I love anyone who cusses this much in an interview because that means she's being herself. I'm talking about Rosie Perez and her interview in the new issue of Out Magazine.
A few excerpts:
The star of such films as "Do the Right Thing" and "Fearless" is returning to the Broadway stage for the revival of Terrence McNally’s "The Ritz." Perez plays the role of Googie Gomez, originated by Rita Moreno. Googie is a talentless chanteuse who wants to be thought of as a rising star à la Bette Midler.
OUT: Hi, Rosie. So how are you approaching Googie’s very bad singing?
PEREZ: It’s just so difficult for me! [Laughs] I’m really channeling three people -- Ethel Merman, one of my cousins (I can’t say her name because she’ll kill me and she’s so clueless she’ll never guess it’s her when she sees it), and Boy Shakira.
OUT: Have you talked to the original Googie, Rita Moreno?
PEREZ: I called her and said, “I’m asking for your blessing. I’ve got big shoes to fill.” She said, “Bullsh*t. You can do this. Just remember that Googie is a real person and you’ll win...and change your f***ing cell phone message. It’s f***ing rude.” And she hung up on me! I don’t think it’s rude at all. It says, “This is R.P. Please don’t leave a long, irritating message, and I’ll get back to you when I feel like it. Have a blessed day and God bless you.” Don’t you hate when people ramble on and on?
OUT: I read that you choreographed "In Living Color." Did you work with the immortal J. Lo?
PEREZ: I’m the one that hired her, even though she tells everyone Keenan [Ivory Wayans] was. He didn’t want her because she was overweight and didn’t dance that well, but I said, “She has star quality.” He said, “Your job depends on it.” And I thought, Oh, sh*t.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When I was face-to-face with Jennifer Beals this week, I didn't blurt out how much I loved her in "Flashdance." I'm sure it must be annoying to be reminded of a movie you made almost 25 years ago. But I did tell her how absolutely remarkable she looks - ageless.
"Oh, thank you. You're nice," she says, "It takes a village. Hair and make-up."
So what about the future of "The L Word," the drama on "Showtime" that Beals as headlined Bette Porter, an Ivy League educated lesbian.
"We've just almost finished our fifth season and we have our fingers crossed for a sixth season and that would be unprecedented in Showtime history I think, to go past five seasons," she says. " So, we'll see and hopefully the success of the show will help us in reaching that mark."
Beals has nothing but praise for Showtimes which has provided her with plenty of work over the years including in the drama "The Twilight of the Golds."
"To work for Showtime is a dream, I've worked for Showtime for a very, very long time. They're really a very, very hands-off company and very supportive of different."
Beals has been plenty busy over the past two decades,. mixing features with TV movies and guest spots on series. Among her more memorable movies, in my mind, are "Devil in a Blue Dress," "The Last Days of Disco," "Vampire's Kiss" and "The Anniversary Party." Her most recent TV movie was "My Name is Sarah" which aired this year.
As we wrapped up our talk, I just blurted out: "I still remember that TV series you did with Lisa Hartman and Drew Barrymore!" It was on CBS and was called "200 Malibu Road" and aired in 1992.
"Yes," she said, suddenly looking pained. "That was a long time ago."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There are those of us who miss "Noah's Arc" and don't underrstand what Logo is thinking by taking this wonderful show off the air. Of course, one of opur favorites on the show was Jensen Atwood so how cool it is to have him join the cast of "Dante's Cove." He's flirting with the men and the women and in the first episode, airing Friday night on here! TV, he has a sex scene that you won't soon forget.
We had a nice chat at the premiere Tuesday:
Greg: What is happening with this planned 'Noah's Arc' movie? Have you started it yet?
Jensen: Well, it hasn't started. There have been talks. I wish I could say more. Unfortunately I can't make them do anything.
Greg: Have you seen a script?
Jensen: I haven't.
Greg: Do you have to keep your schedule open for it?
Jensen: Well, I have to pay my bills so if I can find work, I have to take it... I"m riding the 'Dante's Cove' wave right now, it's all about 'Dante's Cove.'
Greg: That love scene with Gabriel was pretty steamy in episode one. How different was that from being with Darryl Stephens on 'Noah's Arc.'?
Jensen: Very different because they're drastically different roles. I have gone from Wade who is in a relationship - his first gay relationship and he's coming into his own."
Greg: You are a huge sex symbol. How does that feel?
Jensen: [laughs] It's flattering. It's not on purpose but I'm glad it exists.
Greg: And what about, as a straight man, having all that attention from gay men?
Jensen: Well, as a human being, it's great and it's flattering for people to recognize you or the work that you do. It's humbling more than anything...I've always been cool with things."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Anyone who watches "Dante's Cove" probably wants Toby (Charlie David) and Kevin (Gregory Michael) to end up together in the end, just as they were in the beginning. But in the meantime, I am digging the chemistry between Kevin and Ambrosios (William Gregory Lee). Caught up with the adorable Greg Michael at the show's big premiere event on Tuesday.

