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May 12, 2008

Video: More Britney and Barney...

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Britney Spears makes her second appearance on "How I Met Your Mother" tonight and The Hollywood Reporter says in today's edition that she might be back for a third guest spot!

Britney's character of Abby, a receptionist obsessed with an uninterested Ted, has rebounded into the arms of Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) Here is a scene:

This seems like a win-win situation for Britney and for the show which now seems certain of a fourth season. Ratings have been way up since her first appearance and she has shown that despite the very public troubles she has had in recent years, she clearly seems to be on the road back.

The show's co-creator Craig Thomas told The Reporter that Monday's episode was written to leave the door open for the pop singer to make a return appearance next season: "She was better than the first time and I think the fans will enjoy it because her return answers a larger mystery set up earlier in the series. So there's a good plot reason why she's there. And when people watch Britney's second appearance on the show they'll see that the door is still open for her to come back."

May 6, 2008

"Gossip Girl" recap: one gay teen comes out, another is outed...


Poor Jenny from Brooklyn, she didn't even know she was the beard for the dashing Asher Hornsby who, in setting her straight says: "Do you really think someone like me would date someone like you?"

But in the end, Asher is outed by the boy he was seen kissing earlier in the day: Eric Van Der Woodsen who bursts into an East Side party and tells all. He may have attempted suicide earlier this season, but this kid has found himself and is out and proud! I love it. I've grabbed what I could off of YouTube but can't find the climactic party scene and the heart-to-heart Eric has with his mom. I'll post them later when they surface.

The episode was good until the end when we find out the show's heroine, Serena, killed someone. Huh? Seems kinda jump the sharkish to me.

Stay tuned!

Will there be a same-sex romance on "Grey's Anatomy" ???

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"Grey's Anatomy" has never been gay enough for my taste but I'm overlooked its rampant heterosexuality because not only does it star opnely gay T.R. Knight, but the eye candy also includes Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane. I once considered Isaiah Washington eye candy until...oh nevermind.

I've been so caught up in the Scotty and Kevin lovefest on "Brothers & Sisters" that I forgot to post about "Grey's" which I did happen to catch this week after "Ugly Betty." And I sure didn't see this storyline coming: Callie (Sara Ramirez) has been cheered out of her post-George funk by the friendship of Dr. Erica Hahn (Brooke Smith) who she laughs in hallways with, drinks wine with etc. I didn't think much of it until Addison (Kate Walsh) made a much-welcomed return to the show for one episode and flat-out asked Callie: "Are you speaking the vaginia monologues now?"

The episode seemed to be setting up that Erica is a lesbian but what about Callie? Will she be up for this? At the mere suggestion, she went straight over to McSteamy at the watering hole and suggested they leave together.

Hmmm. I like it.

When Britney dated Barney...

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Britney Spears will make her second appearance on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" May 12, Her first guest spot back in March gave the sitcom boffo ratings so no doubt this one will too.

Britney, who seems far better these days thankfully, will again play Abby - a receptionist who had a mad crush on Ted. Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) is on the outs with Ted so he and Abby team up to make him jealous. They go on some kind of date, even dressing alike for it, and flaunt their "relationship" in his face.

May 5, 2008

Gossip Girl: Eric to come out on tonight's show...

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Tonight's the night!

Eric Van Der Woodsen (Connor Paolo) is set to reveal that he is gay on "Gossip Girl" which airs on the CW (check your local listings). And not just that, he is also spotted making out with a cute guy name Asher (Jesse Swenson). The problem: Asher is the new boyfriend of Jenny (Taylor Momsen). Jenny;s brother, Dan, is dating Eric's sister, Serena.
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August 23, 2007

Check out the love interest for Marc on "Ugly Betty"

Blue.jpgAfter spending much of the first season mostly making fun of Betty and scheming with his boss Wilhelmina, Marc (Michael Urie) will have plenty of reason to be a nicer person during the second season of "Ugly Betty." Marc will get involved with Cliff, a young photographer at MODE magazine. Cliff will be portrayed by David Blue/ His previous credits include guest spots on "Veronica Mars," "Scrubs," and "Dirt."
Patti LuPone, who played Marc's unaccepting mother during an episode last season, will return for at least another appearabce. "Betty" not only has the openly gay character of Marc, but also transgendered female Alexis (Rebecca Romijn) and Betty's nephew Justin who is a little diva in the making.
Love it!

