Steve and Tobi (via Instagram)
News Round-Up: February 13, 2020
RuPaul: My Drag Persona Was A Product Of Science
RuPaul dropped by Late Night with Seth Meyers to talk on his many upcoming projects including the new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as the new live version of the series in Las Vegas at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Reminiscing about New York City back in the 1980s, Ru realized that with success came a price: “When I got famous, that’s when the drag fun ended for me, honestly. I couldn’t terrorize y’all’s neighborhoods anymore because I became the face of drag!”
Later in the interview, Meyers asked Ru how he came up with his drag persona. It turns out it was all scientific: “I’ve always been ambitious and I’ve always liked to look under the hood to see how things actually worked. So I knew that if I was was going to do drag and make it above 14th Street so to speak, I had to calculate the image. “What I did was I had one part Dolly Parton to two parts Cher, one part David Bowie and a big heaping spoonful of Diana Ross. “Then I took the subversive sexuality out of my persona so Betty and Joe Beercan could invite me into their living room and you know what it worked.”
No More ‘Days’ For Daytime’s Gay Power Couple
L-R Chandler Massey and Freddie Smith (screen capture)
Wish it weren’t coming to an end, but I will be forever grateful to everyone who went on this journey with us. https://t.co/Wv0ZfQwFGo
— Chandler Massey (@ChandlerMassey) February 12, 2020
Special indeed when you consider the couple exchanged vows in the first male-male wedding in US daytime drama history. In recognition of the characters and storylines of Sonny and Will, the GLAAD Media Awards honored Days as ‘Outstanding Daily Drama’ four years in a row (2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015). Additionally, Massey won the Daytime Emmy three years in a row (2012, 2013, 2014) for ‘Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series’ marking the first time a gay character was recognized in that category. In 2015, Smith took home the same trophy. TVLine reports Days released the entire cast from their contracts last fall in a belt-tightening decision as the producers waiting to see if the show would be renewed for its 56th season. Once the renewal was announced, the series began negotiating contracts with some (not all) of the show’s players. In announcing the news online, TVGuide.com called the gay couple “the heart and soul of the long-running soap.” You can watch Freddie Smith share his thoughts in the video below.
News Round-Up: February 10, 2020
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Hunky Dan Tai (above) starts the week looking forward – “Everything the light touches is our kingdom.” Follow Dan on Instagram here. • CBS News: Pete Buttigieg (who was named the victor of the Iowa caucuses by a squeak) is asking for a partial recanvass for 66 precincts as well as a recanvass of all in-state satellite caucus locations. The former South Bend mayor said he believes the discrepancies identified by his campaign would result in a net increase of 14 state delegate equivalents if corrected. • Oscars 2020: I loved Janelle Monáe’s opening number for the Academy Awards. Beginning with the theme from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and then moving into a robust celebration of “all the amazing talent in this room,” the 34-year-old told the audience, “I’m so proud to stand here as a black, queer artist, telling stories.” The dancers were on point, the visuals creative, and when Billy Porter joined the number to knock out some “I’m Still Standing,” it all went over the top. #Bravo
• Washington Post: Federal prosecutors on Monday said longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone deserves a sentence of 7 to 9 years in prison for lying to Congress and tampering with a witness related to his efforts to learn about hacked Democratic emails during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. • Virginia: The Virginia state House on Monday passed HB 972, which would decriminalize marijuana, by a vote of 64-34. The state Senate is expected to pass its own version shortly. Gov. Ralph Northam has signaled his support for the measure. • Out: Netflix announced today that the popular series Sex Education will, indeed, return for a third season. • USA Today: For the first time in the 2020 Democratic primary, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders took the lead in a national Quinnipiac University poll, overtaking former Vice President Joe Biden, just after the Iowa caucuses and one day ahead of Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. Sanders received 25% support among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, with Biden at 17%.
New national Quinnipiac poll just out: Sanders 25% Biden 17% Bloomberg 15% Warren 14% Buttigieg 10% Klobuchar 4% Everyone else 2% or less
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) February 10, 2020
Funny: Porn Star Reads Red Carpet Fashions For Filth
Antonio Biaggi (via Instagram)
Janet Jackson Announces New Album & World Tour ‘Black Diamond’
Janet Jackson (photo: Solaiman Fazel)
Hey U Guys! I’ve heard all your wishes and now from my lips to your ears. I’m working on my new album and going on a brand new World Tour this summer! Both titled ✨ “Black Diamond”. ✨
Black Diamonds are the toughest of all the diamonds, the hardest to cut. I see that as the hardest to hurt or destroy. There is a lot that I have endured. I see myself as a Black Diamond in its purest form. I’m a rock, I have ruff edges but I keep moving forward. I want to show you my strength as well as give you strength.
I love u guys so much and I’m #SoExcited to share this new era with you. See u soon! #BlackDiamond
Michael Henry Asks The BIG Question: ‘Does Size Matter?’
Michael Henry (screen capture)
As his park pals dream of “massive man meat” and “shattered pelvic floors,” Henry explains via his own reality. “I know my limits – I have big teeth and a small mouth,” says the funnyman. “And excuuuuuse me for having a gag reflex! People are supposed to know when they’re choking.” When one friend points out that the anus is a muscle…? “I don’t feel like putting it to the test.” But, but, but…Big D! Nope, Mr. Henry is not interested. Of course, it’s worth noting that “small” and “big” can be relative to the person using the term. When actual numbers enter the discussion, clarity sets in.
