Dieux Du Stade is Here!

My 2008 Dieux Du Stade calendar came in the mail yesterday and it is hotter than evah! I have a 2007 and I didn't think it could be topped, but 2008 is on fire! If you haven't ordered one, DO IT NOW!

I initially pre-ordered mine from Amazon.com, but got a message telling me they would not have any at all this year. So, after a little research, I discovered I could order it from French Amazon. It taxed my college French to the max, but I managed to do it. It was priced in Euros, and ended up costing me $50.00, but believe me, it is worth every Euro. Here's the link to the correct page on French Amazon to place your order. Do It!

America's Next Top President

Barak Obama was on Tyra, but the supermodel is cagey about endorsements. "If you look at a lot of people in the field we're in," says Tyra, "they're constantly endorsing everything - from a new purse to a new hotel." "This is just another thing [to endorse]"
"I can't say I'll publicly be endorsing a candidate, but it's something I'm thinking about."

This got me wondering about the selection process for the coveted Tyra endorsement. Hmmm...

Barak, you're a pretty man, but is pretty enough? The judges recognize that you're green and they wonder if you can learn fast enough to overcome your lack of experience. This business can be tough. Is the pretty man tough enough?

And Hillary, the judges see great improvement in you. You started out as a mousy feminist with unfortunate hair and glasses. You have become a stylish Senator with cleavage who has all the right answers. But the judges want to know if you can keep moving forward, or have you gone as far as you can go.

So who goes home? The pretty man with a lot to learn, or the most improved Senator who may have gone as far as she can go?

Who indeed? Big love to the guys who complimented my comment on Towleroad. Have a great weekend. Sam

Hey Lady

My latest in my Friday music series. What are you up to this weekend? Maybe you'll move like Harlow in Monte Carlo and show 'em what you've got? Personally, I'm going to take the hand of a preacher man and make love in the sun. You know him, he's that man I fought with this morning, the same man I'll make love with tonight. That's truth, that's love!

West Side Story at 50

Yesterday, September 26, was the 50th anniversary of the opening of West Side Story, my favorite Broadway show. I'm sorry to say I was too busy at work to blog about it, although there is certainly nothing at work more important than this landmark production.

The show starred the lovely (and not very Puerto Rican) Carol Lawrence as Maria and the handsome and talented Larry Kert as Tony. See how pretty they are?

The force of nature that is Chita Rivera originated the role of Anita, and I bet she could do it again today. The show won Tonys for Jerome Robbins' choreography and Oliver Smith's set design, but the award for Best Musical went to The Music Man.

When I was 8 years old, I saw the movie version and was enthralled. I vividly remember sprawling on the shag carpet, head in hands, glued to the black and white Magnavox TV-Hi-Fi console combination, falling hopelessly in love with Richard Beymer's Tony and deciding that my calling in life was to become Rita Moreno. When my birthday came around there was only one thing I wanted: The West Side Story soundtrack. I asked for show tunes for my 9th birthday.

I didn't get the album. Instead, I got a shotgun. Really. A shotgun. Trust me, a firearm was not on my wish list. My parents were always very generous with birthday and Christmas gifts, but they drew the line at West Side Story. Maybe it was the months I spent dancing up and down the hall, singing "America" and swishing my imaginary skirts.

Then, two years ago, my wonderful husband gave me the original Broadway cast recording for Christmas. Sigh. It really is a love story.

Concerned "Women" Condemn Folsom Ad

Towleroad is reporting that the Concerned "Women" for America has condemned an ad for the Folsom Street Fair depicting a leather last supper.

Matt Barber, Concerned Woman, has issued a statement rather obviously citing Sodom and Gomorrah, then he says: "We further challenge the media to cover this affront to Christianity with the same vigor as recent stories about cartoon depictions of Mohammed and other items offensive to the Muslim community."

Umm, Concerned Woman Matt? I think you totally missed the point of the media coverage of the cartoons depicting Mohammed. The point was that the cartoonists were exercising their rights to free expression and the protesters were religious extremists who were attempting to suppress free expression. Of course, Concerned Woman Matt's breathless statement isn't exactly targeting people who think things through. I just don't understand the point of a religion based on victimhood.

Best part of the Concerned "Women" statement: it contains not one, but two links to full size pictures of the Folsom Street last supper. Just in case one of the "women" wants to study it closely, I'm sure. It's all for the glory of Jesus.

Did you ever notice that the Concerned "Women" aways seem to be men?

Alice Ghostley, RIP

We've lost several iconic figures lately, and now there is yet another. Tony winner Alice Ghostley has died at the age of 81 after a battle with colon cancer and a series of strokes. She won the 1965 Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Play for "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window," and is, of course, fondly remembered as Esmeralda in Bewitched, my favorite childhood show and the gayest TV show ever (a great subject for a future post). As if that wasn't enough for a permanent spot in the gay pantheon, she went on to play Bernice on Designing Women. Her other screen credits include To Kill a Mockingbird, The Graduate, and Grease. Quite a resume for a talented lady.

