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Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever. (January 8, 2010)

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

The gay marriage vote in New Jersey, the New York vs. Las Vegas dilemma, calling up one’s old bandmate and the stark reality of healthy eating – all of these topics and more were tweeted about by queer women in entertainment this week.

Here are some of the highlights:

– by Karman Kregloe

JAX & ALICE COULD MAKE OUR LESBIAN COP DREAMS COME TRUE

While lesbians everywhere tap their feet waiting to see Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly together again on Burn Notice, a producer has invoked the names of Cagney and Lacey in announcing plans for a new series.

Anthony Zuiker, the creator of CSI and its multiple offspring, is planning to do a new show for CBS that has been described as a revival of Cagney & Lacey. The show, Jax & Amber, is the story of two female police detectives who are partners on the force.

Just about now, you may be reacting as I did at first: “KEEP YOUR MITTS OFF OF CAGNEY & LACEY!” But then I read this little tidbit at TV Squad: “one of the cops might be a lesbian.”

I’m totally in.

Of course, we don’t know much at this point, but that won’t stop us from coming up with casting suggestions. Like Rose Rollins and Leisha Hailey.

Seriously, can you imagine those two as partners in crime solving? Of course you can.

We already know that Sarah Shahi makes a kick-ass detective.

So how about pairing her with kick-ass world-saver Lena Headey?

The thought of being interrogated by them is almost enough to lead me to a life of crime.

In the spirit of “sometimes the best solution is the most obvious one,” perhaps Jax and Amber should be played by our favorite Ladycops Liz Vassey and Christina Cox.

After all, Vassey and Cox already are skilled at using their guns.

The Nikki & Nora pilot is already in the can, Mr. Zuiker – I’m sure the characters’ names are negotiable. If you need Nancylee Myatt‘s number, just let us know.

So what do you think? What dynamic duo would you like to see in Jax & Amber?

– by The Linster

SHERYL SWOOPES RETURNS TO THE GAME

You know what we love most about Sheryl Swoopes, besides the fact that she broke the legendary homophobic barrier and came out as a gay professional athlete? We love how much Sheryl Swoopes loves the game of basketball.

Since being cut from the Seattle Storm last season, Swoopes’ message has been singular – she still wants to play ball. And now she’s going to get another chance – in Greece.

ESPN is reporting that the gold-medal-winning, championship-nabbing, MVP-trophy-owning matriarch of the WNBA will join the Esperides for the remainder of the Greek league season.

Much like the WNBA, the Greek women’s professional basketball league is suffering in the current economy. The Esperides hope that a high-profile player like Swoopes can breathe new life into the league. Swoopes hopes that playing on a Eurocup team will breathe new life into her career.

An Esperides spokesperson released a statement saying:

Irrespective of her actual contribution [on the court], since she needs time [to get into shape], Esperides’ goal is to upgrade women’s basketball in Greece.

Upgrading women’s basketball is kind of Sheryl Swoopes’ specialty.

While she’s been lobbying for a spot on a WNBA roster – an even bleaker prospect now that Sacramento has folded – Swoopes has been volunteering as an assistant coach with the Mercer Island High School girls team.

She told The Seattle Times:

This takes me back to all of the times when I was there and I was playing. For me, just being out here, the whole environment and the whole atmosphere and seeing the excitement of the girls is exciting for me. And the players on this team, they’re great young women. For me to be here and being able to give them just a little bit of the knowledge that I have, after playing basketball for so many years, is a great honor for me. I get a lot out of it.

You can take the girl out of the game, but you can’t take the game out of the girl.

Welcome back, Sheryl Swoopes.

– by StuntDouble

JILLIAN MICHAELS WANTS “HEALTHY LOVE” WITH A MAN OR A WOMAN

For a while now, Biggest Loser trainer and fitness expert Jillian Michaels has been the dream of many lesbians, but when it came to her actual love life, we weren’t so sure what to think. I mean, she looked pretty hot and gay on those motorcycles in Vanity Fair last spring, but was she gay?

Well, in a new interview with Ladies Home Journal, we finally get an answer. Sort of.

