destinie21
Daddy's Brat
- Joined
- May 27, 2003
- Posts
- 3,612
I just want to know if anyone saw the L word on showtime on sunday night. If so what are your thoughts?
The L word
- Thread starter destinie21
- Start date
gauchecritic
When there are grey skies
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2002
- Posts
- 7,076
L word?
Lust? Lips? Labia? Lactation? Linbido? Lannfairpwllgwyngillgogerychwryndrobwllantisiliogogogoch?
Gauche
Lust? Lips? Labia? Lactation? Linbido? Lannfairpwllgwyngillgogerychwryndrobwllantisiliogogogoch?
Gauche
G
Guest
Guest
Hi Dest. I don't get Showtime but I'd love to hear what you, Renz and other RL lezzies think.
Perdita
Perdita
Lauren Hynde
Hitched
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2002
- Posts
- 21,061
What is Showtime?
G
Guest
Guest
FYI
Women Having Sex, Hoping Men Tune In - By ALESSANDRA STANLEY, NY Times 1.16.2004
Except for the politics and soft-core pornography, "The L Word," Showtime's new series about lesbians that starts on Sunday, is old-fashioned fun — more "Melrose Place" than "Sex and the City."
The show's equivocal message does stand out, however, though perhaps not quite as much as the steamy scenes of women making love.
"The L Word" has been marketed by Showtime as a kind of premium-cable Certs: a manifesto of lesbian liberation and visual candy for men. This was not the case for Showtime's other groundbreaking series, "Queer as Folk," about the sex lives of gay men. (For whatever reason, what is good for the gander leaves the goose cold: few women report being aroused by the sight of men kissing each other.)
In that sense, "The L Word" conveniently fits in with a trend currently preoccupying magazines, afternoon talk shows and parents' meetings: young women, including high school students, who experiment with bisexuality both for a sense of female empowerment and as a way to seduce men.
To some, that can seem like an oxymoron. There may be nothing wrong with performing Sapphic acts to entice the opposite sex, but it is hard to reconcile such tableaus with gay or feminist ideals of independence and self-respect. And it is surely belittling to reduce lesbians' sexual identity to a form of heterosexual foreplay. The contradiction sticks out, even if it has become fashionable to view it as post-feminist — a way to exclude men while still attracting them.
"The L Word," of course, does not exclude men at all. While ostensibly celebrating the lesbian life, the two-hour pilot is in such a rush to pander to male viewers that at times it seems less like an American television show than a hastily dubbed Swedish "art" film. Each new plot development works as a perfunctory excuse to introduce another sexual variation — a man alone, a man with a woman, two women, two women and a man, etc.
All the women are beautiful, which on the one hand works to dismiss the stereotype of lesbians as squat, plaid-shirted and mannish. On the other, they are all so exquisite, even by the high standards of affluent Los Angeles, that it plays into another stereotype — and male fantasy — of the lipstick lesbian.
The pilot, however, is a poor advertisement for the series. Subsequent episodes slow down and relax, giving the characters a chance to develop and relationships to settle in — and unsettle. There are interesting, likable protagonists, some genuinely funny scenes and amusingly complicated romances. (It turns out that the plight of the single gay woman in Los Angeles is only slightly different from that of the single straight woman — all the good ones are taken, or not gay.)
The real L word of the show is not lesbianism but loyalty, the fellowship that binds and softens a group of what on the surface appear to be prickly, overly indulged middle-class women. (They drive convertibles, take spinning classes and eat at the trendiest restaurants.) And these female friends are more nuanced and plausible than the stick-figure heroines on HBO's "Sex and the City."
The story is centered on a longstanding lesbian couple: Bette, a glamorous modern-art museum director played by Jennifer Beals, and Tina (Laurel Holloman), who takes a leave from her film-business career to devote herself to getting pregnant. Their first scene is a bit disconcerting: the two women begin to kiss passionately in their bathroom in the morning, and Bette whispers huskily, "Let's make a baby."
Even as they begin to hunt for a suitable sperm donor, the two women go into therapy to examine whether they are ready to have a child together.
