triangle – will be available June 3rd. (Warning: The latter’s extensive parade of naked men will make you want to fast-forward! A lot!)

SAVE THE DATE: MAY 18 On Sunday, May 18, New York area AfterEllen.com readers are invited to attend another casual meet-up like the one we held in Brooklyn a few months ago (yes, we’re aiming for free and all-ages again). But this time you’ll be chatting with me, Lori, Bridget McManus, Karman Kregloe, Jill Bennett and other 3Way cast members. We don’t know where we’re holding it yet or even what time of day (probably mid-afternoon), but we’ll let you know when we have more details.

And before anyone yells at me – we’re not trying to hold these AfterEllen.com get-togethers only in New York or L.A./Palms Springs; we’d love to take our show on the road to Europe or the Midwest. We just don’t have the resources to gather everyone in one place unless we’re all there for something else, unfortunately. But Karman and Bridget are shooting some episodes of You Can’t Take Them Anywhere! in various cities around the world in the coming months (including San Francisco, France, Switzerland, and if Bridget has her way, Amsterdam), and we’ll definitely ask for volunteers ahead of time to bail them out of jail show them around.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! As you can see, we’ve made a few changes to the layout of the AfterEllen.com homepage. I know it probably seems a little strange now, but once you get used to it, you should find it easier to navigate than the old layout (especially once we fix all the bugs and make all the finishing tweaks over the next few weeks – go here to read more about this).

Our managing editor, Malinda Lo, was quoted in a New York Times article this week about Work Out and Jackie Warner‘s fan base among straight housewives. Malinda talked extensively to the reporter about gender dynamics, but naturally the line that got quoted was, “Every single person who is a player never sees themselves that way.” (Gotta love the media – never mind the complicated topics, it’s all about the money quote!)

Actress Michelle Rodriguez vents to Latina magazine about the endless speculation over her personal life. (Look for the “bathroom doors” quote at the end – it’s a winner!)

Out hip-hip artist MC Flow has a new CD out; check it out on her MySpace profile.

The first issue of Megan Gedris‘ six-issue comic I Was Kidnapped by Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space will hit comic book stores in May (thanks Carrie!).

Charlotte Mendelson, who was on the long list for the U.K.’s prestigious Orange Prize, has moved up to the short list (thanks LeeAnne!).

Spain’s No. 1 television drama Hospital Central begins its 15th season this week, with three lesbian characters in the show. For more info about Hospital Central in English, visit http://liancafansunite.yuku.com/forums/8. (Thanks Sylvia and G!)

The Australian MTV Awards are getting some flack for reportedly trying to stage a same-sex kiss between their out lesbian VJ Ruby Rose and guest musicians the Veronicas (because it worked so well for Britney and Madonna five years ago); read Defamer’s funny take on it.

Out lesbian contestant Demi in Australia’s So You Think You Can Dance made the final four and will be dancing in the finale this Sunday. (Thanks Sashi!)

Jenn and Dee‘s Dinah-themed episode of Come With Me if You Want to Live will be posted sometime in the next day or two, and their Work Out-themed episodes will be posted on Tuesdays beginning next week. Cathy DeBuono‘s next episode of What’s YOUR Problem? will be posted later today.

Voting for this year’s AfterEllen.com Hot 100 will open on May 1, and we’ll accept nominees until May 15, so start thinking about your 10 hottest women now!

That’s it for this week! Got the inside scoop on a hot new lesbian/bi actor/musician/TV show/film? Tell us at [email protected]. Check back next Friday for another edition of Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever.

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