July 2007 Archives

Presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton isn't just participating in an LGBT issues debate next Thursday, she is using the occasion to launch a national effort encouraging LGBT supporters to organize forum viewing parties nationwide on August 9. , The presidential forum is being sponsored by gay cable channel Logo and the Human Rights Campaign.
States Clinton's campaign Web site: "We are encouraging Hillary's LGBT supporters from across the country, and their families and friends to host an 'LGBT Americans for Hillary Forum Watch Party'. This is a great way for you to get involved and to help us grow our LGBT Americans for Hillary network."
The largest of the watch parties is expected to be The Abbey in West Hollywood which will provide a live telecast of the forum. Afterward, Clinton is scheduled to stop by the Abbey to address the crowd.
She said in a press release Tuesday:“I look forward to sharing my views on issues important to LGBT Americans at the Logo/HRC presidential forum. I hope people take this opportunity to gather at forum watch parties and learn how we can work together to move our nation closer to the promise of fairness and equality that all Americans deserve.”

Ya gotta wonder if Star Jones had been this forthcoming about her obvious gastric bypass surgery while she was still on "The View," she might still have a job on the daytime talkfest. Her decision to be evasive over how she lost 160 pounds made her seem inauthentic as she was sharing every detail of her wedding.
Anyway, bygones. We had Rosie for awhile, we are likely getting Whoopi and Sherri and, ugh, we still have Elisabeth "George Bush is God" Hasslebeck. Star is having a new start with a new show on Court TV and as part of that, she has written a candid essay for Glamour magazine sharing why she wasn't upfront about the elephant in the room:
"I admit that when asked about my obvious weight loss over the past four years, I was intentionally evasive. Lying was never an option for me, so I called it a 'medical intervention,' which was true, but it was really a pathetic attempt to tell only the truth I could handle at the time."
"I was afraid to be vulnerable, and ashamed at not being able to get myself under control without this procedure," she writes in the magazine.
Well, the truth has set her free!

I ask you, what IS it between these "Ocean's 13" dudes and all the jokes about being gay. It's silly. Last week, Damon made a fun jab at Clooney indicating that the Oscar winner never mentioned he was gay while he was performing oral sex on him. Hahaha. Funny, funny.
So Clooney, hyping up "Ocean’s 13" Tuesday in Tokyo, was quite the jokester. He told reporters that the fun part of the movie was “watching Matt Damon trying to woo a woman,” while the most enjoyable part was “the love scene between Brad and I from Brokeback Mountain … that was cut out, though.”
He was also asked what it was like to play the leader in the "Ocean's" films with their all-star casts:“In terms of being the leader of Brad and Matt, I have some very compromising photos of them that I use as leverage to make myself the leader. [But I can’t show the pictures.] There was a farm animal involved."
What a card. He sure is handsome though...movie star handsome...

Between live feeds, blogs and readers emailing me, it's not too tough to keep up with what is going on in the "Big Brother" house. Nick, the last remaining musclehead (Mike was voted off last week ):) is being back doored! He shoulda kept flirting with everyone and not focused so much on Daniele. She can't save him now.
Meanwhile, annoying Jen has been taken off the chopping block and Nick put on. He knows he's a goner so he shaved his head into this not-very-attractive mohawk. I figure Kail, a much bigger threat, is safe for another week since she didn't go and shave her head...
Fortunately, Nick's hot body remains intact....

Hadn't been to The Abbey in what seems like at least a month, maybe more, but hit it tonight with my friend Michael who is here from the East Coast for awhile. It was a pretty low-key Monday night at this WeHo hotspot. But that won't be the case next Thursday when Sen. Hillary Clinton shows up after a televised debate on LGBT issues earlier that evening. It should be quite a night with John Edwards and Barack Obama set to join Clinton and other candidates in the debate that will be televised live on MTV's LOGO channel.
More news on this as it becomes available...I'm hoping to be at the debate or The Abbey, or both!

I wish I could say this is my scoop but I'm trying to have a rare vacation day today (posts will return to regular levels tomorrow) but these belong to Chicago Tribune television critic Maureen Ryan who paid a visit to the set of "Ugly Betty" and came back with all kinds of goodies. I offer you a sampling...

STOP READING HERE if you want to be kept in suspense!
Betty has a possible new love interest even though Henry (adorable Christopher Gorham) comes back to work at Mode...Santos, shot in a convenience store robbery, does not die...Wihelmina's assistant Marc (Michael Urie) gets a romance this season and the great Patti LuPone will return as Marc's formidable mother. She might finally be coming around to accepting that her son is gay. Well, she BETTER, she's Patti LuPone for god's sake...the gays made her!
Urie will also have scenes with Betty's nephew Justin (Mark Indelicato) who becomes an intern at Mode and is one of several managed by Marc.
For those of you who really loved the Season 1 scenes between Marc and Betty's nephew Justin (Mark Indelicato), there's more good stuff to come: Early in Season 2, Justin is one of several Mode interns Marc has to manage.
"I spent the whole morning screaming and yelling at them," Urie tells Ryan of a recent day of filming. "They didn't get the right kind of bendy straws for a Shakira photo shoot. It was such funny stuff."

I. Can't. Wait.

The Adam Sandler-Kevin James comedy "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" came out while I was knee-deep in Outfest coverage so I just got around to seeing it on Sunday afternoon. And I gotta say, there was nothing in the movie that bothered me as much as the fact the premiere for the "Bratz" movie was going on at the same time at The Grove. One of the mom's snapping a picture of her precious one swung around and her backpack collided with me. She looks at me and says impatiently: "EXCUSE me." I just kept walking, muttering "bitch" under my breath. I don't know who the actresses are who play the Bratz but they were all there along with an odd smattering of celebs ranging from Oscar winner Jon Voight to "American Idol" also-ran Ace Young.
Oh yeah, the movie. It's about a pair of firefighters, best friends, pretending to be gay in order to secure benefits for the widowed firefighter's (Kevin James) kids in case he is killed. But they undergo scrutiny by the state's pensiion board so get married in Canada and even sleep in the same bed in order to pull off the ruse.
I know there are some people who thought the movie to be homophobic which it is, at first. But it really does come around and in the end, makes a good statement against homophobia. Does that make it a good movie? No. But I always like Adam Sandler and I can't think of a movie where I found him more adorable. He'd make a terrific gay man. What I liked best was how Sandler's character handles the effeminate son of James's character. The boy wants to sing and dance - just like Justin on "Ugly Betty" and he ends up being his biggest champion - encouraging him to be who he is.
If every child who is "different" was embraced this way rather than shunned or made fun of - even by their own families - this world would be a much happier place.
Other good things: Jessica Biel, Richard Chamberlain and Lance Bass (in a cameo) are also in the cast.

Kyle McLachlan sure makes a handsome groom. And last season on "Desperate Housewives," he married Marcia Cross' Bree Van De Kamp and is now the picture of wedded bliss. Well, as blissful as you can be when your wife is pretending to be pregnant while her daughter is actually the pregnant one in order to save face with the neighborhood.
Even though McLachlan's Gordon Hodge almost killed Mike Delfino (James Denton) in the second season finale, when he ran him over in his car, he seems somewhat reformed and even a better hubby to Bree than he was as Trey to poor, sex-starved Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) on 'Sex and the City."
Gordon was originally only slated to be on for one season but when McLachlan was agreeable to remaining with the show, his character became less psycho and more dutiful.
Said Kyle last week at the ABC Press Tour part:y "Was that me driving? Mike and Orson made nice, kinda. But it's still there. It's one of those storylines where I don't know what's going to happen but I would love for them to revisit that, it would be kind of cool."
"I like him being sort of a sinister guy, I like him being more of the nice guy. The writers never fail to bring great dramatic moments that Marcia [Cross] and I can deal with."
Still, Orson was not so nice when it came to dealing with his evil, scheming mother Gloria played wonderfully for seven episodes by Emmy nominee Dixie Carter, best known to gay fans as the sharp-tongued Julia Sugarbaker on "Designing Women."
"Wow. It was a fantastic thing," he said of working with Carter. "She was so good. We had a lot of physical stuff that we had to do together and she is in incredible shape and was totally up for any of that throwing around. She threw herself against the wall, threw herself into the tub, hats off to her. She should win that damned Emmy."
McLachlan himself has twice been nominated for the Emmy for his leading role on the cult fave "Twin Peaks." He never won but did take home the Golden Globe Award. Despite a very lengthy body of work, the actor admits he still gets recognized quite a bit for his years on "Sex and the City" and he is excited about the planned feature film even though his character is not likely to be a part of it.
"It would be great to see it on the big screen and people are really excited about it too." he said. "I think they miss the women. It's been wonderful that it's been airing as it has on TBS but I think people are ready for another installment. It's airing all the time. It's turning into the 'I Love Lucy' of our day. Somewhere in the world, we're always on the air and it's very watchable."

Here's some big news: While trying to get Marc Cherry to reveal what he will be doing with gay teen character Andrew Van De Kamp on the upcoming season of "Desperate Housewives," he shared this bombshell: a male gay couple in moving onto Wisteria Lane!
"We're going to have the first male desperate housewives," Cherry said to me and a few other reporters at the ABC Press Tour party. "They will move into the old Applewhite house and one of the gay men will just have a fractious, hateful relationship with Teri Hatcher. We just started writing the episodes so I probably won't start casting for another few weeks."
One of the gay men will lock horns with next-door neighbor Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher) and could be her new nemesis fior awhile now that Edie (Nicolletee Sheridan) is all gaga over Carlos. [I'm assuming Edie didn't REALLY hang herself in the season finale, of course].
"I just decided to have them move onto the street and have as many issues as any other couple. And Susan wants to be so politically correct and show how open-minded she is and she puts her foot in her mouth instantly and it goes downhill from there. I'm basing it a little bit on my relationship with my neighbors."
When I asked Hatcher was asked about Susan clashing with one of the gay men she assured that it is: "not over being gay!"
The new gay pair means Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom) won't be getting a new boyfriend anytime soon although Cherry says he will be involved in one of the early plotlines involving Lynette (Felicity Huffman) and her bout with cancer.
Pyfrom, who turns 21 next month, has been on the show since the start going from rebellious teen to gay sociopath to glorified extra.
"That's the crazy thing about this. You kind of go into blindly not knowing what you are going to be doing," he told me. "I always like to do more, whether that involve me having to kiss another guy or whatever it doesn't matter. I love being able to become something in a character."
There has been speculation over whether Andrew might dabble with bisexuality. Cherry isn't sayng and Pyfrom says he hasn't been told one way or another. But the straight actor wouldn't mind very much.
"It would be nice if I could get a nice, hot 19 year old girl on there that I could full around with but you know what? I know they'll choose something great whether he goes bi or not, they'll make it interesting. Whatever they throw at me, I'm willing to take."

Just weeks ago, "Big Brother 8" was a fun diversion with all kinds of gay drama and eye candy to spare. How did it all go so wrong, so fast? We had ex-lovers Dustin and Joe to deal with, hunky Nick flirting with them both and throwing out all kinds of hints that he swing both ways. Then there was hunky Mike who was just nice to look at, especially when he lifted weights with Nick.
Ah, the good old days.
On Sunday, I tuned in to see Dustin as head of household and fully enjoying his power - even dressed as a king for the food competition. I like that Dustin, as a gay man, is in charge and trying to be strategic. What I don't like are his v-neck t-shirts. He's gotta lose those.

Dustin has targeted Kail who I was SURE would go home last week instead of poor, cute Mike [pictured above, leaving the house on Thursday] who, I'm sure, would not hurt a fly or ever tell a lie. He was just a there to be eye candy, not cause trouble! Kail, she's trouble. I actually felt a little sorry for Jen who was also nominated and who cried about it (at least she wasn't crying over her horrible picture again.).
So all that is well and good but what's really apparent is that this is not an interesting group of people. Nick has reverted to total hetero (gee, what a surprise) and grown a little mustache that does not please me. I don't like him anymore. I'll still post shirtless pics of him, sure, but I don't like him.

Then there is the crybaby that is Amber: she sobs when Dustin wins HOH then gets into a really idiotic discussion with Evil Dick over her love for her dog vs. her love for her child. The tearful one actually said they are equal (If I was the kid, I'd be the one crying now). "I love my dog as much as I love my daughter," Amber told an incredulous Dick. "Love is love...I love them both...they're like both my kids."
I love Dick's response: "Are you a mental case? What is wrong with you?"
Dick's got plenty wrong with him tough. He is trying to mend fences with daughter Daniele and you can see she has clearly been wounded by him in her life. So here he is, trying to get close again...cameras on the whole time. Kinda gross. Then later, he is asking Jen point-blank if she has had a boob job. She dodges the query but it's clear she's had one.
Dick could also benefit from some plastic surgery: on his FACE!
Anyway, unless she wins power of veto, looks like Kail is a goner on Thursday...But who knows? This crowd is so dense they'll probably send home one of the few rays of light in the house: the funny, cute and mischevious Eric who has really grown on me.

ABC Family's theme is now "a new kind of family" and what's cool about the cable channel is that "family" also includes a gay character or two on some of its shows. On the new college-set drama "Greek," Paul James plays gay fraternity pledge, Calvin.
I chatted with the 22-year-old James a few days ago at the ABC Press Tour event about his latest role and he was quite thoughtful and articulate about that and other topics:
Q. Is your character going to be different from any gay characters that we've seen on television before?
James. That's the idea. It's going to be different just in the fact that [openly-gay creator and co-executive producer Sean Smith] doesn't want it to be, 'Oh, I'm gay, I have a headache, it's so hard to be me.' It's supposed to be something that is just an aspect of his character but then when you're navigating fraternities and sororities, it's gonna come up, it's gonna be an important part of the character. But we're trying to stay away from stereotypes."
Q. So is he going to have a boyfriend?
James. He does. He does for the first season, the guy who you see me with in the first two episodes ends up being sort of my boyfriend. He's a pledge in another house. So it's two people trying to find a relationship and he is much less comfortable with himself than my character is. So it's two very different people.
Q. This is ABC Family, so are there any kissing scenes or anything?
James. There hasn't been. I don't know what they're gonna do. I wouldn't have a problem with it.
Q. Any hesitation on taking a gay role?
James. The reason I don't have any hesitation taking gay roles is because as a black actor, a young actor, it's really hard to find good parts. There are just not good things written so when you see a role that's written really well, you want to do it. And a lot of times, the well-written roles for black actors are gay roles. They have some depth, something beyond I'm a thug on the street. I have no qualms about it at all as long as the material is good which it is."
Q. How did you research for the role? Did you talk to any gay friends?
James. I went school for theatre, I've had a lot of gay friends and I worked at a restaurant where I had a lot of gay friends so I talked to them about it and they were excited and there would be things I would ask them about. And I ask Sean.
Q. Can fans are very loyal. Is there anything you want to say to them?
James. Keep watching and hopefully, I represent you guys well. The most important thing that Sean wanted to do with this, and it's real important to me too, is to show little kids who are gay that you don't have to be afraid of who you are. You can be happy. That's why the character isn't going to be angsty about it."

Eva Longoria's Paris wedding to NBA star Tony Parker a few weeks ago left quite an impression on her "Desperate Housewives" boss Mark Cherry. The lavish ceremony took place at the Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois Church -- once frequented by French royalty -- across from the Louvre Museum.
The ceremony was followed by an exclusive bash at a storied French chateau with Cherry as well as "Housewives" co-stars Teri Hatcher, Nicolette Sheridan and Felicity Huffman among those in attendance.
"It was the kiind of thing where you were kind of like, 'I didn't know I knew people this rich,'" Cherry joked at a party Thursday night for ABC stars. "The chateau where the reception was was kind of like a mini [Chateau de] Versailles and the cathedral, it was the nicest wedding I've ever been to in terms of where the wedding took place."
"There were all kinds of fans outside, paparazzi and you really felt like you were part of an event. I was just going to the wedding of a friend and suddenly realized, 'This will be the only time I ever go to a wedding like this in my life and it was really a lot of fun. The thing that made it really special for me was that after all the glamour and the glitz and stuff, when it came to the wedding toast, they were just like any other couple in love, they were both adorable."

My tape recorder is filled with interviews I didn't even remember I had! That all-star party Thursday night was about the most star-studded thing I've been to in months and you have such terrific access to everyone. And the number of celebs was so high that there was no way to get to everyone. So, I looked at Eric Mabius from afar, as well as Dylan McDermoitt , Judith Light, Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman, Kate Walsh, Rebecca Romijn, Jerry O'Connell and Christina Applegate. I didn't even realize until looking at photos online yesterday that Lucy Lui was there or Angie Harmon, Jill Clayburgh, Swoosie Kurtz and many other faves.

But I did chat up Michael Vartan, James Denton, Kyle McLaughlin, Saran Jane Morris, Teri Hatcher, Andy Baldwin, Shawn Pyfrom, Marc Cherry, Jon Robin Baitz and Matthew Rhys, I've shared some of the interviews already but here are some odds and ends and pictures to bring the story to an end...
Had never met Kyle McLaughlin before but I have admired his hair ever since "Twin Peaks." We talked a little "Sex In the City," and a lot of "Desperate Housewives" and, I hate to be a tease, but it was such a good interview that I am going to save it for its own post on Monday
Meanwhile, some of my conversation with Matthew Rhys was in an earlier post but we also talked about Outfest, where he appeared twice within three days in support of "Brothers & Sisters" and his new film "Love and Other Disasters." Did he know he had so many fans?
"I got an idea, yeah, absolutely. The positive response we had and the feedback.was so uplifting and it's so encouraging. It was so fantastic to have all these people say, 'You're doing a good thing."
Rhys is glad to be back in his role of Kevin Walker after spending part of his summer filming "The Edge of Love," a movie that originally had him cast opposite Lindsay Lohan. But the troubled actress dropped out before filming began. "The poor girl is really in an extremely difficult phase in her life and you just hope that there's a quick resolve to it all."
Also spoke with the lovely Sarah Jane Morris, who plays Rhys' sister-in-law on the show and was given very little to do for much of the season on "Brothers & Sisters." Then she wowed everyone by turning in an Emmy-worthy performance at the end of the season after giving birth to twins and one of them dies. I wondered if this meant she would have more to do next season.
"Now I've been more integrated into the show and they're hoping to continue with the storyline of us losing our baby and I think it's going to put a lot of strain on our marriage and Julia is going to have a lot of exploring to do as well as Tommy so we'll see. From what I can tell in the first few episodes, I'm not dealing very well. Everyone's moved on and I'm mourning."
I wasn't a big fan of "Alias" but I did think Michael Vartan was pretty dreamy as Jane Fonda's son in "Monster-In-Law." He is one of the four leads in the male buddy comedy "Big Shots," and told me he wasn't looking to jump into another series so soon after "Alias" until he saw the script. "It's light and it's fun as opposed to 'Alias' where we were shooting 16 hours a day and running down hallways in San Pedro at 5 a.m. I think this will be a little easier."

It really will take two women to replace the irreplaceable Rosie O'Donnell on "The View" and even then, it probably won't be enough. But it could be good enough because those two women, according to several credible reports, are Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd. I've seen them both sub several times and Shepherd is a HOOT! She brings a lot of life and light to the show. I was initially anti-Whoopi for the roile of moderator even though I like her as an actress and a talk show guest. But I like her politics and she has a way of taking the wind out of that knuckle-headed Elisabeth "George Bush is God" Hasslebeck in a way that Rosie could not and Joy Behar could not. Whoopi is cool, people respect her, she's lived, she's won an Oscar, she's a grandmother...she is a real woman who was once a welfare mom. She's always found a way to re-invent herself whether it's on a sitcom, on "Star Trek," hosting the Oscars or making movies like "The Color Purple," "Ghosts of Mississippi," "Boys on the Side," "Sister Act" and, of course, "Ghost." This is her latest chapter and it feels right. And, good God, to have TWO women of color? Hooray! Good move and not because it's politically correct - it's just smart because of what these two women bring to the table. We will see if they can make this a water-cooler show again and help ratings soar - something Roisie was able to do so magnificantly.
The trade papers reported late Thursday that ABC is in final negotiations with Goldberg. Brian Frons, the daytime president of ABC, told Variety that there was no closed deal but that he thought Goldberg was terrific during her guest hosting stint on The View. Variety also reported that ABC is in talks with Shepherd to join the show. She is best known for her role in the sitcom "Less Than Perfect" and in the recent short-lived ABC show "Wedding Bellles." She was also the guest host in June when O'Donnell and Hasselbeck had an on-air argument so severe that O'Donnell ended up leaving the show three weeks ahead of scheduled.
With Hasslebeck about to give birth to a little Republican and Barbara Walters closer to 80 than she is to 70, "The View" is badly in need of some fresh faces.