Their closest friends are not as lucky in love. Alice (Leisha Hailey), a magazine writer, is attracted only to women who treat her badly. Katherine Moennig stands out in the role of Shane, the whiskey-voiced and sexily androgynous Casanova of the group; she roams qualm-free from girl to girl, as unattainable as the Shane in the Alan Ladd western. Dana (Erin Daniels) is a professional tennis player who conceals her sexual orientation, fearing she could lose product endorsements. And reigning above them all, cool and mysterious, is Marina (Karina Lombard), the owner of the chic lesbian coffeehouse where they all hang out.
Trouble brews when Bette and Tina's neighbor Tim (Eric Mabius) introduces the group to his girlfriend, Jenny (Mia Kirshner), who has just arrived from the East Coast. Jenny is a sensitive writer (her autobiographical novel is titled "Thus Spake Sarah Schuster"), and Marina is sensitive to her writing. Marina ends up seducing Jenny behind Tim's back. There are a few other heterosexual characters, including Bette's African-American half-sister, Kit (Pam Grier), a jazz singer and alcoholic.
There is quite a bit of nudity and explicit sex on "The L Word," but it is the quantity more than the quality that is novel to television. Far more than for men, mores have changed quite a bit since ABC tried to censor a kiss between Roseanne Barr and Mariel Hemingway in a 1994 episode of "Roseanne."
There was no fuss when Jennifer Aniston kissed Winona Ryder on "Friends." Fox was unable to stir up interest in its cop show "Fastlane," even after the writers put Tiffani Thiessen topless in a hot tub with two lipstick lesbian suspects. Last year BBC America had no qualms about showing explicit lesbian love scenes in "Tipping the Velvet." Even the infamous kiss between Madonna and Britney Spears at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards was less shocking than shockingly calculated.
It is the sight of men canoodling that is still rare on television. There is a lot of talk about gay promiscuity on NBC's "Will & Grace," but very little action — the straight female characters have probably kissed one another more than the gay men have. "Queer as Folk" was and still is a daring series to put on the air. The distaff version is not nearly as bold. But the series has something to offer besides sexual imagery and sophistry — it is a well-written, entertaining show, with or without the L word.
Women Having Sex, Hoping Men Tune In - By ALESSANDRA STANLEY, NY Times 1.16.2004
Except for the politics and soft-core pornography, "The L Word," Showtime's new series about lesbians that starts on Sunday, is old-fashioned fun — more "Melrose Place" than "Sex and the City."
The show's equivocal message does stand out, however, though perhaps not quite as much as the steamy scenes of women making love.
"The L Word" has been marketed by Showtime as a kind of premium-cable Certs: a manifesto of lesbian liberation and visual candy for men. This was not the case for Showtime's other groundbreaking series, "Queer as Folk," about the sex lives of gay men. (For whatever reason, what is good for the gander leaves the goose cold: few women report being aroused by the sight of men kissing each other.)
In that sense, "The L Word" conveniently fits in with a trend currently preoccupying magazines, afternoon talk shows and parents' meetings: young women, including high school students, who experiment with bisexuality both for a sense of female empowerment and as a way to seduce men.
To some, that can seem like an oxymoron. There may be nothing wrong with performing Sapphic acts to entice the opposite sex, but it is hard to reconcile such tableaus with gay or feminist ideals of independence and self-respect. And it is surely belittling to reduce lesbians' sexual identity to a form of heterosexual foreplay. The contradiction sticks out, even if it has become fashionable to view it as post-feminist — a way to exclude men while still attracting them.
"The L Word," of course, does not exclude men at all. While ostensibly celebrating the lesbian life, the two-hour pilot is in such a rush to pander to male viewers that at times it seems less like an American television show than a hastily dubbed Swedish "art" film. Each new plot development works as a perfunctory excuse to introduce another sexual variation — a man alone, a man with a woman, two women, two women and a man, etc.
All the women are beautiful, which on the one hand works to dismiss the stereotype of lesbians as squat, plaid-shirted and mannish. On the other, they are all so exquisite, even by the high standards of affluent Los Angeles, that it plays into another stereotype — and male fantasy — of the lipstick lesbian.
The pilot, however, is a poor advertisement for the series. Subsequent episodes slow down and relax, giving the characters a chance to develop and relationships to settle in — and unsettle. There are interesting, likable protagonists, some genuinely funny scenes and amusingly complicated romances. (It turns out that the plight of the single gay woman in Los Angeles is only slightly different from that of the single straight woman — all the good ones are taken, or not gay.)
