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Home » Blogs » StuntDouble's blog » Ilene Chaiken teams up with The CW for "Confessions of a Backup Dancer"

Ilene Chaiken teams up with The CW for "Confessions of a Backup Dancer"

by
StuntDouble

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you stuck Princess Diaries, Center Stage and Ilene Chaiken in a blender and pressed "frappe"? Well, you're about to find out. The CW is teaming up with The L Word creator to produce a drama based on the teen novel Confessions of a Backup Dancer.

I may be using the word "novel" a little too loosely. Confessions of a Backup Dancer makes Cecily von Ziegesar's Gossip Girl books look like Pulitzer Prize-winning literature. In fact, Confessions of a Backup Dancer makes Junie B. Jones' first grade journal look like Pulitzer Prize-winning literature.

See for yourself:

Junie B. Jones, seven years old, in Junie B. Jones, First Grader at Last.

Kelly Kimball, 17 years old, in Confessions of a Backup Dancer.

The premise of Confessions is that Kelly Kimball takes a job as a backup dancer for pop superstar Darcy Barnes. They become best pals until Darcy's mom, Darla, kicks Kelly out of the show, and she is forced to take a position with an opposing dance troupe. The story is told through Kelly's entries in her personal diary software.

It sounds like The CW's version is going to be a little different. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Confessions will "explore the glamorous and gritty behind-the-scenes world of a major pop tour from the point of view of the star's troupe of backing dancers."

And, of course, it doesn't really matter if the the book is crap. I mean, look at Gossip Girl. The CW has adapted von Ziegesar's sophomoric writing into the Greatest Show Ever. What really matters is that the script writer — in this case, Ilene Chaiken — is adept at creating authentic, well-rounded characters and is able to tell organic stories the audience can relate to.

Ruh-roh. Sounds like Confessions is already in trouble!

Or, you know, maybe not. Maybe Chaiken's move to the CW signals the time to wipe the slate clean and give her another chance to win our affection. Everyone makes mistakes. Maybe she's ready to learn from the debacle of the last few seasons of The L Word and bring us something fresh and entertaining. With her at the helm of Confessions of a Backup Dancer, we just might get ourselves an actual lesbian teen on TV.

We'll just have to cross our fingers that Chaiken doesn't kill her.

What do you think about CW's plan to team up with Ilene Chaiken?

  • StuntDouble's blog
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    • Submitted by
    StuntDouble
    on October 15, 2009 - 5:00pm.
    TAGS :: 
    erika :]'s picture

    oh god

    Submitted by
    erika :] (54 posts)
    on October 15, 2009 - 5:13pm.

    im so effing tired of dancing shit and pop sensations...

    i mean, really?  REALLY?

    schilbo's picture

    Mr. Scary

    Submitted by
    schilbo (11 posts)
    on October 15, 2009 - 5:38pm.
    I think Mr. Scary should be on this show.
    lesbian scales's picture

    Don't do it CW!!!

    Submitted by
    lesbian scales (2257 posts)
    on October 15, 2009 - 5:40pm.
    She'll just end killing everybody off one by one, she's craaaazzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!.
    butch_in_canada's picture

    Not into backup dancing

    Submitted by
    butch_in_canada (11 posts)
    on October 15, 2009 - 6:01pm.
    I"d rather see another film or series about lesbians...
    mildlypeeledpotatoes's picture

    stop it chaiken! i've had

    Submitted by
    mildlypeeledpotatoes (76 posts)
    on October 15, 2009 - 6:07pm.
    stop it chaiken! i've had enough!
    wyle e coyote's picture

    Ruh-roh is right

    Submitted by
    wyle e coyote (95 posts)
    on October 15, 2009 - 6:08pm.

    Stop giving this woman things to do!!!!!!!!!!!!

     

     

    "Every time two lesbians kiss, an angel gets its wings." --Roseanne

    brackishtea's picture

    I will check back later when

    Submitted by
    brackishtea (1258 posts)
    on October 15, 2009 - 6:31pm.

    I will check back later when there is more Ilene Chaiken bashing because I find it funny.

     

    Melissa Hsu's picture

    it is funny, isn't it?

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on October 15, 2009 - 6:45pm.

    ahahahahahaha

    I just think it's also amusing...

    Well, I think she's crazy as much as the next person, but I always end up cheking it in the end...so, who am I kiddin? sure I'll watch it..I wouldn't be surprised if the dancer ended up dead, though...

