The “To L and Back” L Word®: Generation Q Podcast Event Was So Much Fun

On Wednesday, December 4th —a day that started out rainy, and eventually settled into a chill mist — queers and allies assembled their bodies into seats in rows in a theater at the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center to witness a spectacular event of epic scale: a live recording of Autostraddle’s number one hit podcast “To L and Back” featuring the stars of The L Word Generation Q: Jacqueline Toboni (Finley), Arienne Mandi (Dani), Leo Sheng (Micah) and Rosanny Zayas (Sophie).

The Show

The "To L and Back" hosts Carly Usdin and Riese Bernard sit next to each other on stage. Carly is wearing black jeans and a chambray shirt, and Riese is wearing a blue, red, and white striped dress.

“To L and Back” hosts Carly Usdin and Riese Bernard

Carly and Riese on stage next to Arienne Mandi (Dani), Leo Sheng (Micah), Rosanny Zayas (Sophie) and Jacqueline Toboni (Finley). The screen in the background has the logo for "The L Word: Generation Q" projected onto it.

Carly and Riese on stage next to Arienne Mandi (Dani), Leo Sheng (Micah), Rosanny Zayas (Sophie) and Jacqueline Toboni (Finley)

The cast of Generation Q sits on stage. From left to right: Arienne Mandi (Dani), Leo Sheng (Micah), Rosanny Zayas (Sophie) and Jacqueline Toboni (Finley).
Arienne Mandi (Dani), Leo Sheng (Micah), Rosanny Zayas (Sophie) and Jacqueline Toboni (Finley)
Rosanny Zayas (Sophie) and Jacqueline Toboni (Finley) sit next to each other on stage. Jacqueline is speaking into a microphone while Rosanny looks at her and smiles.

“The only out girl at my high school gave me a gift — sophomore year, it was my birthday, I was NOT out. And I was like, ‘wow this is so nice, you did not have to do this.’ And I opened it and it was the Season One box set of The L Word. And she was like, ‘just until you figure it out.’… When I got this show I sent her a message and was like, ‘this is all because of you. Thank you.’

Jacqueline Toboni on her introduction to “The L Word.”
Arienne Mandi and Leo Sheng sit next to each other on stage. They are both laughing.

“I would watch all the channels while my Dad wasn’t home. So one day I’m scrolling and I find The L Word and it happens to be one of the scenes were it’s like, full vadge, and my Dad just walks in and I’m there like literally two feet away from the TV with the remote in my hand, like I SWEAR IT’S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.”

Arienne Mandi on watching “The L Word” for the first time
Rosanny Zayas and Jacqueline Toboni sit next to each other on stage. Rosanny is speaking into the microphone and Jacqueline is looking at her and listening intently.

“I was just like… ‘damn, my Mom’s gonna see my tits on TV.’ … Then I was like ‘eh, she knows what they look like.'”

Rosanny Zayas on Generation Q’s sex scenes
Arienne Mandi and Leo Sheng sit next to each other on stage. They are both smiling and looking to their right.

“For me, going from being a social work student at Michigan to sitting at a fucking table read for a Showtime series?? What?”

Leo Sheng on joining the cast

At the end of the show, we introduced the Generation Q podcast hosts, Drew Gregory and Analyssa Lopez….

Drew Gregory and Analyssa Lopez stand on stage.

…and all took some photographs together as a family…

A group photo. From left to right: Carly Usdin, Riese Bernard, Arienne Mandi, Leo Sheng, Jacqueline Toboni, and Rosanny Zayas

Then it was time to venture into the courtyard!

The After-Party

We had drinks…

A photo of the drink menu with L Word-themed drinks, propped up next to a lit candle and bottles of liquor.

…and swag…

Two people standing behind a merch table with a pink tablecloth with the logo for "The L Word: Generation Q" printed on it. The person on the left is wearing all black, and has long dark hair and bangs. The person on the right is also wearing all black and has short auburn hair. Both are looking at the camera and smiling.

…and food…

A photo of the food table, featuring multiple different meat and cheese plates.