The real L word of the show is not lesbianism but loyalty, the fellowship that binds and softens a group of what on the surface appear to be prickly, overly indulged middle-class women. (They drive convertibles, take spinning classes and eat at the trendiest restaurants.) And these female friends are more nuanced and plausible than the stick-figure heroines on HBO's "Sex and the City."
The story is centered on a longstanding lesbian couple: Bette, a glamorous modern-art museum director played by Jennifer Beals, and Tina (Laurel Holloman), who takes a leave from her film-business career to devote herself to getting pregnant. Their first scene is a bit disconcerting: the two women begin to kiss passionately in their bathroom in the morning, and Bette whispers huskily, "Let's make a baby."
Even as they begin to hunt for a suitable sperm donor, the two women go into therapy to examine whether they are ready to have a child together.
Their closest friends are not as lucky in love. Alice (Leisha Hailey), a magazine writer, is attracted only to women who treat her badly. Katherine Moennig stands out in the role of Shane, the whiskey-voiced and sexily androgynous Casanova of the group; she roams qualm-free from girl to girl, as unattainable as the Shane in the Alan Ladd western. Dana (Erin Daniels) is a professional tennis player who conceals her sexual orientation, fearing she could lose product endorsements. And reigning above them all, cool and mysterious, is Marina (Karina Lombard), the owner of the chic lesbian coffeehouse where they all hang out.
Trouble brews when Bette and Tina's neighbor Tim (Eric Mabius) introduces the group to his girlfriend, Jenny (Mia Kirshner), who has just arrived from the East Coast. Jenny is a sensitive writer (her autobiographical novel is titled "Thus Spake Sarah Schuster"), and Marina is sensitive to her writing. Marina ends up seducing Jenny behind Tim's back. There are a few other heterosexual characters, including Bette's African-American half-sister, Kit (Pam Grier), a jazz singer and alcoholic.
There is quite a bit of nudity and explicit sex on "The L Word," but it is the quantity more than the quality that is novel to television. Far more than for men, mores have changed quite a bit since ABC tried to censor a kiss between Roseanne Barr and Mariel Hemingway in a 1994 episode of "Roseanne."
There was no fuss when Jennifer Aniston kissed Winona Ryder on "Friends." Fox was unable to stir up interest in its cop show "Fastlane," even after the writers put Tiffani Thiessen topless in a hot tub with two lipstick lesbian suspects. Last year BBC America had no qualms about showing explicit lesbian love scenes in "Tipping the Velvet." Even the infamous kiss between Madonna and Britney Spears at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards was less shocking than shockingly calculated.
It is the sight of men canoodling that is still rare on television. There is a lot of talk about gay promiscuity on NBC's "Will & Grace," but very little action — the straight female characters have probably kissed one another more than the gay men have. "Queer as Folk" was and still is a daring series to put on the air. The distaff version is not nearly as bold. But the series has something to offer besides sexual imagery and sophistry — it is a well-written, entertaining show, with or without the L word.
destinie21
Daddy's Brat
- Joined
- May 27, 2003
- Posts
- 3,612
I enjoyed the show the love scenes were tasteful and to my surprise stereotypes didn't abound I hope the show stays on.
There were parts I disliked but unless you saw the show you wouldn't understand, still like I said all in all it was good and I'm glad to see something like it on the tele
There were parts I disliked but unless you saw the show you wouldn't understand, still like I said all in all it was good and I'm glad to see something like it on the tele
Last edited:
lewdandlicentious
I AM THE ALTAR
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2003
- Posts
- 1,992
There was a feature about this programme in one of the UK papers t(The Sun) his morning.
Apparently the BBC are trying to / interested in aquiring it. It looks quite hot/soft pornographic and very rude!
Right up my street. Should be worth a look!
Apparently the BBC are trying to / interested in aquiring it. It looks quite hot/soft pornographic and very rude!
Right up my street. Should be worth a look!
Madame Manga
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2002
- Posts
- 482
What is this monumental crap about women not liking the sight of men getting it on? I like the sight just fine. What they meant to say is that het American male network executives don't like the sight of men getting it on.
