It’s amazing how time has come and gone and all the things that have happened in the span of a decade. Ten years ago, I was just some dork doing internet radio who happened to like this weird melodrama that aired on Showtime. I was so in the dark, not realizing the fandom that existed outside of my own viewing. I wasn’t sure who else, if anybody was watching. At the time, I was still learning some basic comprehension when it came to internet fandom and how DVD release schedules work with TV shows.
Like an idiot, I would check out stores in those Spring and early Summer months of 2004 in the off-chance I would see the Season 1 DVD set, because again, I was still learning basic comprehension about certain things. One day, I put in an internet search for The L Word, something I had never thought to do beforehand and mainly from wanting to learn what the release date would be for Season 1′s DVD’s. From there, I became something of an Alice. No, no Pieszecki, but the one from Lewis Carroll’s writings. I found myself venturing into the rabbit hole of L-fandom. There was L-Word.com of course along with all these other places. Fansites, message boards, all dedicated to the show and in some cases, specific characters. It was rather mindblowing at first and I immersed myself in it. I can still remember the Fun With Pics topics and being able to somewhat anonymously discuss the storylines with people who weren’t going to give me blank looks. I discovered new terminology like, “TiBette,” “Danish,” and “Shenny.” I was introduced to the concept of FanFiction, which up until then I honestly thought was just something Star Trek fans did. Again, I was learning.
One of the great joys of this time was getting to talk with Jacky, who I still refer to as my guardian angel. I had discussed my internet radio stuff that I was doing along with the idea of coming up with a show that would pass the time for L-fans before Season 2 arrived. From that conversation came a show called What The L! I loved doing that show and it was during that time, I discovered something else about myself. Aside from going by an androgynous name, I also had something of an androgynous voice online, meaning if I wanted to pass myself off as female, I could for at least a short while. I didn’t however. I made it pretty clear that I was just some guy (granted a guy who was in the bi-closet at that point, but still), but took being mistaken identity as a high compliment. From this fandom, now was a show and from that show, an entire opening up in my life. I would be introduced to other internet radio people who were interested in that show and some friendships would be forged from that. All of this would also lead to making more friends online in Second Life, for anybody who remembers The L Word island there.
From this one show I found interest in after seeing a promo for it in late 2003, so much has come about in my life. I’m just a minor example. There are so many others out there, especially female who had their own experiences that ever vibrant. I’m just happy to have been part of the ride. Being able to interview the likes of Elizabeth Ziff, Rachel Shelley, and yes, Ilene Chaiken (where I’m guessing the “Why Dana?” question pretty much guaranteed there’d be no second interview) were definite highlights. Being introduced to so much great music from the Butchies to Transientworld to BETTY…yes, I said BETTY was another great highlight of The L Word.
The six seasons in which this show existed was a learning experience and quite revealing. Coming out in 2007 was just part of it. Perhaps the most revealing aspect of watching this show is that something I wasn’t sure existed for me anymore most certainly did.
I’m going to veer off momentarily and discuss being a professional wrestling fan. When I was a kid, I became a fan of the great fake sport and its collection of interesting characters, from Magnum T.A. to the Road Warriors to pompous, arrogant Ric Flair, among others. I was a big fan of a tag team called the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express. When they won, I was happy. When they lost or found themselves on the losing end of a fight with the Midnight Express or Four Horsemen, it was generally not a good idea to talk to me for a week. I was that into it. Now, I still watch today and it’s certainly a form of entertainment that’s stayed with me over the years, but in 2004, it had stopped being the thing I could find myself cheering either way for. There were no characters involved that I felt any emotional investment in. Over the years, I would watch sitcoms, most notably Night Court, but as the years progressed, it was all just entertainment. The idea of being super happy or pissed about what happened wasn’t a factor anymore.
I felt a hint of that in the Let’s Do It episode of The L Word with Dana and Lara’s first kiss. However, it wasn’t until the Season 1 finale, Limb From Limb that I actually found myself doing what I hadn’t as a child, and that was realizing the emotional investment I was now making in these characters, these fictional people and their lives. The moment it hit home was “4 AM” between Alice and Dana. That’s when I knew that a part of my being that had long disappeared for various reasons over the years was back. For better or worse, it was the return of empathy for me. An empathy that had disappeared somewhere between Magnum T.A.’s career ending car crash and DC Comics (I’m also kind of a big comic book fan) making it clear that Supergirl’s death in Crisis On Infinite Earths was staying permanent with her being erased from continuity to boot. Life had taught me to stop caring so much about the narratives. The L Word brought that back. I was now cheering and booing characters just like in “‘rasslin’.” It was insane and I loved every minute ot it.
