Category: Entertainment

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Parody: Seth Sikes Becomes The ‘Belle’ Of Fire Island Pines

Seth Sikes on Fire Island (screen capture)
Acclaimed singer Seth Sikes, who has performed on stages around the world, has spent the past several months out on Fire Island, the oh-so-gay summer getaway. During that time, he decided to learn some new skills like video editing. And in doing so serves up this reimagined version of “Belle,” the opening number to the Broadway musical The Beauty and the Beast, with new lyrics co-written with Tony Award winner Lisa Lambert (The Drowsy Chaperone). As in the original, Sikes sees himself as an avid reader who gets lost in the literary worlds he enjoys. But in this version, he’s continually scolded by the denizens of The Pines to wear his face mask.

Look, there he goes without his mask as always I hope he’s not on crystal meth With a dreamy far-off look and his nose stuck in a book Will you please remember: Pull your mask up, Seth!

From muscle boys to drag queens, they all sing out, reminding him as he makes his way through the village, “An aging twink should keep his mask on always!” In addition to the clever lyrics, the music video includes gorgeous drone footage from high above The Pines. “It was a different kind of summer on Fire Island this year,” Sikes tells Instinct. “It was gorgeous and fun, as always, but the pandemic changed the rules of socializing. Interacting on the beach, on the boardwalk, or at a tea dance, became tricky. And if you forgot your mask, heaven help you! “This video is a tribute to the lighter side of the health crisis, featuring many of my Pines neighbors,” he added. “There’s a serious message here – but we had a lot of fun making it!”

Earlier this summer, I shared Sikes terrific tribute to Judy Garland and the Fire Island Ferry. “I can’t perform live on stage, so making these videos has been my only creative outlet,” Sikes recently told HuffPost. “And who doesn’t need a silly distraction from all the terrible news reports we read every day?” One of New York City’s most popular cabaret singers, Sikes has regularly sold-out concerts in Manhattan and across the country. With fingers crossed for better times ahead, Sikes is scheduled to perform at Feinstein’s/54 Below on March 31 at 7:00 PM.

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Flashback Friday: Mary Chapin Carpenter ‘This Is Love’

Mary Chapin Carpenter (photo: Aaron Farrington)
Mary Chapin Carpenter’s “This Is Love,” from her massive 1994 hit album, Stones In The Road, has been bouncing around in my head lately. Longtime readers know the 5-time Grammy Award-winner’s music holds a special place for me. Full of melody, humanity, and thoughtful self-exploration. I’ve had this on my mind the past few days as a friend of mine recently announced a huge life change as his relationship of several years came to an amicable end, he’s leaving his home of many years and journeying on to the ‘what’s next.’ Recalling Mary Chapin’s lyrics, I found this sums up in the best way how we send love and support to those who move on to the next chapter. Hit play and listen. You’ll get it.

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You’ll Watch Lady Gaga’s ‘911’ Twice To Catch The Clues You Missed

(screen capture from ‘911’)
Lady Gaga releases her latest music video, “911,” from her critically-acclaimed album, Chromatica. Directed by award-winning director Tarsem and produced by the Artists Company, the short film made its global broadcast premiere across multiple platforms including YouTube, MTV Live, MTVU and on the Viacom Times Square billboard. The short film, which ties into a message about mental health, is something of a fabulous puzzle that comes into focus by the end. After watching the first time, I suggest you go back and you’ll see aspects of the storytelling that initially simply ‘odd’ suddenly tie into the ending. You’ll connect the meaning behind, for example, the man banging his head on a pillow; the woman in white with a red cross; Gaga floating in the air adorned with a golden halo. Gaga and her director, Tarsem, partnered with entertainment technology giant LG to create an exclusive visual experience that utilizes vibrant colors and dramatic blacks taken to the next level. Those ‘next level’ visuals, however, only air on LG OLED TVs. Watch the video below.

On Instagram, Gaga told her followers about the video, “This short film is very personal to me, my experience with mental health and the way reality and dreams can interconnect to form heroes within us and all around us.” “Finally, thank you little monsters. I’m awake now, I can see you, I can feel you, thank you for believing in me when I was very afraid,” she wrote in closing. “Something that was once my real-life everyday is now a film, a true story that is now the past and not the present. It’s the poetry of pain.”

