Hello friends! Here we are again to celebrate another episode of the world’s most underrated but still highly acclaimed podcast, To L and Back. Kristin didn’t like the episode this week but we still had plenty to talk about, including but not limited to how long Jenny is gonna be wearing those tights. If you’re in the market for a whey protein smoothie, you’re in luck! That’s what you’re getting on this week’s “To L and Back.”
GIVE US A NICE REVIEW!! We need a lot of attention to be in New & Noteworthy because there are a LOT of Game of Thrones podcasts coming out on Mondays.
Episode Index:
Things referenced in the episode for your reference:
- The movie I Shot Andy Warhol
- How West Hollywood, in part due to mistreatment of gay people by the LAPD, became its own city
- The Consenting Adult Sex Bill, which in 1975 made gay sex legal in California
- So, I talk about how there was anti-gay bathhouse raid in 1975 that inspired a lot of activism, because in the book “GAY LA,” the date of that raid is cited as 1975. But when looking for a website for y’all to read about the raid, 1976 is the year mentioned. So I was perhaps wrong!
- Riese talking to her Mom about coming out later in life: A Plus Podcast Episode Six: Starting Over
- An Open Secret, a film by Amy Berg about the sexual abuse of children in the entertainment industry in Hollywood.
- The Atlantic article about Bryan Singer and the other powerful Hollywood men involved in the case: Nobody Is Going to Believe You.
I just finished my first and, god willing, only watch through of this show. All six fucking seasons.
oh wow you even watched season six! I SALUTE YOU
Re: Alice’s use of the word “chicken,” that’s another word for twink. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_(gay_slang).
I really appreciated your discussion of the creation of West Hollywood. In that context, it does seem like 1976 is a strange year to set the opening scene in, but I do know that 1976 (and the US Bicentennial) is a key year in Randy Shilts’ book about the AIDS Crisis, And the Band Played On. In that book, it basically represents the last year before AIDS caused everything to change. Alison Bechdel says the same thing in Fun Home, although of course that came out after this episode.
Anyway, I love the podcast!
Feeling just as fascinated as Riese and Kristin that my 33 year old self has very different feelings about these characters, esp. Bette. Kind of a fascinating deep dive into the evolution of my queer adulthood. Who knew the L word would still provide as a cultural touchstone?! Really enjoying this, thank you guys!
I never really got this episode (and the next one). Why did they get married again?
Thanks anyways for making my Monday commutes fun! Could listen to you talk about this series for hours.
The Bette/Tina commentary is absolutely savage. š
I *think* maybe in that first scene the guy heard the number called, checked his ticket, saw it wasn’t his (and that his number was still far away), and then chose to go to the bathroom? There was a LOT of #Acting in that little bit and that’s how I interpreted it (rather than the number indicates who can go to the bathroom).
Anyway I couldn’t make it through the L Word the first time, even using Riese’s guide to short-cutting through the L Word, but this podcast changes everything! Now I will make it to the end AND be able have my own opinions about everything (or at least have Riese and/or Kristin’s opinions about everything)
āTo pour gasolineā on someone is slang for āto ejaculate onā someone. Itās also true in Spanish, which is what that Daddy Yankee song āgasolinaā is about…
Well, that song is ruined for me now.
Brings a whole new meaning to that song damn !
As someone who used to be a waitress, thank you Riese for looking out for service folk in the scene with Melvin.
Also I’m learning so much about the context of the show and queer culture from ya all, thanks for that too!!!
Thank you Kristin for mentioning every weird thing I thought about this episode. So many wtf moments.
Riese, big thanks for the context here (and in the other episodes), and for the links. And I especially want to thank you for the link to your interview with your mom. As someone who is going through that now, it was very resonant.
This is late, and no one will see it, but I still must point out that there IS one person who would like to leave with a Nelson… and that person is MARLA HOOCH.
I see you AnnieStinkle
Thank you, Carmen. We must stan together… for Marla Hooch.
I am a newbie watcher and this is the episode Iām on now. Iām afraid to Google any thing and seeing spoilers but what exactly is Shaneās whole thing? I think sheās great but it seems like every but her has a job or is Tina
That was painful. @Tim
Damn, the emotional abuse Bette can muster in a singe SCENE! all that power sexy femme is being overshadowed.
Omg, they actually got MARRIED (pronounced the same way Jillian Mercado ‘Maribel’ did when saying it to Rosanny ‘Sophie’)!
WHO wears tights to bed???
I don’t remember if this is the last we see of Tim…