GAY HOLLYWOOD: Dozens of Pics,Videos and Stories>New Year's Edition
See new Jake Silbermann photos!
Those of us who were so enamored with the pairing of Luke and Reid on the late soap As the World Turnskind of shoved poor Noah aside in the process.But writers had Noah behaving in a pretty maddening way for some time – pushing Luke away after he was blinded in an accident – so it made sense that Luke would fall in love with someone else.
Still, we have a very soft spot for the actor who played Noah, Jake Silbermann, who will always have the distinction of being one-half of daytime’s first gay super couple.
Some new photos of Jake have just been posted on a Facebook fan page that I thought you might enjoy!
FILE UNDER: Daytime TV
Sunday Showtune: Kennedy Center Honors tribute to Jerry Herman w/Lansbury, Channing, Chita & Morrison and Bomer!
The legendary Broadway composer Jerry Herman, whose credits include such classics asHello Dolly andMame, was feted at the Kennedy Center Honors which aired last week on CBS.
And what a starry group that showed up to sing his praises – and some of his classic songs: A pair of gorgeous men named Matthew as in Morrison and Bomer (see photos below the video), 2010 Tony nominee Kelsey Grammer and, among others, a parade of multiple Tony winners:Angela Lansbury, Carol Channing, Chita Rivera, Christine Ebersole and Christine Baranski.
This is just so damned enjoyable!
Also, note to Kennedy Center Honors selection committee: Carol Channing is going to be 90 years old this year and she does not have one of those beautiful medallions hanging around her neck as Miss Lansbury sand Miss Rivera do. She deserves to be invited into this exclusive club!
He was known as “The King of Hollywood” for good reason.Clark Gable was most famous for playing Rhett Butler in Gone With the Windand famously saying to Scarlett Ohara: “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
But it was for his performance in 1934′s It Happened One Night that won the dashing Gable the Academy Award for best actor. His other most famous roles included Mutiny on the Bounty, Mogambo, The Call of the Wild, Teacher’s Petand his final film, The Misfits.
Gable starred opposite a stunning string of leading ladies including Vivian Leigh, Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford, Doris Day, Norma Shearer, Ava Gardner and Marilyn Monroe, among others.
He had a long-term affair with his The Call of the Wild co-star Loretta Young and she gave birth to his daughter. To avoid scandal, Young hid out until after she gave birth then concocted a story that she had adopted the baby girl. He had been married to actress Carole Lombard in 1939 but tragedy struck three years later when she was killed in a plane crash.
At the time of his death in 1960, Gable was married to fifth wife Kay Spreckles who was pregnant with their son. John Clark Cable was born after his father died after suffering a heart attack.
FILE UNDER: Morning Men (2011)
Greg’s Snapshots: Guy Candy to kick off 2011!
Wednesday, I start to cover the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour and look forward bringing you daily reports from Pasadena for two weeks.
But before we begin, here are some photos I snapped during the TCA Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills and whaddaya know, they are all attractive men! Above is Matt Latner of 90210 who sure looks pretty in this picture.
Enjoy!
Trevor Donovan of 90210 before it was revealed that his character of Teddy would come out.
Jesse Metcalfe has put Desperate Housewives behind him with a role on the new NBC drama Chase.
CLEAVAGE MAN: Ed Westwick of Gossip Girl was sporting a plunging neckline at the CBS/CW/Showtime party.
Jason Ritter stars on NBC’s The Event which returns to the air with new episodes next month.
Josh Hopkins has won the heart of Courtney Cox’s character on ABC’s Cougar Town.
Above is Carter MacIntyre who was one of the starred on NBC’s Undercoverswhich the network had high hopes for but unfortunately lasted just half a season.Pictured left is another Undercoversstar, the gorgeousBoris Kodjoe.
FILE UNDER: Guy Candy
Roger and Rafa kick off 2010!
The off-season in professional tennis is so ridiculously short that it’s no wonder players are often injured!It’s Jan. 1 and already the players are playing warm-up tournaments for the sport’s first major tournament: The 2011 Australian Open which begins in two weeks in Melbourne.
Anyway, an elite group of players competed in an exhibition tournament this weekend in Abu Dhabi (the results don’t impact the rankings) and top-rankedRafael Nadal won by beating archrival Roger Federer 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) in the final.
“For both of us, these are the first matches of the season. So it is special for us,” Nadal said after the match. “This is the perfect place to start the season here in Abu Dhabi.”
Said Federer: “I never lost my serve, but I still lost the tournament, it’s kind of tough. Rafael and myself must have played so many times and so many times it has come down to a few shots here and there. He is an amazing shot-maker. Me as well, but today he got the better of me.”
Last month, the two split charity matches with Nadal winning in Spain and Federer prevailing in Switzerland. In tournament play, Nadal has a 14-8 record against Federer. The Swiss won their most recent meeting in the final the ATP World Tour Finals in London and is the defending Australian Open champion.
FILE UNDER: Tennis
Video: See Kathy Griffin try and behave herself with Anderson Cooper on CNN’s NY’s Eve coverage
As far as I know, Kathy Griffin didn’t utter any profanities on CNN’s coverage of New Year’s Eve in Times Square.
And you know what? She was still really funny and the interplay between her and Anderson Cooper was as fun and silly as ever. After four years together, Anderson gives as good as he gets.
“I’m really happy to be here with you again,” he said to Kathy at one point. “I didn’t think they’d invite you back.”
He also teases Kathy about being invited to Cher’s house for Christmas and at one point, Anderson’s mom, Gloria Vanderbilt, calls in to chat with the pair. Apparently Kathy is not only chummy with Cher, she’s also pals with Miss Vanderbilt!
She is a D-listed no more!
This is a full hour of coverage. I just love Anderson’s laugh. Enjoy!
Yeah, I know, it’s the start of a new year and you don’t have all day to sit around watching videos on Youtube. Here are a few highlights:
And finally, there is Kurt Hummel played to perfection by Chris Colfer.