This makes me smile. Lance Bass has written an open letter on his blog marking the one-year anniversary of his coming out publicly. There was the big People magazine cover and the high-profile romance with Reichen and now there's the hot Brazillian boyfriend and a role, on Broadway, in "Hairspray."
Here is what Lance writes:

Happy Anniversary...TO ME!!!!!!!
So it was a year ago that I decided to let the world know who I really am... and I swear it has been the most amazing experience. Scary at times , but in the end the best thing I have ever done. I want to thank everyone that has been so supportive and showing that this world has and will continue to change in the right direction. With the election coming up, it is even more important that we stand up for what we believe in and be heard. Enviroment, war, civil rights, education.... the list goes on and on. I encourage everyone to learn more this year about ALL the issues that need attention. Some of you will actively be heard and support some issues, and others will just be educated--- in the end all that matters is we all are going to have a hand in changing this world for the better!
Also as an Anniversary gift for me ...think about doing this....
If you are having trouble being yourself , and are scared to tell someone you are gay--- find that loyal friend, family member, or even hotline and tell someone. All it takes is to tell one person and the ball starts rolling. You will get great advice and and be so much happier. Or, if you have always wanted to ask that family member or friend if they were gay.. do it now.... in a very positive and private way , tell them it is ok and you will always be there no matter what. Sometimes its easier for someone to just flat out ask you. To bulid the courage to say it sometimes takes years.
It's 2007 people , there is no reason we should not be exactly who we want to be- sexual preference, profession, religion, etc. Just respect the fact that everyone is different and live your own lives the way you want! It's good to be alive and we can do and achieve anything we want!
So go do something positive, nice, fun, or just laugh... it doesnt affect just you .. it catches on!
Have a good one!! LB

When I saw Jon Robin Baitz at the ABC party last night, he gave me a warm greeting. Then I laid into him a bit: "Why did I have to read somewhere else that Scotty was gonna be back for seven episodes?" I had seen the "Brothers & Sisters" creator over the weekend at the Outfest event and asked him for some plot developments. He gave me some crumbs then I read on AfterElton.com a few days later about Scotty's return.
Baitz seemed moritfied and was apologetic: "I would have tol,d you that!" He told me the cast is shooting the first episode and that things are going "fantastic" and it was clear that viewers wanted Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) back on the show: "People really responded to his sweetness and his integrity, his intelligence and his comedy and his relationship with Kevin."
At this point, Kevin himself (Matthew Rhys) joins us. To see him three times in a week is quite a treat! We have a quick word:
Greg: I didn't know about Scotty coming back until I read it elsewhere. How do you feel about Scotty coming back?
Matthew: I'm very happy for many. many different reasons. Luke MacFarlane as an actor is fantastic and we got on well. The two characters, because of their differences, there was a lot of chemistry between them and sort of that enjoyable conflict that came from two sort of different people meeting."
Greg: Is this going to lead to Kevin going to places that are exciting for you as an actor?
Matthew: I hope so. Scotty always pushed boundaries a little bit and I think for Kevin that's a good thing.

I was ready to cancel my subscription...if I'd had one. But now Star magazine is apologizing for labeling the above mock kiss between Adam Sandler and Kevin James as "not normal" in its weekly "Normal/Not Normal" feature. Here what Editor-in-Chief Candace Trunzo had to say in an apology passed on by GLAAD:
"'Normal/Not Normal' is supposed to be funny, and I regret that this particular photo caption was offensive and not written in a way to make it clear that we were being humorous. The joke was that Kevin James and Adam Sandler are not gay. If the kiss was between Lance Bass and his boyfriend or any other gay celebrities it would be 'Normal.' Let me point out that in the same issue of STAR, we devote the entire Couples News lead to Neil Patrick Harris and his boyfriend moving in together. Now that's normal. I sincerely apologize that our attempt at humor was perceived by some to be offensive to the gay community. That was certainly not our intent. We are proud that we support the gay community and will continue to do so."

I did not expect to see Andy Baldwin of last season's "Bachelor" at last nights ABC Press tour party since he wasn't on the list we were given before the event. He was just the furthest thing from my mind as I waited to chat with Amy Brenneman. But some handsome guy in blue jeans and a blue shirt walked by and went up to the bar and he looked JUST like Andy. It WAS Andy!
We had a chat:
Greg: Where's Tessa?
Andy: She's in San Fran. Today was her last day at work and she's moving out to Hawaii. I'm just back at work, doing my thing, went down in a submarine the other day, doing a triathlon down at the Navy base on Saturday, back to a normal life."
Well, not exactly normal. He keeps seeing his picture - many in a speedo - all over the Internet and in magazines - including thoise posted in Out In Hollywood! He said, laughing: "All I have to say is some people are all show and no grow."
Greg: You revived the "Bachelor" franchise because you were somebody we could really root for, you were different from a lot of the other bachelors.
Andy: That's a compliment and I'm honored. I'm just being myself. I had a lot on the line. I'm a Naval officer, a doctor, and a big family man and I wanted to show integrity, I wanted it to really have a chance to work and it did."
Greg: How does it feel to be a sex symbol?
Andy: There's a lot more to me than being a sex symbol but that's what seems to be appealing. I guess I have good genes, I'm an athlete. So, I feel blessed.
Greg: My blog has mostly gay readers and they love you. Are you OK with that?
Andy: "I'm definitely straight, heterosexual and I have a lot of friends who may not be.
Greg: Would you ever do a reality show again?
Andy: It depends. Tessa and I, we think we could take on Rob and Amber in "The Amazing Race."

On the most recent season of "Dancing With the Stars," Maksim Chmerkovskiy teamed with Laila Ali and danced to a third place finish. I think, by far, he is the sexiest of all the professional dancers and have a lot friends who agree. When I saw him at the ABC party last night, I had to asked if he was aware that he drives the gay boys wild.
"I don't want to sound shallow but, obviously, everybody likes attention and I appreciate it," he said thougtfully. "I want everybody to understand that I appreciate it. I'm not kind of looking for it and I'm not asking for it but the fact that it's there makes me very happy. I hope that people like my character as well as the looks. I'm very comfortable with being admired by men and women. I come from a dance world and a lot of dancers are homosexual and there's nothing wrong with that. I think some of the most talented people on the planet are gay men so it''s not a problem. I just want to create a positive character for myself."
He's hoping to be among the dancers included in the new season of "Dancing With the Stars" but a decision is not yet final. Meanwhile, Maksim is working on choreographing ballroom dancing into a Vegas show, has two dancing schools in New Jersey as well as a production company.
"We have a lot going on. I want to do everything I can, including acting. There are two scripts on my table at the moment and I'm just being very careful in choosing the right first step. It's the first impression that counts and I want to make the right impression."
I'd say he's already made a very good impression!

I don't mean to become unglued over a reality show, but, pardon me: "Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!" Studly Mike was voted off tonight by a scoire of 7-2 with Kail living to stay another week. How this happened, I just don't know sin ce I've been working all day. But I am shocked. Kail would seem to be more of a threat while Mike just seemed kinda passive...and studly. I'm completely off Nick now and quickly losing interest in this entire show. Dustin won head of household so let's see what he does. It must be nice to have his ex, Joe, out of his hair.
Poor Mike. It's just not right....

We all know that Mario Cantone isn't going to be the new co-host on "The View" but he sure has made that now mostly dull show a lot more fun whenever he appears. But Cantone has another gig: he will be a recurring character on ABC's "Men In Trees" and be involved in a romance with the character played by Orlando Jones
The show's creator and executive producer Jenny Bicks told me at the ABC Press Tour Thutrsday that Cantone's character, Terry the hairdresser, will be involved with Jones' character. Neither Cantone or Jones were present but cast member Ty Olsson mentioned the storyline when answering a question. I pounced on him after the panel for elaboratiion (this dude is gooooood lookin!) and he panicked, wondering if he wasn't supposed to say anything. I let him off the hook and directed my questions to Bicks who was only too happy tl talk about it.
"It's important to me because it's a show about a town full of men and you're not just going to have straight men. That's one of the interesting things about when when I went up to Alaska. I realized this is a place where you can be whoever you want to be so it attracts a lot of gay men and anybody who feels like they want to live in a world where it's OK to be who you are. So I wanted to represent that."
She says she wants to get Cantone to appear in "as many episodes as I can get him for."
"I love Mario," she said. "He's been fantastic so we're going to keep playing with his storyline. Not just in terms of dating but in terms of who is this guy and what did he do to end up in Alaska."

Shondra Rhimes had already finished the panel portion of the ABC Press Tour for her "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off "Private Practice" when a small group of us surrounded her in the lobby of the Beverly Hilton Hotel for an impromptu question-and-answer session.
I must say, I have not been pleased with any of Rhimes actions in connection to the entire Isaiah Washington mess and she shed some light for us on why she behaved as she did and what she really thinks about it all. She seemed far more willing to discuss the matter than ever before.
When asked if she agreed with the decision to can Washington, Rhimes said: "Of course I did..."There was a moment when I was sure and felt good and comfortable about the decision, that it was the right decision to be made for everybody."
She said things between her and T.R. Knight and the rest of the cast are good.
"I feel like everybody is working really well together, T.R. is doing some amazing work which is wonderful, He's doing wonderfully and we're moving forward. We're excited about the stories that we're telling this upcoming season and they feel fresh and new and we're going with the idea that we want to have more fun this season."

I'm sitting here at the ABC Press Tour with the cast of "Private Practice" on stage. Creator Shondra Rhimes, also the creator of "Grey's Anatomy," has asked about NBC programming head Ben Silverman's remarks earlier in the tour that he had been talking to Isaiah Washington for "The Bionic Woman" before it was official that he would not be returning to the ABC show.
Rhimes, who has seemed supportive of Washington through all the controversy, told reporters wasn't aware that the actor was talking to NBC about possible employment. She said "I guess I don't have any reaction" to Washington's new gig.
"I think he's a really good actor and I hope he does well on 'Bionic Woman,' just not as well as 'Private Practice.'"
COMING IN A BIT: An interview w/Rhimes on Isaiah's firing, on-set morale and on TR.

For someone who has seen every episode of "Designing Women" many, many times, I always get a little rush whenever I see one of those sensational ladies who made up the show's quartet in the first five of its seven seasons: Jean Smart, Delta Burke, Dixie Carter and Annie Potts. Smart, nominated for an Emmy last week for a guest spot on "24," (she's won two Emmys already) is on the ABC Press Tour with the cast of new fall comedy "Samantha Who?" on which she plays the mother of Christina Applegate who has amnesia.
I bounded onto the stage after the session to ask Smart about the stage version of "Designing Women" that series creator Linda Bloodworth Thomason has been working on and had hoped to take to Broadway with the show's original stars. She told me last year it was a matter of scheduling.
But Smart doesn't seem interested in reprising her role of sweet Charlene even though she is itching to get back onto the New York stage once her 17-year-old son graduates high school.
"I love Linda and I think she has never really gotten the proper credit for the brilliant writing she did on that show. But to me, [the Broadway play] would sort of be like being in one, great big episode and I don't know why I'd want to do that."
It was the desire to play other characters that led to Smart leaving the show after five years, at the peak of its success. Burke was fired and the show continued on two seasons anchored by Potts and Carter. All of the original quartet have continued to work and receive acclaim but Smart has been the most in demand alternating between television, feature films and the Broadway stage.
Although Smart has had great television success, she has also had her share of cancelled shows since "Designing" including the wonderful "High Society" from the late 90os, an American-version of "Absolutely Fabulous" of sorts with Smart a nd Mary McDonnell.
She says she just rolls with it: "It's just the nature of the business and, knock wood, I've always worked and I know how fortunate I am."

The cast of "Men In Trees" is on stage right now and I'm trying to figure out which of the hot male cast members is the one Anne Heche has hooked up with. OK,, there he is. It's James Tupper who's sitting between John Amos and the show's producer.
Everyone knows she left her hubby and father of her son, Coley Laffoon - who she took up with after parting with Ellen DeGeneres - and is involved with Tupper, her on-screen leading man. Her divorce with Laffoon has been quite ugly.
Someone just asked the entire cast what they have learned about relationships since being on the show. Ha! Good way to try and address the elephant in the room.
Heche, sounding like her alternate personality (I think it was called Celesta in her memoir "Call Me Crazy") responded by saying "One of the great things that has been so great to me is finding a family. They help support you through difficult times and don't judge yoiu and allow you to make mistakes."
She went on to refer to the cast as "such a loving family and supporting group...I've learned to trust a family that is chosen and so necessary in my life. You can develop a family in this world."
As for Tupper, he chuckled befoire answering and merely said:"I never knew that if a man gets into trouble, he gets to go fishing."
Nice way to dodge the question!

I love free food. Just got back from a terrific lunch spread poolside where I tried to be good by having a chicken breast, little piece of salmon and a buncha veggies. Then I walked back into the Beverly Hilton ballroom and there were these little brownies that actually seemed to be saying, "Greg...try me!"
So much for eating healthy.
Bumped into Matt Dallas, the star of "Kyle XY" in the hallway and we had a laugh over the story he told on stage about the woman who stuck her hand up his shirt and touched his belly button. "She was YOUNG too!" he told me. Prior to lunch, I cornered him and asked a few questions, trying not to seem obvious that the most I had seen of his show was the posters on all the bus stops.
Greg: This is your second season on the show. How are you handling all the attention? Is it getting any easier?
Matt: "It is a bit easier because I've kind of dealt with it now but it is still a little overwhelming at times when you'll see a giant billboard of your face and it's huge. It's crazy toi receive that kind of attention.
Greg: Is there a downside to stardom for you?
Matt: You know, I'm havong a lot of fun and it's great to know that people are responding well to what we do. I'm loving it."
Matt then got pulled away for a cast photo but I also have to share one of the inane questions asked him by a girl standing next to me: "What was the strangest birthday present you ever got?"
Matt: "I got a brithday cake with my face on it, it was a picture of me on a cake, really big. It was really cool."
Dumb interviewer: What did you eat first?
Matt: "I think I ate my eyeball."

Alrighty then...

Here I am at the Beverly Hilton for day two of the ABC Press Tour. I overslept and missed the "Nightline" panel in the morning. I confess to having a crush on Terry Moran so it was kinda cool to see him standing in the hotel lobby with Cynthia McFadden and Martin Bashir. As I stared at Moran and hoped he didn't notice, ran into AfterElton.com editor Michael Jensen: "I think he's so dreamy." Michael just didn't see it...
Anyway, the first panel I sat in on was one featuring the cast of the new show "Greek" about a buncha college kids and I was so pleasantly surprised to see a gay character prominent in the cast.
Paul James plays Calvin and in the scenes shown to us, Calvin comes out to Rusty (Jacob Zachar) who fumbles at first then responds the way any gay person hopes their straight friends would - especially when they are so young.
Rusty, after he's collected himself: "I think I should let you know that I'm OK with it...we are who we are."
He then asks Calvin if he plans to come out to the Omega Chi fraternity that he's pledging.
Calvin: "I just want to get through rush week first...It's good to know I have at least one brother for sure."
The show's creator and co-executive producer Sean Smith said of the character: "Calvin has acknowledged that his homosexuality is a part of him...and he wants to show people he's more than his sexuality...he doesn't seem burdened by it."
His character is typical of the others on the show. Smith said that while he loved the WB shows, "Greek" will not have near that level of angst: "Characters have confidence in themselves and a sense of entitlement."

I interviewed Paul James after the panel and will share that with you later today...next up is the cast of "Kyle XY" with that cute Matt Dallas whose character doesn't have a belly button...{UPDATE} The "Kyle" panel just ended. I don't watch te show so had no idea what the heck they were talking about half the time but Dallas did share that he has some wacko fans: one woman came up to her and stuck her tongue in his ear!
Said Dallas: "I've had some pretty interesting things happen to me: "A woman in New York stuck her hand under my shirt, touched my belly button and whispered in my ear: "I touched it!'"

Tammy Faye Messner is as beloved in death as she was in life by many gays. She holds a big place in our hearts and I am among those who sincerely mourn her and feel the world is a little less special without her in it.
On the site Gay.com, people are sharing their memories in an online condolence book for her family. Among the suggestions - and I love this - is the proposal of a new street, “Tammy Faye Way,” in Palm Springs. Terrific idea!
Wrote one Palm Springs resident: “Tammy, I know how much you liked it out here in the desert and I will think of your warm smile when I feel the sun and your fluttering eyelashes every time a palm tree moves in the breeze. A group of us are proposing re-naming a street Tammy Faye Way...it will be the one with the most flowers on it.”
It is so moving that a mere 24 hours before her death, Tammy Faye spoke positively about her gay fans on "Larry King Live."
Those fans have posted hundreds and hundreds of pages of comments about the positive impact Tammy Faye had on their lives on a special message area created especially for Tammy on Gay.com. There has previously been a special "Wish Tammy well" section on the site.
"We knew that Gay.com members would want to share their feelings with Tammy Faye and her family," Jenny Stewart, Gay.com Entertainment Editor, said in a statement. "She has long been a gay icon -- from refusing to speak against LGBT people on 'PTL' to supporting AIDS causes early to her sympathetic and personal encounters with gay fans. And, of course, we also loved the makeup."

The good thing about Isaiah Washington getting the gig on NBC's "Bionic Woman" is that it got him to stop trash-talking T.R. Knight at least for awhile. But the way NBC;s Ben Silverman talked about it last week was completelty ignorant, as if they were not aware that this man had been FIRED from his previous show on ABC for his behavior. C'mon . A prospective employer obviously must vet out someone he's hiring.
Anyway, I love what ABC's Steve McPherson had to say about all this yesterday at the ABC Press tour. He wondered if NBC execs had been "living in a cave" when they professed to not be aware of the scope of the controversy surrounding Washington the gay slurs he used referring to Knight.
According to TV Guide, Silverman told reporters that he and Washington had conversations "before he became available." Said Silverman: "When he told me he was available I was like, 'You are? Wait, I don't understand. What do you mean? You're a huge star on a star television show. I don't quite understand what had gone on there."
Responded McPherson: "If (Silverman) was in fact talking to him before he was available, that's inducement to breach. So I don't know, he's either clueless or stupid."

You decide.
(By the way, I copied the little photo collage from Towleroad.com.)

The Hollywood Walk of Fame has a serious credibility problem a lot of the time. I mean, really. Britney Spears has a star? The Olsen twins? Who's next? Kimberly Stewart?
But sometimes they get it right such as with Matt Damon. He burst onto the scene in a big way starring in "Good Will Hunting" and winning an Oscar for co-writing the screenplay with best friend Ben Affleck. Since then, Damon has alternated between blockbusters (the "Bourne" and "Ocean's" franchises) and more dramatic fare ("Talented Mr. Ripley," "The Rainmaker," Gerry") and kept his feet firmly on the ground. He's kept his sense of humor (the "Will & Grace" guest spot was a riot) and tried to pass it all on ("Project Greenlight").
So congrats to Matt, on a well-deserved star. It will be a pleasure to walk all over ya.

And here is Damon, later that night, at the premiere of the new "Bourne" flick with best pal after all these years, Ben Affleck...

Nick, Nick, Nick. You really were too good to be true. Watch this Youtube tape of our muscular, tattooed tease and you will pretty much see him for what his is: a jackass. He has a heated conversation with Dick and at one points spits this out: "I had a plan and a game. I was gonna f****n play stupid f***ers like that so I could look out for certain people - now I'm just gonna be the f***en bad dude that I am - that's how I am in the real world."
Take a look:

Tommorrow, I'll be hanging out all day at the Beverly Hilton for day two of the ABC Press Tour which makes this hit home: Outfest is really over. Why does the Los Angeles LBGT Film Festival mean so much to me?
It is such a pleasure to be able to see people like me up there on the screen in so many different genres and in well-written, well-acted quality films of substance. I was sititng with a twentysomething friend at one of the screenings who was feeling sort of over everything.
And I said to him: "You know why I'm not over everything? Because I remember what it was like to live in the closet, to not have many gay movies to see and many of those out there were about painful subjects like AIDS and living in the closet. There were so few stories with hope and that really shapes you when you're a teen and in your 20s. You wonder, "How can I ever have a happy life?"
Outfest paid tribute to the past in a completely lovely way with the restoration and screening of "Parting Glances." I hope a lot of younger people got an idea of the diginity so many displayed during those years in the 80s when AIDS was a virtual death sentence. And then you see love stories like "Shelter" and "We're All Angels" and you feel hopeful and wonderful comedies like "Love and Other Disasters" where you can see smart and successful people be as dysfunctional as you are when it comes to relationships.
But Outfest is about more than seeing terrifc movies (I took in about 30 this year between screenings and screeners) and meeting stars and directors and writers. It's about having fun with friends like my pal Trevor (pictured with me below) and making all kinds of new friends and acquaintances. I've gotten so many nice e-mails in recent days from people saying: "What are we going to do now that Outfest is over?"
Mainly, it's just the whole experience of being with thousands of people for nearly two weeks and having so many shared experiences - kind of like an alternative universe of gay people. I love that, I love that we have that. I'm old enough to really appreciate how far the festival has come in its 25 years of existence and young enough to look forward to many more.
Here are some of the postings from my incredible 2007 Outfest experience...
- From Perez Hilton to Michael Huffington: My Night at Outfest 2007
- The Cast of Ugly Betty Comes to Outfest...- Judith Light shining bright at Outfest 2007...
- Gay classic 'Parting Glances' restored and celebrated
- Experiencing 'For the Bible Tells Me So"
- "We're All Angels" tells story of Jason and deMarco
- The East Side Story boys hit Outfest...
- Gay-friendly "Brothers & Sisters" gang delights Outfest

Until next summer...

Jon Robin Baitz was not very forthcoming on Saturday when I tried to get some info about next season's plotlines in regards to Kevin his potential love interests. But Michael Jensen of AfterElton.com succeeded in getting a lot of scoop during a visit to the set on Monday and shares it on his blog:
Luke MacFarlane, who played Kevin's love interest, Scotty, in the first season will return for SEVEN episodes! Hooray!!
"I think having him back is such a delight," Baitz said. Where we find him when we come back is a man trying to pull his life together and I take really special care with those characters -- Kevin and Scotty."
Baitz further blabbed abvout Scotty's character to Michael so read all about it on AfterElton.com because you certainly have not read it here! And Michael promises more on Friday so I'll relay that too...

Oh gpod grief, aren't we past this yet?
The supermarket rag, Star, has a lot of gay people pissed off and rightly so. I'm not gonna even start with how they make stories up out of whole cloth (why aren't they sued more, I wonder). One of their regular features is to show pictures of celebrities going about their business in their everyday lives and the crack staff of this rag label the activity either "normal" or "not normal." In the current issue, same-sex kissing is dubbed "not normal." The label was given to a photo of "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" stars Adam Sandler and Kevin James promoting their hit comedy.
Boy Culture Blog, who passed the story along to Towleroad, wants Star editor Candace Trunzo to “pucker up and kiss my normal, gay ass.”
Ditto.

