Thursday, June 30, 2016

Death of a Male Model


RIP. Jorge Ilich reportedly committed suicide in Miami. Read HERE.

Turning of the Tide


Speaking of people insisting there isn't much light between the Republican and Democratic parties. Take a look at this New York Times article Gay Marriage, a Year Later. It features my friends Scott and Daniel and look what Scott said!
Mr. Prendergast: My husband’s parents are immigrants from Korea. They were a bit hesitant and frightened by the idea of a big public wedding. They wanted us to keep the whole thing more private, discreet. It was very helpful to have the actual president of the United States on television saying this was a good thing. The tidal wave of news and social media posts about gay marriage gave us some legitimacy at the exact right moment.  
We got married three months after the Supreme Court ruling. The parents had a great time at the wedding. In the end, I think they wished they had invited more family. And despite their initial requests for discretion, the national public embrace maybe made it easier for them to tell family back in Korea.

Pizza Smackdown: Detroit vs. New York City


The Detroit Free Press didn't take too kindly to the recent New York Post op-ed about the new Detroit pizza joint out in Brooklyn called Emmy Squared that described it as "the new hipster horror." Damian and I went and thought the pizza was divine, despite the fact that there's nary a mention of the Motor City elsewhere in the joint, much less on the menu. (No Faygo Red Pop, no Vernor's, no Sanders desserts!) The Lou-Wow (sauce, mozzarella, spicy pineapple and ham) was absolutely to-die-for, and the Deluxe (sauce, mozzarella, sausage, peppers, mushrooms) was great, too. If you're not familiar with Detroit pizza -- a kinder piece in The Post described it pretty well -- Emmy Squared is definitely a good place to get indoctrinated. Let's hope the joint lasts longer than Motor City, the Lower East Side watering hole that really was just like being on 8 Mile minus the bullet in the head! 


He's Ready to Blow!


I wonder if Mom knows Dad is on Scruff ...

Transgender People Will Be Allowed to Serve Openly in Military


just become enraged when people -- especially LGBT friends -- say there is barely any light between the Republican and Democratic parties. Do you really think any of this would be possible under Presidents McCain or Romney? 

Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter on Thursday removed one of the final barriers to military service by lifting the Pentagon’s ban on transgender people serving openly in the armed forces. The decision pushes forward a transformation of the military that Mr. Carter has accelerated in the last year with the opening of all combat roles to women and the appointment of the first openly gay Army secretary. He made his feelings on ending the transgender ban clear last year, when he called it outdated and ordered officials across the military to begin examining what would need to be done to lift the prohibition.

Training With a Savage


So you're telling me you just have to watch this video to get a body like THAT? (Walter Savage is lucky I didn't jump him when I saw him on the F train!)


Song of the Day: 'Tarzan Boy' by Baltimora


Because every day is a little brighter with a little Baltimore in it. Singer Jimmy McShane was diagnosed with AIDS in 1994 and returned to his native Northern Ireland where he died the following year at age 37.

Morning Wood


Page 1 Roundup (06/30)


Morning Sickness: I can't think of a rumored couple in whom I have less interest than Mika and Joe ...


The 1 Percenters: I'm surprised so many black people like Trump ...


Facebook, a News Giant That Would Rather Show Us Baby Pictures ...


Do-it-yourself painting fad puts couples in a ticklish spot ...

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

A Tribute to the Orlando 49


Ryan Murphy has directed a Human Rights Campaign-themed video featuring 49 stars describing the victims of the Orlando mass shooting. The names include Jane Fonda, Lady Gaga, Gerard Butler, Sofia Vergara, Chris Pine, Matt Bomer (pictured above) and many more. It's a moving tribute you can watch HERE.

Ted Cruz Lover Caitlyn Jenner Thinks Donald Trump 'Seems Very Much Behind the LGBT Community'


The gold medal winner proves that once a dumb jock, always a dumb jock. Read HERE.

Kim Wilde on Meeting 'Massive Idol' Debbie Harry


Blondie is a band -- but Kim Wilde is a person?