August 17, 2007

Gay love story episode of "Cold Case" to be repeated on Sunday...

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Just found this out via Towleroad.com...the acclaimed "Forever Blue" episode of the CBS drama "Cold Case" about two police officers in love in the 60s, is being re-broadcast at 9 p.m. on Sunday night...right after "Big Brother 8.": My evening is set! Here is a clip from the much buzzed-about episide which has been compared to "Brokeback Mountain."
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August 14, 2007

The gay couple on Wisteria Lane has been cast...

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Oh, this is delicious.
One half of the gay couple moving into the neighborhood on "Desperate Housewives" happens to be the ridiculously handsome and very talented Tuc Watkins (pictured, left) who I have been a huge fan of since his role as a gay television executive for two seasons of the late, great Showtime series "Beggars and Choosers."
TV Guide.com reports that Watkins' other half on the show will be played by the very appealing Kevin Rahm who joined the cast of "Judging Amy" for several seasons after Dan Futterman departed. I love these selections.
TV Guide describes the characters this way:Watkins will play Bob, described as a country mouse who leaves the big city for greener (and quieter) pastures. Rahm is his bitchy partner, Lee.
I assume Lee will be the one who clashes with neighbor Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher).
Watkins is a wonderful talent and very good at comedy as evidenced by his long run, on and off, on "One Life to Live" where he played the cad David Vickers who was a wonderful match for the show's reigning bitch Dorian (Robin Strasser). He has also played gay on other ocassions besides "Beggars" including iin the indie fave "I Think I Do..." and on an episode of the since-cancelled CBS drama "Family Law"
I've met hkm twice while out and about and both times, he could not have been nicer....or hotter!

Related posts:
Gay Couple Moving onto Wisteria Lane
Lost memories of celeb cell phone encounters

August 6, 2007

Will gay couple on "Desperate Housewives" be casting stunt? The Answer is NO!

williamsandbeckham_450-1.jpgJust spoke with sources at ABC. The story about David Beckham and Robbie Williams playing a gay couple on "Desperate Housewives" is, as I suspected, bogus.
This "report" was all over the blogs this morning so I shared it but was skeptical about it. I wrote exclusively last week about the gay couple that "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry planned to have move onto Wisteria Lane. During our conversation, Cherry said he had not began casting the parts but now there are bizarre reports that the new gay couple is going to be Robbie Williams and David Beckham.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Sounded too bizarre and I was determined to get the real story. Even the "quote" from Cherry sounded fake: "David and Robbie are perfect to star as the new neighbors' best friends; the gorgeous, eccentric couple flown over from Blighty (Britain),"Cherry is quoted as saying."We haven't had that kind of wow for the wives since Jesse Metcalfe left and we want it to cause such a stir when they turn out to be together. David's keen, but though the obvious choice was to work with Tom Cruise, we wanted someone who matches him in height and well, Britishness, so Robbie is the one. They're both funny, game for a laugh and ridiculously macho, so it should work wonderfully... the English are pitch-perfect for sending themselves up."
Will keep ya posted on the REAL casting of the gay couple.

Related post: Exclusive: Gay Couple Moving onto Wisteria Lane

July 30, 2007

Some tidbits from the new season of "Ugly Betty"

pilot_betty_ugly_1.jpgI 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.

July 29, 2007

"Desperate Housewives" scoop: gay couple moving onto Wisteria Lane...

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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!"
pyfrom.jpgThe 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."

June 4, 2007

Rerun gem: Wayne Brady on "How I Met Your Mother" 2-nite...

aaaaaaaawayne.jpgWayne Brady is just THE MAN today. He was a terrific guest on "The View" this morning and tonight, be sure to catch him on a repeat of a classic episode of "How I Met Your Mother." As you know, Barney, played by out actor Neil Patrick Harris, is a real skirtchaser. Wayne plays his brother (they have different fathers...duh) who is the gay version of Barney...a real dudechaser who finally decides to settle down. Barney is not happy about it.
The show will air in its new time slot of 9:3o tonight on CBS.