I've been off the Rosie beat somewhat due to Outfest absorbing much of the last two weeks. Now that she's done with the True Colors Tour and off the gay cruise, Ro is now in Los Angeles reprising her amusing role as Dawn Budge on the FX drama "Nip/Tuck." Dawn is a trailer park dweller who won the lottery and the money has taken her life for some unexpected turns...including bedding the dreamy Julian McMahon's plastic surgeon character.
Anywho, Rosie (pictured above in character) writes a little something on her blog about her experience so far:

Oliver platt is fantastic playing freddy prune dawns true love here in hollywood... still tingles driving thru the paramount gates, golf carts and bikes zip past on the lot, muscled men with headphones, thin women in heels,
adorable girl grips AD’s & PA’s knocking with time cues: "10 minutes" ...this is what i dreamed of in bed on rhonda lane...julian and dylan charming as ever, stunning to look at, they make me smile...

On Big Brother: "turn on the tv, big brother. “i am not who evil thinks i am” said cale - crying...
On Lohan: lindsay fell, some will not recover...

God, I hope not! Nick was my first crush in the Big Brother House but now I've moved on to Mike (What Can I say? I'm fickle..) so I was not pleased to see that he had been put up on the block by Dick after idiot Jen won the power of veto and saved herself from possible eviction. So that leaves Kail as the most-likely-to be voted off on Thursday. I don't think she has enough allies in the house to save herself and it doesn't seem Mike has a lot of enemies at this point. So, I'm hoping for the best.

Also, I've had several readers asking for more pictures of Nick. I'm so over him! But, he's still good eye candy so here ya go:

Wanted to share some of my pics from Outfest 2007 that didn't make earlier postings...enjoy!

T.R. Knight attended the screening of the dosumentary "For the Bible Tells Me So" and we had a chat after...

Judith Light congratulated "For the Bible Tells Me So" director Daniel G. Karslake after the screening. He credits Light with crucial support in getting his movie made.


Here is Karskale with openly gay Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson who is featured in the film...

Singers Jason and deMarco flank Robert Nunez, the man who made the documentary "We're All Angels" about this Christian singing duo and couple.

Bruce Villanch (here with actor Jensen Atwood) on Awards night. He hosted the ceremony for the umpteenth time and was as funny as ever.

This is Momma, the drag sensation who, once again, acted as trophy girl during the awards and had a very, very funny scene in the closing night film "Kiss the Bride."

Me with the three leads from "East Side Story." I'm told by writer-director Carlos Portugal that Sunday's screening was at near capacity and that some people had read about the movie on this blog! I'm glad to spread the word about a terrific film like this. DSVD release is set for early December..

The male leads of "Kiss the Bride," Phillipp Karner and James O'Shea basked in closing night kudos...

Keep reading...more pictures after the jump...

Still a few more Outfest interviews to share with you including these with James O'Shea and Phillipp Karner before the world premiere of their movie "Kiss the Bride" on Monday night. I had not heard of either of them so actually had to ask them to spell their names and both were absolutely not offended.
Gabbed with Philipp first and since I hadn;t yet seen the film, was not able to tell him how wonderful he is in the movie. And he is. In "Bride," he plays Matt, a gay man whose relationship issues go back to unresolved feelings for his high school best friend and lover, Ryan, who's marrying a woman.
"It's a really sincere romantic comedy with funny moments," Karner explained. "It's an unusual twist in a romantic comedy where everyone ends up rediscovering who they are and who they love and the difference between lust and love."
So what about the love scenes with O'Shea? Was it an issue at all for Karner, who is straight?
"Love scenes are always stressful and couldn't be less sexy. You have to hit your marks and you think about everything but the kiss," he said. "But James and I were buddies and that made it easier."
As far as taking on a gay role with many same-sex kissing scenes, he said: "It doesn't matter at all. The only thing that matters is a good story."
This is Karner's first big lead in a feature but the 28-year-old has plenty of acting credits including roies in "Race You to the Bottom" and "The Battle of Shaker Heights" as well as guest roles on such shows as "Will & Grace," "Without A Trace," "Charmed," and "CSI: Miami."

As for O'Shea, he is the real sex bomb in the film. Just a big, studly, sensitive man. He made no bones about his feelings for the film: "I think we have a phenomenal film on our hands."
How did they cover up Tori Spelling's expanding belly during the shoot I wanted to know: "Did you see Austin Powers when he was naked and covering up his area with different fruits and vegetables? It was all with a slight of hand, smoke and mirrors."
Was he hesitant about taking on a big gay role? "Certainly any role should be considered carefully but I have no hesitation about playing a gay role. I hope in the end, you don't knowm if I'm gay or straight."
OK, so are you gay or straight?
"I don't think I want to say," he said, playfully. Then I asked about the nude scene and if he knew that his bare butt had been making the rounds on the Internet: "I'm only slightly nervous about that. Having grown up playing soccer, I've been blessed with a good exercise ethic."
About what was it like to work with Tori Spelling, who plays his fiancee in the flick?
"It was very fun. She's very busy so we didn't hang out on weekends or anything but she's so talented and hard-working. I'm very fond of her and I think the feeling is mutual."

The 31-year-old actor has done guest spots on "Ghost Whisperer," "Smallville," "Roswell," "Smallville," "Jag" and recurring parts on "Frat Ratz" and "Sweet Valley High."

So, you all know I usually try and ignore the whole set of celebutante trainwrecks that are Lindsay Lohan, Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. But I was pulled into the Lohan coverage yesterday to work on a story with my colleague and buddy Beth Barrett so wanted to produce a LINK to it for Out in Hollywood readers...I didn't wrtie the headline but I'm not saying it's not true: STARLET LINDSAY LOHAN: AN ADDICT, TROUBLED, JUST OUT-OF-CONTROL BRAT!

Pictures of this guy, this bachelor guy, just makes me happy....


(Two more after the jump!!!!!!)

I just finished reading an interview with Joe from Big Brother 8 and found him to be as annoying in print as he was on the show. But I wanted to share some of his answers with you about Dustin and Nick and encourage you to ead the rest on AfterElton.com:

On airing his dirty laundry with ex Dustin on the first episode: "I'm proud that I brought up the gonorrhea. I wanted to show that you can be a confident, strong, smart, intelligent person, and these things can still happen to you. They happen to anybody, and everybody can be affected by it. If people are able to discuss that openly and willingly, something's going to be done about it. If people just sit there and they're embarrassed to talk about it or embarrassed to step forward, I hope that people can take my example and say, "Wow, that guy did it. He's still kind of funny and cool. He's not a total loser."

Um, OK. Moving on.
Joe talks more about Dustin and their interaction in the house: "...I held so much guilt from all the things I did to Dustin. After he cheated on me and we broke up, I went through his life and just decimated it. I took his friends, I destroyed his life, I destroyed his credibility, I did all these malicious things. And of course, when you first do them, you're all proud of yourself and happy. Then, you know, a month goes by and you feel like a piece of crap. You're just like, "Wow, I did that to this person, and I damaged them and hurt them just as badly as they hurt me."

On hunky Nick: " I think Nick's sexuality is that he's very comfortable with his own sexuality. He's not worried about how he's perceived. He's an example for what all straight men should be — willing to flirt, willing to do that, because at the end of the day, you know if you're straight or not. His ability to accept me, his ability to smile and wink at me just as he would anybody else, really shows that he's got a lot of integrity. Maybe not honesty, because he screwed me over in the end, but he's got a lot of integrity and he really stands up for what he believes in."

All I have to say is: I hope Joe's 15 minutes of "fame" does not last too long...he definitely was not ready for his close up.

It was so nice to end Outfest 2007 with a comedy and "Kiss the Bride" certainly provided some laughs. The two handsome and talented male leads were very appealing and Tori Spelling got to sink her teeth into a role far more challenging than her reality show gigs. But the biggest challenge was keeping the actresses' growing tummy covered since she was pregnant during filming and her character was NOT. She clutched a pillow over her stomach in one scene, was wrapped in a feather boa in another and then, of course, there was the bouquet covering her in the wedding rehearsal and actual wedding scene. Still, there were a few times when she just looked pregnant! In her early scenes, I wasn't so sure Tori was the best casting choice but she pulls off some terrifically touching scenes later in the movie even if the ending is a bit absurd.
Spelling plays Alex, a bride to be whose fiancee Ryan (James O'Shea) is stunned to see his high school best friend and former love Matt (Phillipp Karner) show up for the wedding. They've been apart for 10 years but old feelings surface in the nights before the wedding with Matt trying to derail thing a la Julia Roberts in "My Best Friends Wedding." Ryan dismisses their old romance as just a high school thing, but Matt realizes Ryan may still be the love of his life.

The movie was directed by C. Jay Cox ("Latter Days") and written by 25-year-old Tyler Lieberman. The young screenwriter provides veteran performers Robert Foxworth, Tess Harper and Joanna Cassidy with some good material with Harper escpecially touching as the groom's mom. Spelling gets some great comic lines such as when she makes out with gay Matt. Ryan catches them in the compromising position and asks: "If you're so gay then what's your submarine doing fully surfaced?" In the same scene, Alex says to her fiancee: "There's a gay man in the next room with a hard on with my name on it!" After Alex catched Matt and Ryan in a kiss, she says: "You know what the worst part is? You guys make a really cute couple." Wanting Ryan to be sure she wants to marry her and not be gay, she says to the two - the night before her wedding: "You have to F**k! ...If there's any possibility that you're gonna leave me for a man, I'd want it to be now and I'd want it to be [Matt]."
This is where the movie loses all crediblity but you just allow your suspension of disbelief to kick in and ride it through to the end. I mean, how's this for a line from Ryan...AT the alter: "I don't love men, I just love Matt."
Sure pal.

Things to look for: Some hot love scenes between Karner and O'Sheah that you will very much enjoy. O'Shea is shirtless a lot in the movie and it's a good thing. Then there is Matt's friend back home, Stephanie (Jane Cho) who keeps for updates and Cho makes this role a comic delight.
"You are SO Julia Roberts in 'My Best Friends Wedding...have you been making coffee out of the bong water?"
and...
"Are you at the part yet where you try and run Cameron Diaz down with a delivery truck?"
Charlie David ("Dante's Cove") has a few two-brief scenes as Matt's soon-to-be ex-boyfriend back in San Francisco and drag queen Momma is seen out of wig and dress playing a waiter in a scene that really is a hoot.

It makes me so happy to know that Daniel Craig will be getting the big bucks for his next two Bond movies. It would make me even happier if there are more scenes of him in his skimpy little swimsuit. Anyway, it was reported Tuesday that the dazzling Mr. Craig has beocme the U.K.'s highest paid actor earning $26 million for the next installment. His appearance in "Casino Royale" helped the movie become the biggest-grossing Bond outing ever and resulted in gay men and straight women having a new movie hearthrob.

...withiout sone beefcake? These pics, I believe, were all snapped on Monday which I bring to you via JustJared.com:

The oh-so-handsome Chris Evans looks good even with his clothes on. I like how he gives a little smile even when he's out on the town. Seems like a happy kid...

Doing the FOX press tour for their show "Prison Break," here are gorgeous on-screen brothers Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell. Too bad they're brothers, they'd make such a cute couple!

And the always chipper Josh Duhamel...What does he have to be so happy about? A cool girlfriend (Fergie), a hit TV show ("Las Vegas") and a blockbuster sunner flick ("Transformers").

Was chatting up one of the producers of the sexy drama "Boy Culture" which screened at Outfest last year then had a limited theatrical run. The DVD of the movie, out Aug. 14, will include several deleted scenes but don't expect any of them to be steamy love scenes. Those all pretty much made the original cut. The film, which I enjoyed immensly, stars Derek Magyar (pictured with co-star Darryl Stephens) as a callboy who is juggling all sorts of feelings. He lives with (and has feelings for) Stephens' character along with a young rudderless guy played by Jonathon Trent. Veteran actor Patrick Bauchau is very touching as one of Magyar's clients. The DVD includes commentary by writer/director Q. Allan Brocka and writer/producer Philip Pierce, interviews with the four stars and footage from the premiere party at the Tribeca Film Festival.

I'm fried from Outfest closing night but will have all the highllights and a review of the film "Kiss the Bride" in a bit. Meanwhile, I came across this via AfterElton.com: the site Hollywood.com caught up with Neil Patrick Harris last week on the day of his Emmy nomination for "How I Met Your Mother" on which he plays the womanizing Barney.
Here are some highlights of that conversation:
Hollywood.com: Where were you when you heard about your nomination?
Neil Patrick Harris: I was dead asleep in bed. I decided that any kind of buildup that I brought to it would only crush my dreams if things weren't positive, so I just decided to sleep in. Then I got a great call in the morning and then the calls kept coming in and I jumped in a car and went and did a bunch of interviews.

HW: Who was the first call?
NPH: My great friend James Carpinello, who broke his foot doing Xanadu and wasn't able to open the show, called me. He was watching them live.

HW: ...Alyson Hannigan screamed into your phone?
NPH: She was very excited and very sweet. She's such a wonderful girl. And Josh [Radnor] and Jason [Segel] both called and they were super happy too. I gotta say, the nomination is really nice, but nicer was all the people that texted and called me. All my friends called to say wonderful things. That was nicer than any of it.

This sounds terrific: Cherry Jones, the out actress who has won two Tony Awards for her brilliant work on the Broadway stage, will join the cast of the FOX drama "24" which many feel suffered a creative lapse last season. Jones will portray President Allison Taylor, the nation’s first female president, according to the Washington Post. I thought Geena Davis was the first female president? Oh wait, Hillary Clinton is going to be the first female president.
"24" has been far more willing to embrace diversity in its fictional Oval Office than Americans have in their real-life White House. Dennis Haysbert previously played fictional America’s first black president: President David Palmer, on "24."
The Post reports that “[production was] recently delayed until August when a set-in-Africa storyline fell through and the producers went back to the drawing board.”
So nice to see a real actress nab a juicy television role.

My television viewing time has been nil since Outfest began (closing night is today!) so I'm way behind on "Big Brother" posts. But I have leaned that Dick, the single most unnattractive man in reality show history, has as head of househoid put Kail (pictured above with hunky Mike) and Jen (looking like a dim bulb, below) up on the block. Great move! At first, you think Jen should be voted out because she is so beyond annoying. But then I think Kail's gotta go because the queen bee of the first three weeks has fallen off her throne. She double-crossed Dick and her alliance of young hunky dudes - Nick, Mike and Zach - has pretty much fallen apart. Sorry Mrs. Robinson.

I wish I had more time to watch the show because I would so enjoy it more now that Joe is voted off. I do not miss him. As for the gorgeous and flirty Nick, I think he's gonna have a big target on his broad, muscular back.


Kail and two of her rebellious boys...


And I save the least attractive for last...

David Marshall Grant was at Outfest 2007 over the weekend to talk about "Brothers & Sisters," the show where he is a writer. But it is Marshall's other career as an actor - and one role in particular - that dominated the discussion for awhile: a gay man on "thirtysomething" who was shown in a 1989 episode in bed with his boyfriend "the morning after." Advertisers pulled out, there was mega-controversy...and they didn't even kiss. Poor Kevin Walker wouldn't get any on-screen action on "Brothers & Sisters" by 1989 standards.
"It wasn't even a kiss!" Marhsall said of the scene with Peter Frechette. "We were simply in bed and under the covers. That's what cost ABC $10 million in ads that night...The rule was we couldn't touch. There were touching police on the set that day."
A clip of the scene was shown or the audience and compared to a clip that aired later of Kevin smooching with Chad, this was so G-rated.
"I don't remember it being particularly hot," "Brothers & Sisters" producer and "thirtysomething" co-star Ken Olin told Marshall. "You're hot. It just wasn't a big deal...Can you believe the network almost shut us down for that?"
Grant is still acting, most recently on the big screen as Anne Hathaway's father in "The Devil Wears Prada." The out actor and prolific stage performer has also played gay in "Bent," and was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in "Angels in America."

Last saw Jon Robin Baitz in April at the GLAAD Awards and it was nice to corner him once again at Outfest to try and get some "Brothers & Sisters" information outa him about the gay characters of Kevin [Matthew Rgys] and Uncle Saul [Ron Rifkin]. He was pretty cagey but I did my best.
Greg: I asked Matthew the other day about his character's love life next season and he said something like, 'I only know when they tell me.' Since you already know, what can you tell us? Will Kevin continue to evolve?
Baitz: Yes. He's trying to find a way to be more patient with romance.
Greg: And he starts up with the senator's brother again?
Baitz: [long pause] Maybe.

Greg: OK, what about uncle Saul? Anything you can tell us about your approach to his character this coming season?
Baitz: "Confusion, agony, angst, recognition, torture, fear, love, strength. Those are his operative words.
Greg: Sounds like he's going to go through quite a process.
Baitz: Exactly.

Sorry folks, that's all I got outa him...

Who better to invite to the "Brothers & Sisters" panel at Outfest over the weekend than my pal Trevor Daley. We love this show and he was one of the only people I could talk to after each episode as if we were talking about people we know. "Well, I just don't think Kevin is really into him" or "Can you believe Nora got STONED?" So it was such a blast on Saturday for us to chat with both Nora (sally Field) and Kevin "Matthew Rhys" at the post-panel reception at the DGA Theatre. Trevor and Matthew look so cute together (below).

Trevor tried to hog all of Matthew's attention but I made him share...


Trevor to Sally: "Really Miss Field, I'm not a stalker. I've just loved you ever since I first saw you in 'Gidget.' Can you please call off the restraining order?" Just a joke. Miss Field was charmed by the charming Trevor, calling him "adorable."

Awhile back, I complained that People magazine's hottest bachelor's list did not include any openly gay men. Well, leave it to AfterElton.com to come up with a REAL list. Today, the site revealed its Hot 100 List of 100 men who rank as gay and bisexual men's "favorite smokin' hot guys - gay straight or bi".
Voters who identified as gay or bisexual were asked to send in their lists of their top 10 choices. The thousands of results were then tallied, resulting in a DIVERSE list of musicians, athletes, actors and models. Jake Gyllenhaal (above) proved to be the hottest of the Hot 100. (Sigh...) Forty-nine of the Hot 100 have played gay, 15 identified as gay, with British actor John Barrowman and Grey's Anatomy star T.R. Knight earning spots in the top 10.

Barrowman responded, "I am extremely proud of who I am and what I can do for my community - the gay, lesbian and transgender community. I am proud that you have put me in this position - that you've honored me and continue to watch and enjoy what I do because I will represent you guys in the best possible way that I can."

Another favorite in the Hot 100 is CNN newsman Anderson Cooper whose silence about his private life has infuriated some but a lot of us love him anyway. Cooper's response to making the list: "I'mflattered to be on the list. Clearly, they have not seen my pale skinny chicken legs. It's nice to know there is a market for pale, skinny, grey-haired people."
Love the self-deprecating humor Anderson...but sorry, you're still HOT!
Great to see these two openly gay men on the list:

Chad Allen....and...John Amaechi...they are as courageous and articulate as they are good looking.

Check out the complete list at AfterElton.com. (the photos cannot be beat!) But after the jump, I've posted a handful of my favorite guys who were included:

The welcome to LA party Tom Cruise for the Beckham's sounded like fun and I badly wanted to go but I really didn't want to miss awards night at Outfest. Tom and Katie are a bit peeved at me, Will and Jada have crossed me off their Christmas card list but David Beckham himself called me this morning and said: "No worries mate. You're a busy man."
No, I'm not sniffing glue as I write this...but I am kidding.

I'll bet George Clooney is gonna be REAL happy with Matt Damon after this tongue-in-cheek comment which I just spotted on Towleroad.com. He's joking, of course...
"George is gay. Everybody knows that. But honestly, I never realised he was gay - even when he was b***ing me off!"
Hmmmm. I wonder who Clooney will replace Damon with on "Ocean's 14."

I feel bad that I'm sitting here at a Starbucks in West Hollywood blogging instead of still being at the Ford Ampitheatre for the Outfest screening of "Itty Bitty Titty Committee."but I'm hitting the ol' movie wall. Saw "International Boys Shorts" this afternoon then took a nap before heading to the Ford for awards night. Since I ditched the movie, thought it would be good to post the award winners froin the festival.
Pictured at right are best actior co-winners Merlin Gaspers and Dorian Brockington" ifor"25 Cent Preview" which the festival's grand jury also chose as best dramatic film.
Pictured below is a scene from "Pariah" which was the only film to win both the audience award and grand jury award in its category. Some woman was yapping on and on about it on the shuttle ride over to the Ford. Hearing her talk was like sticking needles in my eyes but she must have known what she was talking about!

Audience Awards:
- Documentary Feature: "For the Bible Tells Me So" by Daniel Karslake. (pictured at the top of this post with members of the Gephardt family who appear in the film)
- Documentary Short: "Freeheld" directed by Cynthia Wade.
- Dramatic Short: "Pariah" directed by Dee Rees
- Best Dramatic Feature: "The Bubble" directed by Eyton Fox.
- Outstanding Soundtrack: "Sunny and Share Love You"

Special Awards:
- First-time dramatic feature: Jonah Markowich for "Shelter"
- Freedom Award: Sebastian Cordoba for "Through Thick and Thin"
- Artistic Achievement Award: Angelina Maccarone for "Vivere"

Grand Jury Awards:
- Outstanding Actress: Michelle Ehlen in "Butch Jamike." Ehlen also wroite and directed the film.
- Documentary Feature: "Jerusalem Is Proud to Present"
- Dramatic Short: Pariah"
- International Dramatic Feature: "Tuli"
- U.S. Dramatic Feature: "25 Cent Preview"
- Documentary Short: "Legacy"
- Screenwriting: "A Four Letter Word."
- Outstanding Actor: co-winners Merlin Gaspers and Dorian Brockington" in "25 Cent Preview."

Outfest 2007 concludes Monday night at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles with the screening of "Kiss the Bride." After that, I am swearing off movies...that is until Thursday night's screening of "The Simpsons Movie."

I'll be posting the winner of Outfest awards in a few minutes but first wanted to share some of the humor of the brilliant Bruce Vilanch who hosted tonight's ceremony at the Ford Ampitheatre. I caught up with Bruce after the awards and asked him to pose with the sexy duo of Jensen Atwood and Darryl Stephens and promised I'd start rumors.
Bruce is so smart and so quick and has hosted the awards for many years. And this year, he was featured in an Outfest selection as one of the five gay comedians profiled in hte outstanding documentary "Laughing Matters...The Men." [Among the others were the hilarious Alec Mapa and the ironic Bob Smith.]
Sunday night, after an award was handed out, Bruce would make up a fake runner up: "The loser in that category was Stedman Graham for 'Phantom of the Oprah" or "Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead in "I Now Pronounce You Schmuck and Larry."
And I loved this line: "I want to move along before the sun goes down and Joan Collins cracks open her coffin."

