'Tales' as Old as Time

So many mixed feelings about Netflix’s wildly uneven "Tales of the City" reboot, but overall I'm happy to have experienced it. (Full disclosure: After watching Episode 1, we seriously considered abandoning ship.) Loved seeing four of the original actors again. But since I hadn't read any of the followup books, it took me a while to accept sweet Mary Ann as being the villain. Was leery of the newcomers -- who seemed like a bit of a hamfisted attempt at modernizing the landscape -- but grew to like them. And thought Murray Bartlett became Michael -- he was at his mousiest when he was suddenly so vulnerable about losing his home, and then delightful when he said of his couples Scruff page: "Then put muscle daddy"(!) -- even if I could never quite get over his being just bit too young for the part. (I wonder why they reverted to Brian No. 1 but still didn't use either of the original two Mice? Are they maybe not gay in real life so they wanted to be more authentic? Might Tuc Watkins have been a better choice?)

Mouse 1 and Mouse 2, now-ish

More than anything else, though, the infamous "Dinner Party" -- a wonderful nod to the young Mouse's awkward experience in the original -- was what made the whole thing worthwhile. 

Yes, it was heavy-handed and uncomfortable to watch. But the not-so-grand dames at the table finally said what needed to be said to Generations Y and Z.

My feeling is this: If we are all part of the LGBTQ community -- taking our punches and props, experiencing our highs and our lows, together -- then we all have access to terms that are off-limits to outsiders. Don't agree? I grew up being bullied and called a queer on the playground and I don't remember the new generation asking me if I was OK with "our" reclaiming the term. For those who say both sides had valid points I say this: Do you really think Ben's telling those guys anything they don't already know? What they don’t need is some patronizing pill lecturing them for letting loose and camping it up in the privacy of their own home. (Read the room, queen.) Now be quiet and pass the potatoes.  My grade: B minus

Damian and I even made it to Barbary Lane over the weekend! 

Remains of the Day (06/04)

Dey Street Books: Debbie Harry in a surprise reading from her upcoming memoir, “Face It,” at Enclave book series at Club Cumming

Instagram: Your afternoon workout with Chris Clark

The New York Times: How Emma Boettcher beat James Holzhauer on "Jeopardy!"

Associated Press: Ex-Gov. Rick Snyder's phone seized in Flint water probe

Variety: Sara Gilbert on why she said yes to “The Conners” but quit “The Talk”

Towleroad: Australian Olympian Matthew Mitcham engaged to sex-bomb boyfriend after 7-month whirlwind romance  ... wish him luck but he might want to give Colton Haynes a call!

The Playlist: Christoph Waltz, Gina Gershon, Louis Garrel and more to star in Woody Allen's next film

Washington Post: Virginia Gov. Northam calls for special session of legislature to take up gun control

Greg in Hollywood: Birthday boy Lukas Podolski is proof that you can't go wrong with a German footballer

Lambda Literary Foundation: Congrats to all of this year's Lammy winners (full list)

Gr8er Days: Peter Scolari seemed to notice Tom Hanks's surprisingly hot ass

BosGuy: Damian can take Bachelor No. 1 and I'll take No. 3

Forbes: "Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City" review: A modern streaming series with old-school sensibility

Dlisted: Open post hosted by the taco holder in almost every car

Instagram: How are you supposed to work out with that staring you in the face?

NBC News: New York could become first state to ban cat declawing

Back2Stonewall: The first gay movie was made 100 years ago, "Different From Others"

Gay Fleshbot: Jack Hunter is a guy with an iPhone and can we say "Thank Gay Gawd!" (not at all work friendly)

Hot Cat of the Day: Even Larry the Cat is giving Trump shit on his U.K. state visit.

Song of the Day: 'Love Is the Drug' by Grace Jones

Here's wish a very happy birthday upcoming World Pride headliner Grace Jones, who turned 71 yesterday. Damian and I finally got our hands on "More Tales of the City" and "Further Tales of the City" and heard this classic in a scene where Mouse and his cop f**k buddy were out dancing!

Remains of the Day (04/09)

Netflix: The "Tales of the City" trailer is here!

Towleroad: Mike Huckabee thinks LGBTQ people are the "greatest threat" to America

ICYMI: Too bulgy for Morning Wood

Greg in Hollywood: Highlights from opening weekend of Los Angeles LGBT Center's historic Anita May Rosenstein campus

Dlisted: It's never the prince you want to be accused of having an affair

Washington Post: Mnuchin reveals White House lawyers consulted Treasury on Trump tax returns, despite law meant to limit political involvement

Baseline: Watch Novak Djokovic play in the rain in the Dominican Republic

Instagram: Marton Fucsovics gets another haircut from his hot barber

Gr8er Days: Seymour Cassel of "Faces, "Rushmore" dies at 84

Boy Culture: Your future ex-crush: Harris Dickinson in the raw

CoolTeeTrend: Could someone please buy me this for my upcoming birthday?!

The Hill: GOP Kansas senator warns Senate would not confirm crackpot Kris Kobach as DHS secretary

Slicing Up Eyeballs: The B-52s tap OMD, Berlin for 40th anniversary North American tour this summer

Socialite Life: Is Scientology homophobic?

USA Today: I had a feeling Rosie O'Donnell would regret her part in that book about "The View"

Instagram: Diego Schwartzman goes shirtless during practice session on clay

The Randy Report: Barr claims redacted Mueller report will be public "within a week"

OMG Blog: Actor Daniel Rodic was born to be viewed showering

Hot Cat of the Day: This is a priceless cativarius ...

Netflix Developing New Installment of 'Tales of the City'

Chloe Webb, Laura Linney and Marcus D'Amico

I've shamefully never read any of the Armistead Maupin books. And I only saw the famed 1993 miniseries in recent years, eschewing the Showtime sequel because it recast the adorable Mouse (as well as Mona and Brian). But word that Netflix is developing a new installment of "Tales of the City" with Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis on board -- with a script penned by Michael "The Hours" Cummingham -- certainly has piqued my interest.

Thomas Gibson and my pal Kevin Sessums

The original cast was filled with handsome men, including Marcus D'Amico (Mouse), Billy Campbell (Dr. Jon Philip Fielding) and Thomas Gibson (Beauchamp Day). I remember when "Will & Grace" and "Dharma & Greg" came along, I was so bummed that Gibson hadn't been cast as Will instead of the other way around. (In retrospect, the less-handsome Eric McCormack made for a better uptight queen.)

Billy Campbell and the original Mouse

I had just moved to Washington when the first installment premiered on PBS and everyone was talking about it later that night at Trumpets (just up the street from JR's), only I hadn't known it was on. This was pre-Internet and being new to town, my subscription to Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide hadn't started yet -- and I didn't have friends to tell me about it. Although I felt a bit out of it, all was not lost. I met my (first) Latin lover that night at the bar, Señor Rafael! I'm not sure who they will get to fill the lead male roles. But with "Looking" off the air and Shonda Rhimes threatening to bring Russell T. Davies's heinous "Cucumber" and "Banana" to the U.S., this reboot can't come along soon enough.

Mouse 2.0: Paul Hopkins

Billy Campbell has another Mouse in the house (what was my problem with this recasting?!)