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This short film is very personal to me, my experience with mental health and the way reality and dreams can interconnect to form heroes within us and all around us. I’d like to thank my director/filmmaker Tarsem for sharing a 25 year old idea he had with me because my life story spoke so much to him. I’d like to thank Haus of Gaga for being strong for me when I wasn’t, and the crew for making this short film safely during this pandemic without anyone getting sick. It’s been years since I felt so alive in my creativity to make together what we did with “911”. Thank you @Bloodpop for taking a leap of faith with me to produce a record that hides in nothing but the truth. Finally, thank you little monsters. I’m awake now, I can see you, I can feel you, thank you for believing in me when I was very afraid. Something that was once my real life everyday is now a film, a true story that is now the past and not the present. It’s the poetry of pain.

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Short Film Explores The Tap Dance Of Cruising In An Unlikely Setting

A scene from STALLS (screen capture)
An opera house men’s room stall that features a hidden golden glory hole is the setting for the acclaimed queer short film, STALLS, now available for viewing (for free) on YouTube. Written and Directed by João Dall’Stella, the 3-minute short stars Andrew Ableson (The Gymnast, The Polar Express), and Matthew Jain (“General Hospital”). In the film, Jonathan heads into the lavatory as a glorious aria is heard in the background. Assuming his position in one of the stalls, the next couple of minutes play out as a tap dance of cruising excitement. As a member of the LGBTQ and Latin communities, João (who holds an MFA in Directing from the American Film Institute) began making movies to create his own world where he celebrates queer/Hispanic stories and characters.
(screen capture from STALLS)
In a statement, the Brazil-based director shares that the idea for the film came from “many of my personal experiences looking for the perfect partner in the most creative environments.” “I wanted to create a love letter to the act of cruising,” says João. “Making a glory hole look glamorous and capturing the excitement and adventurous feeling that it can give to you.” “One day realized that cruising is a dance and that prompted me to make this film,” he added. STALLS has been screened at over 45 LGBTQ+ Festivals around the world including Outfest 2020, Los Angeles Queer Film Festival, NewFilmmakers NY, Oslo Fusion Film Festival, Gaze Film Festival, and the Madrid International Film Festival. You can watch the 3-minute short below.

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News Round-Up: September 15, 2020

L-R Blake Lee, Ben Lewis (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • TVLine: Blake Lee (Parks and Recreation, Mixology) and Ben Lewis (Arrow, Shadowhunters) – a married couple in real life (above) – have been announced to star in Lifetime’s first-ever holiday movie with an LGBTQ storyline, The Christmas Setup. Fran Drescher, of The Nanny fame, will play Lewis’s mother in the TV flick. • Boy Culture: Madonna’s biopic has been fast-tracked by Universal, and today we learn not only is the Queen of Pop co-writing the script with Diablo Cody, but Madge will direct the film of her life as well. • LGBTQ Nation: A city councilwoman in Minot, North Dakota, came out & delivered an epic smackdown to man complaining about a Pride flag. “So Mr. Walker, if you’re not aware, and I think a lot of people in this room are not aware and have come here just because this is a gay issue, I am proudly the first openly elected lesbian in North Dakota. So that is why I am not paying any heed to your crap.” • Pew Research: A new 13-nation Pew Research Center survey indicates America’s reputation has declined among many key allies and partners since Donald Trump took office. In several countries, the share of the public with a favorable view of the U.S. is as low as it has been at any point since the Center began polling on this topic nearly two decades ago. • Edge Media: An Italian man has been accused of killing his 18-year-old sister in a rage because she was dating a transgender man. The suspect told authorities that he “wanted to teach her a lesson.” • CNBC: More on the death of civility – CNBC host Jim Cramer called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “Crazy Nancy” to her face during an interview on Tuesday morning — a derogatory term usually used by Donald Trump. The Mad Money host was asking Pelosi about stalled negotiations on a 4th coronavirus stimulus package when the nickname popped out. “What deal can we have, Crazy Nancy — I’m sorry, that was the president,” Cramer said, realizing the moment didn’t play as well as he’d planned in his head. “I have such reverence for the office, I would never use that term.” Pelosi (D-Calif.) stayed calm telling Cramer: “But you just did. But you just did.”

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What To Watch: New On Netflix ‘Julie And The Phantoms’

Director/choreographer Kenny Ortega (High School Musical, This Is It, Xanadu, Hocus Pocus) knows a little something something about finding magic with a mix of teens, music and passion. His latest is Julie and the Phantoms, a new Netflix series that follows the journey of a gifted teen girl, Julie (played by newcomer Madison Reyes), who’s lost her drive for music after her mother’s death. But when the ghosts of three dreamy musicians from 1995 – Alex (Owen Joyner), Luke (Charlie Gillespie), and Reggie (Jeremy Shada) – appear, they reawaken Julie’s own inner spirit and create a new band together: Julie and the Phantoms. It seems the guys, known back in the day, as pop/punk band Sunset Curve, were on the road to stardom before their untimely deaths due to ‘bad hotdogs.’ But now they’re back to settle some unfinished business. One twist: they can only be seen by mortals when they play their pop bops with Julie. But that doesn’t stop the sparks from flying between Julie and guitar-toting Luke.

