The show opened up with Jane inexplicably in a pink princess nightie. Um, ok, we’ll roll with it if that’s how she rolls:

She then welcomes the audience, as well as her troupe of Janes, and walks us through a history of her “long and distinguished” career in public service:

Jane Lynch and Julie Goldman FTW!!!

Guess who won the Best TV Show award?

The winner of the $100,000 Do Something Award was this awesome girl right here, Jessica Posner, who will use the award to help expand a girls’ school in Kenya.

Show:  Friends (The One Where Estelle Dies)

Role:  Helpful Honda-esque dealer

Best Line: Reaction to Janice’s “OH .  MY .  GOD !”

According to her credits, Jane here plays “Ellen,” a real estate agent? who is showing the house next door to the one that Chandler and Monica are planning to buy.  Once there, the Bings run into Janice, who was sort of the Urkel of Friends, but never quite as annoying or loveable.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Family life. Her father was a mid-level banker; her mom was a homemaker.  Her family was “not very funny”; she was the class clown.

When she grows up, she wants to be … Dolton, Illinois was not a place for “grand dreams,” but, inspired by Ron Howard (she had a total crush on him in Happy Days), she went for acting anyway.  Her parents – her mother, in particular – were not terribly excited about her grand dream; her mother, in fact, actively discouraged her because she, like all parents, just wanted her kids to have realistic dreams and attainable goals.  Peter DeBruge (the Variety editor who moderated the discussion) and Jane then paralleled the process of embracing one’s creative parts to the process of coming out, which we think is totally true: first you admit it in yourself (which is hard), then you tell everyone else all about this new thing you just discovered.  At least, this is how people came out before Facebook and Twitter.

Grown up and playing in plays. Even though she always was the class clown, her earliest work was not in comedy – it was on stage, doing serious, very serious, renditions of the classics.  She applied for various theater troupes across the country, eventually landing at Second City (one of only two women to be picked).  This “diverted” her from her Shakespearan path, which was just as well, as she and her company were having, shall we say, creative differences.   The Second City gig actually paid her enough to allow her to quit her day job (receptionist at a very kind realty company) (if only we all were so lucky), and she got to tour the country as Bonnie Hunt’s understudy.  Second City is famed for its style of improvisional comedy, yet she was still “uncomfortable” with improv.  She did, however, come to really love sketch comedy.

Real Live Brady Bunch. She didn’t find her footing in improv until she played Carol Brady in the Real Live Brady Bunch, a production of Annoyance Theater (also a product of Chicago).  We posted a clip of the play with Jane in a few segments here.  Basically, the troupe took Brady Bunch episodes and recreated them, verbatim, thanks to the painstaking efforts of director Jill Soloway, who transcribed each episode with little more than the episode on VHS and the pause button.  The group re-acted the entire episode on stage, with the appropriate level of snark and suggestive, incestuous glances between the siblings.  The re-creation was so real, in fact, that they received a cease and desist letter from Sherwood Schwartz, the creator of the show.

Ironically, Jane later auditioned for, and did not get, a part in the subsequent Brady Bunch movie.  She auditioned for some bit role (“Mother at airport,” she said); the audition director didn’t think she knew “what they were going for.”  Oh, but you see…

The ‘90s. The early 1990s saw Jane settling in LA and guesting on pretty much every television show on air at the time.  After she was cast in The Fugitive as a scientist who essentially breaks the case (you are welcome, Harrison Ford), she decided she could plausibly pursue acting full-time.

“I got this butch-dyke role” as Christy Cummings, handler of standard poodle Rhapsody in White in Best in Show.

She recalls doing all sorts of commercials and voiceover work during the time (indeed).  She then spent most of the decade guest’ing on various sitcoms and television shows (i.e., Empty Nest, The X-Files), until she finally caught a break.  “I got this butch-dyke role” as Christy Cummings, handler of standard poodle Rhapsody in White and eventual partner of Jennifer Coolidge (owner of Rhapsody in White).  It was mere circumstance – in a story reminiscent of how Bill Wilkerson discovered Lana Turner at Schwab’s, Jane was eating lunch at Newsroom Cafe in LA when Christopher Guest wandered in.  He remembered her from their prior project (he directed her in a Frosted Flakes commercial), said he had an idea, and asked her to come by his office later that day.  She did, and the rest is dog show history.  Peter Debruge pointed out how ironic it was that her biggest role to that date was a gay one.  She agreed, saying, “I don’t think [Guest] even knew I was a lez.”  An extra tidbit: Guest originally cast Catherine O’Hara as Christy Cummings, but really wanted her to work with Eugene Levy instead.  Casting Jane was the answer to his problem.  To many of our problems, really.

