There are certain established acts like Madonna, Kylie and the Scissor Sisters that play best in expansive arenas and stadiums, and others like Marianne Faithfull, Lady Gaga and Rufus Wainwright that work better in small, intimate clubs. Duran Duran falls into the first category.
Controversy has surrounded Sacha Baron Cohen's new "gay" film "Bruno" ever since it went into production. In the past few weeks, gay groups have become vocal, calling the film "homophobic" amongst other things. Well, "Bruno" just now hit the theaters and we want to know what gay audiences think. Did you find it homophobic? Or was the hype overblown? Post your review in the comments section below.
I have been a long-time fan of Ashton Kutcher (who didn't love him as Kelso on That '70s Show?), but he pissed me off awhile back with his stupid Twitter rant about the construction going on at his neighbor's home. As you may recall, the actor was livid because the noise woke him up at the ungodly hour of 7 a.m. I remember thinking, "Uh, Ashton, a lot of people who have real jobs are up and out of the house at 7 a.m."
Anyway, Ashton apologized for being an idiot, and while I still worry that he has become a spoiled Hollywood brat, I have to give him credit for using Twitter for good these days. Those of you who don't follow him on Twitter may not know this, but he recently tweeted to promote National HIV Testing Day after The White House asked him to help get the word out, according to Politico.com.
This might not seem like the biggest deal, but let's not forget that Ashton has over 2.6 million followers who hang on his every word. He is reaching a massive audience, which likely includes a lot of gay fans (I personally know a number of guys who follow him on Twitter), and he may have very well inspired people to find out their HIV status.
So kudos to Ashton. And kudos to The White House for being savvy enough to employ a hot Hollywood star to get the message out about the importance of knowing one's HIV status.
Out of curiosity, do you follow Ashton on Twitter, and were you or any of your friends compelled to determine your HIV status because of his message?
(Image courtesy of Getty)
Because there's enough terribly earnest terrible theater in the world (which gays knowingly conceive, create, produce, and consume), it's a bit refreshing to know that fresh satire about this issue planned well in advance thanks to the International CringeFest '09. If Woody Allen and Larry David can enjoy wild success with that awkward and discomforting comedy, so can we!
Originally titled "Bad Plays and Bad Musicals," the combined effort of the Cringefest now includes and "Unholy Sunday Films Matinees," and year's newest theme, Go Genital into the Good Night.
Everything promised to be "hilarious... irreverent, politically incorrect, naughty, and utterly zany." We believe it when the featured shows include Grampa Hitler & the L'il Red Ridin' Hood by Leroi B. Di Milo and parody Dragness of God & the Naked Holy Ghost (yes naked!) by Michael Wanzie — performances will take place Saturdays, July 25, August 1, August 8, at 10:30 pm.
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about Brad Pitt, and one the comments posted by a reader resonated with me:
"I had to face the fact that I was gay after watching Legends of the Fall."
After reading that, it occurred to me that this otherwise innocuous comment scratched the surface of a larger, more profound question: how many gay people realized they were gay after discovering a certain celeb or public figure?
We all have that "a-ha" moment, most of us privately. But for those whose moment comes to them in public, sitting in a crowded movie theater surrounded by people having an altogether different experience, it can feel as though your secret has just been revealed to the world - LOUDLY.
"I will be roasting Joan with more gentleness and tenderness than her latest chemical peel and, on the other hand, I will give her a verbal pap smear and god only knows what I’m going to find down there.”
That's Kathy Griffin referring to the just-announced news that serve as official roast master of "The Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers." The event will be taped later this month, and will air on Comedy Central August 9th at 10:00pm ET/PT.
No doubt Kathy will come armed for the occasion with jokes for Joan, but she may need some help from her gays...
Frameline33: The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival (aka "The biggest queer film festival on earth") is all over until next summer.
Here's our whirlwind overview of some of the highlights you'll be wanting to add to your Netflix queue in the coming year or be looking for at a queer film fest near you — especially if you live in Los Angeles (Outfest.org) or Philadelphia (QFest.com) where those ginormous LGBT film festivals kick off this weekend as well!
Directed by lesbian filmmaker Aarin Burch, "L1FE" is the Billboard charting hit of transman Joshua Klipp, features the talents of the queer-centric Sarah Bush Dance Project, and was produced by openly gay African American music producer Kristopher Cloud.
"L1FE" has been on MTV LOGO's New Now Next and Click List Top 10, and recently featured in the San Francisco Frameline Film Festival. www.myspace.com/cutelittlewhiteguy
Contrary to popular belief, we queers aren't attracted just to gym bods and pretty faces. We're looking for it all -- intelligence, charm, heart, style, talent, accessibility ... and that unexplainable sumthin' sumthin' called the "X-factor" that makes our hearts go thump.
From the worlds of entertainment, art, sports, business, politics and other realms we've plucked the very few people who fit these criteria, and we present them to you through our weekly series "The Full Package."
Cuckoo for Coop
More magnetic than George Stephanopoulos. Better bred than Chris Cuomo. Nattier than Matt Lauer. Able to report as passionately from war-torn Rwanda and Katrina-ravaged New Orleans as effortlessly as he can chew the fat on comforting morning fluff like ABC's "Regis and Kelly" or command a crowd at the Times Square New Year's Eve bash. It's a bird! It's a plane! It's the youthful silver fox who translates into network gold! It's Anderson Cooper -- the intrepid, intelligent and unassumingly sexy CNN anchor we can't get enough of.
We gays have claimed him as our own (whether he really is "one of us" or not). But why do we love him so much? Is it that he's a scion of one of the wealthiest families in American history yet comes across with the sharp yet boyish everyman appeal of a Jimmy Stewart? Is it that -- in 007/Indiana Jones fashion -- he looks as good in muddy khakis out in the jungle as he does in a tailored Ralph Lauren suit and perfectly knotted tie at a celebrity function? Is it that, at such an uncertain and pivotal time, when we're confronted with the confusions of Barack, Bush, Iraq, Hillary, McCain, he's made American politics and global issues accessible to us in a way that's by turns easygoing and charmingly earnest, but always insightful? Is it that he's shown his vulnerability by being candid about the tragedies in his personal life, or that he gives us a glimpse of his cocky side when he riffs with Kelly Ripa about his Manhattan social life? Or do we just love him for his trim build, his angular cheekbones and his blue eyes, made even more striking by his full, handsome and prematurely white head of hair?
The answer is: We like him for all of the above.
Bravo's latest stroke on the reality canvas will be an hour long creative competition series among contemporary artists. The "Untitled Art Project" will bring together thirteen aspiring artists to compete for a gallery show, a cash prize and a sponsored national tour. Open calls for artists interested in competing in this new competition series will be held in cities across the country starting in July.
In each episode of the series, contestants will create unique pieces highlighting art's role in everyday life, while they compete and create in a range of disciplines including sculpture, painting, photography and industrial design (to name a few). In working beyond their preferred mediums, artists will have to adapt quickly in order to succeed. Completed works of art will be appraised by a panel of top art world figures including fellow artists, gallerists, collectors, curators and critics. The finalists' work will be showcased in a nation-wide museum tour.
