Song of the Day: 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' by Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli

My DVR captured this episode of "One Day at a Time" on Family Entertainment TV the other night, featuring a rapturous moment from my childhood that I remember watching when I was in fifth grade like it was yesterday. Every boy had a crush on Valerie Bertinelli -- and I was no exception, if you don't count my wanting to be her instead of be with her. Mackenzie Phillips inherited a little bit of musical talent from Papa John, but there's never been a cuter Elton John than the one here!

Dec. 28, 1976: Schneider and the Romanos put on a show for a local retirement home.

The original, above. And who remembers THIS drag of a version? 

Remains of the Day (11/21)

The New York Times: AIDS Memorial Quilt to return home to San Francisco

Bay Area Reporter: San Francisco nonprofit to be AIDS quilt steward

YouTube: The Gronk shakes his groove thing in a slinky Lakers uniform

Washington Post: A rape kit wasn’t tested for 23 years. Police just matched the DNA — to a man suspected all along.

Rock Cellar: Debbie Harry on writing her new memoir, Blondie’s old days in NYC and her view of the world (interview by a college mate of mine!)

Towleroad: Jury awards gay spouse of deceased smoker $157.4 million in suit against Phillip Morris and RJ Reynolds

YouTube: Hard to believe this 1975 photo of Elton John, Billie Jean King and Cary Grant wasn't shot in a closet

BosGuy: He wears short shorts

Wired: How the photographer got that shot of Trump's insane notes

Literary Hub: Congratulations to National Book Foundation lifetime honoree Edmund White

Page Six: Kathie Lee Gifford is about to have a hot son-in-law

Back2Stonewall: Gay employee comes out, his salary was cut in half to be equal with other "females in the office" then fired

The Arizona Republic: Michael McDonald and the Doobie Brothers announce reunion tour

Boy Culture: Mesh shirt, barely there undies

The Randy Report: Third federal judge blocks Trump’s anti-LGBTQ "conscience protection" rule. Time for Brett to get out his rubber stamp.

Greg in Hollywood: Ronan Farrow: "The LGBTQ+ community is such a wonderful one to be a part of"

The New Yorker: How carob traumatized a generation

Dlisted: Jussie Smollett has the biggest balls in Chicago

Hot Cat of the Day: Sasha the cat reunited with Dad five years and 1,200 miles later!

On the Rag, Vol. 552

A weekly look at what's making news in the gay magazines:

Attitude (U.K.): Taron Egerton doubles your pleasure

Echo (Phoenix): Traveling together brings this couple closer

QX (London): Everybody (but me) is talking about Layton

HotSpots (South Florida): Inside the OUTShine Miami opening night party

"Dear Evan Hansen" actor-singer Ben Platt talks debut album

Get Out!: Stephen Wrabel has just released his new single

Metro Weekly (D.C.): 14 LGBTQ artists on why Pride Alley matters

Between the Lines (Detroit): A trans woman's battle to avenge her friend's death turns toward advocacy

Lavender (Minnesota): 90 degrees and sweaty, but make it fashionable 

Georgia Voice: Mayor's efforts to fight HIV/AIDS

Thomas Roberts is back in Atlanta, boys

Dallas Voice: Not just clowning around

Ambush (New Orleans): Are you ready for Cinco de Mayo?

GCN (Ireland): Our planet is in crisis

Song of the Day: 'Step Into Christmas' by Elton John

Damian and I were going through some of our MeTV shows on the DVR and found that the network had preempted programming on Christmas Day to play holiday music with a yule log on the screen. As we fast-forwarded through the segment, we came to realize they'd included a dozen of our favorite Christmas songs, most of which we'd gone a month-plus without hearing elsewhere. This was one of them!

Song of the Day: 'Rocket Man' by Heaven 17

Didn't see this coming(!) -- from one of the of the most underrated bands of the '80s.

Remains of the Day (07/26)

Gothamist: Who says romance is dead?

Variety: YouTube deletes videos posted by Infowars, suspends alt-right channel from live-streaming

Dlisted: Alleged girlfriend beater Ryan Phillippe is still one hot piece

The Daily News: Novak Djokovic's wife's grandfather kidnapped, left tied up in field after robbery

Towleroad: A gay man's boozy quest to meet his icon, Diane Keaton

EW: Chelsea Handler to play a "high-powered lesbian" on "Will & Grace" -- even though it's not her story tell(!)

Instagram: Has original bassist Annette Zilinskas rejoined the Bangles?