“Let’s just say I believe in healthy love,” Michaels tells writer Judith Newman. “If I fall in love with a woman, that’s awesome. If I fall in love with a man, that’s awesome. As long as you fall in love … It’s like organic food. I only eat healthy food, and I only want healthy love!”

There has been speculation about Michaels’ sexuality among fans for some time, and I was pretty shocked to hear her open up about it a little to LHJ – but find myself wishing they asked a follow up question, unless she did not want to elaborate further.

Michaels was allegedly spotted kissing and “canoodling” with actress Vanessa Marcil in 2008, but the two were mostly described by the press as “best friends.”

Aside from the brief “outing,” the interview does get pretty deep into Michaels’ past – discussing her time as an “angry” and “overweight teenager” struggling with her parents divorce.

“I lived on junk food. I had no direction,” Michaels says, adding that junk food was a way to bond with her overweight father. “We sort of bonded over food … When he was alone with me and we had nothing to say to each other, it would be like, ‘Let’s eat a pizza!'”

Known for being a little brash with contestants on Biggest Loser, Michaels discusses how her martial arts instructors carried on the same way – which motivated her to work harder and focus.

“Sometimes I need to intimidate a person, and then they do what I ask, and when they see they can be successful it is the most amazing experience for them,” Michaels says. “I can use the techniques they have used to program themselves for destruction and program them for success.”

Another important point mentioned in the article is moderation. While she may be a fitness pro, that doesn’t mean she lives on carrot sticks and kale: “One thing Michaels does not worry about is going back to her former chubby self,” Newman writes. “Cheerfully she gives me a tour of her refrigerator and cupboards, quick to point out that she is no fan of deprivation: Everything is organic, but there is dark chocolate, wine, Peanut Butter Newman-O’s.”

The healthy food and work out tips are great, but we hope to hear more about Michaels’ potential lady love in the not so distant future. Perhaps this interview will prompt her to explain further. In any case, welcome to the out queer lady club, Jillian Michaels. We are happy to have you.

If you want to pick up the new issue of Ladies Home Journal, it hits newsstands Jan. 12. A new season of The Biggest Loser premiered this week on NBC.

– by Jen Sabella

POP STAR KE$HA SAYS SHE LIKES PEOPLE, NOT LABELS

It has been a good couple of months for singer songwriter Ke$ha. Last week, her debut single “Tik Tok” broke the digital download record for a track by a female artist. The previous record holder in that category was Lady Gaga‘s “Just Dance,” and for those of you who like music stats, the record holder in all genres is Flo Rida‘s “Right Round,” in which Ke$ha sings the hook, although she is uncredited.

Today, her debut album Animal, was released to considerable buzz. Not bad for a girl who, not that long ago, appeared as an extra in her buddy Katy Perry‘s “I Kissed A Girl” video because she needed the $200.

Ke$ha’s tunes can be described as unapologetic party music with a dirty streak that is delivered with a candy coated pop sensibility one second and bratty snarls the next. Looking for introspection and hidden layers of meaning in her lyrics is a futile task, and frankly, that’s not the point. When you stick a dollar sign in your name, and you drop tracks like “Party at a Rich Dude’s House” you’re pretty much telling the world that you intend to be a guilty pleasure, so drop the attitude, and party until you drop your pants. (Bonus: She also looks she woke up on someone’s lawn in The Hills after sipping too many Mai Tais at last night’s rager, so she definitely looks the part as well.)

Out magazine sat down with Ke$ha and talked about her debut album, her musical influences, working with her friend Katy Perry and her sexuality, about which Ke$ha says: “I like people. I wouldn’t say I’m gay or straight. I don’t like labeling anything anyways. I would just say I like people.”

Take note, trend-watchers: “People person” is the new “bisexual.”

Excerpts of the interview are below:

Like Katy Perry did last year, Ke$ha will be headlining The Dinah, otherwise known as the biggest lesbian party in the entire universe. (I guess one might take offense to that if you’re a MichFest sort of gal, but think of Dinah as MichFest with swimming pools, glitter, and bling.) And she’s on the roster for the Lilith Fair revival, so queer women will be seeing a lot of her in the next few months.

What are your thoughts on Ke$ha? A younger, brattier Fergie? The first of the inevitable post-GaGa swarm that is poised to attack the airwaves? Wondering what’s up with the kids and their ambiguous sexualities these days?