But he saved the best lines for people in power:
- "Dick Cheney was in charge [went Bush underwent a medical procedure] for 2.5 hours during which time he enrolled his granddaughter in Bob Jones University."
- "Across the street at Hollywood Bowl, Cardinal [Roger] Mahoney is narrating a special version of "Peter and the Wolf" or "Deal or No Deal."
- "Condi Rice will be starring in a new show: "Side-stepping With the Stars."
- "Mario Lopez will star in the 'Antonio Villaraigosa Story" with America Fererra and Salma Hayak. You figure out who's playing who."
- "A loser in that category is Mitt Romney in ''Transformer.'"

And finally, Vilanch - who played the role of Edna Turnblad on stage in "Hairpray," dissed John Travolta who plays the part in te miovie version which debuted in theaters Friday: "I lived with 'Hairpsray' for two years and HE got the part. He looks like Kirstie Alley BEFORE she cashed the Jenny Craig check. He and I have gone up for so many of the same parts for so many years."
Can you imagine Bruce as Danny Zucko in "Grease" or Tony Manero in "Saturday Night Fever"? I'll bet he woulda had some great moves!

It was a fun and relaxed group from "Brothers & Sisters" that took the stage Saturday afternoon at the Directors Guild of America Theatre for a panel discussion moderated by the show's executive producer Ken Olin - a powerhouse behind-the-scenes in network television but forever Michael on "thirtysomething" for so many of us. He peppered cast members Sally Field, Matthew Rhys, Patricia Wettig (Olin's real-life wife) and Ron Rifkin with questions along with the show's creator-writer Robin Baitz, show-runner Marc Perry and writer David Marshall Grant.
Here are some things we learned: Danny Glover will join the cast next season giving it some much-needed racial diversity. He will have something to do with the political world of Rob Lowe's Sen. MacAllister character...Matthew Rhys has played gay character in SEVEN different projects, including the 2007 Outfest selection "Love and Other Disasters." ...Field didn't know her "Flying Nun" co-star Alejandro Rey was gay: ("Carlos was GAY?")... Wettig, married to Olin 25 years, said over the years she has had an equal number of men and women say to her: "On 'thirtysomething, [Ken Olin] was MY guy."...Rikfin's Uncle Saul character will deal with being gay (or bisexual): "He clearly has a secret life and how does the family feel about it?" Rifkin said.
Olin kicked things off by asking each panelist which member of the same sex they would like to sleep with! This wasn't gonna be your ordinary event!
For the record: the out Baitz: Robert Downey Jr. while the out Perry and Grant chose their real-life partners. Field chose Wettig and Wettig chose Field while the straight Rhys, who plays gay Kevin on the show said: "I had to sleep with most of the panel to get the part!" Then he added: "I don't think it's me but Rob Lowe and I are getting along quite well." Rhys also chose David Beckham while Rifkin chose Olin.
OK, on to more meaty matters. In discussing the character of Kevin, Baitz said: "It never occured to me that Kevin would be exclused from the family in any way or fight for his place at the table." He said he has had "zero" interference from ABC in regards to Kevin who has quite a busy lovelife and has had what seems like a dozen on-screen same-sex kisses - including one with Jason Lewis atop Muholland Drive which was shown to the audience.

"Many, many memories from Muholland," Rhys joked. "Dear Jason Lewis. It was his first male kiss and just before...I said to him: "I'm going to tell you what you had for lunch.' THAT relaxed him."
Olin joked of Rhys' gay kissing scenes: "It just gives me such great joy to see Matthew who has to kiss a straight actor for the first time. He's like a black widow spider."
The afternoon ended on a quite touching note when Olin (pictured, right), director of the wonderful "Doing Time on Maple Drive," told the audience why he was eager to participate in Outfest this year: "One of my best friends growing up took his own life at 17, he was the first person I got high with. I think he took his life out of shame. I know he did. We live in a really scary time but we've come so far. There are a lot of people who are really scared - they want to push those people who are different either back scross the border or back in the closet."
COMING TOMORROW: Pictures from the post-panel party, an interview with Baitz and reliving the same-sex kiss on "thirtysomething."

Sally Field was the queen of Outfest yesterday as she joined fellow cast members and the directors, writers and producer of her ABC hit show "Brothers & Sisters," a show on which Sally plays the mother of mother of five adult children - including a gay attorney named Kevin.
So we love her for that, for that Emmy nominated portrayal of the strong and spirited Nora Walker. But there was much more to the heartfelt ovation Field received from the capacity crowd at the Directors Guild of America when she was introduced, Fiield is a survivor and we gay men love someone who is an underdog and prevaills. In Sally's case, we've watched her go from television star in lightweight shows like "Gidget" and "The Flying Nun" to two-time Oscar winner for "Norma Rae" and "Place of the Heart" as well as two-time Emmy winner for "Sybil" and "ER."
But let's get real: she REALLY won each and every one of us over when she played M'Lynn in "Steel Magnolias," a part so many of us know by heart: "I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!!!!" Then she gave us "Soapdish" where she was so much fun and now "Brothers & Sisters."
"I started in television in 1964," Field told the Outfest audience. "Oh my God have things changed. Oh my God. I started in 'Gidget' in 1964 and there was no sexuality - I didn't even have a belly button...The difference between 1964 and 2007 is certainly amazing but we still have a long ways to go in many areas. But my God, it's mind-boggling."

The wonderful Tammy Faye Messner died Friday.
She passed just a few days after taping an interview on "Larry King Live" when she said: "I believe when I leave this Earth, because I love the Lord, I'm going straight to heaven." Tammy Faye was just 65 and I know there are many people who are greatly saddened by her death - people who got to know her through the films "Tammy Faye: Death Defying" and "The Eyes of Tammy Faye." We learned all about her in these films, about her past as the wife of Jim Bakker, their fall from grace, and how she never lost her sense of humor or spirit through any of it. She also was a champion for gay rights and is beloved by the community because of that - well, that and her trademark false eyelashes.
I met Tammy Faye two years ago at Outfest after the screening of "Death Defying" and she was so warm and full of love...and so funny. So here we are at Outfest 2007 with five films in the "Queer in Christ" series and it's worth noting that Tammy Faye Messner was a Christian woman who loved us, who loved everybody and didn't judge.
God bless her soul.

I'm putting together my own personal gallery of Outfest memories to share with you after closing night on Monday. Until then, here are a few pics of some of the men I've been rubbing elbows with...enjoy!

Here are Jensen Atwood and Darrly Stephens on opening night. They are gearing up to film a "Noah's Arc" feature film but Jensen was at Outfest with his new co-stars on "Dante's Cove" where he will play a bisexual warlock while Darryl is one of the festival's jurors.

Jensen Atwood is not the only newcomer to "Dante's Cove." Also in the third season cast is Reichen Lemkuhl (pictured here with his real-life boyfriend) who is said to be better in his role than people might expect.

Here are Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe at the opening of their film "Shelter" last week. They have some very nice love scenes in this love story with a surfing backdrop. This is one of the standout movies of Outfest.

Here is my fantasy boyfriend Eric Mabius arriving at last Sunday's "Ugly Betty" event. He's a terrific actor and one of the nicer stars you'll meet.

Here are most of the men (and a few of the women) of 'Dante's Cove.' Notably missing is Charlie David who I believe is away filming another project. Charlie starred in the Outfest offering "Four Letter Word" which screened yesterday.

I'm really excited for writer-director Carlos Portugal and the cast of "East Side Story" as they prepare for tomorrow's screening of their movie at noon at the Showcase Theatre as part of Outfest 2007. I've championed this film for almost a year now and hope it leads to big things for all involved including the three gorgeous leading men Steve Callahan, Rene Alvarado and Cory Schneider.
The film tells the story of Diego (Alvarado), a closeted young gay Latino who works in his grandmother's restaurant and is having a secret affair with Pablo, a closeted real estate agent. Diego wants to leave it all behind and open his own restaurant somewhere else. Things change when a gay couple moves in next door in a neighborhood that is beginning to undergo gentrification. Diego is instnatly attracted to one of the men, Wesley (Callahan) and the feeling is mutual and electric. But the road to love is not at all smooth, mostly because Welsey feels stuck in his relationship with his bitchy boyfriend with whom he has just bought this house.
"Wesley and Jonathan are just not meant to be together, it's just not the right match and it just happens to be that Wesley and Diego are across the street from each other," says Callahan. "It's the typical romantic comedy: they're with the wrong people and you've got to get them together for the final scene."
"It's such a great story with so many elements to it and it has such a great cast and direction," Alvarado tells me. "It was a phenomenal experience and I think that's why everyone can relate to it. It hits everything: It's funny, it's got some drama to it. It's a great film and I loved being a part of it."
Callahan said the casting of Alvarado was key to the film's success: "Rene is great and they did such a good job casting him because Diego carries the movie, he's in almost every scene of the movie and if that part was miscast, it wouldn't work."
This film debuted at last year's LA Latino Film Festival and has played all around the country winning several audience awards along the way. I spoke with Portugal and the three lead actors last week at the Outfest opening night party.
"Being a gay Latino movie that was shot here in Los Angeles,. this is the perfect ending for it," Portugal says of the Outfest playdate. " It's a movie that has a heart, it has some gorgeous, hunky guys and a lot of comedy and amazing performances.It's a movie that talks to the heart about not what it's like to be different, but what it's like to be human. Wanting to have a home, family and friends and be happy where you're at."
Although Portugal is close to sealing a December DVD release for the film, he is hoping a distributor will want to release it in theaters: "It deserves to be seen on the big screen."
The actors have nothing but praise for their director.
"The beauty of working with Carlos is that he let all of us explore, let us go out there and have fun with it," Alvarado said. "There were times we did one scene, one take. There were times that we did 30 takes. He let us constantly try different things."
For Schneider, he's been happy with the feedback for the film even if his character of Jonathan was thoroughly unpleasant in most of his scenes that made the final cut. The DVD will include many additional scenes that flesh his character out more: "People I know have come up to me after screenings and say things like, 'I didn't know you could be funny.' I guess that was surprising. And they also want to know if I'm really that bitchy and I'm not."
Callahan is excited that "East Side Story" is getting a coveted Outfest slot and says: "I'm so proud of the movie, I'm so excited about it. It's a romantic comedy, I think it has a great screenplay - the story is great and there are really great characters. It's a sweet love story."

It was just a few days ago that Mario Lopez told me that he never sees the paparazzi when he goes out for one of his shirtless jogs around his LA neighborhood. I'm just glad they're there...we haven't had any Matthew McConaughey sighting in like, days! But Mario will most certainly do.\
Happy Saturday! Will have a report later today from Outfest on the "Brothers & Sisters" event...Sally Field and Matthew Rhys are expected.

The other night, I was walking out of the reception for "Love and Other Disasters" when I saw Darryl Stephens, star of "Noah's Arc," "Boy Culture," "Not Just Another Gay Movie" and more. I said: "Did you see the Matthew Rhys movie?" He said, "No, I'm here to see "Butch Jaime."
Uh, OK. I mean, we are encouraged as festival goers to see all types of films but I wondered why Darryl was seeing a lesbian-themed movie when there were so many movies with so many men and so little time to see them all. Then yesterday, I'm flipping through the Outfest program, I saw that Darryl is one of the film jurors who will decide which film wins what at tomorrow night's awards gala.
I'm such a detective..
Anywho, last week at the Outfest opening night, Darryl and I gabbed it up a bit so I will share that with you now. Darryl told me he had just returned from North Carolina where he had been for four months working on the film "Bolgen" about jazz musician Buddy Bolgen. Darryl plays a band member in Bolgen's band.
"It's a pretty cool film actually, independently produced but pretty big budget. It's gonna be a huge film."
I asked him what the status of the "Noah's Arc" movie is. The Logo show was not renewed for a third season but a feature film has reportedly been in the works.
"It's happening next month," he said. "I haven't read the script yet but hopefully, it'll be great."
I asked him if Jensen Atwood, who plays his ex-lover Wade, is going to be on the film. I had spoken to Jensen only moments earlier and he had only discussed his new role on here! TV's gothic soap "Dante's Cove."
"Oh, he's in it, but he's very 'Dante's Cove' right now," Darryl said, laughing.
But fans are thinking about it a lot.
"I have a MySpace page so I hear from people about it every day," Darryl said. "Lots of people. I'll be happy to make them happy with the movie."

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I've just seen "We're All Angels," the terrific documentary about the singing duo of Jason and deMarco who have been together for six years and have insisted on pursuing their music careers as openly gay Christians - refusing the either/or route and being a real lesson in living authentically for us all.
I liked the film, directed and produced by Robert Nunez, very much. It follows the couple as they criss-cross the country performing everywhere from churches to the White Party. They record their CD and we are able to see the warts and all process of that. They also talk about their relationship which is strong, but not perfect. And among those interviewed are parents, actor Chad Allen and Soulforce founder Rev. Mel White and cameos from K.D. Lang and Carson Kressley.
"We're No Angels" is screening at Outfest today (Saturday) at 3:15 p.m. at the Regent Showcase Theatre. I will be at the "Brothers & Sisters" event then and would have missed the film had Nunez not gotten me an advance screener, dropping it off personally at my house. I had wondered how it got through the mail so fast.
"Didn't you notice there was no postage?" he asked when we saw each other at Tuesday night's screening of "For the Bible Tells Me So."
We had a good laugh. When he emailed asking for my address, I thought he was going to mail it.
Anyway, I talked to him as well as Jason and deMarco about the film and about the West Coast premiere of it which will be attended by their families.
Nunez says he hopes the movie will strike a cord.
"Mostly, I hope that people will learn to love themselves," he said. "So many people have gotten these negative messages about homophobia, negative religious messages and even messages that gay people can't be in a couple. We're good people also, we're worthy of love, we're every bit as equal - no better, no worse. That's why I call the film 'We're All Angels.'"
The film is one of five movies at Outfest 2007 that explore being queer and Christian with "For the Bible Tells Me So" the festival's centerpiece documentary earlier this week.
Comparing the "Bible" to "Angels" deMarco said:"I think our film is a very different different film than what we saw tonight where the film focused a lot into the diving into the scriptures where our film is a nice way to continue on with a love story. It's two guys that reconcile their spirituality with their sexuality and what they do next. It's about conquering America in the only way we know how and that's just being ourselves and doing the best we can together as an out gay couple. When we met each other and fell in love, we were out and we've always been only out. We had already individually experienced being in the closet and there was a safety in our love and none of that mattered anymore."
Added Jason: "Seeing 'For the Bible Tells Me So" I think is a great segue because it's a huge issue right now in our community, in the culture and in our society. So we feel like we're playing a part in moving the consciousness forward. It's a wonderful thing. To know that we're playing a part in that, it's very empowering."
"I think there's an awakening happening in this community and it's very exciting."

What a great time at Outfest yesterday. That was, until I backed into a cement pillar in the parking garage as I was leaving the Director's Guild of America Theatre in West Hollywood. I wiull admit this to you: I had just finished gabbing with Matthew Rhys before heading to my car. I sat down and thought: "Could this day BE any better? An interview with Mario Lopez this morning and now Matthew Rhys at night?" Wow...BAM!!!! Backed right into it. My bumper had a crack but mostly, it scared the @#%* outa me.
But, I digress. This post is supposed to be about the screening of "Love and Other Disasters," a damned entertaining film starring Rhys, Brittany Murphy, Santiago Cabrera and Catherine Tate.
It is a gem, a movie that I think could do well commercially if it can get a distributor which I'm sure it will. It includes a hilarious scene featuring cameos by Gwyneth Paltrow and Orlando Bloom and is well-written and well-directed by Alek Keshishian and wonderfully acted.
Catherine Tate steals nearly every scene she's in as Talullah, the chain-smoking, alcohol guzzling, hashish brownie eating friend who's most stable relationship is with a creep from the phone company who is stalking her. And Michael Lerner, as a Harvey Weinstein like character, is a scream. The audience laughed at him and Tate and others...a lot. And they clapped at certain lines like when a hunky male photographer (Santiago Cabrera), who upstaged his older boss at a photo shoot, was asked by a Vogue editor what he thought of "All About Eve" because she considered him an Eve Harrington in male clothing: "I found it silly actually. The idea that Bette Davis could be the victim of anyone is absurd."
Rhys and Murphy play Peter and Jacks, a kind of Will & Grace type if pair (only they aren't annoying) who live together and work in London and navigate dysfunctional love lives. Jacks tries to set him up with a gorgeous guy (Cabrera) who she's sure is gay, but who really isn't and is in love with her. She's got a boyfriend she's broken up with but still sleeps with out of habit, and Peter's the kind of person who bumps into a hot guy in a hotel lobby and decides he is the love of his life...even though they have never met.
"I've never actually had a relationship...except in my head," he tells her as they watch "Breakfast at Tiffany's" together for the umpteenth time. He is despondent because he finds out hotel lobby guy has moved to NYC.
She tells him: I don't think it's healthy for you to have a long-distance relationship with someone you've never met."

Let me say this: Murphy, whose character worships Audrey Hepburn and styles herself after the 60s icon, is the heart of the film and she is dazzling. Her shaky English accent is explained away by saying her character was born in England but raised in the U.S. from the age of 5. Her chemistry with Rhys and Cabrera is terrific and in the end, the film's message is that love isn't like it is in the movies: "It's a process and not an event."
The film was shot on a budget of $9 million two years ago. The director told the Outfest audience about what a tough time he had casting the role of Jacks until he saw Murphy read: "She seemed to embody the character immediately...when Matthew's audition came in on tape, I was literally like 'He's Peter!' Of course he was really busy so I had to push the entire movie for him...but he was worth it."
I'll say.

Matthew Rhys made his first appearance at Outfest 2007 last night for the screening of the terrific romantic comedy "Love and Other Disasters" at the DGA Theatre. He plays a gay man with a dysfunctional love life...sounds lot like his Kevin Walker character on "Brothers & Sisters." But this film was made in 2005, well before he landed the role of Kevin and it is a kick to see him in a role where he can actually speak in his Welsh accent.
I caught up with him after the screening and, just like at the GLAAD Awards, he could not have been nicer.
Greg: OK, tell me about what's gonna happen with Kevin's love life this season, just a little tidbit.
Matthew: In all genuine honesty, it's about a week in advance that they tell us.At the moment I know that ol' Kev is still bumbling along and looking for love. But at the moment, he's still with the senator's brother so keep your fingers crossed for Kev."
Greg: So as far as the accent, you just shift back and forth to an American accent no problem?
Matthew: Oh, it's a definite problem, something I definitely work at.
Greg: Your on-screen mom Sally Field was nominated for an Emmy this morning.
Matthew: Yes. There was lots of whooping and hollering and slapping and patting of backs on the set today. We were all in for a read-through which was geat so [fellow Emmy nominee] Rachel [Griffiths] and Sally were ostracized and sent to the corner."
Greg: Sally has had some really great scenes with you so maybe you had something to do with this?
Matthew: She leaves me out of the speech, I'll be every upset.
Greg: She'll say 'I like you, I really like you!' Do you know about that [famous Oscar speech]?
Matthew: [laughs] I've been told about that, I've been told.

Related earlier posts:
- Brothers & Sisters ends season with a splash
- Matthew Rhys: from Scotty to Chad to Keira Knightly?
- Matthew Rhys on Jason Lewis' abs
- A Prime time kiss to remember...

The site CityRag has posted this arftist rendering...I think he still would be doing something more interesting with his hair don't you?

Just to refresh your memory, here is how the King of Pop actually turned out:

"I was asked to dance by Sean Connery. We were at a party for Frank Sinatra and we were on our way out, my wife and I were leaving. "And he (Connery) said, 'John, where you going?' And I said, 'I've got to go home, I'm filming tomorrow.' And he said, 'Before you dance with me?' And I said, 'Alright.' "Who's going to turn down Bond?So we ended up dancing together. The whole party stopped... "I just couldn't believe I was dancing with 007. It was a good feeling, dancing with a big icon like that was awesome."
- John Travolta recalling a long ago moment with Connery

"People find it interesting to try to make me gay; I'm not gay. I went on vacation with two girlfriends of mine who, interestingly enough got cut out of the pictures. We found a nude beach, as far as I know, was a unisex beach.... We took off our clothes and jumped in the water."
- Shemar Moore on being photographed, nude, at a gay beach in Hawaii

"Remember that I have a family. Remember that I have teenage nieces and nephews -- and younger -- who do surf the internet for stuff about their uncle. And I would appreciate if you don't make up rumors and things about me. If you want the facts, go to my website. I'm truthful. I'm honest about the way I talk. If you want the truth, come to me."
- John Barrowman on what he thinks of what is written about him on the internet

“...of course the Church of Scientology comes in very handy. (huge laugh from audience) It's the biggest ex gay movement in America. They catch you when you're young and confused, tell you they'll look after you, even provide you with a wife and child... Then of course you have to do what they call an audit, where you confess everything you've ever done into a tape recorder, so they've got the tapes. So once you're famous and successful you have to go along with all their nonsense about people falling into volcanoes... (pause)... then you play a woman in a movie musical, a part created by a drag queen and written by a gay man..."
- Armistead Maupin

Joe didn't even bother to hug Dustin on his way out of the Big Brother house...here is his eviction interview with Julie Chen:

Missed "Big Brother 8" last night but got these cool images from GuyTV.com which give you a nice snap shot of what transpired. Drama queen Joe was voted out (yeah!) while Dick goes from being on the block to Head of Household. We KNOW he will put up Jen because he HATES her...and frankly, so do we.