Earlier related post: A Brilliant Gay-themed Episode of 'How I Met Your Mother"

May 21, 2007

Desperate Housewives ends Andrew-lite season...

aaaaaaandrew.jpgIt would be really cool to start doing weekly "Desperate Housewives" recaps next fall when the show begins its fourth season. But it won't happen unless Andrew Van de Kamp (Shawn Pyfrom) re-emerges as a prominant gay character again. To have him be one of the most interesting characters for two seasons then reduce him to glorified extra is puzzling and certainly not unnoticed. I am staying with the show, for now, because it's still entertaining but the season finale last night, in which Andrew had maybe two or three LINES, is one reason why I am wavering.
I gotta say, the return of Andrew's mother, Bree, was a breath of fresh air because Marcia Cross plays one of the most delicious characters on television. And thank GOD Mike (James Denton) and Susan (Teri Hatcher) finally tied the knot after three seasons of on-again and off-again.
aaaaaaadesperate.jpgI hope next season brings them some fun storylines and less melodrama because these two actors have terrific chemistry and could be a real delight pratfalling their way through life for awhile.
The addition of Polly Bergen as Lynette's mother is genius! She storms in and says: "Where the HELL do you get off having cancer and not telling me about it?" And she just goes off from there. It seems that we will be seeing her next season as Lynette begins chemo etc. This is a much better role for the wonderful Bergen who was last seen as the the president's mother on "Commander In Chief."
But c'mon. Edie tries to kill herself over CARLOS? Pul-eeze. That was lame. As is Gabby marrying this ambitious politician who is just using her for the Latino vote. Is she really that stupid? I just hope that Gabby will turn the tables and manipulate herself into all kinds of payoff. But her having an affair with ex-hubby Carlos? I'd rather watch grass grow.

May 15, 2007

CBS dismisses "The Class"

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Pardon me while I lose my composure.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, breathe Greg...breathe.
I just read that CBS has cancelled one of my favorite little comedies: "The Class." It is tragic! Does winning the People's Choice Award for favorite new comedy mean nothing???
I enjoyed this show so much and really felt like it had its best days ahead. The ratings were not through the roof but they were solid. But CBS, unlike NBC, does not have to renew its marginal hits since it has fewer holes on its schedule to plug. Adorable Jason Ritter was such a delight on this show and I will miss him and his perfect hair. The rest of the cast was talented, attractive and had terrific comic timing. The show had a gay character, Sean, who had a hunky boyfriend at the start of the season then didn't anymore which was disappointing.
aaaaaaclass2.jpgAnd then there was the absolutely delicious comic creation that was Perry Pearl, the gayest "straight" man on the face of the Earth. Sam Harris, best known for his powerhouse singing, was a blast in this part and I loved doing recaps of this show each week - especially the parts involving Perry.
At least CBS renewed a couple of its other Monday night comedies that I also think are first-rate: "The New Adventures of the Old Christine" and "How I Met Your Mother" starring the out actor Neil Patrick Harris, among others.

Earlier posts::
THE CLASS DISMISSED FOR NOW

PERRY PEARL: WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU LEMONS, MAKE LEMONADE!

A NEW RELATIONSHIP ON THE CLASS

A VERY GAY THANKSGIVING ON THE CLASS

IN THE CLOSET ON THE CLASS

A KISS ON THE CLASS

April 15, 2007

Marc Cherry and Shawn Pyfrom talk about Andrew Van de Kamp...

