Tag Archives: Kate Moennig

Leisha Hailey & Kate Moennig’s podcast ‘PANTS’ is a must

Leisha Hailey & Kate Moennig have been hosting a weekly podcast where they chat about everything from first concerts to celeb encounters to what it was like to audition for Ilene Chaiken.

Moennig and Hailey met each other while filming Showtime’s 2004 series The L Word, where they played main characters Shane McCutcheon and Alice Piecseki, respectively.

While Moennig and Hailey played best friends on a TV series (and continue to do so in the reboot), they’ve also developed a close friendship in real life.

Pants the podcast came to fruition when Rachel Shelley (who edits and produces it) suggested Moennig and Hailey start one of their own after they appeared on PodDiva this past May.

In the first episode of their podcast, the duo said they became so close while filming the series that co-star Mia Kirshner began to describe them as a pair of pants because “You can’t have one leg without the other.”

With not much else to do in a global pandemic, the two decided to give it a go. Now featuring a host of excellent guests, PANTS has become the highlight of our week.

Showtime Releases First-Look Teaser for THE L WORD: GENERATION Q

So showtime just dropped the new L Word trailer and we can’t cope.

Showtime just dropped the first teaser for “The L Word: Generation Q”, featuring original stars Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, and Katherine Moennig, and introducing a few new members (Arienne Mandi, Micah Lee, Jacqueline Toboni, Rosanny Zayas and Sepideh Moafi) to the party for the eagerly anticipated sequel.

According to the pay TV channel’s official description, “The L Word: Generation Q” continues to follow the intermingled lives of Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals), Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey) and Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig), along with new characters Dani Nùñez (Arienne Mandi), Micah Lee (Leo Sheng), Finley (Jacqueline Toboni), Sophie Suarez (Rosanny Zayas) and Gigi (Sepideh Moafi) as they experience love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks and success in L.A.

Guest stars include Brian Michael, Stephanie Allyne, Olivia Thirlby, Fortune Feimster and Latarsha Rose.

“The L Word: Generation Q” is executive produced by showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan (“The Four-Faced Liar,” “6 Balloons)”, along with with series creator Ilene Chaiken, Kristen Campo, Steph Green (pilot), and original series stars Beals, Moennig and Hailey.

The new series THE L WORD: GENERATION Q premiering on Sunday, December 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. 

Jennifer Beals Explains The Decision To Bring Back ‘The L Word’

Last month, Entertainment Weekly reunited The L Word cast for a stunning cover and catch-up interview. At the time all all expressed an interest in returning for another season.

Now, that sequel is look to be a reality.

The L Word’s co-creator, Ilene Chaiken will be an executive producer of the series with a new writer/EP with ties to the lesbian community  brought in to run the production and once again chronicle the friendships and love lives of modern gay women.

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Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moenig, and Leisha Hailey are set to executive-produce as well as appear on the series. Other characters from the original series may also pop up and will be paired with a whole new cast of women.

Talking to EW, Beals explained why the moment is right for The L Word to return to television.

She also explained

Years ago, Kate and Leisha and I approached Ilene because we were shocked that nothing had taken its place. There was this renaissance, in a way, going on with marriage equality coming to the forefront. It was a different terrain and we thought you can start telling stories in a different way and there’s a whole new generation coming up that views sexuality in a different way. Ilene was in the middle of doing Empire and she was very excited about the idea but there are only so many hours in the day.

Then, the election happened. I remember I was in South Dakota watching the returns come in and I texted Ilene and I said, “We need to do something.” She said, “Let’s get together and talk about it.” So we were spitballing about what to do and I said our skillset is storytelling and I think we need to tell stories and certainly in an atmosphere of increasing hatred towards the LGBT community and frankly anyone who’s categorized as “other,” stories exploring the complexities of friendship and love are all that more crucial. Representation of everything. You can’t go backward. I would love to see the show continue to mine its original themes of friendship and love and community and additionally I’d like it to go a little further and challenge heteronormalcy.

At the reunion, Kate Moenig was adamant that season 6 be forgotten — which means Jenny Schecter lives – but Beals is not to sure.

You really got to hear the pitches of what they want to do. That person is taking on a huge load. They have the history of the show, the legacy of the show, and yet they have to make it better and they have to make it theirs. So to dictate too much at this point in time I think would be problematic. I want to hear what’s coming from them and what excites them and what stories they want to tell because that’s when it’s going to be good when you let somebody fully have their voice.

