Category: Entertainment

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News Round-Up: April 11, 2020

Darren Young (image via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: WWE superstar Darren Young (above) is styling in his new Pride face mask. “Powered by Pride and not built to be defeated by #Covid19 #quarantinelife“ • Pink News: An anti-gay right-wing American pastor defied social distancing orders amid the coronavirus pandemic to host a live reenactment of Christ’s crucifixion starring his teenage son and daughter as Jesus and Mary. • KIT212: Kenneth rounds up the what’s what in local gay rags across the U.S. and the world like this week’s issue of Adelante Magazine featuring Carlos Arcos on the cover:
Carlos Arcos covers Adelante Magazine (photo: Paul Culver)
• CNN: Ammon Bundy, the rancher who led an armed occupation of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon, said he plans on holding a huge Easter gathering despite stay-at-home orders implemented during the coronavirus pandemic. Bundy told CNN he wants to gather hundreds of people in Idaho saying he believes it’s his constitutional right to assemble, even as state and local officials urge people to socially distance to avoid spreading the virus further. • The Advocate: The marvelous Catherine O’Hara chats about the lessons her beloved  Schitt’s Creek character, Moira Rose, learned after losing her fortune and how the series is more timely than ever. In the series finale earlier this week, Moira officiated her son David’s wedding to his fiancé, Patrick, clad in ecclesiastical pope garb as tears of joy ran down her face sending the moment deliciously over the top.
Catherine O’Hara as ‘Moira Rose’ in the finale of Schitt’s Creek
• Project Q Atlanta: The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office arrested nine men during a three-day sting using Grindr, charging them with a host of misdemeanors and felonies after aggressively pursuing at least one of the men on the hookup app. At least one of the men arrested is openly gay and is accused of offering drugs for sex to an undercover officer on Grindr. But screenshots of their conversation don’t support the allegations included in the man’s arrest warrant. • Cirque du Soleil: The over-the-top world-wide phenomenon that is Cirque due Soleil is offering a series of spectacular specials for you while we’re all #TogetherAtHome. This week’s one-hour special highlights performances from the Cirque productions of Alegria, KOOZA and KÀ! If you’ve never seen Cirque, I encourage you to sit back, hit the play button and make sure you watch in full-screen mode. Simply awe-inspiring.

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Matt Baume Explores Cultural Impact Of ‘Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert’

Matt Baume hosts ‘Culture Cruise’
Super-smart Matt Baume explores the cultural impact of the 1994 indie film, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, in the latest episode of his web series, Culture Cruise. Baume’s popular series regularly takes a look at queer moments in TV and film that changed the world. In 1994, a broken-down bus named Priscilla departed Sydney’s gay enclave, carrying three glamorous performers to the rural heart of Australia on the most perilous journey of their lives. And although only three of them set out in the film, they were soon followed in real life by an entire drag army. Baume notes the film became so popular in the land Down Under ” that six years later Australia paid tribute to it at the Sydney Olympics.” Organizers for the Closing Ceremonies featured a contingent of drag queens and pop star Kylie Minogue performed one of the ABBA songs from the film. Also – the town of Broken Hill, featured in the film as hostile to the three traveling queens, now has become home to a huge annual drag fest called ‘Broken Heel.’ But Matt tells the tale much better than I. Take a few minutes and hit the play button below.

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What We’re Listening To This Week

New music to add to your playlists this week: Randy Report favorite Niko reached out this week and shared two new remixes (that I really like). Like many of us, plans and scheduled were shifted and rearranged due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but Niko is of a mind that maybe we could all use some music to bounce to. “So, I decided to release two remixes that I’ve been sitting on, with the idea that these tracks can make someone dance… I think we all need a little escape during quarantine!” The double single, RMXD, features a remixed “Maybe” by Detroit-based DJ Voyage, and “Sexual Tension” from Norwegian producer Middelthon.

Out artist Someya playfully explores the fine line between love and lust in her latest single, “Hung Up Over You.” The mid-tempo bop finds a sweet balance of ambient groove and pensive, summer feels. The gloomy-day bop also acts as a celebration of the San Jose songstress’s bisexuality, as Someya features her first on-screen female love interest in the “Hung Up Over You” music video.

