Believe me I was surprised when we were approached to interview Claudia Lonow because her new TV show, Good Girls Don't, is on Oprahs Oxygen network. Weve been turned down for interviews from the FX Network and TBS so I didnt think another cable network that features advertising would be interested. But Lonow has created a very edgy show in Good Girls Don't.
Marjorie [Bree Turner] tells her friend Jane [Joy Gohring] to loosen up after a bad breakup and Jane goes up out and starts slutting it up. The show has already been on the air for a few weeks and is receiving some rave reviews with people comparing it to Friends and Sex in the City.
Check out the website for Good Girls Don't...
Daniel Robert Epstein: Was this show always meant to go on Oxygen?
Claudia Lonow: Yes, it was created for the Oxygen channel.
DRE: It doesnt seem like they are being strict at all in terms of content and raciness.
CL: Theyre not being very strict. We had a couple of jokes that I thought they would never let on. But I decided to leave them in the script so we could see if they even notice it. There were a lot of things that got by that I was totally expecting them to make us take out.
DRE: I read that Oxygen is describing it as Sex in the City but it doesnt seem like that show at all.
CL: I guess people at networks compare things to other successful shows because they want it to be as successful. I certainly didnt start out to make Sex in the City because thats already been on TV [laughs].
DRE: I saw that Timothy Busfield [formerly of thirtysomething] directed the first episode.
CL: Yes, it was very hard to not call him Elliot. I knew him because he directed some episodes of Rude Awakening.
DRE: Is he going to be doing more?
CL: He is great to work with but since he directed Rude Awakening hes kind of skyrocketed into the outer reaches of TV directing and producing. I would like him to, but I dont know if he would be available because were not paying top dollar.
DRE: Originally the show was going to be called My Best Friend is a Big Fat Slut. Why the name change?
CL: That happened because the network didnt feel that they would be able to sell advertising time with that name. I fought as hard as I could for it. Then they latched on to the title Good Girls Dont which I thought was kind of misleading because the show is kind of the opposite of that but they wouldnt come off it.
DRE: Does Joy Gohring mind being referred to as a big fat slut?
CL: Not at all. Shes a comedian, a comic actress and very comfortable with herself. All of the actors in the show are pretty close to the characters. She doesnt care. She is who she is and thats a very attractive slightly pudgy girl. She will walk around with no clothes on because she doesnt give a shit.
DRE: If the show gets picked up will it be in her contract to not get skinnier?
CL: We dont think she will. I dont think its possible for her to get any skinner. Its not like she spends every other hour at the gym. I dont think she has any desire to be anything other than herself, which is refreshing especially in Hollywood.
DRE: There are a lot of drug references on the show and in the second episode they smoke a joint.
CL: Yeah and the character of Davis is a pot dealer.
DRE: I think I missed that.
CL: Well we dont talk too much about their jobs but it becomes apparent later.
DRE: Were the drug references ever an issue?
CL: It was a little bit of an issue because of the amount of references We had it right at the beginning and everyone was doing it so that was an issue for Oxygen. We were so surprised that what we were able to keep any of it that I wasnt too combatative about it like Lets have them smoke pot all the time, every second. There is more drinking and smoking pot in the show than anything Ive seen which I think is realistic to young people.
DRE: Is Lizzie [Nichole Hiltz] friends with the two main female characters?
CL: She sort of glommed onto their group, which we address in subsequent episodes. She used to be Davis girlfriend and now they cant get rid of her. They dont like her that much.
DRE: Did you know Danny Masterson and thats how he ended up on that one episode?
CL: Carsey-Werner-Mandabach who makes the show also makes That 70s Show.
DRE: Is he a real sexaholic?
CL: No, but I thought he had a great sense of humor about himself.
DRE: What are the expectations for Good Girls Dont? Because Oxygen seems to really be pushing it.
CL: They like the show a lot, its a fun show to make and weve gotten great reviews. Its already been sold in England, Canada, Latin America and New Zealand. I dont know whats going to happen but I think theyd like to pick up the show.
DRE: When do you find out if they renew it?
CL: I dont know. Thats up to them.
DRE: Are you conscious of doing this trailblazing TV show?
CL: Everybody has one thing they are able to do and this is it for me. It stirred up some controversy because the New York Times wrote us up as being the death knell for feminism. Which I was surprised about but Im always surprised when people take offense to things. Its a comedy. Its not really saying anything but it is about young people sowing their oats and if you cant make mistakes at that point in your life then whats the point.
