I'm much more of a lurker both here and at The Hairpin, but I figured I'd put my 2 cents in about this anyways.
I always really loved Emma's writing and voice, and really wished she had put more of that out there- I think the commenters were pretty hostile to her as she was gaining her sea legs, and wayyy less so towards Jia, who then became more of the day-to-day voice. I think Emma was doomed to be not "the best fit" simply by not being Edith, which is why though I'm sad she's leaving, it's probably good for her. She's clearly a great editor- The Hairpin might have lost its commenters to The Toast, but luckily there's enough great writing on the internet for more than one site, and she's ace at picking the good stuff.

I used to be very interested in Musical Theatre, and now I like it but am not obsessed with it (change in friend group, mostly- still love shows, just don't have people to spend a lot of time talking to about it anymore...) but nothing makes me more angry than the embarrassment I feel when I talk about how much I loved seeing Legally Blonde: The Musical live, and how great a soundtrack it is. So many of those songs still make me so happy! I love them, and I love hearing them. pisses me the hell off when I mention that it was great and then have to follow up with "really! I swear!" and sometimes feel the need to add "I mean I know it's silly..." But it isn't silly! It's great and empowering and fun, not trivial, and musical theatre isn't bad just because women really like it. Neither are romcoms. And I hate that people make me feel like I should apologize for liking a musical because it is, essentially, "too female."
UGH anyways the point is, you are all my people, thank you for being here and fighting the good fight against legally blonde haters.

This is perfect and all 15 of your feelings on the Hairpin are perfect, write more things please Jess ZImmerman.