L-R Madison Reyes, Charlie Gillepsie (Netflix)
Out actor Cheyenne Jackson (American Horror Story) has a recurring role as mysterious antagonist Caleb Covington who is somehow involved in a limit on the guys’ time among the living. There’s an LGBTQ aspect to the series as Alex, the blond drummer who came out as gay shortly before his death, crushes on Willie (Booboo Stewart), a charming skater boy who might know more about ghostly things than he lets on. Even though the series dropped today, there’s already a tribute video for the show’s adorable gay couple.

Ortega definitely brings some High School Musical vibe (with a touch of Scooby Doo) with some peppy pop song performances (all the songs are pretty catchy) and of course, a blond nemesis for Julie since the series does take place in a high school setting. All nine episodes of the new series, based on the original Brazilian series Julie e os Fantasmas, are available now on Netflix.

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Oscars Announces New Diversity Criteria For Best Picture Consideration

The Academy Awards has announced new criteria regarding diversity and inclusion for films that wish to be considered in the Best Picture category In an attempt to address “underrepresented groups,” producers will need to hire more LGBTQ+ people, women, folks of color, and those with disabilities. Per the new guidelines, films that want to be considered for Best Picture will have to submit a confidential Academy Inclusion Standards form showing they have met at least two of the four standards laid out by the Academy. The four standards are as follows (via Queerty):

Standard A: The movie must have a lead or “significant” supporting actor from an “underrepresented racial or ethnic group,” or 30% of the more minor roles must come from under-represented groups (women, certain racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQ, disabled). Alternatively, the main storyline may be focussed on under-represented groups.

Standard B: At least two of the creative heads among the crew – director, casting director, costumer designer, etc – are from underrepresented groups (again, women, racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQ or disabled). Alternatively, at least six of the crew are from under-represented racial groups, or 30% of the crew come from under-represented groups.

Standard C: “The film’s distribution or financing company has paid apprenticeships or internships”, from the underrepresented groups, including LGBTQ and certain ethnic groups, as well as offering training opportunities and skills development for individuals from these groups.

Standard D: The final standard concerns the marketing and distribution departments of movies, saying, “The studio and/or film company has multiple in-house senior executives from” the aforementioned groups (women, certain ethnic groups, LGBTQ and/or disabled).

It all sounds good, but in truth, a film can easily meet standards C and D by having, for example, women on the publicity team, or queer staffers/assistants on the costume crew. Currently, the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 25, 2021.

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LGBTQ Entertainment Critics Honor The Best (And Campiest) In TV

Hugh Jackman, Janelle Monáe, Regina King, Billy Porter, Laverne Cox, Dan Levy, and political satirist John Oliver are among the slew of actors, comics, and performers lending cheer to GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ inaugural Dorians TV Toast 2020 on Revry, airing Sunday, September 13th on the first LGBTQ+ global streaming network Revry. Disclaimer – yours truly is a voting member of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics The two-hour star-studded virtual event, hosted by entertainer and talk show host Karel, will reveal the stars and TV shows the LGBTQ+ organization’s 270 members deemed the best, most visually stunning, and campiest of the past TV season. In addition to raising a glass to the honorees—many of whom will appear via virtual acceptance videos—GALECA members discuss the nominees’ merits and even controversies (Randy Rainbow and Tiger King don’t get off lightly). Actor/producer/co-creator Dan Levy’s riches-to-rags comedy Schitt’s Creek leads the pack with seven nominations, while Hollywood whiz Ryan Murphy’s ambitious, star-studded reimagining of Tinseltown’s early days  – Hollywood – sashays down the red carpet with six nods. HBO’s TV movie Bad Education and daring miniseries Watchmen each have four Dorian nominations, with the respective stars, Jackman and King, earning best performance nominations. Singer and actress Monáe, now seen in the centuries-spanning horror film Antebellum, and Porter share a nomination for TV Musical Performance of the Year for their vibrant opening number in this year’s Academy Awards telecast. For a full list of nominees, spanning 14 categories, head over to DoriansToast.com. You can check out a quick highlights reel from the 2020 Dorian Film Toast, including appearances by Antonio Banderas and Olivia Wilde, below.