DRE: Do you see it as a feminist show?
CL: I dont know if the show has any political ethos. I am a feminist but I dont know if the characters think about it.
DRE: Was Joys buttcheek hanging out in the first episode done on purpose?
CL: Joy did that. Thats what I mean, shes very free with her body and she has no inhibitions, which is perfect for SuicideGirls.
DRE: I wouldnt have expected Oxygen to have anything to do with SuicideGirls.
CL: That was me. I was the one who knew about the website and I figured they might like the show because its about young women who are having a good time. They also dont take themselves too seriously.
DRE: I read that you were a bit a slutty at one point.
CL: Kind of? One point? [laughs]
Hopefully it never has to end. The previous show I did for Showtime, Rude Awakening, was a lot more autobiographical. This is more of a derivation of that. I have a good time though.
DRE: The odd thing is you let that be publicly known. You're cool with that?
CL: Yes, I dont think there is anything to be ashamed of. Im not hooking. But life is short.
DRE: I read you used to be an epic drinker.
CL: Yes I did. Im more restrained than I was because I have to make a living but I was a party girl.
DRE: Is that the norm in Hollywood?
CL: Thats the norm around a certain group of people here. Im sort of a reformed party girl but I still hang around people who self medicate on a regular basis.
DRE: Whats it like working with Andy Dick on Less than Perfect?
CL: Hes very professional and he shows up to work on time. Thats all you need to know when you work with him, who cares what he does when he goes home.
DRE: You started out as an actress.
CL: Yes I was on Knots Landing and my stepfather is one of the owners of The Improv, my mom is a comic and my brother, Michael Rapaport, is an actor and was a comic. I grew up in show business.
DRE: How did you avoid holding up a 7-11 like everyone else?
CL: I didnt have the energy for it. I didnt have to. After my stint on television I cleaned up my act. But I knew all these people like Dana Plato. I saw them at industry things then later on the former child star television circuit. Ive done all of those shows.
DRE: When is there going to be a pierced and tattooed person on Good Girls Dont?
CL: I would love that. We got to get on that. I would like Jane to try to get on SuicideGirls and be turned down.
DRE: Have you ever thought about an entire show centered about young Goths or punks?
CL: I think thats a great area to explore. I have a lot of irons in the fire so I could go make one tomorrow.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Marjorie [Bree Turner] tells her friend Jane [Joy Gohring] to loosen up after a bad breakup and Jane goes up out and starts slutting it up. The show has already been on the air for a few weeks and is receiving some rave reviews with people comparing it to Friends and Sex in the City.
Check out the website for Good Girls Don't...
Daniel Robert Epstein: Was this show always meant to go on Oxygen?
Claudia Lonow: Yes, it was created for the Oxygen channel.
DRE: It doesnt seem like they are being strict at all in terms of content and raciness.
CL: Theyre not being very strict. We had a couple of jokes that I thought they would never let on. But I decided to leave them in the script so we could see if they even notice it. There were a lot of things that got by that I was totally expecting them to make us take out.
DRE: I read that Oxygen is describing it as Sex in the City but it doesnt seem like that show at all.
CL: I guess people at networks compare things to other successful shows because they want it to be as successful. I certainly didnt start out to make Sex in the City because thats already been on TV [laughs].
DRE: I saw that Timothy Busfield [formerly of thirtysomething] directed the first episode.
CL: Yes, it was very hard to not call him Elliot. I knew him because he directed some episodes of Rude Awakening.
DRE: Is he going to be doing more?
CL: He is great to work with but since he directed Rude Awakening hes kind of skyrocketed into the outer reaches of TV directing and producing. I would like him to, but I dont know if he would be available because were not paying top dollar.
DRE: Originally the show was going to be called My Best Friend is a Big Fat Slut. Why the name change?
CL: That happened because the network didnt feel that they would be able to sell advertising time with that name. I fought as hard as I could for it. Then they latched on to the title Good Girls Dont which I thought was kind of misleading because the show is kind of the opposite of that but they wouldnt come off it.
DRE: Does Joy Gohring mind being referred to as a big fat slut?
CL: Not at all. Shes a comedian, a comic actress and very comfortable with herself. All of the actors in the show are pretty close to the characters. She doesnt care. She is who she is and thats a very attractive slightly pudgy girl. She will walk around with no clothes on because she doesnt give a shit.
DRE: If the show gets picked up will it be in her contract to not get skinnier?
