And even in New York,

because we both lived in New York in our formative years, and there was a few years difference.

But then a lot of our references seem to cross over as well.

And I don't know if it was just of that era of being in New York in the 90s.

I mean, that was such a magical period.

But there was a through line through that stage in our lives as well that I didn't realize until I read her sections about that as a young adult.

So it was...

that like for you? Because you weren't really ready.

And even in New York,

because we both lived in New York in our formative years, and there was a few years difference, but then a lot of our references seemed to cross over as well.

And I don't know if it was just of that era of being in New York in the 90s.

I mean, that was such a magical period.

But there was a through line through that stage in our lives as well that I didn't realize until I read her sections about that as a young adult.

So it was...

So what was that like for you? Because you weren't really ready.

I just didn't.

Yes.

'Cause that just seemed to make sense in his brain, and he was like, "It's a great film.

It's a piece of art.

We sh- we should watch it." I- it always fascinated me, and I thought, "That looks like fun to do." And I, I believe at one point my father said, "Oh, that's what your aunt does." And I said, "Oh, okay." I didn't think of it.

And then, like Leisha, I s- I also didn't have the grades to get into a university, and I didn't wanna go to one because my school was a college prep school, and I, and, and I was flailing there.

So w- when it was time to figure out where to go after high school, uh, my mom was like, "Why don't you try a conservatory and, and do something you wanna do? You've done your time with what, what was required." And that's l- that's how Leisha and I wound up at the same school, but at different, like, maybe five years apart.

I'm wondering if you can share the story about thinking that someone you were watching in a movie looked like your aunt.

Yeah, freshman year [laughs] I was in guidance class, and Ms. Gallagher wheels in the TV cart to watch something.

(laughs)

And you had a pair of beat-up boots on, and- and well, you had a cute haircut, and- and I was like, "Oh, okay." That, ev- I thought, "That makes sense." Like- like it made sense when I, when I saw you, but I also saw Alisha when I walked in to sign at the reception desk, and I saw the back of her head.

And I saw a bunch of wispy things sticking out.

(laughs)

So (laughs) I just blindly got on the plane and flew to Vancouver and was kind of wondering, "Who's gonna be there outside of Pam and Jennifer?" So, I sort of saw that, I can see that looking back.

Oh, that was, this was meant to be.

This was destined in some way or another, because the chances of, you know, feeling that like, it was a subtle connection at the audition, although 'cause all the other energy was sort of taking over.

But still, there was that subtle curiosity I had, and then to actually see that person again, and, "Oh, we're gonna be on the show together from day one," doesn't happen like that.

Do you happen to remember the sort of moment you realized that the L word had transcended television?

That's a hard one to answer because so much was happening in my life when that show was taking hold of pop culture.

I suppose one thing I noticed, a friend of mine used to work at Showtime and she was in charge of all of the behind the scenes content that networks used to do for promotions of new seasons.

She was really creative.

She would always find creative ways of doing interviews.

And I guess the network had asked her to compile some sort of mini documentary about how the show has impacted the community.

And so she had gone around and done a bunch of on the street interviews with people.

Yeah, freshman

And you came out from New Y- you flew out from New York.

I flew out from New York 'cause I was on the East Coast then, and, and my manager's like, "I can do some digging, find out who it is," and I said, "No, no, no, no, no." I was like, "Let me just go there.

This is pressure-y enough." And I walk in, and I saw the back of her head, and her hair was, like, wisping out in the back.

And I-

[laughs]

And, um, and I remember in the moment not knowing that I had to dance and it, and them telling me, and it was a bunch of Asian people in, that were au- And I just basically blacked out.

Like, I blacked out and just started running and doing aerobics and just-

And

now it's shifted in a completely different way that...

How do you think it's shifted now? Well, for one, you can't get into rooms anymore.

So everything's just based on your Zoom audition.

So there's never any feedback.

And because there's so many mergers and all these companies are either forming or breaking apart, nothing is safe.

I think part of the reason why our reboot got canceled is because of a merger.

But