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There was much shouting at the television last night as a gaggle of us gathered around the anticipated premiere. Through the chatter and the 2 glasses of wine, however, I was able to actually catch some of the show so here are the highlights and lowlights of Season 4 Episode 1.
The most noticeable aspect, however, wasn’t part of the plot at all but the rampant product placement and website plugging. I’ve seen it plenty before. Macintosh computers are always used in the show and indeed seem to be a large part of any gay show. (The gays love the Macs. That’s why I find it particularly ironic and frustrating that none of Logo’s online multimedia content will play on a Mac. Go ahead and try Mac fans. Do you know your audience MTV CEOs?) But they must have made a deal with MySpace because they wouldn’t shut up about it. They also seem to be launching their own social networking site, Our Chart, which was not up as of last night, but sneaky little devils must have updated it and launched this morning (Hey where’s my email notification?). The show made it seem like it was just the same kind of hookup web that the Alice character created, only for real people. Thankfully, it seems a much more full-bodied site including news, blogs etc. But that web of connections aspect is still there, and boy does that sound like a bad idea.  There is no way I would lay out my sexual jaunts for the world to see. Can you imagine, not just the teasing, but the amount of drama that would ensue when rumors become truth, or more likely, even bigger rumors? I recommend you stay far far away…But onto the meat of the show…
The cliffhanger from last season of Bette kidnapping her daughter was so easily wrapped up I forgot it was even a plot element. Tina’s wailing about her baby was only cumbersome and totally boring. I care even less about her now as a whiny straight white blonde than she when she was a whiny lesbian blonde. The only saving grace here was the lawyer’s cheeky reaction to the situation. I love the hysterical Jane Lynch. She never ceases to be hilarious.
The other biggie that was carried over from last season is Shane’s fall from grace. And boy has she fallen. As she emerged from the wreckage of the vehicle she commandeered, walking with a slow staccato gait and holding her crooked, bloody arm, my friend remarked that she looked like a zombie and expected the good guys to come and blow her head off with a shotgun at any moment. Carmen is officially off the show as well and I am disappointed once again with taking yet another of the best characters off the show. They did reintroduce Marina to the mix, which was surprising and gives me hope for bringing back characters they just dumped. Unfortunately, there’s still no hope for Dana…
 As much as I appreciate the introduction of a trans character last season Max was really starting to get on my nerves. And yet, I could never really save any sympathy for Jenny because she was just as easy to despise. The L Word seemed egalitarian only in that I could never take sides with anyone on the show because I hated them all. And yet, this episode inserted a small but important scene. After serving himself up some trouble for trying to pass and live as a straight man, Max goes to a transman support group. They marvel at his ability to keep any friends with the amount of testosterone he’d been taking and explained all the emotional turmoil that comes with not only fundamentally changing your life but using a brain-altering chemical as part of that process. It finally made Max’s transition have a little humanity.
But the most bizarre part of the show was Kit’s trip to the pseudo-abortion clinic. I could understand how a young girl could be fooled into thinking a Christian “pregnancy advise center” might be a Planned Parenthood but how 45 year old Kit was makes little sense. Besides, I was really looking forward to her manny (man-nanny) being a daddy. Oh well, always disappointments with this show. I forgive it for its only because it provides prurient chest shots and for its ability to shock if not surprise. It did end with a rather funny plot twist wherein Shane might just be a foster daddy. That should wake her up from zombiedom real fast.
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It’s that time of year again where we all gather to watch skinny, drama filled lesbians in power suits strut like peacocks through Los Angeles. That’s right, our favorite Lifetime drama for lesbos begins again for the fourth time this Sunday the 7th on Showtime.  (For another interesting show that’s on the real Lifetime, check out out Byron’s WW column this week. It a cruel idea and normally I hate reality TV but I have a feeling this one might suck me in) And we each will have our favorite spots to watch including numerous house parties and the infamous E-Room, but premiere night also sees and extra special place to hang out. HRC Portland is hosting a fundraiser at Aura (1022 W Burnside) from 6-10:30. I’m not normally a huge fan of either the gargantuan and normative HRC, nor the Pearlesque and pricey Aura who complains about Zoobombers trashing the hood (hey, the south side of Burnside is not the Pearl yet…) but it can’t hurt to help out a gay organization while you’re watching you’re trashy TV ang getting some nosh. Besides, word on the street is it will fill up fast, which means you better RSVP soon (by pm tomorrow) but it also means you singles might have even more incentive. […]
 I’ve never been much of a soap watcher but I did have a brief period of entrancement at about age 12. It was with All My Children. So I am pleased to say that is the show that will be airing an MTF character this week. Of course we have yet to see how it will turn out but oh isn’t she cute? Now, of course soaps are sensational but it appears they did consult with GLAAD and might be genuinely interested in portraying trans people positively. Gay is so passe… […]
I know I’m a bit behind on this but I just wanted to give you the video of everyone’s favorite lezzie mom give her controversial statement of the year on The View the other day. I wholly support her s… […]
Just as Sex and the City made the leap from its edgy HBO airings to the toned down TBS, and onto late night broadcast syndication, so it is time for Queer as Folk. For those who couldn’t get their han… […]
Last nights series ender was a much pleasanter surprise than anticipated, even if it was carried out in Queer as Folks usual glaringly obvious and cheesy manner. The rest of this post is filled with spoilers, so if youve waited to see it with the boys at Slaughters read the rest of this tomorrow.
