Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: From Ricky Martin – “I’m joining my friend @AlejandroSanz on this great initiative to support the #Dreamers in the US. By purchasing this t-shirt www.CharityStars.com/Alejandro you can be part of our #DreamerTeam too. Because #WeAllDream. We all belong. We are all one. And EVERYONE matters.” • The Advocate: “The Country Music Awards nominated the track from Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus in the category of Musical Event of the Year. … Lil Nas X is now the first out gay man to be nominated at the CMAs” • Courthouse News: After announcing the children born to U.S. service members while overseas would not automatically have U.S. citizenship, Immigration Director Ken Cuccinelli had to issue a statement clarifying the new rules will affect children of military service members and government workers who are legal U.S. permanent residents but not citizens. They can also affect U.S. citizens who can’t show evidence they lived in the U.S. for a sufficient amount of time. • Buzzfeed News: Steven Canals, co-creator of FX’s POSE, shares how his Bronx upbringing helped inspire the most important show on television. •CNET: Apple sent invitations to the media on Thursday for its next big product launch. On September 10, the tech company will unveil the 11 series iPhones. The devices likely will include better cameras, faster processors and iOS 13. They come at a time of malaise in the smartphone market, with people holding onto their devices longer than before. • New Music: Since I’m on a Ricky Martin tangent today, he has teamed up with Madonna collaborator Maluma for a new duet, “No Se Me Quita.” Check out a sample below. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1weT0QAyAP/
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.
Speaking with POSE creator/producer Ryan Murphy at an event in support of the Emmy-nominated series, Billy Porter says he felt “set free” shooting the acclaimed FX series.
For Porter, who spent decades struggling as an openly gay black artist, shooting Pose was cathartic.
“The first ball day sticks out really clearly to me because I was doing what I thought my television performance should be. I was trying to play Pray Tell and be smaller, be still, don’t be so crazy.
“[Murphy] walks in and is like, ‘Are you going to give me the sh*t? I need the sh*t. I need you. I need whatever you do,’” he recalled. “I had never said anything to him about it, but he knew instinctively. I was set free on that day, and I never turned back.”
Later in the chat, Porter added he made a conscious decision years ago to choose himself – his “sanity” and “authenticity” – over fame.
“20 years ago, I looked at the landscape, I looked at my life, I looked at what my choices were, and I made the choice to choose myself, choose my sanity over my fame, choose my authenticity over all else, and took every hit that comes with that,” Porter said. “Never did I imagine that I could and would be a first.”
L-R Angel B. Curiel, MJ Rodriguez, Steven Canals, Janet Mock (photo: Imagen Awards)
The groundbreaking series POSE was honored in two categories at the 2019 Imagen Awards which recognizes positive portrayals of Latinx people in the media.
MJ Rodriguez, who plays “Blanca” on the acclaimed FX series, made history as the first transgender woman to take home the trophy for “Best Actress -Television.”
After thanking her mother and the creative team for POSE (Ryan Murphy, Steven Canals, Janet Mock), Rodriguez spoke to the historic moment.
“It’s so crazy to be standing up here because you’d never think in a million years you’d get an award like this being a woman like me,” Rodriguez told the crowd assembled in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel ballroom.
“Obviously, this is not just for me,” she continued. “This is for the little kids like me, and I’m just trying to speak as much as I can for my community as possible, and that goes for my Latino community.”
Watch Rodriguez accept the award in the Instagram post below.
A post shared by Daniel Segura (@dan_sing_dan) on Aug 11, 2019 at 9:35am PDT
POSE also took home the award for “Best Primetime Drama,” tying with Magnum P.I.
Angel Bismarck Curiel, who plays ‘Lil Papi’ on the groundbreaking series was nominated in the “Best Supporting Actor – Television” category as well.
The POSE team now looks to the 2019 Emmy Awards where the show has received six nominations including “Best Drama” and “Leading Actor in a Drama Series” for Billy Porter’s searing performance as ‘Pray Tell.’
The 2019 Emmy Awards will air September 22 on Fox.
