By BetteAndTinaForever

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The day of the GLAAD Awards seemed like a usual day. I arrived in Los Angeles early Saturday morning and because I had some time before the event, my friends and I went to see Alexandra Hedison’s photos at Bergamot station. The show is absolutely wonderful. The photos were a bit pricey, as well as being rather large in format but they are very beautiful and mesmerizing. I bought the catalog and the woman at the gallery promised me that she would give it to Alexandra to sign and send to me.

If any of you have a chance to go to LA in the next few weeks, I would strongly encourage you to visit the gallery because it’s great.

After a quick lunch with friends, I was ready to pick up my press pass and go to the red carpet area. This year the GLAAD Awards were held at the Nokia Theater and the layout of the building, as you might imagine, was completely different than the Kodak Theater. The red carpet was bigger and, even though I was at the end of it with all the other on-line reporters, I liked it better because we had plenty of room and we were able to get interviews and photos of anyone we wanted.

After the arrivals began I checked my questions and was patiently waiting for Jennifer Beals. A GLAAD representative confirmed, once again, that Laurel indeed canceled for unknown reasons and Pam Grier didn’t make it because she was flying from Colorado and the flight was cancelled due to a severe snow storm. Damn the weather and ‘unknown’ reasons!

By the way, most of the stars on the red carpet were wearing white ribbons to symbolize support for marriage equality for same-sex couples. I didn’t get mine with the show ticket because I picked it up earlier but I think the guests, who purchased tickets, were also given the ribbons to wear. Jennifer Beals had hers pinned to her purse.

As the stars were approaching me, I took photos and interviewed anyone who had some connections with The L Word, including Jane Lynch, Dana Delany, Ilene Chaiken, Jennifer Beals and some others.

Here are the interviews and I hope you will find them interesting and enjoyable.

***
Neil Giuliano, former President of GLAAD, was the first one I saw and we talked a little about GLAAD and The L Word.

B&TF: GLAAD has been around for 15-20 years…

NG: Yes, twenty years. This is our twentieth anniversary at the GLAAD Awards.

B&TF: What changes have you noticed during these years?

NG: Without a doubt the culture has changed. First of all, this event twenty years ago had about 200 people at it and we will have about 3,000 people tonight. Our allies are staying with us. The gay community is choosing to live openly. We’re not in the closet like we used to be twenty years ago and so that visibility lends to our opportunity to reach full equality. We have to remember, in the midst of the wonderful time we’re going to have here tonight, we still are not treated equally by our government and this country. We still are going to have a great time, we’re going to party but we’re not treated equally. That’s an important message for all of our allies and for us to remember, as well.

B&TF: You also just announced that you’ll be stepping down as a President. What happened and why did you make that decision?

NG: Well, this is my fourth season and I always said when I came into GLAAD that it’s not a career. I had a career. I was an elected official for fourteen years and a University Professor for twenty three and this was a great opportunity for me to give back, make a difference, and make a contribution. It’s a great honor so there will be other people who will be able to have the same honor that I’ve had. Four seasons were great; I loved it. It’s been covered in the press and there’s a search underway to find a new president. So hopefully we’ll pick someone in June and have them start maybe in July, and then I’ll be done shortly thereafter.

B&TF: So, The L Word is getting a Special Recognition Award tonight…

NG: Yes, they deserve it. Six seasons and they’ve done a tremendous job with a great reach. This show was a phenomenon, which is great and we are very proud of Ilene and everyone she pulled together to make that show a reality.

B&TF: And they’re also nominated for the best drama.

NG: Yes, their last season is nominated as the best drama again this year. They’ve been nominated every year and they won a few years ago.

B&TF: Hopefully, they will win this year, as well.

NG: Yes.

Well, as we already know, “The L Word” lost again to “Brother and Sisters”, which I don’t understand, to be honest. In spite of the critique and flaws, “The L Word” is still unique and the most likely show to win an award for best drama, in my opinion.

***
Jane Lynch (Joyce Wishnia) was next in line and let me tell you, she is one of the funniest women I’ve seen on TV and in real life. I saw all of her movies and TV series where she appeared and she is simply the best. By the way, Jane Lynch said that she had never attended GLAAD before so I was really excited to have a chance to see her again.

Before I had my interview with her, she talked to another reporter who was standing right by me, about some of her movies, including “Role Models”. This movie is hilarious. If you haven’t seen it yet, do. You won’t regret it. She also talked about her new TV show “Glee” that is coming to Fox in the Fall. It sounded positively entertaining and delightful. Jane also admitted that she doesn’t like Facebook and she doesn’t really understand Twitter.

After they were finished, I had an opportunity to ask a few questions. The last thing Jane Lynch was saying to the other reporter was that she really likes President Obama and so my first question was related to it.

B&TF: What was your reaction when you heard about him becoming our new president?

JL: I was GLAAD, with an extra ‘a’. I think just his mere presence and his energy is shifting stuff and I know he’s pissing people off on both sides and I don’t care. Here we go, that’s what I think about it. When change is happening the old guard gets a little crazy. Change is pressing forward.

B&TF: Now I have a couple of questions about The L Word.

JL: Sure.

B&TF: Your character was only in a few episodes last season but how was it for you working, knowing that it was the last season and there’s no more Joyce Wishnia?

