Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols (photo: screen capture/Gage Skidmore – CC License)
Tony Dow, Leave It To Beaver Star, Passes At 77
Tony Dow (screen captures via Leave It To Beaver)
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Hearings + More News
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson (screen capture via C-Span)
‘Fantasy Island’ Gets The Reboot Treatment On FOX
As a youngster, my Saturday nights were usually spent at home watching TV totally safe fare like The Love Boat and Fantasy Island. Now, the folks at FOX TV are giving Fantasy Island the reboot treatment. The original series aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious host, Mr. Roarke, and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tattoo. Here’s the synopsis for the reboot:
A modern semi-anthology series, FANTASY ISLAND takes place at a luxury resort, where literally any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled, although they rarely turn out as expected. Delving into the “what if” questions — both big and small — that keep us awake at night, each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who arrive with dreams and desires and depart enlightened and transformed through the magical realism of Fantasy Island.
Roselyn Sanchez (“Devious Maids,” “Grand Hotel”) stars in the series as Elena Roarke, a descendant of the iconic Mr. Roarke. Elena set aside her own ambitions, and even the love of her life, to uphold her family’s legacy. Like her predecessor, she’s sophisticated, insightful and always charming. Kiara Barnes (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) stars as Ruby Akuda, who arrives on Fantasy Island with a terminal illness and is given a new lease on life there; and John Gabriel Rodriquez (“Miranda’s Rights,” “Rosewood”) as pilot Javier, who also is the head of island transportation and a jack of all trades. You may recall a one-season revival of the series was attempted in 1998. In February 2020, a horror film adaptation was released. The new series premieres Tuesday, August 10, on FOX at 9 p.m. ET. 
p.s. In case you were wondering – nope, there’s no reboot currently on the horizon for The Love Boat.
News Round-Up: March 22, 2021
Beauty and the Beast star Luke Evans (via Instagram)
• The Advocate: The Arkansas legislature has passed a bill allowing health care providers or insurers to deny care that conflicts with their religious beliefs. Civil rights groups say it opens the door to widespread discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and others. For instance, pharmacists could refuse to fill prescriptions for transgender patients’ hormone treatment. • NY Times: Normally one of the ratings stalwarts of daytime TV, The Ellen DeGeneres Show has seen a huge drop in ratings over the last six months. DeGeneres has lost over a million viewers since the beginning of 2020. • Gr8erDays: Believe it or not, William Shatner (Star Trek, TJ Hooker, Boston Legal) is 90 years old today. #LiveLongAndProsper https://www.instagram.com/p/CMsmMFJBKmS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Matt Baume: Was ‘Bewitched’ About Gay People All Along?
Elizabeth Montgomery and Agnes Moorehead in Bewitched (screen capture)
The sitcom Bewitched is one of the queerest shows I’ve ever seen — which is a little strange, since it’s about a straight couple.
Just a few years later, Soap had gay characters; Mary Hartman Mary Hartman had a gay couple; MASH had a gay coming-out episode. Bewitched never had any of that.
And yet … it somehow feels more queer than any of those other shows. So, why is that? Well, that’s what I want to show you.
I love how Matt breaks these things down showing us LGBTQ characters and story themes were really out there all the time, we just didn’t know to look for it. For more of my coverage of Matt Baume’s insights into classic TV, click here.
Dawn Wells, Of ‘Gilligan’s Island’ Fame, Dead At 82 From COVID
Dawn Wells with Gilligan’s Island cast members (via Flicker/Chris)
Dawn Wells, who starred as “good girl” Mary Ann in the popular 1960s sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” died Wednesday of causes related to COVID-19 in Los Angeles. She was 82.
Pig-tailed and attired in her ubiquitous dungarees or gingham dress, which is on display at the Hollywood Museum, the Mary Ann character was the girl-next-door to Tina Louise’s suggestive evening dress-clad Ginger, who was often subjected to leering comments from the male stars they were shipwrecked with on a tropical island after becoming stranded during a “three-hour tour.”
Louise, the last remaining member of the crew, said in a statement, “I was sad to learn of Dawn’s passing, I will always remember her kindness to me. We shared in creating a cultural landmark that has continued to bring comfort and smiles to people during this difficult time. I hope that people will remember her the way that I do – always with a smile on her face.”
Read more at Variety.
News Round-Up: May 31, 2017
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| Out artist Raph Solo drops his new music video, “Love Lives.” |
Some news items you may have missed:
• The Rhode Island state House just voted to ban so-called “conversion therapy” for LGBT minors. The bill now heads to the Senate.
• A top Russian diplomat vehemently denies verified reports of gay men being tortured in Chechnya.
• Donald Trump’s recent tweets show he doesn’t really understand how the U.S. Senate works.
• From a new study: In 2015, LGB students reported being bullied on school property at a rate of 34 percent compared to 19 percent for straight students.
• If you love pop culture as much as I do, head over to Boy Culture’s awesome collection of opening credits of classic TV shows.
• Out musician Raph Solo recently dropped the music video to his new single, “Love Lives,” a celebration of his long journey to self-acceptance. Solo, who once tried so-called “conversion therapy” in an attempt to change his sexuality, says “I have worked very hard to gain the self-respect and acceptance I enjoy today.”
Solo also shares that the music video is meant to show a different side of the artist, complete with “tongue in cheek” choreography: “I dance a lot in this one! It’s all very tongue-and cheek compared to my previous story-based, cinematic music videos. I hope fans like the choreography and chutzpah.” Check out the video below.