aaaaandrew.jpgWhen I saw "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry working the press line at Saturday night's GLAAD Awards, I was ready to let him have it. I've been bitching for several months now about how the character of Andrew Van de Kamp has gone from a sexually active gay teenager (whose a bit of a sociopath!) to this sweet Wally Cleaver kid.
But before I could get to Marc, I chatted up Andrew Van de Kamp himself, Shawn Pyfrom!
Greg: It's like Andrew has had a lobotomy or something. We want evil Andrew back.
Shawn: Well, he was out on the streets for a little while but I don't think it's completely out of him. I suppose it's still in there waiting to come out. I think it's just sort of laying low right now.
Greg: Has Andrew really forgiven his mom? I mean, he actually went to bed with her boyfriend!
Shawn: I know, I did some nasty stuff (laughs). As far as the way I've been playing it, I've made it as though he has somewhat forgiven his mother [who dropped him off in the middle of nowhere after Andrew seduced the boyfriend]
and grown up a little bit from being out in the streets. I'm just going off as much as I know so hopefully, they won't they don't throw something out there that would completely contradict that."
aaaandrew-bree.jpgThen it was time to talk to Marc Cherry...
Greg: I want to know what's happening with Andrew. We're not seeing him as much anymore. Is he still gay? Is he still evil?
Marc: This is a guy who was kicked out of the house by his mother last season and had some rough experiences and now he's becoming a functioning member of the family. We're seeing him. He's working with Tom and Lynette in their restaurant and he gets his little jibes in. What I really worked on this year was seeing him as a member of the family and it wasn't his gayness that came first, it was him as a son trying to re-establish his relationship with Bree. So this has been a year more about trying to get Bree and Andrew together as a family...and I'm sure something really awful is going to happen next year."
Greg: so is Andrew going to have a boyfriend or a date or something?
Marc: I would imagine that there will be some sort of relatonship for Andrew in the future, yes.
Greg: What about having him get involved with someone at [Tom and Lynette's] pizza joint?
Marc: Yeah, it could happen. There's some cute people there.
Sounds good to me!
aaaandrewkiss.jpgJust for kicks, I also saw Andrea Bowen who plays Andrew's neighbor Julie Meyer on the show and asked her what she thought of Andrew's love life: "I want him to have a boyfriend! I want Justin (Ryan Carnes) to come back on the show. I am so proud to be on a show that portrays gay characters and is very open about it. So, I root for Andrew, I'm right there."

April 9, 2007

Andrew Van De Kamp has become a Stepford son...

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After watching "Desperate Housewives" last night, I was set to write a scathing post about what is happening to my favorite sociopathic gay teenager: Andrew Van De Kamp, played so wonderfully by Sean Pyfrom. You remember Andrew don't you? He's the kid who kissed the cute boy in the pool during season one and slept with his mother's boyfriend last season. Well, last night, he was on-screen for all of maybe two minutes as part of the crew working at Lynette and Tom's pizza parlor. There was another cute guy there and I thought, "Why not have him and Andrew hook up?" Give Andrew SOMETHING to do.
Quite frankly, it is pissing me off that the show's only gay character has been relegated to glorified extra. If I didn't enjoy the rest of the characters so much I'd boycott it! Anyway, Mr.GuyTVBlog apparently feels the same way that I do. Check out his tirade!

March 30, 2007

"Lost" finally has a gay character...who's dead!

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This would be funny if it weren't so annoying.
One of the castaways on ABC's "Lost" was revealed to be gay in this week's episode: Boone, portrayed by the very pretty Ian Somerhalder. Just one little problem: Boone was killed off in the first season! And during that initial season, which remains the show's best, the only attraction Boone seemed to have was toward his stepsister Shannon! And it is through Shannon, in a flashback sequence, that we learn about Boone's sexuality. In the scene, the step-siblings are in the airport and she rips on him for hitting on every cute guy he sees. At least show us him hitting on a cute guy...give us SOMETHING!
il08a.jpgWhat a ripoff. Maybe the show has plans to have more flashbacks with Boone making out with Jack (Matthew Fox) or Sawyer (Josh Halloway). I'd forgive them anything if we had that. But since neither Sawyer or Jack are gay (that we know of!), that ain't gonna happen. If I were a gay guy trapped on that island, i don't know how you don't fall for Jack.
I was ticked when Ian was killed off because he's been on my radar ever since he was on a long-ago and short-lived WB drama "Young Americans." He fell in love with a girl who was pretending to be a guy so she could attend the all-boy boarding school and he started to think he might be gay because of his strong attraction to this guy...who was really a girl.
42435a.jpgAnd Ian showed in the indie gem "Rules of Attraction" that he isn't afraid to play gay or do a same-sex love scene. His kiss with co-star James Van Der Beek was semi-hot but even hotter was a sexy dance he did on the bed in his hotel room with another guy whose name I don't remember. But he was really gay in "Rules" and went after who and what he wanted.
Anyway, I'm pretty much off "Lost" this season anyway but if I hear they are going to explore this gay angle a bit more via-flashbacks, I'd be back in the fold.