In the afterglow of his Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category for his work as ‘Pray Tell’ in the acclaimed FX series POSE, Billy Porter shared with The Wrap how the show is teaching all kinds of people – himself included – about a world too few understand.
“There are a lot of older white people who are watching the show who stop me on the street and thank us for being brave and bold enough to stand inside of our truth — when many in the world think our truth is insignificant, that our truth is mutable, that it’s dismissible. That our humanity is up for legislation, constantly.”
“Some of the people that I’ve come in contact with are conservatives. Conservatives are human beings, too. They can be moved and can be changed. It’s all about respecting each other’s humanity. We get to teach people how to do that. How to love. How to choose love and not hate.”
“I came out when I was 16 in 1987 and we went straight to the front line to fight for our lives. I have realized with this show that the T in LGBTQ has been really absent from my knowledge,” he said.
“If you want to see real authenticity, the bravest kind of authenticity, look at these transgender people and how they live.
“The choice in this world. The necessity to be authentic. We throw that word around a lot. I always say it’s easy to be who you are when what you are is what’s popular. These are true heroes, in my book. and true teachers. They’re teaching us what it means to be honest to be truthful to be authentic — no matter what.”
The 2019 Primetime Emmy Award nominations are out and, as expected, Billy Porter snagged a well-earned nomination for Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work as “Pray Tell” in FX’s acclaimed series, Pose.
Porter makes history as the first openly gay black man to be nominated for a Lead Actor in a Drama Series Emmy Award.
The series, which chronicles the ball culture of New York City in the late 80s at the height of the AIDS epidemic, was also nominated in the Outstanding Drama Series category.
RuPaul’s Drag Race was also honored with nine nominations including Outstanding Competition Series.
My favorite limited series of the year, Fosse/Verdon, received 17 nominations including nods for Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Limited Series for Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams respectively.
And – Randy Report favorite Randy Rainbow snagged a nod for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series.
HBO’s Game of Thrones led the scoreboard with a whopping 32 nominations.
The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sept. 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Here is the list of acting and series nominees. The full list of nominees can be found at Emmys.com.
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie: Mahershala Ali — “True Detective” (HBO) Benicio Del Toro — “Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime) Hugh Grant — “A Very English Scandal” (BBC) Jared Harris — “Chernobyl” (HBO) Jharrel Jerome — “When They See Us” (Netflix) Sam Rockwell — “Fosse/Verdon” (FX)
Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: Amy Adams — “Sharp Objects” (HBO) Patricia Arquette — “Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime) Aunjanue Ellis — “When They See Us” (Netflix) Joey King — “The Act” (Hulu) Niecy Nash — “When They See Us” (Netflix) Michelle Williams — “Fosse/Verdon” (FX)
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Anthony Anderson — “Black-ish” (ABC) Don Cheadle — “Black Monday” (Showtime) Ted Danson — “The Good Place” (NBC) Michael Douglas — “The Kominsky Method” (Netflix) Bill Hader — “Barry” (HBO) Eugene Levy — “Schitt’s Creek” (CBC Television)
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Christina Applegate — “Dead to Me” (Netflix) Rachel Brosnahan — “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon) Julia Louis-Dryfus — “Veep” (HBO) Natasha Lyonne — “Russian Doll” (Netflix) Catherine O’Hara — “Schitt’s Creek” (CBC Television) Phoebe Waller-Bridge — “Fleabag” (Amazon)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Jason Bateman — “Ozark” (Netflix) Sterling K. Brown — “This is Us” (NBC) Kit Harington — “Game of Thrones” (HBO) Bob Odenkirk — “Better Call Saul” (Netflix/AMC) Billy Porter — “Pose” (FX) Milo Ventimiglia — “This is Us” (NBC)
Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Emilia Clarke — “Game of Thrones” (HBO) Jodie Comer — “Killing Eve” (BBC/AMC) Viola Davis — “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC) Laura Linney — “Ozark” (Netflix) Mandy Moore — “This is Us” (NBC) Sandra Oh — “Killing Eve” (BBC/AMC) Robin Wright — “House of Cards” (Netflix)
