I swore I was only going to watch it once — and I had myself convinced that I was telling the truth. The idea of a Beverly Hills 90210 spin-off made little sense to me, and it was pretty much a given that it was going to be bad.

And, of course, it is kind of bad. The girls are too skinny, and the student population is too white. The school seems to have only one teacher. The brilliant Jessica Walter is reduced to a cartoon Lucille Bluth. And where’s the West Beverly Gay-Straight Alliance?

Nevertheless, 90210 has been on long enough to find its groove, and I’m hooked.

I do take a little comfort in the knowledge that there’s at least one person I respect who also likes the show. Diablo Cody wrote a paean to 90210 in Entertainment Weekly a few weeks ago, complete with suggestions to make it edgier. (Her primary suggestion is to “Brendify” it, i.e., to increase the stupid behavior/self-destruction quotient.) … continue reading

This week Bridget has a 3Way, of sorts, with actresses Maile Flanagan and Maeve Quinlan.

Yes, the crazy women from the naughty little online show that we all love drop by for Brunch. Maile talks about winning an Emmy for her work on PBS' Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, and Maeve discusses the bittersweet end of her reign as Paula Carlin on South of Nowhere.

Along the way, Maile and Maeve display their voice-over skills, argue over who is the most difficult to work with, and — when they can remember them — pimp their upcoming projects.

… continue reading

Watch new episodes of Brunch With Bridget Friday nights at 2 a.m. on LOGO, and watch previous episodes of Brunch here.

Life is good. In fact, it has become one of my must-see shows this season. Sure, I started watching for the same reason most of you did: Sarah Shahi.

I wasn’t entirely true to the show during Season 1 — until the writers’ strike. But once I started watching the episodes in succession online, I was hooked.

To my chagrin, however, I seem to be one of only a small number of loyal viewers. And unless more people start watching, Life is over. … continue reading

The CW's 90210 is the first fall show to get a full-season pick-up.

In announcing the news, CW Entertainment president Dawn Ostroff says 90210 represents "another step forward in building a cohesive schedule that defines this network as a destination for young women with shows that get our audience talking — and watching." (Let's hope she adds "and eating" to that list soon — the girls on the show are so thin, I'm expecting them to show up with translucent skin on Fringe soon.)

According to Variety, the show opened big, giving the net its highest-rated premiere ever in its target audience; dipped in week two, but started to tick back up last week, especially when DVR numbers were factored in.

In more encouraging news, veteran Gilmore Girls writer Rebecca Kirshner is joining the series not only as an executive producer, but head writer.

Conversations continue with Jennie Garth to extend her role on the show, but Shannen Doherty is definitely gone after tonight's episode.

Speaking of tonight's episode — one of our favorite honorary lesbians, Maeve Quinlan (South of Nowhere), finally makes her appearance in a small but memorable role as Adrianna's hellish stage mom. … continue reading

Confession time: I'll be watching the spin-off of Beverly Hills 90210 when it debuts on The CW on Sept. 2.

The original show debuted while I was high school, and like the rest of my friends, I tuned in regularly to watch the trials and tribulations of Minnesota teens Brandon and Brenda Walsh as they tried to fit in with the lifestyles of the rich and famous in sunny California.

But this time, it's not the teenagers I'm interested in — it's the moms! (Wow, I feel old just writing that.)

Here's a rundown of the women in regular and recurring roles on the spin-off — now called simply 90210 — including one actress who hasn't been announced anywhere else yet, but who will be very familiar to AfterEllen.com readers.

Lori Loughlin (Summerland, Full House, Secret Admirer)

Character: Debbie Wilson
Mother to: Annie Wilson (Shenae Grimes), an aspiring actress, who wants to fit in with the cool crowd; and Dixon Wilson (Tristan Wilds), a smart bad boy with behavioral issues.
Description: Married to Harry Wilson, Debbie was an Olympic athlete but is now working as a personal trainer and is considered the "cool" mom. The spin-off revolves around her family.
Why I like her: I developed a crush on Lori Loughlin in high school because she wore a tie in the cheesy teen '80s movie Secret Admirer (aka The Letter). (Yet I still didn't know I was gay! Some people are denser than others.) I even watched Summerland (2004-05), just because she was on it. Both seasons! Yes, I'm getting help. … continue reading

This past Sunday marked the annual Pride celebration in Los Angeles, and since many of us were already out getting farmer's tans and paying too much for bottled water anyway, we gathered for an informal meet-up at the end of the parade route outside of The Normandie Room.

A few of us AfterEllen.com vloggers (from Cherry Bomb, Ghostella's Tomb, We're Getting Nowhere, and Brunch with Bridget) and some of the women from 3Way were in attendance, and we were all thrilled to meet our fellow readers. Thanks to everyone who braved the mayhem and came out to say hello.