JL: Oh, I miss it terribly and I haven’t seen the last episode yet, the final episode, so I have to do that. It was truly a fun ride and I think that they created some terrific characters. Everyone was just flawless; I thought the acting was flawless and I’m a big fan.

B&TF: You know, on the DVD’s they never put extra behind-the scene footage or deleted scenes but there was an hilarious moment in season six when Joyce surprised Phyllis in her office naked. How was it for you to film this scene and also working with Cybill Shepherd?

JL: Oh, she is the best. She’s really nice and it was the first time for both of us…for her it was a long time anyway…to have to take our clothes off with each other, snuggle in bed and she was a lot of fun. We had a good time. And in that scene I was wrapped in black as opposed to flesh colors just to make sure that the camera didn’t even think of going down there.

B&TF: So the show is over but every storyline was left with an open ending. What do you think is in store for Joyce Wishnia?

JL: I don’t know. I think she might be done. Maybe her life on television is over but she goes on to advocate for gay and lesbian rights all over the country.

B&TF: Ilene has been talking about The L Word movie, so do you think Joyce might appear there?

JL: I don’t know.

B&TF: Do you want to appear?

JL: As Joyce? I don’t know. I say “I don’t know” a lot because I don’t make any plans (laughing). I wait until things happen and then I go, “Okay, I’ll do it.” But anything Ilene wanted me to do I would do, so if she would ask me I would.

B&TF: You were one of the funniest characters on the show and I always loved it when Joyce appeared. I think my favorite moment from season six was when Joyce was talking to Bette and Tina about the adoption and texting Phyllis at the same time, telling her how boring they were.

JL: Oh yeah, I loved it too (laughing). It was my idea.

B&TF: It was a great idea. Thank you very much and I will mention to everyone to watch “Glee” on Fox network.

***
My next guest was Dana Delany who many of you might remember as Senator Grisham from season three who almost seduced Bette Porter. Who can forget Jennifer Beals swirling her finger in the glass with a drink and then offering it to the senator. Even some TiBetters had to admit that this scene was sexy as hell.

B&TF: I know it’s been awhile for you but I work for l-word.com and I would like to ask you some questions about The L Word. How was it for you to be on The L Word and to work with Jennifer Beals?

DD: It was great. I’m only sorry that I didn’t get to kiss her (laughing).

B&TF: You know, many fans, even the ones who really love Bette and Tina, commented that they would love to see Bette and the senator kiss. You had really great chemistry.

DD: Yeah but there’s something about not kissing that made it sexier. Sometimes almost kissing is sexier.

B&TF: How was it working with Jennifer?

DD: She’s very intelligent and really knows what she’s doing. She’s very particular about the script and making it right. I enjoyed it.

B&TF: Did you improvise anything in that scene, especially the part with the finger? I don’t know if you remember it now…

DD: I do remember the finger, yes. I think it was in the script actually, the finger.

B&TF: I think it was great and you both made it so believable and showed such chemistry.

DD: Yes, I really enjoyed it.

B&TF: So now you are on “Desperate Housewives” with a lot of female cast members there, as well. What is the difference for you to work on two different shows with mainly women as the cast?

DD: You know, I only got to work with Jennifer. I didn’t get to work with the other girls, so it’s a little different for me to be more of the ensemble rather than the guest star. We had fun. We had a lot of fun. It was good and, you know, women are very collaborative. They really try to help each other, which is nice on the set. It’s not what people think, it’s actually very collaborative. Like Terry [Hatcher], I think, is really good at comedy, so whenever I have anything to do that is comic, I always ask her advice. She has great instincts about it.

B&TF: So what’s next for you? I know “Desperate Housewives” is still on the air, are there any other projects?

DD: You know, I was going to do a little movie in the hiatus but I’m too tired, so I decided that I’m just going to take a vacation (laughing).

B&TF: Well, you were really great on The L Word, even if it was short. Thank you very much.

***
After Dana moved on, I was approached by someone I didn’t know but I took his picture and then I was told that the man was the designer David Meister (http://www.davidmeister.com) and he was the one who designed Jennifer Beals’ dress for the evening. I decided to talk to him, as well.

B&TF: So you are David Meister and I was told that you designed Jennifer’s dress.

DM: Yes.

B&TF: Do the stars actually come to you or do you just promote your designs to them, saying like, “Hey, Jennifer, you would look good in this dress.”

DM: It’s a combination, actually. We offered to dress her for tonight and she’d worn the clothes before and she’s beautiful. It was really easy.

B&TF: Tell me a little about your design business?

DM: I’ve been in design for a long time. My business is about ten years old so I design gowns and evening wear, cocktail dresses.

B&TF: What other famous people have used your dresses?

DM: Oh my God, Tina Fey, we’ve done a lot for Sharon Stone, we did Felicity Huffman…we really do a lot of different people, different stars.

B&TF: So do you like shop with them personally?

DM: Well, it depends. A lot of times they do the fittings, they do the whole thing with us.

B&TF: So how was it working with Jennifer Beals?

DM: She’s very nice, very low key and very down to earth. She’s very nice to work with. She’s very easy.

B&TF: Did she tell you what she wanted for the event or did you choose it for her?

DM: She definitely has an idea what looks good on her and what works but she’s very easy, very nice, and very sweet.

B&TF: Well, thank you. It’s indeed a very beautiful dress.

DM: Thank you.

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