Category: Entertainment

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‘The Blond One’ Explores Visceral Attraction Amid Latin Machismo

With five acclaimed indie features under his belt, Argentine director/writer Marco Berger (Taekwondo, Plan B, Hawaii) delivers his latest exploration of the male psyche, The Blond One. The film, which premiered at Sydney’s Mardi Gras Film Festival in February and took home the prize for Best LGBTQ Film at the Molodist International Film Festival, is a testament to the power of understated performances and confidently relies on artful silences between the two protagonists. Set in Buenos Aires, Gabriel (Gastón Re) and Juan (Alfonso Barón) are coworkers who find themselves roommates when Juan invites Gabriel to rent a spare bedroom in his flat. One furtive glance leads to another, a brush of a hand here or there, and even though Juan’s multiple girlfriends casually come and go, the attraction between the two men is palpable. Of course, this leads to a physical connection, but both men then have to search themselves for what this means. Latin machismo battles with visceral sexual attraction as the film circles around latent romantic possibilities.

Juan, apparently bisexual, finds the need to put walls up and delineate roles by offering macho statements like, “Don’t make me explain myself like you were my girlfriend,” to a puppy dog-eyed Gabriel. Gabriel, the sensitive, single father (the mother of his daughter passed away some time ago) who seems to quietly identify as gay, finds himself looking for an emotional anchor. Whether or not that ends up to be Juan, you’ll have to check out the film to find out. The subtle, heartfelt performances – brimming with sexual tension – are intimate, honest and emotionally raw. The Blond One opens today in Los Angeles for a weeklong run at the Laemmle Music Hall with home video release to follow. In Spanish with English subtitles – running time 111 minutes. Rating: 5 stars – highly recommended (all photos courtesy of TLA Releasing)

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PEOPLE Names Billy Porter One Of The ‘Best Dressed Of 2019’

Chalk up another title added to POSEstar Billy Porter’s list of accomplishments: the Tony Award-winner has been named one of  PEOPLE’s Best Dressed of 2019. And for so many reasons. The red carpet ninja killed it throughout the recent awards season. From his stunning Christian Sirano designed black velvet tuxedo ball gown worn to the Oscars; to his embroidered suit complete with pink-lined cape at the Golden Globes; to his ‘Sun God’ inspired fashion for this year’s Met Gala; and his glorious hot pink/red Celestine Couture ball gown for the Tony Awards, Mr. Porter is just beginning to own his fashion statements. https://www.instagram.com/p/BuSF3dEl_e0/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsjd6p6FVDd/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BxJbaXfFerw/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bygz46zjuNF/ “As a man, I really want to make a different kind of statement and show up in a way that could also be transformative, that could also be political,” Porter told PEOPLE. “My goal was to be a walking piece of political art. When I show up that’s what my goal is. Put a man in a dress and it’s controversial, doesn’t make any sense, but okay. Let’s keep having this conversation until we can change something.” It wasn’t until he began working on his groundbreaking FX series POSE that he “realized how gender fluid” his fashion instincts had been. “It kind of cracked my brain open and helped me get to a different space and understanding about myself,” said the 49-year-old actor. “The dilemmas I was putting on myself, even just about what I can wear, what was acceptable, what was masculine enough, what was acceptable.” Porter also noted that he’s not the only public figure exploring gender-fluid fashion like Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness and Grammy Award-winner Sam Smith. “There’s a few of us trying to do it. But I think it’s really transforming something,” opined Porter. “It’s really making a difference. I’m seeing more and more men playing in that way.” With his historic Emmy Award nomination for his work on POSE as ‘Best Actor in a Drama,’ Porter advises we all stay tuned for his upcoming look. “It’ll be a fashion moment,” he assures. “I don’t know what it is yet, but it’s going to be a moment. It has to be a moment now! I’ve created something where I have to show up, it has to be a moment. I don’t know if it’s going to be a dress or anything like that but we’ll see.” Congratulations to Billy for blazing his own trail and showing folks we don’t have to fit into someone else’s mold. Here are a few more fashion statements by the Grammy Award winner. https://www.instagram.com/p/ByMEAeVFTmI/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BtXKpFElm6t/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BzVpkQHFLJu/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt96EvzlJ4K/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BxxYi7qFOS-/ https://www.instagram.com/p/B17TvFbltiH/

