Memorial Day 2011

Monday's Man: Kyle Chandler

Handsome Georgian Kyle Chandler was recently featured in a Vanity Fair article in which he calls himself "the luckiest fucking guy in the world."  He's worked steadily for 20 years, most recently in the upcoming Spielberg film Super 8.    

He also graced the cover of Men's Journal, looking very manly, indeed.   

 Here he is getting dirty under the hood.  I'll bet he actually knows what a carburetor is. 

Obviously, reclining and looking up at the camera is one of his favorite poses.  It works for me.

Grand Rapids is Awesome

Newsweek magazine listed Grand Rapids, Michigan as one of America's "dying cities."  Um, Newsweek?  Pot/kettle, know what I'm saying?  Anyway, the good people of the city got together and decided to respond in an amazing way:

Summer is Here!

It's the first holiday weekend of the summer!  Have fun and stay safe.  I bought a new bike, so I'll be spending the long weekend biking around Winnetka Heights, Kings Highway, and Kessler Park.  If you're driving around and see me, give me a wave.  I'll ring my bell for you!

Dog Pee Can't Stop Santorum

Senator Man-On-Dog strikes again:

Quote of the Day

"Although this is not the time or the way that I wanted to come out, I feel actually very lucky, thanks to all the support that I've received from those people who are closest to me...As a black man, it can be a struggle to find acceptance within the community and at times with myself as well. But I'm proud of the man my mother has raised, and I make no apologies for who I am. There may be those who want to paint those in political terms. They'll say that this is a political liability to me. To me it's actually a gift form God.Through his grace and examples of thousands of members of the LGBT community who have come out often to great personal and professional risk, I have been blessed. It's your bravery and example that makes it possible for me to publicly and say to you, 'this is who I am and I have nothing to be ashamed of.'"

--Georgia State Representative Rashad Taylor, a Democrat, publicly coming out of the closet.  The boyfriend of Taylor's ex had sent a nasty email around the capitol accusing Taylor of using his position and state funds to procure sex.  The author of the email admitted that he has no proof for his claims.

Presidential Yearbook

The Atlantic has a great photo-feature of high school yearbook pictures of the presidential candidates.  At left is my vote for cutest, future New Mexico governor Gary Johnson with his Sandia High School track team.  Frankly, it was a close call between Johnson and Fred Karger.  Go here and see what you think.

By the way, here is a more recent pic of the 48 year-old Gov. Johnson competing in a triathlon and making me feel really inadequate about my fitness program:

Bloomberg: "Near Equality is No Equality"

New York mayor Bloomberg gave a major speech on marriage equality yesterday at Cooper Union.  An excerpt:

"Today, a majority of Americans support marriage equality—and young people increasingly view marriage equality in much the same way as young people in the 1960s viewed civil rights. Eventually, as happened with civil rights for African-Americans, they will be a majority of voters. And they will pass laws that reflect their values and elect presidents who personify them.  It is not a matter of if—but when.  And the question for every New York State lawmaker is: Do you want to be remembered as a leader on civil rights? Or an obstructionist? On matters of freedom and equality, history has not remembered obstructionists kindly."

You can read the whole thing here. 

Bloomberg has been a major campaign donor and supporter of key Republicans in the New York state legislature.  This gives him influence and leverage that he will hopefully use to help bring equality to his state. 

In the picture above, the mayor is shown with his niece, Rachel Tiven, who is a lesbian. 

Barbra as Gypsy is On

No wonder the rapture didn't happen last week, Arthur Laurents arranged for Heaven on Earth shortly before he died a few weeks ago.  The playwright and director signed off on a deal with Universal Pictures and producer Joel Silver to remake a film version of Gypsy starring none other than Miss Barbra Streisand.  This will be Miss Streisand's first screen musical since Yentl in 1983.  Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the lyrics for Gypsy, is also in on the development discussions.  The agreement calls for the film to be "substantially similar" to the stage musical, thank God.  

Gypsy was made into a 1962 movie starring Rosalind Russell and a 1993 TV movie starring Bette Midler.  Laurents famously hated the '62 film because he didn't think Russell brought a necessary trashy quality to Rose.          