We watched Kurt come out to his friends and his family last season and struggle with his feelings for Finn (Cory Monteith) who is now his stepbrother. We have been moved to tears by the love Kurt’s dad Burt (Mike O’Malley) has for his son.
But no matter how much love and support Kurt has, he still fell victim to a self-loathing bully. Football player Dave Karofsky (Max Adler) is gay himself and kissed Kurt but then proceeded to harass and threaten him.
In the Furt episode, where Kurt’s dad and Finn’s mom got married, I was very impressed with the way that others in the school reacted to Kurt being bullied.
Mr. Schuester immediately took action when he witnessed the bullying; Kurt’s friends in Glee club confronted the bully in the locker room and Sue Sylvester, as principal, expelled the bully from school.
Said Sue to Kurt: “Lady, this kid lays a finger on you, you come straight to me and I will expel him faster than a Thai take-out place can read back your delivery order.”
A grateful Kurt then tells Sue that he doesn’t to be called Lady. She says in a soothing tone: “I’m sorry. I thought that was your name. As an apology, I’ll allow you to choose from the following nicknames: Gelfling, Porcelain or Tickle-Me-Doughface.”
This is just brilliant television!
A “Glee” spoiler regarding Kurt and Blaine!
It’s been a tough school year so far for our Kurt Hummel played by Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG award nominee Chris Colfer.He’s been bullied by a closeted thug at school whose continued presence has so unnerved Kurt that the openly gay glee club member has transferred to a private school.
Okay, that’s enough background. If you don’t want to know about what is in store for Kurt in some future episodes, consider this to be your SPOILER ALERT!!!
So, we know that Kurt has fallen for a fellow gay student at his new school: Blaine played by Greg In Hollywood’s 2010 New Star of the Year honoree Darren Criss.
Colfer talked to TV Guide’s William Keck about the Feb. 8 Valentine’s episode when Kurt and Blaine croon When I Get You Alone outside of a Gap store.
Keck reports that it is there that Blaine will profess his love.
Colfer hinted: “There might be a development.”
Tuesday Morning Man: Nathan Fillion!
If you saw Nathan Fillionwalking down the street, you would think, ‘Well there goes one handsome man!”But what makes him really sexy is his humor which is on display each week in his hit ABC seriesCastle in which he plays Richard Castle, a mystery novelist who helps the NYPD solve crimes.
Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayerhave long known Nathan from his recurring role as Caleb during the show’s final season. He then went on to star in the seriesFirefly and reprised his role of Captain Malcolm Reynolds in the 2005 movie Serenity.
Nathan, who is 39, got his start in television on ABC’s One Life to Live in the role of Joey Buchanan for which he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 1996.
His film credits include Waitress(as the dreamy doctor who sweeps Keri Russell off her feet), Slither, Trucker and White Noise 2: The Light. He also had a recurring role on Desperate Housewives as Dana Delaney’s husband and appeared in the Internet sensation Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.
Nate Berkus honors teen Seth Walsh’s life by designing room in honor of his life at LGBT Community Center in NYC
Today’s episode of The Nate Berkus Show will feature Wendy Walshwhose son, Seth, hung himself in his own backyard to get away from anti-gay bullying.The show will honor her son Seth in a pretty powerful way. Nate teamed up with the New York City LGBT Community Center, and styled a room at the organization in honor of Seth’s life. He surprised Wendy Walsh and the rest of Seth’s family by unveiling the room on the show during a segment where Wendy speaks about “rebuilding a home after tragedy.”
Seth was just 13 when he killed himself earlier this year. From fifth grade on, he experienced taunts and violence from his classmates, all because he was gay. He was called “queer” and “faggot,” tripped, and pushed in the halls.
When Wendy went to school administrators to alert them they were not helpful. She released a video last week, in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), talking about her son’s death, and why his death (and the deaths of many other LGBT youth) should be a wake up call for all Americans.
“Seth’s school did not care. If they did care about Seth, they would have addressed the problem,” She says in the video. “Seth told me he was gay when he was in the sixth grade. He was a wonderful, loving child, and I loved him for who he was. I can’t bring my son back. But schools can make a difference today to keep this from happening to any more young people.”
Here is the video:
FILE UNDER: Uncategorized
Cyndi Lauper named one of the “Heroes Among Us” by People magazine for being a voice of acceptance
Yes, I did name Kathy Griffin as the winner of the 2010 Greggy for Straight Ally of the Year.It was an honor well deserved.
But the beautiful soul that isCyndi Lauper could win that honor in this and any other other year for all she does for the LGBT community.
In a recent issue of People magazine, Cyndi was cited as one of the “Heroes Among Us” for her efforts to speak up for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths and keep them in their homes and off the streets.
“I know if I can make a big stink, I can inspire other people,” she told members of LGBT Community Center in New York City’s Youth Enrichment Services Program.
Next summer, a permanent housing facility for LGBT youths ages 18-24 – called the True Colors Residence in honor or Lauper and her anthem of acceptance – is expected to open in central Harlem.
“Without her, the residence definitely would not be built,” said Colleen Jackson, executive director of the West End Intergenerational Residence.
The residence came about after a conversation Lauper had with Jackson after she spotted homeless LGBT kids at one of the city’s piers a few years ago.
“It really broke my heart,” said Cyndi. “I couldn’t stand by as kids get thrown out and discriminated against.
Lauper’s True Colors Fund is providing financial support for the city-funded residence.
God bless you Cindu Lauper!
FILE UNDER: Straight Allies
Wednesday Morning Man: Jim Castillo!
With his outgoing personality, infectious smile and those darkly handsome good looks, I’m glad to see meteorologist (okay, weatherman!) Jim Castilloback on the LA scene working for KTLA.I remember him from earlier in the decade as a weatherman for KCBS and he was just so much fun and way easy on the eyes.
In between the LA gigs, Jim went to New York to work for the Fox affiliate WNYW Channel 5.
Jim’s first gig as a meteorologist was in Columbia, Mo. Besides doing the weather, he hosted an exercise segment and once told a reporter. “They called me ‘beefcake’ at the station. They made me do an exercise segment after the weather. I loved it.”
FILE UNDER: Morning Men
Video: See a preview of “Modern Family” guest star James Marsden in a hot tub with Cam and Mitchell!
Just what any gay couple needs: an incredibly gorgeous guy moving in nearby, stripping down, and climbing into your hot tub without asking permission.This is how Cam and Mitchell (Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson) first encounter their new neighbor in next week’s episode of Modern Family.
The neighbor is played by the smokin’ hotJames Marsden of Enchanted, 27 Dressesand Hairspray fame. I just saw the dreadfulDeath at a Funeral the other night on DVD and the real comic highlight was Marsden as a guy who is accidentally given acid by his girlfriend before her uncle’s funeral (she thought it was Valium).
Anyway, here’s a funny preview of what is to come on Modern Family!
FILE UNDER: Daytime TV, Morning Men
2010 Greggys: The TV Show of the Year is “Glee”
Gee, what a surprise, right?A friend of mine was teasing me that it was a no-brainer that as a Gleek myself, I would choose Glee to win the 2010 Greggy for TV Show of the Year without even considering other shows.
But the truth is, I did give this category some serious thought and the superbModern Family was a close runner-up. It is not only hilarious, smart and features the best acting ensemble in television, but Cam and Mitchell are my favorite TV couple (sorry Kevin and Scotty!).
Still, Glee continued to move, entertain and inspire me in season 2 as much as it did in its first year – if not more. It just touched my LGBT heart more often than did Modern Family and far more than any other show on television although I’m encouraged by the Teddy storyline on 90210 and continue to appreciate Scotty and Kevin on Brothers & Sisters.
The characters – especially Brittany and Santana (Heather Morris and Naya Rivera) are being fleshed out more and the new cast additions have been inspired – especially Darren Criss as Blaine and Chord Overstreet as Sam.
Jane Lynch’s Sue Sylvester remains intriguing as the onion is slowly peeled and we are beginning to find out what motivates this miserable woman! Lea Michele as Rachel remains annoyingly self-absorbed and brilliantly talented and her big ballad solos are always a high point for me.
Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester continues to anchor the show so well by managing to be a flawed but well-meaning (and darn sexy!) teacher.
There have been some big themed episodes like the Britney Spears one and the Rocky Horror-themed Halloween show but not too many and guest stars Gwyneth Paltrow, John Stamos andCarol Burnett were all used nicely.
But creator Ryan Murphy has wisely stuck to the core characters who were never more unified than in the Furt episode.
And finally, there is Kurt Hummel played to perfection by Chris Colfer.
We watched Kurt come out to his friends and his family last season and struggle with his feelings for Finn (Cory Monteith) who is now his stepbrother. We have been moved to tears by the love Kurt’s dad Burt (Mike O’Malley) has for his son.
But no matter how much love and support Kurt has, he still fell victim to a self-loathing bully. Football player Dave Karofsky (Max Adler) is gay himself and kissed Kurt but then proceeded to harass and threaten him.In the Furt episode, where Kurt’s dad and Finn’s mom got married, I was very impressed with the way that others in the school reacted to Kurt being bullied.
Mr. Schuester immediately took action when he witnessed the bullying; Kurt’s friends in Glee club confronted the bully in the locker room and Sue Sylvester, as principal, expelled the bully from school.
Said Sue to Kurt: “Lady, this kid lays a finger on you, you come straight to me and I will expel him faster than a Thai take-out place can read back your delivery order.”
A grateful Kurt then tells Sue that he doesn’t to be called Lady. She says in a soothing tone: “I’m sorry. I thought that was your name. As an apology, I’ll allow you to choose from the following nicknames: Gelfling, Porcelain or Tickle-Me-Doughface.”
This is just brilliant television!
The school board overturns Sue’s expulsion of Karofsky and she tendered her resignation as principal in protest of the school board’s decision. She told Kurt she’d keep an eye out for him as she roams the halls: “Someone out to have your back.”
With Karofsky returning, Kurt said: “I don’t feel safe at this school.”
Colfer did a good job of conveying Kurt’s fear and it’s very telling that despite the support of his friends and teachers and family, he feels he must leave the school to feel safe. His dad and stepmom decide to use their honeymoon money to pay for private school and Kurt announces that he was transferring to Dalton Academy where a “zero tolerance no bulllying policy is enforced.”
With the bullying epidemic in our country making the lives of gay kids a living hell and leading some to kill themselves, I can’t think of a more important storyline on television this year.
And the fact that it is on a show that so many of those kids watch with their families, I just feel so grateful that this show with this storyline is on the air and that it is so well done and hopefully will make a difference in a lot of lives.
It’s for that and so many other reasons why Glee wins the Greggy for TV Show of the Year!
A “Glee” spoiler regarding Kurt and Blaine!
It’s been a tough school year so far for our Kurt Hummel played by Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG award nominee Chris Colfer.He’s been bullied by a closeted thug at school whose continued presence has so unnerved Kurt that the openly gay glee club member has transferred to a private school.
Okay, that’s enough background. If you don’t want to know about what is in store for Kurt in some future episodes, consider this to be your SPOILER ALERT!!!
So, we know that Kurt has fallen for a fellow gay student at his new school: Blaine played by Greg In Hollywood’s 2010 New Star of the Year honoree Darren Criss.
Colfer talked to TV Guide’s William Keck about the Feb. 8 Valentine’s episode when Kurt and Blaine croon When I Get You Alone outside of a Gap store.
Keck reports that it is there that Blaine will profess his love.
Colfer hinted: “There might be a development.”
FILE UNDER: Glee
Happy Birthday to Malcolm Gets!
Malcolm Gets, best known for his role as Richard in the sitcom Caroline in the City, celebrates his 45th birthday today.He played quite the heterosexual on Caroline but after the show ended its run, Gets made no secret that he is gay.
He’s also very talented as evidenced by his work on last year’s HBO film Grey Gardens and his Tony Award-nominated performance in Amour. His other Broadway shows include Dreamgirls, The Molière Comedies, Passionand The Story of My Life.
Malcolm was awarded the Obie for his work Off-Broadway in Merrily We Roll Along and The Two Gentlemen of Verona in 1995. He also performed at Williamstown Theatre Festival as the role of Orlando in Party Come Here.
On the big screen, Malcolm was one of the leads opposite Craig Chester in the 2005 indie romantic comedy Adam and Steve.
FILE UNDER: Birthdays
Elton John and David Furnish become parents!
Elton John has become a father for the first time at the age of 64!He and his partner, 48-year-old David Furnish, have announced the birth of their son who was born in California to a surrogate mother on Christmas Day.
The boy, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, weighs 7lb 15oz, John’s LA-based publicist confirmed to the UK’s The Guardian.
The name Levon is the title of a track on John’s 1971 album Madman Across the Water.
In a statement, the couple said: “We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment. Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents.”
Congratulations to Elton and David!
Let’s just hope Rush Limbaugh is not the godfather! (Sorry, couldn’t resist)
FILE UNDER: Out Stars
Tuc Watkins returns to “One Life to Live” on Jan. 4
Tuc Watkins, who plays one half of Wisteria Lane’s gay couple onDesperate Housewives, will return to his delicious daytime role of David Vickers on One Life to Live next month.Tuc has appeared as David in stretches for more than a decade and the soap has wisely allowed him to come and go. His David is one of the funniest to ever appear on a daytime soap and that is thanks to the writing and Tuc’s great comic timing.
The actor last appeared on OLTL in August. Head writer Ron Carlivatitells Soap Opera Digest of David Vicker’s return: “He’s been languishing away in that prison so we should see how he’s doing. And he’s determined to make contact with the outside world.”
Yes, but will the exhibitionist David be running around without clothes on?
FILE UNDER: Daytime TV
Tuesday Morning Man: Nathan Fillion!
If you saw Nathan Fillionwalking down the street, you would think, ‘Well there goes one handsome man!”But what makes him really sexy is his humor which is on display each week in his hit ABC seriesCastle in which he plays Richard Castle, a mystery novelist who helps the NYPD solve crimes.
Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayerhave long known Nathan from his recurring role as Caleb during the show’s final season. He then went on to star in the seriesFirefly and reprised his role of Captain Malcolm Reynolds in the 2005 movie Serenity.
Nathan, who is 39, got his start in television on ABC’s One Life to Live in the role of Joey Buchanan for which he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 1996.
His film credits include Waitress(as the dreamy doctor who sweeps Keri Russell off her feet), Slither, Trucker and White Noise 2: The Light. He also had a recurring role on Desperate Housewives as Dana Delaney’s husband and appeared in the Internet sensation Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.
FILE UNDER: Morning Men
Snapped! Ellen and Portia in St. Barts!
Supercouple Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi left the chilly and rainy weather of Los Angeles behind and spent their holiday in sunny St. Barts.The UK’s Daily Mailreports: Walking hand in hand through the streets of Gustavia, St Barts, the couple couldn’t have looked happier as they spent their Boxing Day shopping in exclusive stores like Louis Vuitton.
It’s been a busy year for this pair. Portia’s deeply personal memoir about her struggle with anorexia was published and Ellen juggled her syndicated daytime show with being a judge on American Idol.
Ellen has left Idol behind just as the show appears to be something of a sinking ship!
FILE UNDER: Lesbian
Meryl Monday: Ed Begley Jr. leaves screen wife Roseanne for Miss Streep’s character in “She-Devil”
We all know by now that Meryl Streep is one of the best comedy actresses in the business.She has been absolutely hilarious in such films as It’s Complicated, Death Becomes Her, Prime, The Devil Wears Prada and PostcardsFrom the Edge.
But it was not until the 1989 filmShe-Devil that we knew of Miss Streep’s comedic gifts because she had spent most of the decade perfecting accents for such dramatic films as Sophie’s Choice, A Cry in the Dark, Out of Africaand Ironweed.
As a trashy romance novelist Mary Fisher is She-Devil, Meryl is a riot and incurs the wrath of Roseannewhen she steals away her husband, played by Ed Begley Jr.
When Ed and I chatted at last month’s GLAAD at 25 event about LGBT equality, I asked him what it was like to work with Miss Streep on that film.
“She is a goddess as we all know,” he said. “She is the funniest, brightest, most talented actress in my lifetime and she’s a great person too. I was proud to be in that film with her.”
Here are some scenes featuring Ed and Meryl:
FILE UNDER: Meryl Monday
Steven Weber chats with Greg In Hollywood and reflects on his role as a gay man in the 1995 film “Jeffrey”
It was right about in the middle of his seven-year run on the NBC sitcom Wings thatSteven Weber took the title role in the gay romantic comedy Jeffrey.Based on the play by Paul Rudnick, the story takes place in Manhattan at the height of the AIDS epidemic. Weber plays a man who has sworn off sex because of it. Then he meets hunky Steve (played by hunky Michael T. Weiss) and must face his fear because Steve is HIV-positive.
Weber, whose recent film and television credits include My One and Only, Choose Connor, Sunset 60 on the Sunset Strip and Brothers & Sisters, was one of the celebrity guests at last month’s GLAAD and 25 event.
We chatted on the red carpet before the event started and I wanted to get Steven’s thoughts on LGBT representation in the media sinceJeffrey came out in 1995.
“Obviously there’s progress that’s been made in the industry ad people’s perceptions of gay people in film and television, there’s still a long way to go,” he said. “There’s still other things that need to be achieved. A certain feeling of parity among gay and so-called gay characters in any given show. But there has been progress.”
What does he think of Jeffrey today, 15 years after making it?
“When you look at Jeffrey, which still holds up, it’s kind of quaint in a way,” he said. “It’s a little bit of an artifact but it still has some impact and I’m extremely proud of that film.”
Since Steven is straight, I wanted to know if he had any hesitation about playing a gay role in this pre-Brokeback Mountain era.
“I was a pioneer,” he said. “I wish I had more controversy on this subject but I got nothing but encouragement, it was a smart thing to do, it was a great role. Paul Rudnick was a great writer and I would have been a schmuck to not do it. I had no misgivings or problems or obstacles.”
So what’s next for this always busy 49 year old actor? He’s about to do an untitled pilot for TNT as a rigorously put upon father and husband.
He says: “I’m busy and always looking for good stuff to do.”
FILE UNDER: Interviews
Happy Birthday to Wilson Cruz!
Richard Chamberlain may still think gay actors should stay in the closet if they want to work but Wilson Cruzdecided to take another route – thank God!The talented star of television, movies and stage turns 37 today and has been out since 1994 when he starred as Enrique “Rickie” Vasquez, a troubled gay teen, in the short-lived cult classic TV series My So-Called Life.
Wilson is a hero and a man of courage. When he came out to his family, he was thrown out of the house by his father and had to live in his car and with friends for a time. And who knows how many roles he lost because he was openly gay?
But he did what he had to do. Wilson was the first openly gay star of a network series and paved the way for folks likeT.R. Knight, Neil Patrick Harris, Luke Macfarlane, Jesse Tyler Ferguson andChris Colfer, among others.
He’s done quite well for himself appearing on Broadway as Angel in Rent, as a recurring character in the TV seriesNoah’s Arc, Party of Five and Raising the Bar, and appearing in the films The People I’ve Slept With, Coffee Date, He’s Just Not That Into You, johns, Bam Bam and Celeste, Party Monster and Ode, among others.
Wilson recently moved from Los Angeles to New York in pursuit of some theater roles but I caught up with him last week in Hollywood at the GLAAD at 25 event.
I wanted to know how things have been going since the big move.
Turns out he’s been accumulating a lot of frequent flier miles!
First he landed a juicy guest spot on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy then landed a role in the indie flick Meth Head with Lukas Haas.
“Maybe I should have moved earlier,” he said, laughing. “[Grey's Anatomy creator] Shonda Rhimes wrote this amazing storyline for me and called me up and said, ‘Get your butt back to LA.’ And so I got on the plane. It’s a great cast, a great crew. It was a really enjoyable experience.”
“Maybe I should have moved earlier,” he said, laughing. “[Grey's Anatomy creator] Shonda Rhimes wrote this amazing storyline for me and called me up and said, ‘Get your butt back to LA.’ And so I got on the plane. It’s a great cast, a great crew. It was a really enjoyable experience.”
Happy birthday to this busy actor, activist and role model!
FILE UNDER: Birthdays
Kathy has Tweeted this photo of her and the Silver Fox after their New Year’s Eve gig was over. She teases that we will have to watch her on tour to find out the story! So we’ll play along and pretend like something possibly could have happened!
Neil Patrick Harris shares NY resolutions
Personally, I’m not making any New Year’s Resolutions but I’m glad Neil Patrick Harris has decided to make some via Twitter!Here they are:
Neil’s New Years Resolutions, Part 1: return emails and texts in a timely manner. 43 minutes ago viaTwitter for iPhone
Neil’s New Year Resolutions, Part 2: Much more yoga. Long, lean muscles. Calm, clear mind. 29 minutes agovia Twitter for iPhone
Neil’s New Year Resolutions, Part 3: Try not to insult aged soap stars, especially when you’re on the same network.5 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Neil’s New Year Resolutions, Part 4: Send more thank you notes. It only takes a few minutes, and is a very nice gesture. 12 minutes ago viaTwitter for iPhone
Neil’s New Year Resolutions, Part 5: Learn to speak baby. 1 minute ago via Twitter for iPhone
Neil’s New Year Resolutions, Part 7: Spend a small part of every day reading. Not surfing, not searching – just reading. 14 minutes ago via web
Neil’s New Year Resolutions, Part 8: More nachos. 4 minutes ago via web
Note: Part 3 referred to, of course, the fantastic little public spat Neil had with Eric Braeden of The Young and the Restless after Braeden backed out of a guest spot on Neil’s popular CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother.
FILE UNDER: Out Stars
Jane Lynch promises Sue Sylvester will have “a hissy fit the likes of which no one has seen before” on “Glee”
Super Bowl Sunday is on Feb. 6 but really, who cares about the game?I’ll be counting down to the special episode of Glee that will follow the game on Fox!
Jane Lynch (aka Sue Sylvester) tells theAssociated Press that there is much to look forward to including guest appearances by Gwyneth Paltrow andKatie Couric as well as the students offering their version of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
“It’s got so much firepower,” the Emmy-winning actress said. “There is so much going on in the show that is crazy and funny and wild.
That all sounds real good. But what sounds even better is what is going to occur with Sue Sylvester: “I have a hissy fit the likes of which no one has seen before, where I try to destroy the locker room and principal’s office. I try to shoot one of my cheerleaders from a cannon.”
FILE UNDER: Glee
Happy 62nd Birthday to Donna Summer!
Donna Summer’s career might have cooled off after her stupendous run in the 70s and 80s, but what a mighty run it was.She accumulated a stellar string of hits including Bad Girls, Hot Stuff, MacArthur Park, Love to Love You Baby, Heaven Knows, Enough is Enough, On the Radio, She Works Hard for the Money, Dim All the Lights, This Time I Know It’s For Real and Last Dance, among others.
Donna turns 62 today and she not only has kept working, she’s still in magnificent form as I discovered last summer when she performed at The Hollywood Bowl.
She brought her best to that night’s show and her best is still superb. She looked dazzling and her voice was as strong and clear as ever as she performedMacArthur Park, Enough is Enough, On the Radio, Last Dance and other hits for us.
What I really loved about Donna was that, unlike a remote Diana Ross a few weeks earlier at the Nokia, Miss Summer was completely engaging and connected to the audience mentioning how her daughter was playing at the Roxy last night, what each song meant to her and saying lovely things about the music of The Carpenters (Richard Carpenter was also on the bill at The Bowl that night).
Donna first sold out The Bowl back in 1979 and has continued to do so as recently as 2008. Here she is from an earlier concert (on MTV I believe) performing Last Dance.