It seems that a different Isaiah Washington showed up to talk to "Access Hollywood" yesterday than the one who appeared on "Larry King Live" a few weeks back disparaging his former "Grey's Anatomy" co-star T.R. Knight and essentially blaming him for everything and himsefl for nothing.
Knight was nominated for an Emmy award for best supporting actor yesterday. Washington said he did not submit his name for consideration: "I didn’t want the pain of being nominated and losing."
Washington told Billy Bush: "T.R. Knight is a good actor. He has been a wonderful actor from day one. T.R. Knight, congratulations. He finally got the attention he deserved. Whether or not it serves any particular agenda that he’s nominated now, to make a point, I can’t speak on that. That’s theoretical. I don’t know, but good for him."
Agenda? Yeah, today an Emmy nominatiion, tomorrow world domination. Go T.R. Knight!

It's a gay ol' time at the movies this weekend with the musical "Hairspray" hitting the megaplex [go see it....it's terrific fun!). It will be vying for ticket buyers against the new Adam Sandler comedy "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" which has Adam Sandler and Kevin James pretending to be gay and married in order to obtain domestic partner benefits. I haven't seen it yet due to Outfest commitments but plan to next week and will post a review...most other reviews have not been kind.
To read more about what is coming out and the latest in movie business news, check out my LA Daily News Box Office Buzz column published today.

I kinda like posting pics of Lance Bass and his super-handsome new boyfriend, Pedro Andrade...They were in NYC last night with Justin Timberlake and Jessica Beil for the launch of the restaurant Southern Hospitality. Just so cute together don't ya think?

I've been trying to catch up on "Big Brother 8" via YouTube because I refuse to watch the 24/7 feed. Here are a few clips I found interesting, the first has Joe, who is on the block tonight, talking votes with Eric...

The second clip is a hot tub scene with Joe, Jen (in a ridiculous swimsuit) and the hunks: Nick and Mike. Nick's hair is wet and slicked back and he looks so much more attractive that way...really handsome. But, I'm all about Mike (pictured above with Kail) now.

So is tonight bye-bye Joe??? I hope so.

Or is Dick the chosen one??? I wouldn't shed a tear. He is single-handedly the most unnattractive man to ever occupy the Big Brother house...

Tune in tonight!!!

It is absolutely heartbreaking to see Tammy Faye Messner, gravely ill with inoperable lung cancer, in what appears to be final stage of her life. She's a wonderful woman and has been a high-profile Christian who has embraced gay people with love. She will appear on "Larry King Live" tonight in an interview taped Wednesday.
"I talk to God every single day and I say, 'God, my life is in your hands - I trust you completely...I believe when I leave this Earth, because I love the lord, I'm going straight to heaven."
Tammy Faye is receiving hospice care at her new home in Kansas City, Mo. and recently gained five pounds. She is craving a hamburger and fries but "all I eat is chicken soup and rice pudding." She is in pain "all the time" but has asked doctors not to tell her how much time she might have left: "That's in God's hands."
Here is a video clip of the interview:

Earlier posts:
- The Courageous Tammy Faye Messner
- Tammy Faye Stops Cancer Treatment: It's Up to God and Faith

Anti-gay hate-mongers like Rev. Fred Phelps are the biggest reason why a movie like "For the Bible Tells Me So" is so important right now.
According to a report in the Casper Star-Tribune, the city of Casper has for the second time rejected the Phelps' request to erect a monument stating that murdered gay hate-crime victim Mathew Shepard is in hell.
Casper Mayor Kate Sarosy wrote in a letter to Phelps: "Your monument is simply religious in character, based on your personal religious beliefs regarding Matthew Shepard, and bears no historical significance to the foundation of the law for our country. As such, the city cannot place your monument on city property without violating the establishment clause of the United States Constitution."
I would have written him a much shorter letter: "Go away!"
According to the paper, Phelps and members of his church have visited Casper several times since protesting Shepard's funeral in 1998 and they consider the town a "preaching opportunity," despite receiving a letter in 1999 from every preacher in Casper asking them to not come back.
"The end is coming, and it will be cataclysmic," said Phelps, 77. "I don't expect to save Casper."

Yay T.R., Neil, Ellen and Ian - four openly gay performers who got Emmy nominations Thursday morning. But sitting there in the Television Academy theater veeeeery early this morning to watch Kyra Sedgwick and Jon Cryer announce the nominations, I felt a lot of excitement about some of the other nominees - shows that are gay-friendly and performers who are gay faves.
First off: the sensational "Ugly Betty," which has gay characters and a transgender character, got a well-deserved 11 nominations. They include a best actress nod for America Fererra who I'd say is the front-runner, in addition to the first Latina ever nominated in this category. The only other cast member nominated - in the supporting category -was Vanessa Williams for her delicious work as Wilhelmina Slater.
In the guest actress category: the year of Judith Light continues! Judith was nominated for her role as Claire Meade. Next year she will have to compete in the best supporting actress category because she is now a regular cast member. Congrats Judith!!! Among Judith's competition is Salma Hayak, nominated as guest actress for the same show.
i'm rooting for Judith in this category but I'm also thrilled to see Dixie Carter also nominated for her turn as the evil Gloria Hodges on "Desperate Housewives." Dixie, one of the great ladies in showbiz, never got nominated in the seven seasons she spent playing the on and only Julia Sugarbaker on "Designing Women." She was criminally overlooked as was most of the cast except for Delta Burke who got two nods throughout the show's run.
Hooray for Judith and Dixie! To make the category even more interesting: the great Elaine Stritch is nominated for her appearance on "30 Rock."
Dixie's former "Designing" co-star Jean Smart, already a two-time Emmy winner for "Frasier," is nominated yet again in the guest actress-drama category for "24."
OK, on to "Brothers & Sisters." Hooray for Sally Field! She nabbed one of the six spots in the best actress in a drama series category for her consistently wonderful work as Nora Walker in the ABC drama. It marks her seventh Emmy nomination overall. She has won twice [not to mention those two Oscars}. I'd love to see Sally win but I think Kyra Sedgwick should take it for "The Closer." She carries that show and is the reason it's the highest-rated drama in the history of standard cable. Rachel Griffiths, who plays Field's daughter on "Brothers & Sister," earned a well-deserved best supporting actress nomination.

Also of gay interest: "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" nominated again for Outstanding Reality Program, "Project Runway" up for Outstanding Reality Competition, and the "Gay Witch Hunt" episode of "The Office" was nominated for Outstanding Writing
And finally, even though I didn't love "The Starter Wife," I liked parts of it and I like that there was a prominent gay character. Debra Messing, a past Emmy winner for "Will & Grace," was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a miniseries and the series itself was nominated.
Next year, all we need is a nomination for Matthew Rhys for "Brothers & Sisters" and Rex Lee in "Entourage" and I'll be as happy as a clam at high tide.

Isn't this great?
All the garbage T.R. Knight has had to put up with off-camera this year. He's kept his grace and kept working and on Thursday, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for best supporting actor in a drama series for his role as George O'Malley in "Grey's Anatomy." Since I just spoke to him the other night at Outfest, I'm feeling really excited for him. It was among the 10 nominations for the hit ABC show. He was the only male cast member to receive a nomination. On the female side: Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh and Katherine Heigl all received supporting actress nods.
Meanwhile, the mega-talented Neil Patrick Harris was the only member of the ensemble cast of the CBS comedy "How I Met Your Mother" to get an Emmy nomination. He was nominated in the best supporting actor category for his hilarious performance as the womanizing Barney.
It's clear that Emmy voters believe openly gay actors can convincingly play straight on screen. Let's see it it spills onto the big screen so some of these closeted movie stars will feel comfortable enough to come out!
And then there is that crazy gal, that fun, dancing, glorious Ellen DeGeneres. She already has an Emmy for her old ABC sitcom and a truckload of daytime Emmys for her talk show and on Thursday, she was nominated for her turn as host of the Academy Awards. I also don't want to forget the great Ian McKellen, nominated for guest actor in a comedy series for an appearance on "Extras."

Congrats to all! I hope they win!

I wasn't crazy about getting up at 4 a.m. to cover the Emmy nominations this morning but I made it to the Television Academy headquarters on time, settled into my seat, looked around some and there was Mario Lopez. Damn him. He was the best looking guy in the room. Mario was there in his capacity as a co-host of the weekend edition of "Extra" but he had more photographers after him than Kyra Sedgwick or John Cryer who were there to announce the nominations and were nominees themselves!
Mario was just hounded and after smiling for a period of time, he sought refuge, fortunately, by standing behind me. So, we started talking and here is our conversation:
"I'm barely awake," Mario said. "I was at the Del Mar races yesterday, opening day, so it's a rough day."
Yeah, yeah. Most of us would look like a wreck at 5 a.m. after a day at the race track. Mario, however, looked like a Ken doll.
Greg: Are you going to be on 'Nip/tuck" again?
Mario: I'm supposed to do another one.
Greg: You were already a sex symbol but that shower scene really caused a lot of excitement.
Mario: [Laughs] I didn't think it was going to be as risque as it was, I thought it was just going to be a quick little flash but it turned into a whole thing. I didn't know what to expect but the reaction to it has been pretty positive. But it still makes me a little shy I guess.
Greg: Any regrets?
Mario: Nah. Everybody was real cool.
Greg: Did you actually work out extra for that?
Mario: No, I just always try and exercise as often as I can.
Greg: How do you feel about all those pictures of you running around without your shirt on?
Mario: I don't know how they get 'em! I never see those guys so they got some stealth-like cameras. I never see them."
Mario then gets pulled away, just as we were getting real chatty. He did tell me he was set to do a new series on the CW called "Eight Days a Week" which will give him a chance to get back into series television as an actor. Between his "Dancing With the Stars" gig and all the hosting jobs he nabs, it's good to see him still doing some parts here and there.
"Well see how it goes," he said of the new show.

Thank you Mario for making waking up at the crack of dawn worthwhile...

Here is the Nip/Tuck shower scene...enjoy!!!

Earlier posts:
- Mario Lopez on the run...
- Nip/Tuck: Julian McMahon meets Mario Lopez

Well, this is juicy and not something I had seen anywhere until it was linked to AfterElton.com. The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan, on her The Watcher blog, shares some of the questions posed to NBC execs this week during the Television Critics Assn. tour regarding the hiring of controversial Isaiah Washington for at least five episodes of the fall series "Bionic Woman."
The executive producers of "Bionic" were asked if adding Washington to the cast “would show disrespect” to the gay community.
“Absolutely not,” said Jason Smilovic, one of the show’s executive producers. “We embrace the gay community. We are hoping that they are going to watch the show, and we are in no way making any judgments or statements or assignations about what was said or what was done.”
Then after the panel, David Eick, another executive producer, said that the idea to cast Washington came from an NBC executive, who was relaying the request of NBC co-chair Ben Silverman.
Here's the real shock: Eick aid that he wasn’t really sure of what Washington had said or done to cause such an uproar. Hello? T.R. Knight? Gayhab? The Golden Globes? F****t? Ya been hiding under a rock David?
“You guys are going to hate me but I don’t really know what he said,” he said to reporters. “I’m sorry, whenever they’re picking a jury for a high-profile murder case, I never know how they get 12 people who didn’t hear about who did it. But I’m like that guy who didn’t hear about O.J. I knew there was some controversy, [but] honestly, I was so busy, I was trying to finish the ‘Bionic Woman’ pilot, I had another pilot at Fox this year, and ‘Battlestar’ was going, I didn’t know, I don’t know what he did.”
So, they told him what went down which resulted in Washington being fired from "Grey's Anatomy."
“That seems kind of rude and unfortunate and I’m sure he didn’t mean it,” Eick said. "I don’t know the man well enough, I had dinner with him once and thought he was delightful. I’ve seen his work and think he’s an intensely talented actor. I’m sure whatever transpired was a mistake and he feels sorry about it, and that’s not for me to say.”

There's something really special about this year's Outfest, just so many rich experiences. Last night was at the top of the list with the screening of the extraordinary documentary "For the Bible Tells Me So" which, I think, can really change hearts and minds.
The film poses these questions: Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?
Filmmaker Daniel G. Karslake [pictured with Archbishop Desmond Tutu] has created something so remarkable that I can see so many in the LGBT community sending a copy to their families. It will give parents who are not accepting of their children [and attribute it to religious beliefs] much to think about and it also educates us. This well-researched film examines what, if anything, the Bible actually says about homosexuality as we know it today.It also intelligently explores the way religious conservatives have systematically misled the public in regards to biblical references of homosexuality and how this campaign continues to stigmatize the gay community.
The heavy price of that is shown through the lives of five Christian families with a gay son or daughter who are profiled in the film. They include Bishop Gene Robinson [pictured, above] of New Hampshire, the first-ever openly gay man to be elected a Bishop of the Episcopalian Church, who was present at the screening.
"I thought, how could I make a film about homosexuality and religion without him," Karslake told the sellout crowd at the Directors Guild of America theater in West Hollywood. "Having Gene Robinson say, 'This is the film that's going to tell my story' maqde all the difference."

Just days after Robinson agreed to be profiled [his parents and former wife are also prominently featured], the daughter of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt [pictured w/family above] came out. Karslake wanted to profile her and Mary Cheney but said: "Believe it or not, I ran into a brick wall with the Cheneys."
Also featured were Reitan family who I had written a bit about in an article for The Advocate a few years ago. Their story was very moving and inspiring and their love strong. All five families are very inspiring.
I felt so much emotion during the film and tears fell more than once. All of the discrimination, repression, and injustice we have suffered and continue to suffer in large part because of the religious right and their leaders and the influence they have on our families, our politicians and our communities.
Robinson said last night that the anti-gay forces within his and other churches have done nothing to change his faith in God: "The church or synagogue or mosque are simply as human as the people in them...I don't believe in the church the way I believe in God." And even if things don't completely change in our lifetimes, "there are people who are coming after us who need shoulders to stand on and those are our shoulders."

The movie is going to have a staggered release throughout the month of October and I plan to keep you all informed of each and every playdate. The DVD probably won't be released until early 2008 so it will be important to get as many people to the theaters to see this brilliant piece of work. Here is a LINK to the film's web site where you can learn a lot more.

Earlier posts:
- The Man Behind For the Bible Tells Me So
- Chatting Up T.R. Knight

I sure hope so. A little of him goes a long way and I'd like to see his ex, Dustin, be able to stay in the house awhile without the toxic force that is Joe. I missed last night's show due to Outfest commitments but Danielle got herself off the block so now Joe will be up against her dad, Dick.
Anywho, did find this amusing clip of Joe doing his impersonations of verious houseguests and am posting it because a shirtless Nick is in it too...Did I mention yet that I do not like Nick's tatoo?

...and if you REALLY care, here is a clip of Joe and Dustin in the hammock having a heart-to-heart. Dustin looks really cute in it. I still don't know what he ever saw in Joe...

Trevor Wright is a young actor on the rise.
After a busy career appearing in such light-hearted fare as "Air Buddies" and "MXP: Most Xtreme Primate" as well as scores of TV guest spots ranging from "Scrubs" to "CSI: NY," Wright is the lead in the film "Shelter" in which he plays a recent high school grad who puts his dreams of art school on hold to take care of his family - especially his young nephew. The film has a surfing backdrop and Wright's character ends up falling for his best friend's older brother (played by Brad Rowe, pictured above with Wright).
I caught up with Trevor on opening night of Outest last week and am sharing our chat now because his film screens at the festival tonight.
He says: "I've done lots of Disney movies and stuff like that and I was on 'The George Lopez Show' but definitely, I had never played a gay character before so it's completely new for me. It was something I wanted to talke on, the challenge of that kind of depth. I've never played a lead with the type of depth that this character had."
Did he have any hesitation about doing a gay role, especially one with love scenes?
"No, not at all...I did a lot of research including talking to the director Jonah [Markowitz] and getting into his head and finding out what he was all about. He had come up with [the movie] from pretty much a true story... It turned out fabulous."

Our gal Rosie O'Donnell just keeps making the news.
It used to be that it was because of what she said...but this week it's more about what people are saying ABOUT her. First there was that idiot Donald Trump wanting her to be on his "Apprentice" show and now, TVGuide's Michael Ausiello reports that the producers of NBC's "Friday Night Lights" are trying to convince Rosie to guest star on the show this fall.
"Rosie's a big fan of Friday Night Lights, as we know from The View, and we heard she was interested in being on the show," executive producer Jason Katims tells Ausiello. "Usually we don't do any stunt casting, but we have a character coming up - six or seven episodes into the new season - of a female soccer coach who is really angry about all of the school's resources going to football. It's a really funny character and I think she'd be perfect for it. There's a scene where she comes in to see Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and slams a dead soccer ball on his desk and basically says, 'You're the guy who gets everything!'" It's a really fun scene, and it's the one time I'm thinking of stunt casting."
Katims says he will formally approach O'Donnell in the coming weeks.

,

So I bumped into T.R. Knight last night at the Outfest reception for the superb documentary "For the Bible Told Me So" (OK, I heard he was there and hunted him down) and we talked about the movie which I think is going to change lives.
First off, it was such an incredibly moving night for everyone in attendance so bringing up the terrible things Isaiah Washington has been saying about him seemed so out of place. But I asked for a reaction and he didn't have one so we moved on.
Yes, he is back on the set of "Grey's Anatomy" which will begin its fourth season this fall and all is well. Knight was clearly moved by the film, directed and produced by Daniel G. Karslake, which explores the divide between Biblical literalists and homosexuals.
"It's a beautiful film, a beautiful film and thank God somebody made it," he said. "I can't wait to see it again. As soon as it become available for purchase, I will purchase a great deal of them. I think anyone who is raised with a religious upbringing, it's all the same story - just different religions."
"It's one thing for us to see it. I can only think of that phrase 'Preaching to the choir.' But for people who don't want to see it, I hope a fair amount of them will see it. The wonderful message in the film was that every story has such great love and, unfortunately, there's a lot of impediments to that love. It seems so simple to remove that barrier but unfortunately it's so large and so strong so the hope is just keep chipping away and chipping away so that can fall."
T.R., making his first public appearance since Washington disparaged him in various interviews earlier this month, showed up at the Director's Guild of America to support the film after meeting Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the first-ever openly gay man to be elected a Bishop of the Episcopalian Church. Robinson, a key figure in the documentary, was present last night for the sold-out screening.
"They invited me to come see it and I'm very happy that I wasn't working so I could attend," he said.

Hey wait a minute.
Wasn't Lance Bass NOT gonna talk about his new boiyfriend? Well, that lasted for about five minutes and if I was dating someone that good lookin, I'd blab about it too. Bass talked to People mag (of course) about connecting with the hunky Brazilian model Pedro Andrade who he first spotted him 35,000 feet up in the air.
"He was asleep in the back of the plane on the way over," the former 'N Sync star said of the Brazilian model, who was also en route to Vienna for the May 28 Life Ball. "I was like, 'He's really cute.'"
At the time Andrade, according to designer Richie Rich, was working at the Austrian event as a model for Heatherette.
"It's so fresh and new," Bass said. "The good thing is learning everything about him. He's really great . . . amazing."
Bass said that it took some time to get over his break-up with Reichen Lehmkuhl last December – but he's enjoying the dating life. "It's the first time I've ever been able to date, so it's nice to go out ? and get to know people and not jump into a relationship right away, which I usually do."

Here is Liza Minnelli at the New York premiere of "Hairspray" showing some leg. On someone else, I might say those see-through pants she's wearing are ridiculous. Hideous! But it's Liza with a Z and at 61, this resilient Oscar winner, Tony winner and Emmy winner still looks terrific and can wear what the heck she wants to!
Rock on Liza!

The photo on the right is Aaron Eckhart as he arrived at this year's Golden Globe Awards where he was a nominee for his performance in "Thank You for Smoking." I stood by the red carpet just gawking because he is SO handsome.
I've seen in lotsa movies and knew he was good looking, but on that day, up close, I realized that he is absolute hearthrob material. So it's so terrific to see Aaron being appreciated by other gays and be featured in The Advocate in the current issue's Big Gay Following feature. Here are a few of his comments about all things gay:
Q. Did you know you had a big gay following?
A. No! Honestly, I didn’t think I had any following, so this is great.
Q. How did your Mormon upbringing affect your views on homosexuality?
A. It was something that really wasn’t talked about. It just wasn’t something I even thought about, because I wasn’t really around it until I came to New York City and lived in Chelsea. Now I have a lot of gay friends. At the end of the day, I pick my own views and beliefs.
Q. Who was the first gay person you met?
A. I’ll always remember. I was working in a restaurant in California with a guy who was gay, and I asked him, “What do you feel when you look at a guy?” And he said, “Well, Aaron, what do you feel when you look at that girl over there, and she’s beautiful and you really want to be with her?” That’s when I got it: It’s the same thing.
Q. Do you have any celebrity man-crushes?
A. There are definitely a lot of actors that I admire, but I wouldn’t say that I’m head over heels for any of them.

To read the complete interview, go to Advocate.com

It sure makes me want to go to Paris again! This new ad is meant to attract Londoners to Paris for the Rugby World Cup...Oh La La!!!
Do you think it works?

Sorry I'm just now finally getting around to posting these pictures from the July 7 Men of Laguna Beach contest which is part of the Save the Boom! effort. I don't have the names of any of these guys but really, who cares? The large group of hotties was narrowed down to 20 finalist with that group to be narrowed down still again to a final 12 who will each be given their very own month. Most of the 20 have already done the photo sessions from which the winners will be announced.

When the final 12 are selected, the prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers. That make 1st prize now $1000.00! 2nd place will be $250.00 and 3rd place $100.00.
The calendars will go on sale in Laguna and around the world after Labor Day. All proceeds will be split between the SAVE the BOOM!!! campaign and local charities. (www.savetheboom.com).

More pics after the jump..

In an interview with Salon.com, Elizabeth Edwards was asked why she called in to Chris Matthews' "Hardball" show to confront the vile Ann Coulter who had refered to her husband, Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards, as a "f****t" and had also found fault in Edwards' talking about the death of his teenaged son during the last presidential campaign."
"Ignoring the fact that she exists doesn't make her go away," Edwards said. "If it did, you wouldn't hear me utter her name. So I think maybe the better thing to do is simply confront people like her. Are you going to stop them? Under no circumstances will you stop them. But maybe you empower other people to stand up, and maybe that has an effect. When I travel, so many older people thank me for what I did. Because the vile kind of way Ann Coulter thinks and talks, that was not ever part of the public discourse until recently."

