jamie murnane's blog

Lindsay Lohan really has something against pants. The girl is rarely seen sporting a pair of skinny jeans, preferring instead the super-ultra skinny look of her trademark piece of clothing: leggings.

When she launched her own line of leggings for Nordstrom, 6126, we got it. She's so into leggings, she needs to make her own for other people to buy. Fine. But, photos for her Spring 2010 ad campaign for 6126 Leggings have just started popping up online and they are confusing, to say the least.

The photos themselves, shot by celeb photographers Indrani and Markus Klinko (who will star in Bravo's new reality show Double Exposure) are hot, as most non-tabloid-y snapshots of LiLo are. But the leggings themselves really make no sense.

In one photo, it looks as though Linds is only wearing some biker shorts, with sheer leggings possibly attached. She's apparently going for the "Spandex shorts with tights underneath are totes in, guys!" look. It's not working.

Michael Musto says it best in his Village Voice interview with Jane Lynch: she's everywhere — and it's a good thing, too. I mean, we can't keep watching her as Joyce Wischnia on our L Word DVDs forever, no matter how great the scene where she proposes to Phyllis in the nude truly is.)

Lynch first popped up on our radar playing the hilarious butch dog handler Christy Cummings in Best in Show, a role that obviously wasn't much of a stretch for her.

Now she's part of the ensemble for Nora and Delia Ephron's Off-Broadway hit, Love, Loss and What I Wore, Musto asks her if she's replacing Rosie O'Donnell, to which Lynch says, "I know they're gonna give me the butch lesbian to play!"

 

I remember how much fun it was to cut all the hair off my Barbies (and 90210 dolls) when I was younger. At the time, I had no idea I was butch-ifying my ultra femme, tutu-wearing dolls. I just wanted to make them "cool."

Scented Magic Markers came in handy as both hair dye and tattoo ink; pins and needles for body piercings. The annoyingly pink car, house and tons of other accessories were a challenge, however.

But now, thanks to Sandi Holder of Doll Attic, budding young lesbians, tomboys and other girls don't have to put so much effort into having a hip Barbie. Joan Jett, Debbie Harry and Cyndi Lauper are all getting their own doll incarnations, due out in December.

Holder's "Ladies of the '80s" collection features the three rockers and their signature looks: Jett all in black, complete with Converse, a guitar, totally '80s shaggy hair (unfortunately not the total gay short look she's sporting these days, but I'll take it), and tight jeans.

The Debbie (not Deborah) Harry Barbie may be wearing pink, but she's totally punk. The Blondie doll has a short, tight dress, platinum blonde hair, a bad ass demeanor, and, to be completely '80s, loads of eye shadow.

In my wildest dreams, I live with Jillian Michaels.

We wake up early and go for a run together before making some oatmeal, hitting the spa, then maybe a quick stop at Whole Foods before the gym. We compare shoulders, measure each other's waists and then later, sip vodka sodas while grilling some vegetables. Sounds nice, huh? Well, for some people, this will be a reality. Sort of.

The bad ass Biggest Loser trainer will be getting her own show next year. Losing It With Jillian Michaels (the name taken from her best-selling book), will have Jillian actually move in with people (families with children 9 and up) for a week to help not only whip them into shape, but also tackle some of the emotional issues we've seen her touch on in recent seasons of The Biggest Loser.

In an interview with the L.A. Times, Jillian says she has no plans to leave The Biggest Loser, and will juggle both shows, but Losing It will allow her to break out of the tyrant mold the hit reality show has created for her.

Gays have always been a fan of Sex and the City, and that's largely because Sex and the City has been a fan of gays. Aside from star Cynthia Nixon being in a relationship with a woman, and wardrobe designer Patricia Fields being a lesbian, the characters on the show have always represented homosexuality in a positive (albeit sometimes stereotypical) way.

There was the time Samantha was a lesbian — briefly.

Then Miranda's firm thought she was a lesbian and hooked her up with a softball player named Sid.

Carrie's same-sex lip-lock with Alanis Morissette, while she was dating the bisexual dude.

And, of course, the resident 'mos Stanford and Anthony, who we saw finally hook up in the first movie.

I officially declare this the year of Kristen Bell. She's everywhere lately, proving there's a lot more to her than the soothing voice of Gossip Girl, so it's only natural that she'd come out of the shadows of voiceover work — and in a big way.

The Veronica Mars star will be seen in a handful of new movies this season, starting with Couples Retreat, which opened this weekend, and co-stars Vince Vaughn and Jason Bateman (who, like Bell, was the star of another insanely amazing television show that for some godforsaken reason only lasted three seasons: Arrested Development).