2010 Greggys: The TV Show of the Year is “Glee”
Gee, what a surprise, right?A friend of mine was teasing me that it was a no-brainer that as a Gleek myself, I would choose Glee to win the 2010 Greggy for TV Show of the Year without even considering other shows.
But the truth is, I did give this category some serious thought and the superbModern Family was a close runner-up. It is not only hilarious, smart and features the best acting ensemble in television, but Cam and Mitchell are my favorite TV couple (sorry Kevin and Scotty!).
Still, Glee continued to move, entertain and inspire me in season 2 as much as it did in its first year – if not more. It just touched my LGBT heart more often than did Modern Family and far more than any other show on television although I’m encouraged by the Teddy storyline on 90210 and continue to appreciate Scotty and Kevin on Brothers & Sisters.
Let’s usher out 2010 with some last great posts!What could be more sweet than watching the talented Darren Criss of Glee perform in front thousands of screaming fans in Manila earlier this week.
Darrin is half Filipino and Half Irish and told the crowd: “It’s good to be back in Manila among family and friends. For those of you who don’t know me I am Darren Criss, I play music a lot.
Nate Berkus honors teen Seth Walsh’s life by designing room in honor of his life at LGBT Community Center in NYC
Today’s episode of The Nate Berkus Show will feature Wendy Walshwhose son, Seth, hung himself in his own backyard to get away from anti-gay bullying.The show will honor her son Seth in a pretty powerful way. Nate teamed up with the New York City LGBT Community Center, and styled a room at the organization in honor of Seth’s life. He surprised Wendy Walsh and the rest of Seth’s family by unveiling the room on the show during a segment where Wendy speaks about “rebuilding a home after tragedy.”
Seth was just 13 when he killed himself earlier this year. From fifth grade on, he experienced taunts and violence from his classmates, all because he was gay. He was called “queer” and “faggot,” tripped, and pushed in the halls.
When Wendy went to school administrators to alert them they were not helpful. She released a video last week, in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), talking about her son’s death, and why his death (and the deaths of many other LGBT youth) should be a wake up call for all Americans.
“Seth’s school did not care. If they did care about Seth, they would have addressed the problem,” She says in the video. “Seth told me he was gay when he was in the sixth grade. He was a wonderful, loving child, and I loved him for who he was. I can’t bring my son back. But schools can make a difference today to keep this from happening to any more young people.”
FILE UNDER: Uncategorized
“I Love Lucy” Friday: How do Lucy and Ethel end up in a man’s hotel room wearing negligees?
Lucy tries to fix up eligible bachelor Eddie Grant – negligee salesman – a with a young glamour girl but he thinks it’s the married redhead who wants him. Lucy shows up at Eddie’s hotel with Ethel in tow and just as they get things straightened out, Ricky and Fred show up at Eddie’s hotel room where Lucy and Ethel are trying on negligees that he is selling them for wholesale.
Lucy answers the door still in her negligee:
Ricky: “Lucy. You here, dressed in that! You must be out of your mind!”
Then Ethel strolls out in a negligee and Fred says: “Ethel. You here, dressed in that. HE must be out of his mind!”
What’s really funny is that Ethel is delighted that Fred thinks Eddie would consider her for a rendezvous.
Enjoy!
Video: See a preview of “Modern Family” guest star James Marsden in a hot tub with Cam and Mitchell!
Just what any gay couple needs: an incredibly gorgeous guy moving in nearby, stripping down, and climbing into your hot tub without asking permission.This is how Cam and Mitchell (Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson) first encounter their new neighbor in next week’s episode of Modern Family.
The neighbor is played by the smokin’ hotJames Marsden of Enchanted, 27 Dressesand Hairspray fame. I just saw the dreadfulDeath at a Funeral the other night on DVD and the real comic highlight was Marsden as a guy who is accidentally given acid by his girlfriend before her uncle’s funeral (she thought it was Valium).
Anyway, here’s a funny preview of what is to come on Modern Family!
FILE UNDER: I Love Lucy Friday
2010 Greggys: Male Star of the Year is Chris Colfer!
It’s not been easy deciding on a Male Star of the Year because there are so many openly gay performers out there now who are deserving.Do you give the 2010 Greggy to Ricky Martinfor coming out so beautifully through his memoir and a series of wonderful interviews? What about to the oh-so-talented and funnyJesse Tyler Ferguson who is a bright shining light on Modern Family, TV’s Emmy winning comedy? Or Adam Lambert, a worldwide singing sensation who earned his first Grammy nod? Or the busy-as-ever Neil Patrick Harris who had another banner year on television and film, won two Emmys and became a dad?
All would be good choices but the 2010 Greggy for Male Star of the Year goes to …Chris Colfer!
Chris is just an utter breath of fresh air.
As a 20 year old openly gay star of one of TV’s hottest shows, the world is his oyster. He’s an inspiration to young kids everywhere – and to those of us who are not so young anymore.
His character of Kurt Hummel has become the heart and soul of Glee and the entertainment industry has noticed nominating Chris for a supporting actor Emmy and Golden Globe. I’m most impressed with his recent Screen Actors Guild nod because there is no separation between lead and supporting performances – just five slots and Chris got one of them!
Chris is not only getting major kudos for his acting on Glee, he’s also proven to be a charming guest on such shows as Conan, Chelsea Lately and Jimmy Kimmel. In addition, Chris has been featured this year in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weeklyand scores of other magazines, newspapers and website.
On opening night at the Outfest Film Festival last summer, Chris presentedGlee co-star Jane Lynch with the Lifetime Achievement Award and it is she who ended up paying tribute to him in her acceptance speech: “You are grace and dignity personified and the entire world has just embraced you and who you are but no more than the courageous kids who now have a fashion-forward role model. … You’re just a bright light and it’s a lot to put on your young shoulders but I don’t worry about you because you have a wise old grandma that lives inside of you keeping your feet on the ground and making sure everyone has enough to eat.”
