LGBTQ news and entertainment
Over at Buzzfeed, Whitney Jefferson has put together a list of some of the Super Bowl Hotties to look out for tomorrow. Here’s just a few, starting with the New York Giants. Hit the link above for even more.
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| Steve Weatherford |
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| David Carr |
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| Brandon Jacobs |
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| Eli Manning |
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| Devin Thomas |
My favorite Billy Joel song.
Coincidentally, I’ve read many times that it’s Billy’s favorite song too.
I love the lyrics, I love the sentiment. Every time I hear it, it’s relevant.
Just watched a fantastic documentary about the last concert at Shea Stadium with Billy Joel in 2008.
The film artfully weaves together the histories of Shea Stadium, the Mets, NYC and Billy Joel’s career. Throughout the film are clips of performances from the last concert at the stadium before it was retired.
Billy Joel is easily one of my very favorite singer/songwriters. He’s been a part of the soundtrack of my life – just as NYC has been a big part of my life’s landscape.
Watch the film – currently on Showtime if you have it. Or rent it, download it, whatever… You’ll be glad you did.
After more than 30 years, Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt reunite to talk about their history with Three’s Company, and each other.
While there’s a certain awkwardness still in the air, it’s clearly a cathartic moment for these two women to meet face to face and discuss what was clearly a huge time in both their lives.
There are two more segments on youtube with Suzanne and Joyce remembering John Ritter and favorite moments.
Check it out.
Happy birthday dear Blythe Danner!
I was so lucky to work with Blythe in the Broadway revival of FOLLIES in 2001. I had been a fan of her work for so long, so it was fantastic not only to be onstage with her, but offstage as well.
Blythe is warm, funny, down to earth and a true artist. Seeing her again at the 10 year FOLLIES reunion was a high point for me for 2011. We saw each other across the room, and like old friends, enjoyed a warm, sincere hug. I spent much of the evening sitting with her, and the entire cast, remembering the amazing camaraderie we all shared at the Belasco Theater.
I can’t say enough great things about her. I celebrate her birthday and think my best thoughts that she have a fabulous day. And year ahead.
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| With Blythe at the 10 year reunion of FOLLIES Broadway revival |
Adam Lambert says he’s been chosen to replace Freddie Mercury as the new lead singer of the legendary rock band Queen! I completely see this as a great spot for Lambert to be. The style, the voice, the passion he brings to a concert stage really seems to fit the mold of QUEEN.
“The intention is to pay tribute to Freddie and the band by singing some f—ing great songs. It’s to keep the music alive for the fans and give it an energy that Freddie would have been proud of,” Adam shared. Lambert has praised his fellow gay entertainer Mercury as a great inspiration on his own music and career.
However, the humble performer insisted he in no way wants to suggest that he could ever fill Mercury’s stylish shoes, admitting, “There’s no intention in my mind of replacing Freddie. That’s impossible. The way I’m choosing to view it is that it’s a great honor and one I’m in no way going to shirk”
In the finale of American Idol 2009, he rocked with Queen (and eventual winner Kris Allen). Check out the video above.
Do you think Adam can handle the job?
Rick Santorum told a gay man in Fulton, Missouri Friday afternoon that he didn’t deserve the “privilege” of marriage because his same-sex relationship does not “benefit” society in the same way that opposite-sex marriage does.
Towards the end of the video, Rick Santorum contends that marriage in general has changed in the past 50-60 years and “we need to re-establish marriage for what it is.”
The problem with his position is that he seems to think that society is a “static” institution. One that can’t move with the tides of time, history and human events. And on that stance, he is wrong.
There was a time when slavery was the law of the land – society evolved.
A time when women couldn’t vote – society evolved.
A time when people of differing skin color couldn’t marry – society evolved.
I understand Rick is a big supporter of the founders of our country, like Thomas Jefferson. Perhaps he could pause and read something Thomas Jefferson wrote – which is in inscribed on the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.:
“I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.” – Thomas Jefferson, July 12, 1816
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Click the pic for larger view. Pretty amazing. Love creative folks.
On this week’s American Idol, a contestant was called “too Broadway” and was not given a chance to get to the next round of the competition. For years, on American Idol a contestant being “too Broadway” is viewed as someone that has what the judges consider a good voice, talent, but not to be a ‘Pop music’ Idol or superstar. Randy Jackson was last night’s culprit and after all the judges voted, the contestant was sent home.