CL: We dont think she will. I dont think its possible for her to get any skinner. Its not like she spends every other hour at the gym. I dont think she has any desire to be anything other than herself, which is refreshing especially in Hollywood.
DRE: There are a lot of drug references on the show and in the second episode they smoke a joint.
CL: Yeah and the character of Davis is a pot dealer.
DRE: I think I missed that.
CL: Well we dont talk too much about their jobs but it becomes apparent later.
DRE: Were the drug references ever an issue?
CL: It was a little bit of an issue because of the amount of references We had it right at the beginning and everyone was doing it so that was an issue for Oxygen. We were so surprised that what we were able to keep any of it that I wasnt too combatative about it like Lets have them smoke pot all the time, every second. There is more drinking and smoking pot in the show than anything Ive seen which I think is realistic to young people.
DRE: Is Lizzie [Nichole Hiltz] friends with the two main female characters?
CL: She sort of glommed onto their group, which we address in subsequent episodes. She used to be Davis girlfriend and now they cant get rid of her. They dont like her that much.
DRE: Did you know Danny Masterson and thats how he ended up on that one episode?
CL: Carsey-Werner-Mandabach who makes the show also makes That 70s Show.
DRE: Is he a real sexaholic?
CL: No, but I thought he had a great sense of humor about himself.
DRE: What are the expectations for Good Girls Dont? Because Oxygen seems to really be pushing it.
CL: They like the show a lot, its a fun show to make and weve gotten great reviews. Its already been sold in England, Canada, Latin America and New Zealand. I dont know whats going to happen but I think theyd like to pick up the show.
DRE: When do you find out if they renew it?
CL: I dont know. Thats up to them.
DRE: Are you conscious of doing this trailblazing TV show?
CL: Everybody has one thing they are able to do and this is it for me. It stirred up some controversy because the New York Times wrote us up as being the death knell for feminism. Which I was surprised about but Im always surprised when people take offense to things. Its a comedy. Its not really saying anything but it is about young people sowing their oats and if you cant make mistakes at that point in your life then whats the point.
DRE: Do you see it as a feminist show?
CL: I dont know if the show has any political ethos. I am a feminist but I dont know if the characters think about it.
DRE: Was Joys buttcheek hanging out in the first episode done on purpose?
CL: Joy did that. Thats what I mean, shes very free with her body and she has no inhibitions, which is perfect for SuicideGirls.
DRE: I wouldnt have expected Oxygen to have anything to do with SuicideGirls.
CL: That was me. I was the one who knew about the website and I figured they might like the show because its about young women who are having a good time. They also dont take themselves too seriously.
DRE: I read that you were a bit a slutty at one point.
CL: Kind of? One point? [laughs]
Hopefully it never has to end. The previous show I did for Showtime, Rude Awakening, was a lot more autobiographical. This is more of a derivation of that. I have a good time though.
DRE: The odd thing is you let that be publicly known. You're cool with that?
CL: Yes, I dont think there is anything to be ashamed of. Im not hooking. But life is short.
DRE: I read you used to be an epic drinker.
CL: Yes I did. Im more restrained than I was because I have to make a living but I was a party girl.
DRE: Is that the norm in Hollywood?
CL: Thats the norm around a certain group of people here. Im sort of a reformed party girl but I still hang around people who self medicate on a regular basis.
DRE: Whats it like working with Andy Dick on Less than Perfect?
CL: Hes very professional and he shows up to work on time. Thats all you need to know when you work with him, who cares what he does when he goes home.
DRE: You started out as an actress.
CL: Yes I was on Knots Landing and my stepfather is one of the owners of The Improv, my mom is a comic and my brother, Michael Rapaport, is an actor and was a comic. I grew up in show business.
DRE: How did you avoid holding up a 7-11 like everyone else?
CL: I didnt have the energy for it. I didnt have to. After my stint on television I cleaned up my act. But I knew all these people like Dana Plato. I saw them at industry things then later on the former child star television circuit. Ive done all of those shows.
DRE: When is there going to be a pierced and tattooed person on Good Girls Dont?
CL: I would love that. We got to get on that. I would like Jane to try to get on SuicideGirls and be turned down.
DRE: Have you ever thought about an entire show centered about young Goths or punks?
CL: I think thats a great area to explore. I have a lot of irons in the fire so I could go make one tomorrow.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
missy:
ested....
hotcurry:
Wow, this is old, but I can't believe I never saw this interview before. I miss ya Claudia!