Report and Interviews by LA Actress. Photos by Steph8373.

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Day one: Friday April 4, 2008 Approximately 10:30 p.m.

We arrived at the Doral Hotel in Palm Springs at approximately 10:30 p.m. Actually ,The Doral is not even in Palm Springs, it’s in a town called Cathedral City. Our destination was the White Diamonds “White Party,” where we were going to see Leisha Hailey’s band, “Uh Huh Her” perform. After a brief battle with the line to get in, we managed to get inside and make our way to the ballroom. Over the sea of women in white I saw the adorable Leisha Hailey up on that stage rocking the room with her amazing music. It was a pretty amazing scene to say the least. Leisha actually did NOT wear white and she made a point to apologize for it as she said she “forgot”! Uh Huh Her did a fairly long set while all the people there rocked out to her music.

Day two: Saturday April 5, 2008 Approximately 4:15 p.m.
The first highlight on Saturday was the press session with Ilene Chaiken, Elizabeth Keener, Alexandra Hedison, and Rachel Shelley. We had the opportunity to chat briefly with each of them, as well as get some photos. Here are my interviews with each of them.

Let’s begin with Ilene Chaiken: LAA: What is your favorite moment of season 5? IC: It was when I went away on vacation with my kids! No, there were some great moments in season 5, I couldn’t choose a favorite. I had a blast and I loved what we did and what the cast did. LAA: I loved season 5. IC: Thank you! LAA: Is there anything you would do differently?

IC: No, I just carry on, look back and learn from my mistakes.
LAA: Are there any changes/cast changes for season 6?
IC: Too soon to say!
LAA: Why is there only a season 6?
IC: That’s such a hard question, it’s time, time to move on. I am really happy that we’re getting to wrap it up! I would rather make a decision in advance that this is going to be our last season, and then tell the stories that we want to tell and to say goodbye
LAA: We’re going to miss it!
IC: I’m going to miss it too.
LAA: Do you have any plans for the future?
IC: Many, and a lot of them you will see on “Our Chart”
LAA: Well, thank you for your time and I am looking forward to any and all of your future projects.
IC: Thank you!

Next was Elizabeth Keener: LAA: What is your favorite season 5 moment? EK: I would have to say the oil wrestling episode when Shane pulled the fake extensions, it was just the most fun night and we worked like 12 hours and by the end of it we were all still having such a good time, it was like 4 of us in there and we were having the best time, it was great! LAA: What about season 6, will you be on? EK: I don’t know, that is a question to as Ilene over there when you get to

her! (She didn’t know we had already gotten to her). They have so many other things to wrap up, with the other characters that were WAY before me, so who knows! I hope so.
LAA: I hope to see you on season 6.
EK: This is the first time Showtime is doing a season 6, they have never done more than 5 seasons! That’s why they didn’t know if they were coming back, so it’s kind of exciting that they got that!
LAA: Well I hope you come back and I wish you luck with whatever you do!
EK: It was so nice meeting you!

Next we moved on to Rachel Shelley: LAA: What was your favorite moment about season 5? RS: I haven’t watched season 5! I was in England and they don’t show it there. LAA: So you haven’t seen any of it? RS: No! Well, I’ve seen what little bits you can watch on YouTube. And I saw the last 20 minutes of the season finale. LAA: Because you’re in the season finale?

RS: No, because I was at a charity event and they showed it.
LAA: Do you know what’s up with season 6, if you will continue on?
RS: Yes, I will be there for season 6.
LAA: I’m excited for season 6, bummed that it’s the last and so short but excited.
RS: We all are.
LAA: Will you miss Vancouver and LA?
RS: Yeah, we have a great time in Vancouver, I really like it there! We are really happy it’s coming back for the 6th season.
LAA: It’s sad that’s its going to be over.
RS: It is sad.
LAA: Do you have any plans for the future? Do you want to stay in America?
RS: I don’t live in America, I live in England! I will go where the work is.
LAA: Well you look great!
RS: Thank you very much!

And finally, Alexandra Hedison: LAA: So, have you been keeping up with the show? AH: This season I have not! I have not watched it yet ‘cause I have been out of the country. But I know the different story lines. I’ve just heard since I have not been able to watch it yet! LAA: Do you have any plans to return for the last season? AH: Don’t rule it out! Talk to the boss over there (Points to Ilene). That’s the boss lady. So yeah, we’ll see! I am not going to say now!

LAA: What else have you been doing?
AH: I shoot, I am a photographer, so I have been really, really busy with the photography stuff.
LAA: Are you in LA?
AH: I am based in LA, But I have been traveling a lot shooting all over Thailand, Europe, All over.
LAA: That’s amazing! Congratulations.
AH: Why thank you!
LAA: Do you have a website or anything?
AH: I do! Hedison.com
LAA: Well it was nice to meet you!
AH: Nice to meet you too!

That was the end of the interviews. They were all so wonderful and sweet. When we left we were told that we had to keep Rachel Shelley a secret cause she was the surprise guest for the L word “Be Scene” event later in the evening.

The second The L Word event on Saturday was the “Be Scene” contest, where groups of fans acted out their favorit scenes from the show, with a Ilene, Kate, Leisha, and Elizabeth serving as the judges. Alexandra was emceeing the event. Each group of girls got up and did their scene. They got to make up a name for their group as well as the scene.

During the fourth group, out walked Rachel and the crowd went WILD. They were all SO excited to see her. What a surprise! Rachel seemed genuinely excited to be there, and just like in Season 4, she and Alexandra had fantastic chemistry together. Rachel asked Alexandra if she’d missed her, and followed up with a big kiss. Once all the groups were all done performing they all came out onto the stage together as one big group to await the judges’ decision. There was a grand prize winner who got to hang out back stage with the girls and a runner up who got the L word DVD prize pack, as well as VIP passes to the next year’s Dinah Shore!