And that’s why throughout the show’s run, I watched. Through the good moments and also through the bad. From the seemingly neverending Bette and Tina melodrama circus to the death of Dana Fairbanks, which I admit still bums me out to this day to the crazy that was Jenny Schecter, I remained a fan. I dabbled in FanFiction and once 2009′s series finale rolled around, it was now a show I would remember being a fan of, while moving with other, very complex facets of my ever strange little life.
I owe a lot of gratitude to this show that 10 years ago, I felt like I was the only one watching. Even more importantly, I am forever in debt in gratitude to the friends I made along the way the awakenings experienced within myself during that time. It is amazing. 10 years since its debut and 5 years since its last episode. And now, here we are witnessing a new horizon at LesFan. It’s no longer about the pink I’ve come to know and love, but also the orange that is the new black as well as the new pink. Where Rizzoli and Isles can be free (at least in our minds). LesFan is where the fans can share those visions, be they romantic, suspenseful, or whatever else. It’s no longer just about the L. It’s about a greater horizon, a bigger picture, a seeming infinitude of fandom and possibilities, complete with our thoughts and imaginations.
Long live the L. Long live the greater horizon and future that is LesFan.
Kace has been an angel, a friend, an advisor, and staunch supporter to me, and to all the people on this site. He’s been with us pretty much the entire 10 years. Fanfic writer and music aficionado, Kace spearheaded the cataloging of the music for us. He was always in the know about what songs were on the show… he seemed to know every artist! Kace also had a radio show and gave both the show – and this site – terrific coverage. I’ll be forever grateful for that.
Some women weren’t happy with a male presence on the site. As soon as they got to know Kace, they knew what a good person he was and is. He’s everyone’s friend, and he had – and has – an encyclopedic knowledge of The L Word to this day! He’s a good guy, and he become one of the cornerstones of this site. For that, I am so grateful.
We’ve been through a lot on this site. People have come, people have left for various reasons. Mostly, interests change and people move on. Kace understands that the hope is to keep The L Word alive – to do so, we must embrace the fandoms that have emerged because of The L Word. It will never be replaced. It will be shored up and strengthened by good folks like Kace – and the good folks (both women and men) who will hopefully also find a home amidst the terrific people on this site.
Kace – thanks for always being there and understanding. Here’s to the next 10 years together! Hugs,my friend…
Kace says
10 Years.
It’s amazing how time has come and gone and all the things that have happened in the span of a decade. Ten years ago, I was just some dork doing internet radio who happened to like this weird melodrama that aired on Showtime. I was so in the dark, not realizing the fandom that existed outside of my own viewing. I wasn’t sure who else, if anybody was watching. At the time, I was still learning some basic comprehension when it came to internet fandom and how DVD release schedules work with TV shows.
Like an idiot, I would check out stores in those Spring and early Summer months of 2004 in the off-chance I would see the Season 1 DVD set, because again, I was still learning basic comprehension about certain things. One day, I put in an internet search for The L Word, something I had never thought to do beforehand and mainly from wanting to learn what the release date would be for Season 1′s DVD’s. From there, I became something of an Alice. No, no Pieszecki, but the one from Lewis Carroll’s writings. I found myself venturing into the rabbit hole of L-fandom. There was L-Word.com of course along with all these other places. Fansites, message boards, all dedicated to the show and in some cases, specific characters. It was rather mindblowing at first and I immersed myself in it. I can still remember the Fun With Pics topics and being able to somewhat anonymously discuss the storylines with people who weren’t going to give me blank looks. I discovered new terminology like, “TiBette,” “Danish,” and “Shenny.” I was introduced to the concept of FanFiction, which up until then I honestly thought was just something Star Trek fans did. Again, I was learning.
One of the great joys of this time was getting to talk with Jacky, who I still refer to as my guardian angel. I had discussed my internet radio stuff that I was doing along with the idea of coming up with a show that would pass the time for L-fans before Season 2 arrived. From that conversation came a show called What The L! I loved doing that show and it was during that time, I discovered something else about myself. Aside from going by an androgynous name, I also had something of an androgynous voice online, meaning if I wanted to pass myself off as female, I could for at least a short while. I didn’t however. I made it pretty clear that I was just some guy (granted a guy who was in the bi-closet at that point, but still), but took being mistaken identity as a high compliment. From this fandom, now was a show and from that show, an entire opening up in my life. I would be introduced to other internet radio people who were interested in that show and some friendships would be forged from that. All of this would also lead to making more friends online in Second Life, for anybody who remembers The L Word island there.