"Fundamental Shift"

Democrat Kathy Hochul has beaten Republican Jane Corwin in the special Congressional election in heavily Republican NY-26.  The seat was vacated by Republican Rep. Chris Lee, the "Craigslist Congressman" who resigned quickly after his shirtless ad surfaced.   A couple of months ago, Hochul was far behind in polling, as would be expected for a Democrat in this district, but that was before the Paul Ryan budget proposal to turn Medicare into a voucher system.  Corwin endorsed it and Hochul was strongly opposed.  Now, we see the result.  Jonathan Chait at The New Republic says that, while the race is almost certainly an outlier, the political landscape has "fundamentally shifted in the last six months."  He continues:

"Americans are just as likely as before to think things are going badly, but rather than direct all their anger at Democrats, they now have Republicans driving the agenda with a high-profile budget with wildly unpopular priorities. We haven’t returned to a 2006 or 2008 landscape, where the public held Republicans responsible for everything, but the pendulum has swung back."

Read more here.

And one other thing, Kathy Hochul supports marriage equality.  Corwin does not and Maggie Gallagher's National Organization for Marriage supported her.  I don't think marriage was a big issue in this campaign, but you can bet if Corwin had won, NOM would be taking credit for her victory and exploiting it as an example of how America doesn't want to redefine marriage, or whatever tortured phrase they're using now. 

TN Gov Signs Sweeping Anti-Gay Law

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has signed into law a bill that prohibits local municipalities in the state from adopting gay rights ordinances.  It effectively voids an existing Nashville law that prohibits the City from doing business with companies that discriminate against gays.  No municipality may enact a discrimination ordinance that protects any group not protected at the state level, i.e., gays.  The governor, along with his limited government Republican colleagues in the legislature, who totally hate invasive government regulations, passed this law at the insistence of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. The following companies are on the Chamber board:   FedEx, AT&T, Comcast, DuPont, Pfizer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Caterpillar, KPMG, Whirlpool, Embraer, Alcoa, and United HealthCare. 

Once it became clear they couldn't ram this turd through without anyone noticing, several of the companies stated their opposition to the law in a last-ditch effort to avoid bad publicity.  Yesterday, which was the day the bill landed on the governor's desk, the Chamber reversed itself on the law stating:

“The Tennessee Chamber supports a standard regulatory environment at the state level as opposed to potentially conflicting local regulations covering employment practices. That principle was the only interest the Chamber had in this bill. Because HB600/SB632 has turned into a debate on diversity and inclusiveness—principles which we support—we are now officially opposing this legislation in its present form.”

What a load of bull. The "conflicting local regulations" and "standard regulatory environment" verbage is just lipstick on a pig.  Gays are the only group that are the subject of "conflicting local regulations."   

Picture of the Day

The President and Mrs. Obama are on a state visit to the UK, so  naturally the crucial question is what did Michelle and Kate wear?!?  Here you see the pretty and proper Kate, looking simply chic in a dress from British retailer Reiss that sells for $285. Michelle looks smashing in a gray dress from California-based designer Barbara Tfank,  with a "peony pink" bolero and gun metal sling-backs.  I know you can't see her shoes in this picture, but I just love saying "gun metal sling-backs." I also love that our First Lady is fashion-forward with her own sense of style. 

"Invisible Judgement Day"

Harold Camping, the 89 year old radio show host who predicted the Rapture for last Saturday, emerged from hiding and faced the press yesterday and totally cleared the whole thing up.  He said he prayed and prayed and asked God what happened and God apparently told him that May 21 was an "invisible judgement day."  Seriously.  He actually said that.  Invisible judgment day.  Instead of the usual earthquakes and shit, God decided to sit in the clouds taking names and spare us the promised five months of hell on Earth.  That's a relief.  BUT, be warned Earthlings, the world will still blow up on October 21, 2011.  So, if God didn't take your name down on May 21, you're totally screwed and don't even have an earthquake to confirm it.

I'm not sure when Christians get raptured now, Camping was a little short on details.  Maybe there will be a quickie rapture before the big bang?  Whatever, "the world has been warned."  Like we were in 1994 and last Saturday.  In good news, Camping said this would be his last interview and he wouldn't advertise his revised rapture schedule because "we don't have to talk about this anymore." 

