Happy Thanksgiving

From my family to yours. xo 

(Top: My maternal grandmother, Annamarie, and my mom's cousin Susan, 1958; below: my little sister, Jennifer, and my mom in 1989.) 

Good Going, Stranger

Just now seeing this incredible photo of Madonna in front of Manic Panic -- the first punk boutique in the U.S. -- on St. Marks Place in the East Village, while filming "Desperately Seeking Susan" in 1984. Photo by Andy Schwartz.

Read an interview with Tish and Snooky -- onetime Blondie (and the Bonzai Babies) backup singers and Manic Panic proprietors -- HERE.

Tennis Tuesday: Alejandro Moro Cañas

You'd be hard-pressed to find a sexier guy in tennis than 23-year-old Spaniard Alejandro Moro Cañas. More hard proof BELOW.

A Tri-state Thanksgiving

I'm off this week, although we ended up scrapping our plans to visit my colorful family in Arizona for Thanksgiving. Instead we're going to my sister-in-law's house in Madison, N.J., for dinner before heading out to Westport, Conn., for a long weekend where I'm hoping some time away -- reading, enjoying the Long Island Sound and exploring my grandmother’s old neighborhood -- will be good for the soul. xo

Follows always appreciated on Instagram, Threads and now Bluesky.

Weekend Tennis Roundup

The year ended on an incredibly high note for Italy, with the men and women taking home the Davis and Billie Jean King cups, respectively. Full report plus all the ATP beef that's fit to post BELOW.

When Rodolfo Met Mimi

 

What a thrill to experience "La bohème" at the Metropolitan Opera, something I've dreamed of since seeing Loretta reduced to tears after agreeing to go with Ronny in "Moonstruck" nearly 40 years ago. A friend says the "Zeffirelli production is just unbelievable. I hope they never replace it" -- and I'm in no position to disagree. 

Next up: "Aida" on New Year's Eve!

Lincoln Center 

Dmytro Popov

Ailyn Perez

My dapper main squeeze 

Afterward, the cast stayed for a discussion about the show and Franco Zeffirelli’s glorious sets. 

You Are Safe Here

 

Editor's note: Because some of you have asked -- and I probably should have already said something -- just wanted to mention that I'll be steering clear of any news from the, um, "executive" branch for the foreseeable future. There are plenty of other great places for that kind of stuff, so I'm opting to focus on the things that do make me happy -- tennis, travel, music, men, film, television, concerts -- and I hope you enjoy the respite, too.

Remains of the Day (11/22)

CN: As far as deranged assailants go, I could do worse

THR: How low must your IQ be to go after Ron Livingston because his Berger character broke up with Carrie Bradshaw on a Post-It? 

Instinct: Hunky Chris Appleton candidly shares coming out story

Deadline: "So Help Me Todd" creator Scott Prendergast sets light procedural "Pennies" at Fox 

Saturday 'Stache: Did somebody say blond and built?

Queerty: There's hope that comedian Anthony Jeselnik is at the very least bisexual 

IG: I think Adrienne Iapalucci meant to say "nonbinary" ... even though it's definitely not a fad (ICYMI)

Meme Spirited: Does the way you sit reveal your sexual-position preference?

The Randy Report: Further proof that this country's justice system is hanging on by a thread

Boy Culture: Jonathan Bailey's "Bridgerton" butt and beyond

Programming Insider: On this day in 1975 CBS aired the classic “Bob Newhart Show" episode where Bob and his friends get together on Thanksgiving and, while drunk, try to order “moo goo gai pan"

People: Mark Consuelos goes nearly naked in Stuart Weitzman campaign 

Greg in Hollywood: Wishing Billie Jean King a happy 81st birthday

MetroWeekly: Crowd cheers as trans women beaten in Minneapolis

Speedo Sunday: Feast your eyes on Bryce Chapman in a sporty little number

Hot Cats of the Day: This is how Damian and I like to sleep with Harvey

Song of the Day: Al Green covers R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts"

Charge.org: Hear! Hear! There's already a petition to bring back HBO's "Somebody Somewhere," which is one hell of a series

Have you joined BLUESKY yet?

On the Rag, Vol. 835

Ooh la la, Gilles!; Miami's got the "Urge"; gearing up for World AIDS Day; and more in this week's rag 'n' mag roundup BELOW.

Puddin' Out

I've always been a class act.

Follow HERE and HERE.

Remains of the Day (11/20)

 

The Caftan Chronicles: A must-read for anybody considering steroids or testosterone-replacement therapy

People: Bravo to Rebecca Hall, who says she regrets apologizing for working with Woody Allen

NBC News: Hornets star LaMelo Ball fined $100,000 for saying: "We loaded up, no homo" ... anyone else royally pissed that we're still having to deal with this crap in 2024?

The Wrap: Ellen DeGeneres moves to Great Britain, has no plan to return to the U.S.

