Politics, pop culture and entertainment news of interest to the LGBTQ community
Some news items you might have missed:
• USA Today: The Loudoun County School Board in Virginia voted 7-2 on a policy that allows transgender student-athletes to play on teams that align on their gender identity and to use bathrooms and locker rooms based on their gender identity. It also requires teachers and staff to call students by their chosen names and pronouns. Continue reading “News Round-Up: August 13, 2021”
Randy Rainbow starts our week out on the right track with his parody of Judy Garland’s iconic “The Trolley Song” from the 1944 classic film Meet Me in St. Louis.
In Rainbow’s version, “Clang, Clang, Clang Went Josh Hawley,” the artist skewers current GOP members of Congress including Hawley, Lindsey Graham, Matt Gaetz, Ted Cruz and more.
Clang, clang, clang went Josh Hawley
Yap, yap, yap went Ted Cruz
Crap, crap, crap went McCarthy
Cause his party continued to lose…
Sometimes, when I need a mid-day brain break, I fire up Instagram for a few minutes to scroll past some InstaHunks for a momentary man-candy distraction.
You know the accounts: woofy workout guys paired with some casual commentary of aspirational uplift. And yes, positivity is a good thing in these wild and crazy times.
But, I can admit – every now and then – some of the motivational messaging can seem a bit by-the-book. Still pretty but perhaps a bit ponderous.
A trio of funny guys collaborated on a short video that takes a playful poke at those accounts complete with faux ‘inspirational’ messaging.
“Two roads diverged in a wood…one of them goes to the gym.”
“Just recite my wisdoms, and the muscles will follow.”
In the clip, New York City actor Tom Berklund plays ‘John Smith’ of John Smith Fitness, who’s ready to pump you up.
“I’ll start your program easy with a daily running regimen of only six miles a day,” says our hunky fitness guru. “Just a little jog to get the blood pumping.”
“Because at John Smith Fitness, it’s inside that counts – because inside the skin is muscle. So, muscles are the insides we’re talking about here.”
The comic short was conceived and directed by Eric Blume, a former writer/director at Comedy Central who’s created tons of commercials and narrative projects.
New York City actor and writer David Morton (Upright Citizens Brigade) penned the script, and the buff Berklund is an experienced Broadway actor (Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus, The Addams Family).
The creative team offers a cheeky disclaimer that “one of the three of them went to the gym extensively to make this little project happen.” Wonder which one…?
Hit the play button for a bit of Hump Day distraction. Warning: some slightly NSFW content.
For those who thought Donald Trump’s exit from the White House might leave Randy Rainbow without any further inspiration…
Based on “Kansas City” from the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, OKLAHOMA!, the satirical genius offers his version of the song taking aim at Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
As always, the parody lyrics are totes clever:
Everyone loves to hate on Ted and Lindsey
Their problem isn’t popularity
You’d think they’d be ashamed of the shenanigans they try
But never Cancun Cruz or Lady G
Happy Monday, folks!
Randy Rainbow drops his first Biden parody video with his take on the classic “Mr. Sandman.”
But in this iteration, Randy is getting randy to get his vaccination:
Mr. Biden – bring my vaccine
Keep me protected from COVID-19
Tell me the trick to how I might earn a
Fix of that magic Pfizer or Moderna
Our musical hero also has a bit of ‘Trump PTSD’ to cope with along the way, but let’s face it – who doesn’t?
Hit the play button and enjoy. Happy Tuesday!
Donald Trump may be gone from the White House, but political satirist Randy Rainbow is NOT hanging up his microphone.
With his thumb on the political pulse of Washington, he offers up his timely take on Barbra Streisand’s timeless, “Evergreen,” from her 1976 film A Star Is Born.
Streisand and co-creator Paul Williams took home that year’s Oscar for Best Original Song. Babs also scored the Song Of The Year trophy at the Grammy Awards for the track.
But in this parody, Rainbow skewers QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
You can find my past coverage of Rainbow’s clever musical musings on The Randy Report here.
Like many of us, political satirist Randy Rainbow has been counting down the days (even the minutes) until Donald Trump leaves the White House.
The day before the Donald’s departure, Rainbow has reassembled some of his most popular characters from over 100 videos to perform this musical sendoff, a parody of the iconic “Seasons of Love” from the Broadway musical RENT.