And on Bette and Tina’s future, well Beals was a little cagey

I don’t want to even say what I would like to see at this point because I think it’s more important for me to be open and listen to people’s ideas and not get stuck in my own desires. If somebody says I think she should be a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys. I’m gonna say, “Well I don’t think that’s such a great idea.” Can you imagine? That would be funny [Laughs].

‘The L Word’ Creator Ilene Chaiken Says The New Reboot Will Be More ‘Inclusive’ Than Original Show

Early this year, Showtime surprised us with news that The L Word was back for a new season.

Now, the shows creator Ilene Chaiken says the sequel to Showtime’s lesbian drama will be more inclusive than the original.

Speaking to TV Guide, Chaiken discussed what fans can expect in the new show.

It’s 10 years hence since we stopped doing The L Word, so the world will be different in all the ways that the world is different now. We’ve made progress, we’ve backslid in some ways, we’ve gotten older, some of us, and there are new young women whose stories we’re going to tell. But I will say that The L Word in 2018 will be more reflective, more inclusive than the original show we did.”

While Jennifer Beals, Kate Moenning and Leisha Hailey are expected to reprise their characters in the new show, Erin Daniels, who played Dana Fairbanks, has yet to announce whether she’ll appear in the reboot.

Chaiken said that she’s hoping Daniels will join the cast.

I hope we’ll be seeing Erin Daniels on the show. I love Erin Daniels, and maybe there’s some way – who knows. I’ve never let go of Dana and neither has the audience – maybe we will [see her].”

We’re Finally Getting A Sequel To ‘The L Word’

Entertainment Weekly reports that Showtime is developing a sequel to its hit queer drama, The L Word.

Series creator Ilene Chaiken says she’s excited about the possibilities ahead, because there has, disappointingly, been no real follow-up in terms of television’s portrayal of gay women:

Chaiken told EW about the series returning.

We talk about it all the time. When we went off the air in 2009, I think a lot of people thought, Okay, the baton is passed now, and there will be lots of shows that portray lesbian life. There’s really nothing. It feels like maybe it should come back.”

According to EW Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, and Kate Moennig have also signed on as executive producers and will also appear in the series.

Beals, Moennig and Hailey will act as bridge characters into the upcoming series, which will follow the lives of a new ensemble of women, chronicling the trials and tribulations of their lives. Other original characters, including Erin Daniels (Dana), Laurel Holloman (Tina), Mia Kirshner (Jenny), Sarah Shahi (Carmen) and Pam Grier (Kit), may also make appearances in the new series.

The original series was praised as the first drama series to focus on lesbian characters in a three-dimensional, realistic way when it first debuted in 2004, and won numerous awards over the years for its portrayal of a group of friends and lovers residing in West Hollywood, California.

The success of The L Word – which ended in 2009 – helped open the door for more varied and sophisticated LGBT-driven series to flourish: Looking, The Fosters, Transparent, Sense8 and Orange Is the New Black, among others. Additionally, the drama featured storylines about equality, legal marriage and benefits and HIV/AIDS at a time when they were frequently overlooked by more mainstream shows.

Showtime previously developed a spin-off for The L Word in 2008, called The Farm, which would have starred Hailey and was set in a prison, not unlike Netflix’s Orange. The idea did not ultimately go to series.

Watch ‘The L Word’ Cast Reunite For EW Cover

Ten years after The L Word hit the small screen, Entertainment Weekly has rounded up the cast for an all-star reunion.

Watch the video below to see Sarah Shahi, Mia Kirshner, Leisha Hailey, Erin Daniels, Daniela Sea, Kate Moennig and Jennifer Beals discuss love, friendship and laughter.

Kate Moennig Addresses Those L Word Reboot Rumours

The groundbreaking show, The L Word – which followed the lives and loves of a group of Los Angeles lesbians – ran for six seasons from 2004 and 2009.

In recent months speculation has be sparked talk of a reboot, with executive producer Ilene Chaiken tweeting, apparently out of the blue: “So excited! Can’t wait…!”

As if that wasn’t enough, Chaiken – who is now an executive producer for hit Fox show Empire – was then joined in her Twitter conversation by some of the cast.

Kate Moennig, who played the inimitable, irreplaceable Shane McCutcheon, replied to the post.

And Sarah Shahi, who played Carmen de la Pica Morales in seasons two and three, added

The prospect of seeing some of the best, most fleshed-out characters – let alone lesbian characters – interact again was almost too much.

 

Now talking to Liz Feldman on This Just Out with Liz Feldman, Moennig has said she would totally be down for an L Word comeback. (Watch below)

Are We Finally Getting ‘The L Word’ Reboot We’ve Longed For?

