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Showing posts from January, 2007

Ryan Phillipe May Not Be Gay ...

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... but he played one on TV during One Life to Live 's glory days, when it was written very well during Michael Malone's first tenure. LOS ANGELES, CA -- June 12,1992 -- The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation applauds ABC's One Life to Live for featuring a gay character...A young Ryan [Philippe] displays his acting chops with his performance as Billy Douglas. Ryan is called upon to perform a number of difficult scenes, but none are as memorable as Billy's "coming out" to his parents. Billy shows bravery as he reveals his homosexuality to his parents so reluctant to hear his words. Ryan's strong performance is a gutsy one as well. Kudos to him for taking on a controversial role at such a young point in his career. -- From Column's Main Website. Go here

The Tuesday De-Briefing: Greg Vaughan

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There was a time when the leading man on Daytime Dramas tended to be a non-threatening type, handsome but anatomically incorrect, so to speak. Perhaps it was because those purveyors of dish detergent thought that housewives didn't know about those things let alone have sexual fantasies. The pivotal moment in the chronos of Soap Opera history happened sometime in the 1970s when Baby Boomers of college age began watching. It had ceased being the bastion of domestic goddesses, although they still tend to be the lionesses at the gate. Someone needs to tell the powers that be, however, that the demos while much lower these days have changed. The non-threatening leading man became a living, breathing man and somewhere along that line, male models segued their careers into acting on Soap Operas. Sometimes the transition worked and many times it didn't. At the very least there was someone handsome to objectify. The tradition continues. One of those transitions that seems to be working

Out,Out Damn Homosexual

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Thee good people at Datalounge point this out in USA Today: "On tonight's Dirt , an episode titled 'You Don't Know Jack,' Show's character, Jack Dawson [Grant Show], is outed by Courteney Cox's tabloid editor. A similar story line will play in February and March on ABC's Brothers & Sisters . Both echo recent real-life scenarios and underscore that being tagged as homosexual remains a threat for many actors. Although more characters are openly gay on TV, being a gay actor still carries a stigma. And with gossip blogs joining tabloids in the trafficking of salacious material, the chance of being outed or inaccurately labeled has been ratcheted up." William Keck's piece goes on to discuss recent events as well as Chad Allen's dilemma when he was photographed by a tabloid with his boyfriend. In short, it says that it might be okay to play a gay man on television, but it still may not be okay to be a gay actor. Go here to read it .

Thorsten Kaye and the "Cha Cha Train"

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Charlotte " Cha Cha " Walton, it's been said more than once, is an exceptional woman -- a loyal friend who is generous to a fault. She has certainly proved her mettle as a bona fide Thorsten Kaye fan. This past weekend she hosted a small party of fellow TKers in Washington DC where they participated in a meet and greet with Mister Kaye who met and greeted scores of fans with his usual aplomb. Of course, in many peoples' eyes he can do no wrong. That's not too far from the truth. When he was asked to help raise funds for the fight against Prostate Cancer he put himself on the line by offering a private dinner with him as an Ebay auction. Ms Walton was the winner and those who know her best couldn't be happier. Cha Cha and her pals were all over Washington and its suburbs singing the praises of the All My Children leading man enjoying sublime culinary pleasures and imbibing the fruits of the vine. This group of happy campers came to be known as the Cha

Song of the Week: Supremes

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This week's feature relates to last week's in that they are very similar musically. The current song, "Everything's Good About You" was recorded by the original Supremes and while it embodies all the elements of their biggest hits, there is something a bit more subtle about it. Subtlety tends to be something sorely lacking in the saga of the three young women who became international singing stars, especially in its embodiment within Dreamgirls . The most important thing of the real Supremes' or Diana Ross' story is that it is the story of young black women who rose out of the projects and were ultimately projected to the top of their trade. The next important thing to remember is that Diana Ross unlike Ronnie Spector and Tina Turner has always been her own woman. Berry Gordy may have been a controlling influence but -- it seems -- he did not abuse her. Miss Ross made her choices. She is not perfect but she has become a symbol and a paradigm. "This is

Saturday Beefcake: Comfort and Warmth

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Mexican Hot Chocolate Unsweetened Cocoa, 1/4 cup Sugar, 1/4 cup Cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon Salt, a dash Milk, 1 litre Light Cream 1/4 cup Vanilla Extract, 1/4 teaspoon 1. Mix the cocoa, sugar and salt 2. Heat milk until bubbling and then stir in the cocoa mixture. 3. Beat with whisk until smooth 4. Bring to boiling over low heat. 5. Gently stir in cream and vanilla heat over low heat 6. Before serving, beat with rotary mixer until frothy. A warm Saturday in Washington, DC belies the Winter that raged only yesterday and is sure to return. A good recipe for bringing comfort and warmth is definitely called for and in our vaults we found this simple and tasty concoction to help allay the winter woes. A weekend trip to DC with a warmed up Saturday afternoon also helps. Chocolate has been getting a lot of good press these days and be it far from this Web Log to buck the trend. In keeping with our weekly tradition we have accompanied this recipe with some appropriate photography, two of which rel

Carolyn Hinsey tells us

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This Dixie shall not rise again Dixie eats some poisoned peanut-butter pancakes meant for Babe today on "All My Children," which will lead to the death next week of one of soaps' most enduring heroines. "Looking slightly like I have heartburn, I choke on a breakfast dish and pass out," says Cady McClain, in character as the doomed Dixie. "It's unclear why no one gives me the Heimlich maneuver." Because it's too late. Babe and J.R. perform CPR on the unconscious Dixie ("I kissed a girl!" giggles McClain) as Krystal calls 911. She's rushed to the hospital, where soulmate Tad and son J.R. sit vigil, and Joe and Jeff frantically try to revive her. "Cue the flashbacks," says McClain. Despite their best efforts, Dixie doesn't make it. Joe breaks the bad news to her loved ones. Tad takes off, while J.R. breaks down at her bedside. J.R. and Jamie feel a sort of presence in the room, but don't realize it's Dixie'

Ilene Kristen Doing Her Thing

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What's more ... from the Rolling Stone article

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In September 2002, just before Clinton and every other Democrat who hoped to run for president voted to authorize the war in Iraq, Gore gave a no-holds-barred speech inveighing against the invasion. "The chaos in the aftermath of a military victory in Iraq," he warned, "could easily pose a far greater danger to the United States than we presently face from Saddam."

And the presidential oscar goes to: The Once & Future President

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Rolling Stone says this about that: "He's perceived very differently now than he was six years ago," says Frank Luntz, the Republican consultant who advised George W. Bush to dispute global warming during the 2000 and 2004 elections. "He's an icon. Imagine that: Al Gore, Mr. Straight and Narrow, Mr. Dull on Wheels -- now he's culturally cool." Indeed, Gore is unique among the increasingly crowded field of Democratic contenders. He has the buzz to beat Obama, the substance to supplant Hillary, and enough stature to enter the race late in the game and still raise the millions needed to mount a successful campaign. "Very few people who run for president can just step in when they want, with a superstar, titanic presence ... Gore clearly is one of those. He's going to run, and he's going to be formidable. If he didn't run, I'd be shocked." Read more here .

just for good measure

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The Tuesday De-Briefing: Egglesfield and Fumero

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It is not at all unheard of for a highly attractive male model to segue into a part on a Soap Opera. Sometimes the model can actually act and for the most part adorns the set with ample opportunity to take off his shirt. Mr. Egglesfield has been handed the citrus rind role of playing a character that was aborted as a fetus and placed in the womb of another woman -- perhaps someday that will happen in the real world. Perhaps the research should be accelerated if the results are supposed to look like Mr. Egglesfield. He has also been saddled with a banal heterosexual pairing. Don't they realize that he needs to be honing his skills for a future starring role in the Montgomery Clift biographical film. One of the pictures featured here is from his days as a model when he was paired up with Joel Fumero -- who needs to get himself to a good casting agent immediately -- there's nothing banal about this pairing at all. If the powers that be are heeding the call: de-brief these two imme

It Ain't Necessarily So at Sundance

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"There's nothing wrong with a fifth-grade understanding of God [or the Bible], as long as you're in the fifth grade." Daniel Karslake's For the Bible Tells Me So shows how the Bible's verses have been used to justify discrimination - and how modern conservatives use the Good Book to lambaste gays Visit Jessica Ravitz in the Salt Lake Tribune

Song of the Week: Love Unlimited

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Whenever there are interesting additions here usually involving the exposition of male flesh, an invitation of sorts is extended to the denizens of the gay forum extraordinaire, Datalounge. As a result yesterday, a record number of visits were made to this Web Log and Web Site. It's gratifying to have so many witness the hard work put into this site by BGR Design for one. There was sniping over there at the 'Lounge -- that's to be expected. Polite they are not. One comment referred to the "cheesy music" [sic] here. Well, a good slice of cheese does more good than harm so we shall continue to be cheesey and hopelessly retro musically. So without disappointing anyone the song of the week comes from Barry White's trio of singers headed by his wife Glodean James White, Love Unlimited, who were more like The Supremes than Diane, Flo and Mary could ever be. It is Winter in earnest now and there's nothing like a good man to keep it at bay. The song you may be he

Saturday Beefcake: Stuffing It

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Spinach : according to Diana Shaw, "The best spinach is dark green, with firm, unblemished leaves" with an on going peak season. Elisa Celli of The Pasta Diet fame uses it to stuff. Here is her recipe for: Fish Fillets Stuffed with Spinach Red Snapper, Striped Bass, Sole or Flounder fillets, 4 at about 100 grams each Fresh spinach, cooked and chopped, about 200 grams Ricotta, part skim if possible, c. 100 grams Nutmeg, grated, just a pinch Fresh Italian Parsley Leaves, chopped, about 50 grams Dry White Wine, small glassful Lemon Juice, 1/2 lemon (oven @ 350F) 1. Spread the fillets out flat and separate each at the center seam to make two narrow fillets from each 2. Mix the spinach, cheese and nutmeg in a small bowl. 3. Place a spoonful if the mixture in the center of each fish strip. Fold one end of the fillet over the filling and then the other over the that, making a three fold package. Fasten each package with a wooden toothpick, or small skewer. 4. Put the rolls in a bak

Forget McDreamy, Forget McSteamy ...

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Forget Jason Lewis' Chad. They are all fictional characters. Datalounge is focusing on the case of real life McBongo. Speculate, Speculate -- Dance to the Music

Speculate, Speculate -- Dance to the Music

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There has been more than some speculation on which real life Soap Opera actor Jason Lewis' character on Brothers & Sisters is based -- two candidates have been brought up. The speculation is fun and interesting, especially now considering the Grey's Anatomy imbroglio. Thank you, Messrs Baitz and Olin.

And the Beat Goes On

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From Philly Burbs Blog: Oooh, Isaiah Washington is in deep, deep trouble … According to FOX News, “A gay and lesbian advocacy group demanded an apology Wednesday from Grey’s Anatomy co-star Isaiah Washington for comments made following the Golden Globe Awards.” That’s not why Washington is in trouble, though. For those of you who don’t know, Washington (who plays Dr. Preston Burke) called fellow co-star T.R. Knight (George) a “faggot” in an on-set scuffle back in October. The incident caused Knight to come out about his homosexuality to the media – not like he was hiding it to begin with. Anyways, the backlash Washington has been facing as a result of his homophobic tirade has been fierce. Even though he tried to deny it at the Golden Globes, everyone knows he said it, Knight confirmed he said it, and the public wants his head for it – and they might just get it. First off, faggot is an offensive word, like everyone has been arguing. But in this case, using it hurt Washington much more

Maybe he is, after all

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Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington, accompanied by his wife, shared a secret on the Golden Globes red carpet. "I love gay. I wanted to be gay," he said. "Please let me be gay."

TR Knight on Ellen

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from TMZ.com Knight: Isaiah Forced Me Out with "Faggot" Slur Go here to see the video Posted Jan 17th 2007 10:45AM by TMZ Staff T.R. Knight says that Isaiah Washington forced him out of the closet when he called him a "faggot" on the set of "Grey's Anatomy." What's more, Knight tells Ellen DeGeneres that he's dumbfounded by Washington's denial of having called Knight a "faggot" in a scuffle with "Grey's" co-star Patrick Dempsey. Washington offered the denial in an interview at Monday's Golden Globes. Knight, in turn, told Ellen, "I don't know what to say, really, about that." Knight also says that he'd never been called by the slur "to his face," and when he heard Washington refer to him in that way, "something shifted, and it became bigger than myself." Shortly thereafter Knight revealed to People magazine that he is, in fact, gay, but says he never intended to before the in

The Tuesday De-Briefing: Johnathan Schaech ...

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...and that thing he does. Lord knows, his face is a welcomed distraction from those things that most of us do on a day to day basis, and it is a face that seems to indicate that there is a lot going on behind it. Otherwise, he would have not been able to make an impression as the cad in Tom Hanks' That Thing You Do . There also seems to be a whole lot going on in all of his corporeal splendor. Fortunately his resume indicates that he has been working and that is good news at least for the connoisseurs of eye candy. It seems, however, that he is not around often enough or long enough. It is this WebLog's task to keep the warmth in the cockles of the hearth this late blooming winter. It is the why and wherefore that the de-briefing of Johnathan Schaech is called for. Schaech him out and get that warm feeling.

God Bless America: The Golden Globes

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Good News for Brothers & Sisters from Televisionista

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Congratulations to ABC's highly addictive Brothers & Sisters . Despite Desperate Housewives coming down, the drama managed to hold on to its loyal audience scoring almost 13 million viewers and record high lead-in retention numbers.

Martin Luther King

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In the year after his death, 1968, George Wallace won the South in the Presidential Election. It was the year that Richard M. Nixon was elected president. Not long before that he was pictured on the cover of a news weekly with Robert F. Kennedy. They were called "The Dream Team." A dream indeed that peace, freedom and equality might be the rule of the day. The more things change the more they stay the same. The Dream nevertheless lives on. Al Gore once referred to it: As Dr. King once said, "Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. If it is, let us trace its move me nts and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance, for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us."

Love Me Like A Man (Song of the Week)

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It's time to turn up the heat as Winter makes a comeback, actually finally makes an entrance into these parts: David Morgan's photography and Bonnie Raitt's apropos music will do the trick, so to speak taking us to a warmer clime while making the perfect request. Love Me Like A Man : Raitt/Smither The men that I've been seeing, baby Got their soul up on a shelf you know they could never love me When they can't even love themselves But I need someone to love me Someone to really understand Who won't put himself above me Who’ll just love me like a man I never seen such losers darlin’ even though I try… …to find a mind who can take me home ’stead of taking me for a ride And I need someone to love me I know you can Believe me when I tell you you can love me like a man Oh they want me to rock them like my back ain't got no bone I want a man to rock me like my… backbone was his own Baby, I know you can Believe me when I tell you You can love me like a man I Come