Why I am not surprised that a show about chic, gorgeous women rolling in the hay has made it to the airwaves in 2004, even if it's cable? Ten years ago this might have been news, but not now. Anyone remember the brouhaha over the woman/woman kiss on Deep Space Nine, circa 1996? TV has come a long way by some measures. Or on the other hand, the medium keeps indulging in the same damn masculine-centric titillations over and over again.
MM
Why I am not surprised that a show about chic, gorgeous women rolling in the hay has made it to the airwaves in 2004, even if it's cable? Ten years ago this might have been news, but not now. Anyone remember the brouhaha over the woman/woman kiss on Deep Space Nine, circa 1996? TV has come a long way by some measures. Or on the other hand, the medium keeps indulging in the same damn masculine-centric titillations over and over again.
MM
Icingsugar
peas o kayk
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2003
- Posts
- 2,051
Re: L word?
Anyway, what's the big fuss about? Maybe I'm too european to get the controversy.
/Ice
Have you been peeking at my vacation plans?gauchecritic said:
Anyway, what's the big fuss about? Maybe I'm too european to get the controversy.
/Ice
Wicked-N-Erotic
Wicked As I Wanna Be
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2002
- Posts
- 1,095
Didn't see that one but showtime does have an original series that I love watching, it's "Queer as Folk". I can't wait for the new season to start, February I think.
Have you watched this one?
Wicked
Have you watched this one?
Wicked
gauchecritic
When there are grey skies
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2002
- Posts
- 7,076
I was being phonetic.
(pronunciation varies)
Gauche
So how do you spell Taumatawakatanihanakuauhutamateaturipukahokapikimongahonanukupokawennawakatantahumatakuaitenanu (kawamikitura)?
Maybe I should as the wolfboy or sweets?
(pronunciation varies)
Gauche
So how do you spell Taumatawakatanihanakuauhutamateaturipukahokapikimongahonanukupokawennawakatantahumatakuaitenanu (kawamikitura)?
Maybe I should as the wolfboy or sweets?
Svenskaflicka
Fountain
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2002
- Posts
- 16,142
If American television is anything like Swedish, there will be a lot of F-, C-, W- or B- word shows coming up shortly.
A few years ago, one of the most popular Swedish soap operas showed a gay guy getting seduced by his mother's bisexual boyfriend, and the very next season, there was one gay couple in EVERY soap opera.
Equal rights, definitely, all for it, but I think it's sad to see homosexuality exploited as a way to attract viewers.
A few years ago, one of the most popular Swedish soap operas showed a gay guy getting seduced by his mother's bisexual boyfriend, and the very next season, there was one gay couple in EVERY soap opera.
Equal rights, definitely, all for it, but I think it's sad to see homosexuality exploited as a way to attract viewers.
lewdandlicentious
I AM THE ALTAR
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2003
- Posts
- 1,992
Svenskaflicka said:
That's been happening in Brit soaps for nearly ten years.
Svenskaflicka
Fountain
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2002
- Posts
- 16,142
Madame Manga said:What is this monumental crap about women not liking the sight of men getting it on? I like the sight just fine. What they meant to say is that het American male network executives don't like the sight of men getting it on.
Hear, hear!
This is why we need more feminists. We need to get rid of the het white male domination, and replace those dirty old men with spunky femmes who will fill the TV with smooching hunks!
BlackSnake
Anaconda
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2002
- Posts
- 9,196
Wicked-N-Erotic said:Didn't see that one but showtime does have an original series that I love watching, it's "Queer as Folk". I can't wait for the new season to start, February I think.
Have you watched this one?
Wicked
I happened upon it and it took me aback. I tried staying with it, but I couldn't handle it...change the station.
I made myself watch "Will and Grace"...it turned out alright once I got use to it. Little things shock me still "...our little girl is growing up." referring to the character Jack.
I didn't get to see The L-word though.
Wicked-N-Erotic
Wicked As I Wanna Be
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2002
- Posts
- 1,095
I caught a repeat of "the L word" just the other night. I must say, it was very different than I had expected but it is something I would watch every week. It has plot to it and would keep my interest, perhaps just because of Jenny, and to see what happens with her. Being a bisexual myself her side of it and how she reacts interest me.
Wicked
Wicked