This story made me smile, especially when recalling how annoyed Debbie was when she felt people like Kim were co-opting Blondie's style.
I got very star struck when I bumped in Debbie Harry a few years ago. I’d never met her before and she was a massive idol of mine, so I was a bit overwhelmed. I didn’t know what to say, she had to calm me down. I’d just come off stage and I bumped into her and went, “Oh my god, it’s you!” She could see I was completely overwhelmed, she obviously has a lot of people react to her that way, so she said, “Go on Kim, calm down. You look like you need to calm down a little bit.” She was right, I did need to calm down a little bit; I’d just come off stage and bumped into Debbie Harry. It was just an overwhelming moment. I recently went to see Elvis Costello, because I was a massive Elvis Costello fan back in the eighties, bought all his albums, and somehow ended up talking to him via email through a bizarre chain of events, and ended up seeing him on his new Detour tour, and went back to say hi to him afterwards. I felt as star struck all these years later as I did when I met him back in the eighties. It’s quite a funny thing when you meet an idol. I’m always very respectful of it when people get like that around me, because I know I’m the same way around my idols and I don’t think it’s silly or stupid. I understand how it works and it’s the same for me too, so we’re all the same, really.

Church of the Poison Mind


"I can't believe this cult I joined is trying to brainwash and control me." 

Celebrating 'De Palma'


Receiving a news release about the 40th anniversary DVD of "Carrie" reminded me to mention that Damian and I saw the Brian De Palma documentary -- cleverly titled "De Palma" -- a couple weekends ago. We kind of went on a lark -- it was a hundred degrees out and about a hundred years since I saw a Brian De Palma film I liked -- but our recent fascination with Alfred Hitchcock lured us into the cool dark theater. While I didn't even realize he was the hired gun behind "The Untouchables" and "Mission Impossible," his real work ("Dressed to Kill" and "Blow Out") has stayed with me since I was a boy sneaking to watch movies late at night on HBO. I remember my brother Bill liking "Body Double" too, so we immediately went home and watched that, which I agree is the missing part of the classic De Palma trilogy. The stuff about "Casualties of War" will make you laugh -- Sean Penn is a bigger lunatic than you've even heard, and you'll really feel old when you hear someone say the words "The film only got made because Michael J. Fox was attached to it" -- and there's a little too much deference to his later works. (Sometimes things don't deserve "equal time.") But all in all, "De Palma" is a must-watch for movie buffs that will leave you wondering why "Blow Out" isn't available to rent/stream online anywhere! 


 In 1976, Carrie, the "absolutely spellbinding horror movie" (Roger Ebert) directed by Brian DePalma (ScarfaceThe UntouchablesDressed to Kill) and based on the best-selling Stephen King novel, premiered in theaters, forever changing the landscape of horror films, and launching much of its outstanding cast into stardom. On October 11, 2016, the SCREAM FACTORY™ home entertainment brand celebrates the 40th anniversary of the film with a 2-disc Collector's Edition Blu-ray release which includes a brand new 4K scan of the film and nearly 3 hours of bonus material.

Special features:
  • NEW 4K Scan Of The Original Negative
  • NEW interviews with writer Laurence D. Cohen, editor Paul Hirsch, actors Piper Laurie, P.J. Soles, Nancy Allen, Betty Buckley, William Katt, Edie McClurg, casting director Harriet B. Helberg and director of photography Mario Tosi
  • NEW Horror's Hallowed Grounds - Revisiting The Film's Original Locations
  • Acting Carrie - InterviewsWith Actors Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, Betty Buckley, Nancy Allen, William Katt, Piper Laurie, Priscilla Pointer and P.J. Soles And Art Director Jack Fisk And Director Brian De Palma
  • Visualizing Carrie - Interviews With Brian De Palma, Jack Fisk, Lawrence D. Cohen, Paul Hirsch
  • A Look At "Carrie: The Musical"
  • Original Theatrical Trailer
  • Carrie Franchise Trailer Gallery 
  • TV Spots
  • Radio Spots
  • Still Gallery - Rare Behind-The-Scenes Photos
  • Stephen King And The Evolution Of Carrie Text Gallery

Who's Your Daddy?


