Due to technical difficulties, Michelle was unable to complete her Exes
& Ohs video blog this week, so she sent me a written version instead.
Don't worry, she's just as cute and rambly when she writes as she is when she
talks, but Michelle will be back with her regularly scheduled video blog programming
next week.
Greetings
Hi everyone! And greetings from someplace in the Pacific Ocean … I’m
writing this episode 3 blog from the Olivia cruise ship. Sadly we’ve had
some technical difficulties with the video blogs I filmed and sent in from New
York. Normally, they’d be easy to re-send for posting — but there’s
that little matter of floating around in the middle of nowhere and relying on
satellites to connect me to the Internet … satellites which are slow enough
to allow you to eat an entire meal between the time you hit the enter button
and the time a page actually finishes loading. You could probably also do the
dishes. Fortunately, on a cruise ship, they don’t make you do your own
dishes. But you get the point.
The Video Blog You Missed
That said, you’re missing out on what I’m sure was a thrilling 3rd
installment. You would have seen me drop my water bottle on a grate in Times
Square, answer questions from the comfort of my hotel bed (get your minds out
of the gutter; I was fully clothed), and wonder aloud about the purpose of the
padded headboard, which was made to look like a Renaissance painting complete
with gilded gold frame. Though to be fair, I suppose if I have to wonder about
the purpose of a padded headboard designed to look like a Renaissance painting
in a gilded gold frame, perhaps I’m not the target audience for such a
headboard.
Like I said, I’m sure it was a thrilling video blog...
But instead, you’ll have to make due with a written version. I’ll
try to keep the rambling spirit of the originals by promising you, AfterEllen.com’s
faithful readers, that I will not do the writerly thing and go back and edit
this piece so it sounds more sparkly, interesting, or grammatically correct.
And I promise that next week’s installment will actually be a video blog,
even if I have to fly back to New York to film it in the AfterEllen.com offices.
Knowing my luck, I’d arrive during lunch hour — but I’d persevere.
Okay, all of that said … here we go …
The Episode 3 Story
I’ll start this the way I’ve been starting the video blogs, with
a little story about episode 3. As you may remember, much of the episode took
place in a bowling alley. Well, what you can’t tell from watching the
show is that it was pouring rain while we were shooting. POURING. As in so much
rain that if you went outside without galoshes, your feet would be soaked in
seconds. As in so much rain that umbrellas were basically useless. As in so
much rain that the taptaptaptaptaptapping of it on the skylight was so loud
that it interrupted filming. Someone had to take care of it. Someone had to
be our superhero for the day … and that someone turned out to be several
someones from the crew. I noticed that the sound had nearly gone away and when
I looked back up at the skylight, that’s when I saw them up on the roof
covering the skylight with a huge tarp. (Remember the part about how much it
was raining? Yeah, they were out there in the middle of it!) They were troopers
and went way beyond the call of duty … and thanks to them, you got to see
bowling scenes free from an annoying taptaptaptap in the background.
Ta da! The episode 3 story!!!
Okay, well, there are probably a million other stories I could tell, but let’s
make sure this doesn’t turn into War and Peace …
YOUR QUESTIONS … ANSWERED!
From: RELvoxballroom
Re: Whether the cast hangs out after shooting
Well, RELvoxballroom (may I call you “Vox?”), let me start by saying
that yours was the question I was in the process of answering when I dropped
my water bottle in Times Square. No connection between your question and the
subsequent water-bottle-droppage, but I thought you might like to know that.
Anyhow, Vox, on to your question … Yes, many of the cast members hung out
together after shooting. They’d get dinner or do stuff on the weekends,
which was nice because not everyone was familiar with Vancouver. Some people
even stayed in touch after we wrapped and have hung out together since then
because they’ve become friends in real life. Isn’t that sweet? Yeah,
I know, it’s a bit saccharine-sounding, but it’s true …
From: weirfan
Re: Fanfiction for the show
Um, hi weirfan, my name is Michelle Paradise and I am tragically un-hip and
un-cool (insert chorus of “Hi Michelle’s” here). This explains
why I’m not familiar with some of the basics in life, like how to use
a Mac, whether these shoes go with this outfit, and how fanfiction works —
or, really, what it is. Well, okay, I can make some pretty good guesses …
that it’s fiction written by fans of a show (thus the term fanfiction),
but I didn’t know anyone had written anything about Exes &
Ohs. Hey, that’s neat! (wait, “neat”??? … see
my first statement about being un-hip and un-cool … and on a sidenote,
if I ever resort to saying that something is “the bee’s knees,”
please put me out of my misery). That said, I’m really happy to hear that
fanfiction writers are enjoying Exes & Ohs and getting fodder
for their stories — so thank you for letting me know!!!