Bill Hunter: 1940-2011

Australian actor Bill Hunter has died of cancer at the age of 71.  The Australian everyman made numerous film, TV and stage appearances, but perhaps his most iconic role was that of Bob, the small-town mechanic who pursues a shy romance with Bernadette in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.  He recently reprised the role on stage in the Australian production of Priscilla, the musical.  His other film roles included Muriel's dad in Muriel's Wedding, a judge in Strictly Ballroom, and an army major in Gallipoli.  He won the Australian Oscar three times.  He got his start in show business as a stunt man on the set of On the Beach, the 1959 Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner movie that was filmed in Hunter's home town of Melbourne.  He saw Peck do 27 takes and thought "a mug could do that."  So, he did. 

    

Monday's Man: Ewan McGregor

I finally saw I Love You Phillip Morris, the strange and wonderful gay prison movie starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor.  Ewan plays a gay character in a way that's absolutely convincing without being over-the-top.  It's rare for a straight actor to play gay convincingly, but Ewan sold me.  So, I thought a little McGregor retrospective was in order.   

I love a man in a kilt.

   Or a tux.

Or a towel.

Or even a cheesy cologne ad. 

6:00 PM CST

And we're still here.  There are no earthquakes in Dallas and all the good Christians in Texas are sneaking in a beer run before Church tomorrow.  Business as usual.     

Quote of the Rapture

"Well we have had the "Rapture" going for 50 minutes now. So far it hasn't interrupted my fish & chips and glass of stout."

--Jon Gall of Melbourne, Australia, Tweeting at 7:00 PM local time today.  The Rapture was supposed to start at 6.  89 year old California radio host Harold Camping made the end times prediction for today after a previous prediction of 1994 failed to pan out.  I've got to hand it to the old guy, though, he really got the word out.      

Quote of the Day

"I think I may well be the messiah.  I've been on a journey for several years now."

--"Chris," a listener of Harold Camping's Family Radio.  Camping has predicted with absolute certainty that the Rapture will occur tomorrow and there's a billboard on I-35 in Dallas to prove it.  Chris hasn't had a fixed address for five years, so messiah would be a significant upgrade, but when the actual messiah returns tomorrow, he might get pissed.

Apparently, the big shindig is supposed to start at 6:00 PM local time.  By that, I mean that a massive earthquake will start on whatever Pacific Island lies nearest the date line, then work it's way around the world as 6:00 PM comes to each time zone.  That's pretty thoughtful of a wrathful God to give us a heads-up like that.  I live in the Central time zone, so I'll watch CNN and if New York starts shaking at 6:00 PM EST, I'll know I've got a good 59 minutes of sin left before crunch time.

Nick Adams Takes You Backstage

LC reader Ray tipped me off to adorable Nick Adams' video blog, Muscles and Mascara.  If you love to peek behind the curtain as much as I do, take a look:

Alexander Skarsgard Does GQ

Another season of True Blood is coming up and GQ is getting you in the mood.

See more here.

Newt Gets Glittered

This guy is lucky he didn't get arrested.  Watch to the very end when Newt's henchman gets seriously creepy:



Via Joe.My.God

Breakfast at Calista's

In 2007, the latest Mrs. Newt Gingrich reported that her husband owed $500,000 to Tiffany's.  Considering Newt's track record, I'd say Calista's a smart girl.

  
 

Newty Newt is Running

Presumably he'll call a moratorium on committing adultery with his secretaries for the duration of the race.

Why We're Winning

Check out Focus on the Family's latest anti-gay marriage ad.



Oh my God, I'm laughing so hard.  Gravity is like marriage, get it?  Marriage is totally a law of physics or something.  Other than divorce, women's property rights, and Biblical plural marriage, it's totally unchanged since Adam and Eve!  This video doesn't look at all like a high school AV club production circa 1998, so don't think that.  Notice how Focus on the Family took several opportunities to poke fun at anti-bullying efforts?  Man, gay teen suicides are so funny, right?  Now, check out the latest Friend Factor ad for marriage equality:

  

Talented comic actor, real humor, clear message.  That's how it's done, people.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, there's no such thing as conservative humor.  Anti-gay attempts at humor are either lame or mean or both, and in the case of FoF, both.

Santorum Gets Himself Into Another Sticky Mess

Former Senator and current Presidential candidate Rick Santorum has slipped up again.  He was asked in a radio interview about Senator John McCain's recent dramatic denuciation  of torture (AKA "enhanced interrogation") and assertion that it had nothing to do with the killing of Osama bin Laden.  Santorum's response?