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Randy Rainbow Skewers Trump With ‘Cheeto Christ Stupid-Czar’

Political satirist Randy Rainbow’s latest hysterical offering is his mashup of tunes from the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice classic musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. But in this iteration, Rainbow riffs on Donald Trump’s recent headlines when he tweeted about a political pundit referring to him as the “King of Israel,” and when he looked up to the sky and said, “I am the chosen one.” So, Randy mixes his magic on three songs from the show: “King Herod’s Song,” “Everything’s Alright,” and the title track. “Cheeto Christ, Cheeto Christ / He’s like if Jesus were pumpkin-spiced.” Hit play below for the uber-clever word-play:

Randy is currently on tour where crowds are flocking to experience his very funny sense of political theater. Click here for details about the tour.

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New Music: Stewart Taylor “Mess Your Hair Up”

Out singer/songwriter Stewart Taylor encourages his fans to be playful and adventurous with their significant others with his latest music video, “Mess Your Hair Up.” The R&B funk track was inspired by Taylor’s own long-distance relationship.  “I had recently moved to LA from New York and my partner sent me a super sexy picture,” he shares about the genesis of the new song. “I told him I wanted to jump on him and mess his hair up! The chorus of the song came to me almost immediately afterwards.” “Everyone deserves to be happy in and outside of the bedroom,” he reflects. “While ‘Mess Your Hair Up’ may appear simplistic and perhaps more superficial than my previous tracks, sometimes simple and fun is better. One of my favorite Prince songs is literally about wanting his lover’s ‘extra time and their KISS,’ and it’s still iconic.:   His optimism shines through in the colorful music video for “Mess Your Hair Up.”   “The video celebrates white, black, Latino, and even drag queen hairstyles because all of it is beautiful to me,” he adds. “I also had the privilege of working with LA-based choreographer Johnny Rice (Taylor Swift, Adam Lambert) on the dance numbers in the video, so hopefully it makes people want to get up and dance, too.” Visit www.stewarttaylorofficial.com for more info on Stewart. Hit the play button and bounce through Hump Day a little easier.

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Lara Spencer Apologizes For Mocking Boys Taking Dance Class

Good Morning America host Lara Spencer apologized for her faux pas when she laughed on air at the idea of Prince George’s curriculum including ballet classes, which he reportedly enjoys. I posted some of the dance world’s response the homophobic giggle Spencer shared when she reported that news. On GMA this week, she offered a humble, sincere apology for “screwing up.” She also welcomed three major forces from the dance world to talk about the impact of laughing, mocking and shaming boys who dance: 2-time Emmy Award winner Travis Wall, ballet star and soon-to-appear in the film adaptation of CATS, Robbie Fairchild, and Joffrey Ballet’s Fabrice Calmels. When she first issued a mea culpa via Instagram, being married to a publicist the text seemed a bit “the network said I have to do this.” But watching her in this GMA segment, I take her at her word that she realizes her mistake. As a guy who has danced for 40 years, and thankfully enjoyed a career of incredible opportunity thanks to dance, I accept her apology and appreciate that it comes across as authentic and sincere.

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Taylor Swift Promotes Equality Act During Acceptance Speech At VMAs

Taylor Swift won big at the MTV Video Music Awards Monday night as she scored the trophy for Video of the Year for her LGBTQ anthem, “You Need To Calm Down.” Taylor opened the night’s festivities performing “YNTCD” as well as her new single “Lover.” The Hollywood Reporter has the details.

Dancers dressed in colorful ensembles moved around the stage before the drag queens featured in the music video appeared next to Swift as she sang the anti-hate anthem. The first number concluded with the words “Equality Act” largely written behind the performers.

Swift has been an advocate for the Equality Act and has urged her followers to sign a petition in its favor on social media. The House of Representatives passed legislation in May that protects those living in states where it’s legal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity when it comes to housing, employment and other services.