From: Flower4
Re: If being in Seattle and having to wear a sweater made me itchy
Well, Seattle in and of itself doesn’t make me itchy … and sweaters
don’t make me itchy unless they’re wool … Actually, what usually
makes me itchy is a rash. I’ve never gotten a bad one — except for
the time I got hives for seemingly no reason, and that was pretty uncomfortable
— but other than that I’ve never had a bad rash. And even though
wool sweaters make me itchy, I still own them and wear them. I’m quite
a fan of the mighty sweater … probably one of the reasons fall is my favorite
season. That and the fact that leaves look really pretty when they change colors.
Not that you’d know about leaves changing color if you live in Los Angeles
(typically, trees are green all year and then one day they turn brown and most
of the leaves drop off, but by then the other leaves are already growing green
again). And yes, Paradise is my real last name. And yes, this was an incredibly
rambly answer but, as promised, I’m not going back to edit it and make
myself look better.
From: moviegrl
Re: If we’ll get more background for the characters in the future
Yes, yes, yes! In fact, there’s some interesting background info on the
Chris and Kris characters coming up in the next episode (so stay tuned). And
on a sidenote, thank you for asking! ?
From: Hope, and ufos_are_real
Re: If Beever Café t-shirts will be made
You’re not the first two people to bring this up, so I’ve let the
good folks at Logo know that both of you — along with a few people you’ve
never met, and a few Beings From Other Worlds — have been asking about
t-shirts. The Logo folks said something about the first batch being stolen by
the BFOWs, who were understandably impatient after their long trip across the
galaxy and just couldn’t bear to wait any longer for their Beever shirts.
We don’t hold it against them (in my opinion, anything that will promote
the show is a good thing, even if the Exes & Ohs video signal
won’t reach them for another five thousand years …). I’ll keep
you posted on the possibility of shirts for the rest of us … but in the
meantime, just a friendly reminder that if there’s ever anything you want
that’s related to a Logo show, they’d love to hear from you at www.logoonline.com.
From: Renee
Re: If I’m ever worried that someone I know will be offended if I use
a semi-real situation in a script
Excellent question … Well, let me start by saying that much of what you
see on screen doesn’t come from actual situations at all; rather, most
material comes from the characters themselves and where they are in their lives.
There are times, though, when a real situation makes its way into a script because
it’s just the right thing for the character. But in those cases, I’m
incredibly careful to fictionalize the material in a way that’s appropriate.
I’d never want my friends or family — or anyone else’s friends
or family — to have to worry about seeing their lives on screen.
From: mg23
Re: Feeling guilty when my breakfast got cold
You should feel guilty, mg23. If it weren’t for you, I’d have enjoyed
a hot breakfast. But because of you, my eggs got cold; and as you pointed out,
cold eggs are terrible. So I didn’t eat them. And that made me blood-sugar-challenged,
which caused me to pass out while driving, which caused me to run into a fire
hydrant, which then got me arrested for reckless driving and damage to public
property, and at the moment I’m writing this not from the Olivia cruise
(I lied) but from the basement of a Seattle jail, where I can still hear foghorns
and boat horns and seagulls, and where I now find myself dreaming of cold eggs
in spite of myself …
Until Next Time …
Okay, well that’s probably plenty. Thanks for reading — and I hope
you appreciated the thoughtful and handy-dandy headers to let you skip around
easily. Until next time, have a great week!!
Aww, you're adorable...
... unfortunately, I still haven't been able to see episode 2 and 3. Which pisses me off, because I loved the first one and now I can't satisfy my starting addiction. But hey, your videoblogs (even when they're written) and Dara's recaps make up for it. Almost.
Hey, I know! You can cheer me up by saying something in Dutch. Try "hoe gaat het?". That means "how are you" and I've heard it's really difficult for Americans to pronounce. Ellen once tried to say it to Famke Janssen: http://youtube.com/watch?v=WlLO_-CjsoM . Anyway. Hope to see a vlog again soon! xx
Thanx
for doing this this way. That's very sweet and thoughtful of you. And it's as funny as the vlog. Your vlog and Dara's recaps are my only way of catching up what's going on Exes & Ohs, since I'm also not able to watch it anymore! *cries for the xth time* Oh well, can't wait for the next vlog! take care, greetings from germany.
~'Thanks for nothin'...~
Aww!
I really do hope that this week's vlog gets fixed (at some later date) and re-uploaded here, because your rambling is so cute I'm sure the vlog would be too-cute-for words.
So is Olivia the cruise ship real? (I thought it was real until you inserted that (I lied) bit near the end)
(Of course that doesn't need an answer : P)
***
"I'm so sorry for the things that they've done
I'm so sorry about what we've all become."