Enjoy some of her best moments on Designing Women, including her unforgettable Black Man, Black Man!

If I Can't Have You

I don't want nobody, baby. Another one of my all time favorites. Happy Friday.

Kathy Triumphant

A Christian theater in Pigeon Forge, TN has paid a fortune to take out a full page ad in USA Today condemning Kathy Griffin for her Emmy speech because, let's face it, Jesus would certainly rather see $90 grand spent on publicity than helping the poor or whatever. God knows Kathy's Emmy speech is the most critical issue facing Christians today, what with the war and such, so please pour those dollars for Jesus into a big ad buy.

The Miracle Theater paid over $90,000 for this ad. Seriously, they really did, I'm not making this up. They did it all because of their selfless devotion to the Son of Man; never mind that nobody other than than your Aunt Eunice in Alabama had ever head of The Miracle Theater before this and now even I've head of them. They weren't seizing a prime promotion opportunity or anything, they were just servin' the Lord.

This is priceless publicity for Kathy Griffin, and there's really no downside. The crowd at Gilgal Baptist out on the Rural Route aren't exactly watching her show anyway (at least not when anybody else is around). Now she's got a full page ad in a national newspaper and she didn't have to spend a dime. Girlfriend's laughing all the way to the bank.

Fun game: check out the cast of The Miracle and pick out the queens. It would be easier to pick out the straights.

Ahnold to Cement Place in History's Dustbin

The California Legislature has passed a marriage equality bill for the second time and Gov. Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto it again. As cover, the cowering and frightened body-builder cites a 2000 vote on Proposition 22, which barred official recognition of out-of-state same-sex marriages in California. Governor Scaredy-Cat has said that it would be wrong for him to sign something into law after the people have voted against it. Perhaps someone could clue this hulk into a couple of facts: 1) attitudes towards the gays have changed dramatically since 2000 and are continuing to change, and 2) this is a CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE, not an appropriate issue for popular vote. Arnold is once again presented with an opportunity to do the right thing and preserve his place in history as a governor who has advanced the cause of equality and fairness. Instead, he has chosen the safe route and will be remembered as one of history's cowards.

Brett Somers Dies at 83

Brett Somers has died. I would never have made it through my teen years in a small southern town without Brett and the late, great Charles Nelson Reilly on Match Game.

What a dame.

Emmys Go Round and Round (part 2)

More Emmy Talk! Best Supporting Actor in a drama went to Terry O'Quinn of Lost who kissed his zaftig wife and accepted the award in a pink satin shirt and a sparkly tie. Interesting. He beat out TR Knight, a cute, out gay star, which was a disappointment. But, I was happy to see his gal pal, Katherine Heigl, pick up a statue.
She had a lovely acceptance speech, giving her mother all the credit for her success. Katherine is the girl who said she'd "throw down" for TR when what's-his-name called him a faggot. She's a deserving girl. It was a triumphant night for her.

Sally Field had a big night, too, picking up a trophy for best actress in a drama for Brothers and Sisters. She gave a heartfelt speech about mothers of children sent off to war, and was bleeped when she dared to say "god damn war." Was she bleeped for the profanity or for the content? I don't know, but considering that it was Fox and they bleeped Kathy Griffin for her content, I have my suspicions.

I so wanted Vanessa Williams to win the Emmy last night for playing the best bitch in years. But, alas, she lost to somebody who's show I've never seen, so we'll forget about that and talk about how fabulous Vanessa looked! Success is truly the best revenge, isn't that so, Miss America?

Speaking of revenge, remember when Christina and Britney used to be compared as equals? Just one week
after Britney's drunken disaster at the VMAs, Christina performed a duet with Tony Bennett and was poised, lovely, rehearsed, and professional, all the things that Britney was not. Perfect timing for a nice performance.

Helen Mirren was gracious and lovely in victory, as always. America Ferrera completely deserved to win and had a lovely speech about her dreams coming true. she's actually a slim girl, and looked smashing in her gown. It's amazing that this is what passes for frumpy in Hollywood.

Another high point was the great Elaine Stritch and the incredibly sexy Stanley Tucci presenting something or other. I don't know or care, I was too busy laughing at Elaine making a joke of being unprepared, when she obviously was very prepared. She's a total pro.

And Al Gore won an Emmy! Now, he's got a mate for his Oscar.

There were some great high points (Mirren, Stritch, Ferrera, those cute Jersey boys) and some thunderously boring low points (whenever Seacrest showed up, Lewis Black). Maybe next year they can get Ellen again. If they can afford her.

