Thursday, May 31, 2018

'Boys' Night Out


Scroll through these photos (at the bottom) for a look at the big party last night for the Broadway premiere of "Boys in the Band." I was lucky enough to see a preview performance last weekend and can't say enough about it. People frequently dismiss the play -- about a group of gay friends gathering for a birthday -- as being "too depressing" and "too negative" for portraying guys who are often self-loathing and bitchy to one another. But while I understand these concerns -- back when you only had one or two high-profile projects representing your "community" and it's not particularly flattering, it's easy to be defensive -- I've always appreciated and respected writer Mart Crowley's honesty and transparency shown with these characters. No, they don't -- and didn't in 1968 -- represent all gay men. But I can't help but think these ladies doth protest too much because they see themselves and their friends in these depictions. (I think less is more with reviews. But if you like to know more details about the plot, there's a more elaborate review HERE.)


In fact, I was almost embarrassed to admit how much of the play still resonates with the gay community I know today -- especially couples navigating monogamy and single guys being honest with themselves about why they're single. My only quibble would be that the beautiful set of Michael's apartment looked a lot more like Liza's pad circa 1977 -- I could have sworn I saw Halston lurking in the background near the chrome and glass bar -- than 1968, and the styling of the men didn't exactly scream late '60s, either. (Andrew Rannells, who is hilarious but was essentially playing Elijah from "Girls," was dressed in white jeans that made him look straight out the mid-'90s.) But then I asked myself: Was obfuscating the era an intentional decision to bolster the (for better or worse) evergreen nature of the material? Methinks maybe yes.


Afterward, my friend Tim and I each wrote down the man we most wanted to f**k in the cast. We both picked Tuc Watkins, who is a standout as the bisexual-ish Hank. 


Go inside the party HERE.

Remains of the Day (05/31)


Facebook: Join my pal A.E. Kieren for a special "drink and draw" event with Broadway Bares this Sunday at Club Cumming

Twitter: This is Kyle Edmund freezing his balls off

NewNowNext: Pentagon sued for discriminating against people with HIV

Washington Blade: Will D.C. decriminalize prostitution?

CBS: Illinois approves Equal Rights Amendment 45 years after Congress approved it

The Daily News: Tom Arnold thinks Roseanne Barr wanted her show to get canceled


Boy Culture: A review of "The Fabulous Allan Carr," a documentary I am DYING to see!

New York Post: Hawaii man pulls gun on neighbor checking on lava-threatened home (aka Welcome to America!)

YouTube: Dominic Thiem brings flair to the frame game and French Open

The Advocate: Lawyer who hates Muslims, gay people says he’s fit to be judge

Back2Stonewall: NRA spokeswoman calls Parkland students extortionists over Publix protest

The Randy Report: Andrew Christian's new trophy boy is hot


Towleroad: Crazy Donald says he'll pardon conservative conspiracy theorist Dinesh D'Souza, who was convicted of violating campaign finance laws; also considers pardoning Martha Stewart and freeing Rod Blagojevich

Dlisted: Serena Williams defended herself against anyone who didn't like her black catsuit

It's Either Sadness or Euphoria: "Did it take a mythological deformity to find a gorgeous man who was as needy as I was?"

Matthew's Island of Misfit Toys: A little steroidy -- and a lot hot

OMG Blog: Michael Moore teases new project that deals with Trump and Roseanne

The New York Times: From transgender activist to runway model


'Parallel Lines' Named the Best of Blondie in New Readers' Poll


Thank you to everyone who weighed in last week on your favorite Blondie album. Albumism just released the results, and here they are! I was heartened that my pick, "Plastic Letters," is such a fan favorite. And wasn't surprised that "Eat to the Beat" ranked so high after seeing how my Facebook friends felt about it. That "Pollinator" is regarded the best of the second-generation albums doesn't surprise me either -- it was universally loved when it came out last year -- but that it ranked higher than "AutoAmerican" and the debut did catch me off-guard. I don't give the later albums nearly as much thought as I do the originals. But if you had casually asked me which one is the best before this poll, I'd have probably said "Panic of Girls," which ironically ranked dead last. (What do I know?)


#1 | Parallel Lines | 1978 | 674 votes (31% of total)


#2 | Eat to the Beat | 1979 | 584 votes (27% of total)


#3 | Plastic Letters | 1978 | 317 votes (15% of total)


#4 | Pollinator | 2017 | 192 votes (9% of total)


#5 | Autoamerican | 1980 | 158 votes (7% of total)


#6 | Blondie | 1976 | 105 votes (5% of total)


#7 | No Exit | 1999 | 61 votes (3% of total)


#8 | The Hunter | 1982 | 39 votes (2% of total)


#9 | The Curse of Blondie | 2003 | 24 votes (1% of total)


#10 | Ghosts of Download | 2014 | 13 votes (less than 1% of total)


#11 | Panic of Girls | 2011 | 8 votes (less than 1% of total)

Song of the Day: 'A Shark in Jets Clothing' by Blondie


This one's from Blondie's debut, which my friend Chip ranks as his No. 1 album by the band.