Mrs. Edwards also spoke about her commitment to equal rights for gays after making a second visit to San Francisco this summer at a gay rights event: "I remember hearing [former GOP Sen. Rick] Santorum ranting about how homosexual marriage threatens heterosexual marriage. I could be wrong, but I think heterosexual marriage is threatened more by heterosexuals. I don't know why gay marriage challenges my marriage in any way."

What is going on over at NBC? They hire Isaiah Washington to guest on their "Bionic Woman" remake just weeks after he gave a series of finger-pointing at every but himself interviews to Larry King and others. Then I hear they are bringing back the bore that is Donald Trump in some kind of celebrity version of his dying "Apprentice" franchise. I'd begin a personal boycott of NBC right now except that I never watch it anymore anyway - except for the odd "Law & Order" episode here and there.
So fame whore Trump, who showed even less class than Washington in his running feud with O'Donnell, wants Rosie for his new celebrity-infested "Apprentice."
"If Rosie would like to do it, she would be treated very fairly," Trump tells PEOPLE. "Don't forget her show got the highest ratings in December and January when she and I went at it. So I think it would be very good for Rosie. And she would be treated very fairly."
The nerve!
Rosie said through her rep: "It will not happen in this lifetime or beyond."
Duh.

I had seen the 1986 film "Parting Glances" before but last night, when watching a restored print of the movie on the big screen at the Director's Guild of America theater in Los Angeles, it really was like seeing it for the first time. It was such a special night with "Glances" the first film to come out of the Outfest Legacy Project which is doing the all-important job of preserving LGBT films for the generations ahead to experience.
"This is my proudest moment of all my years at Outfest," the festival's Executive Director Steve Gutwillig said as he introduced the film. "I can't believe you're all here."
There was not an empty seat in the theater and this will certainly go down as one of the more memorable events of Outfest 2007.
The movie, focusing on a group of Manhattan hipsters, tells the story of Robert (John Bolger) who accepts a job assignment in Africa in order to take a break from his lover, Michael (Richard Ganoung) who is tending to the needs of his ex, Nick (Steve Buscemi), who is battling HIV. The movie follows these characters in the two days before Robert is to depart and includes a party thrown by their artist friend Joan (Kathy Kinney) that is filled with drama.
Buscemi, Ganoug, Bolger and Kinney were all present for the screening and were clearly moved to see the audience embrace this film 20 years later.
"I can't tell you what it means to see this film and to have this place so filled," Buscemi told the audience. "It's just so moving to me."

I love that we live in a world where a two-time Academy Award nominee is willing to take his clothes off for an underwear ad. Djimon Hounsou, who should have won the Oscar this year for "Blood Diamond," is appearing in a new campaign for Calivin Klein Steel underwear. Towleroad.com posted these images this morning along with a comment the hunky and mega-talented Hounsou, made to the NY Post. He said he "worked out for months to get ripped for the role. I regularly watch how much, when and what I eat. It really becomes a daily journey. You just have to do it - get up, eat something, go to the gym - so you can burn as much as you can and look lean. It’s pretty challenging."

Michael Jensen has posted a transcript of some of John Barrowman's comments made Monday at the Television Critics Association tour going on in Hollywood right now on Afterelton.com. It's very entertaining and I suggest you check it out.
Here is a taste:
ON OUT ACTORS AS ROMANTIC LEADS "Hopefully I'm starting something because I know, and I could name a few, but I'm not going to, but there are quite a few romantic male leads ... But it's not my responsibility to out people. Because people might not want to come out. I hope they don't not to come out because they are discovering things about themselves they need to resolve before they do it, but if it's solely because you're afraid you're going to lose your job or the public aren't going to like you, well, my reaction to that is f*** you, and you're not helping at all."

So I'm standing outside the main theater at the DGA Sunday afternoon waiting to get into the "Ugly Betty" event when I see this handsome blonde guy waiting too. So I strike up a conversation with him and find out that he is Dan Karslake, director of tonight's documentary centerpiece selection at Outfest 2007. So I got something even better than a date (i guess...), I got an interview with Dan.
"I made the movie really to start a conversation that I perceived just isn't happening in the Christian community in particular. It's a given in America that the Bible condemns homosexuality and when you talk to many, many, many biblical scholars around the country and around the world, they just simply don't agree with that. We are so used to seeing media stars and religion on "The Larry King Show" and "The Today Show" and all those shows and they are all from the religious right who have this one interpretation of the bible. I just wanted to make a movie that offered another way to look at it and looked at real families, Christian families who are very conservative in their beliefs, but who had to deal with this and really open the Bible for themselves and not just be told by people from the pulpit what it said but really make up their own mind. When they do that, it's really impossible not to see that the Bible really says nothing about gays and lesbians."
While the Outfest crowd should be quite receptive to the film, Karslake wants the movie to be seen by everyone. "I actually made the film very specifically for middle America. It's sort of for this moveable middle of people who are, for the first time, meeting somebody in their workplace or in their family or at their school who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender but also still kind of go, 'Oh, but they're condemned." And they just want to hear more information. It's really about giving people the ability and the permission to have some new information."
This is Karslake's first movie but he gained much experience and respect while working as a producer on the PBS show "In the Life." It is through that show that he met Judith Light who he credits with helping him and his producers to seek both advice and financial backing from some of the most prominent gay people in Hollywood including “Will & Grace” creator Max Mutchnick; “Frasier” writer/director/producer David Lee; AMERICAN BEAUTY producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks; and “Six Feet Under” producer Alan Poul.
I plan to see the movie tonight with a crowd expected to include T.R. Knight, Michael Urie and Camryn Manheim.

Isn't this so much better than a picture of skinny loser Nicole Richie buying a coffee or Britney driving to the Taco Bell? Thank God LA has David Beckham in town to play for the LA Galaxy. The paparazzi were out in full force as Beckham bought coffee at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf this morning. Later Monday, he is pictured practicing what he came here for: playing soccer. Well, I guess you could argue that he came here to be photographed a lot too but that's gonna happen wherever this dude goes...He is quite a dish!
A few more pics, courtesy of JustJared.com, below...

Mark Indelicato, the gloriously free to be himself, fashion-loving kid on ABC's "Ugly Betty," turns 13 today. Although he wasn't among the "Betty" cast members present at Sunday's Outfest panel on the show, his character was talked about...A LOT.
Ana Ortiz, who plays Justin's mom: "From Hilda's point of view, she's got a happy kid and that's a remarkable thing....Everyone has members of their family who are gay, including my godfather. He's so thrilled about the show and he'll say, 'You got that from ME!""
Creator-Executive Producer Silvio Horta: "He's 12 and we want to let things proceed as they would normrally. There's so much to explore with this kid as the comes into adolescence and would it would be like if he were gay...which he probably is."
Executive Producer and co-show-runner Marco Pennette: "Tenj years ago, you would not have seen this character on TV."
Cast member Michael Urie: "Someone said the show is teaching kids to be gay. I think it's more they are teaching kids HOW to be gay."
Star America Fererra: "It's not so much teaching kids how to be gay, it's about teaching their families to love them and accept them."

I adore Judith Light. But lemme tell ya, I'm not the only one. Yesterday at the Outfest 2007 event featuring the cast of "Ugly Betty," Light got such a long ovation (at least twice as long as any other cast member) that she said it gave her goose bumps. She has stood beside the LGBT community for decades and done far more than talk the talk - she's given her time and her heart to so many causes and you wish the world was filled with more people like Judith Light. Of the affection she was shown Sunday she explained it to me this way: "It's like when you're on stage and you're doing a great play and you are connected to the audience and there's just this incredible give-and-take over and over and over again and it takes you up to another level. By their giving, they keep taking you up to another level. I feel that with this community because I have so much respect for the community and I've been inspired for so long that what I give is out of my heart and out of what I experience of this community. I get back way more than I give. It is quite an Outfest for me, I must say."
Liight (pictured here with your favorite blogger) really is the belle of the ball at this year's 25th annual Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival what with her sensational dramatic turn in the opening night film "Save Me" and her appearance with the "Betty" cast. She has been upgraded from recurring cast member to full-fledged regular for the upcoming season.
While most people know Light for the eight seasons she spent on "Who's the Boss?" or for her Emmy-winning performances on "One Life to Live," she's been working hard in all kinds of mediums including the Broadway stage ("Wit") and on television as a judge on "Law & Order: SUV." Now she's a big hit on "Betty" and has the feature "Ira and Abby" out next month.
We also talked about her being "rediscovered" in such a big way...she's the new kid on the block!
"I'm so grateful," she says. "I feel so blessed. I worked really hard for a very long time and I feel that I'm coming into a whole different arena of the use of my talents and how I am to be of service. I think that's why a lot of this is happening. I've preservered."

Got home from Outfest last night in time to catch "Big Brother 8" live. Now, I could go on and on about how irritating Jen is - in fact, she is the most irritating and frankly, stupidest houseguest to ever darken the doorstep of the Big Brother house. So, let's hope she's gone soon because I hate her. But I do not hate the hunky Mike and Nick who were featured weightlifting last night. That would be fun to watch jiust for the eye candy but what made it a classic Big Brother scene was the hilarious commentary from Zach and Dustin who nicknamed the hunky pair Magnus and Cragnus. It was a scream (see clip below).

Closing thoughts: Dustin is showing himself to be very fun and cool and you do wonder what he ever saw in Joe who is annoying and mean. As for Nick, he seems to be flirting less with the gay boys now and more with Dannielle who is on the block, alkong with her dad Dick. I think Dick is dust so Nick can fawn over Dannielle for another week. But I think Nick better watch it because all this flirting could end up putting a big target on his back. He may feel invincible but beauty will only get him so far.
Plus, let's face it: Mike (below) is hotter!!!

I realized this morning that even though I am living and breathing the Outfest film festival in LA, not everyone is interested in every little detail of my favorite event of the year. So, I'll try and keep up on the non-Outfest items over the next seven days (Outfest wraps up next Monday) and when I can, I'll chat up hunky bartenders - exlusively for Out In Hollywood readers! The guys pictured here bartended the "Ugly Betty" after-party and I ordered a diet Pepsi from each of them. Pictured at left is actor Joel Hebner and at right is actor Sven Garrett.
Don't they just make ya thirsty?

I love sharing this news. here! Films has just announced that it has acquired North American distribution rights to the award-winning comedy Fat Girls, written, directed, starring and produced by emerging filmmaker Ash ChristianI saw this movie at last year's Outfest and was absolutely charmed by it. Read my year-old post: Channeling Your Inner Fat Girl.The comedy focuses on the trials and tribulations of Rodney Miller (Christian), a gay theater-obsessed high school senior who has his heart set on becoming a Broadway star. With his overweight best friend and fellow social outcast Sabrina (Ashley Fink) by his side, the pair tries to find dates for their high school graduation dance sending them on a journey of self-discovery.
Says Mark Reinhart of here! Films:“We are thrilled to help bring Mr. Christian’s debut project to theaters across the country. "Fat Girls" explores the angst and social isolation so many teenagers face as they struggle to fit in during the tough high school years. We hope audiences will fall in love with these characters.”

I love everything about Outfest except for this: there's no way to make it to all the parties and movies that you'd like to because there are so many things going on in so many places. And, with seven days remaining, I'm trying to pace myself so this weekend it was just 3-4 screenings and a few receptions.
But yesterday I had planned to go to the premiere of "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style" which was pretty star-studded but not ienough to miss the "Ugly Betty" event. So here are a few picks starting with Reichen Lemkuhl and his hottie boyfriend who look like they were born to walk a red carpet...together! Below, Reichen joins his "Dante's Cove" castmates Jensen Atwood, Gregory Michael and John Fleming for a group shot.
And finally, there is this little cuties named Matt Dallas (below) who is on a ABC Family series. I don't know much about it except I think his character doesn't have a belly button.

I wondered a few weeks back how openly gay publicist Howard Bragman felt about repping Isiah Washington, particularly in light of his client's recent interviews where he hangs everyone out to dry...except himself. Bragman - of Fifteen Minutes Public Relations - speaks in the current issue of the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Of the controversial Washington he says: "I adore Isaiah. Before any of this happened, a mutual friend said “You should talk to Isaiah,” so I did. We talked on the phone for hours and met for breakfast for two hours. My biggest issue was that I didn’t want to represent someone who is homophobic. His history, his life – I’ve met his friends, his family – this man is not homophobic. Somebody who’s homophobic does not play gay in movies, does not have gay friends. I think Isaiah has more gay friends than I do. I do not think he is homophobic; I couldn’t. I believe he really used the wrong word in a situation and he will acknowledge that."
OK, if he says so.
Anyway, Bragman also comments on the celebrity of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears who seriously annoy me: "They’ll be replaced. Right now, it’s like a reality show, and it moves so fast. People like to follow it. The magazines like People and US and OK, they are really smart because they pick about a dozen characters – Angelina, Brad, Jennifer, Britney Lindsay, Paris – because people’s attention is limited. And we continue to follow these people, in spite of the fact that we should be paying attention to other things and other people. And it will continue until the ratings go down, in whatever way."

Thank you Kennethinthe212 for making my morning with these pics of Brady Quinn who is now the perfect man. He was almost perfect before but had this moptop haircut that looked like he placed a bowl atop his head and just went snip, snip, snip. Those of us who don't have much hair left were quite bitter. I mean, if yer gonna be given a beautiful head of hair by God, then style it!

NBC is set to announce that Isaiah Washington, whose contract ABC decided not to renew for another season on the hit show Grey's Anatomy following months of controversy after his much-publicized gay slurs, will guest star on the NBC's remake of The Bionic Woman this fall, according to the site Towleroad.com.
Washington has reportedly signed on for "at least five episodes" of Bionic Woman and will play an outsider with a mysterious agenda who is introduced early in the series. USA Today also reports that the network also has a development deal "to star in a potential action drama he pitched to the network for the 2008-09 TV season."
Says: Katherine Pope, president of NBC's Universal Media Studios: "[Isiaiah Washington is] a brilliant actor...I think people watch characters on TV, not personalities."
Wanna bet?

How fun was this? Pretty damned fun! Much of the cast of gay-fave "Ugly Betty" showed up at the Director's Guild of America yesterday (including my pretend boyfriend Eric Mabius) for a informative and sometimes hilarious panel discussion and a wonderfully intimate after-party. America Fererra, Ana Ortiz, Vanessa Williams, Judith Light, Michael Urie and Mabius were there from the cast as well as the show's creators. The kid who plays Justin was not present but there was much discussion about his character - a 12 year old we all know is gay but a storyline producers want to handle with care. What's great is this is a 12 year old whose family loves him fiercely no matter what.
I will share the best of the discussion in a bit. But some of my favorite moments: the rousing and prolonged ovation given to Judith Light - far longer than any other cast member - as a demonstration of the love the LGBT community has for this great actress and wonderful woman.
Then there was the sight of Vanessa Williams showing for the audience how she showed Urie and another newbie to stardom co-star how to walk down a red carpet. Hard to believe, but Vanessa was Miss America 23 years ago...and she's been a big star ever since...and never bigger than now.
Producer Marco Penette shared that Michael Urie's gay character is going to have a love interest in the coming season and the great Patti LuPone, who played his unaccepting mother, will return for at least one more show....He also says there "may" be a musical episode...Santos, the father of Justin, was shot in the season finale but, he may not be dead! /but then he might be...
Also: If America Fererra gets nominated for an Emmy Award this week, she will be the first Latina nominated in the best actress in a comedy category...
Will update with more later...

This film festival is so rich with interesting films and talented people and I'm having a ball. Just got out of a reception for the cast of "Ugly Betty" who did a wonderful panel that included star America Fererra and most of the cast and I will post on that seperately later today or tomorrow. Great little beef on a stick things from Sonora Cafe on LaBrea and chatting up Eric Mabius and Judith Light made for a fun party.
Kicked off the day pretty early with yet another program of short films under the heading of "Straight Boys." Outfest audiences love their short films and the theater was almost completely full. This year, the shorts have been particularly good. This one was highlighted by this pee-your-pants funny animated short called "Bro and Dude's Cool Afternoon." It's in the outrageous vein of "South Park" with an animated Lance Bass as the main character who takes a few hits but nothing like those reserved for creepy Mark Foley and Ted Haggard. Funny. Funny. Funny.
I really liked the 21-minute "Flatmates," a Swedish film about two rommates, one gay, one straight, whose sexual tension comes to a head one night. And really excellent was "Shawram and Abbas," a 37-minute film from the Netherlands about two Iranian refugees who pretend they are gay in order to obtain asylum in the Netherlands.
The shorts were followed by the provocativly titled feature "Men in the Nude" ("Ferfiakt") a Hungarian film about a middle-aged novelist married to an actress whose life is turned upside down when he falls in love with a 19-year-old Russian hustler. The title is a bit misleading but certainly succeeded in achieving a packed theater. The movie was well-done and beautifully acted by the three leads and I liked it a lot. But the characters did have their clothes quite often.
I was going to end my day with the screening of the feature "Bubble" but a journalist friend of mine had a DVD of it on him and slipped it to me this afternoon. So now I can stretch out on the sofa and watch it at home and give you my thoughts on it later...plus this allows me to catch "Big Brother 8" !!!

It's Sunday afternoon at Outfest 2007 and I'm here at the DGA Theatre between screenings. I have about 20 minutes of spare time so thought I'd start my posting in Alexis Arquette whose documentary "Alexis Arquette: She's Our Brother" screened yesterday. Alexis, of the famed Arquette clan (Patricia, Rosanna, David, among others) starred in many films including gay faves "I Think I Do" and "Grief," among others, and had a recurring role in one of my all-time favortie shows, Showtime's late, great "Beggars and Choosers." Her film follows her journey transitioning from life as a man to living as a transgender woman.
The original plan was for Alexis to document everything right through a sex-change operation. Things turned out differently and she is now living life on her own terms.
We chatted after the screening:
Greg: What about your fans who fell in love with you as a male in your movies?
Alexis: "With people, there's a little bit of a lament for the old Alexis, there is a bit of a death and kind of a passing on of that person. That person's still here, but that person was, in a way, just like any other role I've ever played. I had to be honest with myself and the world. Anyone can get anyone to believe anything about who they are but the fact is, in the long run you just have to be comfortable with who you are and it doesn't matter what the world thinks."

I'm wrapping up my third day at Outfest but before I head home, wanted to tell you about some off-the-charts terrific short films that screened this morning under the title of "Boys Shorts." The photo at right is from "Kali Ma" which is one of the funniest shorts I've ever seen at this festival. A high school student of Indian descent is bullied by the kid at school he has a crush on. The bully writes stuff wit an ink marker on the kids neck and when his mother finds out, she marches over to the kid's house in a rage. She turns into Rambo and teaches blonde bully a lesson he won't soon forget. My God, this was so terrific. Director Soman Chainami, a film student at NYU, deserves major kudos for this 15-minute masterpiece.
And just a brilliant in a different way was the 20 minute gem "I Hate Musicals" directed by Stewart Schill. It's about a work-obsessed guy who works for a cuthroat insurance company that puts the bottom line ahead of humanity. He has a big presentation and tries to get out of attending the opening night of his actress-fiancee's new musical. He ends up going but his cell phone goes off during her big finale. Later, he tells her that she was good but that he hate's musicals and always will. The next morning, he wakes up and he cannot talk - he can only sing. This is where things take off to glorious heights. The musical numbers are so hilarious (there are three in all) and you see how his inability to talk and only sing changes the guy's life. Schill told me after the screening that he plans to make the short into a full-length feature. That is great to hear!
There were six shorts in all and the sexiest was "Heartland," a sweet story about a New Yorker who is forced to go back home and help out on his dad's farm for awhile. He and the hunky farmhand, who is raising his younger siblings after the death of their mother, strike up a friendship that ends up being more. Their kiss in the pick-up is better than Heath and Jake in "Brokeback Mountain." The 12-minute short was directed by Mark Christopher who directed the feature film "54" about the famed Studio 54. That movie starred Ryan Phillipee, Salma Hayak, Mike Meyers and Neve Campbell among others. Much was cut from the film for theatrical release and it is my hope that a more extended version will be released on DVD.
Anyway, the other shorts were "Serene Hunter" which was very explicit sexually - almost pornographic - and "Solace" about an interesting online hook-up. Then there was "The Saddest Boy in the World" which had this incredible dark humor going for it as the 9-year-old kid endures one indignity after another. So much so that it is just comic, but also sad. What was unfortunate is that the 14 minute short begins and ends with the kid preparing to hang himself in his room. Since one of the community sponsors of the "Boys Shorts" program was The Tevor Project, which runs suicide prevention hotlines for LGBT and questioning youths, it made the film less funny to me that it might have been if I hadn't a short time earlier heard the Trevor Project presentation.
And then there was the feature film "The Picture of Dorian Gray" which is a contemporary retelling of the classic novel by Oscar Wilde. It's now based in NYC in the art world of the 1990s and fully enacts the homoeroticism that was only hinted at in earlier versions. The actor who plays Dorian (David Gallagher) is unbelievably good looking and he is terrific in the role. Director Duncan Roy displays some terrific filmmaking techniques but his storytelling is an absolute mess. I focused hard and still didn't know what the hell was going on half the time. I left the theater very annoyed by the whole thing.
Also saw the Alexis Arquette documentary "She's My Brother" and will write about it tomorrow and also share an interview I had with Alexis after the screening...
Until tomorrow...

