Sitting down with TV Confidential for a two-part interview was like stepping into a time machine, taking Erica Gavin back to the wild ride that was Vixen! (1968). Hosted by Ed Robertson and guest co-host Chuck Harter, they dug into everything—how Vixen! shook up independent cinema, the taboos Russ Meyer tackled head-on (nymphomania, racism, communism, draft dodging, lesbianism, even incest), and the censorship battles that followed. With one of the first-ever X ratings and twenty-three obscenity prosecutions, the film became a lightning rod for controversy, but that only made it more unstoppable. Meyer had a vision, unapologetic and ahead of its time, and somehow, Erica was right in the middle of it all.
In part two, Erica shared the moments that really stuck with her—like butting heads with Russ over the now-famous “lesbian scene” with Vincene Wallace. Meyer had his way of doing things, but Erica fought for what felt right, and in the end, they found a solution that worked. She also recalled meeting Roger Ebert for the first time while promoting Vixen!—none of them knew then that he’d go on to write Beyond the Valley of the Dolls for Meyer. And then there’s the final shot of Vixen!—Erica convinced Russ to let her break the fourth wall, a risky move he almost never allowed. But when he saw it on screen, he knew it worked. That was the magic of working with him—he was strict, but when something clicked, he ran with it.
The full two-part interview with Erica Gavin is available for free on demand, wherever you get your podcasts. Just CLICK HERE or search for TV Confidential Show Nos. 676 and 677 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite streaming platform. Don’t miss this deep dive into Vixen!, Russ Meyer, and all the behind-the-scenes stories!
