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Contents
Articles
Eddie Cibrian
1
But I'm a Cheerleader
5
In the Beginning (2000 film)
13
Say It Isn't So (film)
15
The Cave (film)
18
Not Easily Broken
22
Good Deeds
24
Baywatch Nights
26
Sunset Beach (TV series)
29
Third Watch
36
Tilt (TV series)
45
Invasion (TV series)
48
Vanished
53
Football Wives
60
Ugly Betty
62
Northern Lights (2009 film)
82
CSI: Miami
84
The Playboy Club
96
References
Article Sources and Contributors
111
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
114
Article Licenses
License
115
Eddie Cibrian
1
Eddie Cibrian
Eddie Cibrian
Cibrian in 2009
Born
Edward Carl Cibrian
June 16, 1973
Burbank, California, U.S.
Occupation
Actor
Years active 1993–present
Spouse
Brandi Glanville (2001–2010) LeAnn Rimes (2011–present)
Edward Carl "Eddie" Cibrian ( /ˈsɪbriən/ sib-ree-ən; born June 16, 1973)[1] is an American actor. He is known
for his television roles as Cole Deschanel on Sunset Beach, Jesse Cardoza in CSI: Miami, Jimmy Doherty on Third
Watch and Russell Varon in Invasion.
Early life and career
Cibrian, an only child, was born in Burbank, California, the son of Hortensia, an office manager, and Carl Cibrian, a
banker.[2] He is of Cuban descent.[3]
Cibrian starred in The Young and the Restless, Baywatch Nights, Sunset Beach as Cole Deschanel, Third Watch as
womanizing New York City firefighter Jimmy Doherty, Tilt as rising poker star Eddie Towne, and Invasion as
Everglades park ranger Russell Varon. He also guest-starred in Saved by the Bell: The College Years, Sabrina, the
Teenage Witch, Criminal Minds and Beverly Hills, 90210. His movie credits include Living Out Loud, But I'm a
Cheerleader, and The Cave.[2]
Besides his acting career, he also sang in the soul-pop boy band 3Deep from 1998 to 2001 along with Young and The
Restless costar and real-life best friend Joshua Morrow and Canadian singer CJ Huyer.
In 2006, Cibrian joined the cast of the Fox series Vanished midway through the season.[4] The series was canceled
after nine of the thirteen episodes produced were aired (subsequent episodes aired via MySpace).[5] The following
year, he was cast as Jason Austin in the unaired pilot of Football Wives, the ABC remake of the British drama
[6]
Footballers Wives.
Cibrian has had guest spots on Samantha Who?, Dirty Sexy Money, and Ugly Betty. In 2009, he joined the cast of
CSI: Miami as an officer from the Hollywood division who joins Horatio's team in Miami.[7] His contract was not
picked up for the 2010-11 season.[8]
In July 2010, Cibrian guest starred as a bounty hunter in multiple episodes of NBC's drama series Chase.