[Editors - Well worn hands]
Olivia Cruises
Olivia is a lesbian travel company that features lesbian cruises with lesbian celebrities/entertainment. So Michelle Paradise probably was on an Olivia cruise. Here's there website:
http://www.olivia.com/
~ Angie
http://www.watchersgames.net
intergalactic thievery
well i guess im going to have to have a little talk with those beings from other worlds. really now, as an advanced civilization you think they would be able to take direction. i explicitly told them to retrieve the shirts and bring them straight back to me.. alas.. ive never seen them since...
thanks michelle for checking on them though : )
Michelle you're still funny w/o vlog
It's ok Michelle, we forgive you. You're just as funny as you were in vlogs. If you do make vlog next week for us loyal fans, you'll differently rock AE. It's great you answer our Q&A, most celebs don't take the time to do so. I'm glad one of readers asked about the background characters cause I wanna know Jen and Crutch's background as well.
thanks :)
thanks for answering my question michelle!
for everyone else...a good friend and co-worker of mine is actually staying with angie featherstone right now (i know...i'm so jealous!) in LA, and angie mentioned that a good way to ensure the show keeps going is to go to logoonline and search for "exes and ohs" so that logo knows the show is popular.
i'm sure this has been mentioned before but just thought i'd encourage everyone who likes the show to do it.
Thanks
for mentioning this. I just re-visit Logoonline and it looks like online episodes are available for UK viewers now! (At least I'm in the UK and can watch it.)
*Finger-crossed* that this isn't because of some temporary problem that makes the site unable to detect that I'm a non-US viewer : P
***
"I'm so sorry for the things that they've done
I'm so sorry about what we've all become."
[Editors - Well worn hands]
Love the vlog
I love the rambling. I think it's adorable so thanks for keeping it in even when you are writing. Thanks for taking the time to write it out. It must suck doing twice the work for one vlog. I appreciate it.
Oh, and as a side note; I saw you in the video for the Dante's Cove premiere and you look damn sexy in your glasses. So never doubt that.
Sweet.
Writing is just as good.
thanks for the written blog....
Michelle u are a genius!
is that a little over the top? well I don't care, to me you are :)
The fight between Jen & Sam was pretty damn good writing, I didn't even blink, u managed to trap me all the way through (and I do get easily distracted)
I really think you should make the episodes longer hehehe, u always leave me wanting more and then I have to wait a WHOLE week, I think that'a a good thing, huh?
and is there a posibility that Sam and Jen try to be in a relationship again? or do they really mean it when they say they are better off as bffs?
anywho, u are adorable, love ur blogs, love ur written blogs, love ur show, love u :)
"i don't suffer from insanity...i enjoy every minute of it"
cold eggs
I am still laughing out loud about that answer :) I've seen you referred to as an actor, director, and writer - and of course "hottie" - but did you ever do stand up comedy? It would seem you are a total natural!
Anyway, thanks for answering my itchy question ... although I never expected that you would, and certainly not with the extra bonus of your explanation of the seasons in LA! Now, tell us all about your cruise!
video
Aww :)
You're so sweet! Your blog is so funny, even if it's not a video. And don't say you're un-cool, the cool thing about you is that you're not trying to be cool =D
But please, PLEASE, can we get to see the video blog too? With the bottle dropping and NY? I'm sure nobody will mind if it's late, or even next week...
Thanks =)
Did you meet Lily?
Hi Michelle,
So, I was just checking out the Olivia site and saw that Lily Tomlin was one of the entertainers on the cruise. Did you get to meet her? Was she fab-u-lous?
Do tell!
BTW: Love Exes and Ohs and your short!
download help needed
Hi there,
does any of you know, whether it is possible to donwload "Exes and Ohs" from I-tunes, even if you are not an US-Citizen? Actually, I'd really like to spend some money on this show... I'd just need to know how ;-)
Thanks in advance
Re: "un-hip and un-cool"
*chorus of “Hi Michelle’s”*
Well, Hi, I'm Debbie [insert last name here:P] and have to agree about the mac (don't have one, but I'm suspicious of how it sounds *too* good from what the mac guy on tv keeps saying), and I'm totally bad with shoes and matching them to outfits, it's just a matter of if I have socks on or not and the pair (out of four) that I can find first to put on. Your guess is correct, and fanfiction is just basically fans amusing themselves borrowing their favorite characters, no money is made from it, and it's great to hear you're excited about it. I was actually surprised to find some, because the piece I did find came two days after the pilot aired in the US, which was rather fast.
