“Anyone But Me” Returns!

The second season of the hit webseries Anyone But Me (ABM) premieres tomorrow night (12/15). This is a big deal – it is an extremely good show. For the unfortunate lesbians out there who did not catch season one of the series – which is from the Executive Producer/Writer team of Susan Miller (L Word and Thirtysomething) and Tina Cesa Ward, (In Their Absence) – here is a brief recap: Rachael Hip-Flores plays Vivian, a 16-year-old lesbian who has just moved to suburban Westechester from NYC because her retired firefighter father has 911 related health problems. Now living with her aunt, Vivian has left behind her girlfriend, Aster, played by openly bisexual Nicole Pacent. As Vivian tries to adjust to her new life she meets the incredibly friendly Archibald (who has a crush on Elisabeth), gets reacquainted with childhood friend Sophie (who has a loser boyfriend named Jonathan), and struggles to maintain her relationship with Aster, who despite being just a 30-minute train ride away is having a hard time with the distance. The series focuses heavily on the adorable and heartwarming relationship between the young couple, but also follows the other characters as they face their own challenges and overcome them on a journey to figure out who they really are. Overall, Susan Miller and Tina Cesa Ward have created something that people of all genders, sexualities, races, and ages can appreciate and they have done it with impeccable writing, beautifully shot scenes on location in NYC, and what has to be the best crop of young actors out there. Rachael Hip-Flores and Nicole Pacent absolutely shine in every episode and fans all over the world cannot wait to see more. Here, Cherry Grrl checks in with the two stars just before the start of the new season. We already knew they were massively talented… our interview with them told us that they are also super nice and inspiringly passionate about their work.

Cherry Grrl (CG): First of all, we just want to say how great the first season was. You were both terrific in it and every episode was just so well done. Did you have any idea, when shooting it, that it would become so popular and so highly praised?

Rachael Hip-Flores (RHF): Ha – well, yes and no. When we were shooting the first couple episodes, I was just really excited that there was free food and that I wouldn’t have to do my own make-up (both of which are still really exciting). I think, at the beginning of most projects, there’s that dream of it really catching on and reaching people, which…you have, but don’t rely on, you know? I knew it was a good script which felt well directed and well produced, but I have a tendency to temper my hopes a bit. So, even when something completely deserves to succeed, like Anyone But Me, I’m always a little surprised when it really does!

Nicole Pacent (NP): I had a lot of faith in the show’s potential from square one, really, considering that Susan Miller and Tina Cesa Ward were behind it. Their previous accomplishments speak for themselves, so I always had the sense that ABM could, and very probably would, be really well received. That being said, the web series medium is still so new, and presents a lot of relatively unchartered territory, so I wasn’t sure at all how and from where exactly we would gain a following. Since ABM really started gaining steam, I’ve been surprised and totally humbled by the turnout for the show in general, and these sentiments apply even more so to the international turnout. That I never really anticipated. But that’s the beauty of the internet for you.

CG: What initially attracted you each to the project?

RHF: Oh lord – when I first sent my info in to audition, I had no idea what I was getting into – I just knew that there was a part for a teenage girl, so I went for it. Once the initial audition was over and I’d gotten a callback, however, I googled Susan Miller and Tina Cesa Ward and saw how ridiculously talented they were and how impressive their resumes were. I watched Tina’s director’s reel on her myspace account and that’s when I really started freaking out about the whole project and really wanting it.

NP: Easy—1) I saw that Susan Miller was producing the project. Hmmmm… I am a lady who likes ladies, I have been on this earth since January, 2004 (at least), and I am presented with the opportunity to work with a writer/producer of The L Word… I mean, ‘nuff said.

2) I wished a show like ABM was around when I was an adolescent. When I was coming out in high school, I latched onto any bit of gay culture I could possibly find. I used to hunker down with my girlfriend at the time and watch hours of Queer As Folk episodes in one shot (The L Word was yet to premiere at that point), and I was just totally entranced. I mean, everyone is gay, and out, and that’s just normal and embraced, and expected, even??? …What a fantastic world. However, it was clear that this wasn’t my world—not only because I wasn’t a gay male living in the gay section of Pittsburgh—but moreover because I was not an adult yet. I was in school, I was living with my parents, I was dealing with normal, day-to-day teenage stuff, which included (but was not exclusive to) embracing my sexuality. I didn’t really know how to marry what I was seeing on screen and so badly wanted to be a part of, and where I was actually at, literally and figuratively, in my own life. Thus, when I saw the chance to be part of a series that would bridge this gap, I was on board immediately. I always want to feel like the work I do makes a difference in the world, and the idea of being able to make a difference in a community that’s so close to my heart was absolutely thrilling.

3) Aster seemed like she’d be a kick ass character to play. And she is.

CG: Was this the first lesbian-themed project that you have each been involved with? If so, were you at all apprehensive about that aspect of the series?