#BornThisDay: Jane Fonda (Dec. 21, 1937)

So many worthwhile blogs have come and gone -- The WoW Report with its fascinating posts by Stephen Rutledge comes to mind. But what I find amusing is that we've all been tricked into thinking they're "dying off" because of lack of interest, or "replaced" with social media, when in fact blogs are just as popular as ever -- they're now just called Substacks and you have to pay to read them.

With that in mind, I encourage you to follow Stephen on Facebook -- free of charge -- where he just posted a terrific piece about the legendary Jane Fonda, who turned 87 today! 

Read BELOW.

Page 1 Roundup (04/04)

The Daily News: Fact-challenged Trump lashes out at Puerto Rico

 In fairness, if my daughter were even half as dumb as Lori Loughlin's I would do everything in my power to hide my shame

Despite fierce opposition, anti-LGBTQ former congresswoman -- who totally looks like a lesbian -- with ‘disturbing past’ appointed to lead University of Texas at El Paso

Instagram: What we know about Thomas Canestraro: he reads the Daily News -- and looks equally good in a jockstrap or naked

Towleroad: Transgender woman speaks out after horrific attack in Paris crosswalk goes viral

Pastor charged after incapacitating two men with meth and GHB and raping them

New York Post: Strip club scammer claims Jennifer Lopez stole her life story for ‘Hustlers’

Page Six: Jane Fonda reveals she hid mastectomy bandages at 2016 Golden Globes

ICYMI: Man wears jockstrap to bar

Dennis, Anyone? Mr. Hensley visits the L.A. home of Jeremy Bernard, former White House social secretary under President Obama and co-author of "Treating People Well"

The New York Times: As expected, some on Mueller's team see their findings as more damaging for Trump than his Barr revealed

Joe Biden, in solipsistic video, says he will be "more mindful" of personal space

Alabama’s gruesome prisons, where rape and murder happen at all hours

Decider: "Jeopardy!" producers reportedly accelerating search for Alex Trebek's replacement



Digital Spy: Yes, trashy British tabloid. People who have been traumatized are known for remembering dates, times and places with 100% accuracy. [Eye-roll emoji]

The Washington Post: House Democrats seek six years of Trump’s personal and business tax returns

The Wall Street Journal: Drone racing fans have some questions: Where's the drone and who's winning? 

Remains of the Day (12/11)

L.A. Daily News: Surf filmmaker Bruce Brown, creator of "The Endless Summer," dies at 80

Boy Culture: Ejected from cab for a chaste gay kiss, man receives justice -- eight years later

HuffPost: MSNBC has Sam Seder -- now if only we could get Dems to stop Shirley Sherroding Al Franken

USA Today: Trump's accusers ask Congress to probe sexual misconduct allegations

The Daily News: Instead of addressing terror attack in his hometown, Trump tweets insults at the New York Times

Confidential: Jane Fonda can't believe she's reached 80 and still remembers everything

Matthew's Island of Misfit Toys: Who could keep his hands off that ass in tighty-whities?

Dlisted: In a reversal of fortune, Brendan Dassey from "Making a Murderer" will remain in jail, will not get to go to sixth period

HuffPost Queer Voices: What it's like to grow up black and gay in the South

The Hill: Judge denies Trump request to delay transgender military enlistment

Fred Goudon: Jeremy Parisi, starring on the cover of the FRENCH FARMERS 2018 Calendar

Deep Dish: I literally laughed out lout watching Coco Peru's attempted trip to Costco!

Towleroad: Celebs reach out to bullied Tennessee teen as viral video hits 18 million views

My New Plaid Pants: What do we think of Matthias Schoenaerts's 40-year-old derriere?

Page Six: Now Mario Batali? Gross

The Gay Almanc: "Traveling Butts' couple arrested in Thailand are released

Daily Intelligencer: Report suggests Trump told Michael Flynn to lie to the FBI

JoeMyGod: The Senate won't be voting on slavery so it doesn't matter if Roy Moore wants it back, says CNN's Ed Martin

Made in Brazil: Are you supposed to spread your legs like that when you're wearing a Speedo?

Gr8er Days: Kirk Douglas turns 101, plus stars who've lived to 100

Paper: Here's the full list of 2017 Golden Globe nominees

The Washington Post: Inside the secretive firm behind the Trump dossier

OMG Blog: Behold Tom Hetherington of "The Great British Bake Off" uncut sausage

Outsports: High school football players kiss after winning a state championships

The New Yorker: Donald Trump, Roy Moore, and the degradation of the G.O.P.

Hot Cat of the Day: I need to get my friend Eric to invite me over to meet Murphy!

Magazine Rack

Here's what you're missing by not subscribing to magazines anymore:

Men's Health: KFC, Taco Bell and Hidden Valley Ranch now make their own merch for some reason

Vanity Fair: In bed with Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez

New York: A conversation with Jimmy Kimmel

Soap Digest: I'd have subscribed to this as a kid if everyone had a beard back then!

Entertainment Weekly: The ultimate guide to "Supernatural" 

Sports Illustrated: I'd have subscribed to this, too, if everyone had a beard back then!

US Weekly: Are you addicted to Ben Affleck?

Star: "Secretly engaged" Prince Harry looks sexy at the Invictus Games

Town & Country: Jane Fonda has always been on the move -- and she has no plans to slow down now

Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda's '9 to 5' Emmys Reunion

Was traveling home yesterday from a wedding in the Carolinas -- they make you arrive two hours early, wait in security for four then delayed my 1.5-hour flight another half-dozen -- so am just now seeing this. But it had to have been the highlight of last night's Emmy Awards! Watch HERE.