Outstanding Variety Talk Series: “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central) “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS) “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC) “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO) “The Late Late Show with James Cordon” (CBS) “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)
Outstanding Television Movie: “Bandersnatch: Black Mirror” (Netflix) “Brexit” (Amazon) “Deadwood: The Movie” (HBO) “King Lear” (BBC) “My Dinner with Herve” (HBO)
Outstanding Limited Series: “Chernobyl” (HBO) “Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime) “Fosse/Verdon” (FX) “Sharp Objects” (HBO) “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Outstanding Comedy Series: “Barry” (HBO) “Fleabag” (Amazon) “The Good Place” (NBC) “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon) “Russian Doll” (Netflix) “Schitt’s Creek” (CBC Television) “Veep” (HBO)
Outstanding Drama Series: “Better Call Saul” (AMC) “Bodyguard” (Netflix) “Game of Thrones” (HBO) “Killing Eve” (BBC America) “Ozark” (Netflix) “Pose” (FX) “Succession” (HBO) “This Is Us” (NBC)
TVLine reports the awesome news that LGBTQ-drama Pose has been picked up for a 3rd season, less than a week after the show’s Season 2 premiere.
The series, which tells the story of New York City’s ‘ball culture’ during the height of the AIDS epidemic. The series boasts the largest number of transgender season regulars in television history.
The June 11th season two premiere was the most-watched telecast of the series, drawing 1.2 million total viewers and 572,00 adults ages 18-49, generating series high ratings in total viewers.
Season 2 kicked off last Tuesday, with a time jump to 1990 and the release of Madonna’s “Vogue,” which shone a spotlight on the ball community.
“Pose has elevated our culture and the TV landscape like few shows before it,” FX chairman John Landgraf said in a statement, “and we are honored to partner with co-creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Steven Canals on a third season.”
Series star Billy Porter and the series itself were nominated at the Golden Globe Awards this year.
Personally, I’m thrilled. I think the series is not only delivering important history to a television audience, but many of the performances are just sensational.
FX’s acclaimed series Pose released two new trailers for its upcoming second season as the show time jumps to the 1990s.
On the heels of the ballroom community establishing itself in pop culture and going mainstream, the House of Evangelista is forced to reevaluate their goals.
Meanwhile, the AIDS crisis worsens and the reaction from a group of activists reaches a fever pitch.
Created by out producer/writer/director Ryan Murphy (GLEE, American Horror Story, American Crime Story), Pose features the largest cast and crew of LGBTQ artists of a scripted series in television history.
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: From Ricky Martin – “I’m joining my friend @AlejandroSanz on this great initiative to support the #Dreamers in the US. By purchasing this t-shirt www.CharityStars.com/Alejandro you can be part of our #DreamerTeam too. Because #WeAllDream. We all belong. We are all one. And EVERYONE matters.” • The Advocate: “The Country Music Awards nominated the track from Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus in the category of Musical Event of the Year. … Lil Nas X is now the first out gay man to be nominated at the CMAs” • Courthouse News: After announcing the children born to U.S. service members while overseas would not automatically have U.S. citizenship, Immigration Director Ken Cuccinelli had to issue a statement clarifying the new rules will affect children of military service members and government workers who are legal U.S. permanent residents but not citizens. They can also affect U.S. citizens who can’t show evidence they lived in the U.S. for a sufficient amount of time. • Buzzfeed News: Steven Canals, co-creator of FX’s POSE, shares how his Bronx upbringing helped inspire the most important show on television. • CNET: Apple sent invitations to the media on Thursday for its next big product launch. On September 10, the tech company will unveil the 11 series iPhones. The devices likely will include better cameras, faster processors and iOS 13. They come at a time of malaise in the smartphone market, with people holding onto their devices longer than before. • New Music: Since I’m on a Ricky Martin tangent today, he has teamed up with Madonna collaborator Maluma for a new duet, “No Se Me Quita.” Check out a sample below. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1weT0QAyAP/
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 