Or are you just hyped to go to Dinah and dance until your eyeliner runs down your face and melts into your red wine stained lips into one hot mess? (This is the credited answer.)

— by Grace Chu

NAOMILY DO MORE THAN KISS EACH OTHER THROUGH THE PHONE IN THE SKINS NOVEL

Those of us unlucky enough to have heard the song “Kiss Me Thru The Phone” know that Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em made flirting (and other things) through the phone really unsexy. Enter “Extract 2” from the upcoming Skins novel posted on the official website, and, um, expressing love for the special gal in your life never sounded so good. The extract is so good in fact, it’s absolutely NSFW, but feel free to enjoy yourself within reason on your lunch break.

Without giving away too much and risking being too risqué, the frisky phone conversation basically involves Naomi and Emily bemoaning their boring home lives and recreating certain intimate moments via mobile phone communication. In case you aren’t reading between the lines, let’s just say that there are more than “LOLs” and smiley faces. Here’s a tidbit, from Emily’s point of view:

“I wish you were here with me right now, on this beach, looking up at the stars,” I said.

Naomi groaned. “Me too. I can’t stop thinking about us in my bed.”

“I know.” I hesitated. “Remind me — what were we doing in your bed?”

Absolutely awesome. Not only is Skins quite possibly the best show on TV with lesbian characters, it now further squashes the competition with a page right out of Naomily internet fan faction. The Skins novel became available for purchase yesterday, and it boasts “extra sordid, juicy details” about the shenanigans the Skins kids got themselves into.

Thoughts, comments, or concerns about not being able to get some fabulous mental pictures out of your head?

— by drummerdeeds

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Tegan and Sara are collaborating with Margaret Cho on a song for upcoming album (which will also feature Amanda Palmer).

Prompted by the rape and murder of Seattle lesbian Teresa Butz last year, Brandi Carlile has launched the Fight the Fear Campaign, designed to teach women self-defense. Carlile and the Indigo Girls have also recorded a song to help raise awareness. (Thanks for the tip, Kelly!)

Revolutionary lesbian feminist writer and scholar Mary Daly died this week at the age of 81.

Slasher film actress Tucky Williams (Dead Moon Rising, Shadows Light) is writing and starring in a new lesbian web series, Girl/Girl Scene. (Thanks to AE reader Jerry for the tip!)

On the UK show Celebrity Big Brother, contestant MC Lady Sovereign is regularly being referred to as a lesbian by Davina McCall.

Ellen DeGeneres was named PETA’s Woman of the Year, with Project Runway‘s Tim Gunn taking the title of Man of the Year.

Batwoman has been listed among the 10 Great Female Book Characters of the Decade.

Bravo is now looking for real people “with real issues” that want celesbian trainer Jackie Warner to help with their diet and exercise routine for her new show Thintervention.

The Four-Faced Liar, about two women in straight relationships who end up falling for one another, will screen at the Sundance film festival this year, and the trailer looks pretty good. (Thanks to Lauren for the tip!).

Guiding Light‘s lesbian couple (aka Otalia) won DaytimeConfidential.com’s Best Soap Couple of the Year because “The fire between Chappell’s Olivia and Leccia’s Natalia … was enough to burn those damn cookies Natalia was forever baking in the kitchen of the late Hart Jessup’s old farm house.”

The new season of South African drama Society has lesbian character Beth finally coming out to her friends and family.

Lesbian comic book illustrator Cat Staggs has a piece called “Darcy” in the newly published One Night Stand. Word has it that it features “straight sex, random hook ups both lesbian and straight and there is even a threesome thrown in a time or two. So, a little something for everyone, lesbian and bisexual.” (Thanks for the tip, Amanda!)

BBC News presenter Jane Hill recently came out in an issue of Ariel magazine. Ariel reports that Hill has lived with her partner Sara for a year in North London.

Out lesbian comedian Carol Leifer will be a contestant on the new season of Celebrity Apprentice, which premieres in March.

Don’t forget to vote in AfterEllen.com’s 1st Annual Lesbian/Bi People’s Choice Awards. Hurry, the polls close on January 15!

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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