Those sneaky writers over at The L Word have a most unsubtle way of letting us viewers know that Bette Porter is both totally hot and way, way smart. And it’s easy for them to accomplish–just throw a big art-world name or two into her normal, everyday conversation (pssst… Liza Lou! hey… Dadaism!), et voila!, their work here is done. It’s cheap, easy and effective, because every time Jenny Beals (pictured) purrs out the name of some modern artist during one of Bette’s classroom lectures, I go diving for the Wikipedia search engine. And then I find myself wondering why Bette — clearly a smart, well-toned, educated woman — can’t find a decent sexual partner to save her life.
Oh, don’t go there. Don’t give me that Tina crap. I used to think it was a shame that the central relationship of this entire series flamed out so quickly and pretty much died by the end of Season 2; at this point, Tina’s character has been so permanently tarnished that it’s all I can do not to scream whenever she’s on my screen. And now… now that Bette has faced the indignity of being dumped for a man while her partner and mother of her child jarringly reenters the straight world? Now she’s reduced to flirting with a pushy student, a Jewel lookalike who wears jean shorts and all but whips up sexy candlelight dinners at her desk. Last week, I openly disparaged Jessica Capshaw’s dim performance as Bette’s T.A., Nadia; this week, I’m here to do it again. What purpose does this outlandish development — and this totally wrong-headed casting decision — serve, other than to a.) irritate me, b.) diminish Bette’s academic credibility, and c.) extend Jessica Capshaw’s shelf life? Like, why, L Word? Why must you torture me this way?
At least the rest of last night’s episode was enjoyable. I haven’tyet commented on Max/Moira’s new relationship with his boss’s daughter,Brooke, probably because the actress playing her can barely registermore than one emotion on her face. Sorry, Chelsea Hobbs, but it’s true.Loved you in Pasadena, and I’m sure to love you in your upcoming Lifetime movie,but I don’t love you here. Please exit stage left, and take JessicaCapshaw with you. Max/Moira, for some reason, seems to inspireuniversal hatred among all of my friends; me, I dig him/her/shim, andthere was a nice moment last night when he bonded with Shane’s littlebrother as they puttered around with the insides of a car. Helena hasbeen good for some laughs, but it’s clear that the show is just toocrowded for her, and she’s suffering from a bland storyline as aresult. Any suggestions out there? Me, I wouldn’t mind if she justhigh-tailed her way out of WeHo and traded places with her mother,Peggy Peabody. Because the way I see it, you can never get enoughHolland Taylor. (Dear Gods of DVD releasing: Please stop fiddle-fartingaround and put The Powers That Be on disc immediately. Mwah.)
Oooh, wait!! We haven’t even talked about last night’s mostentertaining-slash-horrifying scene, the so-called gay-straight mixerthat Tina and Henry threw at their house. Now, first of all, I surehope that my friends would call me out for being a lunatic if I everreferred to one of my parties as a "gay-straight mixer." A party is aparty is a party, people, and anybody who classifies it as a meeting oftwo alien sexualities is pretty much setting themselves to step in abig pile of caca. I would like to think that the party scene — whichfeatured a sadsack group of idiotic, homophobic heterosexuals — waswritten to play as parody. To some extent, it did. But it was alsoincredibly irritating. Am I to believe that straight people gathered inthe home of a one-time lesbian — a home in or near West Hollywood, mind you — wouldopenly spout anti-gay remarks? Tell me, am I that naive? Aside frombeing uncomfortable and one-sided, this was a cheesy and off-the-markscene that lost something in execution. And you know it’s bad when aone-liner from Angus that references Boy Butter (they don’t make up this stuff, people) closes it out.
And what to say of Jenny, who’s continuing her reign of disgusting?My favorite Looney Tune has done gone lost her mind since the so-called"vagina wig" (NSFW ifyou’re offended by the sight of a furry, Muppet-like, hot pink, literalvagina wig) wrote that scathing Curve review, and she’s going all overthe neighborhood bitching and moaning that "my experience" iscritic-proof." Any writer who believes that their own life story isn’tgoing to get ripped and shredded by someone is living in theclouds; hence, Jenny’s response, and my gratitude that Jenny is againgiving me full-on crazy this year. She’s so much more fun when she’sself-absorbed and detestable — a walking id, if you will. By the by,this must mean it’s time for my weekly Mia Kirshner clip, and thisweek’s is fun. Say what you will about Mia’s history of polarizingperformances, the girl has awesome taste in TV.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Was Bette right tofinally put the moves on Nadia? Should Tina be throwing these absurdparties (and, for that matter, was it right that she wasn’t going toinvite Bette)? What’s the deal with this summer-camp friend thatJenny’s trying to find? And who on earth is raiding Barbara Bush’scloset to outfit poor Cybill Shepherd?
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The “summer camp friend” story is just a cover that Jenny made up so that she could get Max to do one of his extra-magical “computer searches” on Stacey Merkin’s girlfriend. Jenny was inspired to take down the Vag wig’s saintly gf (who the Vag Wig used as a point of comparison from which to tear Jenny apart in her review of “Some of Her Parts”) after Phyllis (Cybill Shepherd) explained to Jenny that she once got even with a critic by writing a point-by-point dismantling of his argument.
On another note, overall good episode. The group dynamic is back, and for that we are all grateful.
I’m chewing my cheeks right now trying not to holler “I told you so I told you so” in regards to Tina. I’m with you on loving Crazy Jenny so, so, so much this season. She’s just so deliciously out of control I want to pour maple syrup on her and eat her with a knife and fork.
But Max? Ugh, get out of my sight, creepazoid.
And looooove!
Love Alice and her taking Phyllis out (trying a vintage model). I too HATE Max. Still miss Carmen. And I don’t have a problem with the TA like everyone else does (?) I was checking out her legs just as much as Bette was…
I tell you, when Bette says the word “perspectise” and “Provocations” she sounds SOOOO HOT!