"He [McCain] doesn't understand how enhanced interrogation works."

McCain was subjected to "enhanced interrogation" as a POW. 

When asked by The Washington Post about Santorum's comments, McCain spokesperson Brooke Buchanan had the following response:

"Who?" 

Quote of the Day

“Get out now before you make a bigger fool of yourself,”

--Self-described "Strong Republican" Russell Fuhrman of Dubuque, Iowa.  He said it directly to Newt Gingrich.  Furhman approached Gingrich at an event at a Holiday Inn in Dubuque. 

Trump is Out

Donald Trump officially announced today that he will not be running for president.  The nation weeps.  He made the announcement at the NBC upfronts, which I guess means Celebrity Apprentice has been picked up for another season.  He cited all the money his show has raised for charity as the reason for his decision.  What a guy.  In other news, Teresa Giudice has announced that she wants to spend more time with her family, Snookie has decided not to set up a Presidential exploratory committee, and Tila Tequila has other commitments, but is keeping her options open for 2016.   

h/t LC NY Bureau Chief Doug

Quote of the Day

"I mean, would you rather watch people touching each other online, or be touched yourself?”

--Marc Shaiman, composer and co-lyricist of Catch Me If You Can, explaining why he almost left the project when the producers proposed relying on pre-recorded music.  The musicians' union is currently in a battle with Priscilla, Queen of the Desert over that very thing.  Priscilla employs only nine live musicians.   

Yep, He's Gay

Handsome CNN anchor Don Lemon has just come out on the pages of The New York Times, as well as in his new book, Transparent.  A few years ago, he was approached by a publisher about writing an inspirational book and as he was writing, he found he was unable to hold back the truth of his life.  As he put it:

 “I think it would be great if everybody could be out, but it’s such a personal choice. People have to do it at their own speed. I respect that. I do have to say that the more people who come out, the better it is for everyone, certainly for the Tyler Clementis of the world.”



“I think if I had seen more people like me who are out and proud, it wouldn’t have taken me 45 years to say it, to walk in the truth.”

Well said, Don Lemon.  Congratulations and welcome. 

Monday's Man: Tab Hunter

The hubby is currently working his way through the literary canon of Gay Hollywood.  He's read bios of Sal Mineo, Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor (not gay, but all her friends were), Judy Garland (really, do I have to explain why she's on this list?), Farley Granger, and Tab Hunter Confidential.  

The title comes from the notorious Confidential magazine which threatened to expose Tab just when his star was rising in Hollywood.  It seems that before he was Tab, young Arthur Gelien was arrested on a morals charge when an all boy pajama party he attended was raided.  What could be more innocent than an all boy PJ party?  His agent, Henry Willson, who also discovered Rock Hudson and many other 50s hunks, called in all his tabs (forgive me) to keep his star off the cover. 

Here he is with some vintage beefcake in the 1956 classic, The Girl He Left Behind.  After getting a load of that bear in line in front of him, no wonder she got left behind. 

Here he is looking less than comfy with "girlfriend" Natalie Wood.  They were actually close friends. 

Here he is looking a bit more natural with friend and roommate Roddy McDowell.  How do you like your sausage, Roddy?

Tab worked with some of Hollywood's greatest leading ladies, but when asked about them, he always praises my favorite; the star of Polyester and Lust in the Dust, the late, great Divine.

A pair of classics.

The Huckster is Out

Today, Pastor Governor Mike "I'm not an extremist because I play bass and I'm folksy" Huckabee announced that he has opted to keep his Fox "News" paychecks coming instead of running for president.  That leaves the GOP field looking more and more like anybody who can possibly win is waiting until 2016.  Let's see, who's left?  There's Mitt "Romneycare funds abortion" Romney, Tim "please don't fall asleep while I'm talking" Pawlenty, Michelle "Lexington and Concord are in Iowa" Bachmann, Herman "I should be president because I talked back to President Clinton one time in 1990something, remember?" Cain, Rick "don't Google my name...please" Santorum, Newt "I committed adultry and divorced my wives over and over again because I love America so much; no really, I actually said that" Gingrich, and...and...and...