RuPaul’s SNL Monologue: ‘I Am Wearing My Grandmother’s Panties’
Stepping out in a chic pink, fitted suit, RuPaul took to the Saturday Night Live stage last night as host. Ru greeted the enthusiastic audience with a triumphant, “This is fun, right?” After explaining some RuPaul’s Drag Race jargon, Ru noted that many expected him to make his first appearance in drag. “I am wearing my grandmother’s panties,” he assured the crowd before repeating his famous mantra, “We’re born naked and the rest is drag.” Perhaps his biggest laugh in the monologue came when the ‘Supermodel of the world’ talked about moving to New York City in the 1980s when the city was filled with drugs, sex workers, and seedy nightclubs. “But it wasn’t all good,” said Ru with a smile. Check out the monologue below.
Ru also scored in a sketch where he drops in at a San Diego public library for ‘reading’ hour and proceeds to ‘read’ the covers of children’s books for filth. “Reading is throwing shade – a brutal insult wrapped inside glorious wordplay.” And the library is open! Holding up Eloise by Kay Thompson, Ru declares, “Ooh, Eloise! You need to call the front desk and get a hot oil treatment for that broom on your head. And girl, Victoria’s Secret called, they want they wallpaper back. And what is she doing? Popping a fart? Got that leg all dragged out, all nasty. Girl please!”
Out Music: VINCINT ‘Save Myself’
In advance of his upcoming EP, The Feeling, rising pop recording artist VINCINT drops his new single, “Save Myself.”
VINCINT says the new song “is about letting the people in your life who are always ‘there for you’ and constantly giving you unwanted advice or tips on how to live YOUR life ‘better,’ know that you just need them to shut up and let you figure it out on your own!”
“You know what’s right for you; you just gotta block out the voices to hear yourself,” adds the artist. “While you love them and appreciate all that they do, this is a ‘shut up, stand there and watch me ‘Save Myself’ anthem.”
In January, VINCINT told Paper Magazine the new EP represents “my take on love.” “The joy, pain, happiness, and disappointments… the incredible highs and unforeseeable lows and the self-discovery,” he continued. “These emotions threaded together sum up the way I describe it all. For me, it’s just The Feeling.”
In September, VINCINT premiered his ‘Flashdance’ inspired music video from the project, “Someday.” Paper Magazine called the track “impressive” and “addictive.” I agree.
“VINCINT just might be our generation’s greatest vocalist.” – PAPER Magazine “No longer a star is born – VINCINT is a legend in the making.” – Billboard
The new single, “Save Myself,” is available now on all digital download sites, and the EP The Feeling drops Valentine’s Day.
Music Video: Corey TuT ‘Hey There Superman’
Corey Tut (center)
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The Randy Report: You’ve worked with Gerald McCullouch on three films now – two documentaries (All Male All Nude, All Male All Nude: Johnsons) and a narrative film, DADDY. Do you find you develop a ’shorthand’ in discussing the projects and what Gerald wants after a while? Corey Tut: Gerald and I have been friends for decades and have been working on film projects together for almost as long so we definitely have worked out a shorthand over time. Our first film was actually a short he wrote and directed called The Morning After. Then we did Daddy and the two dick docs. He has always been super supportive of my music and open to what I bring to the table so that helps the process. TRR: I understand you used some music from your catalog as well as new compositions for the new documentary? CT: Gerald was shooting the Johnsons movie while I was writing for my album Into The Light. I knew we would be needing songs for the film, so I kept writing with strippers in mind. It was really fun to just write sexy stripper songs from a gay point of view. 
We had a definite tone set with the first movie, so I just kept writing in that vein. I had written songs specifically for the first AMAN, but for the second one, I just handed Gerald a stack of tunes and then worked with him and Jimmy the sound designer to kinda shape them to the picture as we edited. TRR: Is there a difference in how you approach the music for a narrative film versus a documentary? CT: Not really. I think the music should serve the film and help serve the director’s vision in telling the story, be it narrative or doc. TRR: Do personal attitudes or tastes come into play when you decide to work on a project? CT: Yes and no. Of course, I always want to be excited about whatever I am working on but more than that I want to work with people I respect and enjoy. It also kinda varies from job to job. If I am producing a record for an artist and they are wanting something that I personally don’t care for, it’s my job to help them execute their vision so that they are happy with the record they are putting out because ultimately it’s their name on the record, not mine. The same goes for film work or any hired gun jobs. Now, when I am working on music that is just for myself as an artist, it’s a different story, obviously. Then I get to just follow my own muse.
TRR: Did you write ‘Hey There Superman’ for the documentary? It’s such a perfect fit for the mood and the groove of the film. CT: Surprisingly I did not. I wrote it when I was writing all the other sexy stripper songs so I knew it was in that milieu, but when Gerald found that he had shot footage of the boys at the club stripping in the Superman underwear, it became an obvious choice as one of the anthems of the movie. TRR: Can you share a film score that you think nailed it in terms of bringing what a film score should as a contribution to the film? CT: I have been a huge Trent Reznor fan since the first time I heard Pretty Hate Machine back in the late ’80s and I think his transition into film and television scoring has been very interesting and incredibly successful. His songwriting has such an epic cinematic quality that I have always admired and I think it works brilliantly for the film. I will gladly watch anything he has worked on just to hear how he uses sound and music to further the film. As far as upcoming projects, I am finishing up production on Peppermint’s new album, as well as working on songs for Kyle Mottsinger’s forthcoming album, and looking forward to starting work on my new album the beginning of the year.
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Check out the sexy, chill music video for “Hey There, Superman” above. You can follow Corey Tut on Instagram here, and you can check out my exclusive interview with All Male All Nude: Johnsons director Gerald McCullouch (CSI, Bear City, DADDY) here.