Whoopi Goldberg Bringing Transgender Modeling Reality Series to Oxygen

While I'm not Whoopi Goldberg's biggest fan -- she can be a real pain in the ass -- this sounds like it could be groundbreaking, assuming it doesn't devolve into "Bad Girls" ...

People reports:

Whoopi Goldberg is bringing a new reality show centering on transgender models to Oxygen.

"The View" co-host is executive producing "Strut," which centers on Slay Model Management, the first agency exclusively focusing on transgender talent.

"This show is important right now, because for all of the positive advances the community has made and continues to make, transgender is still a hot-button word that gets people hysterical," said Goldberg in a statement. "People tend to focus on the stereotype instead of the person, and this series will give viewers a unique opportunity to spend time with real people who are struggling with the same challenges we all face as we make our way through the world."

The series follows a group of models who hope to someday become household names and challenge gender and beauty stereotypes.

Goldberg said watching the show, "You may even be surprised to discover that you have been seeing and interacting with transgender men and women in ways you didn't even realize!"

"Strut" is set to premiere later this year on Oxygen.

Speaking of groundbreaking: Who remembers when Caroline Cossey (aka Tula) appeared in this Power Station video back in 1985?

Florida Convicted Pedophile Wins $3 Million Lottery Jackpot

 Timothy Poole became a multimillionaire after purchasing a scratch-off ticket at a 7-Eleven in Mount Dora. He had been arrested in 1999 for allegedly sexually battering a 9-year-old boy.

I might actually watch "The Millionaire Matchmaker" if Patti Stanger fixed this guy up with Honey Boo Boo's mom, June. Read HERE.

Ex-Marine and Bravo 'Below Deck' Star Shows Off His Johnson

In case you missed it ...

EX-MARINE AND BRAVO’S ‘BELOW DECK’ STAR KELLEY JOHNSON BURNS UP WEB WITH X-RATED PIC 

If you don't want to see this kid's junk, do not click HERE.

Built for Speed

For all you reality TV queens, here's one you might like. Meet Bryan Thompson. He’s a car designer who worked at Nissan for nine years -- and he's now an openly gay contestant on the summer reality show "Motor City Masters."  Even if cars don't rev your engine, Bryan -- plus guest appearances by Jesse Metcalfe, Pete Wentz and David Justice -- might turn your key.

From a news release:

MOTOR CITY MASTERS pits 10 talented designers from different parts of the automotive industry against each other each week in the ambitious task of creating new, fully-functional concept cars based around a theme. One by one, designers who fall short will be sent home by the judges until only a single MOTOR CITY MASTER remains. Industry expert judges Jean Jennings and Harald Belker are joined by celebrity guest judges including actress Melissa Joan Hart, actor Jesse Metcalfe, Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, baseball great David Justice and former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon.

MOTOR CITY MASTERS from Bunim Murray Productions ("The Real World," "Project Runway") TUESDAYS 10 p.m. STARTING JUNE 24 

Hosted by Brooke Burns.  

FYI: The first episode is already on YouTube.

 

'Farm Kings' ... and Queens

I'd never heard of "Duck Dynasty" until the anti-gay crap started. But it's gonna hurt a lot more if these adorable "Farm Kings" stick it to us.

F**k 'Dynasty'

UPDATE: Governor Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin can call this a First Amendment issue all they want. No one infringed upon Phil Robertson's freedom of speech, just as no one infringed upon A&E's freedom of association.

I can't wait till people like this are all dead.

FORUM FOR EQUAL CALLS OUT 'DUCK DYNASTY'

The Louisiana family values espoused on the hit cable television show “Duck Dynasty” sadly do not include respect for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT), say leaders of Forum for Equality Louisiana in response to the insensitive comments of Duck Commander founder Phil Robertson. 

The writer of a profile in the January 2014 issue of GQ magazine posed the question, “What, in your mind, is sinful?” Robertson replied, “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men. Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.' “ 

Forum for Equality Foundation chair John Denison of Monroe – a former television anchorman - says of his neighbor across the Ouachita River in West Monroe, “I have a news flash for Phil Robertson: he chose his religious beliefs, but I didn’t choose to be gay, I was born just as I am. I've seen way too much bullying, bigotry and hatred over the decades and Robertson's remarks fit all three categories.” 

SarahJane Brady of New Orleans, executive director of Forum for Equality, Louisiana's premier statewide LGBT organization, said Robertson is out of step. 

“Phil Robertson's unfortunate comments are a stark reminder of why Forum for Equality must continue its 25-year mission for full, equal rights for Louisiana's LGBT people,” Brady said. “Our state's citizens are increasingly in favor of nondiscrimination and equality. It's past time for Louisiana's elected leaders to catch up.” 

Denison issued an open invitation to Robertson and his family to “treat them to a meal so that they can meet a successful, proud and Christian gay man. The Ouachita River isn’t so wide that we can’t sit down to break bread over iced tea.”

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Fun

A little late reading my Sunday Times, but had to mention this fun -- if slightly extended -- Q&A with reality TV matriarch Pat Loud and new-housewife-on-the-block Carole Radziwill. Advice columnist Philip Galanes pulls no punches, as he digs for all the dirt on "An American Family" and completely rips into Bravo, "The Real Housewives" brand, and even takes a few shots at Andy Cohen while Mrs. Loud charms and Radziwill helplessly tries to defend her show and herself. (For the uninitiated, Carole was married to Lee "Jackie O's little sister" Radziwill's son until he died of cancer at 40.)

Mrs. Loud reveals a number of fascinating tidbits, like how she was pressured into doing the divorce scene in front of the cameras, how PBS did nothing to protect them from the media onslaught that followed, and how Lance didn't exactly "come out" on national television -- "Lance was just being Lance. He had no idea that people would interpret it as coming out. He was just being himself." -- and why she wanted nothing to do with the PBS reunion when Lance was dying of AIDS. (Reunion??? How did I miss that?!) Most shocking, though, is when Pat reveals that she and her ex-husband have been back together forever, ever since Lance became terminal and asked them to reunite.

Enjoy it all HERE.

Just a 'Gigolo'

I know, I know. I'm a hypocrite. I think nothing of condemning the world for watching reality television, yet I'm pretty addicted to Showtime's "Gigolos." The show is as fake as the others -- the situations are completely staged, the extremely graphic sex is probably not real, and I'm not entirely convinced any of them are actually prostitutes. But with the addition of former Marine "Bradley Lords" (!) -- and his hot ass in the camera 24 hours a day -- I will definitely be sticking around for the rest of the season. You don't get this on basic cable ...

Living in 'The Real World'

  Vulture took on the ambitious task of ranking all 27(!) seasons of "The Real World." I figured the year I stopped watching would mark when I officially became old, but flipping through them I realize I faded in and out for years -- skipping early-on Boston and Seattle -- but rebounding in time for hot-ass Danny in New Orleans. (Who didn't watch that one?) Although I haven't had a chance to thoroughly read this, I can already tell you for a fact that it is dead wrong about putting London at NUMBER 7! They acknowledge that it was panned at the time, but insist that in retrospect it is a "breath of fresh air." Um, no. Read HERE.