In March 2011, Cibrian was cast as the lead in the NBC pilot for The Playboy Club, a TV series set at the first
Playboy Club in Chicago in 1963.[9]
In early October 2011, The Playboy Club was cancelled by NBC after three episodes due to low ratings[10]
Eddie Cibrian
2
Personal life
In May 2001, Cibrian married Brandi Glanville, a former model. Cibrian and Glanville have two sons, Mason and
Jake.[2] [11] The couple separated in July 2009 after months of speculation that Cibrian was having an affair with his
married Northern Lights co-star LeAnn Rimes.[12] [13]
Shortly after going public with Rimes,[14] on August 24, 2009, Cibrian filed for divorce from Glanville citing
irreconcilable differences.[15] On June 11, 2010, Cibrian issued a statement to E! Online asking his ex-wife to stop
talking about his affair with Rimes, saying: "I can't change the past and I'm truly sorry that people got hurt along the
way but not everything reported in the media is reality and continuing to rehash things publicly only makes it more
difficult for everyone to heal. I hope for the sake of our children we can all move forward and heal privately. I wish
their mother nothing but the best." [16]
Cibrian and Glanville's divorce was finalized on September 30, 2010.[17] On December 27, 2010, it was announced
that Rimes and Cibrian were engaged.[18] The couple wed on April 22, 2011 at a private home in California.[19]
Filmography
Film
Year
Film
Role
1998
Living Out Loud
The Masseur
1999
But I'm a Cheerleader
Rock
2000
In the Beginning
Joseph
2001
Say It Isn't So
Jack Mitchelson
2005
The Cave
Tyler McAllister
2009
Not Easily Broken
Brock Houseman
2012
Good Deeds
John
Notes
Television
Year
1993
Title
Role
Saved by the Bell: The College Years Janitor
Notes
1 episode
1994–1996 The Young and the Restless
Matt Clark
Unknown episodes
1995
CBS Schoolbreak Special
Tough guy
1 episode
1996
Beverly Hills, 90210
Casey Watkins
1 episode
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Darryl and himself
2 episodes
1996–1997 Baywatch Nights
Griff Walker
26 episodes
1997–1999 Sunset Beach
Cole Deschanel/Cole St.John
369 episodes
1998
Sunset Beach: Shockwave
Cole Deschanel
Television movie
Logan's War: Bound by Honor
Logan Fallon
Television movie
1998-2001 3Deep
Eddie
boy band
1999–2005 Third Watch
Jimmy Doherty
80 episodes
2000
In the Beginning
Joseph
Television movie
2001
Citizen Baines
Curtis Daniel
1 episode
2003
The Street Lawyer
Michael Brock
Unsold pilot
2005
Tilt
Edward "Eddie" Towne
9 episodes
Eddie Cibrian
3
2005–2006 Invasion
Russell Varon
22 episodes
2006
Vanished
Agent Daniel Lucas
7 episodes
2007
Football Wives
Jason Austin
Unaired pilot
2007
Criminal Minds
Joe Smith
1 episode
Dirty Sexy Money
Sebastian Fleet
1 episode
Samantha Who?
Kevin
1 episode
Ugly Betty
Coach Diaz
7 episodes
The Starter Wife
Detective Eddie La Roche
3 episodes
Northern Lights
Nate Burns
Television movie
Washington Field
SA Tommy Diaz
TV pilot
2009–2010 CSI: Miami
Jesse Cardoza
25 episodes
2010
Healing Hands
Buddy Hoyt
Television movie
Chase
Bounty Hunter Ben Crowley
3 episodes
The Playboy Club
Nick Dalton
2008
2009
2011
Award nominations
Year
2000
2002
1998
1999
Award
ALMA Award
Result
Category
Nominated Emerging Actor in a Drama Series
Series
Third Watch
Outstanding Actor in a Television Series Third Watch
Soap Opera Digest Awards Nominated Outstanding Younger Leading Actor
Hottest Male Star
Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach
References
[1] According to the State of California. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health
Services, Sacramento, California
[2] Eddie Cibrian Biography (1973-) (http:/ / www. filmreference. com/ film/ 68/ Eddie-Cibrian. html)
[3] Keck, William (2008-04-23). "'Betty' spices up its salon, stories and guest stars" (http:/ / www. usatoday. com/ life/ television/ news/
2008-04-23-ugly-betty_N. htm). usatoday.com. . Retrieved 2010-05-01.
[4] Ausiello, Michael (2006-10-04). "Find Out Why Gale Harold Vanished!" (http:/ / www. tvguide. com/ news/ Gale-Harold-Vanished-8388.
aspx). tvguide.com. . Retrieved 21 November 2009.
[5] Adalain, Josef (2006-11-16). "Fox extends 'Death's' life" (http:/ / www. variety. com/ article/ VR1117954038. html?categoryid=14& cs=1&
query=vanished). variety.com. . Retrieved 21 November 2009.
[6] Ausiello, Michael (2007-09-27). "Exclusive: Samantha Who? Snags Eddie Cibrian, Lost's Sanchez" (http:/ / www. tvguide. com/ news/
exclusive-samantha-snags-8352. aspx). tvguide.com. . Retrieved 21 November 2009.