Just a few of the presenters for the TV Dorians are: Drag icon Shangela; out news anchor Thomas Roberts; GLEE star Alex Newell; RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars champ Chad Michaels; actress-comedian Margaret Cho; veteran talk radio host Stephanie Miller; legendary saxophonist Dave Koz; actress/singer Lea DeLaria; and iconic comic Bruce Vilanch. The Society’s Dorian Awards, which in the past have gone to both film and television titles combined, announced the nominees for its first separate Dorian TV Awards on June 30. The Dorians are awarded to both general and LGBTQ content, reminding bigots, bullies and at-risk youth that the world looks to the Q eye for leads on great entertainment. “With September being Suicide Prevention Month and next month being LGBTQ History Month, this is a lovely and loving time to celebrate not just great television, but also how ‘rainbow’ journalists have boosted Hollywood from day one,” said John Griffiths, GALECA.org’s Executive Director and Founder. The show will air Sunday, Sept. 13 at 8pm EST, 5pm PST for free on Revry, the LGBTQ+ streaming network, available globally at watch.revry.tv.

Celebrities set to appear: Hugh Jackman Regina King Rafael Casal Margaret Cho Laverne Cox Lea DeLaria Harvey Guillén Dave Koz Dan Levy Damon Lindelof Chad Michaels Stephanie Miller Annie Murphy Michael Musto Alex Newell John Oliver Janell Monáe Billy Porter Shangela Thomas Roberts Fiona Shaw Josh Thomas Jane Velez-Mitchell Bruce Vilanch Kate Rose Wilburn GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ Dorian Awards, a nonprofit professional organization, was founded in 2009. Today, GALECA consists of 270 active critics and journalists who write on entertainment for major and distinctly unique media outlets in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K. Visit GALECA.org for more info, and follow us @DorianAwards on Twitter and Facebook, and @Dorian_Awards on Instagram. 

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COVID Cancels Mega Circuit Party AGAIN

A moment from White Party Palm Springs 2019 (photo: Iggy Perez)
Jeffrey Sanker, the promoter and producer of White Party Palm Springs, has announced his mega circuit party will not be happening this year. The 2020 edition of White Party Palm Springs was originally scheduled for April. But, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sanker postponed his event to October hoping the health threat would be under control by then. But an announcement has been posted on the White Party’s official website explaining that after trying “everything in our power to try to produce our event with all safety measures in place,” Sanker and his team have decided “it’s just not possible to move forward, given the unpredictability of COVID-19.” The announcement adds that all current ticket holders will have their passes automatically transferred to the 2021 festival taking place April 23rd to 26th. The largest gay circuit party in the United States, White Party Palm Springs often draws up to 30,000 attendees to its dances, mixers, and concerts. In addition to helping fundraise for various LGBTQ charities, the multi-day festival has provided an annual economic boost to the Southern California city for 30 years.

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Robby Hart Scores With Euphoric Debut Single ‘The Song Of The Summer’

Singer/songwriter Robby Hart
Out singer/songwriter Robby Hart scores with his totally infectious debut single, “The Song of the Summer,” that bounces like a boss complete with a sassy sax line and global dance sound. The top-shelf production (hearing hints of Tiesto and Kygo here) offers a buoyant soundscape for Hart’s fresh and effusive vocals recalling summer memories of what once was and how we all want our “song of the summer.” Hart had been gaining traction on his solo project spending the past year opening for national acts but 2020 brought that trajectory to a halt and, like most people, found himself with some unscheduled time off. That alone time led to…”The Song of the Summer.” I got to chat with the handsome artist about the genesis of the song plus a few other things along the way.

The Randy Report: “The Song of the Summer” totally captures that ebullient sense of fun and freedom during summer. Did you have a specific sound in mind going into writing and producing the song? Robby Hart: The writing of it was quick. Like 15 minutes. I had an original beat I cut the vocal on a while back. But it didn’t seem like the right “home” for the song. I wanted something familiar yet fresh at the same time. So I worked with this amazing producer remotely out of London. To give some subtle tones of unity, I wanted it to sound a bit global as well. So I think collaborating across continents hopefully helped contribute to that. TRR: What do you do outside of music that contributes to your creativity? RH: Great question! Hmmm…prior to the pandemic I loved to travel. On tour when possible I would add an extra day onto my travel to actually experience the city I’m in. I love listening to stories about people that are unlike myself. Sans travel I’ve really been into podcasts lately…Maybe it’s subconsciously replacing that feeling of social connection in some way? Heh. TRR: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? RH: Show people how you want to be treated in life, and you live your life for you. Not anyone else. TRR: What’s next on the horizon? RH: More music! Lots and lots of new music is coming out soon, stay tuned! 🙂

“The Song of the Summer” is now available on all streaming/digital download sites. You can follow Robby on Instagram here. In addition to his new single, Hart has curated a most excellent Spotify playlist titled – what else? – “The Songs of the Summer.”