UPDATE: For those who voted in the poll over at Albumism, the results are in!

Page 1 Roundup (05/31)
























Morning Wood


Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Hey, Mr. DJ


Roseanne Barr's TV son, Michael Fishman, put out a heartfelt statement about the controversy, to which his TV mom -- whose promised "exit" from Twitter lasted about as long as her contrition -- could not resist bitterly replying.


From HERE.




Somebody get this woman into celebrity detox, stat.


Follow along HERE.

Remains of the Day (05/30)


Back2Stonewall: Watch footage of Fire Island in the 1980s

UnPresidented (podcast): Roseanne Barred

The Gay Almanac: Remembering legendary transgender pioneer Christine Jorgensen, who was born on this day in 1926

BosGuy: Sometimes it is the guys you want to be wearing Speedos at the beach

Dlisted: Ted McGinley -- whose frosted hair and Pepsodent smile were so hot he was added to every show back in the day -- is 60 today

Beantown Cuban: Sending my love to the Diaz family, whose patriarch, "Juanito," died Wednesday at 84


Die Alone With Me: I'm ready to move to Long Beach after seeing the boys in its parade

Greg in Hollywood: Sean Hayes guest hosts "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" ... and yes, he does dance!

YouTube: How to tell when a straight man thinks a guy is hot

Page Six: Brigitte Nielsen pregnant at 54

Boy Culture: Gay, Madonna-themed book rejected for having no audience gets six-figure movie deal

Deep Dish: I want him for my birthday


The Daily New: Raving attacker spits on woman, pounds husband's face during their anniversary celebration in Midtown

Independent: George Soros responds to Roseanne Barr's false claim that he is a "Nazi"

Towleroad: Genderqueer student brilliantly trolls Betsy DeVos with transgender pride cape

The New York Times: He has fans, fame and an acclaimed "Brokeback Mountain" opera -- so why is Charles Wuorinen so cranky?

Daily Intel: Trump responds to Roseanne saga by whining about his own treatment by ABC

OMG Blog: Actor Axel Giudicelli goes full frontal in "Je Ne Suis Pas un Cygne"


Hot Cat of the Day: Gotta try to meet Pawfficer Donut next time I'm in Detroit!

Wrestle Wednesday


If you've got it, FLAUNT IT.

Song of the Day: 'Africa' by Weezer


You can thank a very determined 14-year-old girl named Mary for this preposterous confection! 

Page 1 Roundup (05/30)


















Morning Wood


Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Donald Trump Jr. Retweets Roseanne Barr's Discredited George Soros Claims


A huge percentage of white people -- particularly of a certain age -- will never *recover* from a black man being elected president. Some send racist tweets, others launch birther movements and political careers. It pains me to admit this, but it’s a scourge from which I no longer have faith I will live to see us recover. (Donald Jr. was born in the LATE '70s.)


Read HERE.

Remains of the Day (05/29)


The Daily News: Stripper defends NYPD cops who posed with him in viral photo after Mother's Day performance at senior center

Towleroad: Beefy pro wrestler has birthday surprise for his sexy boyfriend

SF Chronicle: Linda Ronstadt back in public eye, and it’s not so easy

The Randy Report: Denver man held in stabbing of gay couple who were holding hands

Page Six: Caitlyn Jenner is said to be skipping Brody "I'm looking hotter than ever" Jenner’s wedding despite invite

HuffPost: Woman says fecal transplant saved her life


Save the Factory: 40 years ago this month, Carol Taylor Dipietro and Scott Forbes made happen the first lesbian and gay night at any amusement park

New York Post: What a shock: hunky guy on "The Bachelorette" is a horrible person

Deadline: Talent agency ICM Partners drops Roseanne Barr





The Associated Press: Tennis great Boris Becker and model wife split

The AIDS Memorial: "Blond Ambition" dancer Salim Gauwloos on being gay and living with HIV for 30 years

Baseline: Serena Williams wins Roland Garros opener in black catsuit

Curbed: All across NYC, the ghosts of old neighborhoods -- demolished to make way for newer and flashier developments -- can be found

Dlisted: Chord Overstreet is hotter than ever -- and suddenly single

Gothamist: Ask a Native New Yorker tackles the question if people should wear flip-flops in NYC (my answer: NO)


Hot Cat of the Day: Cat has good taste!