[7] Matt Mitovich (24 June 2009). "CSI: Miami Gets Hotter as Eddie Cibrian Joins Cast" (http:/ / www. tvguide. com/ News/
CSI-Miami-Cibrian-1007232. aspx). TV Guide Online. . Retrieved 2009-06-25.
[8] Ausiello, Michael (June 17, 2010). "Scoop: 'CSI: Miami' cuts Eddie Cibrian" (http:/ / ausiellofiles. ew. com/ 2010/ 06/ 16/
scoop-csi-miami-cuts-eddie-cibrian/ ). Entertainment Weekly. . Retrieved June 17, 2010.
[9] Andreeva, Nellie (11 March 2011). "Pilot Scoop: Eddie Cibrian Scores Playboy Lead" (http:/ / www. tvline. com/ 2011/ 03/
pilot-scoop-eddie-cibrian-scores-playboy-lead/ ). TV Line. .
[10] http:/ / insidetv. ew. com/ 2011/ 10/ 04/ playboy-club-cancelled/
[11] Chiu, Alexis (2009-08-29). "Eddie Cibrian Is 'Committed to Being a Devoted Father'" (http:/ / www. people. com/ people/ article/
0,,20300969,00. html). people.com. . Retrieved 2009-08-28.
[12] "EXCLUSIVE: Married LeAnn Rimes Having Steamy Affair With Sexy Costar" (http:/ / www. usmagazine. com/ news/
married-leann-rimes-in-steamy-affair-with-costar-2009173). usmagazine.com. 2009-03-17. .
Eddie Cibrian
[13] "EXCLUSIVE: Eddie Cibrian's Wife Confirms She's Left Him Over Affairs." (http:/ / www. usmagazine. com/ news/
eddie-cibrians-wife-leaves-him-over-affairs-2009217). usmagazine.com. 2009-07-21. .
[14] Pernilla, Cedenheim (2009-08-21). "LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian Take Their Love to the Links" (http:/ / www. people. com/ people/
article/ 0,,20299630,00. html). people.com. . Retrieved 2009-08-28.
[15] "'Eddie Cibrian's Wife Sensed Attraction Between Husband & LeAnn Rimes'" (http:/ / www. people. com/ people/ article/ 0,,20300202,00.
html). People. August 25, 2009. . Retrieved August 28, 2009.
[16] "Eddie Cibrian: Ex Rehashing the Past Makes It "Difficult to Heal"'" (http:/ / www. eonline. com/ uberblog/
b185521_eddie_cibrian_ex_rehashing_past_makes. html#comments). EOL. June 11, 2010. .
[17] "Eddie Cibrian and Brandi Glanville Officially Divorced" (http:/ / www. usmagazine. com/ celebritynews/ news/
eddie-cibrian-and-brandi-glanville-officially-divorced-2010110). Us Weekly. October 1, 2010. .
[18] "LeAnn Rimes Engaged to Eddie Cibrian" (http:/ / www. billboard. com/ #/ news/ leann-rimes-engaged-to-eddie-cibrian-1004137232.
story?tag=hpfeed). Billboard. . Retrieved December 27, 2010.
[19] "LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian Are Married!" (http:/ / www. people. com/ people/ article/ 0,,20484223,00. html). People. . Retrieved
April 23, 2011.
External links
• Eddie Cibrian (http://www.imdb.com/Name?Eddie+Cibrian/) at the Internet Movie Database
4
But I'm a Cheerleader
5
But I'm a Cheerleader
But I'm a Cheerleader
Original film poster
Directed by
Jamie Babbit
Produced by
Leanna Creel
Andrea Sperling
Screenplay by
Brian Wayne Peterson
Story by
Jamie Babbit
Starring
Natasha Lyonne
Cathy Moriarty
RuPaul Charles
Clea DuVall
Music by
Pat Irwin
Cinematography Jules Labarthe
Editing by
Cecily Rhett
Studio
Ignite Entertainment
The Kushner-Locke Company
Distributed by
Lionsgate
Release date(s)
September 12, 1999 (TFF)
July 7, 2000
Running time
85 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
US$1 million
Box office
$2,595,216
But I'm a Cheerleader is a 1999 satirical romantic comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit and written by Brian
Wayne Peterson. Natasha Lyonne stars as Megan Bloomfield, an apparently happy heterosexual high school
cheerleader. However, her friends and family are convinced that she is a homosexual and arrange an intervention,
sending her to a residential inpatient reparative therapy camp to cure her lesbianism. There Megan soon realizes that
she is indeed a lesbian and, despite the therapy, gradually comes to embrace her sexual orientation. The supporting
cast includes Dante Basco, Eddie Cibrian, Clea DuVall, Cathy Moriarty, RuPaul, Richard Moll, Mink Stole, Kip
Pardue, Michelle Williams, and Bud Cort.
