Interview: Jill & Cathy Talk Season 2 of WHTSN

“We Have to Stop Now” (WHTSN) has been so highly praised and so consistently talked about that you would think there have been several seasons of the creative webseries that follows two lesbian therapists as they struggle to keep up the pretense of their own marriage after the success of their book How To Succeed In Marriage Without Even Trying. Surprising to many, however, is the fact that it is only the second season of the show that is set to premiere next week.

The popularity of the show has a lot to do with the cast. Real life lesbian super-couple Cathy DeBuono and Jill Bennett star as Dinah and Kit, and comedic legend Suzanne Westenhoefer plays their therapist, Susan. Behind the scenes, Cathy and Jill also serve as a pair of Producers who are very passionate about a project that is entertaining their many devoted lesbian fans. Season 1 saw the couple go through their ups and downs and had comedy, drama, and romance along the way. Season 2 premieres on Tuesday April 13^th so we caught up with the very busy actresses/producers just as they returned home from a trip to Europe (where they were spreading the word about their adorable film “And Then Came Lola”) so that they could fill fans in on guest stars, working together, increasing lesbian visibility, and more.

Cherry Grrl (CG): As one of the most watched and adored lesbian couples out there right now, can you share with your fans what you did for Valentine’s Day last month?

Jill: We actually took the day off and got a gorgeous hotel suite for the night. Champagne, chocolates, and room service.  It was a wonderful night, and one much needed, as we haven’t had much quality time together lately.

Cathy: More specifically, chocolate covered strawberries on a bed of cinnamon sugar. Genius.  Jill surprised me with that night away…

CG: How long is it that you have now been a couple?

Cathy and Jill: Two years.

CG: What has producing, acting, and being involved with “We Have to Stop Now” done for your personal relationship?

Jill: It’s been both extremely rewarding and challenging.  Obviously, we are doing our dream job right now as far as being actors – these characters are complex, the story is engaging and we’re thrilled to be doing a gay series together.  The challenging side is the producing with a limited budget.  It basically means that we are doing the vast majority of the work without help. Ideally, we’d have at least 8 to 10 more people in the company.

Cathy: It’s an exercise in finding balance and learning to care for each other through the stressful times – which we get better at all the time, thank goodness.  You know challenges that push all your buttons present you with opportunities to bail or to expand and grow together.

CG: Have the experiences that Kit and Dyna have gone through proven to be helpful or enlightening in terms of how you deal or might deal with issues that come up in your relationship or conflicts that you have?

Cathy: The idea of Dyna and Kit’s relationship experiences influencing our real life relationship is an interesting concept.  We know that Dyna and Kit are influenced by Cathy and Jill because Ann Noble (creator/writer [pictured above with Cathy and Jill]) truly does pull from our real lives.  Kit’s core essence of emotionality and energetic soulful bent on her approach to relationships is more me in real life, while Dyna’s logically based, practicality to relationships belongs more to Jill.  So as actors, we find ourselves in each others shoes in order to the play roles. We do find ourselves ironically understanding one another better in real life.  But here’s the funniest part, I have a huge crush on Kit and Jill has one on Dyna… what do you think means?

CG: Interesting… So, Season 1 saw Dyna and Kit struggle to keep their relationship together and despite some moments when you thought they might really work it out, in the end we still don’t know where they stand. What can you share with us about Season 2 and where it will pick up with their story?

Jill: We don’t want to give too much away, but we pick up with Dyna and Kit a few months after the last episode of Season 1.  If you don’t recall, the Season ended with Susan discovering the women in her bathtub.  Dyna and Kit were considering buying a new house, and the real estate agent told them the owner was out of town for the weekend.  On a whim, Dyna attempted a carefree moment of romance in the house…not knowing of course, that Cindy had set them up by sending them to Susan’s house.  Needless to say, things are a bit tense between the three women at the top of the Season.  As for the journey, you’ll just have to subscribe!