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CNN Chats With Emmy-Nominated Randy Rainbow

CNN’s John Berman sits down with Randy Report favorite Randy Rainbow (yep, that’s his real name) to chat on his meteoric rise as political parody satirist. Randy’s career took off during the 2016 presidential campaign when his satirical take on the first Hillary Clinton/Donald Trump debate garnered over 20 million views in two days on Facebook alone. He’s now nominated for an Emmy Award and touring the country performing live concerts.

Here’s the video that began Randy’s triumphant run as Political Satirist in Chief plus his Emmy nominated “Barr:”

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Broadway Cares Fundraiser Will Celebrate 25 Years Of Disney On Bway

Guest post by Lawrence Pfeil, Jr. of TheOUTFront.com For three decades, BroadwayCares/EquityFightsAIDS has been at the forefront of the entertainment industry’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic raising over $300 million and supporting more than 450 health organizations. During that time, Disney Theatrical Productions arrived on Broadway becoming a leading player and champion in their vital work raising more than $18M for the nonprofit.  Nine Broadway productions later, Disney and BC/EFA will share the stage of the New Amsterdam Theatre for one night only, on November 4th at 8 pm “Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney on Broadway.” The benefit concert, produced in partnership with Disney Theatrical Productions, will feature beloved songs from Aida, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Newsies, Tarzan and a few surprises along the way. This unforgettable evening is set to feature a star-studded lineup of Broadway favorites to be announced in the coming weeks. From the BC/EFA website, Thomas Schumacher, president and producer of Disney Theatrical Productions and executive vice president of Broadway Cares’ Board of Trustees is quoted,

“Broadway Cares rose from a time of crisis and need to become an essential part of the Broadway landscape. It would be hard to imagine our community without the essential resource that is Broadway Cares.

“Direct support to The Actors Fund as well as an extraordinary array of grants to service organizations here at home, around the country and as far away as South Africa, is only possible because of the extraordinary efforts of Broadway Cares working side by side with theatre professionals throughout the Broadway community.

“This special evening allows our Disney on Broadway family to both express our deep thanks and to raise much-needed funds for Broadway Cares.”

Individual tickets start at $100. VIP tickets include a post-performance reception with the stars. The Backstage & Beyond package offers exclusive dress rehearsal access on the day of the show, a backstage tour, dinner with members of the company and the post-performance reception. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Purchase tickets HERE  Support BC/EFA’s life-changing and lifesaving work HERE Here are just a few of our favorite moments from 25 years of Disney on Broadway! From the show that started it all, the OG Beast, Terrence Mann sings “If I Can’t Love Her” from Beauty and the Beast: https://youtu.be/J7SkaANlNnI You know we love a strong black woman who can sang, and Heather Headley’s Tony Award-winning star turn in Aida is a throw down. https://youtu.be/RcgqkqWP_Jo Still the pride of Broadway after 22 years, The Lion King has been described “like being in a dream awake.”  But audiences don’t get to see the breathtaking, “Circle of Life” in a full 360 experience like this. Goosebumps: Standby Goosebumps: GO https://youtu.be/7T57kzGQGto

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Billy Porter On Breaking Through At 49 ‘I Do Not Take It Lightly’

Billy Porter, nominated for ‘Best Actor in a Drama’ at this year’s Emmy Awards for his star turn on the FX series, POSE, recently spoke to PEOPLE about the ‘moment’ he is currently in thanks to the groundbreaking TV show.

“I really had a hard time as an out, black, gay actor making any headway. I wasn’t having a great time living up to the heteronormative masculinity standard to get the straight male work. So I wasn’t really working in film and television. And it was just frustrating, you know? It was just frustrating to sort of feel ignored and feel dismissed, and dismissed for even the flamboyant things.

“I’ve been in the busy 30 years – I’ve never been the object of affection in anything. When you’re gay, they like to cut your dick off and make you asexual.

“The stories that get greenlit about black men are generally about us killing each other very often.

“And so, it’s nice, it’s beautiful, and it’s time to for the world to understand that there all types of people on the planet, we do different things AND we can honor each other’s humanity inside of that.”

“I choose joy, I choose life, I made that decision a long time ago.”

Watch more from the Golden Globe/Emmy Award-nominated Mr. Porter below.

(images via screen capture – People)