But I'm a Cheerleader was Babbit's first feature film. It was inspired by an article about conversion therapy and her
childhood familiarity with rehabilitation programs. She used the story of a young woman finding her sexual identity
to explore the social construction of gender roles and heteronormativity. The costume and set design of the film
highlighted these themes using artificial textures in intense blues and pinks.
When it was initially rated as NC-17 by the MPAA, Babbit made cuts to allow it to be re-rated as R. When
interviewed in the documentary film This Film Is Not Yet Rated Babbit criticized the MPAA for discriminating
against films with gay content.
Many critics did not like the film, comparing it unfavorably with the films of John Waters and criticizing the colorful
production design. Although the lead actors were praised for their performances, some of the characters were
But I'm a Cheerleader
described as stereotypical.
Plot
Seventeen-year-old Megan (Natasha Lyonne) is a sunny high school senior who loves cheerleading and is dating
football player Jared (Brandt Wille). She does not enjoy kissing Jared, however, and prefers looking at her fellow
cheerleaders. Combined with Megan's interest in vegetarianism and Melissa Etheridge, her family and friends
suspect that Megan is in fact a lesbian. With the help of ex-gay Mike (RuPaul), they surprise her with an
intervention. Following this confrontation, Megan is sent to True Directions, a reparative therapy camp which uses a
five-step program (similar to Alcoholics Anonymous' twelve-step program) to convert its campers to heterosexuality.
At True Directions, Megan meets the founder, strict disciplinarian Mary Brown (Cathy Moriarty), Mary's supposedly
[1]
heterosexual son Rock (Eddie Cibrian), and a group of young people trying to "cure" themselves of their
homosexuality. With the prompting of Mary and the other campers, Megan reluctantly agrees that she is a lesbian.
This fact, at odds with her traditional, religious upbringing, distresses her and she puts every effort into becoming
heterosexual. Early on in her stay at True Directions, Megan discovers two of the boys, Dolph and Clayton (Dante
Basco and Kip Pardue), making out. She panics and screams, leading to their discovery by Mike. Dolph is made to
leave and Clayton is punished by being forced into isolation.
The True Directions program involves the campers admitting their homosexuality, rediscovering their gender
identity by performing stereotypically gender-associated tasks, finding the root of their homosexuality, demystifying
the opposite sex, and simulating heterosexual intercourse. Over the course of the program, Megan becomes friends
with another girl at the camp, a college student named Graham (Clea DuVall) who, though more comfortable being
gay than Megan, was forced to the camp at the risk of otherwise being disowned by her family.
The True Directions kids are encouraged to rebel against Mary by two of her former students, ex-ex-gays Larry and
Lloyd (Richard Moll and Wesley Mann), who take the campers to a local gay bar where Graham and Megan's
relationship develops into a romance. When Mary discovers the trip, she makes them all picket Larry and Lloyd's
house, carrying placards and shouting homophobic abuse. Megan and Graham sneak away one night to have sex and
begin to fall in love. When Mary finds out, Megan, now at ease with her sexual identity, is unrepentant. She is made
to leave True Directions and, now homeless, goes to stay with Larry and Lloyd. Graham, afraid to defy her father,
remains at the camp. Megan and Dolph, who is also living with Larry and Lloyd, plan to win back Graham and
Clayton.
Megan and Dolph infiltrate the True Directions graduation ceremony where Dolph easily coaxes Clayton away.