Deep Dish: Nothing sexier than two hot men kissing

The New York Times: Mueller examining Trump's tweets in wide-ranging obstruction inquiry

Baseline: Should all majors have deciding-set tiebreakers

Brooklyn Vegan: Hunky Frye Festival founder pleads guilty to fake ticketing scheme

Gre8er Days: A review of Renee Taylor's "My Life on a Diet"

Metrosource: Prince Harry, Elton John launch new effort at World AIDS Conference

The Advocate: LGBT activist David Mixner will not be put out to pasture

Toledo Blade: Betsy DeVos's poor $40 million yacht -- good thing she has nine other ones

PinkNews: Trump whore Chadwick Moore alerts FBI after being banned from Grindr

NYT Magazine: Do you live in a political bubble? (Yes, thank God!)

OMG Blog: Disney actor Ryan Potter flaunts his junk 

Song of the Day: 'Philadelphia Freedom' by Elton John

Attended a screening of "Battle of the Sexes" last night in Chelsea. Tennis movies are notoriously horrible, but I am happy to report that this one breaks the spell. Filmmakers did an outstanding job with a multifaceted story about a complicated person. Will elaborate soon. 

BJK didn't officially come out until an Advocate cover story in 1998 -- so "heroic" -- but she certainly had plenty of gay moments along the way ... perhaps none gayer than this!

From HERE.

On the Rag, Vol. 429

A weekly look at what's making news in the free gay mags:

QX (London): The batshit crazy life of Lewis G Burton / Read HERE.

Metro Weekly (D.C.): Reel Affirmations XXIII: Your complete guide to this year's festival / Read HERE.

Next: Tales Of Coming Out: Five New Yorkers' Real Stories / Read HERE.

Get Out!: My friend Dave wanted to go to Lips for his birthday in 1998 and I had a panic attack, my fear of drag queens completely killing my appetite. The joint, long since moved to its new location, is celebrating 20 years! Read HERE.

GT (London): InstaFitty of the week: Big Dipper / Read HERE.

Next (Florida): Finish the year strong with these workout tips / Read HERE.

8 unique Halloween costume ideas for gay couples / Read HERE.

Echo (Phoenix): Are You PrEPared? Read HERE.

Lavender (Twin Cities): Change Up Your Wedding With The Hottest Trend / Read HERE.

Elton John to release "no-holds-barred" autobiography / Read HERE.

Gay Salt Lake: Logan Pride is this weekend! Read HERE.

Watch Your Back, Kiki Dee!

Working with the master today. Elton and I wrote two songs, @johnleventhal held it all together.

A photo posted by Rosanne Cash (@mrslev) on Apr 12, 2016 at 12:13pm PDT

Two of my favorites -- eager to hear how this turns out!

On the Rag, Vol. 398

A weekly look at what's making news in the free gay mags:

Metro Weekly (D.C.): The spring arts preview is out now / Read HERE.

Next (NYC): Submerged yet still dominant? / Read HERE.

Get Out1: Meet Acid Betty, Bob the Drag Queen and Thorgy Thor.

Get Out!: The audacious and perky Shane Raines teamed up with brother Tony in the MTV reality show “The Challenge: Battle of the Bloodlines” this season after a steamy appearance on “The Real World: Skeletons" / Read HERE.

Next (South Florida): A history of "American Idol" coming-out stories, starring Adam Lambert / Read HERE.

QX (London): Showing our faces overseas was hard enough when W was in office / Online edition HERE.

GT (London): Say hello to Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander HERE.

Winq: Elton John and David Furnish discuss their family, their work and that conversation with President Putin / Read HERE.

Grab (Chicago): / Meet singer and porn star Mickey Taylor / Online edition HERE.

The Fight: International Mr. Leather Patrick Smith on homophobic state-sponsored violence / Online edition HERE.

"Where the Bears Are" needs your help HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Philadelphia Freedom' by Elton John

All this talk about Billie Jean King had me reminiscing about my days as a ball boy for (World) Team Tennis. The Phoenix Sunsets may have never gotten a song written about them, but the Philadelphia Freedoms sure did. Although it's been widely reported that Elton wrote the song specifically for his friend Billie Jean, I think we all know he was just using her to get to Kathy Kuykendall.

Mommie Dearest

Great interview with Billy Joel in the Sunday Times HERE. Here's my favorite part:

A.G.: Are you cool with Elton now? Basically he said that you’re not writing new songs out of fear or laziness.

B.J.: That’s his opinion. I don’t do it because I don’t wanna. He tends to shoot off his mouth — he shoots from the hip. I think his heart is in the right place. Maybe he’s trying to motivate me, to get me mad or something. He’s kind of like a mom.

A.G.: He actually kind of looks like a mom.

B.J.: Yeah, he’s got mom hair.