"I love having all these people here. It's awesome," Greg said as he surveyed the frenzied scene outside the Regent theater. "It's good seeing you as always, I always read the blog. I'm not gonna lie to you, I probably check it like once a week."
I want to know how he deals with being the object of affection of so many gay men: "Very tenderly, with love and care. Gotta be smooth, gotta say, 'Thank you, I appreciate it. I'm taken...maybe I'm not. You gotta tease them a little bit. Give them what they want then take it away. I try and play a little game. You try and be vague about everything."
So Greg is straight and brought his girlfriend to the event.
"Where is she, the hussy?" I joke.
We both crack up. Then he tells me: "I'm happy. It's tough to be in a relationship in Hollywood, it really is. Especially being on a show like this. It's time consuming trying to juggle a relationship and a career but it's going well. "
I tell Greg that finding out he is straight is as heartbreaking for "Dante" fans as finding out Matthew Rhys of "Brothers & Sisters" is straight.
"MATTHEW RHYS is straight?!?" Greg says, genuinely surprised. "I'm devastated! I actually didn't know that. That's pretty disappointing.":
Don't we know it.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I love this picture of Rafael Nadal who is seen here serving during a victory over Andy Murray of Britain at the Madrid Masters. Nadal has not played since an early loss at the U.S. Open about six weeks ago. If he makes it to the final here, he would likely face his arch-rival Roger Federer who also won Thursday. Federer's victory was significant because he thrashed a player named Guillermo Canas who during a rough patch for Roger earlier this year, beat the world's top player two tournaments in a row! King Roger was finally able to show Canas who rules.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Apparently that's what at least one fan thinks.
A "Brothers & Sisters" blog, excerpted on AfterElton.com today, features an interview with Matthew Rhys and some very funny answers from the man who plays our beloved Kevin Walker who says he does not feel at all famous: "I’ve never been recognized at home. I’ve been recognized twice, here, and one of the times was a woman who said, “How do they make your head look SO BIG on TV?!” If that’s being famous – it’s not that great."

Also, sorry for the lack of posts so far today. The deaths of Hollywood legends Joey Bishop and Deborah Kerr have kept me busy on my Hollywood Joe blog until now. But, I'm all yours for the afternoon. Fresh posts to come.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've already gone public with my new favorite guilty pleasure: "Gossip Girl." I love the two rich girl leads and REALLY love the guys - especially Penn Badgley's adorable character of Dan who reminds me of a less-geeky version of Seth Cohen on "The OC." Badgely did an interview with E! Online that was very revealing.
Here are some excerpts:
Badgley: "I can’t imagine why anyone would compare me to Seth Cohen! That’s just absolutely crazy! [Laughs.] No, I think, on the page, Dan started out like a Seth Cohen in New York....I try to make him unique and not just a bumbling, awkward kid but a charming and innocent kid. You know, Adam Brody has his thing, and he’s great at that, but I wanted to do something a little different. People are probably going to see the similarities at any chance they can and be like, 'Oh, he’s just trying to be Adam Brody.' I’ve already gotten that in a lot of the reviews, but I think if you pay a little more attention, I’m actually doing something very different.

Q. Are you familiar with the Gossip Girl book series at all?
A. I read about 40 pages of the first book, just to get the idea and the tone. Then I realized there’s really no point, because we’re not emulating the books. We’re only using the premise as a platform to go off and do our own thing. But fans of the books won’t be disappointed, because we’re going to bring the same kind of fun entertainment: a little bit of trash but a lot of substance.

