DU Lesbians - what do you think of "The L Word"?

[Bunny]

This was prompted by a couple of posts in another thread. I'm curious as to what you all think of it. I'm not a lesbian, and I've never seen the show, but I saw one print ad, and all the women looked to be very slim, very pretty, and nearly all white. Lipstick lesbians, I guess. And apparently there is heterosexual sex involved somewhere.

If you've watched the show, do you think it's a realistic portrayal of the lesbian community? Do you think that having the skinny, pretty ladies makes it more palatable for the general viewing public? How about the heterosexual sex?

Or are you so happy that there is finally a show about lesbians that you don't care if it's realistic or not?

I'm curious...

[soleft]

1. I've seen all three episodes

I watched it last night for the first time with my girlfriend. At one point there was this scene where the tennis player is asking the chef out, and one thing that the show really does well is the sexual tension, chemistry between the characters. The scene was damn cute, and I turned to my gf and said, isn't great, getting to see this on TV.

Yes, all of the women so far are white except Jennifer Beals and her sister, played by Pam Grier, who is also heavy, but also not one of the lesbians.

Also - it's set in West Hollywood, one could say people in LA are obsessed with thinness, why should the lesbians be an exception.

And the scene is very different from the lesbians I know in the NY downtown theater scene, but there are some universal similarities.

I don't know, I like it a lot. It's very sexy and funny, and the emotional life of many of the characters is very rich - especially between Jennifer Beals character and her girlfriend.

[Lindsey]

2. I saw the first one at a party

and we all liked it. Yes, L.A. is very into body size and looks. You might say that I'm kind of in "the scene of singles right now" (only because my girlfriend and I broke up- I don't like being single but I'm not at all a "move in on the 2nd date type of lesbian" - that's a whole other story). I've been in L.A. for 15 years and there really are certain sterotypes that ring true. I related to many of the story lines - the couple trying to have a baby (one of my best friends is so obsessed with this that it broke up her and her partner of seven years - and yes, she was asking almost everyone she knew for sperm), the scene where they were diagramming who has dated who - it's unbelievable- at this party where I was - three of my ex's were there! And believe me, that's not unusual! So, I'd have to say that for a certain group, yes, the show is very realistic.

[Sapphocrat]

12. Re the L.A. scene as portrayed in the show...

Also - it's set in West Hollywood ...

So would you say it has the feel of "Bar Girls" (thin, good-looking, mostly lipstick lesbians who haunt Club 22) -- only set in WeHo and not the Valley, and without the comedy?

[MsUnderstood]

3. It is a good show

There are rousing discussions of this show at Showtime's website but let me sum up my responses:

1) Jennifer Beal is headlining the show. She is 1/2 black and her ethnicity is playing a major role in the show. Pam Grier is Jennifer's all Black sister and if you watch the opening credits she has one of the coveted credit spots (the last cast member listed as "and starring Pam Grier as Kit"). I think the ethnicity representation is pretty balanced.

2) The show isn't meant to be a cross section of Lesbians. It is meant to be about a group of friends in West Hollywood. I wouldn't call all of these girls Lipstick lesbians but they are not "dykes (diesel, butch or otherwise). I actually enjoy seeing lesbians who are more like me. I don't shave my head, wear combat boots, wear men's underwear or have other stereotypes of the Butch lesbian and I appreciate that the writers (who ARE lesbians) are bringing out the softer side of these girls. On a side note, I think some of the girls have a "I don't brush look" to appeal to those who want to see more masculine women and I that is distracting from the show.

3) About the realism--there are several storylines going that I find very real (and can relate to from different periods in my life):
The relationship between the 2 partners who have a long history but are becoming too comfortable with each other.
The relationship between a new girl in town (engaged to her live in boyfriend) who struggles between being "comfortable" and the strong chemistry she feels toward another woman
The closeted girl bouncing from sarcastic to vulnerable as she tries to find a relationship and keep her gay friends while not outing herself
The bisexual who falls back into a bad relationship because it is reassuring.

The issues being brought up are from gay stories that I have heard from my friends. To see it portrayed on TV is awesome.

The heterosexual sex I feel is being portrayed to pull in the heterosexual viewers. The pilot had a male masturbation scene, heterosexual couple having sex, and a threesome. Maybe the writers wanted to start with a bang. Anyway, it isn't bothering me because life is full of heterosexuals.

Anyway, I'm rambling--it is a great show for straight and gay viewers. I really recommend you check it out.

[LynneSin]

4. I'm a straight gal and I liked the show

I don't have showtime, but we had a free previews week where I got to see the first 2 episodes and I was impressed with the show. I mean, for someone like me it's a show about relationships and all the pitfalls and wonderful moments they have plus it's about great friendships. So happens the girls are all lesbians - so what, they have the same problems and feelings I have.

I probably won't pay for Showtime just to see the show, but I would rent the DVD when they put the season out on DVD. I really want to find out what happens.

[Bertha Venation]

5. Haven't seen it, not interested, and here's why:

I don't care to see movies or series specifically about the various pairings and unpairings and dramas surrounding heterosexual couples. Why should I want to see the same about gay couples?