Megan entreats Graham to join them as well, but Graham nervously declines. Megan then performs a cheer for
Graham and tells her that she loves her, finally winning Graham over. They drive off with Dolph and Clayton. The
final scene of the film shows Megan's parents (Mink Stole and Bud Cort) attending a PFLAG meeting to come to
terms with their daughter's homosexuality.
Background and production
But I'm a Cheerleader was Babbit's first feature film.[2] She had previously directed two short films, Frog Crossing
(1996) and Sleeping Beauties (1999), both of which were shown at the Sundance Film Festival. She went on to direct
the 2005 thriller The Quiet and the 2007 comedy Itty Bitty Titty Committee. Babbit and Sperling (as producer)
secured financing from Michael Burns, then the vice president of Prudential Insurance (now Vice Chairman of Lions
Gate Entertainment) after showing him the script at Sundance.[2] [3] According to Babbit, their one-sentence pitch
was "Two high-school girls fall in love at a reparative therapy camp".[4] Burns gave them an initial budget of
US$500,000 which was increased to US$1 million when the film went into production.[3]
6
But I'm a Cheerleader
Conception
Babbit, whose mother runs a halfway house called New Directions for young people with drug and alcohol
problems, had wanted to make a comedy about rehabilitation and the 12-step program.[4] After reading an article
about a man who had returned from a reparative therapy camp hating himself, she decided to combine the two
ideas.[5] [3] With girlfriend Andrea Sperling, she came up with the idea for a feature film about a cheerleader who
attends a reparative therapy camp.[6] They wanted the main character to be a cheerleader because it is "...the pinnacle
of the American dream, and the American dream of femininity".[7] Babbit wanted the film to represent the lesbian
experience from the femme perspective to contrast with several films of the time that represented the butch
perspective (for example, Go Fish and The Watermelon Woman).[3] She also wanted to satirize both the religious
right and the gay community.[6] Not feeling qualified to write the script herself, Babbit brought in screenwriter and
recent graduate of USC School of Cinematic Arts Brian Wayne Peterson.[7] [6] Peterson had experience with
reparative therapy while working at a prison clinic for sex offenders.[4] He has said that he wanted to make a film
that would not only entertain people, but also make people get angry and talk about the issues it raised.[4]
Set and costume design
Babbit says that her influences for the look and feel of the film included John Waters, David LaChapelle, Edward
Scissorhands and Barbie.[6] She wanted the production and costume design to reflect the themes of the story. There
is a progression from the organic world of Megan's hometown, where the dominant colors are orange and brown, to
the fake world of True Directions, dominated by intense blues and pinks (which are intended to show the artificiality
of gender construction).[6] According to Babbit, the germaphobic character of Mary Brown represents AIDS
paranoia and her clean, ordered world is filled with plastic flowers, fake sky and PVC outfits.[6] The external shots of
the colorful house complete with a bright pink picket fence were filmed in Palmdale, California.[4]
Casting
Babbit recruited Clea DuVall, who had starred in her short film Sleeping Beauties to play the role of Graham Eaton.
Babbit says that she was able to get a lot of the cast through DuVall including Natasha Lyonne and Melanie
Lynskey.[2] Lyonne first saw the script in the back of DuVall's car and subsequently contacted her agent about it.[4]
She had seen and enjoyed Babbit's short Sleeping Beauties and was eager to work with the director.[8] She was not
the first choice for the role of Megan. An unnamed actress wanted to play the part but eventually turned it down
because of religious beliefs; she did not want her family to see her face on the poster.[2] Babbit briefly considered
Rosario Dawson as Megan but her executive producer persuaded her that Dawson, who is Hispanic, would not be
right for the All-American character.[6]
Babbit made a conscious effort to cast people of color for minor roles, in an effort to combat what she describes as
"racism at every level of making movies".[6] From the beginning she intended the characters of Mike (played by
RuPaul), Dolph (Dante Basco) and Andre (Douglas Spain) to be African American, Asian and Hispanic,
respectively. She initially considered Arsenio Hall for the character of Mike but says that Hall was uncomfortable
[7]
[9]
about playing a gay-themed role. As Mike, RuPaul makes a rare film appearance out of drag.
