GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

JANUARY 12, 1996

,

Evenings Out

More

than Friends

by Daniel Vaillancourt

As its title implies, NBC's Thursday night sitcom Friends revolves around the series' six principal young stars. But from day one, two supporting actors have been instrumental in securing the show's considerable gay following: Jane Sibbett, who plays Carol, former wife of Schwimmer's character, Ross; and Jessica Hecht, who plays Susan, Carol's current life partner.

In the Friends pilot, we learned that Carol left Ross for Susan. In the series' second episode, the couple announced Carol's pregnancy. At the end of last season, baby Ben was born. Since the show now in its second season-boasts millions of loyal fans, Carol, Susan, Ross, Ben, and the entire gang make up one of the most visible non-traditional families in television history.

While Sibbett and Hecht's interpretation of Carol and Susan has been lauded by many (and earned the show a 1995 GLAAD Media Award), co-executive producer David Cranethe only gay member on the "Friends" creative team-maintains that there was no hidden agenda behind the women's creation.

"I don't think we did it because we felt it was important, believe or not," Crane says. "We didn't do it for political reasons. We did it because they seemed like two really interesting, fresh characters. We were looking for a really unusual and interesting situation for Ross to be in vis-à-vis his ex-wife. This presented the most exciting dynamic."

Things have progressed nicely for Carol and Susan in the 15 months they've been together. In the upcoming January 18 episode, the couple has a commitment ceremony at which guest star Candace Gingrich officiates.

"This seemed to be another wonderful step," says Crane. "It turned out to be a really wonderful episode to do because, I mean, I say we don't have a political agenda-and we don't— but still, I think we all felt really good about telling the story of these two women who love each other, and showing that their relationship is as valid as any of the heterosexual relationships on the show. I'm pretty proud of it.”

Although the rest of this year's episodes remain unwritten, Crane promises we will see Carol and Susan at least twice more before season's end.

During an hour long three-way conference call, Sibbett and Hecht-who have become very close thanks to their work on Friendsrevealed what it's been like to play a same-sex couple on one of television's most popular sitcoms:

Why don't you start by sharing your feelings about the creation of the wedding episode?

JS: It was great fun to do. We cried, we laughed, we had a great time. It was just like a normal wedding.

JH: That was the coolest thing about it. All the feelings we had just brought up our own weddings. The whole set-up was pretty tradi-

ds co-stars Jessica Hecht and Jane Sibbett on ace Gingrich, friendship, and what it's like to tray the hottest lesbian couple on television

Jessica Hecht, Candace Gingrich and Jane Sibbett.

tional once we came down to it; the way the actual ceremony took place, the reception. It was just really very reminiscent of my own. JS: I had Candace Gingrich presiding over my ceremony also. (Laughs)

How was working with Newt Gingrich's lesbian half-sister?

JS: Fabulous! We met her at the GLAAD Awards last year and very briefly had this little photo opportunity with her. It was fun to reacquaint ourselves and to actually sit down and chat for a long time. She is incredible. She is definitely the kind of gal we'd hang out with all the time.

JH: She's extremely funny, and a great improviser. She kept making up parts of the ceremony when the camera was rolling, just to, you know, goose up her part. It was very funny. She was wonderful.

Did either of you ever hesitate before accepting your respective roles?

JS: No. Not for a moment. Not for a moment.

JH: No. I think, actually, if the writing was really not up to par, you would be afraid of stepping in. But anything that's well-written, you love. Playing characters like these has been amazing for both of us.

What kind of research have you done? JS: Well, Jessica and I try to sleep together as often as possible. (Laughs)

JH: And then we talk about the experience a lot. (Laughs) What kind of research do we do? Let's see, well...

JS: Research? Gosh, you know, we're just playing people, really. I don't think there's any research to really do. As Jessica said, the writing is really so well-crafted. It's not as if we're uttering words that might be incorrect.

Do fans of the show recognize and stop you on the street?

JS and JH: Yes.

JS: They're always very positive about our characters. "Oh, we love your characters! They're so great!"

JH: The thing about TV is you never know who's going to be on that week. I guess TV Guide helps. (Laughs) But in general, people always ask, "When are you guys going to be back on?" And people are really psyched about the wedding. It makes me feel so welcome that they're really invested in what happens to us. Isn't it fascinating to have your work

become part of America's consciousness?

JS: Yeah. You don't really think about it. You kind of think about it as a job, and then, suddenly, people are coming up and saying to you, "Thank you for making a difference in our lives." I had this woman come up to me at one of my friends' birthday parties for their kids and say, "Thank you. I've never watched the show, but I've heard about you and I am so grateful that you are doing this part." Wow! Gosh, I'm really making an impact on some people.

What other feedback have you received from gay and lesbian viewers? JS & JH: Positive.

JS: They're just grateful to have some positive role models, people they can look up to.

JH: Somebody-in fact, maybe it was David [Crane] said that he had spoken to a young girl whose parents are two moms, and the little girl said, "Hey, I saw someone like me on TV." And it was Ben, you know? It was great. Also, I got this letter that was really nice from a young college guy. [He] wrote me this very articulate letter about feeling that he had never been comfortable with the idea of lesbianism. Seeing these characters on TV really changed his mind.

What have you learned about the gay and lesbian community from your involvement with Friends?

JS: I think we had a pretty good feel for it. We certainly hadn't gone to a lot of the gay and lesbian functions before.

JH: The performers different people who have come out, and different people who still feel like they can't for whatever number of reasons-that's been quite affecting to me. To see how many people have this really vital part of their own existence that has to be hidden a little bit. I mean, I may sound naïve, but that's been a constant source of surprise.

JS: And we have great empathy for those people who can't fully be who they wish they could be, who can't come out for one reason or another. It breaks my heart. I am so glad that [Carol and Susan] have come out. Wouldn't that be the best dream: for everyone to finally realize who they truly, fully are, and be embraced by society in that?

Do you see yourselves as gay and lesbian rights activists?

JS: Hum. Never thought of it that way;

simply as artists, basically, just doing our job, and hopefully opening up people to a greater truth: that we're all one.

JH: Yeah. "Activist" is such an aggressive word.

JS: Active. It's an active word.

JH: If you look at it on a purely literal level, we are like voices. We speak the words of people who very often don't get a voice in popular entertainment. That's a pretty aggressive thing to do.

JS: I don't think either of us considers ourselves activists, although we heartily support everything that we're doing and the gay and lesbian community. We're not out marching and stomping, but we go to as many of the

events as we can.

In many ways you're doing work that is as significant as that of people who are out there marching and stomping.

JH: That's so kind of you to say. God, it doesn't. You want to do all that you can. JS: And we wish we could do more. We're gentle activists. (Laughs)

JH: We really feel so fortunate to have been able to make any kind of contribution to this cause. It really is a cause. Janie had this experience of going to an honorary event in July. [To JS] I guess you can tell exactly what it was.

JS: It was the Gay and Lesbian Parents' Coalition International, and it was incredibly moving for me. I had to get up and receive an award on behalf of the show. Jessica was getting married that night, and David was on Fire Island, so I had to go and receive the award and give a speech. It was the most beautiful evening I think I've ever had in terms of people and their love and their commitment and their strength and bravery. I was so moved; I was so moved. Moved to tears. It was really an incredible night.

JH: They gave her a standing ovation. JS: Well. (Laughs) I think they were giving it for the whole show. [To JH] And you were included in that.

Isn't it marvelous that Carol and Susan have the most stable romantic relationship on the show?

JH: (Laughs) A lot of people say that. JS: (Laughs) We're the only ones who can hold it together. We're the smart ones.