Wrestle Wednesday: Rolling around on a mat really seems to get this guy excited

Vanity Fair: Jonathan Bailey: “Probably people would always have said I was quite naughty”

Playbill: New York City Gay Men's Chorus to honor Seth Rudestky and James Wesley Jackson

The Queer Review: "The World According to Allee Willis" sounds like a winner

PinkNews: Walmart Christmas decorations are accidentally gay: "Historians will say they were best friends"

NYT: Uncovering gay and lesbian history in a 1941 "Sex Variants" study

Albumism: It's nearly impossible to rank Carly Simon albums. But if forced -- as readers were here -- I'd probably say: "Another Passenger" (1976), "Anticipation" (1971) and "Spy" (1979), although God knows I've listened to "Torch" (1981) and "Hello, Big Man" (1983) more than just about any other albums I own -- and, of course, "No Secrets" (1972) is an all-time classic. (And maybe “Playing Possum” should be No. 1 simply for having “Sons of Summer”!) (ICYMI)

TJP: Biography claims James Dean paid ex-lover to hide his sexuality before "East of Eden" premiere

Pride: Joe Locke gave a "Love, Simon" movie poster the axe from the "Agatha All Along" set

ABC News: Former classmate sentenced to life without parole in murder of gay teen Blaze Bernstein

Stereogum: Morrissey truly doesn't know what "free speech" is, does he?

Hot Cat of the Day: You've heard of Santa, maybe even Krampus, but what about the child-eating Yule Cat?

Song of the Day: Courtney Love covers Tim Buckley's "Song of the Siren" with 070 Shake

GLAAD: Is gay marriage next? A haunting and heartfelt short documentary on progress, peril and the fight for equality

Social butterflies: A gay look at Bluesky, where you can find my gay ass HERE.

GoFundMe: Oscar-nominated actress Sally Kirkland needs your help as she faces health crisis

Merry Christmas, Mr. Torrance

As much as I love my Hallmark holiday hunks, I could sure go for a new storyline ... especially like this one! 

P.S. Who else is watching "Finding Mr. Christmas"? I was peeved when David (the hottie from Egypt) was eliminated, although Ezra is my main man. (Damian's hot for Daxton -- natch!) 

The Fighting Irish

57-year-old ectomorph still giving it a go! :-)

Song of the Day: ‘Girl of 100 Lists’ by the Go-Go's

The Smash Hits review "Girl of 100 Lists" by the Go-Go's was recently posted on a Facebook group and I must say I remember thinking the exact same thing at the time. (I've become less critical of the song and the entire "Vacation" album in recent times.) 

But as accurate as it may be, this might be the best rejoinder ever:

John Mockler: Coming from the people who were jamming out to Bucks Fizz and Shakin Stevens, I don’t take this too seriously.

LMFAO! 

Tennis Tuesday

See how four rising players are spending the off season BELOW.

A Change in ‘Seasons’

 

Over the weekend I posted on social media that I have always loved "The Four Seasons" and had been forced to buy the DVD as it's currently nowhere to be found streaming. I was tickled to see how many others so fondly remember Alan Alda 1981 film -- I was essentially a middle-age woman when I was 14, so kind of assumed it was just me! -- with so many reciting lines off the top of their heads the way I do with "What's Up, Doc?," "Desperately Seeking Susan" and dozens of Woody Allen films. (Speaking of Allen: I'd always remembered "The Four Seasons" as a bit of a Woody knockoff, so was surprised to realize "Hannah and Her Sisters" had in fact borrowed noticeably from Alda five years later.) 

Back in 1981, my best friend from Detroit (Mark) was in Phoenix for the summer when we went to see "The Four Seasons" at the AMC Lakes Theater. (Anything with Carol Burnett was and is a must-see.) I'm not sure how -- perhaps we arrived at the wrong time -- but somehow we got confused and thought the previous showing was still in progress so didn't enter until we had missed the entire first season. (We've been calling the movie "The Three Seasons" for over 40 years!) 

As Damian watched it for the first time on Friday night, he immediately realized how confusing that would have made the whole thing -- but fortunately it aired 100 times a day on HBO throughout the '80s so we eventually got it all straight. (A few people mentioned the remake Tina Fey is making.) 

Inspired by purchase, I just today went ahead and ordered "Angie" on DVD, which I have been dying to watch lately. Why this short-lived gem that starred Donna Pescow, Robert Hays, Doris Roberts and the late-great Debralee Scott isn't available somewhere is just another one of streaming's great mysteries. But rather than wait around for it to be solved, I'm doing what I did in recent years to be able to rewatch "Square Pegs," "Rhoda," "James at 15" and "Phyllis" at my leisure -- because God knows we need all the distractions we can get. 

Fun fact: The theme song from "Angie" -- "Different Worlds" (1979) by Maureen McGovern -- reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart.