Tag: television

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Grooving On A Sunday With Aretha Franklin & Tom Jones

L-R Aretha Franklin and Tom Jones (1969)
Get your groove on with Aretha Franklin and Tom Jones singing together live in 1969. My college friend Gary sent this to me knowing I’d LOVE it! And he was right 🙂 Here’s how he set the scene:

We begin with a particularly lively Aretha, looking fantastic, delivering a SPECTACULAR “I Say A Little Prayer.” (Seriously, my head almost exploded.)

Medley next, with Tom and Aretha, both at the top of their powers, with no hint of competitive elbowing – just a mutual admiration society (Toms knows who’s in charge here) – “ It’s Not Unusual” / “Seesaw”* / “Spirit In The Dark”

“Seesaw” (4:30 to 6:47) is a perfect example of what I thought life would always be like — inclusive of vocals, visuals, and vibe.

Last up, “The Party’s Over,” with Aretha looking gorgeous in white beaded mini dress (!), sporting a perfect fro do (!!) and Tom reminding me why he was my first – and best – imaginary celebrity boyfriend.

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News Round-Up: February 14, 2020

Chasten and Pete Buttigieg on the campaign trail
Some news items you might have missed: • Instagram: Pete Buttigieg, on the campaign trail, posts the above photo with hubby Chasten, with the caption “Happy Valentine’s Day to the one I love.” #swoon • Advocate: Two gay men were shot this week in a drive-by attack in Miami, leaving one in critical condition, and they believe it happened because they were kissing — and a lesbian nearby was also injured. • Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A new poll released Thursday showed the former vice president Joe Biden with 32% of support in Georgia. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg were both at 14%. The poll pegs Pete Buttigieg at just 5% of Georgia’s vote and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 4%. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar trails at 3%. Georgia’s primary is on March 24. • Apple TV: Don’t forget the five-part docuseries Visible: Out on Television is now available on Apple’s streaming service. The series investigates the importance of TV as a medium that helped shaped the American conscience, and how the LGBTQ movement has shaped television.

• Bloomberg Law: Michael Avenatti, who became famous representing porn star Stormy Daniels, was convicted of trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike Inc. and defrauding a client in the process. Jurors in Manhattan found Avenatti guilty of all three criminal counts. The verdict on Friday, following a two-week trial, could lead to a long prison sentence for the lawyer. • CBS News: Donald Trump says he’s considering ending the standard protocol of having top administration officials listen to his calls with foreign leaders, following his conversation with Ukraine’s president, a call that culminated in his impeachment. • KIT212: Kenneth rounds up the what’s what in gay rags this week including forever-hottie Robbie Williams covering this month’s Attitude Magazine (below). • Boston 25 News: Drug Enforcement Agency officials raided the home of Dr. Keith Ablow, the embattled former celebrity psychiatrist caught in a series of sexual assault lawsuits. The famously anti-LGBTQ Ablow saw his medical license revoked last year after he was accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual activity with several patients and illegally distributing prescriptions to employees. • Mediaite: Mike Bloomberg’s campaign openly mocked Donald Trump again over his comments on the coronavirus in which POTUS said, “Now the virus that we are talking about having to do, you know, lotta people think that goes away in April, with the heat,” by basically just splicing it with that famous Billy Madison “What you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things…” scene. #BloombergAintPlaying

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GLAAD Report: Over 10% Of TV Series Regulars Are LGBTQ

The 24th annual Where We Are on TV report from GLAAD shows a record-high of 10.2% of broadcast television series regulars (up from last year’s 8.8%) are LGBTQ. And for the first time, there are more LGBTQ female characters (regular and recurring) than male. Fifty-three percent were women and 47 percent were men. More stats: • 52% of LGBTQ characters (regular and recurring) on broadcast television are people of color • 48% of LGBTQ characters on cable are people of color • 41% of LGBTQ characters on streaming platforms are people of color • Across all platforms tracked (broadcast, cable, streaming), the total number of transgender characters increased to 38 from 26 • 9% of LGBTQ characters on broadcast television were Latinx, 22% were Black, and 8% were Asian Pacific Islander • Netflix had the highest number of LGBTQ characters among streaming services, Showtime was the most LGBTQ-inclusive of cable networks, and the CW had the most LGBTQ characters on network television GLAAD uses the data from the Where We Are on TV report in work throughout the year to advocate leaders in the TV industry to include more diverse and substantive LGBTQ representations that accelerate acceptance. For more information, check out the full report from GLAAD here.

