Is there such a thing as entertainment gaydar? Recently I came across an old friend on Facebook, whom I hadn’t seen in over a decade. Over the years, I’d wondered if perhaps she was gay — and once she had added me as a friend, I'll admit that I clicked over to her profile, curious to see if there would be anything about her sexual orientation there. While there wasn’t anything explicitly stated, I did see with interest that she listed The L Word as one of her favorite shows, and Brokeback Mountain and Chasing Amy as two of her favorite movies.

Now, entertainment gaydar, like any other gaydar, is based on stereotypes — and thus is bound to be somewhat unreliable. After all, there are plenty of straight people who like both The L Word and Brokeback Mountain. (And, actually, I think disliking Chasing Amy is probably a clearer sign of being a lesbian than liking it.) Nevertheless, this whole episode got me thinking about what a person’s tastes in entertainment may or may not say about her sexual orientation. And, using the popular AfterEllen.com forum thread "I’m so gay/I’m so not gay" as an inspiration, I decided to see how my tastes would stack up in the “stereotypically lesbianish” department.

To start off with the “I’m so not gay” category (hey, I may as well get the bit that will make me unpopular out of the way first):

1. I'll admit it — I don’t totally get the Tina Fey thing.

The fact that scribegrrrl, Dorothy Snarker, and Sarah Warn are all fans is enough to convince me that I must be missing something here — and who knows, maybe one day I will see the light. But I’ve seen 30 Rock, and the thing that amused me most about it was Alec Baldwin. (Who, whatever else he may or may not be, is definitively not lesbianish.)

2. I don’t watch The L Word.

The women on The L Word may be gay, but I’ve discovered that that, in and of itself, isn’t enough to make me identify with or deeply care about them. A little good writing goes an awfully long way.

3. I think Desert Hearts is a snooze-fest. … continue reading

Good news for those of us who, perhaps surprisingly, became fans of Lifetime's Army Wives last summer.

Cynopsis, a TV trade site, reported last week that Army Wives is about to start production of its second season. That means we'll get to see the second season by early summer. Although I doubt you need a reminder of what, or, rather, who makes this show DVR-worthy, let's review.

Kim Delaney

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For years, Strangers in Paradise fans have speculated about a movie or television series based on the adventures — and love story — of Katchoo and Francine.

I didn't really expect it to happen, mainly because I couldn't imagine a producer who could fully appreciate the genius of Terry Moore's storytelling. But at last weekend's Xena convention, Steven Sears, who produced Xena, announced that he and Moore are working together to bring a live action version of SiP to television. Sounds like a match made in, well, paradise.

Sears and Moore got to know each other after the SiP issue in which Francine and Katchoo appeared as Xena and Gabrielle.

Once Moore finished the comic series — marvelously, I might add — he decided to get in touch with Sears and actively pursue making a TV show. Of course, the writers' strike has to end and they have to find a studio and make a pilot and get the series picked up and other minor details, but I can't help being excited about the prospect. And I can't help imagining who will play Francine and Katchoo. … continue reading

Wrap-up report on the 2008 Xena Convention in Burbank! To see all Xena Con posts, click here.

Another Xena: Warrior Princess convention is over -- this one was the 13th, and that's apparently Xena's lucky number, because from the opening day to the close, and including Lucy's two sold-out concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, it was a love-fest all around.

KT and I could pretend to you all that it was just another day at the office, but that would be a lie. We're fans. The upside of that is that we have a unique insight to share with you, but the downside is that apparently I turn to mush whenever I'm around Lucy and Renee. Fortunately, when I spoke to them backstage on Saturday, they helped me remain standing:

Before losing all power of speech, I interviewed Lucy and Renee for a forthcoming article on AfterEllen.com. I also spoke with X:WP writer and Army Wives writer/creator Katherine Fugate (who promised us an upcoming story arc featuring Renee as a lesbian). … continue reading

It's been nearly seven years since the final episode of Xena graced the airwaves. Apparently, Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert have experienced what one might consider to be a seven-year itch. Raimi recently inked a deal with Dinsey and ABC Studios to produce 22 episodes of a new fantasy series for syndication called Wizard's First Rule. The TV series will be based on Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth series of novels.

When Xena and Gabrielle faded to black in 2001, so did the heyday of first-run fantasy shows in syndication. And since my favorite warrior took her leave, I've been not-so-patiently waiting for my next chance to see such exploits each and every week. Naturally, upon hearing of this series and the two men who will produce it, I began having flashbacks to happier TV times.

I know absolutely nothing about Terry Goodkind and his little book series, so I did some surfing to learn about what I might get to see when this new endeavor reaches the air. Naturally, I was hoping for a warrior woman with a fiesty female sidekick, but I was not deluded enough to believe that I would be that lucky. … continue reading

More live-blogging of the Xena Convention in Burbank! To see all Xena Con posts, click here.

It's the third and final day of the convention. I've just updated yesterday's entry about Lucy and Renee's appearance with photos, here.

I missed Steven Sears' second appearance -- but I had a good reason which I"ll get to later. Right now, it's time for Zoe Bell!

For those who don't know her, she was Lucy Lawless' stunt double, as well as Uma Thurman's in "Kill Bill." She's doubled for Sharon Stone and did some of the stuntwork in "Catwoman," and was featured in a documentary about her, "Double Dare." She'll also be acting and doing her own stunts in the upcoming season of "Lost." … continue reading

More live-blogging of the Xena Convention in Burbank! To see all Xena Con posts, click here.

