Calpernia Addams Diary » Transamerican Love Story

Ever wondered what it’s like to be on your own reality show? Alec Mapa, Andrea James, the crew and I recorded lots of little clips behind the scenes and I’ve finally decided to share some of them with you kids! They’re really short, really silly and very fun.

A note about my “look”: Yes, I was incredibly thin (for me)! Someday I’ll starve back down to that weight, ha ha. Probably for my next show!

I know, lots of people prefer the red hair on me… But I needed to try blonde at least once in my life, and I’m loving my current white hair!

I know, I know… lots of people’s first reaction to my appearance is “what’s up with Calpernia’s lips?” Let’s just say I had really unaesthetic lips since birth, and I made some attempts to enhance them that gave unsatisfactory results. I think they look a little better nowadays, three years later, and I plan to further reduce them whenever I can afford the expensive surgery. Until then, I’ll just have to hope you like me for “me” and can overlook some of the quirks in my looks!

Watch the whole Transamerican Love Story series online or get the DVD at NetFlix: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Transamerican-Love-Story/70094813 (I don’t make any money from NetFlix, I’m just linking it for you!)

Thanks to World of Wonder, Logo, Randy and Fenton, Brian Graden, Dave Mace, Joe DelHierro, Andrea James, Alec Mapa, Julio Kollerbom, Sarah Jandrain, all the many wonderful staff, cast, crew, production team, and the brave guys who took part as contestants. What a blast!

Video from the 2009 GLAAD Media Awards – Calpernia’s Acceptance Speech

Calpernia Addams — Sun, 31 May 2009 12:45:52 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fla-HLrB70

Hey kids, here’s the video of me accepting the award for “Outstanding Reality Series” for “Transamerican Love Story”, tied with “I Want to Work for Diddy”, which was accepted by Laverne Cox. I just love the way Michelle Clunie’s voice is so full of delight when she makes the annoncement, what an angel!

I didn’t realize that there could be “ties” for the awards, so the second I heard them say “I Want to Work for Diddy”, I put down my scrap of paper with a list of people I wanted to thank and began clapping. Then, of course, the announcement for “Transamerican Love Story” followed instantly. I almost thought Michelle was joking for an instant, since I knew her in real life and we always chatted whenever we encountered each other, so I sort of stood up, then sat back down, looking around. I didn’t want to be the fool who rushed up to the stage when someone else had won. People were urging me onward, so I got up and made my way to the stage, in my confusion forgetting the list. While all that was happening, Laverne had already made it to the stage, and so she gave her wonderful speech first.

I edited this video to show my speech first because I’m posting the video, for my blog and my fans, ha ha, but at the actual event Laverne’s was first, which I also acknowledge in the video here. I also included a list of everyone I had meant to thank. This was my first big entertainment award/trophy reception based on the merits of a project of which I was the “face” and lead performer, so I hope everyone will cut me some slack for not giving the perfect acceptance speech. It was a wonderful night, in any case, and I was so proud of the “Transamerican Love Story” team. Yay!

Great Video on How They Edit Reality Shows

Calpernia Addams — Sun, 31 May 2009 02:29:01 +0000

(I skipped to the good part for you!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBwepkVurCI

For all those Transamerican Love Story questions you may have had… this is how it happens!

(via Andrea James)

“Transamerican Love Story” Ties For “Outstanding Reality Series” at 2009 GLAAD Media Awards

Calpernia Addams — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:09:37 +0000

Calpernia, Laverne Cox and Michelle Clunie

Wow, what a weekend! As good Cal-pals know, “Transamerican Love Story” was nominated by the 2009 GLAAD Media Awards for “Outstanding Reality Program”. GLAAD divides the awards into three ceremonies, one in LA, one in New York and one in San Francisco. This year, the reality awards were being given out in San Francisco, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make the trip for various work related reasons. But at the last minute, things opened up and before I knew it, I was on my way to the city by the bay with two brand new Richard Bowman/Xavier Othon gowns in my bag. YAY!

Flights were delayed, so I ended up getting into San Francisco with just enough time to “beat my mug” and “snatch my hair”, as the kids say, ha ha. Then it was downstairs and into the red carpet/VIP Pre-reception. I met lots of cool GLAAD supporters and ran into lots of old friends.

Wilson Cruz & Calpernia

Then it was time to go sit down for the silent auction and dinner. I was sitting at a table with the delectable Wilson Cruz, yay! And dreamy Chad Allen was at the table in front of me. They raised lots of money for GLAAD. Chelsey Handler was a hilarious MC, and the full special guest list included (me), Megan Cavanagh, Gabrielle Christian, Michelle Clunie, Laverne Cox, Wilson Cruz, Robert Gant, Dan Jinks, Jason Lewis, Gavin Newsom, Suze Orman, Maeve Quinlan, Simon Rex, Eduardo Xol and Judge David Young.