Bright Light Bright Light (aka Welsh pop star Rod Thomas) is taking fans out for a virtual night on the town in New York City with the release of the video for his disco/house dance-tastic single, “This Was My House.” Of the song, Paper Magazine said, “It’s not every day that we get a perfect disco song” while Rolling Stone praised its “buoyant beat to dance through pain and trouble.” The song features Madonna backup duo Niki Harris and Donna De Lory and is an inspired slice of prideful pop that serves as an ode to LGBTQ safe spaces. The video is an irreverently brilliant, campy look into the NYC LGBTQ+ nightlife scene, and features Bright Light Bright Light leading a merry march of party monsters into the subway system, through a dance club (Bedlam to be specific, which is also the location that the majority of the new album’s vocals were recorded in), and to the East Village rooftop of the apartment building he calls home.

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Huge Surge In Performer Signups For Online Sex Sites During COVID-19

Adult performer Max Konnor at home (image via Instagram)
As the coronavirus pandemic marches on, and folks continue to shelter at home, people are exploring new ways to make money to pay their bills. The Labor Department recently reported that some 16 million people in the U.S. have applied for unemployment benefits, so it will come as no surprise that numbers in the online sex industry are rising at a quick pace. Daryn Parker, the Vice President of CamSoda, a webcam site that streams live online broadcasts, told the New York Times he saw a 37 percent increase in new model sign-ups in March compared to the same period in 2019. A similar “camming” site, ManyVids, shared their new model sign-ups had increased 69 percent. Performers on the sites, sometimes called “cam models,” can offer to strip or dance on camera as viewers send them messages. The cam models earn tips for their efforts. CamSoda shares the number of new viewers to the site has doubled compared to last spring. You’d think that would mean bank for these online sex workers, but it’s not working out that way. Mileena Kane, a cam model on CamSoda, told the Times that she’s noticed the influx of new viewers but it seems the new crop of viewers isn’t tipping very well. “I’m meeting a whole bunch of people more frequently than I normally would, but there’s not much more money,” said Ms. Kane. It would seem more and more people are watching (and making) sexual online performances but fewer are paying. The increasingly popular OnlyFans site recently shared that there were 3.5 million new signups in March and 60,000 of those were new content creators.

“As far as sex workers go and cammers go, we are pushing ourselves a little bit harder to make sure that we can entertain people from their homes and encourage people to stay inside their homes,” said popular gay adult performer Max Konnor. Konnor adds that he’s glad he only commits to two-hour “shows.” Other performers interviewed by the Times say they often work 12-hour days, but with the influx of new performers that doesn’t always mean making more money. Additionally, the webcam sites take hefty splits of the income for hosting the content, some of them as high as 50 percent. One performer shared that, in a single day, sometimes they make $30 and other days it can be as much as $300. Even for folks not looking to pay to view sex online there’s been a huge increase in viewers. Adult entertainment giant Pornhub reported on April 3 “worldwide traffic to Pornhub has been much higher than it was before the Coronavirus pandemic spread worldwide” adding that the “peak increase of 24.4% happened on March 25th” after the site offered free Premium service in many countries.

(source: New York Times)

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Special Episode Of Netflix’s “Tiger King” To Air Easter Sunday

Joe Exotic and friend (image via Netflix)
Netflix has announced a new episode its wildly popular seven-episode docu-series, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. Joel McHale will host the postscript episode which is titled, “The Tiger King and I,” to be released on April 12. Deadline Hollywood reports the new installment will “feature brand-new interviews with Tiger King‘s John Reinke, Joshua Dial, John Finlay, Saff, Erik Cowie, Rick Kirkham, and Jeff and Lauren Lowe, who will talk about their experiences since last month’s release of the docuseries.” “It’s eye-opening and hopefully funny,” McHale said in announcing the followup. The show has become a pop culture phenomenon since its premiere on March 20, perhaps in part due to many folks staying home thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. In case you haven’t been following the unbelievable popularity of the docu-series, check out the mini-feature below that chronicles how and why the Netflix series came to be. McHale posted this quick video clip to the Netflix Twitter account announcing the additional episode.