The main DGA theater was PACKED last night for the 9:30 p.m. showing of a series of short films under the program name of "Obsession for Men." Needless to say, there wasn't a woman in the place. We were in for some real treats with six short films that really pushed the envelope.
Smokin!
My favorites were "Orphan" [leading man Scott Strasser is pictured at top of page. His performance is brilliant!] and "Mommy's House," the latter which starred Veronica Cartwright [pictured, right] in a deliciously funny and creepy role. Loved her! Also good were "Where we Began" and "Doorman" and rounding out the program were "At the River" and "The Famous Joe Project." Since this was sold out, organizers say they are likely to repeat in next Sunday and I highly recommend you try and catch it...those of you in LA, or within driving distance. They aren't worth flying across the country for, OK?
UPDATE: Some dude was in the theater today ragging on the short films I just wrote about. I scribbled down some of his remarks just for kicks: "The program said EXCPLICIT SEX. There was NO SEX in the f*****g shorts! I didn't even see a d**k!"
Of the evening's first film, the French movie "One To Another," the guy said: "It was on the low side of so-so...it was just so FRENCH. I can't do sad movies like that anymore...it's just too much fior me."
Ain't this guy a hoot?
Anyway, while watching "One To Another," it was great to sit with Carlos Portugal whose movie "East Side Story" screens next Sunday. "Another," about a group of tight-knit teenagers in a small French town, must have had a wardrobe budget of about 50 cents since the female lead and the four co-stars barely wear a stitch of clothing through much of the film, a murder mystery and told out of sequence so you really had to pay attention to the French subtitles and to the action on the screen. The acting was very natural and the leading lady who plays Lucie, is magnificant. I will find out her name and update later.
OK, on to more movies on this fine Satuday morning...Will try and post sporadically trhough the weekend...once I wake up of course.

OK, I chose a beefcake picture of Robert Gant for this post but want to be sure and point out that he is far more than a handsome face with a gorgeous body. This actor-producer, who turned 39 today, is a thoughtful out actor who is a Hollywood success story on his own terms. He gives a touching performance in the film "Save Me" which opened Outfest 2007 last night and proves that casting agents should be knocking down his door with all kinds of roles- gay or straight!

Ran into ace political reporter Karen Ocamb last night at Outfest and we chatted about her story on Gov. Bill Richardson using the Spanish word ''maricon' on Don Imus' now-defunct radio show.' The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation says the word means ''faggot'' in Spanish.
So Richardson talked to the AP about the whole thing and now says he meant to be playful but apologized to anyone who was offended.
''My record is the strongest among the presidential candidates on gay rights issues and I'm puzzled by the timing of this. When it happened a year ago, nobody seemed to think it was terribly important. Now it surfaces,'' he told The Associated Press in an interview. ''It's probably a sign from other campaigns that they are little worried about me."
Richardson said that in the Spanish he grew up speaking, ''the term means simply 'gay,' not positive or negative.''
Uh sure.
Go Hillary!

Opening night of Outfest is always one of the highlights of summer because the after-party can't be beat, you see so many people you know, kinda know or wish you knew! I always invited a friend or a date to the event to try and spice up their dull little lives (kidding, that's an 'I Love Lucy" line). So this year, I invited my friend Trevor Daley who is always fun to go to stuff with. At the Human Rights Campaign dinner this year, Trevor took me all around and introduced me to scores of people so I thought it would be fun to do the same for him at the Outfest bash. Well, didn't work out that way.
Trevor, the little social butterfly that he is, knew more people than I did! And it kinda pissed me off! I did a buncha red carpet interviews before Trevor arrived to steal my thunder and got to hang with Rene Lynch of the LA Times who I worked with for many years - including covering a murder case in Arizona where a madman kept the body of his murder victim in a freezer. Life is a lot less grisly for both of us these days.
Gabbed with the cast members of "Dante's Cove" who were first to arrive including Gabriel Romero, William Gregory Lee, Gregory Michael and Jensen Atwood. All are ridiculously good looking and very sweet. Trevor Wright of "Shelter" and I were gabbing when he got ripped away to do photos but caught up with him at the VIP party and will share our chat in a few days [Well, I can't spill it all today!]
It was so great to see the cast of "East Side Story" and to finally meet the writer-director Carlos Portugal. Trevor and I kept running into the guys - like about six times - so we all got rather chummy. Here I am pictured with Steve Callahan who has a lot going on in his career right now. We had a chat that, you guessed it, I'll share in a few days. Steve told me he is a faithful reader of Out In Hollywood.
Once the red carpet slowed down, Trevor and I hit the VIP pre-party. Trevor's motto for the night: "Think VIP!" We gabbed with Perez Hilton whose hair was very orange - frighteningly orange. Perez, who I interviewed for an piece in The Advocate last year, told me he had some kind of big announcement today. I still gotta check and see what it is...Perez is seen hanging out with Tori Spelling and her hubby Dean McDermott at the after-party filming something for Tori's reality show I believe.
UPDATE: Hilton has landed a deal with VH1 for "What Perez Sez" a series of one-hour specials, with the first one premiering in September. He wreites: "Perez is going to be like the gay Barbara Walters of VH1!"
OK, back to last night: We head to the theater lobby and check out the scene. I see Michael Huffington, the former congressman and ex-hubby of Arianna. He is openly bisexual [but wasn't hen he ran for the U.S. Senate against Dianne Feinstein in 1994]. I introduced Huffington to Trevor without even thinking it could be weird since Trevor is Feinstein's right-hand man in LA.
I was saved when the ushers started to insist that we go into the theater to our seats. The "East Side Story" dudes told us they had seats in the front row. Trevor lamented our N-48 and N-50 seats. It just wasn't VIP enough for him. We settled in and watched Bill Condon get a special achievement award who said: "I can't describe what it means to me to be recognized today - the phrase 'being recognized by your peers" has a literal meaning." Condon noted that he was standing on the same stage where one of the musical numbers from his "Dreamgirls" was filmed and went on to thank his gay manager and gay agent and partner Dan Morrisey.
After the movie is over, a hungry and thirsty Greg and Trevor tore over to the after-party and filled up on food and drink and made the rounds. I had all my interviews done so decided to have a greyhound (vodka and grapefruit juice) then a secone one. Whew! Probably shoulda stopped at one.
Met a buncha people Trevor knew and when I tried to introduce him to someone I know, GLAAD Executive Director Neil Guliano, it turns out they already know each other. And there's Wilson Cruz! "Hi Wilson! Meet Trevor." Knows him. Chad Allen? Knows him (that's Trevor pictured above with Chad). Finally, we spot Tony Tripoli and his boyfriend T.J. (pictured below) and Trevor knows neither of them. Had a great time hanging out with them for awhile and Darryl Stephens (Noah on "Noah's Arc") came by for awhile. Darryl, who also starred in "Boy Culture," has just finished an indie film and is excited to start filming the new "Noah's Arc" movie next month. Tony, once Kathy Griffin's favorite gay friend, and I met when I wrote a cover story on him for Fronteirs Magazine.
Just after midnight, Trevor turned into a pumpkin so we headed out. Another Outfest opening night was history.

We are minutes away from my recap of the opening night festivities for Outfest. But just spotted this on Queerty.com and wanted to share: Democratic Presidential candidate Mike Gravel, who had been snubbed from a Human Rights Campaign debate next month, has now been invited after raising quite a fuss. Here is the HRC statement: "The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Logo…today made additional announcements about the presidential candidate forum on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues to take place in Los Angeles on August 9. After enthusiastic community response, former Senator Mike Gravel has been invited to participate."

With this being the 25th anniversary of Outfest, opening night at the Orpheum Theatre last night took on even more meaning with Outfest Executive Director Steven Guttwillig, who described Outfest as "12 days of same-sex celluloid," giving a rousing speech about how far the festival - and queer cinema - have come since 1982. He paid tribute to "the filmmakers who spent money they'll never get back to make movies we'll never forget."
The opening night film, "Save Me" was so well-done and thought-provoking. Produced by and starring Chad Allen, Judith Light and Robert Gant, it is about a home where gays go to try and become ex-gays and embrace Christ. So great to have out actors Allen and Gant in the opening night film and both are very good in their roles as men who fall in love while in this facility run by Light's character.
What stood out for me the most was the journey that Allen's character takes and how he really seems to find himself after being so lost and how, in the end, he makes his own choices and doesn't feel bad about himself. But he had to get there and Allen makes his journey believable and touching. But Judith Light is the real revelation here. My God. She inhabits this role so completely and gives so much depth to a very conflicted character with many layers. She conveys what she is thinking or feeling so well just with the look on her face. I was so impressed with Light and I hope she gets award recognition for her superb work.
"Save Me" was an excellent choice for opening night movie and I chatted briefly with Chad Allen before the screening:
"It's so exciting. I've been coming to Outfest for years and for my first picture as a producer to be able to open Outfest is just an extraordinary experience. I want people to watch the movie and to ultimately know that they are loved. Period. If you want to call it God, call it God. If you want to call it our community, call it our community but know that you are loved and OK just the way you are."

Well said.

Now here's a trio of actors who are not only damned good looking, but also damned talented. They are Steve Callahan, Rene Alvarado and Cory Schneider - the stars of "East Side Story" written and directed by Carlos Portugal. Their movie will screen next Sunday at the festival and my interviews with them will be posted sometime next week. These three are currently on the cover of IN Los Angeles Magazine which features an interview with Portugal inside.

These are some of the talent involved in the surfing gay love story pic "Shelter" which I'm sure will end up being one of the most popular films of the festival. From left to right are leading man Trevor Wright who is astoundingly good in the film, the very talented witer-director Jonah Markowitz and the very cute Ross Thomas who co-stars in "Shelter" as the understanding best friend of Wright's gay character.

Could they BE any better looking? Reichen Lemkuhl and his new boyfriend made the opening night scene. Reichen got good reviews for his "Dante's Cove" performance from fellow cast members I talked to last night. Season 3 premieres in October.

Robert Gant co-starred and co-produced the night's superb opening night film "Save Me" along with Chad Allen and Judith Light.

Judith Light should win a slew of awards for her sensational performance in "Save Me." Here she is with Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott. Tori was first to take the stage at the Orpheum Theater in downtown LA and welcomed the crowd. At the afterparty, she worked the crowd.

Hello Jensen Atwood...he's one of the hot new additions to the cast of "Dante's Cove." But we already know hom from "Noah's Arc." He arrives at Outfest 2007 looking like a million bucks...

After interviewing virtually all of the cast of "Dante's Cove" in the past year, I finally got to meet William Gregory Lee who plays Ambrosias on the show. I will post our chat sometime next week.

Three of the hunky cast members of "Dante's Cove." They just wreapped filming of season three and tell me it will be hotter than ever. Here are Jon Fleming, Jensen Atwood and Gregory Michael...

I wanted to post this picture of the "Harry Potter" kids at Grauman's earlier this week because before heading over to Outfest opening night downtown, I hung out for a few hours in Hollywood with my sister's family who are on a little vacation. The kids were so excited to see the fresh footprints of Daniel Radclff and company but didn't know who the heck people like Shirley Temple and Bette Davis were. My sister and I kept doing "I Love Lucy" lines from the episode when she and Ethel stole John Wayne's footprints. Anyway, this little anecdote is a long-winded way of me giving you a link to my Daily News Box Office Buzz column where I talk numbers and about some of the records "Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix" has already set.
Enjoy!

You'd think it is the second coming of Christ. But better the paprazzi swarm over them as they arrive at LAX than chase Paris Hilton down the freeway. It's kinda cool to have David Beckham in town, it adds some nice glamour don't you think?
Keep checking for a steady stream of posts in a bit...I will have an account of opening night of Outfest 2007 which was quite a scene...

It's kinda cool to see a presidential candidate (even one with no chance in hell) ticked off that he was not asked to participate in the upcoming debate among Democratic candidates on LGBT issues. Mike Gravel wonders if he is just too opinionated for the Human Rights Campaign which is co-sponsoring the August debate. This is a comment I picked up from the Queerty blog:
"…I think the real reason why HRC didn’t invite me is that I’m too vocal in my advocacy of gay rights. None of the top tier candidates would have been comfortable facing an opponent who consistently points out their refusal to embrace true equality for gays and lesbians. HRC simply bowed to the star factor. It’s just a shame that this travesty was perpetrated in the name of the LGBT community."

Can you imagine one of the Republican candidates being so upset? Heck no. None of them even have the guts to participate in one so nothing is planned for the pathetic GOP side which includes John McCain who is blaming his downward spiral on "gay sweaters" he was advised to wear.

Gimme a break.

"Survivor" hunk J.P. Calderon did an interview and photo shoot with the sexy oh la la blog which I encourage you to check out. He sure is a good looking guy and was very sweet when I met him. But I am puzzled and amused by his answer to the question of what his favorite part of Paris is (the city!)
Here is what he said:
J.P.: Paris Hilton? Or Perez Hilton ? I do not like Perez, but I like Paris Hilton. I think that people hate her because she is living a life we all would love to have. She has grown up in money, so don't expect her to buy a small place and drive an old car. She abuses her privileges, but we all do that on some level. She has to realize sometimes that she needs to be the role-model that so far she hasn’t been...but besides that, she is just fine. She is Paris. And as for the City of Paris...I have never been there, but now that I know you, I suppose that I will be going there soon :-) lol.

Any fan of the late, great HBO prison drama "Oz" remember the twisted, tortured but ultimately genuine romantic relationship between inmates Beecher (Lee Tergesen) and Keller (Chris Meloni). I just read a terrific story about the relationship on AfterElton.com which interviewed series creator Tom Fontana who says: “The Keller/Beecher thing really grew out of the dynamic between the two actors, Chris and Lee, in the sense that my original intention was simply for Keller to be a classic sexual predator, using the Beecher character. But the chemistry between the two actors onscreen was such that I went, ‘Well wait a minute, there's more here and it's much more interesting than anything that I would have conceived of.' [...] It was exciting to see the dynamic between them, so that's why I stayed with that story in terms of Beecher 's development as a character.”

To read the story, go over to AFTERELTON.COM.

Here is a YouTube video I found in Keller and Beecher with more after the jump...

Andy Roddick and Serena Williams look like they have recovered from their disappointing Wimbledons where each was among the favorites to win the title. Andy has the hardcourt season coming up where he always excells and Serena is probably just as happy that her sister Venus won the tournament. Meanwhile there's James Blake who it seems will never be a grand slam champion. But he sure is handsome as heck!

WHAT is Serena pointing at??? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Eye candy heaven...I sure wish I had gone to the ESPYs...

Sorry for the delay in getting some posts up today. Got stuck in LA trattic for an hour and made the mistake of having NPR on. They covered so many horrifying stories and almost all had to do with the president. By the time I reached the newsroom, I was ready to tear someone's head off. It's no wonder people are seeking escape by going to the movies. Warner's "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" earned an estimated $44.755 million on Wednesday making it the biggest Wednesday single-day gross in box-office history (this figure appropriately includes $12 million from midnight showings that started within Wednesday).

The leading men of one of my favorite indie movies "East Side Story" are on the new issue of IN Los Angeles magazine. They are Steve Callahan, Cory Schneider and Rene Alvarado. The movie will screen at Outfest 2007 on Sunday, July 22. It will probably sell out so get your tickets! It is written and directed by Carlos Portugal.

For more pics of these hunky dudes from their photo shoot, go to the jump...

Tab Hunter was Hollywood's Golden Boy and it is easy to see why when you look at the covers of his autobiography and of a CD featuring his greatest hits (I had no idea he could sing). So Mr. Hunter, who in his later years has lived as an out gay man, turns 76 years old today! Happy B-day to a Hollywood survivor...

More photos of Hunter (with James Dean and Roddy McDowell) after the jump...

I remember the days of Luke and Laura on "General Hospital." But how cool it would have been to have a Luke and NOAH. Well, it's happening, right now, on "As the World Turns" with out teen Luke (Van Hansis) and his friend Noah (Jake Siberman) about to embark on a romance. Thank God for You Tube where there is this wonderful compilation of some of their moments together so far...

Also, Rosie made a video blog with a thin and cute Ross the Intern who is on the cruise and brought his mother. He took Rosie to task for the gross ingrown hair story and confessed that he is hooked on "Big Brother 8." They talked about how skinny Julie Chen is and Rosie expressed her distaste for tattooed houseguest Dick. To see the vblog, click HERE.

While the encounter with Ross was sweet and all, Rosie had an edgier moment while onstage on the cruise when she drew a mustache on a picture of Elisabeth Hasselbeck, her former co-host and "friend" on "The View." Rosie said of the die-hard George W. Bush groupie: "Her only fucking credit was Survivor. Come on!”
Now, I'm not too pleased to see Rosie take the low road when it comes to Hasselbeck but I gotta say, I think Elisabeth might look back on her years defending this war and the secretive administration and the hapless president and really be embarassed. So much of what is happening is indefensible.

Here is a reprise of their famous showdown on The View which turned out to be Rosie's last live appearance on the show which I think has become far less relevant without Rosie on it:

ONE LAST THING: Of Donald Trump, Rosie reportedly said she'd "love to break into his apartment and rub her belly all over him."

Leading Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama irked me and many others when they were a bit slow to condemn Gen. Peter Pace for saying that homosexuals are immoral. So maybe they can make it up with some good answers at a televised debate on gay issues next month presented by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and MTV Networks' Logo channel.
Clinton and Obama were the first to commit to the one-hour event followed by John Edwards, Christopher Dodd will be held on August 9th at 6:00PM PT / 9:00 PM ET in Los Angeles before a studio audience. It will broadcast live without commercial interruption on Logo's 24/7 cable television channel as well as through live streaming video at LOGOonline.com.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a pro-marriage equality candidate, has not confirmed his attendance yet, and neither has New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson who has been courting the gay vote. Sen. Joe Biden has declined the invitation based on scheduling conflicts. Former senator Mike Gravel, was not invited to the debate because he didn't meet the fundraising threshold for participants and his campaign is furious.
HRC spokesperson Brad Luna said HRC and Logo initially set out to sponsor two different forums, one for Republican candidates and one for Democratic candidates.
“The precondition we set before those forums could be confirmed was that two out of the three leading candidates would have to confirm their attendance,” Luna told The Advocate. On the Republican side, Mitt Romney declined the invitation, and Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain never responded, so the GOP forum never got off the ground."

Lance Bass may be dating the gorgeous model Pedro Andrade, but he doesn't want anyone thinking he's got a new boyfriend.
“He's just a friend,” Bass, 28, told Usmagazine.com during a party in his Hollywood Hills home on July 7. “We are just friends now. I guess you can say we're dating because we've been on multiple dates, but it's nothing exclusive. I'm freshly out of a relationship.”
Bass broke up with Reichen Lehmkuhl for over four months now.
“...I've never dated in my adult gay life,” he said. “I need to do that. Mainly I don't want to date anyone right now because I'm so focused on my career, which I haven't been for the last four years.”

OK "I Love Lucy" fans, remember the character of Mr. Hickox who was hired as the Ricardo's business manager? How 'bout the passport office guy who Fred, Ricky, Lucy and Ethel tricked into staying past closing time? Here's one of his lines from that episode courtesy of my friend Eddie: "I'm a civil servant, madam. if you want to get me fired, you'll have to wait til I die." Then there's the guy holding auditions in the "Lucy Tells the Truth" episide and the expectant father in the hospital with Ricky who had already had six girls.
All of these character were played by the same man, Charles Lane, who has died at the age of 102! My friend Henry is the one who provided me with a quick rundown of the episodes Lane appeared in so thanks Henry! Feel better soon...and I hope you live another 75 years!
"They were all good parts, but they were jerks," he told The LA Times in 1980 of his characters in "I Love Lucy." "If you have a type established, though, and you're any good, it can mean considerable work for you."
He has hundreds of film and television roles to his credit stretching from the early 1930s to the mid-90s.
He appeared in small roles in many classic films ("It's A Wonderful Life" and "You Can't Take It With You") , often as a suffering no fools kinda guy. Lane was pretty sharp until the end, attending the 2005 TV Land Awards and joking that he was still available for work.

So I watched the CBS hour of "Big Brother 8" last night and after seeing YouTube videos etc. of what went on in the house, the network show is kind of a snooze. And to have to endure the hideously annoying Jen is more than I can take. I'd rather stick needles in my eyes! And then there's the squeaky Jessica weirdo who is carrying on a silly grudge against her high school rival who is on the block. If these two don't get voted off in the next few weeks, I'm gonna have to start drinking while watching the show...
But making it all better is the strapping, gorgeous Nick who has a strategy I have never seen before on the show: he is flirting with absolutely everyone, females and gay males, and it is working...so far.
(YouTube Clip after jump)

I wrote a preview of Outfest 2007 that ran in today's entertainment section of the Daily News leading off with the movies that make up the festival's "Queers in Christ" series of movies that include "Save Me" starring Chad Allen (above) . Here is a LINK if you are not in the LA area and can't run out to the newstand to pick up a copy...
Enjoy!

The wonderful John Barrowman, star of the "Dr. Who" spinoff "Torchwood," gave an in-depth interview to Who recently and opened up about a lot of subjects including the fact that he was offered the role of Rob Lowe's gay brother [and Matthew Rhys' lover] on ABC's "Brtothers & Sisters." He and Lowe became frends when they co-starred in "A Few Good Men" on the London stage a few years back and Lowe recommended him foir the role. But Barrowman is far too busy these days with roles in two hit series on the BBC.
Here are some of the interview highlights:

On his new level of fame: " I've had a great career with musicals and other stuff I've done in the past so I've never been in the doldrums, but with Torchwood and Doctor Who I've become a household name and a celebrity and I'm hooked. I'm totally grateful for it. I would not change it for the world. The Torchwood audience have made a little boy's dreams come true."

On the sexuality his character of Capt. Jack Harkness: "Anything with a postcode Jack will shag! He has been known to have a shag with an alien. Male or female, Jack will do it. What's absolutely spectacular that we found in the UK is that young people, be it male or female, actually don't care that he has sexual relations with men or women. They're more into the hero aspect of it and the fact he's such a cool guy."

On losing the lead in "Will & Grace" to Eric McCormack: "I auditioned for Will and they told me I was too straight! I just laughed because I even get now women saying to me, 'You can't be gay' and I'm like, 'Well, I am', and they're like, 'No, you can't be', and I'm like 'I am!' I'm really proud to say I'm a guy who likes guys and I guy things, like cars and watching sport. You don't have to be a flounce to be a gay man–there's nothing wrong with that but there are other sides. That's what I wish the American media would grasp a hold of."