Q. In the books, Dan has a bi-curious element, no? He has questioned his sexuality.
A. Yeah, I think he’s straight-up gay in the books. But I don’t think network TV really has the balls to make one of their [teenage] series regulars gay. Let's say the show builds up to become a big hit, then I think they'd maybe explore it in year three or four. It would be an interesting thing to do. It could bring in a whole different demographic.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I really should not drink on a school night - not even a little bit.
Last night, Frontiers Magazine held a big bash in West Hollywood at the hotspot Eleven to celebrate it's LA's Most Eligible issue which featured the marvelous Marcellas Reynolds on the cover and 14 other LGBT men and women. I float in around 7 p.m. and somebody tells me the vodka drinks are free. I like free. I'm standing in line and a real nice guy who I've met at various functions asks what I'm drinking and I say vodka and cranberry. He hands the bartender some money and I think it's a tip so I take my drink and begin my mingle.
Hey! There's Marcellas! I go over and give him a big hug and we have a n ice gab. His friend, a beautiful woman, was late in picking the cover boy up so he was late to his own party. I tell him that it reminds me of the episode of "Rhoda" when Phyllis (Cloris Leachman) forgets to pick Rhoda (Valerie Harper) up for her own wedding!
Marcellas laughs but I'm not sure if it's a courtesy laugh or if he really gets this pop culture reference to this classic episode from the spinoff series of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show.". He IS younger than me. Anyway, Rhoda has to take the subway to her own wedding.
I'm sipping this vodka and cranberry on an empty stomach. Where, oh where are the appetizers? Guys with trays were scattered around so I found one who had little crab cakes on his tray. Very little. Had a few of those. Had a few shrimp another guy was offering.
I run into Chris Lissota, president of the LA chapter of the National Gay & Lesbian Journalists Assn. We had a meeting on Sunday. I was not there. He wonders if I got the e-mail about it. Gulp. I did. I forgot. Chris and I discuss my future on the board. I wonder if I have time to continue to serve after two years with two blogs to do etc. This really handsome (and muscular) realtor is in our vicinity so in an effort to change the subject, I start chatting him up. "Oh, what brings you here?" "What do you do?"
By this time, I've finished the drink and perhaps am a little silly. A really sweet guy who reads this blog comes up to introduce himself and, as a joke, I introduce handsome (and muscular) realtor as my boyfriend. Realtor plays along and tells the guy we've been together for 10 years. It's hysterical. We start making up this backstory and for the rest of the night, we'd bump into each other and keep adding to the story.
Me: "You take such good care of me. I can't believe you bought me that car."
Realtor: "And I'm gonna have it detailed for you too!"
I'm not sure if this is funny to anyone else but to us, it is a riot. My friend Mark Kellam arrives and I say, "Hey Mark! (I think I'm a bit loud by now). He wants to get a drink so I say, "The vodka drinks are free!" We got to the bar, we each order one. i say to Mark, "i shouldn't have another one but I love free drinks."
Bartender serves them up and says: "That'll be $18."
I think he's kidding. I ask him, "Are you kidding?"
He is not.
I say i don't want my drink then (mostly because I only have a $5 bill in my pocket). Mark is just horrified and hands the guy a $20: "I'll pay for his."
Now I'm wondering if that first drink was free...hmmm. Well anyway, Mark and I start gabbing and working the room and I see Michael Kearns whose film, "Nine Lives" had its big screening last night at the Egyptian in Hollywood. I told him I love the movie and had written about one of its stars, Steve Callahan. "I SAW that," Michael said. "I was gonna e-mail you about it."
We're gonna talk solon about an AIDS fundraiser he's organizing. Anyway, say bye to Kearns and tell Mark, "I REALLY need some food" but there is no more. I keep sipping my second drink and we start talking to a guy named Aaron Savvy. Wait, I think it was just me at this point. Mark had gone over to sit with some other friends. OK, so I start talking to Aaron. Why? Well, because he was one of the only guys at the party without a shirt on. He is working as a model tonight, handing out fliers for CityBoyz fashion menswear. He tells me he's a model and a trainer and is trying to get him own reality show off the ground. I'm not sure how that'll go but one thing is for sure, Aaron should be seen SOMEWHERE. He gave me a card and said to check out his MySpace page. And that led me to a few YouTube clips, one of which I post for you here:

Anyway, I got home safe and sound after hanging out for a few hours, having dinner and sobering up. Those not free drinks were awfully strong.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)