[shamanstar]

6. maybe if you were gay

and never ever ever got to see even hand holding or a kiss or characters going out on a date like they ALWAYS show het couples doing... it might seem like a relief to you... in a weird sort of way, like being recognized.

[Bertha Venation]

8. Perhaps you're right.

I don't begrude anyone else's desire or need for this kind of affirmation. I don't need it.

On edit: I do think that shows like "The 'L' Word" are good for the community, even if they create a backlash. Forward, ever forward!

BTW. I AM gay. :)

[Sapphocrat]

10. Bertha, I think perhaps...

...you've seen one too many crappy lesbian movies. :D

If I never see another "Claire of the Moon" again, I'll consider myself very lucky!

Haven't seen "The L Word" here, but only because I can't afford cable. But I would watch an episode or two, just to see if they got it right.

[Bertha Venation]

11. the only good lesbian movie I've ever seen is

"Desert Hearts," and even that had its limits (mainly the dialog). But I found it to be entirely realistic.

[Sapphocrat]

14. I agree with you on that, for sure...

In fact, I can't think of another lesbian movie that didn't annoy/irritate/offend me in some way. My only complaint about "Desert Hearts" is how disappointed I was to learn both Helen Shaver and Whatshernametheyoungcutie were both straight.

"Costa Brava" isn't too bad. More realistic than most, but ultimately (and unfortunately) just another lesson in why we should never give straight women the time of day (romantically, I mean).

Worst: "Personal Best." Hate that POS with a passion. Would rather subject myself to "Claire of the Moon" again. Which is saying a lot.

[Bertha Venation]

17. Patricia Charbonneau

She's been on "Law & Order," and was in a film called "K2," as well as many others. Check out http://wwww.imdb.com

Cutie indeed.

[Sapphocrat]

23. Ah! Yes! Never can remember that name! n/t

[soleft]

21. Did you ever see Chutney Popcorn?

[Sapphocrat]

24. Never have -- is it worth a look?

[soleft]

25. I thought it was really cute

has a lot of the same charm as Bend it Like Beckham, and Jill Hennessy is great

[Sapphocrat]

28. I'll watch for it, thanks! :)

[jumptheshadow]

7. We like it

And yes, the women are mostly model types and the show unabashedly targets male heterosexuals, but many of the scenes seem to have been written by somebody with an intimate understanding of "the family."

I loved the "gaydar" research scene where the little group looked at the sous chef's fingernails (among other things) to ascertain whether she was gay. Then the woman turns out to have four fingers on one hand bandaged. What a good joke...

The "who slept with whom" chart is also funny, and very true, although I hope nobody imitates it on the Internet.

At different points in my life, I have also identified with the happy married couple, where one partner is a "Type A" and the other laid back...the conflicted writer with a sweet, perfectly marriagable boyfriend who meets a stunning woman...the bi writer whose perpetual singleness makes her a doormat...the tennis pro whose closet is a prison...in fact, I can relate to almost everybody except Shane, the voracious womanizer...

It's a fun and sexy show. And who minds eye candy?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. I'm curious...

How would anyone be able to determine a woman's sexual orientation by looking at her fingernails?

Is it something I'd only understand by watching the show?

[bubblesby2002]

13. You know Goddess

I was going to ask that very same question? How CAN you tell?

[Sapphocrat]

15. You two are kidding, aren't you?

Aren't you?? :D

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. Well I tried looking at my nails

to determine if there was anything particularly heterosexual about them; but I don't think there's any difference between my nails and those of any other violinist, regardless of sex or sexual orientation, because glamourous nails and violin-playing just don't go together.

Now I'm feeling waaaay too analytical about this. :nopity:

[soleft]

19. That was the point of the scene

they couldn't use nails as a point of reference because she was a chef, and had a reason for keeping them short other than other reasons for keeping them short

[Hell Hath No Fury]

26. Uh oh....

I wear my nails short and unpolished -- in fact I hate getting manicures.

I also use power tools and do home repairs.

And I wear men's clothing, chunky black shoes, and fashionable eyewear.

Oh. My. God.



I'M A LESBIAN!!!!!!!

:)

[Sapphocrat]

27. Welcome to the family!

Here's your microwave! :D

[Hell Hath No Fury]

29. Thanks!

:hi:

I hear it's short jump from microwave to U-Haul trailer!

I was made an "honorary" East Bay Dike a few years back, and was a "bike bitch" one year in the Pride Parade. :) If it wasn't for this little problem of liking penises I would make a great lesbian!

I'll settle for being The Family's Converse-wearing, wacky, bachelorette het Auntie. ;)

[Bertha Venation]

18. I hope so, too....

Mrs. Venation got a killer manicure & pedicure as part of a spa treatment for her birthday.... rowr!

[bubblesby2002]

20. Well as I look at my long painted fingernails.....

...it hits me how unsuitable they might be if I was gay. You didn't have to tell me but thanks for the hint.:evilgrin:

[Sapphocrat]

22. Give that woman...

...a cigar! :D

(Uh, "cigar" as in "prize"... Not, like, you know, any Freudian or Clintonian kinda cigar. In this case, a cigar really is just a cigar! LOL)