Themes
But I'm a Cheerleader is not only about sexuality, but also gender and the social construction of gender roles.[10] One
of the ways in which Babbit highlighted what she called the artificiality of gender construction was by using intense
blues and pinks in her production and costume design.[6] Chris Holmlund in Contemporary American Independent
Film notes this feature of the film and calls the costumes "gender-tuned".[11] Ted Gideonse in Out magazine wrote
that the costumes and colors of the film show how false the goals of True Directions are.[4]
7
But I'm a Cheerleader
Gender roles are further reinforced by the tasks the campers have to perform in "Step 2: Rediscovering Your Gender
Identity". Nikki Sullivan in A Critical Introduction to Queer Theory says that this rediscovery is shown to be
difficult and unsuccessful rather than the natural discovery of their latent heterosexuality.[10] Sullivan says that the
film not only highlights the ways in which gender and sexuality are constructed but also takes the norms and truths
about heteronormative society and renders them strange or "queer".[10] Holmlund says that Babbit makes the straight
characters less normal and less likable than the gay ones.[11] Sullivan says that this challenge of heteronormativity
makes But I'm a Cheerleader an exemplification of queer theory.[10]
Rating and distribution
When originally submitted to the Motion Picture Association of America rating board, But I'm a Cheerleader
received an NC-17 rating. In order to get a commercially-viable R rating, Babbit removed a two second shot of
Graham's hand sweeping Megan's clothed body, a camera pan up Megan's body when she is masturbating, and a
comment that Megan "ate Graham out" (slang for cunnilingus).[12] Babbit was interviewed by Kirby Dick for his
2006 documentary film This Film Is Not Yet Rated.[13] A critique of the MPAA's rating system, it suggests that films
with homosexual content are treated more stringently than those with only heterosexual content, and that scenes of
female sexuality draw harsher criticism from the board than those of male sexuality.[14] American Pie (also released
in 1999), which features a teenage boy masturbating, was given an R rating. Babbit says that she felt discriminated
against for making a gay film.[15] The film was rated as M (for mature audiences) in Australia and in New Zealand,
14A in Canada, 12 in Germany and 15 in the United Kingdom.
The film premiered on September 12, 1999 at the Toronto International Film Festival and was shown in January
2000 at the Sundance Film Festival. It went on to play at several international film festivals including the Sydney
Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival and the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. It first appeared in U.S.
theaters on July 7, 2000, distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment.[16] Fine Line Features had intended to distribute
the film but dropped it two months before it was due to open following a dispute with the film's production company,
Ignite Entertainment.[6] [17] It closed after 8 weeks, with its widest release having been 115 theaters.[16]
The film was released on Region 1 DVD by Lions Gate on July 22, 2002 and by Universal Studios on October 3,
2002.[18] Other than the theatrical trailer, it contains no extras.[19] It was released on Region 2 DVD on June 2, 2003
by Prism Leisure. In addition to the trailer, it features an interview with Jamie Babbit and behind the scenes
footage.[20]
Reception
Box office and audience reaction
But I'm a Cheerleader grossed US$2,205,627 in the United States and US$389,589 elsewhere, giving a total of
US$2,595,216 worldwide. In its opening weekend, showing at four theaters, it earned $60,410 which was 2.7% of its
total gross.[16] According to Box Office Mojo, it ranked at 174 for all films released in the US in 2000 and 74 for
R-rated films released that year.[16] As of December 2011, its all time box-office ranking for LGBT-related films is
73.[21]
The film was a hit with festival audiences and received standing ovations at the San Francisco International Lesbian
and Gay Film Festival.[7] [22] It has been described as a favorite with gay audiences and on the art house circuit.[23]
[24]
8
But I'm a Cheerleader