Below are some of the photos we took at the event, and some from readers who sent them in (thanks!). Happy Pride!

AE reader Carmen and Cathy DeBuono

Cherry Bomb vlogger Dalila with Cherry Bomb's producer Bethany Landing, and fellow
Cherry Bomb vloggers Tatum and Nikki … continue reading

The women of AfterEllen.com count down the top 25 women of The 2008 AfterEllen.com Hot 100!

Learn why Gloria Bigelow thinks Mary-Louise Parker is really empathetic; what Jackie Jones loved about Bad Santa; why Bridget McManus forgives Ellen Page; the first time Dee fell under Mandy Musgrave's spell; why Trish and Jamie loved Sara Ramirez from her "Got Milk" commercials; and how Ellen DeGeneres played a role in Tracy and Angela's relationship.

Plus: Lindy Zucker's poem to Renee O'Connor, and Jill Bennett's open letter to Tina Fey.

Watch the first three installments of the countdown here!

Now that we know the results of the 2008 AfterEllen.com Hot 100, I asked the stars of AfterEllen.com's video blogs and web series to give us their take on why these women deserved to be on the list. Some took a funny approach, others a more serious one, but all are entertaining.

And unlike most TV countdown shows, this one is very, very gay.

To keep the video manageable, I've broken it into four parts. The first one is below, and the next three will be rolled out each day this week through Thursday. Not all the vloggers appear in every segment — Dee and Cathy DeBuono, for example, are in the next three, but not this one; and Liz Feldman was too swamped with working on the (awesome) upcoming episode of her show to participate at all — but you should find at least a few of your personal favorites represented in each video, talking about women they think are hot. (Does it get much better than that?)

First up! The women who ranked on the list between 100 to 76, which includes P!nk, Cat Cora, and Naomi Watts, plus a few of the vloggers themselves. Enjoy!

Watch the 75 - 51 countdown, and check out the entire list of women on the 2008 AfterEllen.com Hot 100. … continue reading

Last Sunday a bunch of AfterEllen.com vloggers and staff along with the women of 3Way attended a NYC meet-and-greet with some of you. We were expecting a a few dozen people, and got a around 200 instead! It was crazy! But in a good way (mostly). It was great to meet everyone and see some of the faces behind the usernames.

Below are some photos from the event — about half are from our new NYC photographer Saidi Granados, and the others from readers and our own cameras (thanks to the readers who sent them in!). Enjoy!

Note: Jenn, Cathy Shim and Maile Flanagan couldn't attend at the last minute due to schedule conflicts.

The crowd at Cowgirl

Bridget McManus, Jill Bennett, and Dee
(Dee has no last name, just a first one — like Cher)

Bridget and Kate McKinnon with Chireese
(I'm sure I spelled her name wrong, but she's the woman who
loves Love and Basketball as much as I do!)

Karman Kregloe with AE reader (and video editor extraordinare) Charlie

… continue reading

In the season finale of 3Way, Celia (Elizabeth Keener) invites Roxie, Andrea, Geri and Siobhan to Dinah Shore Weekend, where they run into stalker Leslie (Kristy Swanson), creepy Dr. Carlise (Cathy DeBuono), and delivery woman Rhonda (Bridget McManus).

And before you ask — yes, that's my sister (and 13-year-old niece) making a cameo near the end. I'm such a proud aunt. :)

3Way is slated to release the first season on DVD in July — we'll update you when we know more!

Go to 3Waytv.tv for more video, photos, wallpaper, etc, and vote for 3Way in the NNN Awards "Guilty Pleasure" category.

The 3Way roommates prepare for “lesbian spring break” in this sneak peek at their season finale, airing next Monday (look for more about that in the BLWE column on Friday).

Go to 3Waytv.tv for more video, photos, wallpaper, etc.

In this extra-long episode of 3Way (22 mins!) Andrea, Roxie and Geri take Siobhan with them to the hot new lesbian bar in town, where Roxie gets into a showdown with Jenny Shimizu; Andrea helps Siobhan finally get some action (with a guy); and everyone runs into their exes, including pathological liar Celia (Elizabeth Keener), who hooks up with — who else? — Geri.

Plus: Siobhan's Young Doctors Who Cry co-star Winter Coat mysteriously shows up at the bar. Is she playing for the other team? I don't care, I just love that her name is Winter Coat!

Go to 3Waytv.tv for more video, photos, wallpaper, etc.

In the last confessional of 3Way's first season, we learn what brought Siobhan to L.A., how Roxie and Geri met, and why Siobhan doesn't throw everyone out.

Go to 3Waytv.tv for more video, photos, wallpaper, etc. … continue reading