Belinda is Heavenly

Via Boy Culture comes this clip of Belinda Carlisle performing her hit Heaven is a Place on Earth.  I love the life experience she brings to it:

Obama to Campaign Hard in Texas

It looks like the President's El Paso speech was just the beginning.  From The New Republic:

"President Barack Obama’s campaign is heeding the political siren song of Texas, telling supporters he hopes to make a real effort in a state where the growing Hispanic electorate has long raised — then dashed — Democratic hopes.


Obama’s 2012 campaign manager, Jim Messina, speaking to big-money Lone Star State Democrats at closed-door meetings in Austin and Dallas in March, predicted Obama could make a “serious play” in the cornerstone of GOP presidential politics, according to people in attendance."

Certainly, it remains extremely difficult for a Democratic Presidential candidate to carry Texas, but a strong effort by President Obama would constitute smart strategic planning.  Texas is the 2nd most populous state, and demographics are trending purple.  Imagine.  California, New York, and Illinois are already deep blue and Florida is purple.  Adding an up-for-grabs Texas to the mix would mean that none of the five biggest states are solidly Republican.  Long-term trends are looking very sketchy for the GOP. 

Evolution in Virginia

Moving down Delmarva from the previous post, check out these poll results from Virginia:

That's an amazing and exciting result from a state that voted in a ban on any civil rights for gay couples just five years ago. 

via Andrew Sullivan

Equality in Delaware!

Delaware Governor Jack Markell has signed the civil unions bill into law.  It will take effect on January 1, 2012.  Congratulations Delaware!  You can watch the Governor's speech here:

Back Up!

Blogger has been down for at least 24 hours, resulting in much weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.  However, it's back up.  For now.

Next Book Club Selection

One assumes he's just seen Bristol's new "corrective jaw surgery." 

Pre-order it here (the book, not the corrective jaw surgery).

Presbys Allow Gay Ministers

The previous post may have been one step back, but this post is one step forward.  The Presbyterian Church (USA) has voted to amend its constitution and allow openly gay and lesbian people in same-sex relationships to be ministers, deacons, and elders.  Two years ago, such a change was voted down, but this year, 19 Presbyteries changed their vote and the change passed, 205 to 56.  The Twin Cities Presbytery in Minnesota cast the deciding vote.  The Presbyterians now join the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the United Church of Christ in allowing gay clergy.  Now, it's time for the Methodists to come around.    

Navy Reverses Itself on Same-Sex Marriages

The Navy has abruptly reversed it's new policy allowing same-sex marriages to be performed in Naval facilities in states where they are legal.  Under intense pressure from over 5 dozen members of the House of Representatives, the Chief of Navy Chaplains issued a one sentence statement that his earlier decision had been "suspended until further notice pending additional legal and policy review and interdepartmental coordination."  The 5 dozen House members had sent a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, expressing their dubious claim that the new policy violates the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. 

As always with the gay rights movement, it's one step forward, two steps back. 

Navy to Allow Same-Sex Marriage on Base

The Navy has announced that they will allow same-sex marriages to be performed in on-base facilities in states where they are legal.  Navy chaplains may officiate.  This means that, once Don't Ask/Don't Tell is finally dead and buried, gay sailors can get married openly and with pride in their own Navy chapels.  This represents a huge cultural change, it seems to me.  You might even call it a sea-change. 

Trump Tanks

Ratings for Donald Trump's Sunday night 3-hour mega-episode of Celebrity Apprentice were down 23%.  23%!  What was the highest rated show of the night?  60 Minutes, featuring an interview with President Obama.  The Donald will rue the day he stepped out of his league to take on Obama.    

Quote of the Day

"Pretty damn impressive for a congressman. I don't see why a handsome young man with huge pecs and ripped abs has to be gay. And it's a little heterophobic to assume so."

--Andrew Sullivan on Republican Congressman Aaron Schock baring his bosom in the new issue of Men's Health.   I have to agree that the body is impressive.  The Congressman deserves kudos for his commitment to fitness. 

Of course, the assumption doesn't seem so heterophobic in light of this. 

I used to read Men's Health all the time.  I wonder why I stopped?  Oh yeah, I came out.

Navy Seals in Training

Want to find out how dedicated young men become Navy Seals?  Read about their training here. 

OK, I just wanted to run that picture, but the article is really interesting, honest.