But enough of dwelling on the past: It was just announced that Bell has been cast as Christina Aguilera's rival in a new musical feature, Burlesque, which also stars Cher, Stanley Tucci and Twilight's Cam Gigandet. But back to the main point: Kristen Bell. Doing burlesque.

Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, Whip It, has all the makings of a blockbuster hit. First, there's the whole Drew Barrymore directorial debut thing. And, it stars Barrymore, Ellen Page, Juliette Lewis, Ari Graynor and Zoe Bell.

It's about hot, bad-ass roller derby girls. And, of then there was the Marie Claire photo shoot involving some Barrymore/Page straddling and lick-locking. Unfortunately, however, there was no actual romantic girl-on-girl action in the film, which Ari Graynor (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist) tells New York Magazine she was bummed about.

When the interviewer points out the fact that the "very open lesbianism in the real derby world is kind of soft-pedaled in the film," Graynor, who plays derby captain Eva Destruction, says:

I was pushing for Eva to be a lesbian seductress, hitting on all the girls. I tried to push the envelope a little on stuff that didn’t end up in the film.

But despite that, it seems as though people would rush to the theaters this past weekend, when it opened, in droves, right?

Trinity, a new eight-part dramedy on the UK's ITV2, seems to be just like Gossip Girl, only British and set in an elite English university as opposed to posh Manhattan high school — and there's already been a girl-on-girl hookup.

So far, Isabella Calthorpe, who plays Rosalind, an "ice queen and social goddess" (don't ask me how those two go together), has had a same-sex snog during an initiation.

Of course, she doesn't seem to actually be into girls, as she supposedly has a thing for a guy named Theo who lives down the hall. Of course.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news to all you hopeful music fans, but Elly Jackson, the adorable androgynous singer of British electro-pop duo La Roux is, in fact, not gay. It's hard to wrap your head around, I know.

But, you know, there are plenty of cute women out there who seem like they just have to be gay, and aren't, no matter how bad we want them on our team. Tilda Swinton, for example, is so straight she has two male lovers. Coincidentally, 21-year-old Jackson sort of looks a bit like a young Swinton, doesn't she?

And then there's Alicia Keys, Mariska Hargitay, and Ellen Page, some of the most popular (reportedly) straight women we just can't stop hoping will wind up gay.

It's no secret that most of us here at AfterEllen.com think Rachel Maddow is one of the smartest, funniest, most interesting people in media (and really, the whole lesbian thing is just a bonus). And it's not shocking that many of us think she has amazing, not-trying-too hard style.

What is a bit shocking, perhaps, is that Elle magazine agrees.

Rachel Maddow is included among 27 hot celebs on The It List 2009, Elle's second annual personal style awards.

Calling Maddow the "media master," Elle writes (under the hot photo of Rachel in suspenders):

Bucking the status quo, the TV anchor understands the appeal of simplicity, wearing just a brush of mascara, a clean pixie cut, and understated Jil Sander suits.

The description of Henry Jaglom's Irene in Time makes the film sound stereotypical at best.

A puzzle about love and time, a mystery in which clues are found and secrets are revealed, Irene in Time is a look at the complex relationships between fathers and daughters and the consequences — years later — on the grown women's relationships to the men in their lives.

Not surprisingly, Irene, played by Tanna Frederick, has issues because her dad sailed off into the sunset (yes, really) when she was little. Her love life is in shambles. She commiserates with her group of friends who all likely have their own daddy issues. And, of course, there's a lesbian: Irene's best friend Jo Jo, played by Kelly DeSarla, who had a small role in Wedding Crashers.

What I love about Miranda July is not the fact that she at one time dated a lady. While that may earn her some bonus points, it's really just her knack of churning out countless original, offbeat creative projects that seem at once completely random and totally genius.

The You Me and Everyone We Know writer/director's latest offering is a photoshoot for Vice magazine in which she recreates scenes from famous movies. In staying with her typical M.O. of not taking the obvious approach, instead of posing as the main characters of the scene, July instead dresses as an almost-invisible background character--an extra we'd hardly give a second glance, much less second thought.

Accompanying the shoot is a letter to "Julie" from "Sandy" in which July writes:

It seems like I am forever stuck in the background, watching other people say and do all the things I feel inside. One day I'm gonna surprise everyone with my talents. They will be laughing and crying and texting me so often that I will be annoyed.

Kate Beckinsale's new movie, Whiteout, which opens in theaters today, is based on a graphic novel by Greg Rucka. The murder mystery, set in Antarctica had a "lesbian angle," so Beckinsale's character, US deputy marshal Carrie Stetko was a gay lady.