From this one show I found interest in after seeing a promo for it in late 2003, so much has come about in my life. I’m just a minor example. There are so many others out there, especially female who had their own experiences that ever vibrant. I’m just happy to have been part of the ride. Being able to interview the likes of Elizabeth Ziff, Rachel Shelley, and yes, Ilene Chaiken (where I’m guessing the “Why Dana?” question pretty much guaranteed there’d be no second interview) were definite highlights. Being introduced to so much great music from the Butchies to Transientworld to BETTY…yes, I said BETTY was another great highlight of The L Word.
The six seasons in which this show existed was a learning experience and quite revealing. Coming out in 2007 was just part of it. Perhaps the most revealing aspect of watching this show is that something I wasn’t sure existed for me anymore most certainly did.
I’m going to veer off momentarily and discuss being a professional wrestling fan. When I was a kid, I became a fan of the great fake sport and its collection of interesting characters, from Magnum T.A. to the Road Warriors to pompous, arrogant Ric Flair, among others. I was a big fan of a tag team called the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express. When they won, I was happy. When they lost or found themselves on the losing end of a fight with the Midnight Express or Four Horsemen, it was generally not a good idea to talk to me for a week. I was that into it. Now, I still watch today and it’s certainly a form of entertainment that’s stayed with me over the years, but in 2004, it had stopped being the thing I could find myself cheering either way for. There were no characters involved that I felt any emotional investment in. Over the years, I would watch sitcoms, most notably Night Court, but as the years progressed, it was all just entertainment. The idea of being super happy or pissed about what happened wasn’t a factor anymore.
I felt a hint of that in the Let’s Do It episode of The L Word with Dana and Lara’s first kiss. However, it wasn’t until the Season 1 finale, Limb From Limb that I actually found myself doing what I hadn’t as a child, and that was realizing the emotional investment I was now making in these characters, these fictional people and their lives. The moment it hit home was “4 AM” between Alice and Dana. That’s when I knew that a part of my being that had long disappeared for various reasons over the years was back. For better or worse, it was the return of empathy for me. An empathy that had disappeared somewhere between Magnum T.A.’s career ending car crash and DC Comics (I’m also kind of a big comic book fan) making it clear that Supergirl’s death in Crisis On Infinite Earths was staying permanent with her being erased from continuity to boot. Life had taught me to stop caring so much about the narratives. The L Word brought that back. I was now cheering and booing characters just like in “‘rasslin’.” It was insane and I loved every minute ot it.
And that’s why throughout the show’s run, I watched. Through the good moments and also through the bad. From the seemingly neverending Bette and Tina melodrama circus to the death of Dana Fairbanks, which I admit still bums me out to this day to the crazy that was Jenny Schecter, I remained a fan. I dabbled in FanFiction and once 2009′s series finale rolled around, it was now a show I would remember being a fan of, while moving with other, very complex facets of my ever strange little life.
I owe a lot of gratitude to this show that 10 years ago, I felt like I was the only one watching. Even more importantly, I am forever in debt in gratitude to the friends I made along the way the awakenings experienced within myself during that time. It is amazing. 10 years since its debut and 5 years since its last episode. And now, here we are witnessing a new horizon at LesFan. It’s no longer about the pink I’ve come to know and love, but also the orange that is the new black as well as the new pink. Where Rizzoli and Isles can be free (at least in our minds). LesFan is where the fans can share those visions, be they romantic, suspenseful, or whatever else. It’s no longer just about the L. It’s about a greater horizon, a bigger picture, a seeming infinitude of fandom and possibilities, complete with our thoughts and imaginations.
Long live the L. Long live the greater horizon and future that is LesFan.
Jacky says
Kace has been an angel, a friend, an advisor, and staunch supporter to me, and to all the people on this site. He’s been with us pretty much the entire 10 years. Fanfic writer and music aficionado, Kace spearheaded the cataloging of the music for us. He was always in the know about what songs were on the show… he seemed to know every artist! Kace also had a radio show and gave both the show – and this site – terrific coverage. I’ll be forever grateful for that.
Some women weren’t happy with a male presence on the site. As soon as they got to know Kace, they knew what a good person he was and is. He’s everyone’s friend, and he had – and has – an encyclopedic knowledge of The L Word to this day! He’s a good guy, and he become one of the cornerstones of this site. For that, I am so grateful.
We’ve been through a lot on this site. People have come, people have left for various reasons. Mostly, interests change and people move on. Kace understands that the hope is to keep The L Word alive – to do so, we must embrace the fandoms that have emerged because of The L Word. It will never be replaced. It will be shored up and strengthened by good folks like Kace – and the good folks (both women and men) who will hopefully also find a home amidst the terrific people on this site.
Kace – thanks for always being there and understanding. Here’s to the next 10 years together! Hugs,my friend…
Kace says
*hug* :D