Critical
Critical response to But I'm a Cheerleader was mostly negative. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a score of 35% based on 43
reviews,[25] and Metacritic gave it a score of 39% based on 30 reviews.[26] The overall theme of reviews is that it is a
heartfelt film with good intentions, but that it is flawed.[27] [28] [29] Some reviewers found it funny and enjoyable
with "genuine laughs".[30] [31] Roger Ebert called it the type of film that "might eventually become a regular on the
midnight cult circuit."[28] Others found it obvious, leaden and heavy handed.[27] [32]
Writing for The New York Times, Elvis Mitchell described the character of Megan as a sweet heroine and Lyonne
and DuVall were praised for their performances.[32] [33] Mick LaSalle called Lyonne wonderful and said that she was
well matched by DuVall.[30] Marjorie Baumgarten said that they "hit the right notes".[31] Alexandra Mendenhall,
writing for AfterEllen.com felt that the relationship between Graham and Megan, having great chemistry, does not
get enough screen time.[34] Mitchell called their love scenes "tender".[32] Other characters, particularly the males,
were described as "offputting" and "nothing but stereotypes".[32] [33]
Several reviewers compared the film to those of director John Waters but felt that it fell short of the mark.[33]
Stephanie Zacharek called it a "Waters knockoff"[27] while Ebert said that Waters might have been ruder and more
polished.[28] Babbit says that although Waters is one of her influences, she did not want her film to have the "bite" of
his.[6] She states that whereas John Waters does not like romantic comedies, she wanted to tell a conventionally
romantic story.[6] The production design, which was important to the overall look and feel of the film,[3] drew mixed
responses. LaSalle described it as clever and eyecatching and James Berardinelli called it a standout feature.[29] [30]
Others found it to be gaudy, dated, cartoonish and ghastly.[6] [27]
Stephanie Zacharek, writing for Salon.com said that with regard to issues of sexual orientation and homophobia,
Babbit is preaching to the converted.[27] Cynthia Fuchs, for NitrateOnline.com, agreed, stating that "no one who is
phobic might recognize himself in the film" and that "the audience who might benefit most from watching it either
won't see the film or won't see the point".[35] David Edelstein said that the one sidedness of the film creates a lack of
dramatic tension and calls it lazy counterpropaganda.[36] In contrast, LaSalle said that "the picture manages to make
a heartfelt statement about the difficulties of growing up gay" and Timothy Shary said that the film openly
challenges homophobia and offers support to teenaged gay viewers.[30] [37] Chris Holmlund said that the film shows
that queer identity is multi-faceted, using as an example the scene where the ex-ex-gays tell Megan that there is no
one way to be a lesbian.[11]
Reviews from the gay media were similar to those from the mainstream press. Jan Stuart, writing for The Advocate,
said that although the film tries to subvert gay stereotypes, it is unsuccessful. She called it numbingly crude and said
that the kitsch portrait of Middle America is out of touch with today's gay teenagers.[38] Mendenhall for
AfterEllen.com called the story predictable and the characters stereotypical. Despite these comments she said that
overall the film was funny and enjoyable.[34] Curve called the film an incredible comedy and said that with this and
her other work, Babbit has redefined lesbian film.[39]
Awards
The film won the Audience Award and the Graine de Cinéphage Award at the 2000 Créteil International Women's
Film Festival, an annual French festival which showcases the work of female directors.[40] Also that year it was
nominated by the Political Film Society of America for the PFS award in the categories of Human Rights and
Exposé, but lost out to The Green Mile and Boys Don't Cry respectively.[41]
Music
The composer for But I'm a Cheerleader was Pat Irwin. The soundtrack has never been released on CD. Artists
featured include indie acts Saint Etienne, Dressy Bessy and April March.[42] RuPaul contributed one track, "Party
Train," which Eddie Cibrian's character Rock is shown dancing to.