When my category came, I was feeling pretty anxious. It’s not that I thought I deserved the prize above everyone else or anything, but just being in the position of waiting to hear the result was a lot more intensely stressful than I thought it would be. Previously, when I’ve been fortunate enough to receive an award like the Peabody or NGLTF Leadership award, it was something I knew about beforehand so the whole evening was just about enjoying the experience. This took me back to my pageant days, standing there waiting to see who got the crown.

Teh W1nnarz!

Cal-pal Michelle Clunie (from “Queer as Folk”) and the delightful Megan Cavanagh (from “A League of Their Own”) were presenting the “Outstanding Reality Series” category, and I was thinking that it would be sweet to receive the award from them if “Transamerican Love Story” won. They started reading the winner: “The award goes to… ‘I Want to Work for Diddy’…” and I instantly thought, “Oh Ok we didn’t get it” and felt relieved that it was over, but she continued speaking, “… AND ‘Transamerican Love Story’!!!” I was shocked, and thought maybe she was joking at first because we were friends. I sat there for a few seconds, started to get up, looked around, and finally figured out that our two shows had BOTH won the category in a tie! I went up along with the sweetheart Laverne Cox, the trans woman from “I Want to Work for Diddy”, excited and thrilled. In one of those “anything can happen at an awards show” moments, “Transamerican Love Story” bachelor Jim Howley hopped up and also joined us on stage. He had come to the event with his adorable new girlfriend, and had some things he wanted to add to the acceptance remarks for the show.

After Laverne finished speaking, I thanked Brian Graden and Dave Mace at Logo, Randy Barbato, Fenton Bailey and the World of Wonder crew, and the show participants. I remarked on how I had called GLAAD myself almost exactly 10 years ago looking ro help in navigating a media firestorm, and that I was so happy to be here now for an entertainment project.

As the night moved on, a man next to me got more and more tipsy, until at a certain point he tapped me on the shoulder, looked at my (admittedly chipped) blue nail polish and asked, “What color is that supposed to be?” I was completely at ease after the departure of my pageant nerves, and amused at his drunk rudeness, so I went along with it and said, “Robin’s Egg Blue.” As expected, he responded with something catty along the lines of, “Well it doesn’t suit you! Ha ha ha (glug)” I was like, “Well, it’s a bit fashion forward for older eyes, but the kids like it.” Then, in the middle of Chad Alan’s heartfelt speech closing out the evening, just as Chad was making an emotional declaration of love for his boyfriend, “Tipsy” yelled out, “Why don’tcha ask `im to marry you! Ha ha ha (glug glug)”. Putting that relationship question on the table in front of a huge room full of people in the middle of a heartfelt speech wouldn’t have been my course of action, to say the least. Oh, Tipsy! You’ve done it again! (Sad trombone sound).

I was completely not bummed out or hurt by his silliness… I guess winning an award makes one a little emotionally immune to zings and bringdowns for a while, so I just smiled. I was still riding on a cloud of euphoria when I slipped away to change shoes in my room upstairs. The elevator going up was full, so I waved it on and took the next one. Apparently, a couple on that first elevator had gotten off at my floor just before me, because they were walking down a very, very long hallway about 6 rooms ahead of me. The conversation went as follows, my thoughts in green:

Husband: “Damn, it’s queer central here tonight.” (Uh oh, haterz. Maybe I should hang way back, since I’m painted for the back row and dressed to the nines.)
Wife: “That one with red hair… looked like she should have been named Gladys. Parents probably beat that one every night.” (“Gladys”? Well, Ok…)
Husband: “If they didn’t, they should have.” (I admit, I chuckled at that one)
Wife: “Did you see those two GIRLS?! Horrible. Ha ha ha”

I was still feeling confident and mildly stunning, so I didn’t hang back, and when they paused at their door they turned and were able to see that I’d been behind them the whole way. As I continued past, I said in a calm, pleasant voice, “You are horrible human beings”, smiled and continued to my room. The wife stumbled a little as she entered their room, and they didn’t respond.

I changed shoes and went downstairs to the afterparty, where I got to chat with Dustin Lance Black for a little bit. He’s a sweetheart. Then I went and changed into jeans and a trampy low-cut top to accompany Wilson to The Clifts for an after-after party, where I was treated to delicious Cosmopolitans by their charming man-in-charge of celebrity relations.

Finally it was back to my room, off to dreamland, then back to Hollywood. Yay! Again, I have to thank Brian Graden, Dave Mace, Pam Post and everyone at Logo, Andrew Oldershaw (formerly of Logo), Randy and Fenton and all the amazing people at World of Wonder, Joe del Hierro, Tom Campbell, Lisa Sherman, Julio Kollerbom and Sara Jandrain, Andrea James for being the best supportive friend, Alec Mapa, Autumn Scruggs, Desirae Cherman, and of course the brave guys who went out on a limb to have a little fun with me. There were so many people who made the show so wonderful, if I’ve forgotten anyone please drop a note in the comments or by email and I’ll add it to this list. Thank you!

Oh, and for completeness’ sake, here’s my video made upon finding out about the nomination:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7lX-NAZ1Ns

"Transamerican Love Story" Ties For "Outstanding Reality Series" at 2009 GLAAD Media Awards