UPDATE:

And what about THIS?!

Lisa Kudrow to Join Cast of 'Grace & Frankie'

I've written about what a missed opportunity "Grace & Frankie" is. But it's still more fun than a lot things on television. And adding Lisa Kudrow -- as a manicurist named Sheree who drives a wedge between the odd couple -- might go a long way toward smoothing out the edges come season 4.

Jane Fonda Buys $5.45 Million Townhome in Century City

The Oscar-winning star of "Grace & Frankie" recently broke up with music producer Richard Perry, so is selling their Beverly Hills estate to move to Century City. I get downsizing, but I'm still always surprised when Hollywood royalty lives in places that look like my parents' house, albeit much larger! 

BTW: I still think "Grace & Frankie" is a bit of a missed opportunity. All of the men are horrible -- especially the sons, but the ex-husbands are on more so do more damage -- and Lily Tomlin's Frankie is unnecessarily caricaturish. Jane carries the very uneven show and makes it worth watching, but it's hard to believe the scripts have anything to do with people associated with "Friends," which I rarely watched but know from reruns was always sharp and funny.. P.S. Why did they have to make the plot about lube AND follow it up with a vibrator? Subpar material for two legends. 

Go inside HERE.

Fond of Jane

I have been in love with Robert Redford Jane Fonda since the first time I laid eyes on her in "Barefoot in the Park" when I was a little boy, and have only grown to love her more thanks to "Fun With Dick and Jane," "9 to 5," "On Golden Pond" and "Grace and Frankie," of which she is the best part. To mark her seven decades and nine years on this planet today, my pal Marc has 79 Groovy Things About Jane that you don't want to miss HERE!

Hanoi-ingly Yours

I wouldn't trade my mother for the world. But I'd trade her copout "both sides are bad" view of politics for Jane Fonda's in a heartbeat. 

Although attempts to avoid discussing the election were made, it was the elephant in the room -- and it's pretty devastating that my parents seem to have no appreciation for the fact that JUST ONE of the candidates ran on a platform that specifically calls for taking away one of their son's health care; calls for jeopardizing the health insurance of their son with stage four cancer; and calls for robbing yet another son of the civil rights that he only received a few years ago. Mom insists that a president cannot do any of these things -- wanna bet? -- and that elections are often clouded by distractions from what the "real issues" are. Well if these aren't the real issues for our family, what are?

Jane Fonda to Auction Off Hundreds of Personal Items, Including 'On Golden Pond' Script, Jewelry and Clothing

That famous leotard still fits -- and it can be yours if the price is right! Read HERE.

Start bidding HERE.

Los Angeles LGBT Center to Honor Jane Fonda, Ron Nyswaner and Miley Cyrus

Wish I were on the Left Coast this weekend for the center's 46th annual Vanguard Awards. Tickets and information HERE.

Let's Get (More) Physical

Why It Was Easier to Be Skinny in the 1980s 

A new study finds that people today who eat and exercise the same amount as people 20 years ago are still fatter. This might explain A LOT! Read HERE.

'Grace and Frankie" Renewed for Second Season

   Happy to see Netflix has ordered another season of the Jane Fonda-Lily Tomlin show. Season One had its problems -- the setup went on waaaaaaay too long (we got it ... in the opening credits!), the "Frankie is kooky-New Agey" stuff was way too heavy-handed (the earthquake bit? ugh.), Sam Waterston is just awful and the sons are even worse -- but believe it or not, when "Grace and Frankie" worked, it was a real treat. The evolution of the women's relationship is the real story (there's so much more to explore there), and Brianna -- played by the always-great June Diane Raphael (check out "Burning Love" on Hulu!) -- is the show's other compelling character. This season, let's make sure the leading women are being paid what they deserve -- Jane's hair looks like it's reeeeaally expensive!

State of 'Grace'

Wow, just a week until my new favorite show ever. Many thanks to everyone who responded to THIS POST about what I should be watching. Would you believe my "new" discovery is "Just Shoot Me," a show I completely missed in its original run?(!) I knew I loved Wendie Mallick, but I had no idea how great the show -- or at least the episodes I've seen so far -- was!

Mighty Fonda This

This sounds so fun -- can a Dabney Coleman leather daddy cameo be far behind?

Via Towleroad:

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are set to star in a 13-episode half-hour original comedy series on Netflix called "Grace and Frankie," the network reports. The single-camera comedy focuses on nemeses Grace (Fonda) and Frankie (Tomlin) facing the last chapter of their lives, though not in the way they expected. When their husbands announce they are in love with each other and plan to get married, the women find their lives both turned upside down and to their dismay, permanently intertwined. Eventually, to their surprise, they find they have each other. The show will premiere next year.

WATCH: Jane Fonda Recalls Her Friendship With Harvey Milk

Here's a clip you will want to watch. In it, Jane Fonda talks about her friendship with Harvey Milk, with whom she campaigned to defeat the anti-gay Briggs initiative (aka Prop 6) back in 1978, and so much more! Hanoi Jane was interviewed by Coco Peru on the stage of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Renberg Theatre -- part of the organization's “Conversations with Coco” series. Jane is also auctioning an extremely rare (only two exist) photograph of her with Harvey to benefit the Center, which she will sign for the winner. You can bid online HERE -- the auction ends on Harvey Milk Day (May 22).

Why I Love Jane Fonda

 

 Unlike most Hollywood types, you just know she'd be fun at a party ...