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VH1 Announces “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race”

Via Variety:

VH1 and World of Wonder Productions are providing you with an extension of the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” franchise in “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race,” a new event series set to launch April 24 at 9:30 pm.

Each episode in the four-part event series will feature a trio of celebrities opening up their hearts and minds to the transformative power of drag.

After getting some help from beloved past contestants — deemed “Queen Supremes” — Alyssa Edwards, Asia O’Hara, Bob the Drag Queen, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Monique Heart, Nina West, Trinity the Tuck, Trixie Mattel and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, the celebrity contestants will compete in fan-favorite challenges and step onto the runway in their new looks.

At the end of each episode, one of that week’s three celebrity contestants will win the title of “America’s Next Celebrity Drag Race Superstar” and prize money for a charity of their choice.

The new “Celebrity Drag Race” limited series will follow new episodes of Season 12 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” which air Fridays at 8 p.m. on VH1.

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Broadway Theaters To Remain Dark Until June

(photo: Ludovic Bertron/Flickr)
From Playbill:

The show will not go on for some time longer. Due to the spread of the coronavirus in New York City, Broadway shows have extended their shutdown.

While at first scheduled to resume the week of April 13, productions will now remain dark through June 7 (what was supposed to be the day of the 74th Annual Tony Awards).

The initial closure was mandated by Governor Andrew Cuomo March 12, banning all gatherings of 500 or more people and reducing the capacities of smaller events. The restrictions soon escalated, with the surge of confirmed COVID-19 leading to the state-wide “On PAUSE” executive order, effectively closing all in-person non-essential business.

On March 29, Cuomo said he would re-evaluate that stay-at-home order every two weeks; it is currently scheduled to last through April 29, though many industries—Broadway included—are bracing for longer hiatus periods.

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Ellen Jokes Quarantining In Her $24 Million Mansion “Is Like Being In Jail”

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres at home (screen capture)
Ellen DeGeneres began hosting her talkshow from her living room this week in an effort to lift the spirits of her television audience. She began by acknowledging all the folks who are still at work helping to keep the world running including “doctors, hospital staff, first responders, supermarket employees, truck drivers and everyone who keeps us going.” Ellen shared doing the at-home edition of her show is for not only her viewers stuck at home but also for her staff and crew: “I love them and miss them, and the best I can do for them is to keep the show on the air.” But things went a bit awry when she cracked a joke comparing her experience quarantining in her $24 million mansion with folks who are incarcerated. “This is like being in jail, is what it is,” said Ellen. “Mostly because I’ve been wearing the same clothes for ten days and everyone in here is gay.”

The moment the words escaped her lips you could almost sense she regretted the reference as she clapped her hands and dropped her face as she said, “Ah, the jokes that I have.” The Emmy Award-winner went on to say she wants to “spread light where there’s shade,” which is a good thing because a LOT of shade was thrown her way on Twitter after the joke fail.

Ellen has caught some flack in recent months for seeming to be out of touch with the average person after standing up for her comedy pal Kevin Hart during the Oscar hosting debacle, and then palling around with former President George W. Bush. As I was writing this article, the video on YouTube was removed, which is probably for the best. At the end of the day, I don’t think an unfunny joke makes Ellen a bad person. Every comedian has a clunker every now and then. But perhaps cracking wise about a pandemic that’s killed thousands and comparing home situations with prisoners who barely have basic necessities might be put on the ‘no joke’ kill list.

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Parody: Randy Rainbow Croons Grease-Tastic “Andy!”

Political satirist Randy Rainbow offers this Grease-tastic take on Danny Zuko’s “Sandy,” as the wily wordsmith croons his love for “Andy!” as in New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has been a steadying force during the ongoing health crisis.