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But I'm a Cheerleader
Track listing
1. "Chick Habit (Laisse tomber les filles)" (Elinor Blake, Serge Gainsbourg) performed by April March
2. "Just Like Henry" (Tammy Ealom, John Hill, Rob Greene, Darren Albert) performed by Dressy Bessy
3. "If You Should Try and Kiss Her" (Ealom, Hill, Greene, Albert) performed by Dressy Bessy
4. "Trailer Song" (Courtney Holt, Joy Ray) performed by Sissy Bar
5. "All or Nothing" (Cris Owen, Miisa) performed by Miisa
6. "We're in the City" (Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs) performed by Saint Etienne
7. "The Swisher" (Dave Moss, Ian Rich) performed by Summer's Eve
8. "Funnel of Love" (Kent Westbury, Charlie McCoy) performed by Wanda Jackson
9. "Ray of Sunshine" (Go Sailor) performed by Go Sailor
10. "Glass Vase Cello Case" (Madigan Shive, Jen Wood) performed by Tattle Tale
11. "Party Train" (RuPaul) performed by RuPaul
12. "Evening in Paris" (Lois Maffeo) performed by Lois Maffeo
13. "Together Forever in Love" (Go Sailor) performed by Go Sailor
Adaptations
In 2005 the New York Musical Theatre Festival featured a musical stage adaptation of But I'm a Cheerleader written
by librettist and lyricist Bill Augustin and composer Andrew Abrams. With 18 original songs, it was directed by
Daniel Goldstein and starred Chandra Lee Schwartz as Megan. It played during September 2005 at New York's
Theatre at St. Clement's.[43]
References
Notes
[1] In A Critical Introduction to Queer Theory, Nikki Sullivan calls Rock "overtly homosexual" and says that Mary's desire to cure her son of
homosexuality is the inspiration for the True Directions program. (According to the films backstory, she started True Directions after her
husband left her for another man.)
[2] Warn, Sarah (June 2004), "Interview with Jamie Babbit" (http:/ / www. afterellen. com/ archive/ ellen/ People/ interviews/ 62004/
jamiebabbit. html), AfterEllen.com (Logo), , retrieved April 22, 2007
[3] Dixon, Wheeler Winston
[4] Gideonse, Ted (July 2000), "The New Girls Of Summer" (http:/ / books. google. com/ ?id=oWIEAAAAMBAJ& lpg=PP1& dq=out&
pg=PP1#v=onepage& q& f=false), Out (Here Media): pp. 54–61,
[5] Stukin, Stacie (July 4, 2000), "But She's Serious" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20071224004310/ http:/ / findarticles. com/ p/ articles/
mi_m1589/ is_2000_July_4/ ai_63059697), The Advocate (Here Media), archived from the original (http:/ / findarticles. com/ p/ articles/
mi_m1589/ is_2000_July_4/ ai_63059697) on July 4, 2000,
[6] Fuchs, Cynthia (July 21, 2000), "So Many Battles to Fight — Interview with Jamie Babbit" (http:/ / www. nitrateonline. com/ 2000/
fcheerleader. html), Nitrate Online (Nitrate Productions), , retrieved March 25, 2011
[7] Grady, Pam, "Rah Rah Rah: Director Jamie Babbit and Company Root for But I'm a Cheerleader" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/
20050306182317/ www. reel. com/ reel. asp?node=features/ interviews/ cheerleader), Reel.com (Hollywood Management Company),
archived from the original (http:/ / www. reel. com/ reel. asp?node=features/ interviews/ cheerleader) on May 10, 2007, , retrieved March 11,
2010
[8] Judd, Daniel (October 4, 2000), "Interviews — Jamie Babbit" (http:/ / replay. waybackmachine. org/ 20070927223954/ http:/ / www.
rainbownetwork. com/ Film/ detail. asp?iData=9110& iChannel=14& nChannel=Film), RainbowNetwork.com, , retrieved August 13, 2007
[9] Fine, Marshall, "Ladies' Man: An Interview with Superdiva RuPaul" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20071017180115rn_1/ www. drdrew.
com/ DrewLive/ article. asp?id=908), DrDrew.com, archived from the original (http:/ / www. drdrew. com/ DrewLive/ article. asp?id=908) on
October 17, 2007, , retrieved March 7, 2010
[10] Sullivan, Nikki, pp. 52–56
[11] Holmlund, Chris, pp. 183–187
[12] Taubin, A. (August 3, 1999), "Erasure Police", The Village Voice (Village Voice Media): p. 57
[13] Dick, Kirby (director) (2006). This Film Is Not Yet Rated (Motion picture (DVD)). New York, NY: IFC Films.
[14] Carlson, Daniel (2006), "Muscles and Boobies and Wieners, Oh No" (http:/ / www. pajiba. com/ film_reviews/ this-film-is-not-yet-rated.
php), Pajiba.com, , retrieved June 2, 2007
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