Other 2010 Greggy winners: TV Show of the Year: Glee; Movie of The Year: The Kids Are All Right; Female Star of the Year: Jane Lynch; New Star of the Year Darren Criss; Music Star of the YearAdam Lambert; Soap Star of the Year: Eric Sheffer Stevens; Book of the Year: Patti LuPone’s a Memoir; Couple of the Year: Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka; Icon of the Year: Lily Tomlin; Coming Out Story of the Year: Chely Wright; Straight Ally of the Year: Kathy Griffin and Morning Men of The Year.
FILE UNDER: Awards
2010 Greggys: The Female Star of the Year is newlywed and Emmy winning star of “Glee” Jane Lynch!
It’s not like Jane Lynchsuddenly became more talented this year – 2010 just happened to be the year when the world decided to really take notice.The gifted actress who we had long loved fromChristopher Guestmovies including Best in Show and For Your Consideration, had been delivering stand-out performances in increasingly high-profile movies (40 Year Old Virgin, Talladega Nights) and TV shows (Boston Legal, Two and a Half Men) when along came the role of a lifetime: Sue Sylvester inGlee.
In 2010, Jane turned 50 and found herself a superstar. She landed on the cover of magazines, won the Emmy Award for Glee and had her talents on full display during last spring’s Madonna episode when she eplicated The Material Girl’s performance in the famous video for Vogue.
Through all of this mainstream success, Jane has not for a second turned her back on the LGBT causes she has been active in for so long. She was honored with the LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s Distinguished Achievement Award in November – the center’s highest honor.
She was also honored with the Outfest Lifetime Achievement Award in July and when she appeared during the festival for a Q&A, the large DGA Theatre was filled to capacity.
Jane has also been true to herself as an out actress and got a lot of coverage in May when she married psychologist Lara Embry in Massachusetts on Memorial Day.
“I really started to be known when I was 40 and I was a big les by then, I wasn’t turning back. There were stories to be told if I denied it. I didn’t have a moment’s worry about it at all.”
But that was not always the case: “I will say that when I was in my 30s and had no reason to be thinking about fame and fortune at that time, I would lay in bed and night and think, ‘How would I do this? How would I come out? How would I hide it?” I had restless nights about that. But when it came and people started to care – and kind of not care too – I’m a character actor and you’re allowed to be gay. When you’re an ingenue or a leading man it’s apparently still too hard for America to deal with. And it might not even be America, it might just be studio executives.”
She had plenty of lesbian role models by the time she got famous: “People like Ellen DeGeneres, Melissa Etheridge, KD Lang, Rosie O’Donnell, they were these hip kind of happening personalities who went, ‘Oh by the way I’m gay’ and American went, ‘Okay.’ Then Jane Lynch comes along and it was, ‘I’ll take that path. I feel a little bit of a responsibility – in a good way not like it’s a bother – to do things like this and be very open about who I am and be very open about that fact that I just got married and I’m very happy. … I think the most powerful political statement I can make is to not make one and just talk about it everywhere I go. Everywhere I go they bring it up.”
Congratulations to Jane Lynch, the winner of the 2010 Greggy for Female Star of the Year.
FILE UNDER: Awards
Do you like Anderson Cooper’s new look?
What do you think ofAnderson Cooperand his new glasses?I think they make this Silver Fox even foxier!
Anderson is co-hosting CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage from Times Square tomorrow night withKathy Griffin and he worse the glasses last night in a segment previewing their gig.
Kathy makes all kinds of fun of the glasses but she knows, as we all do, that they are damned sexy!
FILE UNDER: Newsmakers
Snapped! See new daddies Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka in People magazine at home with their twins!
Yesterday I posted an excerpt from an interview Neil Patrick Harris andDavid Burtka gave to People Magazine about their baby twins.
Now AfterElton.comhas posted a few pics from the article which hits newsstands tomorrow!
All are just so adorable!
FILE UNDER: Uncategorized
2010 Greggys: Top five Morning Men of the Year!
It was just too tough to pick just one Morning Man of the Year so I’ve narrowed it down to five guys who stand out among more than 350 standouts!Pictured above and left is Mexican-Argentine actorSebastian Rulli who has got to be one of the sexiest men on television. I hadn’t heard of him until I saw him on another site and, just like that, I think he’s become the love of my life.
Rulli made his first appearance on Mexican television in the soap opera Primer amor… a mil por hora in 2000. He has appeared in many other telenovelas, including Clase 406 (2002) and Rubi (2004), where he played “HĂ©ctor Ferrer.” His most recent role was in Televisa’s Un gancho al corazon.
It was kind of tough to find photos of U.S. soccer star Oguchi Onyewu with his shirt on but I did manage to locate a few just to keep things balanced when he was featured back in July as part of Greg In Hollywood’s World Cup Week.
Oh my God, is this guy gorgeous or WHAT? The face, the body. Wow. He is often referred to by the nickname “Gucci Mane” but I’ll just call him Perfection.
The 28-year-old defender is from Washington DC and plays for Milan in addition to the United States national team currently competing in World Cup. He was voted U.S. Soccer Player of the Year in 2006.
He played soccer for Clemson University for two years before moving to Europe. He signed with Metz of Ligue 1 in France. In 2003, he was loaned out to La Louviere in Belgium, and to Standard Liege a year later. In 2009, he signed a three year contract with Milan.
When I saw Animal Planet’sDave Salmoni make an appearance on Jay Leno’sshow one night, my first thought was: Morning Man!And this was before I saw any photos of him with his shirt off!
Dave got some press for dating Chelsea Handler this year but he was already well-known to viewers of such shows as Animal Face-Off andRogue Nature on Discovery Channel as well as After the Attack and Into the Pride on Animal Planet.
It’s no surprise that Dave (and his animals, of course) has become such a popular guests on the various talk shows. He’s engaging and just great to look at. He’s also outspoken about conserving water saying in an interview this year: “When people start to realize that fresh water is going to be out most important asset over the next 50 years, you’re really going to see people say, ‘Why don’t we have any clean, fresh water? Oh, we didn’t conserve.”
I wrote about this handsome actor back in July and described him as, quite simply, the sexiest man alive.