On actors being closeted: "I can understand why and I don't believe in outing people because I think there might be issues with the person they need to go through but I do believe if somebody lies about their sexuality for the sake of their career they're being detrimental to the rest of the people who are out there trying to make it a normality. I know quite a few people who try to cover it up and I think it's completely wrong. "

On signing a civil partnership with Scott Gill last year: "...it has taken us to a different level because you actually see that person in a different light when they're standing there and saying those words, saying they're committing themselves to spend the rest of their life with you no matter what happens."

To read the complete interview, check it out on the Who site.

I've been watching many Outfest 2007 screeners in recent days in anticipation of the LA gay and lesbian film festival which opens tomorrow. So far, my faves have included "The Curiosity of Chance," "East Side Story," "Back Soon," and "25 Percent" but the best of the bunch, so far, is "Shelter."

Written and directed by Jonah Markowitz, "Shelter" is a film that is ripe with commercial possibilities due to its superior production quality and first-rate performances by its cast. It's also written so well and has so much believable interaction between its characters. No false notes here. And then there are the surfing scenes which are terrific. Markowitz is making his directorial debut but he did supervise the surfing footage in "Blue Crush," the female surfing movie from 4-5 years back starring Kate Bosworth and Michelle Rodriguez.
The movie is set in San Pedro and follows two guys who fall for each other while doing what they love most: surfing. The younger guy is a frustrated artist named Zach - sensationally played by Trevor Wright - who is still struggling with his sexuality but begins to come out when he falls in love with his best friend's older brother Shaun, played by Brad Row of "Billy's Hollywood Screen Test" fame.
The two actors play the emotional scenes so well and they got for it in the love scenes as well. Clothes are shed, kisses are shared and they try and weather the rocky road ahead. Zach is a father figure to his adorable young nephew Cody, loves him so much, and is a crucial presence in his life since Cody's mother (Zach's sister) is a mess who constantly makes her brother choose between his family and his dreams.
I also enjoyed the performance of Ross Thomas (pictured, right), who plays Shaun's understanding younger brother, Gabe. Gabe has no reservations about his older brother's sexuality and the scene where he tells Zach that he is aware of the relationship is very tender. Zach is embarassed and doesn't want to talk about it but Gabe insists and in his goofy way, is the best friend you'd ever want to have. As he leaves to go back to college, he hugs Zach tight and says, "We're still bros, right?"
Markowitz wrote the screenplay for "Shelter" four years ago while staying with a friend in Seattle and shot the movie in three weeks. When I think of all the garbage out there that has so much time and money behind it, it's so wonderful to know that such good movies can be made with far less when you have someone behind it with vision and immense talent.
I promise you that "Shelter" will be one of the best films you see at Outfest 2007. It is the festival's dramatic centerpiece on Wednesday, July 18 at the Ford Ampitheatre.

Muscle-head Nick is certainly into same-sex confessions. In the latest clips from the show's 24-hour live feed, Nick tells two of his straight male housemates about a top five list of guys he would get physical with. They make fuin of him a bit and he backtracks slightly: "I wouldn't do anything with any guy unless they were on my five list at that moment." Hmmmmmmmmmm. So it looks like this list is ever-changing. I wonder if Dustin or Joe will make the list soon...

Then later, Nick discusses his top five list with one of his female housemates and lists Matthew McConaughey at the top of his list ("He's a great looking guy, great individual, got a killer bod, he's really personable." Following Matthew is Ryan Reynolds, another Out In Hollywood fave. And third is Brad Pitt. Says Nick: "Have you seen 'Snatch' or 'Fight Club'? Wow."
Great taste ya got Nick...

That Tori Spelling. What's she gonna do to surprise us next?
The no-TORI-ous Donna Martin, a two-time bride herself and a new mom, is now officially ordained and officiated over her first wedding at her bed-and-breakfast Inn Chateau where her latest reality show is set. What I love is that the first couple she married were two men!
She describes it herself in her blog: "It was so beautiful as I united Tony and Dex as life partners in love. They wrote their own beautiful vows and there was so much love surrounding them that there wasn’t a dry eye in the driveway! I was beyond nervous though. I’ve done live theater and presented at The Emmys and this by far was my scariest moment simply because they had bestowed such an honor upon me and I didn’t want to let them down."

Before I forget, as I walked out of the Arclight Theatre in Hollywood last night, Matthew Perry walked right past me. I had just posted about him a few hours earlier because TMZ had posted side-by-side picks of Perry and Matthew McConaughey jogging and Perry looked pasty and puffy and I defended him. So, I decided to turn around and check him out as he walked into the theater and, well, he is quite portly these days. Guess that's why he's jogging! But the hair was perfect as was that handsome face.
So, I was was at the ArcLight to see "Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix." I have loved every single "Potter" movie so I was quite excited about the fifth in the franchise. It didn't let me down. Loved it! While I miss the lighter moments that the previous films had, this film had a good story, moved along briskly and by this time, the cast inhabits their roles expertly.
The film follows the struggles Harry (Daniel Radcliff) is having as he tries to alert the wizard world about the return of He Who Shall Not be Named — the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. But complicating matters terribly is a real bitch named Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) who is senior undersecretary to the minister and begins teaching at the school. Staunton is just deliciously wicked in the role and more than makes up for the mere cameo roles given in this film to Oscar winners Maggie Smith and Emma Thompson.
Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) are back as Harry's best friends and the three become the leaders of Dumbledore's Army, a secret school organization designed to teach Hogwarts students practical defense against the dark arts after the curriculum at the ancient school is restricted and much of the staff fired. The trio of Harry, Hermione and Ron are growing up and since they have been the leads in all the "Potter" films, you feel like you are seeing them grow up...and you are! I really loved a new castmember, Evanna Lynch, who plays the eccentric Luna Lovegood. She is very odd but so irresistable.
I really missed seeing a spirited game of of Quidditch which is always a highlight for me in a "Potter" film but this is the darkest movie in the series yet so there is no time for fun and games. But there is time for Harry to get a kiss under the missle toe and to battle evil forces and to prove himself a hero once again.
The film opens on Wednesday and if you are a fan of the series, GO!

I watched Nate Berkus on "Oprah" last weekend, I think it was a Sunday night repeat. They gave a tour of his apartment in Chicago which overlooks Lake Michigan. Now, I think Nate is charming and super dooper attractive but I did start to wonder about his taste!
He likes to mix old with new and do very eclectic things and while some of it worked for me, a lot of it didn't. So, if I could afford to, I might not hire him. But the nicest touches were photos taken by his late partner Fernando Bengoechea who was killed in the Southeast Asian tsunami.
Anyway, it was nice to see Nate's face on the cover of the August issue of Out magazine last night when I stopped by the newstand on Fairfax and Melrose after a screening of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix." [A review to come later today].
According to a post on Towelroad.com, the interview highlight comes Berkus mentions his January 2005 appearance with Oprah on the show shortly after his partner's death: "After the show, I got a tremendous amount of letters and e-mails from kids across the country who were coming out. They said that watching the way my relationship with Fernando was presented on the show gave them the courage to say to their friends and parents, 'You know what, I'm gay just like him and I want to have what he had.' The most touching correspondence I received came from an 18-year-old who said, 'I'd never seen a gay couple's love story presented like that on TV before."
"Now that I've seen it, I realize I'd be wasting a lot of time if I didn't get out there and try to find it for myself.' It was amazing, and it makes me really proud, because somebody somewhere was watching the show and it changed how they viewed themselves and their own opportunities to live in a successful gay relationship...I wasn't concerned about presenting my relationship with Fernando to the world. I wanted people to know about our life and what I lost."

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson may be aggressively courting the gay vote in his run for The White House, but he may have done some damage to that effort by using the word, maricón - Spanish for “faggot” while on the radio with Don Imus last year.
Richardson appeared on the since-canceled Imus radio program last March. Imus, of “nappy-headed hos” infamy, had the following exchange with the governor of New Mexico:
“Bernard on the staff here has been claiming you’re not really Hispanic so– that you’re just claiming that for some sort of advantage or something,” Imus said to Richardson, tongue clearly in cheek. “You can just answer this yes or no and this will answer that question. Would you agree that Bernard is a maricón?”
Without missing a beat, Richardson replied in Spanish, “Yo creo que Bernardo, sí — es un maricón si él piensa que yo no soy hispano. [General laughter] Was that good enough or what? [General laughter]”
Translated to English, Richardson said, “I believe that Bernard, yes – he’s a faggot if he thinks that I am not Hispanic.”
According to the Queerty site, gay activist Christopher Hubble heard and notified GLAAD who consulted with They, Equality New Mexico which received a call from Richardson apologizing for the slur. The matter did not go any further until some recent reports in a gay newspaper and Richardson recently released a statement apologizing:
"I would never knowingly say or do anything to hurt the GLBT community — a community that I have worked hard for and supported my entire career. In the Spanish I grew up speaking, the term means simply ‘gay,’ not positive or negative. It has been brought to my attention that the word also has a hurtful or derogatory connotation, which was never my intent. If I offended anybody, I’m sorry."
"My record on GLBT issues speaks for itself. I have certainly done more to help and support the GLBT community than any other presidential candidate, and more than most other politicians. The timing of this smacks of politics — it comes as I am gaining momentum and moving up in the polls."

I'm glad to have a candidate who is supportive of gay issues, but, he should have known better.

Good thing she is no longer on "The View." How else could Rosie O'Donnell have time to do things like the "True Colors Tour" and now one of her family cruises. Much has been made of her blogging while on the cruise but I watched her Video blog today with daughter Vivi and it was cute, but kinda boooooring. Rosie tells us that she does not have a cold sore on her mouth, but had tried to remove an ingrown hair with a thumb tack! Not only is that TMI, but it's not very smart!

After they won the Wimbledon singles titles over the weekend, Roger Federer and Venus Williams got all dressed up for the Champion's dinner on Sunday night in London. Roger is holding the trophy as champion for the fifth time and was the favorite going in. But Venus, who with her victory jumped from 31 to 17 in the world rankings Monday, was not expected to add a fourth trophy to her impressive collection.
I'm so happy for them both. And so ends my Wimbledon coverage of 2007...

Well, well. It looks like muscle-head Nick is an equal-opportunity tease! Following his hot tub confession to Joe, he then allows Joe's ex, Dustin, to rub sunblock all over him for what seems like forEVER.

I get the feeling there is gonna be a steady stream o YouTube clips coming out of the Big Brother house in the weeks to come and I feel it is my blogging duty to post them!

..over the weekend and TMZ.com is asking its readers to try and figure out which one is Mr. McConaughey and which one is Mr. Perry. Readers of Out In Hollywood are already quite familiar with the shirtless one but for the record, I think Matthew Perry is an absolute babe. Anyone looks a little dumpy next to the Adonis that is Matthew McConaughey...

Enrique Iglesias sure knows how to win over gay fans a lot better than that Mika person. In an interview wirth the HX site, he chats about his headline-making appearance at London’s G-A-Y nightclub where he sang his love song "Hero" to a gay fan, about his gay friends, addresses rumors about his sexuality and says George Clooney, not Ricky Martin, would be his type if he were into men.
Here are some excerpts for you to enjoy:
Q. Tell me about your performance at G-A-Y nightclub in London.
A. To tell you the truth, I was surprised it was such a big deal. I’ve read a few things, and even when the owner called us up to ask us, he kind of had that attitude of, “I might as well try, but I don’t think he’s gonna do it.” I was like, “Yeah, it’d be cool to do it!”

Q Was that the first time you’d actively gone after your gay fan base?
A. It wasn’t so much going after the gay fans. I just like doing stuff that’s different. In my career I don’t want to do the same thing all the time and bore myself. What really drew my attention was that the owner said, “Look, this is the biggest gay club in London, and you’re going to see one of the best crowds you’ve ever seen in your whole life.” And that made me really, really want to do it. I didn’t care if it was gay or straight. It was about playing in front of a great crowd. When I got on top of the stage and started to sing, I’m telling you, the guy was completely right. They were singing so loud, the next day my left ear, where I had my ear monitor, was ringing so much. It was absolutely crazy.

Q. How did you choose the guy you sang “Hero” to onstage?
He was up on top of another guy having a good time, so I could clearly see him way, way back in the crowd. But if A. I ever pick out anybody at one of my concerts, I really just go with my instinct.

Q. Was that the most intimate you’ve ever been with a guy?
A. Yeah, that was probably the most intimate that I’ve been with a guy. [Laughs] I’ve never serenaded a guy before, I’ll tell you that much.

I dunno where I've been. There's this gorgeous young actor named Cheyenne Jackson who starred on Broadway in "All Shook Up" and appeared in the film "United 93." Now he's starring on the Great White Way once again in the new musical "Xanadu" which opens tomorrow. Until reading an Q&A with him on AfterElton.com just now, I had no idea this talented dreamboat was an out gay man.
Hooray!!
Here are some pics of him both in his "Xanadu" role and out of it and some of the questions from the interview which you can read in its entiretly at AfterElton.com.

AE: I hear that you wear this already legendary pair of short-shorts in the show. How are they working for you?
CJ: They're literally these little, '80s style, satin skating shorts. I have huge legs, and I never show them -- not because of false modesty, I'm just not comfortable. So I had to work up to wearing the shorts. Last weekend was the first time I put them on, and I rocked 'em. I figure if I'm doing this, I'd better go for it all the way, so I invited all my friends to come the first night I wore the shorts. They gave me some catcalls, and I felt okay.

AE: Do you think that being openly gay has been a detriment to your acting career, or has it helped, or has it had no net effect at all?
CJ: [Pauses] I think it's been a detriment, probably just a little bit. Had I not been out and open, I think I might have gotten some movies that I screen-tested for. People may have said, “The dude's gay; how are we going to market this?” But it's not an issue for me, because being out is very freeing.

AE: On the plus side, you might perhaps not have been cast as gay hero Mark Bingham in United 93 if you weren't out.
CJ: Possibly – although the director didn't know anything about me. I think one of the main reasons I got the part was that I was the biggest guy who auditioned; Mark Bingham was 6'5” and I'm almost 6'4”.

AE: If Hollywood gives us another big, gay love story like Brokeback Mountain and you were cast in one of the leads, who would you want to play opposite?
CJ: Hmm, that's a tough one. [Starts to say someone's name, then stops:] I won't say him, because I don't want it to be weird the next time I see him. [Pauses, then comes up with another name:] Ewan McGregor. I'd do a love scene with him any day. Or Hugh Jackman. I've never met him, but he said some lovely things about me in the press when I was in All Shook Up – and we have the same agent. He's an idol of mine, for sure.

AE: I'm guessing that, in terms of theater work, your being out has been a non-issue.
CJ: That's right. Here, your reputation is everything. People know if you've got the goods, if you're easy to work with, and if you can get the job done. Besides, it's New York theater. Everybody's gay!

AE: Are you in a relationship?
CJ: Yeah, for almost eight years. He's a very private person. I don't think anyone could find any pictures of him. He says he's like the Amish; he doesn't like to have his picture taken, because he feels like it's giving away part of his soul. He's a medical physicist, really brilliant and funny. He's the brains behind the operation.

AE: Do you ever feel like you're a sort of poster boy for gay actors?
CJ: Chris Sieber and I were talking about this. Every time they mention either of us in the press, it's always “openly gay Christopher Sieber” and “openly gay Cheyenne Jackson.” It's a little reductive and, after a while, it's like, “Yawn.”

AE: Yet it's understandable that people focus on it, given that so few actors are out -- especially leading man types.
CJ: Sure. I liken it to the experience of a black friend of mine. When he was growing up, there were almost no black people on television; but occasionally, there would be a black family in a commercial or something, and when that happened, his whole family would run in and gather around the TV. To me, that's lovely and precious and sad at the same time. When I was a little kid, who were the gay people on TV? Charles Nelson Reilly, Paul Lynde, maybe Liberace. So I understand why the gay community wants to embrace actors who are out. People want to be represented.

We are now getting a feel for Lance Bass' taste in men: gorgeous. He has moved on from hunky Reichen to New York-based Brazilian model, Pedro Andrade. According to the site, Queerty, the couple made their public debut on July 4th at Sag Harbor’s The Estate. How convenient that Andrade lives in NYC since Bass, next month, begins a lengthy run on the Broadway state in "Hairspray."
Good for him!

I was gabbing with here! TV founder Paul Colichman and he shared with me some terrific news: hunky and talented and best of all, OUT actor Robert Gant is headlining a new series of movies about a gay spy. The first is called "Kiss Me Deadly: A Jacob Keane Assignment." Jacob Keane is a photographer living the family life in Milan with his loving boyfriend, Paolo, and Julia, the daughter he shares with his lesbian friend, Kyra.
The film has already wrapped and will make its debut on the here! TV network in November and there are plans for at least two more movies. This is similar to whart here! has done with Chad Allen's "Donald Strachey Mysteries" series of movies. I'm just so glad to see these guys headlining projects like this. Their independent film, "Save Me" will be the opening night movie at Outfest Thursday night...
So GUESS WHO co-stars with Gant in this new flick about a private dick? I'll give you a few hints then you can go to the jump and see who it is. She once lived in the 90210 and has had a charmed career between being fired from her various high-profile gigs...

Hey, I'm into the new season of "Big Brother" but I'm just committing to the one hour three times a week. I'm not watching the HBO three-hour nightly thing or the 24 hour live raw feed thing. C'mon! Gotta have a life.
But thank God someone is watching! How else would we know that hunky Nick would admit to a gay past while in the hot tub with gay Joe and see them snuggling together.
At least he's not as big a tease as last season's Howie who never snuggled or admitted to gay sex. Being such a beefcake helps Nick immeasurably. Why else would Kail, as head of household, bring him into her little alliance with the two other hunks Mike and Zach? Says Nick: "It's Mrs. Robinson and her three boys."
Here's a YouTube video of the hot tub scene where Nick's admission is made...

Anyway, watched last night's show and will share with you some impressions after the jump...

Wonder how it feels to win five Wimbledon singles titles in a row? Roger Federer does, becoming the first man in 27 years to accomplish the feat on Sunday. The world number one beat Rafael Nadal in a classic five-set match of superb quality, suspense and drama. Federer has now won 11 of tennis' four grand slam tournaments, three shy of the all-time record of 14 won by Pete Sampras. It was well worth waking up at 6 a.m. to watch - especially having my friend Henry call me from India after match point so we could celebrate Federer's historic win together...



"It was such a close match," Federer said. "I told Rafa at the net he deserved it as well. I'm the lucky one today."

After Federer left the court, he and Bjorn Borg (the last man to win five Wimbledons in a row) exchanged hugs and smiles in front of the board that lists tournament champions. Federer's name had already been added to the list for 2007. Federer stretched his record grass-court winning streak to 53 and his Wimbledon winning streak to 34.

I just love how affectionate tennis players are with each other...it's very sweet. In Saturday's men's semifinals, the very promising 20-year-old Serbian Novak Djokovic had to quit due to injury after splitting sets with Nadal who consoled the fourth-ranked player with a tender hug at the net.


The half-hug Nadal gave to arch-rival Roger Federer was not as warm but that's understandable: he lost to the Swiss star for the second-straight year in the finals of Wimbledon. Federer has now won five in a row.

And finally, men's doubles champions Amaud Clement and Michael Liodra were feeling the love after they upset the top-ranked team of Bob and Mike Bryan on Sunday.

I love looooooove Wimbledon.
XXX00

The women's singles final at Wimbledon was pretty much a forgone conclusion from the beginning with Venus Williams crushing a cute French gal named Marion Bartoli who somehow beat the world's top player, Justine Henin, in the semifinals a day earlier. Venus came into the tournament ranked 31st and largely written off as a threat - just like two years ago when she also came out of the lower ranks to win the tournament. She is now a four-time Wimbledon singles champion - only the fourth woman in the era of open tennis (since 1968) to have won at least that many times. Steffi Graf won 7 while Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King, who won 9 and 6 respectively, were on hand sitting in the Royal Box Saturday to watch Venus win. During her on-court interview, Venus showed what a great sense of history she has when she noted that she was getting prize money equal to the men for the first time and how much of the credit goes to Billie Jean, a trailblazer both on and off the court.
“Now we have equal prize-money. Billie Jean King fought for years and no one deserves this more than her,” she said. “She’s done so much for women’s tennis and I wouldn’t be here without her ? and thank you to the All England Club for playing under equal terms.”
I got goose bumps and was so glad to see this great advocate for equality get her due on really what was Venus' day.

And they said it wouldn't last... Lt. Andy Baldwin of "The Bachelor" and his bride-to-be Tessa Horst competed in the “Cholo’s 2000 Swim” off the Hawaiian island of Oahu on Saturday. According to JustJared.com (where you can find dozens more pics) Tessa heads back home to California today but will be back to move in with her handsome Navy doctor (rumored to be in August).

I loved John Travolta's performance in "Hairspray" and he is in some of my all-time favorite movies ever including "Grease," ":Saturday Night Fever" and "Pulp Fuction." But the longer he remains in the public eye - he's been a star for more than 30 years now - the more inauthentic and frankly, creepy, he seems to me. So here is what he says about how he was treated on the set of "Hairspray" in which he is in very convincing drag as lovely Edna:
"You should have seen everyone on the set," Travolta told the UK Times. "Every woman and every man was feeling my breasts and squeezing my ass.../And I was 'C'mon, feel me, touch me!' I didn't care. I was just a slut, to be frank!"
Uh, OK.
"Everyone knew I was underneath that outfit, but they forgot...I'd have crew guys saying, 'Do you mind if I touch you there?' "

Strange. But the movie rocks! Click HERE to read my review...

There has been lotsa Internet speculation about the private life of "Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller and who he might be dating. If he ever confirms it, I'll be happy to write all about it on Out In Hollywood. In the meantime, I'm sharing some of these sexy shots of the actor from his photo shoot as the spokesperson for for Nam Yang French Cafe, a Korean coffee drink. A full collection of the pics can be found on the JustJared.com site.