"Catfish" expert Nev Schulman revealed on Twitter yesterday that he's going to be a father. Not sure who is actually carrying the child. But my guess who he likes to "impregnate" most HERE.

Stop! In the Name of Justice


I'm a huge fan of their work. Available HERE.

Divided Kingdom


I think it's time these nitwit Brits give Ireland back the rest of its country. 

Song of the Day: 'Honey (Touch Me With My Clothes On)' by Gilda Radner


Yesterday would have been the incomparable Gilda Radner's 70th birthday. (How is that even possible?) The Broadway audience didn't know what to make of this when she performed it to close out "Gilda Live." The title hinted it was meant to be funny, but the lyrics were heart-breakingly sweet. This one gets me every time. 

Morning Wood


Page 1 Roundup (06/29)


I'm assuming this was the work of Christian radicals because as all of my oh-so-enlightened Facebook friends constantly remind me, they kill way more often than Muslim terrorists.


Death toll hits 41 in Istanbul airport attack ...





Tuesday, June 28, 2016

NYC Plans Permanent Memorial to Orlando Victims, LGBT People Targeted by Hate


I can't tell you how much it heals my soul to hear my president include people like me in the State of the Union, see a presidential nominee marching in my people's parade or see my governor plan to pay respect to people like me who were victims for being like me. Read HERE.

New Balls, Please


If you're gonna scale the net like that, shouldn't you be wearing a JOCKSTRAP or something? 




Children of the '70s Rejoice


I heard there was a new "Match Game." But no one told me about the "$100,000 Pyramid" reboot -- my favorite game to plan when home with the family -- and naturally Rosie O'Donnell is on both! Compare and contrast HERE.



'They Won't Be Happy Until This Whole Island Is One Big Duane Reade With a Starbucks Inside'


Jeremiah's Vanishing New York reports that “The Holdouts” is a comedy series about New Yorkers who can’t afford to live in the new New York. Co-created by Stephen Girasuolo and Dan Menke, it stars Kevin Corrigan as Kevin Shanahan, a rent-controlled tenant who refuses his landlord's buyout as he bemoans the hyper-gentrification of the city: “They won’t be happy until this whole island is one big Duane Reade with a Starbucks inside and an IHOP inside that and a Bank of America inside that.” Learn more about this poignant and timely creation HERE ...


or consider making a donation to its Kickstarter HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Lady Bump' by Penny McLean


Does anyone remember this million-seller from 1975?

Morning Wood


Page 1 Roundup (06/28)


You're slipping, New York Post ... this was obviously your lede story!




Iceland adds more misery to England with stunning victory days after Brexit vote ...


Why a Clinton-Warren ticket probably won't happen ...


Texas Soldiers Fight for Right to Bare Arms ...

Monday, June 27, 2016

Celebrating New York City's LGBT Pride


Took a break from Gay Pride partying this year, only swinging by the Village to see the newly anointed National State Park designation on the Stonewall Inn and Christopher Park -- aka the Stonewall National Monument -- then barely catching the tail end of the parade nestled away from the action on Waverly Place.


Was overjoyed to see Hillary Clinton was "with us" as much as I'm with her. 


And was tickled to see the lesbian couple who posed for one of the famous Stonewall Inn sculptures in the park found out about the bar's historic designation from a reporter! 


Watch HERE


I also made the acquaintance of my friend Chad's artsy pal (Anthony) A.E. Kieren, who was hired by Julius' to sketch pride revelers ...


It's not easy being green ...

Cast of 'Looking' Looks Back


Broadway World caught up with the cast of HBO's "Looking: The Movie" at world premiere at the Castro Theatre. Jonathan Groff, who plays the lovelorn Patrick, had this to say about following up an already canceled series: "It was very meta for all of us. Coming back to shoot the movie was like coming back to say goodbye to our characters and San Francisco. But when I read the script, I thought: 'Omigod, that's the perfect ending!'" Read more HERE.


Did you know in real life Lauren Weedman hired a hot (teenage) babysitter and her husband slept with her? Read HERE.




More photos HERE.