Speaking of Christopher Guest, Jane explained that she preps more for his movies than any other film.  He essentially gives his cast a a paragraph or two worth of backstory; it is up to them to fill in the blanks, round out the edges, and supply the dialogue and witty banter.  Thus, you “must be solid in your character” because a Christopher Guest ensemble actor has absolutely no idea what sorts of things the other actors will throw at them on any give day.  So, she talks in the mirror (in character) and role plays interviews (in character) to practice playing herself playing someone else.

Taking male roles. Jane’s history of taking roles originally envisioned for men goes back to a high school production where she played a king.  Since then, she has played other roles that were written for men (her role in 40 Year Old Virgin, for example, was written with a male in mind).  How does she do it?  “Let’s call it was it is,” she said: an “authoritative, butchy-dykey” aura that allows her to get away with it.  Yes.  Damn right.

“Let’s call it was it is,” she said: an “authoritative, butchy-dykey” aura

Red wine, success! Given her resume, then, she’s not quite the overnight sensation that is true for Glee generally.  Jane is just turning 50 this week; after decades of working and working, success finally found her.  Why and how?  “Simply, “[w]hat I do caught up with my age.”  After saying yes to almost every project that came her way, she finally is in a position where she can say no.  She also is in a position where projects go to her instead of the other way around.  Sue Sylvester, for example, was written with her in mind.  She no longer has to try to figure out whether she can make her talents fit a particular role; she now has the luxury to determine whether a role suits her.  This is sort of like going to a job interview where you are interviewing your potential employer to see if they fit your talents and needs, and not the other way around.  Having experienced this so far only once in our lives, we can say this: it is sweet when it happens.

All that said, Jane is cognizant that the success of Glee will not last forever.  And that’s ok.  She intends to do what she always has done: work.  And work.  And work.  She works a lot.

“I will say I was awesome.”

– Jane, on her Vogue video

“A big lez.” On whether she struggled with coming out as an actress in Hollywood, Jane said, essentially, not really.  “Character actors are allowed to be gay,” she said.  In her 30s, she would have a few restless nights wondering how she would come out, and/or how she would hide it.  She eventually decided that hiding would be the worst way to go: by 40, she was pretty gay and “there wasn’t any turning back!”  Plus, there totally were “stories to be told” if she did deny that her gayness every happened.

To that end, though, she “feels a little bit of a responsibility [not in a bad way] to do things like [the panel] and Outfest” to support GLBT/queer work.  In terms of being a flaming dyke, she’s cautious of the message she sends – she doesn’t want to make a politicized statement by doing something so overt as to make a political statement.  Before you start hating, hear her/us out.  She explained that “not making a political statement makes it a political statement.”   Instead, she goes for the more subtle route: make the statement loudly when reporters ask her about the issue directly – because they always do – instead of trying to toot the horn at all times.  This, we think, is better than manufacturing the rainbow when it isn’t even raining.  There is a time to march, and there is a time to not march, because it’s lunchtime and we just want to eat our lunch, thanks.

Jane would host SNL! The discussion closed out with a question and answer period.  People asked good questions, we thought, including us!  We’re one of the people who asked a question!  Gosh, we were so nervous.  Because some (many) of you have emailed us about this, we asked Jane whether she would host SNL if asked.  Her answer: “Yes.  I would be terrified – but yes.”  Go FB fans, go!

Jane Lynch, on hosting SNL: “I would be terrified – but yes.”

Miscellany:

• Carol Burnett called her after the Emmy nominations were announced to congratulate her.
• She loves working with actors, and would “love” to direct (lest we forget, she did write and direct Oh Sister, My Sister)
• She was cast in Julie & Julia probably because she was the tallest actress director Nora Ephron knew.
• She totally fantasized about Olivia Newton-John (“ONJ”; the fantasy was “romantic” in nature)
• Favorite track suit: purple with gold stripes
• She would love to work with Jennifer Saunders.  Hey, since everyone and their mother are getting guest roles in Glee next season, how’s about getting Jennifer Saunders in on the deal?

The final question of the day came from a well-intentioned audience member who wanted to know: 1) why Ryan Murphy portrayed transpeople so poorly in his previous serious, Nip/Tuck; 2) whether Ryan Murphy planned to have transpeople in Glee; and 3) if so, whether he planned to portray them as poorly as he did in Nip/Tuck (see question number 1).  We suspect that this was more of a statement-turned-question for the sake of getting a message across, because as much as we appreciate the sentiment behind the question, it was just directed at the wrong person.  Best ask Mr. Murphy himself.  Asking the wrong person the right question is just as bad as asking the right person the wrong question.