Sada Thompson: 1929-2011

The fine actress Sada Thompson has died of lung disease at the age of 81.  She's probably best known for her TV work, but she also had a distinguished stage career culminating in a Tony award for the play Twigs in 1971.  In the comedy about a mother and three sisters, she played all four roles.  Her numerous stage credits include The Effect Of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, and Tartuffe.  She won Obies for both.  She played the sensible, understanding mother in the ground-breaking ABC drama Family in the late 70s and added an Emmy to her collection of awards.  She is survived by her husband of over 60 years, Donald Stewart, a daughter and a brother.       

Monday's Man: Santino Fontana

I recently saw Santino Fontana on Broadway in The Importance of Being Earnest and immediately knew that the adorable and charming actor would be perfect for this feature. 

Here he is with his Drama Desk award for Brighton Beach Memoirs:

To really get a sense for why I thought he was right for LC, watch him, along with co-star David Furr, deliver lines from Jersey Shore in the style of Oscar Wilde:

Glee Comes to New York

From LC NY Bureau Chief Doug comes this shot of the cast of Glee at Lincoln Center.  You can clidk on it to make it bigger.  I can't wait for this episode:

Our Liberal Media at Work

Check out the guest list for the Sunday morning talk shows for the first Sunday after the Obama administration got Osama bin Laden:

ABC's "This Week" — National security adviser Tom Donilon; Pakistan's ambassador to the U.S., Husain Haqqani; former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.


NBC's "Meet the Press" — Donilon; former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff; former CIA Director Michael Hayden; former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

CBS' "Face the Nation" — Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.; former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

CNN's "State of the Union" — Donilon; Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.; NATO's secretary-general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Fox News Sunday" — Donilon; former Vice President Dick Cheney

In case you're counting, that's one Obama administration official, one Democratic Senator, one Republican Senator, and 5 Bush administration officials.  Republicans outnumber Democrats 7 to 2 on the Sunday after a Democratic administration accomplished something the previous Republican administration was never able to do. 

Worst Timing Ever

Look what's out today:

Arthur Laurents: 1917-2011

Theater giant Arthur Laurents has died at the age of 93.  He was a playwright, screenwriter, and director whose greatest accomplishments included West Side Story, Gypsy, and a string of films from Rope through The Way We Were, to The Turning Point.  He never stopped working.  He directed the 2008 revival of Gypsy starring Patti Lupone and 2009 revival of West Side Story.  Gypsy was a tribute to his partner of 52 years, Tom Hatcher, who died in 2006.  He also attributed Hatcher as the inspiration for the West Side Story revival as Hatcher had given him the idea of having the Sharks speak Spanish.  Laurents also wrote a number of serious plays, including two that premiered in 2009, New Year's Eve and Come Back, Come Back Wherever You Are.  He said of his plays, “Entertainment is dessert, it needs to be balanced by the main course: theater of substance.”

How to Succeed on Broadway

“Obviously, it would be incredible to be nominated, but I care much more about John Larroquette getting a nod for Best Actor [in a Featured Role in a Musical.] I’d love him to win because he’s so brilliant in our show. It is disappointing if you’re not nominated, but it is such a strong year for musicals on Broadway and there are others who are very worthy of getting the nods.”

--Daniel Radcliffe, giving a classy response to a question about his Tony snub.  By all accounts, he's a hard worker and a good guy.   

Quote of the Day

"My inspiration was beauty and elegance; it's a 21st century royal wedding. No, they didn't tell me [what they wanted] because I've known them for a long time and I wanted them to look gorgeous and beautiful. They trusted me to make them. Gorgeous and beautiful can be open to interpretation...I thought they looked gorgeous and beautiful. But no one is crying if anyone didn't."

--Hat designer Philip Treacy on the hats he designed for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to wear to their cousin's wedding. 

Quote of the Day

"How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves if he wants them around?"

--Minnesota State Representative Steve Simon.  Here is the video, courtesy of LC NY Bureau Chief Doug:

It Gets Better on Glee

Google aired this amazing spot for Dan Savage's It Gets Better campaign last night during Glee.  I got choked up.  Watch:


Thank you Google!

Tony Nominations!