Emmy Go Round

I watched the Emmys last night and I have to tell you it was the best of Emmy times and the worst of Emmy times. There were some great winners and nominees but the production? that was another story. Theater in the round??!! Who came up with that brilliant idea? And who utterly failed to execute it? the mike was on one side of the stage, so everybody on the other side spent the night looking at Ryan Seacrest's backside. Like James Spader put it, those were the worst seats I've ever had.

The show started with an unbelieveably lame animated bit with Stewie and the dog from Family Guy talking about Sanjaya! Gee, how fresh was that? Then they threw a few mean insults at some of the nominees and it all fell totally flat. Who wrote that shit?

Then, just when you think things couldn't get worse, out comes your host for the evening, Mr. Heterosexual himself, Ladies and Gentlemen, Ryan Seacrest! Thankfully, he did almost nothing throughout the evening, but what little he did went over like a ton of bricks. His low point came when he appeared in a costume from the Tudors and said "this didn't look so gay on the rack." Neither did you, asshole. That joke might have really worked in 1985.

After Ryan, they actually trotted out Ray Romano. What? Were Brett Butler and Drew Carey booked? He presented the first award to the totally hot Jeremy Piven, the first interesting thing to happen all night. I was disappointed that Neil Patrick Harris, who came out this year and showed up with his very cute partner, didn't win, but Piven's terrrific. If only he had accepted his award dressed like he is is in this picture.

The Time Has Come...

How about a little music for Friday afternoon, even if those schoolgirl days must end. Have a great weekend.



Hey, does anyone know where I can find the Natalie Merchant/REM version of this song? It's a great cover, even if it can't match the original.

Praise the Lord and Pass the Emmys!

Naturally, the buffoons at Fox "News" have called out the attack dogs on Kathy Griffin since her "suck it Jesus" Emmy comments. Fox religion "reporter" and all around Newsbabe Lauren Green penned a bizarre (even for Fox), illogical (even for Fox), unintentionally hilarious (even for Fox) piece effectively saying that Jesus died on the cross for Kathy Griffin's Emmy. Seriously. I'm not making this up. Newsbabe Lauren goes through a tortuously long, historically dubious account of the history of Christianity from the crucifixion to the 2007 Emmys and concludes "The freedoms we enjoy in this country to speak freely and to live freely are directly related to that man who died on a cross 2,000 years ago."

In other words, according to Newsbabe Lauren, Jesus died on the cross to give Kathy Griffin the right to make jokes at his expense. I don't think Lauren thought that one through. Think about it...Kathy was just exercising her God-Given rights on Emmy night! Praise Jesus! WWJD? Give Kathy another Emmy!

Hey, and Elaine Stritch won an Emmy, too! It was the gayest night in TV history!

Kathy Griffin Graduates to A List

Kathy Griffin won an Emmy! For Best reality series, beating out Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Antiques Roadshow and the Dog Whisperer or something. What kind of category was that? It's like Homer Simpson's Grammy win for "outstanding soul, spoken word, or barbershop." Whatever, Kathy totally deserved an Emmy for her fantastic show, "Kathy Griffin, My Life on the D List."

What can I say? I'm gay and I love Kathy Griffin. She works the gays hard, which is a brilliant career move, and besides, she's an outrageous outsider who made it. We love that. We love her. Gays are the most loyal audience any entertainer can have, and she knows it.

In her acceptance speech Kathy said "A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus...Suck it, Jesus. This award is my God now." I thought it was a smart send-up of celebrity worship, awards show idolization, and exploitation of religion. It was a typically brilliant Kathy bit that worked on several levels. Of course, Master Bullshit Artist Bill Donahue of the so-called Catholic League (reportedly some organization nobody heard of before he started whoring himself to Fox News), whined and moaned about Kathy's "obscene and blasphemous comment" blah, blah, look at me, I must be important because I'm on TV, blah, blah, blah. Now, the E! channel and the TV Academy are censoring her comments. What? Does Blowhard Donahue actually think this will hurt Kathy? Please! This is fantastic publicity for her and exactly the sort of thing that keeps her fame building. Kathy should send flowers to this windbag.

Jane Wyman Passes

Oscar winning star Jane Wyman has passed away at the age of 93. She may be best known as the ex-wife of Ronald Reagan and the mother of Maureen and Michael Reagan, but I remember her best for her quiet dignity when her ex-husband was president. She kept her distance and never talked to the press about their marriage. She knew no small amount of tragedy in her life, having buried her own daughter in 2001.

Of course, queens of a certain age remember her as the steely matriarch on Falcon Crest, but by then she already had a distinguished film career culminating in the 1948 Best Actress Oscar for playing a deaf mute in Johnny Belinda.

Jane Wyman was a class act.