Oh, a thrilling afternoon for us, to be sure.  For those who want to recreate the experience, a few minutes from the discussion are below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The story of a group of teenage misfits who find redemption in the high school singing group – or glee club – Lynch is the star of the show as fearsome cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester.  The gay actor had her big break when she was spotted by Spinal Tap’s Christopher Guest and starred in his next three films. Lynch has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies including Two And A Half Men, The L Word, the 40-Year-Old Virgin and cartoon hit Family Guy.  Now [Jane Lynch] has hit the big time with Glee. Her inclusion in this year’s MediaGuardian 100 reflects both her own success and the impact of the show itself. … Glee’s musical pastiches – including Lynch’s memorable take on Madonna’s Vogue – were an instant online hit.

Just to give a little insight into the selection and judging process, here were the criteria:

Unless Jane has as much economic and political power as Haim Saban, we think Jane landed on the list by winning all her points on the cultural influence criterion.  Wowza.  We don’t know why exactly, but we just find this whole thing just amazing.  Emmy noms, Outfest Achivement Award, and now this.  July is turning out to be one giant bearer of great news.

Play:  The Real Live Brady Bunch

Character Type:  Carol Brady

Best Line:  N/A

A super sweet fan, MC, emailed us this gem: Jane Lynch as Carol Brady in The Real Live Brady Bunch.  In 1992, Jane toured with Chicago’s Annoyance Theater in this verbatim, screen-to-stage version of The Brady Bunch.  The clip here is of the gang – which includes Andy Richter!! -  performing on a Very Special Episode (VSE) of Geraldo. This was way before Geraldo fancied himself a serious journalist and embedded himself with the military to prove it.  The VSE is followed by an MTV clip with Kurt Loder.  The gem-iest of all gems.  Thanks MC!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

As we know, Jane was honored with Outfest’s Achievement Award earlier this week.  Jane was introduced that night (and, incidentally, today, at her panel) with the following tribute video.  Whew, one less thing for us to do.

She then accepted her award.  Thank you, audience members with no qualms about YouTube’ing these events for us.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Finally, Just Jared has a preview pic of Jane in kids’ Nickelodeon show iCarly.  As we understand it, kids these days are totally digging an era we hoped we left behind, the 80s.  Appropriately, then, Jane is sporting, like, a totally rad outfit that makes it seem like she’s off to visit Zack Morris and the gang at The Max rather than to visit her daughter-the-web-series-superstar.  Or, wait, maybe these are one and the same?

The entirety of her speech is transcribed here at The Advocate. Best part, maybe:

I get asked for advise all the time. I don’t why any one would think I know what I’m doing. My life and my career has been one accident after another. I have just gone head long balls out and fevered never coming up for air for a good bunch of years and I don’t know that this is very good advise to give any one. And I know there are a lot aspiring actors and film makers out there and perhaps they want me to give them words of wisdom or the keys to the kingdom or let them in on the big secret. So I will defer to Carol Brady, who in her infinite wisdom once said, “Find what it is you do best and do your best with it.

Jane on The Tonight Show show was, dare we say, even more awesome?  We love people, celebrities or not, who talk about being gay without a hint of apology or shame, and can poke fun of it without doing so to make all the other straighties in the room feel better/more uncomfortable.  Jane Lynch talked about 40 Year Old Virgin, and even though we’ve seen the Spanish love song clip a million times, it was interesting to see Steve Carell and Jane talk about it.  She also talks about why she and Lara were married on Memorial Day (they met on Memorial Day last year; insert aw here),  Outfest, and being a flaming lezzie.  So entirely refreshing.

Glee garnered 19(!) nominations in total, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Casting (Glee should win just for having the genius insight to hire Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester).

Now we are having memories of Gillian Anderson actually winning that Emmy.  Because she was so, so great as Dana Scully, and the Academy so rarely recognizes science fiction (see Battlestar Galactica, complete snubbery of).  Hopefully the Academy will come of their shell a bit, eschew the traditional comedy series format, and reward another good thing staring plainly at their ballot sheet.

Also, hey, Jane Lynch is going to be on Jay Leno tonight, along with Steve Carell.  She’s slated to be the “second guest,” but really, we’re just as excited for Steve Carell as well.  Remember the two of them in 40 Year Old Virgin?  Of course you do.  Here’s to hoping that Jane serenades him all over again.