I'm sure you were all up this morning watching Matthew Broderick and Anika Noni Rose announce the 2011 Tony nominations.  What?  You weren't?  Don't feel bad, I wasn't either since I'm a working stiff and had to show up.  But don't fear, I've still got all the scoop.  It's a big day for The Book of Mormon with 14 nominations followed by The Scottsboro Boys with 12 and Anything Goes with 9.  It was a bad year for Hollywood stars with minimal starfucking.  It was a star-heavy year on the Great White Way, but it is Broadway veterans (Patti LuPone, Donna Murphy, Victoria Clark) who are celebrating today.  There were no nominations for Robin Williams, Daniel Craig, Hugh Jackman, Kiefer Sutherland, Chris Noth, or Ben Stiller, though female stars including Frances McDormand, Edie Falco, and Judith Light were honored.  Enough talk!  Here are the nominations:

Best Play


Good People
Author: David Lindsay-Abaire

Jerusalem
Author: Jez Butterworth

The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Author: Stephen Adly Guirgis

War Horse
Author: Nick Stafford


Best Musical

The Book of Mormon
Catch Me If You Can
The Scottsboro Boys
Sister Act


Best Book of a Musical

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Alex Timbers

The Book of Mormon
Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone

The Scottsboro Boys
David Thompson

Sister Act
Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane


Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

The Book of Mormon
Music & Lyrics: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone

The Scottsboro Boys
Music & Lyrics: John Kander and Fred Ebb

Sister Act
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Glenn Slater

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek


Best Revival of a Play

Arcadia
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Merchant of Venice
The Normal Heart


Best Revival of a Musical

Anything Goes
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Brian Bedford, The Importance of Being Earnest
Bobby Cannavale, The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Joe Mantello, The Normal Heart
Al Pacino, The Merchant of Venice
Mark Rylance, Jerusalem

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Nina Arianda, Born Yesterday
Frances McDormand, Good People
Lily Rabe, The Merchant of Venice
Vanessa Redgrave, Driving Miss Daisy
Hannah Yelland, Brief Encounter

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Norbert Leo Butz, Catch Me If You Can
Josh Gad, The Book of Mormon
Joshua Henry, The Scottsboro Boys
Andrew Rannells, The Book of Mormon
Tony Sheldon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Anything Goes
Beth Leavel, Baby It's You!
Patina Miller, Sister Act
Donna Murphy, The People in the Picture


Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Mackenzie Crook, Jerusalem
Billy Crudup, Arcadia
John Benjamin Hickey, The Normal Heart
Arian Moayed, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Yul Vázquez, The Motherf**ker with the Hat


Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Ellen Barkin, The Normal Heart
Edie Falco, The House of Blue Leaves
Judith Light, Lombardi
Joanna Lumley, La Bête
Elizabeth Rodriguez, The Motherf**ker with the Hat


Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Colman Domingo, The Scottsboro Boys
Adam Godley, Anything Goes
John Larroquette, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Forrest McClendon, The Scottsboro Boys
Rory O'Malley, The Book of Mormon


Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Laura Benanti, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Tammy Blanchard, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Victoria Clark, Sister Act
Nikki M. James, The Book of Mormon
Patti LuPone, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown


Best Scenic Design of a Play

Todd Rosenthal, The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Rae Smith, War Horse
Ultz, Jerusalem
Mark Wendland, The Merchant of Venice


Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Beowulf Boritt, The Scottsboro Boys
Derek McLane, Anything Goes
Scott Pask, The Book of Mormon
Donyale Werle, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson


Best Costume Design of a Play

Jess Goldstein, The Merchant of Venice
Desmond Heeley, The Importance of Being Earnest
Mark Thompson, La Bête
Catherine Zuber, Born Yesterday


Best Costume Design of a Musical

Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Martin Pakledinaz, Anything Goes
Ann Roth, The Book of Mormon
Catherine Zuber, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Paule Constable, War Horse
David Lander, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Kenneth Posner, The Merchant of Venice
Mimi Jordan Sherin, Jerusalem


Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Ken Billington, The Scottsboro Boys
Howell Binkley, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Peter Kaczorowski, Anything Goes
Brian MacDevitt, The Book of Mormon


 Best Sound Design of a Play


Acme Sound Partners & Cricket S. Myers, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Simon Baker, Brief Encounter
Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Jerusalem
Christopher Shutt, War Horse


Best Sound Design of a Musical

Peter Hylenski, The Scottsboro Boys
Steve Canyon Kennedy, Catch Me If You Can
Brian Ronan, Anything Goes
Brian Ronan, The Book of Mormon


