Birthdays: August 2008 Archives

I'm not gonna lie, Madonna leaves me absolutely cold.

But she's a gay icon who deserves some repsect on her 50th birthday and I'm gonna pay her some. This year, she was not only inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (pictured, left) but she surpassed Elvis Presley to achieve the most top 10 hits in the rock era. "4 Minutes" was her 37th top 10 hit.

She's been a cultural lightning rod for about 25 years now and while her music and movies have never really appealed to me much (except for 'Evita'), I have great respect for someone who has managed to stay on top for so long and who remains relevant and interesting to her audience.

Happy Birthday to the Material Girl...

Here is a clip from "Evita" with Madonna singing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina"

...Shawn Pyfrom who plays Andrew Van de Kamp on "Desperate Housewives."

The talented young actor turns 22 today and for four seasons now, has been one of network television's few gay characters to be a series regular.

Andrew's best seasons were in year one and two when he was a sociopathic teen terror with a libido. But in season three, he was defanged and curiously relegated to second-rate status without a storyline of his own. It's been a disservice to the character and the actor and I hope that in season five - with Andrew now working as his mother's assistant - he'll see more interesting storylines.

But, I won't hold my breath.

Anderson Cooper is not my only anchorman crush. There's also the best thing to happen to "Good Morning America" in, well, forever: hottie news anchor Chris Cuomo who turns 38 today.

First off, Chris is a babe - pure and simple. But he's also a terrific interviewer who is comfortable in his own skin. He was able to ask George Michael questions about his sexuality without a trace of self-consiousness or a need to re-assert his heterosexuality. Chris already had me at hello but that just sealed the deal.

"Ugly Betty" star Michael Urie!
His character of Marc St. James is one of the most delicious gay portrayals ever on television. He's campy, bitchy and scheming but shows us just enough heart and vulnerability to make us care. Marc has been dating a photographer (David Blue) and came out to his anit-gay mother played by Broadway legend Patti LuPone. But he's most fun in his scenes with his two bitches: Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) and Amanda (Becki Newton).

Update: I forgot to mention this: Michael turns 28!

Lucille Desiree Ball was better known as a clown, but what a beauty she was too. And a real glamour girl! The photo above was taken in 1941 when she was something of a movie star. That was a full decade before she would become the world's most famous redhead on the "I Love Lucy" show that continues to be a part of our lives in reruns and on DVD nearly 60 years since its debut!

Because we loved her so much when she was alive and because we have continued to love her long after she left us, I wanted to do this special birthday post to Miss Ball who was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York.

Here are a few of my favorite clips from "I Love Lucy"

1. Lucy dances with Van Johnson

2. I Love Lucy- The Maharincess

3. I Love Lucy- Friendship Rehearsal