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Flashback Friday: ‘The Rifleman’

I came across this cover image for The Rifleman comic book series (issue #10 released January 1, 1962) and was amazed to find it’s real, not a made-up internet meme. The Rifleman was a Western-themed television series following the lives of Lucas McCain (Chuck Connor) and his son, Mark (Johnny Crawford) living out on a ranch in the New Mexico territory. The series ran from 1958 to 1963, and was the first primetime television depiction of a single parent raising a child. Of course, I’m commenting on the rather curious placement of the ‘wood’ Mark McCain is carrying and the expressions on their faces. Looking back, some TV historian folks have noted the subtle homo-leaning touches the show had including the opening credits which featured Connors ‘firing multiple rounds’ from his rifle at crotch level.

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MTV Studios Announces Reboot Of GLAAD Award Winning Series ‘Undressed’

MTV Studios is continuing the trend of bringing back past TV series with the news that Undressed, which ran from 1999 to 2002, will get the reboot treatment.

Logging over 200 episodes over six short seasons, the scripted anthology series would feature a new cast each season, and episodes would focus on two or three interwoven storylines.

Created by two-time Oscar-nominated director Roland Jaffe (who will return as executive producer), Undressed was credited for bringing frank discussions about sex to younger television audiences.

The program often used its young characters’ restless energy to dramatize narratives related to the lives of teens and young adults.

While Will & Grace dealt with the issue of sexual orientation, Undressed went full-on exploring sexuality, including several same-sex relationships making it one of the most inclusive series on the air at the time.

In 2003, the series was honored with a GLAAD Media Award for ‘Outstanding Daily Drama.’

In addition, the show was the springboard that launched several successful stars of today including Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill), Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Brandon Routh (Legends of Tomorrow), Jason Ritter (Joan of Arcadia), Max Greenfield (New Girl) and more.

The announcement comes as MTV wraps up it’s 5th consecutive quarter of primetime ratings growth.

“Undressed was ahead of its time and we’re looking forward to developing the series for a whole new generation,” said Pamela Post, head of scripted programming for MTV Studios, MTV, VH1 and Logo. “Much has changed in the dating/relationship world since the series first premiered and we’re excited to showcase how both have evolved.”

MTV also recently announced reboots of popular shows The Real World and Daria.

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Nielsen Begins Tracking Same-Sex Couples’ TV Habits

The cast of ‘Murphy Brown’

For the first time ever, TV data tracking service Nielsen has begun to report the television viewing habits of LGBTQ Americans.

Working in conjunction with GLAAD, Nielsen is now measuring the viewing habits of households with same-sex couples, whether they are spouses or unmarried partners.

The first results show that what we watch varies a bit from the general television viewing audience.

For instance, the top four shows for all viewers for the week ending September 30, 2018, were:

1. Manifest (NBC)
2. The Big Bang Theory CBS)
3. NCIS (CBS)
4. This Is Us (NBC)

But, for same-sex households, the top four shows were:

1. Murphy Brown (CBS)
2. Manifest NBC)
3. American Horror Story (FX)
4. This Is Us (NBC)

S0, there’s some crossover in the Top 4s with Manifest and This Is Us, but things diverge from there.

The cast of ‘Manifest’

When it comes to the Top 20 shows preferred by same-sex households, eight shows don’t appear at all in the general viewers’ Top 20: Murphy Brown, American Horror Story, Modern Family, Mom, 9-1-1, Rachel Maddow Show, Grey’s Anatomy, Empire and Law & Order: SVU.

