LGBTQ news and entertainment
“When is the right time to tell someone a secret? This is my coming out story.” – by Hamish Steele
Sweet. And quite accurate portrayal for many people. My coming out to my best friends was much like this.
And then, it’s done. And life goes on.
Forward.
This is a bit of a heart-breaker for me.
I loved the pilot and continued to watch the show. It had it’s ups and downs along the way of it’s two seasons, but I really liked what the creators of the show were going for: how a Broadway show gets to the Great White Way and what goes on underneath the surface of all those lives along the journey.
Here’s Newsday‘s take on the cancellation:
Despite promise in the first season, the show’s storytelling deteriorated and ended up drawing a small crowd of spitball-throwers known as “hate viewers,” who traded social media barbs over the show’s storylines… A new producer couldn’t turn matters around and “Smash” was sent to Saturday earlier this season where its end was foretold.
In addition to many great moments on the show as the writers and producers were finding their voice again, the music was often just fab. Songs like “Let Me Be Your Star” and “Don’t Forget Me” sit in my head all day if I happen to play one.
Series’ star Katharine McPhee talked to The Hollywood Reporter about what the experience has meant to her, saying:
“Sure, I wish that it could have five more seasons, but we had two great seasons and all I can say is I loved every moment of it. I loved getting to the set, I loved the people, I loved my crew. We did amazing things on the show in two years,” she told THR. “With this business, you can never predict what people are going to like or love or hate. All I know is that when the show started and people were so excited about the plot, I was excited to finally be a part of something that could showcase me. Everyone has perceptions about what you’re capable of and what you can do and this show was a huge gift.”
There were rumors that the series fictitious musical “Bombshell” might find some life somewhere on a real theatrical stage. I’d love to see that happen.
With the music we’ve heard and the fantastic choreography by Joshua Bergasse, I think there are a lot of fans who’d head out to see it.
RIP SMASH.
NBC has canceled the gay parenting comedy The New Normal after one season, according to The Hollywood Reporter:
While its April season finale was penned to serve as a potential series finale, producers said that a second se ason would have featured the newly married couple raising their newborn son.
Ryan Murphy currently has two other shows that have received green lights to continue. Glee for two more seasons, and American Horror Story for a third season.
(source)
This walking video interview was shared years ago, but is making the rounds again now due to Facebook and Twitter.
Always a good opportunity to pose the question about whether gay folks “choose” to be gay. Ask a straight person when did they “choose” to be straight and the conversation quickly reframes itself.
Take a look if you’ve never seen this. Always thought-provoking 🙂
Happy Saturday!
A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.
Starring Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, Dermot Mulroney, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper and Sam Shepard.
Favorite line: “Thank god we can’t tell the future. We’d never get out of bed.”
Release date: November 8, 2013
Deadspin provides this map of the USA noting, state by state, the highest paid public employee in each locale. In 42 states, the highest paid public employee is a sports coach.
However, should you look to merely base salaries, you might be confused.
Apparently, should you wish to peruse public databases, the numbers would not add up as most coaches “compensation” includes more than just base salary:
Far exceeding these base salaries is the “additional compensation” that almost all of these coaches receive, which is tied to media appearances, apparel contracts, and fundraising. While this compensation does not come directly from the state fund it is guaranteed in the coaches’ contracts; if revenue falls short, the school—and thus the state—is on the hook to cover the difference. Plus, even it doesn’t come directly from taxpayers, this compensation is still problematic for all the reasons listed above.Beyond salary and additional compensation, coaches earn money from bonus incentives tied primarily to the team’s performance. This analysis ignored those bonuses and focused on guaranteed money, as it’s impossible to guess at whether a coach will hit his benchmarks. And we’re not even touching the ridiculous amounts of money coaches can get if they’re fired before their contract ends.
Read more at Deadspin.
(h/t JMG)
I was reminded that it was three years ago today that we lost the great, gorgeous, courageous and talented Lena Horne.
I felt the need to watch the Kennedy Center Honors tribute that captured the spirit of her journey here.
Makes me smile every time I watch this.
From the Huffington Post we get word that Alison Moyet is back with her first album – ‘the minutes’ – in 6 years:
‘the minutes’ was produced by Guy Sigsworth, known for his work with Madonna, Goldie, Robyn and Madonna, and gives proper foundation for Alison Moyet’s unique, powerful, low voice.
“I avoided listening to anything during the process of writing and recording this album, choosing instead to be lead by my own melodic voice, the one I now find myself with 30-years-in”, says Alison. “Guy Sigsworth returns me to a programmer’s world and marries it with perfect musicality. I have been waiting for him. We have made an album mindless of industry mores that apply to middle-aged women and have shunned all talk of audiences, demographics and advert jazz covers. This has easily been my happiest studio experience.”
‘the minutes’ should be available on June 11th on iTunes USA. In the meantime, check out her official site where you can stream the new music by clicking here.
Check out the first single and music video: “When I Was Your Girl”
I didn’t get a chance to play this yesterday when Eric Himan visited The Candi & Randy Show, and I LIKE it.
Happy Friday y’all! Get up, get out, get the weekend started!