Politics, pop culture and entertainment news of interest to the LGBTQ community
Out Emmy Award winner Kate McKinnon (screen capture)Saturday Night Live’s out Emmy Award winner Kate McKinnon dropped by the Weekend Update desk last night to discuss Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Continue reading “SNL’s Kate McKinnon Discusses Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill”
I laughed out loud a couple of times during last night’s SNL cold open which featured a spot-on Kate McKinnon as Fox News personality “Laura Ingraham.” Continue reading “SNL Cold Open: Kate McKinnon Out Angles ‘Laura Ingraham’”
Lil Nas X on SNL (screen capture)Lil Nas X made quite the splash this weekend as the musical guest on SNL.
For the Season 46 finale of SNL, Lil Nas X performed “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” while wearing an all-leather fire-themed outfit. But a wardrobe malfunction occurred when he squatted down in front of a stripper pole and his pants ripped in the upper thigh area.
For the rest of the performance, Lil Nax X continued to sing and dance while trying to keep the rip from being too noticeable.
This has to be the gayest thing I’ve ever seen on SNL 🙂
The Grammy winner followed that up with a performance of his latest single, “Sun Goes Down,” which went smoothly and no mishaps.
Lil Nas X did also took part in a prerecorded Pride Month song titled “It’s Pride Again.” SNL’s queer cast members – Bowen Yang, Kate McKinnon, Punkie Johnson, and Taylor-Joy – joined Nas X for a music video about how exciting it is for Pride to return after the pandemic.
Schitt’s Creek star Dan Levy hosts SNLWhat to do after your hit TV series Schitt’s Creek garners not only 5 Golden Globe nominations but 5 Screen Actors Guild Award nominations?
If you’re Dan Levy, you host Saturday Night Live!
Levy had a great outing last night in SNL including taking part in a clever skit involving out cast members Bowen Yang, Punkie Johnson, and Kate McKinnon that ‘celebrated’ the 10-year-old It Gets Better Project.
Note: We all love the It Gets Better Project, so, don’t take any of this as bashing a great organization. It’s all just fun.
It all begins quite upbeat as the four assure viewers that things do, indeed, ‘get better.’
But as the details of ‘better’ are explored, it seems ‘better’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘perfect.’
L-R Bowen Yang, Kate McKinnon, Punkie Johnson (screen captures)Yang shares how, once he learned to love himself, he found he was no longer bullied…by straight people. “Then I pretty much immediately started getting tormented by gay people…for my taste in music.”
“It’s scarier when gay people are mean because they are so organized,” laments Yang. “I tweeted one vague opinion about Chromatica and I had to move. Not just apartments but cities.”
Levy’s character says he doesn’t get bullied anymore because he’s a very successful 30-year-old. But life’s problems weren’t completely solved.
“You know what feels very similar to being shoved in a locker though? Income tax,” says Levy’s character. “I know that’s not what you guys do, but stuff about taxes would have been extremely helpful.”
Emmy Award winner Kate McKinnon knocks it out of the park with her post-It Gets Better issue – her two kids’ iguana which now dominates her life.
“It’s ruined my floors with its urine, and now there’s an evil dinosaur living in my house.”
And Punkie Johnson has real-life advice: “Don’t wear basketball shorts cause when you’re out with your girl, people are going to think YOU the one who fights.”
Brian Wenke, executive director for It Gets Better Project, sent out an email embracing the humor:
Last night Saturday Night Live and its incredible cast of queer talent held up a mirror to the It Gets Better Project and made us laugh. I am sure you can imagine the flurry of calls, texts, and emails inspired by the skit. I am honored to be a part of an organization that continues to maintain relevance 10 years after the viral social media campaign that gave it life.”
Another sketch that landed also addressed how life changes when you get older.
“Are you bored? Looking for something to spice up your life? You used to want sex – but you’re in your late 30s now,” say the sexy-voiced cast members. “You need something new, something exciting. I need a new fantasy.”
And what better fantasy that scrolling through pictures and pictures of that house you can’t afford? “You need…Zillow.”
The skit’s not only pretty spot-on but – bonus! – includes Levy as part of an aroused gay couple.
“I’d never live in North Carolina,” says Levy before adding in an echoing sensual voice, “But if I did – I could buy a big, gross mansion.”
Let me know what you thought about Levy’s appearance last night. Score or snore?
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.
(screen capture)‘The Village People’ (Kenan Thompson, Mikey Day, Beck Bennett, Chris Redd, Bowen Yang) stopped by SNL’s Weekend Update to address Donald Trump using their music at his rallies.
Earlier this week, video clips of the Trumpster ‘dancing’ (kinda, sorta, ish) to their disco hit “YMCA” made their way onto the interwebs becoming a source for numerous viral memes.
For months now, recording artists like Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Phil Collins and even Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber have publicly asked the Trump camp to stop using their music at campaign rallies. Tony Award-winner Betty Buckley recently fired off an epic takedown of the Donald after learning her recording of “Memory” was being played at Trump events.
Brad Pitt as Dr. Anthony Fauci on SNLEarlier this month, infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked who he’d like to see play him on Saturday Night Live and the good doctor said, “Brad Pitt, of course.”
Well, it turns out dreams do come true as the Academy Award winner showed up via video last night as Fauci for the show’s second SNL-at-Home edition.
Outfitted in a wig, glasses and Brooklyn accent, Pitt began, “First, I’d like to thank all the older women in America who have sent me supportive, inspiring, and sometimes graphic emails.”
“Now, there’s been a lot of misinformation out there about the virus. And, yes, the president has taken some liberties with our guidelines. So tonight, I would like to explain what the president was trying to say. And, remember, let’s all keep an open mind.”
