Hugs at the Husbands Premiere

I love a good comedy.

I also love the gays.

So of course I'm ridiculously drawn to Husbands, the comedy Web series created, written, and produced by Jane Espenson and Brad Bell.

For the uninitiated, Husbands is about...husbands. (Duh.) Your classic opposites attract sitcom set-up - free-spirited gay drunk marries buff, athletic gay. And hilarity ensues.

Check out the first episode of Season 2 --



Joss Whedon cameo for the win!

When I heard there would be a standby line for the Husbands Season 3 premiere, I had to bring my fangirl self out for the night. The event was held at the Paley Center for the Media in Beverly Hills.

Lots of costumes from the world of television in the lobby, including this collection of t-shirts. Recognize any?

My poor iPhone camera clearly couldn't handle the excitement. Here's me on the step and repeat --

And in the screening room --

The screening was everything I hoped it would be and more. The new episodes really ups the ante in a beautiful way. More guest stars, more hilarity, more emotion. Season 3 will be shown one episode at a time on CW Seed, the CW's new online video venture. But we got to watch the entire season - score!

The post-screening reception started with a cocktail, of course --

The fans had sent a cake for the premiere. How awesome is this?

Met the lovely Amy Acker, who guest stars in the first part of Season 3. Gushed a little about how much I loved her Beatrice in Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing. Okay, maybe a lot.

Watched as Brad Bell (aka Cheeks) tried Google Glass for the first time --

Then got to say a proper hello and congratulations to him and Jane. We've chatted a few times since meeting at a WGA event. As always, they were lovely, classy, generous people. I hope to work with them both someday soon!

Watch Husbands on CW Seed now!

Wise Words from Woody

I love Woody Allen's movies.

Well, the ones I've seen. Annie Hall and Manhattan are still on my list of shame. I read the script for Hannah and Her Sisters to prepare for the scene I did at the DGA a few years back, but I have yet to see the film itself.

Still, I know he's a genius. Everyone does. He's an accomplished writer, director, and actor extraordinaire who has been creating films in his unique voice for years. Regardless of anyone's opinion of his personal life, he deserves respect for creating his art his way for so long.

Woody Allen: What I've Learned, a recent feature in Esquire Magazine, just reminds me what a compelling artist he is. We can all learn from what he's learned. A thought-provoking and inspirational read for all artists.

(Interviewer Cal Fussman also wrote an accompanying essay called Meeting Woody Allen that is equally delightful. Be sure to check it out too!)

One of my favorite quotes from the interview --

"If you're born with a gift, to behave like it's an achievement is not right."

A lesson in humility from a man with a wealth of achievements. Just beautiful...

Secrets...

So many things going on in my life right now that I can't talk about.  For example, I'm in Washington, D.C. right now for a secret conference.  (No, I'm not solving Sequestration - they have other chumps dealing with that...)

And I'm developing for television, which I also can't talk about.  Partly because the ideas are proprietary and precious commodities during pitch season, and partly because I don't want to jinx myself.

But rest assured, I am working hard on a bunch of exciting projects! Hopefully I can tell you about them soon.

If you want to see me in the midst of this end-of-summer secrecy, I'll be doing a public reading of the sci-fi romance novel I've been writing at Work in Progress at A Place to CREATE in Atwater Village on Sunday, August 18.  The event is free, though donations to the wonderful art school that hosts us are welcome.  Be sure to get there early to get a seat!