That's right. Kate Beckinsale: Lesbian. Only, that whole angle has been omitted for the film adaptation, so we won't be seeing that happen any time soon. That's really too bad, because the film doesn't seem all that interesting.

The premise is that there's been a murder — the first for Antarctica — and Stetko only has three days to solve the crime, before everyone must evacuate due to an impending blizzard. Of course — it's Antarctica!

In an exclusive interview with The Frisky today, writer Diablo Cody talks about her upcoming horror film, Jennifer's Body, feminism, and the overly-hyped onscreen kiss between the film's stars Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried.

First, let's watch the clip of aforementioned kiss:

Of the kiss, Cody told The Frisky that she doesn't consider the moment gratuitous and never meant for it to be used as publicity for the film:

All right, if the two protagonists of the film were a guy and a girl and in a particularly tense moment, they shared a kiss, no one would say it was gratuitous. But the fact that they’re women means it’s some kind of stunt. It was intended to be something profound and meaningful to me and to Karyn [Kusama, the director].

Meredith McGeachie wasn't so lucky the first time she played a lesbian, as Tonya on The L Word, because most people really, really hated her character. Remember how annoying she was, running Dana's life, killing her cat, leaving her for Melissa Rivers?

Well, now she has another chance to play gay and perhaps get a few new fans out of it. This time, she's playing a lesbian lady cop named Cate on Paradise Falls, which is coming to Canada's Showcase after playing on the gay cable network here! in the U.S.

In a recent interview with the National Post, McGeachie (who is engaged and expecting her first child) says her new character is "very straitlaced, whereas Tonya was pretty wild." (Talk about an under-statement.)

Some things from the '90s should never make a comeback: Slap bracelets, mesh tops, MC Hammer pants (and MC Hammer), and yeah, I'll go there, the grunge look. I could probably go on and on about regrettable fashions and fads of the decade, but this is about one thing that I've been waiting for to come back. And it's finally happening: The Cranberries are reuniting.

The news is mind-blowing on so many levels. Cranberries frontwoman Dolores O'Riordan just released her second solo album, No Baggage, last week and was supposed to embark on her own tour in September, but announced its cancellation last week. Instead of going it alone, O'Riordan and the original members of the Cranberries said they will reform for the first time in seven years.

Gen-Xers everywhere, rejoice. Dust off your Reality Bites VHS, polish your Doc Martins and rip some holes in your jeans. (Wait, those aren't boot cut? What are you doing?)

The new documentary It Might Get Loud, which is now in theaters, celebrates some of the most famous electric guitarists. Featuring Jack White, Jimmy Page and U2's The Edge, the music doc is, not surprisingly completely lacking of women. In response to this so-typical-it's-ridiculous boys club, Elle magazine compiled a list of 12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists.

While 12 seems like a drop in the bucket compared to all the male musicians who are consistently over-praised, this list of often under-rated women is nice to see, especially since it's not in a music magazine — you know, because Rolling Stone's Women in Rock issues tend to be more insulting than inspiring.

Even more exciting about Elle's list is its queer friendliness. Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein makes the cut, while Joan Jett tops it.

Of the legendary rocker, Elle says:

A no-nonsense player who in only a few strums can get an entire barroom howling her 1982 hit, “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll.” That kind of power, often amplified by painted-on leather pants, sets the bar high for Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, who’s playing Jett in an upcoming Runaways biopic.

The hit Irish soap opera Fair City is coming up on its twentieth anniversary. So, what better way to celebrate the long run than to include a lesbian-ish storyline, right?

The show featured a gay relationship in 1996, with characters Eoghan and Liam sharing Ireland's first same-sex onscreen kiss. Now, it's the ladies' turn.

Thanks to reader Roisin, we learned that last week's episode involved Yvonne (Ciara O'Callaghan), who has the reputation as the show's bitchiest character, coming back from Australia and frenching some mystery woman who comes to her apartment, bags in hand. Someone she met during her years in Australia, perhaps?

This is shocking news for many reasons: First, Yvonne has a history of being involved with a lot of different men. Viewers have seen her get divorced, have various relationships, including one with a man who got her pregnant, which caused her to run off to Australia in the first place.

There's a lot of hype over the upcoming film Black Swan for a number of reasons. First, it's being helmed by The Wrestler director Darren Aronofsky. Second, it stars Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. And third, the two stars are intended to have pretty hot on-screen sex.

At least, if the film follows the current script.