Best Direction of a Play

Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, War Horse
Joel Grey & George C. Wolfe, The Normal Heart
Anna D. Shapiro, The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Daniel Sullivan, The Merchant of Venice


Best Direction of a Musical

Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon
Susan Stroman, The Scottsboro Boys


Best Choreography

Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
Casey Nicholaw, The Book of Mormon
Susan Stroman, The Scottsboro Boys


Best Orchestrations

Doug Besterman, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Larry Hochman, The Scottsboro Boys
Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus, The Book of Mormon
Marc Shaiman & Larry Blank, Catch Me If You Can


Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-competitive Categories


Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

Athol Fugard
Philip J. Smith

Regional Theatre Tony Award

Lookingglass Theatre Company (Chicago, Ill.)

Isabelle Stevenson Award

Eve Ensler

Special Tony Award

Handspring Puppet Company

Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre

William Berloni
The Drama Book Shop
Sharon Jensen and Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts

Here Come the Deathers!

Well, that didn't take long.  First, President Obama released the magical long-form birth certificate, dealing a serious blow to birtherism.  Then, he got bin Laden.  It's getting harder and harder for the far-right noise machine to maintain their narrative that Obama is a Kenyan Nazi communist socialist anti-colonialist who's weak on national security and wants to bring on the caliphate.  What's a right-wing loud mouth to do?  If you're Andrew Breitbart, the answer is bring on the Deathers!  From his website:

"The free world, particularly the United States, has a right to make sure Osama bin Laden is really dead. Every American has a right to walk right up to bin Laden’s corpse and view it. We are entitled to know for a fact that the witch is dead. No shroud for dignity’s sake, please – bin Laden’s naked, bullet-riddled corpse should be put on display in lower Manhattan for all the world to see. The entire body should be digitally scanned, inside and out – and made available for everyone to take his or her own picture."

Breitbart is quoting one J. Michael Waller who must be an esteemed intellectual because he goes by "J. Michael."  Over at the Washington Times, senior editor Emily Miller demands "proof" that bin Laden is dead.  Of course, there is DNA evidence that US forces did, in fact kill bin Laden, but facts and evidence never stopped the birthers, why should it stop the deathers?

BTW, Breitbart says he isn't a deather.  He's just providing a forum.  Whatever. 

I'm Back!

Forgive me for dashing off without even leaving a note to my dear readers, but I was called away for an emergency style intervention.  Unfortunately, my flight from New York to London was delayed, so I could do nothing but watch helplessly as this happened:

  

So sad.  One is in a lab coat with a fallopian tube on her head and the other looks like Delta Burke circa 1989. 

But the delay worked out well as I had a chance to have a confab with my New York Staff.  I must say that the New York offices are beautifully appointed, conveniently located in the theater district and Bureau Chief Doug always does a wonderful job hosting our conferences.  We even managed to squeeze in a little entertainment between high-level planning sessions.  We saw Anything Goes, the new revival of the Cole Porter musical with Sutton Foster and Joel Grey.  It was easily the best thing we saw,  Sutton Foster is not to be missed.

We also saw Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which was an eye-popping romp.  It starred Nick Adams whose every costume was skimpier than the one before.  I'll let you in on a little secret...Nick doesn't tuck.

We saw the revival of The Importance of Being Earnest starring Broadway legend Brian Bedford as Lady Bracknell.  Every time he opens his mouth, you want to laugh.  The production has been extended to July 3, so get your tickets now.

Finally, we saw La Cage aux Folles with Harvey Fierstein and Christopher Sieber.  Unfortunately, this wonderful show closed May 1, so if you haven't seen it, you've missed it.  I feel very lucky that we were able to experience it.

We also had a few celebrity sightings as we dashed about from important meeting to important meeting.  First, we saw four-time Tony winner Audra McDonald:

She was looking lovely while having lunch at a diner. 

Next, we saw delicious Nick Adams, unfortunately not dressed like this:

He was walking down the street in a beautifully tailored suit with a bow tie. He looked like the world was his oyster.  And it is. 

Then, we saw Judith Light:

She was having dinner, certainly after one of her acclaimed performances in Lombardi.  Lovely.

Finally, in what may have been the most exciting celebrity sighting of the trip, we saw Scott Patric, the hot make up guy from Project Runway!



He chatted with us for a few minutes and couldn't have been nicer or better looking.