 It’s easy to see why many of those are of interest to the LGBTQ community. Modern Family, American Horror Story, Empire and 9-1-1 all have gay leading characters. And Rachel Maddow is openly lesbian.

Conversely, some of the most popular shows on television like Blue Bloods, Bulland NCISdon’t show up in our Top 20.

According to USA Today, the new data collection is only including households with same-sex couples, not individuals, out of sensitivity to “privacy concerns.” Nielsen hopes to incorporate individuals eventually.

Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD’s president and CEO, said in a statement, “We are at the highest levels ever reported for LGBTQ inclusion on television, and it’s important that we know American audiences are connecting with these characters and shows.”

“We appreciate Nielsen’s commitment to ensuring that LGBTQ people wherever they live and consume television are being counted, and that those numbers are being reported,” she added. “GLAAD is proud to work alongside them as they continue to expand and enhance their capabilities.”

Here are the Top 20 television shows watched by households with same-sex couples for the week ending September 30, 2018 (via USA Today):

1. Murphy Brown (CBS)
2. Manifest (NBC)
3. American Horror Story (FX)
4. This Is Us (NBC)
5. The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
6. The Good Doctor (ABC)
7. Modern Family (ABC)
8. The Big Bang Theory (special) (CBS)
9. The Voice (NBC)
10. Young Sheldon (CBS)
11. Mom (CBS)
12. 9-1-1 (Fox)
13. 60 Minutes (CBS)
14. The Voice (Tues) (NBC)
15. Young Sheldon (special) (CBS)
16. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)
17. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
18. New Amsterdam (NBC)
19. Empire (Fox)
20. Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

What do you think, readers? Are your favorite shows in this Top 20?
(h/t USA Today)

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LGBTQ Representation Hits All-Time High On Television

Billy Porter as “Pray Tell” on POSE

GLAAD recently released its 14th annual Where We Are on TV report; a comprehensive forecast of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) characters expected in primetime scripted programming in the 2018-19 television season.

This is the 23rd year GLAAD has tracked the presence of LGBTQ characters on television.

First time since GLAAD began tracking these statistics, there are more LGBTQ people of color (50%) than white LGBTQ people (49%) on broadcast television.

Of the 857 regular characters on broadcast scripted primetime programming, 75 identified as LGBTQ. Additionally, there were 38 recurring LGBTQ characters.

Netflix had the highest number of LGBTQ characters on streaming platforms, and FX was the top cable network thanks to this year’s LGBTQ-themed series Pose and The Assassination of Gianni Versace.

It’s great to hit record highs, but GLAAD is pushing for even more visibility on television with a 2-year goal of 10% of series regular characters on primetime broadcast television being LGBTQ.

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Shonda Rhimes Shuts Down Twitter Hate Over Same-Sex TV Scenes

Scene from “How To Get Away With Murder”

Shonda Rhimes has long been credited for her inclusion of minority characters on television. Whether Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal or the new How to Get Away With Murder.

Both Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder have recently gotten attention for some steamy scenes involving gay men.

This past Sunday, Rhimes responded to a Twitter user who was not feeling the vibe of these scenes. “The gay scenes in Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder are too much. There is no point, and they add nothing to the plot,” wrote the user.

Check out Rhimes’ response:

Here’s one of the now infamous scenes. Maybe it’s just me, but I think it’s pretty terrific 🙂

(via the Hollywood Reporter)

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Extended trailer for upcoming Carrie Underwood LIVE version of “The Sound Of Music”

Carrie Underwood to star in LIVE television remake of “The Sound of Music”

Extended trailer for the upcoming LIVE TV presentation of “The Sound of Music” starring Carrie Underwood, Stephen Moyer, Audra McDonald, Christian Borle and Laura Benanti.

I had the chance to work with Stephen Moyer this summer in the Hollywood Bowl production of CHICAGO the Musical and found him to be a great guy.  AND he has a big background in musical theatre that a lot of people don’t know about.  Yet.

Looking forward to this – airs Thursday, December 5th at 8PM