Lucy Lawless gave her second in a weekend of sold-out concerts at LA's Roxy Theater last night. She sang the same set of rock favorites with some country flavoring thrown in, and goofed around with Xena co-star Renee O'Connor after a repeat of their duet on "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around."

Lucy jazzed things up a bit Saturday with a pair of glitter chaps. Lucy in chaps is one of the seven wonders of my personal world, so it was worth the trek to Hollywood in one of the worst rainstorms in recent Southern California memory, even without another of the wonders of the world: Renee O'Connor. Dancing in a purple suede fringed dress. … continue reading

More live-blogging of the Xena Convention in Burbank! To see all Xena Con posts, click here.

We're back at Day 2 of the convention with XWP producers R. J. Stewart and out lesbian Liz Friedman, both wearing WGA pins -- Liz is a strike captain.

I was backstage talking to Lucy and Renee -- reports to come, and photos -- during Ted Raimi's appearance, so no Joxer fix. Sorry. I also missed the very beginning of R. J. and Liz, although I understand he took some heat over Xena's death at the end of the series.

Jumping right in with a question asked of Liz about lesbian TV today:

"I can't stop walking the L Word, but it's awful. It's the worst written show on TV. It's not a good show. And Cashmere Mafia, they suckered us in with the pilot, but by episode three she's flirting with guys again." … continue reading

More live-blogging of the Xena Convention in Burbank! To see all Xena Con posts, click here.

The crowd is getting warmed up by an auction of memorabilia... although the crowd's actually maybe a little bit hot already. Thirty minutes until Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor take the stage. … continue reading

More live-blogging of the Xena Convention in Burbank! To see all Xena Con posts, click here.

Lucy Lawless made her fans very very happy last night at a packed concert at LA's legendary Roxy. She sang an eclectic set of rock-tinged favorites, with a smaller band and a more intimate vibe than last year's more razzle-dazzle, post-Celebrity Duets show.

And she made them -- oh, who am I kidding, she made us -- more than happy when Xena co-star Renee O'Connor came out on stage to sing a duet of Stevie Nicks/Tom Petty rocker "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around." … continue reading

Live-blogging the Xena Convention in Burbank! To see all Xena Con posts, click here.

Burbank, CA is the unofficial headquarters of the Lesbian Nation this weekend -- and the site of the official 13th Annual Xena: Warrior Princess Convention, which begins at 12:20 PM Pacific Time this afternoon.

Today we've got: … continue reading

Because Warrior Princesses never die, AfterEllen.com is going to the Xena: Warrior Princess convention in Burbank, CA this weekend.

I covered it last year, and interviewed lesbian icons and Hot 100 hotties Lucy Lawless (Xena) and Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle). I also live-blogged the entire convention on my own blog, and one day looked up from my little laptop in the convention hall to find that 10,000 Xena fans had dropped by to follow along.

In recognition of the undying Xena love, AfterEllen.com's going to let me live-blog it here this year — and yes, I'll also be interviewing Lucy and Renee, and yes, I'll have photographer KT Jorgensen with me. We'll be taking photos, interviewing fans, and hopefully getting a chance to talk to some of the creative folks behind the show about issues near and dear to our hearts. We'll also be at Lucy's sold-out concerts at Hollywood's legendary Roxy Theater, but alas — no wireless there. We'll recap it after the fact, instead.

Live-blogging will start here on the AfterEllen.com blog on Friday morning, January 25 and run through the afternoon of Sunday, January 27. If you have questions for any of the guests, feel free to post them in the comments section and if I get a chance, I'll ask them for you.

I've also told Lucy and Renee I'll be doing this, so who knows? Maybe I can get them to drop by, too.

And if you're going to be in Burbank, come say hi! I'll be the tall one with the laptop. … continue reading

AfterEllen.com reader roxygay mentioned this in the forums: TheStream.tv recently did an interview with Renee O'Connor about her new movie Diamonds and Guns. Renee even answered some questions about her lesbian following. Because she's just that awesome!

Filmnut - Renee O'Connor

Watch This Episode on www.theStream.tv

(Click the picture to watch the interview in a new window.)

You know when you're having one of those WLT days? No, not a craving for a wombat, lettuce and tomato sandwich — 'cause, ewww. No, I mean a Wishful Lesbian Thinking day. Well, I had one of those the other day when I read the plot description for the new film The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. Robin Wright Penn, Winona Ryder and Julianne Moore have signed on to star in the new drama which, according to Variety, is about Pippa, “a dutiful wife whose husband falls for a younger woman, freeing her to explore her buried sensuality and leading to a very quiet nervous breakdown.” Robin plays Pippa, Winona plays the younger woman, and Julianne plays a place Pippa explores her buried sexuality ... hopefully. See, ain't WLT delicious?

Now, I'm not sure if this case of WLT will pan out. My gay Spidey sense says yes, especially after reading this plot description. But even without a payoff, this is the kind of thinking that has launched a million shippers sites. There are the gold standards (Xena and Gabrielle), the wishful turned wish fulfilled (Willow and Tara) and the just plain awesome (Daria and Jane).

So with that, I thought I'd share a few more of my most recent WLT daydreams, culled from current TV and film. … continue reading