    Melissa Hsu's picture

    What's the

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on October 15, 2009 - 7:52pm.

    What's the point?  How can you go from creating intelligent gripping drama (L word-excluding last season, which was shite! may I add), to "Confessions.... of..... a .....backup .........dancer"?

    "Confessions of an executive producer selling her creative integrity for more mind numbing shit TV"

     

    WooGirl's picture

    oh my oh my.

    Submitted by
    WooGirl (4 posts)
    on October 15, 2009 - 8:32pm.

    this.... sounds like its gunna be a debacle.

    Dear Ilene Chaiken,

    please quit while u are ahead. 

    (((and before raging lesbians catch up to you seeking revenge for the way u ended the l word. )))

    Beckee's picture

    I don't know how many more

    Submitted by
    Beckee (119 posts)
    on October 15, 2009 - 11:12pm.

    I don't know how many more dumb,unstimulating and unexciting shows does the CW want to air further and get axed before they get the message???

    Just take a look at the biggest flop 'The Beautiful Life'.

    jordan-writes's picture

    O.M.G. I'm so excited for this!!!

    Submitted by
    jordan-writes (256 posts)
    on October 15, 2009 - 11:12pm.

    Not. And to think, if The L Word had never ended there would be no one intelligent enough to produce a show like this. Leave it to the Chaikenator to help us all feel a little better about what we are doing in our own lives, one television show at a time.

    http://jordan-writes.blogspot.com/

    xseducedx's picture

    No

    Submitted by
    xseducedx (5 posts)
    on October 16, 2009 - 1:44am.

    I don't think I've ever been so not interested in something.

     

    xoxo

    notshane's picture

    ditto

    Submitted by
    notshane (333 posts)
    on October 16, 2009 - 1:35pm.

    I am so with you here! And Chaiken's name just ups the snooze factor.

    Does anyone on AE really want to know what Chaiken is up to anymore? I think not.

    strict machine's picture

    i like knowing

    Submitted by
    strict machine (4553 posts)
    on October 16, 2009 - 2:01pm.
    its like terrorwatch but for tv
    Karen's picture

    I am so...

    Submitted by
    Karen (8 posts)
    on October 16, 2009 - 7:25am.

    I am so tired of Ilene.

    Ilene....you have to... STOP!!!

    TampaStephie's picture

    Pathetic...

    Submitted by
    TampaStephie (34 posts)
    on October 16, 2009 - 8:09am.

    This sounds pathetic. I don't understand IC's motives here except $$$$$.  Yep, I'll bet that's it. 

    balaustine's picture

    I'd Rather See...

    Submitted by
    balaustine (89 posts)
    on October 16, 2009 - 9:39am.
    Junie B. Jones.  She's way more hardcore. 
    FOJO's picture

    nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

    Submitted by
    FOJO (113 posts)
    on October 16, 2009 - 3:24pm.

    Hey, I wonder what would happen if AE stopped reporting the latest "this n' that" on Chaiken for a while?

    What would happen if her les/bi fanbase ignored her for a little bit? Think she'd notice or care?

    akiraj's picture

    Um

    Submitted by
    akiraj (197 posts)
    on October 16, 2009 - 3:36pm.
    That book is horrible- it sounds & looks like Chaiken would have wrote when she was 5- somewhere around the time of The L Word.Except for ANTM there are no good shows on the CW so maybe that's the best place for Ms. Ilene.

     

    -------
    ¿Por qué pueden ser personas no justo? ¡Disfrute de la vida- es maldita sea es! (Why can't people just be? Enjoy life- be damn it- be!)

    roc's picture

    Ilene?

    Submitted by
    roc (294 posts)
    on October 18, 2009 - 1:29pm.

    I'm all for Ilene bringing a good dance sequence or two back to the small screen. After all, Carmen's lap dance with Shane was pure choreographed gold:) (I'll never forgive Shane for answering the phone right when things got interesting - hrrrump) Anyway, I know Carmen's dance had everything to do with Ms. Shahi and very little to do with Ms. Chaiken but I'm looking for positives here

    Is it safe to ask the CW if we can we count on a few lesbian or bi-female characters? Maybe one of the dancers killed Jenny....  

    ducati's picture

    ...

    Submitted by
    ducati (38 posts)
    on October 21, 2009 - 5:51pm.
    Who is greenlighting Ilene?  She is as bad as Catherine Hardwicke!

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