Baby, someday, when COVID’s not a thing If we’re on Earth, for what it’s worth I hope they make you king. You run my state while I gain weight with grace and dignity Oh please, be my dad Oh, Andy

Over the bridge, Rainbow professes: “Andy my darling, this global pandemic is scaring me real bad. But watching your daily press briefings sure does calm me down. “The way you manage to lead and inform without terrifying the living sh*t out of me or straying from the facts. And still find time to nurture my delicate spirit with adorable slide shows and relatable anecdotes about meatballs. “You’re wise, levelheaded, eloquent and sexy and a time when the world needs it most. It sure is a refreshing change from that mother— aw gee, I won’t get into specifics.” Super clever, and perfect for a Monday.

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Out Music: Spencer Day & Effie Passero ‘State Of Emergency’

L-R Effie Passero, Spencer Day (screen capture)
Guest post by Lawrence Pfeil, Jr. Ever been minding your own business, just gigging in Mexico with an American Idol finalist, and the next thing you know you’re both quarantined because of a global pandemic?  Well, that’s exactly what happened a few weeks ago to out singer/songwriter and #1 Billboard chart-topper, Spencer Day. Now we’ve all had our lives upended by the coronavirus crisis, but not many of us are stuck in a foreign country like Spencer and Effie Passero.  If we were, suffice it to say we’d probably be handling it with anxiety and panic, rather than humor and music from a rooftop. But their new collaboration, “State of Emergency” proves even in the worst of times, it can be the best times if you’re there for each other. “Like many of you, we are trying to make the best of the worst and keep looking on the bright side of life,” the duo commented. “Earlier this month we came down to Mexico for some concerts, and then a week later it felt like the world was falling apart.” “This is a brand-new song we wrote after finding ourselves with the need for ‘social distancing’ down here in Mexico,” continued the artists. “We hope everyone is safe, healthy, and finding moments to smile.”

“STATE OF EMERGENCY” Written by: Spencer Day & Effie Passero Performed by: Spencer Day, Effie Passero, Zoe Wood, Eduardo Leon Videographer: Daniel Marquez Ortega (The Groove House Studio) SPENCER DAY is one of the most acclaimed young artists creating witty and sophisticated pop songs in the tradition of the classic American writers. He has been called “compelling” by Time Out New York, “prodigiously talented” by the Village Voice, and “brilliant” by the San Francisco Chronicle. The Washington Post praised his “cool jazz sensibilities” and “cleverly crafted tales.” Day has wandered amid the expansive and diverse landscape of American music, developing an artistic sensibility that borrows from numerous sources: jazz, musical theater, cabaret, soul, folk, traditional and contemporary pop. He uses intuition and improvisation as his primary tools to craft a sound that is familiar, yet fresh and innovative at the same time. Day’s album Vagabond peaked at #11 on the Billboard Album Chart and stayed on the chart for 47 weeks. The lead single, “Til You Come To Me,” peaked at #3. His recent album, Daybreak, debuted at #1 on the iTunes Jazz Chart. Spencer’s first collaboration with Postmodern Jukebox just surpassed 1.5 million views on YouTube. Broadway By Day, his upcoming album of reimagined theater songs with surprising and inventive genre-blurring arrangements, will feature special guests Jane Monheit and Dave Koz. Follow Spencer Day on Facebook here, Twitter here, and Instagram here. EFFIE PASSERO is a classically trained performer turned singer-songwriter. After 12 years in Opera Theatre, she discovered her passion truly lies in storytelling and sharing her own life through music. In early 2018, she was seen on ABC”s first season of “American Idol,” placing in the top 20 contestants. In late 2018, she won the Hollywood Media in Music Award for her original song, “Sarsaparilla.” Effie has been brought into session singing, working on both Leonard Cohen and Barbra Streisand’s latest albums. She is currently finishing her first EP to be will be released in the fall. Follow Effie Passero on Facebook here, Twitter here, and Instagram here.

Lawrence Pfeil, Jr., is a freelance writer/playwright who has reviewed film and theatre, both on and off-Broadway, for media outlets including The Randy Report, the New York Blade, and Edge Publications. You can follow him at TheOUTfront.com.