Broadway icon Betty Buckley, a Tony Award winner and Grammy Award nominee, had a lot to say about the topic on her Twitter account, and she has some very valid points.
“OK, I just have to say this: I am sick & tired of Randy Jackson bashing what they think is Bway singing! It’s soo ludicrous! I have yet to see or hear anyone sound remotely like they are a theatre singer on Idol!!
And, further, theatrical singing encompasses every kind of sound, voice & style. He doesn’t know what he’s talkin’ about!! And by these constant disses he is tellin’ Amer. kids that Bway is some kind of inferior art form. Next to jazz, Broadway is the only indigenous Amer. art form & with respect, “Dog”, your opinion is whack & uninformed! I mean, I respect Randy Jackson & everyone certainly has their own likes & dislikes, but THIS constant diss of “Bway” sounding, to his ear, singers is just so ignorant & stupid that I literally cannot comprehend the producers allowing such mendacity in his remarks! Beyond idiotic !!!
And when Steven Tyler remarked, “They learn that”, I thought I was gonna scream!!
All human voices have vibrato in one form or another! This constant STUPID reference is beneath contempt & I gotta say, too, that all big “rock/pop” shows these days are frickin’ THEATRE! SOOO, Nigel Lithgow & company, in a world that includes an increase in the popularity of musical in general in theatre, film & television America Idol needs to WAKE UP to the truth, voices are voices, singing is singing in all forms, styles & genres. These categories have nothing to do with anything.
The Record business in general is in big trouble & why for frickin’ sake would you the creators of “Idol” risk losing & demeaning any well intended audience. You respond to a singer because you hear their soul or you do not! ENOUGH!! I’VE HAD IT!!
O, while I’m at it. The use of melisma comes outa African American church & made most popular by Mariah Carey & comp. but mindless use of melisma does NOT a great singer make if it is random & without a true emotional intiation! I’ve really had it, people! Someone tell Lithgow!
Thanks for the “Amens”, Tweeties & Dopeys. Spread the word, please. Do not let these poor kids be so propaganized by a pop bass player with some pop recording success be the arbiter of what constitutes a supposed “good” singer! ENOUGH!! Aaaand….”world peace”. ; ) Oh, & one more thing: Broadway is a place, not a style. At one time, in early days of classic Bway, Rodgers, Hamerstein, Hart, Lerner & Loew Gershwin, Tin Pan Alley & company one could say there was a style, a consistency in construct. But not any more.
All kinds of composers and singers and styles on Broadway. And that’s been true since the 60’s. I would venture to say that the “Dog” & powers that be don’t get much. Write them, people, & tell them how absolute off frickin’ base this is! x.”
I have to give props to Betty here. For years, it’s made me cringe when the AI judges speak about a voice as a “too Broadway” – as if it’s a bad thing to have a good, trained, developed voice. I hope in the future they would at least acknowledge the talent even if the judges think the voice isn’t suitable for a pop music recording career. They’ve never really made that clear, and it’s always sounded like a put-down.
To his credit, Nigel Lythgoe tweeted back to Betty saying ” I totally understand your point. The problem goes beyond Randy (Jackson). ‘ Broadway’ has been adopted as a style of singing and dancing. I guess in the UK we we would call it a “show” voice. I agree – GaGa, Freddie Mercury – great show voices. You, Chenoweth, Katherine McPhee. Thank you I will certainly speak with Randy. I had the pleasure of seeing your outstanding performances in “Cats” and “Pippin.”
Via GLAAD: Last week, retail giant J.C. Penney announced a new partnership with America’s favorite talk-show host, Ellen DeGeneres.
“We share the same fundamental values as Ellen,” noted the company’s President, Michael Francis. “At jcpenney, we couldn’t think of a better partner to help us put the fun back into the retail experience.”
Now, however, the anti-gay group “OneMillionMoms.com, a project of the American Family Association” – an organization designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) – has launched a campaign demanding that the retailer fire Ellen simply because she’s gay. According to SPLC, “hate groups have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics.”
“DeGeneres is not a true representation of the type of families that shop at their store,” says the group.
But a majority of Americans disagree. Today, more people than ever celebrate the love of every family – gay or straight – and know that no person should be ridiculed, much less fired, simply for being who they are. Even today, Americans can be fired in 29 states for being gay and in 34 states for being transgender.
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Among her many accolades, Ellen received the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Daytime TV Host earlier this month. She has also served as a spokesperson for American Express and Cover Girl, among others.