Thank you, thank you Queer as Folk, for returning to your thumpa thumpa, plastic ass, roots. Thank you for not putting Teddy and Emmett together. Thank you for your bittersweet decision to keep Brian and Justin in love but still the party boys and dream pursuers, not marriage material. And thank you, most of all, for cracking a much needed joke at the HRC. Because, Michael Nvodty, you are right. Straight gays may want it to look like our community is just like everyone else: married with children in perfect stable, monogamous relationships, wearing the clothes of the appropriate gender. Thank god, thank us, we are different. We do embrace gender variance, new constructions of family, new ways of looking at the world. So queer as folk, I can happily say, so long, its been fun
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Americas first all queer show (stolen from across the pond of course) is ending . . . forever. What ever are we going to do without our soft core boy on boy action fix? As I stated earlier, I am concerned that the show is going to end with a happy heteronormative fix, and my fears have not been allayed in subsequent episodes. But I have other worries as well. Obviously, that Tad character is bad news for Teddy. Hes cutting him off from all his friends and we all know how fragile and susceptible lil Mr. Schmidt is. But worse than anything happening to Teddy, would be if he and Emmett got back together. Emmett, you are way too fabulous for that sniveling sap. Teddy, I never really liked you. It is significant that his character dies in that initial Season 1 episode in the British version. Everyone else seems to be tied, rather neatly, into their matrimonial packages, so I suppose Im not particularly concerned, or excited really, to see what happens to them. But bravo boys, youve had a good run, and, despite all your flaws, I will miss you. Be sure to tune in early to check out the retrospective a half hour before the show.
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The festivals hosted by small town with big scene Olympia, Washington, never fail to amaze me. For an extended weekend hordes of hipster from across the globe converge on our little neighbor to the north and create an energy found at precious few events. I expect this years Ladyfest, returned after 5 years, to be no different.  The first Ladyfest put stars in my eyes with acts like Freddy Fagulas drag performance to Space Oddity at 3 in the morning and Sleater-Kinneys rousing rendition of Dude looks like a lady. The last Oly fest I attended, last years Homo-a-go-go, equally mesmerized me with a reunion performance by the band that got me through secondary education, Team Dresch. Did I come home with the sweat of a hundred girls soaked through my shirt and wet against my skin? You bet I did. Was I upset to be so stinky? Not a bit.
I am hoping that this summers big Olyfest can measure up. And with the nonstop workshop, music, craft fair action, I have faith that it will. Here are just some of the few things Im excited about:
Tracy and the Plastics Whitney veteran Wynne Greenwood takes on the role of 3 spaced out electronic rockers on video. Weird and visually engaging her voice and music are both still incredible.
Mary Timony Ethereal popster whose Helium sounds never failed to make me lightheaded. Shes a great artist to blend with and her cameos have always lent a wonderful slippery edge to artists such as Carrie Brownstein. With so many fabulous ladies around this weekend, perhaps well see these seamless syntheses in action.
Romanteek Oh my lord, the chords on this girl. Shes got the soul and the throat of a blues artist, an opera star, a Jersey girland theyre completely dance-worthy.
 Tender Forever Ive never seen her before but the description of cardboard laptop has got me jonseing for a front row perch.
I also cant see the rock stopping with the southern flavor of The Gossip or the hard riffs of metal art bangers King Cobra. C.O.C.O should keep ya steppin with their stripped down beats, and Mirah and Sarah Dougher will both touch your heart with their guitar strings. Beyond the music exists a world of film and workshop interaction that should also not be overlooked. From Radical Feminist panel discussions to doll crafting with Dame Darcy learning is back in style. (Sorry too-cool-for-schoolers, its over). And, being the home of acclaimed Olympia Film Society the screen line-up is also sure to keep butts in seats and yeast covered popcorn in hands.
More info at http://www.ladyfestolympia.org
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Perhaps Showtime is making it easier to say goodbye this final season of Queer as Folk, because the first 2 episodes made my dislike of many characters begin to swell. Michael’s hypocritical and swift descent into the world of the pretentious, upwardly mobile gay men is just sickening, and his interaction with just as huffy and unrelenting Melanie drove me to drink. Teddy is as fake and annoying as ever, with a new attitude and addiction around every corner and even Emmett has a bad haircut. Oh Emmett!
All was saved by the soothing sounds of soulful romanteek at Snatch (see below). Unfortunately, they may just have too much funk for the west coast, but us transplants surely moved to their grooves. And by the time Show Me the Pink got up on stage the rest of the crowd was feeling the vibe. Where else can you hear lyrics that use the words “metrosexual dudes”? Sad to hear they’re on hiatus, but it’s for the happy reason of impending parenthood. Rumor is they’re in the studio anyway…
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