Category: Entertainment

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‘Will & Grace’ Actress Shelley Morrison Dies At 83

Shelley Morrison on ‘Will & Grace’ (screen capture)
Shelley Morrison, who played Megan Mullally’s sassy housekeeper ‘Rosario’ on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, has died at 83. Variety reports the actress passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles due to heart failure after a brief illness.

Rosario, who hailed from El Salvador, was originally written to appear in just one episode of the hit NBC series, but her dynamic with Megan Mullally’s Karen resonated so well with audiences that the character went on to appear in 68 episodes over eight seasons of the original series. According to co-creator Max Mutchnick, Morrison was asked to reprise her role for the revival of ‘Will & Grace,’ but had decided to retire from acting completely.

Before her turn on “Will & Grace,” Morrison was best known for playing Sister Sixto on “The Flying Nun” alongside Sally Field in the late ’60s and early ’70s. She also had extensive credits as a guest actress, including roles on “The Partridge Family,” “Three’s A Crowd,” “My Favorite Martian,” “Laredo,” “Gunsmoke” and “General Hospital.” All four stars of the hit sitcom paid tribute to Morrison on social media.

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Same-Sex Dance Duo Wins Denmark’s DWTS

(photo: Henrik Ohsten/VildMedDans via Facebook)
History was made in Denmark as the first same-sex team to compete on the country’s version of Dancing with the Stars took home the trophy over the weekend. Openly gay actor Jakob Fauerby and professional dancer Silas Holst consistently impressed the judges and the TV audience throughout the season.

 

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Stort tillykke, Jakob og Silas ⭐️ 📸Foto: Henrik Ohsten #vmd19 #vildmeddans

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The same-sex partnering was Fauerby’s idea and the show’s producers approved his request. Earlier in the season, the actor told the press he had a sense the series was looking to feature a same-sex team but probably didn’t know how to approach possible contestants with the request. “It’s difficult to ask someone ‘Hey do you want to be in the show, but do you want to be the LGBT representation of it?’” he said. “So, I think they just waited for someone to express the willingness to do it themselves.” Holst ended a five-year sabbatical from the show and returned to compete with Fauerby as the first same-sex dance duo in the show’s 16-year history. The dance competition, one of the most popular shows in Denmark, draws a huge audience each week. “We are a small country of only 5.6 million people, and every Friday more than a million people tune in to watch the show and many more watch it on-demand afterward,” Fauerby told the press. “There are very few shows that everyone sees, and this is one of them, so there are a lot of feelings connected to it.”
Celebrating the triumph, Fauerby shared the jubilation on his Instagram writing, “It’s totally crazy and absolutely amazing. Thank you so much to all of you for your wonderful messages and great support over the last 12 weeks.” Noting the impact of representation on television, he added, “I am so proud that my daughter, her big brother, and all other little boys and girls can go out into the world and love the way they want and dance with whomever they want.”

He also thanked his professional partner for not only being “the bravest man” but “getting me out into the deepest water – it was worth it!” Holst returned the praise thanking Fauerby for his courage to take the journey writing, “It will forever sit in my heart.”

 

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Nu er det ved at lande i mig hvad der er foregået de sidste 24 timer. Jeg er stolt!! Stolt af vores hårde arbejde blev belønnet, men aller vigtigst stolt over at dele land med alle jer, der har turde åbne jeres sind og se på noget nyt med åbne øjne. At I så igennem både køn og seksualitet og kun så to mennesker der dansede. Det fylder mit hjerte med kærlighed og mine øjne med tårer!! Tusinde tak for al jeres kærlighed og stemmer! Det har været rørende og helt fantastisk at mærke jeres opbakning!! Tak for at vi måtte!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Og dig kæreste, kæreste Fauerby! TAK for dig. Tak for dit mod og fordi du nok er verdens bedste selskab! Tænk at vi gjorde det! Især når man tænker tilbage på uge 4 i vores moderne dans og din minisk sprang. Hvad I kære seere ikke ved, er at vi sad på produktionskontoret onsdag eftermiddag inden udsendelse nr.5 og snakkede om vi blev nødt til at trække os, da Jakob ikke kunne gå. Lægen ringede og gav grønt lys torsdag aften og Fauerby fik tre timer torsdag aften til at lære samba til om fredagen. Det er det vildeste jeg har prøvet i VMD. Du lærte samba på TRE TIMER Fauerby!! Imponeret. Du er blevet far, du er blevet danser og jeg vil give Anne Laxholm ret igår – du er mest af alt en kunstner!! Jeg er lykkelig over at have taget denne tur med lige peæcis dig i hånden! Det vil for altid sidde i mit hjerte ❤️❤️ gudskelov vi ses lige om lidt! Tak til @mastifftv.dk og @tv2danmark for jeres mod!! Jeg er lykkelig ❤️

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There have been same-sex dance teams on various iterations of the reality competition around the world, but this is the first time they’ve taken home the gold. Italy’s version of the show featured a male duo last year where the team came in third at the season finale. There have also been same-sex teams in the Austrian and Israeli editions, and drag performer Courtney Act participated in the Australian series with a male partner.