AND FRIENDSHIP:

  • A group of four people holding drinks and posing for a picture with their arms around each other.
  • Two people posing with their silver sparkly fanny packs from the merch table. They are both smiling.
  • Two guests pose on either side of 3 of the members of Generation Q. From left to right: unnamed guest, Leo Sheng, Arienne Mandi, Jacqueline Toboni, and an unnamed guest.
  • Four people pose for a photo outside.
  • Four people holding drinks pose for a photo against a brick wall inside.
  • Four people pose for a photo outside.
  • Four people pose for a photo inside at a party reception area.
  • Two people sit outside on a bench and pose for a photo, smiling.
  • Two people take a picture in front of a banner advertising "The L Word: Generation Q."
  • Two people pose for a photo, standing behind a tall circle cocktail table featuring drinks and a table topper advertising "The L Word: Generation Q"
  • Two people pose for a picture, standing so close their cheeks are touching. The one on the left has short bleach blonde hair and a yellow jacket. The person on the right is wearing a brown jacket and glasses, and has short brown hair.
  • A group of 7 people stand in a line posing for a picture. Some are holding cocktail cups of beverages.
  • Three people posing for a photo. The one on the left has short red hair, glasses, and a black shirt. The one in the middle is wearing a yellow shirt and a red jacket, glasses, and long brown hair. The one on the right is wearing a black shirt, has short dark hair, and facial hair.
  • Three people stand next to each other, posing for a photo. The one on the left is wearing a maroon jacket, sunglasses, and a baseball hat. The person in the middle is wearing all black, two braids in their brown hair, and glasses. The person on the right is wearing a high-waisted denim skirt, a black top, and a headscarf.
  • Two people smiling for a photo. The one on the left is wearing a black leather jacket, a grey beanie, and glasses, and is making an "L" with their thumb and pointer finger. The one on the right is wearing a black sweater and a brown beanie with long brown hair.
  • A blonde-haired person wearing a "Bette Porter 2020" t-shirt under a black blazer. They are smiling in front of a palm tree.
  • Three people posing for a photo. The one on the left has green hair and is wearing all black and glasses. The person in the middle is wearing a denim skirt, black top, and a headscarf. The person on the right has long dark red hair and is wearing all black.
  • A person posing in front of a promo poster for "The L Word: Generation Q." They are wearing a brightly colored patterned button-up, two fanny packs crossing their chest, and a denim jacket draped over their right shoulder.
  • Two people posing "prom style" in front of a promo poster for "The L Word: Generation Q." The person standing behind is wearing jeans and a blue hoodie. That person has their arms around a person standing in front of them, who is wearing blue jeans and a white jacket.
  • Two people with their arms around each other in front of a promo poster for "The L Word: Generation Q." The person on the left is wearing a black mini skirt and green jacket. The person on the right has tan pants and a black denim jacket.
  • Arienne Mandi (in a white jumpsuit and black ankle boots) and Leo Sheng (in dark jeans and a black-and-white patterned button-up shirt) posing in front of a promo poster for "The L Word: Generation Q."
  • A group of 6 people all huddled together in front of a promo poster for "The L Word: Generation Q."
  • Two people with their arms around each other in front of a promo poster for "The L Word: Generation Q." The person on the left is wearing dark jeans, white shoes, a blue jacket, and a black beanie. The person on the right is wearing black shoes, black pants, a black jacket, and a black beanie.

Listen for Yourself:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4L4kcn9kD7FcNT2w2525uZ

Showtime has a special offer for Autostraddle readers — a 30-day free trial! Signup at showtime.com/try30 by using the code AUTOSTRADDLE. Offer valid through December 31st and for new customers only.

Don’t miss all new episodes THE L WORD®: GENERATION Q, Sundays at 10PM (ET/PT) – only on SHOWTIME®!

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Riese

Riese is the 43-year-old Co-Founder of Autostraddle.com as well as an award-winning writer, video-maker, LGBTQ+ Marketing consultant and aspiring cyber-performance artist who grew up in Michigan, lost her mind in New York and now lives in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in nine books, magazines including Marie Claire and Curve, and all over the web including Nylon, Queerty, Nerve, Bitch, Emily Books and Jezebel. She had a very popular personal blog once upon a time, and then she recapped The L Word, and then she had the idea to make this place, and now here we all are! In 2016, she was nominated for a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Digital Journalism. She's Jewish and has a cute dog named Carol. Follow her on twitter and instagram.

Riese has written 3279 articles for us.

7 Comments

  5. for a second there i thought the person with the “gay ass astrology” shirt was wearing a homemade shirt with the CHART on it and i was amazed! although the actual shirt is also pretty amazing

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