Speak of the devil. Mention “The L Word” and up pops Mama Chaiken.In two quotes to emmys.com, Ilene Chaiken reminds us why her creations both enthrall and enrage. Talking with the magazine about her new spin-off reality series, “The Real L Word: Los Angeles,” which is expected to launch this summer. The show has been cast and already begun filming in all the gayest of nooks and crannies around LA.
So why did IFC want to create TRLW: LA?
“When The L Word ended, I received so much feedback from fans who wanted more and, really, the show could have gone on and on. Doing the reality show is a logical continuation of the storytelling and a fresh way to circle back to it seamlessly without taking a year off.”
And why will it succeed?
“There’s nothing else on television that tells these stories and continues to shatter stereotypes. We can delve into issues that we could only scratch the surface on in the scripted show.”
So, essentially, she thinks she has us by the short and curlies.
Now, call me dense (many have), but it seems to me you can delve into any and all issues on a scripted show because it is just that, scripted. You write it, you control what issues you talk about, you decide what issues get addressed. You, you, you. But on reality shows, the real people dictate what issues get touched upon, what issues they talk about, what issues they address. They, they, they.
There is no limit to creativity. There are limits to reality. They’re called facts. Crazy, I know.
As for the reality series as a “logical continuation of the storytelling,” I also beg to differ. But at least it’s more logical than sending Alice to prison.
Oh, Ilene. The thing is you know that we’re so starved for representation that anything larger than a crumb will feel like cake. But I fail to see how going to a genre known for hot tub hookups and barroom brawls will “shatter stereotypes.” Also, I claim 11 minutes in the “How Long Will it Take for a Cast Member to Get Naked” pool.
Though, that’s the only kind of pool I’d suggest in connection to the show. If Ilene puts a real one in it’s going to be an awfully short season, what with all the unexplained drownings and all.
15 comments:
Well snarker, reality TV isn't reality, so they can make almost anything happen that they want. It's become a formula on how these things are cast, and manipulated, oops I meant "directed".
We'll see. but the whole thing SCARES ME!
Oh geez, I don't have the energy for this.
If TLW could have gone on and on as IC claims then why didn't it? S6 was a disaster. The fault for that Season of Turd belongs squarely on IC's shoulders. If she had written a good storyline TLW would be on now. If not on Showtime then another cable station. But of course good script writing and IC are not often mentioned in the same sentence after S1 & S2.
Argh!!! Chaiken is infuriating.
IC is so wrapped up in her own ego she probably believes everyone loved Season Sux. Not even her cast was happy. Why does she think we will be so enthralled with this new piece of crap she is throwing at us? Oh, I know the answer, her ego!
I'm not watching anything she has a hand in. You know, fool me once...
Oh man, I have such a hate-hate relationship with this woman... The thought/sight of her makes me borderline violent.
Explain to me how IC isn't completely delusional? Reality show my ass. It's her version of reality, which is so full of red flags that if the rodeo came to town all of the bulls would stampede. Crushing the hopes and dreams of any viewer who dared tune in.
@jennifer Well said.
Ilene, puulleeese don't do this!!
Oh I forgot she doesn't care about the audience.
I will not watch - if I want reality lesbians I will look in the mirror or look at my partner or walk out the door - we are everywhere and that's reality. ( Which by the way I don't want strained through IC's brain or eyes).
Oh Snarker, you are so right about IC. What I miss are the cast of the L Word, especially Tibette, and just wish someone other than the creator of the season six disaster were in charge of an L Word Movie!
it has to be better than Gimme Sugar....but I really don't want to watch it.
I've never watched a reality show, nope not one; not even for 5 min. I want reality I pull my head out of the tv and go outside; amazing reality everywhere.
I want entertainment IFC, is absolutely the last place I would turn. Watch paint dry, go to the beauty salon and watch them give hair cuts, stand in line at the DMV, train my cat, clean the fish tank, more fun then anything IC can screw up.
I hope this show sucks ass. It's demeaning to just throw out crappy content just cause it's tagged with the 'L' word. Why can't they just do a small yet kiss arse 'L word' movie? It's be a sweet closure for all that whacko pool drowning of a screwed up excuse for a plot scene.
"...we’re so starved for representation that anything larger than a crumb will feel like cake."
man, what a great line!
Perhaps she is hoping that the actors—contestants? staff?—will produce through their actions the seventh (and perhaps eighth!) seasons of The L Word, not via some base manipulations, nor even through the banal technique of simply becoming Ilene Chaiken herself, but rather, by remaining themselves and arriving at The L Word through their own experiences.
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