 

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To stolte og glade vindere af Vild med dans 2019 🕺🏼❤️ #vmd19 #vildmeddans 📸 Foto: Henrik Ohsten

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Podcast: Pete Buttigieg, Palo Alto Police Brutality, Gay Panic Defense, World AIDS Day

The Randy Report podcast

The Randy Report podcast delivers the week's top stories in a quick, convenient podcast - 'the 60 Minutes of gay news - only shorter' In this week’s podcast: • A journalist wrote a scathing piece about Mayor Pete Buttigieg and the mayor called his critic to listen • NYC sees a significant drop in new HIV infections • A Palo Alto police brutality case reaches a settlement • The gay panic defense could be bye-bye in New Jersey • Kasey Musgraves has a new ‘tres gay’ Christmas special on Amazon Prime • Award-winning out singer Matt Zarley drops his take on the holiday classic, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” * Observing World AIDS Day this year Link to Mark King’s essay – Link to JoeMyGod’s essay

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Christmas Music: Nat King Cole “The Christmas Song”

Nat King Cole's classic holiday album, The Christmas Song We’re officially in full-on holiday season, and as long-time TRR readers know, I love Christmas music. So, expect lots of posts over the next month sharing holiday tunes you may or may not know 🙂 Early on, I like to share this timeless classic – Nat King Cole’s gorgeous “The Christmas Song” in a rare live TV performance. Originally written by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells in 1944, it was first recorded by The King Cole Trio in 1946. The song was recorded again in stereophonic sound with a full orchestra (conducted by Ralph Carmichael) using the same lush arrangement for Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song album in 1961. Just so totally warm and wonderful. Watch below.

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Wendy Williams Denies Lesbian Rumor: ‘I Like Men And I Like The D’

Wendy Williams (screen capture)
During a lengthy rant on her daily gabfest on Tuesday, Wendy Williams declared in no uncertain terms she is not a lesbian because “I like men and I like the D.” Williams was apparently addressing a recent Radar Online piece – “Sorry Whitney! Houston’s Lesbian Lover Robyn Crawford Now BFFs With Wendy Williams” – that seemed to imply the talk show host had been crushing on Robyn Crawford, Whitney Houston’s alleged lesbian lover. Radar based the report on Rob Shuter’s podcast, Straight Shuter, where gossip guy Shuter opined that Crawford and Williams “really hit it off” during Crawford’s November 12 appearance on the talk show promoting her new book, A Song for You: My Life With Whitney Houston. “Since the taping, Wendy and Robin have been texting each other,” read the Radar article. “They have become close and are getting dinner next week.” Williams came across the insinuating chatter and took it to the cameras. “In between commercials and everything, I go on the googler schmoogler and I go to Radar Online, speaking of how you doin’, and I see that Rob Shuter – he’s insinuating that something romantical is going on between me and Robyn Crawford,” Williams shared as the studio audience chuckled. “I am no lesbian, I like women for friendship. I like men and I like the D,” said Williams before reaching for her coffee cup. Underscoring her point, Williams added with a playful tone, “First of all, I’m not down with that – all due respect to the lesbians.” Williams, who recently divorced her husband of nearly 22 years,  also pointed out Crawford is married with children and Miss Wendy is “not a homewrecker.” “I’ve never even been curious,” she made a point to include. “It’s so complicated being a woman,” Williams said. “I just couldn’t imagine two of us in a relationship.” “I mean, yesterday after the show, I got the surprise of my life – at 55, I got a period,” said the recent divorcee in a bit of oversharing. “I just can’t deal with two of us under the same roof,” she said. Maybe she was just short of material for her Hot Topics segment, but it seems like a lot of acting out over a lesbian rumor in 2019. You can watch the bit in the clip below.

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Break Out The Vitameatavegamin! – Will & Grace Announces ‘I Love Lucy’ Tribute

The cast of Will & Grace (photo: Dave Bjerke/NBC)
Break out the Vitameatavegamin! Will & Grace is planning a tribute episode to legendary 1950s sitcom, I Love Lucy. EW reports the homage, set to air in the spring, will offer three cast members – Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes – all taking on the role of the irrepressible redhead in iconic scenes from the beloved series. Messing will take on Lucy’s loopy “Vitameatavegamin” scene, while Hayes will attempt to keep up in the continually-accelerating conveyor belt in the chocolate factory. Mullally will, appropriately, have an alcohol-related scene as she stomps grapes at an Italian winery. In each of the excerpts, Eric McCormack will become play Ricky Ricardo as the other cast members rotate in the roles of Fred and Ethel Mertz.