I’m LOVING Jenny too after she called that reviewer a “va*ina” LOL!
Lindsay, I’m so glad you pointed out the absurdity of Max and his (her? shis?) “computer searches”.
I have to believe Ilene Chaiken is just one of those old biddies who still isn’t quite sure about these internets that the kids are all talking about, based on the repeated references to Max’s Magic Machine.
Didn’t anyone think it was low of Tina not to invite Max to her terrible party? Tina seems to be a villain suddenly. I really liked Papi trying to be confrontational and Shane not knowing or caring who she even was. Bette really shouldn’t have made a move with the girl from THE PRACTICE.
I’m glad someone else remembers and loves PASADENA, but I must admit I had to IMDB Chelsea Hobbs to find out that she was the ill-fated Meredith Weller.
To respond to your question “Am I to believe that straight people gathered in the home of a one-time lesbian – a home in or near West Hollywood, mind you – would openly spout anti-gay remarks?”: the party took place at Henry’s home not Tina’s (in the scene, Tina specifically tells Bette that she doesn’t live there – to which Bette replies “Yet”). Last season, when Tina met Henry, he told her that he lives in the Valley (in Sherman Oaks) which is really not “in or near West Hollywood” – at least not near enough to be impacted by WeHo’s gay friendly culture. I believe that we are to infer that the straight guests at the party (apart from Kit and Angus) are Henry’s pre-Tina friends (who presumably don’t have much eperience with gay people). For these people to openly display their ignorance is, in my opinion, unfortunately not uncharacteristic. After all, Isiaah Washington is in the heavily gay populated entertainment industry and yet that still didn’t stop him…
Steve, thanks for the clarification. You make a good point re: Isaiah Washington. I suppose, as a whole, that I found the entire setup preposterous. One would hope that gay and straight guests would have more to do than stare at one another awkwardly, but then…sometimes hope only gets you so far, doesn’t it?! There seemed to be a better opportunity here for learning on BOTH sides (Alice and co. were being just as exclusionary). Instead, it just devolved into another awkward, us-versus-them moment in a show that’s already too filled with them.
Yes, the L word is definitely better thus far this season, especially since the entire mood is lighter and more fun, but being a hot-blooded lesbian myself, why is it that there is not one woman on that show to make my heart go pitter-patter? I see a much more accurate portrayal of lesbian life out on the town on friday and saturday nights! Yeah, yeah, this is LOS ANGELES but how bout some REAL lesbians people?
Nicholas, I agree – the whole “gay-straight mixer” setup was pretty preposterous. After all, this is the scene in which Helena (the former head of a movie studio) reveals that she has, seemingly, never heard of Desperate Housewives! BTW – thanks for Pop Watching one of my favorite shows – I hope they keep coming…
I MISS CARMEN! I am not feeling Papi and Marina was only here for a minute. Where are the hot chicks? I couldn’t believe Bette would be so capricious to get involved with her fugly TA. Bette is losing it and that girl is NOT attractive! I hate every scene with Jenny. Hate, hate, hate her! Love the popwatch!
They need to get Joan Jett to guest star on that show.. or Jackie Warner. I mean, Cybill Shepard? Really, people.. what is the age group this is catering to?
Nell, the reason you are seeing more accurate portrayals of gays out on the town is because that´s REAL life and The L word is a TV-SHOW.
Nell, I don’t think Joan Jett is much younger than Cybil Sheppard.
Jenny DRIVES ME CRAZY and needs to be destroyed. I found the gay/mixer strange too considering this is LA but no matter where you live there is always a small fraction of the population that has never been around people like them “gays, blacks, etc” You would think in the 21st century this could not happen but it does and I have witnessed it with bemusement.Some idiot will always ask an inappropriate question regarding race or sexuality and then claim he/she is not racist or homophobe. Papi is skanky,if you ask me. Alice is great for comic relief even though her “okays” bug me. Don’t find Jennifer Beals attractive. She needs an updated hairstyle & fast! I do wish Bette will find a partner that is equal to her. Tina wasn’t and yes, people, sorry to say “I know many women who were straight become attractive to the same sex and then decide they want to go back to “straightville” They fall for the person not the sex of the person.
Yes, but Joan Jett is much hotter than Cybil Shepard. Hate to draw comparisons in another area, but Queer as Folk, while being a “TV show” is pretty much what you see you on the town.
I MISS CARMEN TOO!! Marina, I definately miss that too, HOT, HOT, HOT!!! I to wish that the show was more real like (lesbian people), I want to know were I can find that many “HOT” lesbians in one place, tell me, tell, me, please, tell me? But it’s true, it’s a TV show and if it was more to real life some people might not want to watch it, example, Max UGH!, thus the famous “HOT” Babes. I’m sure there are plenty of real lesbians that can do the job and that are just as gorgeous, bring them on. There are plenty of Max’s out there, that’s real alright, but I liked her as the girl wanna be boy, she’s cute/handsome, keep the girl parts, get rid of the stubble and pit hair. Bett will always be my fave no matter what she does or who she’s with. Cybill is “HOT” and so what if she’s older, that character will keep me inspired, don’t forget some day we will all be older. I’m really not liking Tina right now, but I have also seen that straight/gay/straight thing in real life. Late!
First and always, I have to say that Beth is so sexy. I would love to have her for one night. But on the show, I don’t think she such have put the moves on Nadia, I don’t trust that women for some reason. I just feel she has some tricks up her slaves. Hey! just looking out for my girl Beth.
Anyone know the name of the song at the end of this weeks episode (the one during Shane’s hot Hugo shoot)
she is the better women amazing i know is beautifull is out of this world ilove her really i love her