By Danielle
Glee got you down? Have you begun the annual Grey’s Anatomy withdrawals? Is it time to freshen up your lesbian viewing list, but cable has failed you?
The web is here to save you! Like a sparkling oasis of girls making out in a desert of Two and A Half Men marathons, the accessibility of promoting independent shows on the web continues to spawn new projects aimed at lesbian audiences. Which means no more waiting for sweeps week or network execs to get the shows we want.
You may already be familiar with hits like Anyone But Me (www.anyonebutmeseries.com) (of which you can catch the season 2 finale Tues, June 8th — [tonight at Midnite, EST]), We Have To Stop Now (www.wehavetostopnow.tv), and Cherry Bomb (www.cherrybombtv.com) – but here are a few lesbian web series you may have missed.
1. Girl/Girl Scene
“Based on the lives and loves of four young friends, this series boldly goes where no other has gone before – between the sheets and into the minds and hearts of unapologetically queer women living in middle America.” – girlgirlscene.com
I liked this web series before I even watched the pilot for two reasons – the tagline on their site reads “to hell with the L” – and the pilot episode is an ambitious 38:07. That’s almost one-hour drama length, which is a herculean task even with a studio budget. So how boldly did it go where no other has?
With a title like that, I expected mindless, borderline soft-core, but was pleasantly surprised. The core of characters is diverse in terms of age and style, and one episode in, there’s already a sense of who these characters are. Most importantly, it doesn’t try too hard – to be funny, to be poignant, or to promote a message. I swear this is half the battle with creating a good webseries. Although there were a few stereotype cracks, it wasn’t the usual unfunny, nonstop flannel jokes we’re so used to seeing in a lesbian web series. There is a natural flow to GGS that is refreshing.
Once I saw that the pilot was 38:07, I assumed I would be antsy 15 minutes into it, but it was paced well and held my interest throughout. Chronicling the lives of four very different friends, there seems to be something in it for everyone – everyone who likes girls, that is.
Watch the pilot here (http://www.girlgirlscene.com/).
2. The Real Girl’s Guide to Everything Else
“A journalist, nearly dropped by her agent because her work is too smart, political, lesbian and feminist, goes undercover as a glitter-wearing, shoe-obsessed, Cosmo-drinking straight girl.” – therealgirlsguide.wordpress.com
I’m a sucker for slightly awkward main characters, and serious, feminist journalist Rasha is almost immediately torn from her sensible lesbian shoes and thrown into a tube top and heels.
The premise isn’t anything groundbreaking – Rasha’s agent has decided chick lit will sell better than an intellectual history book (shocking), and Rasha decides to go undercover to write the chick lit so she can finance a research expedition. It is really just a nice setup to have Rasha go “undercover” as a romance-seeking, stiletto-wearing straight girl. Since Rasha is not traditionally feminine, and also currently engaged to a woman, comedy ensues. Best part is, the comedy is actually funny.
It’s hard to miss the Sex and the City references – with its rampant shoe obsession and “Big” character – but its originality comes in that it is about four women and their friendship, and not four women befriended in their quest for a man. The fact that it sports such a (rare!) diverse cast is an appreciated bonus.
The complete first season of The Real Girls Guide to Everything Else is available online (http://therealgirlsguide.wordpress.com/), and season two is in currently in development. (continued on next page)