From there, Pitt’s ‘Fauci’ attempted to fact-check of the erroneous things Donald Trump has said in recent weeks about the coronavirus.
For example, Trump’s declaration that there would be a vaccine “relatively soon.”
“Relatively soon is an interesting phrase. Relative to the entire history of Earth, sure, the vaccine’s going to come real fast. But if you were to tell a friend, ‘I’ll be over relatively soon’ and then showed up a year and a half later, well, your friend may be relatively pissed off.”
Then there’s the Donald’s assertion that “like a miracle, [coronavirus] will disappear.”
Pitt’s Fauci responds, “A miracle would be great. Who doesn’t love miracles? But miracles shouldn’t be plan A. Even Sully tried to land at the airport first.”
Regarding Trump’s statement that “I’m not sure anybody knows what it [coronavirus] is.” (pause) “We know what it is,” says Pitt’s Fauci.
Theorizing he may soon be fired from the White House Coronavirus Task Force for telling the truth and sharing the science behind the ongoing health threat, ‘Fauci’ added this: “Until then, I’m going to be there, putting out the facts for whoever’s listening. And when I hear things like ‘the virus can be cured if everyone takes the Tide pod challenge,’ I’ll be there to say, ‘Please don’t.’”
Finally, Pitt removed his wig and glasses to address the public and frontline health workers as himself: “To the real Dr. Fauci, thank you for your calm and your clarity in this unnerving time. And thank you to the medical workers, first responders, and their families for being on the frontline.”
Stepping out in a chic pink, fitted suit, RuPaul took to the Saturday Night Live stage last night as host.
Ru greeted the enthusiastic audience with a triumphant, “This is fun, right?”
After explaining some RuPaul’s Drag Race jargon, Ru noted that many expected him to make his first appearance in drag. “I am wearing my grandmother’s panties,” he assured the crowd before repeating his famous mantra, “We’re born naked and the rest is drag.”
Perhaps his biggest laugh in the monologue came when the ‘Supermodel of the world’ talked about moving to New York City in the 1980s when the city was filled with drugs, sex workers, and seedy nightclubs. “But it wasn’t all good,” said Ru with a smile.
Check out the monologue below.
Ru also scored in a sketch where he drops in at a San Diego public library for ‘reading’ hour and proceeds to ‘read’ the covers of children’s books for filth.
“Reading is throwing shade – a brutal insult wrapped inside glorious wordplay.”
And the library is open!
Holding up Eloise by Kay Thompson, Ru declares, “Ooh, Eloise! You need to call the front desk and get a hot oil treatment for that broom on your head. And girl, Victoria’s Secret called, they want they wallpaper back. And what is she doing? Popping a fart? Got that leg all dragged out, all nasty. Girl please!”
Shania Twain and her boys (photo: Denise Truscello)Some news items you might have missed:
• Las Vegas: Shania Twain (above), the top-selling female country artist of all time, has announced additional dates for her Las Vegas residency show, “Let’s Go!” at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Bonus – there are shirtless boys in the production as well 🙂
• Advocate: Pose star Billy Porter has clapped back at the homophobes who launched a petition against Sesame Street after it was announced the openly gay actor will be appearing on the long-running children’s show. “If you don’t like it, don’t watch it,” Porter said, according to Page Six. “Like, what about me singing with a penguin has anything to do with what I’m doing in my bedroom?”
• Newsweek: New poll results from Morning Consult released Monday showed all five of the leading contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination (Biden, Sanders, Buttigieg, Bloomberg, Warren) defeating President Donald Trump in hypothetical match-ups.
• SNL: Don’t forget it’s RuPaul Week on Saturday Night Live! Check out the teaser video for Ru’s hosting gig this Saturday.
• Charisma News: Virulently anti-LGBTQ activist Franklin Graham is taking legal action against the 7 venues in the UK that canceled his booked appearances after public outcry over his hate speech.
• Politico: Andrew Yang’s campaign fired dozens of staffers this week after an abysmal finish in the Iowa caucuses, according to four former staffers who were let go. Yang finished sixth in Iowa, receiving just 1 percent of delegates, according to the most recent count.
• Houston Chronicle: The Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative LGBT group, will not have a booth at the Texas GOP Convention yet again. At a recent meeting, the State Republican Executive Committee moved to deny the group the booth. The group has applied for a spot at the event for at least 20 years without success.
• World Of Wonder: In his upcoming book Name Drop, Ross Mathews shares a ‘Mean Girls’ moment from 2007 when The View host Barbara Walters gestured to Mathews backstage at the gabfest and barked, “Who is he and why is he here?”
• The Informant: Jan Peter Meister, a 52-year-old registered sex offender, was arrested after telling federal authorities he drunkenly left a threatening voicemail at Congressman Adam Schiff’s Washington, D.C. office after watching Fox News and googling the congressman’s phone number: “I’m gonna fucking blow your brains out you fucking piece of shit.” Doesn’t he sound nice?
In this week’s podcast:
• Vice President Mike Pence spoke at a church where the ministers compared homosexuality with Satan
• HIV infections rates in the UK have declined dramatically since 2012
• Utah bans harmful ‘conversion therapy’ for minors
• A male stripper in Atlanta sentenced to prison for killing his secret straight-married lover
• Attending the 2020 GayVN Awards (aka ‘the Oscars of gay porn’) I chat with stars Dallas Steele & Brian Davilla
• RuPaul announced to host Saturday Night Live
• And a new docu-series on Apple TV+ explores how LGBTQ people made our way onto the TV landscape
All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report