On the subject of fanfiction, as in if you ever decide to seek some for any fandom, there are terms that are widely used that fans mark their fics with that I guess confuse people who actually have lives .(:P) So in terms of coupling there's 'het' (heterosexual), 'slash' (homosexual, usually refers to male couples but is usable for lesbian), then 'femmeslash' (the term that is no doubt meaning it's a lesbian coupling). Then there's a couple acronyms, 'AU' (Alternate Universe, which can be anything that has nothing to do with cannon fandom), and 'PWP' (Plot, What Plot?, usually means 'smut' which equals porn) If you decide to actually read fanfiction in general, fair warning that it can be weird depending on what fandom you're looking into, but there are lots of good writers out there that right un-weird stuff.
Heh, I've sat here for a while explaining various fanfiction terms , and you say that *you're* 'un-cool'. ;P
Just wanted to tell you that even though it wasn't a video, this blog was still great, your just as great rambly writing then on video, thank for everything. I really like the episode by the way and I don't know if you're planning on actually putting Jen and Sam back together, but sorry their 'we're better as just friends' was kind of unconvincing in the way that they really aren't, might just be me though. I love it either way, and as usual can't wait for more (hopefully the DVR records the whole episode this time)
One degree of seperation!
There really is only one degree, two tops between all lesbians of the world!! I saw you on the "were getting nowhere blog" with Karman, Dara, and Jill and you all seemed like you were close friends. Do all hollywood lesbians actually know each other in real life?
P.S. you look really! hot in glasses!!!!
"False beliefs lead to real consequences"
loved this scene
loved loved loved the scene marni has this week when she told Jenn off.. so real. And so poignant when marni confessed her heart's only broken once... and we knew who that was right off!
Sam needs Becca! DeBuono has the chemistry with Marni that's lacking with those other women! Bring Becca back!
I agree
Hi Michelle
Hi Michelle, I've been watching (or this week reading) your blog and finally got around to checking out the first episode on Logo. Now I want more! I'm in the UK so can not get to see the rest, guess I will have to wait for the dvd!
How easy was it to get funding for X & O's as it is all about lesbians it must have been difficult. How would you have financed it, got it filmed and put out there if Logo didn't exist? I have no idea how any of this works but, I imagine gay programmes especially exclusively lesbian ones are hard to market to buyers etc.
As a writer of the show what was it about Jen's character that attracted you to play her? Are you like her in any way. Just wondering why you didn't play one of the other characters.
Finally, do you choose the cast? If so do your hormones play a part in this? Lol! You don't have to answer this but you can choose who to make out with!! Just theoretically of course! Will get my head out of the gutter now, sorry.
No seriously, do you have an idea of characteristics or looks of a character when you write so when you meet an actor you know right away that they're the one. Or do you wait for them to act to see if they embody the character with no formal idea on what your looking for?
oh michelle...
Your True Hollywood Story
I'd ask a question but my (question mark) key is not working
Do you answer every
Do you answer every question?
Love Pussy xx
thanks for answering my question
:)
Any chances
Seeing as both her Ex and her Oh were in the short)No no, I never said that. All I'm saying is that she's free now and surely a lesbian fave. I couldn't possibly be the only one dying to see her in a lesbian role again.Question???
tonight's show
Adorableness Estimatation Exceeded
You are SO cute!
I am not sure where you will be reading comments so I will post this hear and on your newer vlog.
I made an account just for you because you are so sweet and adorable and have gorgeous blue eyes. Which brings me to my first question. Are you single? Not like I have a shot but I was just wondering. Also, I love your show so much. I just got to see your movie short and it was so great. Love the Rules. Have you ever thought of writting a book? I loved your written blog almost as much as your video blogs. You have a wonderful way of writing that makes me want to keep reading. Also I love the "rambling"-keep it coming. I ramble all the time-like I am doing right now.
So I do have some questions for you:
1. Do you film in front of an audience? Where is the show taped?
2.I've been to Seattle, it is amazing. Would you ever do a show centered around the Space Needle? Maybe eating in the awesome rotating restaurant on the top?
3.How many episodes are you going to have in a season?
4. How many episodes have been taped so far?
Love you! Keep up the awesomeness!
Rachael
P.S. Would you ever consider doing a contest where a fan can win the chance to meet you and maybe have lunch or go on the set?
question on process
Hey, hope you enjoyed the cruise....
..and thanks for taking the time out to provide us with your charming entertainment :)
My question is, would you happen to know when is the due date for the release of this first season? DVD is the only way I'm going to be able to watch this, and I can't wait! Well, I could wait if I have to, I'd just rather not wait too long....but....yeah
Hee hee...
This comment was too funny!!!
"Hey, that’s neat! (wait, “neat”??? … see my first statement about being un-hip and un-cool … and on a sidenote, if I ever resort to saying that something is “the bee’s knees,” please put me out of my misery)."
Great Vlog Michelle, thanks!
Love the sweater and cold
Love the sweater and cold eggs rants. Uncontrolled rambling makes me very happy.
x Rage More x