In a nod to the original series’ comedic genius, the writers of Will & Grace will present the scenes scripted exactly as they were over 70 years ago. Plus, for a touch of authenticity, Lucie Arnaz, the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, will make a cameo appearance as the no-nonsense supervisor in the chocolate factory scene. “I know my parents would be over the moon to be honored in this way and by such similar talents who bring the same kind of joy to audiences as they did in I Love Lucy, said Arnaz in a statement. “I’m thrilled to be invited to the party and will do my best to honor the memory of Elvia Allman’s iconic performance.” Messing shared a jaw-dropping, behind-the-scenes photo of her done up as Lucille Ball writing, “I can’t wait until you see all the mind-blowing work done by Costumes, Sets & Set Dressing, Props et al when it airs next spring.”

Will & Grace airs Thursdays on NBC at 9:30 p.m. ET. (Source: EW)

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‘Frozen 2’ Breaks Box Office Records Worldwide

Wow. Disney’s Frozen 2, like the original, broke all kinds of records at the box office during its first week in release including biggest worldwide opening for an animated film (37 markets), the top international opening of all time for an animated film ($350 million), and biggest domestic November opening for an animated film ($130 million). From Yahoo News:

The long-awaited Frozen 2 has landed in cinemas, a full six years after the first movie became the biggest animated film of all time. And thanks to a sterling turnout worldwide over the weekend, Frozen 2 has already nabbed some records of its own. Making just over $350 million worldwide overall, it makes it the biggest ever global opening for an animated movie, though its domestic US figure fell just behind that of Incredibles 2. This means that it’s putting Disney on track for six billion dollar movies this year, alongside Aladdin, Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel, Toy Story 4 and The Lion King. It’s the first studio to ever reach such a box office landmark.

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Randy Rainbow Parodies Oklahoma! “He’s Just A Gurl Who’ll Quid Pro Quo”

The oh-so-brilliant Emmy Award nominee Randy Rainbow sends us into the weekend with this satirical take on the current House impeachment inquiry via a send-up of “Cain’t Say No” from the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, Oklahoma! You know, even Ado Annie knew right from wrong… The lyrics are so on point as is the video. By the way, Randy has a new holiday album and you can check it out here.

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New Music: Kyle Motsinger Considers The Road Not Taken In ‘Parallel Universe’

L-R Sam Perwin, Kyle Motsinger (photo: Tyler William Milliron)
Raised in Illinois, out singer/songwriter Kyle Motsinger picked up and moved to the big, bad city – New York – to follow his dreams as soon as he could. But in his latest single, “Parallel Universe,” Motsinger considers what his path would have been like had he stayed in his hometown:

In a parallel universe I stayed / After college I moved back to town / No other plans were made / Got a job, got a dog right by my side / Settling for a slower life / Completely satisfied / Wouldn’t know any better, any worse, In that parallel universe  

Then there’s the other side of the ‘what if’ coin – what if Motsinger’s hometown beau moved with him to the big city?

Opportunities I couldn’t find here / In a town not ruled by courage but by fear / In another universe you moved with me / We rented an apartment in the heart of NYC / We’d explore the city side-by-side / End our days making love completely satisfied

“I wrote ‘Parallel Universe’ after an encounter with a former lover while visiting family for the holidays in Illinois,” says the handsome artist. “I started imagining different scenarios in which we could be together. It felt like each scenario was a different parallel universe. What if there were multiple versions of us out there that were living these scenarios? I do love a good science fiction story!”

L-R Sam Perwin, Kyle Motsinger (screen capture)
On first listen, I felt like the song had a sense of theatrical story-telling to it, in a similar vein as some classic Billy Joel songs. And it seems that it wasn’t my imagination. “I was also more than a little bit inspired by the play/movie, Rabbit Hole, written by David Lindsay-Abaire,” shares Motsinger. “I wrote it as a pop/rock ballad and worked with fellow singer/songwriter Corey Tut to get the sound right in the studio. Chris Bonner recorded bass and Adam Stoler recorded guitars while on the road with the Broadway musical, Come From Away. So, yes, there is a pedigree of theatrical roots to the track. Motsinger says he hopes “this song makes you think about how choices can lead to many different outcomes.” I previously showcased Motsinger’s disco-tastic “Love On Each Other” featuring big dance beats and slinky 1970s strings. “Parallel Universe” is now available on iTunes, Spotify, and other digital music platforms.

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Podcast: Pete Buttigieg, RuPaul, Tom Goss & The Epic Fail Of ‘Straight Pride’

The Randy Report podcast

The Randy Report podcast delivers the week's top stories in a quick, convenient podcast - 'the 60 Minutes of gay news - only shorter' In this week’s podcast: • Sen. Kamala Harris calls Mayor Pete Buttigieg “naive” for relating his experience as a gay man to other marginalized communities. • A homophobic photographer in Kentucky has filed a lawsuit to block Louisville’s Fairness Ordinance just in case a gay couple were to ask her to shoot their wedding. • Three federal judges have blocked a new rule announced by the Health and Human Services Department that would allow healthcare professionals to deny service to LGBTQs. • The Straight Pride event in Dallas was the biggest fail yet. • Netflix releases teaser video for RuPaul’s upcoming scripted comedy series AJ and The Queen. • Out singer/songwriter Tom Goss’s new album explores new emotional Territories. All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.