With one tweet, The L Word creator Ilene Chaiken managed to send queer women everywhere into a twitter frenzy.

Former cast members Kate Moennig, Jennifer Beals and Sarah Shahi were all quick to respond:

So what does this mean? Are we really finally getting The L Word reboot we’ve longed for? Or are they just all meeting up for a casual catch-up?

Fans we’re quick to respond

Signs are looking promising. Over the years many of the cast has said they’d be up for a reunion.

Chaiken told Entertainment Weekly;

I would love to revisit The L Word. We talk about it from time to time. I talk about it with some of my colleagues who were in the cast who would love to reboot it.”

Jennifer Beals has even had a few ideas about how the series might be different now.

So is a reboot on the cards?

Ruby Rose And Phoebe Dahl Throw Idyllic Lesbian Dinner Party (Jealous Much)

Ruby Rose and Phoebe Dahl are showing the world how lesbians do-it. Clean thoughts.

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The actress/model and fashion designer threw a beautiful summer dinner party and invited Elle Magazine to stop by.

 

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Also in attendance: Ruby’s friend, Kate Moennig (Yes, THAT Kate Moenning), as well as jewellery designer Lizzie Dulien, model Ruby Corley, and model/skateboarder Nick Hinman.

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Described by Elle magazine as a “storybook version of chaos”, guests lounge around Dahl’s childhood home in LA, eating culinary delights such as watermelon salad, lobster potpie and blackened corn.

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Sigh. We can always print off the pictures and glue them to the wall as we tuck into a sloppy ready-made-meal for one, pretending we were there…

 

Stop Everything – Is This The L Word Reunion We’ve Been Waiting For?

No quiet, but close enough.

Former The L Word co-stars and on-screen lovers – Sarah Shahi (who played Carmen) and Kate Moennig (Shane) – were reunited on the set of Ray Donovan in today’s Post of the Day.

Sarah is guest starring Ray Donovan. She’ll be playing Hasmig, an Armenian pop star. Much to any fan of The L Word’s delight, she will play opposite of Kate—who plays Lena, Donovan’s assistant.

The third season of Ray Donovan premieres on July 12. We can’t wait to see Kate and Sarah back on the small screen together again.

Lesbian Fashion Icons – Yes We Have Them, and WOW They’re Hot

Our list of Lesbian Fashion Icons. From the way they wear a shirt, to the cut of their blazers, lesbian celebrities are certainly making their mark and the age of dyke chic is here…


Beth Ditto

We just adore Beth Ditto’s style. Why, because there is no one in this world quite like her or in her league when it comes to fashion. Known for her band, Gossip, Beth Ditto radical feminist ora could not give a crap if she is a size 26, as she has never heard of the term “self conscious”. In fact, give her an item of clothing three sizes too small and she’d be all over it. Her brightly coloured Lycra playsuits seem to be her favourite. She’s loud and proud and we look up to this.


Ruby Rose

Ruby Rose certainly knows what she’s going to wear in the morning before she steps out the front door. She is the definition of style – tattoo’d sleeve, vests and skinny jeans is her signature outfit, along with quirky piece of jewellery, which she nails it every time. Ms Rose came out as a big lesbian young, and since then she has always had this edgy cool look about her – she is a women who know’s what she wants in life and that is always a positive thing.


Kate Moennig

In The L Word, Kate Moennig played the tomboy / butch, against the ultra femme backdrop. In playing Shane, she has started a trend, which queer girls all over the world began to copy. The look is simple – white vests with blazers, converse on feet, and straight black hair with a floppy fringe. Most want to be her, and in the L word every lesbian wanted her. Her just-out-of-bed hair, is now the definition of ‘alternative lifestyle haircut’ – its bends gender.


Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen’s classic suits, crisp trousers, body-conscious sweaters and vests are tailored to be youthful, trendy and flattering. Matched with bright, playful colours and worn with sporty white trainers, Ellen have carved a fashion look that American go crazy for. She is the lesbian staple when it comes to fashion – she proves that menswear is not just for stone butches, but soft and fuzzy day-time-TV super stylist divas too.


AzMarie Livingston

Far from being a classic metropolitan girl, AzMarie Livingston hails from the conservative mid-west town of Milwaukee Wisconsin. Standing almost 5’10″, AzMarie gay essence certainly informs her fashion style. Blazing her own trail, she is unafraid to show her tattoos and sports a crew cut. Her look is unique and she is stunning. We completely understand why Raven-Symoné is smiling so sweetly now.