According to the blog ScriptShadow, the way the Black Swan script is currently, the scene would involve "...not just nice sweet innocent sex either. We're talking ecstasy-induced hungry aggressive angry sex."

If you think it seems like forever since Project Runway's fifth season ended, I'm right there with you. The hit Heidi Klum-hosted fashion design reality show makes it's long awaited return tonight, making its move from Bravo to Lifetime official with the season six premiere.

But, before the new season starts, there will be an All Star Challenge episode, where past season favorites (like drag aficionado Chris March, neck tattooed Jeffery Sebelia, Brandy boyfriend Mychael Knight and should-have-been-last-season's winner, Korto Momolu) compete for 100 grand — again.

Here's a preview:

Having gone to college where The Time Traveler's Wife author, Audrey Niffenegger, teaches, I read the book pretty soon after it came out. The campus was all abuzz about the debut novel, and after Oprah included it in her book club (which is usually a turn-off), I decided I better see what all the fuss was about.

If you haven't read it, you probably know enough by now: It's a love story. It involves time traveling, which is a totally ridiculous notion, but the way Niffenegger writes it, you never once question it as a fact.

The movie finally came out last weekend, and sure, it wasn't as good (or detailed, or passionate, or emotional) as the novel, that was no surprise. Movie adaptations are almost never as good as the original, written version, but having Rachel McAdams involved certainly didn't hurt.

The new film Grace, starring B-movie actress Jordan Ladd, sounds kind of disturbing. The feature, based on the six-minute film starring Brian Austin Green from writer/director Paul Solet, is being talked about as not quite a horror movie, but ultimately bizarre, gruesome and hard-to-watch.

According to MTV News, Ladd plays Madeline, a pregnant vegan, new-age woman who forgoes her mother-in-law's insistence on traditional medicine/doctors to help her along her pregnancy. Instead, she goes with a midwife, Patricia (Samantha Ferris), who used to be her teacher — and "lesbian lover."

Oh boy. Surely, her husband, Michael can't be cool with that. But, judging from everything written about this film so far, he doesn't stick around for long, if you know what I mean.

Kate Winslet is a huge, super-talented, Oscar-winning, red-carpet-walking megastar who is on the top of her game. She's arguably one of the most highly-respected (not to mention naturally beautiful) actresses of our time. Her success last year with The Reader and Revolutionary Road had solidified all of that even more. There's no where for her to go but up, right?

However, I was skeptical when I read Winslet's next gig is going to be as a star in a new — wait for it — miniseries.

Yes, you read that right. Now, we know that a lot of miniseries usually feature lesser-known (read: washed-up) actors and actresses, but it's been confirmed today that Winslet will star in Mildred Pierce, based on the James M. Cain novel, that will likely play on HBO (though that's not yet confirmed).

Though recent miniseries like Grey Gardens and John Adams seemed to break the stereotype of miniseries basically being long films that aren't quite good enough for the theater, their stars like Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange and Paul Giamatti, respectively, aren't quite the same caliber as Winslet — at least in my opinion.

When Kanye West was first spotted with his new, bad-ass girlfriend with a shaved head, Amber Rose, the gossip started immediately. Everyone talked about Rose the stripper, Rose the gold-digger, and, of course, Rose the lesbian.

But there's more to her than that. Kanye's on-again/off-again girlfriend is featured in the new issue of Complex magazine, called "Women are Complex, Too." The magazine also decided to do an extensive, web-exclusive interview and photoshoot with the new Ford model, where she's quite candid about all the gossip, Kanye, and girls.

First, here's the video:

In the interview, Rose addressed her perceived sexuality:

They label me a bisexual freak stripper that f---s Kanye on a daily basis. To answer that: I’m extremely open with my sexuality. I can be in love with a woman, I can be in love with a man. I’m not into bestiality, but as far as humans go, I definitely find beauty in everybody, whether they’re heavy-set, super-skinny, if they’re white, black, Indian, Asian, Spanish.

Tegan and Sara are working through their collective dysfunction to bring us the follow-up to 2007's The Con. Can you believe it's been that long? (Probably not, since they've been touring on the album for an eternity.)

But Sainthood, their sixth studio album, is due out Oct. 27, and according to an interview with Stereogum, we can expect some big changes, musically. For starters, the album, produced again by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla, will be the sisters' first to include songs they wrote together — in the same city, at the same time.

On her experience collaborating with her sister for a week in New Orleans, Sara says:

I've never written a song when someone's in the room or around or in the house. I'm a total weirdo! It really triggered the womb. I was like, "Get out of my space, seriously." But I don't blame the dysfunction of our sister relationship. I blame the dysfunction of us as individuals.