Throughout Trump’s time in the political spotlight, Rainbow has provided dozens of spot-on, uber-clever music video parodies skewering the Trumpster.
Taking the melodies from Broadway and pop culture and meshing them with sharp-as-a-tack lyrics, Rainbow has served up hilarious helpings of biting commentary on Trump and his orange misdeeds.
Today, Rainbow and company remember the “Seasons of Trump” the country has had to endure for the past 2,102,400 minutes.
Two million a hundred two thousand four hundred minutes
With just one president so unhinged and unfit
Two million a hundred two thousand four hundred minutes
How do you measure four years of this sh*t?
In scandals, impeachments, in porn stars, in Scaramuccis
In rallies, in insurrections, in flies
In two million a hundred two thousand four hundred minutes
How do you measure four years of the lies?
Along the way, we’re reminded of some of the outrageousness that was the Trump administration.
That includes Trump’s declaration as ‘a very stable genius,’ plus a rogues gallery of characters like Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Kelly McEnany.
Rainbow also manages to mention pee tapes, fake news, COVID, covfefes, and ‘alternative facts.’
It all culminates in a Mariah-inspired high note and a whispered ‘bye gurl.’
His most recent musical missive took aim at the insurrectionists who invaded the U.S. Capitol building. Co-opting the tune of ‘Tradition’ from Fiddler on the Roof, Rainbow’s ‘Sedition!’ garnered over 2 million views in less than a week.
As Saturday Night Live has found, there’s always something in politics to lampoon, so here’s hoping Rainbow continues to entertain us even without the Orange one in office.
You can find my many posts covering Rainbow’s past parodies by clicking here.
You didn't think I'd send him off without my own departure ceremony, did you? 👋🏻🌈🎶 #SeasonsOfTrump pic.twitter.com/hEI276wISC
— Randy Rainbow (@RandyRainbow) January 19, 2021
Political satirist Randy Rainbow breaks his own rule of never parodying a song twice after getting numerous requests to revisit ‘Tradition’ from the hit Broadway musical, Fiddler on the Roof.
Rainbow first tackled the tune back in May with ‘Distraction!‘
After the events of this week at the U.S. Capitol, Randy Rainbow parodies Fiddler again with this second satirical take titled, ‘Sedition!’
As usual, Rainbow’s lyrics are sharp as a tack as he takes on Trump and his delusional supporters insurrectionists who continue to push the baseless idea that the Donald ‘won his reelection in a landslide’ (oh my sides).
“A Twitler with no proof. Sounds like a horrible idea for a musical, no?” says Rainbow in the prologue. “Or at least a horrible idea for a president.”
“How does a desperate lame duck president and his boot-licking minions with no hope or evidence try to overturn an election they’ve clearly lost multiple times?” continues our hero. “I can tell you in one word – Sedition!”
You can find more of my coverage of Rainbow’s clever satire here.
The SNL cold open couldn’t resist taking on the media moment of the week: Rudy Giuliani’s seemingly drunk ‘star witness’ during a Michigan State Senate hearing.
In the skit, Rudy Giuliani (Kate McKinnon) is trying to make an argument to prove widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
He presents former Dominion Systems staffer Melissa Carone (Cecily Strong): “I swear to tell my whole story, and nothing but my story so help me Gob.”
Asked to present what she witnessed, Strong’s Carone replied, “Excuse me, maybe try losing the attitude first. Just like you lost all those Trump ballots.”
“Did you check every poll? Did you talk to all the dead people? Excuse me. I have been threatened. My kids have been threatened. My kids have threatened me, and I’ve threatened them right back. … I’m not lying. I signed an After David.”
After other ‘witnesses,’ Carone returns: “Excuse me we are all here under oath. If you want to talk about random. I voted for Trump yet Biden won? Hmm? Maybe a little bit too random. You aren’t even going to admit that Dominion cheated.”
Asked how the voting machine company ‘cheated,’ Strong’s Carone answers, “Well, for starters they cheated me out of my cheesy bread.”
“I think you’re confusing Dominion with Dominos,” says a lawmaker.
“Either way, my vote took longer than 30 minutes so it’s supposed to be free,” Strong’s Carone snaps back.
Riffing off of the showstopping ‘Be Our Guest’ from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Noah Lindquist’s lyrics score bigly.
Performed by Lindquist and Ashley Young.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast originally penned by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.