At least that was my feeling after discoveringGerald McCullouchin the terrific gay comedyBearCity which was a big hit at Outfest and other film festivals.
Gerald plays the sexy and single Roger inBearCity who surprises himself and everyone else in his crowd when he falls in love with a young 20-something “twink” in this movie set in the gay “bear” scene in New York City.
Gerald, who is 43 and openly gay (hooray!) was the writer-director-star of the award-winning short film The Moment After, also has many stage credits including playing Jesus in the European tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. He is currently in LA preparing for a run in the play Daddy at the Hudson Theatre. (More info HERE.)
While he is best known for his recurring role Bobby Dawson on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, the actor has been doing guest spots and multi-episode arcs on various television series for 20 years now with credits that include the originalBeverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place, In the Heat of the Night, NCIS, 7th Heaven, Chicago Hope and episodes of both Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
There are not many guys who are able to divert my attention away from that silver fox Anderson Cooperbut CNN news and weather anchor Rob Marcianocertainly is one of them.This movie star handsome man, a correspondent forAnderson Cooper 360, has worked for CNN since 2003 and gained attention for his contributions to the network’s coverage of Hurricane Katrina. By that time, heserved as chief meteorologist for radio and TV stations in Portland, Oregon, Lake Charles, Louisiana and in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Before embarking on a career in television Rob spent three years living and working in New York City as an Equity Sales Trader.
So why the switch to weather? Rob explained it all in an interview with VMan: “I’ve been a lifelong weather geek. I would drive my parents crazy. I knew exactly when every weather guy was on every channel, and I would switch back and forth trying to get them all. I learned early on that meteorology isn’t an exact science—telling your teacher you didn’t do your homework because the weatherman said it was going to snow doesn’t really work.”
FILE UNDER: Awards, Morning Men
Rupert Everett continues to be bitter, party of one; Insults Jennifer Aniston and Colin Firth in interview
Born with handsome looks and great talent, Rupert Everett seems determined to blame everyone but himself that he is not the biggest star on the planet.
The man who we first fell in love with in Another Countryand who became an even bigger star opposite Julia Roberts in My Best Friend’s Wedding and also starred inAn Ideal Husband and The Next Best Thing, continues to complain about the discrimination he says he faces in the film industry.
He compares his acting abilities to those of Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, and complains to the UK’s BBC’s Radio 4 that producers would say they couldn’t find a role that fit him. He says that is because he has been openly gay for most of his career.
“I never got a job there, and I never got a job here, after [coming out],” he said. “I did a couple of films, I was very lucky at the beginning of my career… and then, I never had another job here for ten years, probably, and I moved to Europe.”
“The audience has a completely perception of the performers than the business,” he adds. “But the business is what makes the stars, really. There are lots of women and lots of men in the business that the powers that be decide are the right people and they’ll stand with them for quite a long time. … LikeJennifer Aniston will just have one too many total flops. But she’s still a member of that club. And she will still manage to — like a star forming in the universe — a whole lot of things swirling around and suddenly solidifying into yet another vital tasteless romcom: a little glitter next to the Crab Nebula.”
He also disses Oscar front-runner Firth, star of The King’s Speech, for performance in the 2008 smash Mamma Mia! “Colin Firth I don’t think was at all good in Mamma Mia!.
You know, I would have thought it was almost a careericide. … On the other hand, I think (Firth’s) performance in A Single Man was the best performance of his life.”Rupert does not have a problem with gay actors staying in the closet if they want to: “There are many of them, and I don’t blame them, it’s very sensible. If I hadn’t been someone who liked and if I hadn’t been a kind of sex maniac and all those kind of things and wanted to go to raves and circuit parties, I don’t think there’s anything to wrong with it. It would have been too complicated for me to tell the lie.”
Okay, I have no doubt that Everett has been discriminated against and could have and should have been a bigger star after 1997′s My Best Friend’s Wedding. But he does need to get on with it as so many other talented out stars like John Barrowman, Ian McKellen, Neil Patrick Harris, TR Knight, Luke Macfarlane and others have.
FILE UNDER: Controversy, Morning Men
BFFs Cher and Kathy Griffin hit the beach in Hawaii!
Cher, an A-lister since the 60s, has become quite good friends with My Life on the D-List star Kathy Griffin!This very talented pair of gay icons were spotted making waves in the surf in Hawaii this week, according toRadarOnline.
I like that these two great gals are hanging out and wish I could be a fly on the wall when they start to dish.
While Cher is the winner of an Oscar and a Grammy, Kathy actually has more Emmys than the great diva. Kathy won two for her Bravo reality series while Cher, who never won for her variety shows with or without Sonny, won an Emmy for the TV special Cher: The Farewell Tour.
Of course Cher never really goes away – thank God!
FILE UNDER: Icons
Neil Patrick Harris, partner David Burtka, are each biological father of one of their twins
Hope you are not confused by my headline!So as you well know, the2010 Greggy winners for Couple of the Year Neil Patrick Harris and David Burkta became parents of twins in October.
In case you were wondering whose sperm was used to inseminate the surrogate mother, here is your answer: “We inserted two eggs, one with my sperm, one with David’s sperm and they both took,” he tells People Magazine.
David said holding their children in the delivery room shortly after their birth was “just absolute joy,” says Burtka. “We had two babies that we made. With help.”
“Everyone says that it’s such a blur after it happens,” says Neil says of becoming parents to fraternal twins Harper Grace and Gideon Scott, born Oct. 12 via surrogate. “I find myself constantly just trying to wrap my mind around it.”
The family just moved into a “more kid-friendly” home in the Hollywood Hills and the twins have a new nursery with an old-school Disney theme park dĂ©cor.
“Harper has been fussy but Gideon is the easiest baby in the world,” says David. “They’re just now starting to recognize us and smile.”
Adds Neil: “I just love the way they smell. And we can use them as an excuse to get out of almost anything. That’s cleared the calendar in a good way.”
For more of Harris and Burtka’s interview, including exclusive photos of their twins, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE on newsstands Friday.
These posts are from:
These posts are from:
Comments