March 29, 2007

Robert Gant guests on tonight's "CSI"

aaagant.jpgIt's always a happy day when you have reason to post a picture of Robert Gant. And if he happens to be shirtless in that picture, all the better! Gant, who came out publicly while a cast member of Showtime's "Queer As Folk," is going to appear in tonight's episode of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" in an episode that involves a string of showgirl murders, according to Brian's Blog on AterElton.com.
Gant, who co-stars with Chad Allen and Judith light in the indie feature "Save Me" which was featured at Sundance a few months ago, is one of those truly talented and nice people who you root for to have great success.


March 19, 2007

TV's "gay episode" a growing trend?

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I'd love to see more regular gay characters on network television because let's face it, Kevin Walker can't carry the load for everyone and I'm not even so sure Andrew Van De Kamp is still gay we see so little of him. But one recent trend that has been good to see is how a growing number of series are producing gay-themed episodes. In the past seven days alone, there has been gay characters as guest stars on three different shows: "The New Adventures of Old Christine," "The Wedding Bells" and "The Winner."
aawedding.jpgLast night's episode of the new sitcom "The Winner" (pictured above) had star Rob Corddry becoming friends with a recently-single (and rather hunky) gay man whom he refuses to believe is gay because the guy likes football, among other "straight" things. Two nights earlier on "The Wedding Bells" featured Stephen Guarino (pictured, left) as a flamboyant groom who everyone is sure is gay.
aaesten.jpgI've already written about the "Old Christine" episode that aired on Monday so click HERE to read that but in a nutshell, Charles Esten (pictured, right) guested as Christine's former brother-in-law who is coming to terms with being gay. Esten was so funny (and gorgeous) that I want him to have a recurring role!
AfterElton.com explores this topic in its BLOG today and I recommend reading their take.

March 18, 2007

Hey! Let's make Joe recurring on "Old Christine"

I'm still catching up on TV shows after my all-to-brief vacation. Monday night marked the welcome return of the very, very funny Julia Louis-Dreyfus sitcom "The New Adventures of Old Christine." I have loved this show since its premiere last year and it remains FUNNY.
esaten.jpgThe first show that aired on Monday was a repeat but I had never seen it before Old Christine's ex-hubby Richard (his new girlfriend is known as new Christine to avoid confusion) has a really hot brother named Joe who is played by Charles Esten. Joe is struggling with being gay but realizes, after kissing his former sister-in-law Christine, that he is indeed gay! He's not ready to come out to big bro but old Christine, always the blabber mouth, spills it. A series of lies and misunderstandings follow and it is all very funny. New Christine even blurts out that she was briefly a lesbian while in college.
TV Guide, in its weekly "Cheers and Jeers" column, gives a cheer to Esten "for his witty turn as Julia Louis-Dreyfus' ambiguously gay ex-brother-in-law." The magazine notes that Esten is an alum of "Whose Line is it Anyway?" and "is one of those rare actors who's equallyg funny AND handsome."
So here's my idea: why not have him show up on a regular basis to stir things up? Maybe he can hook up with Christine's brother who's not gay but sure seems like he should be!

March 10, 2007

Grey's Anatomy stars get raises...except Isaiah Washington

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So it was pay raise time over at "Grey's Anatomy" which has had almost as much drama off-screen lately as it has on-screen. Ellen Pompeo, who plays the title character on the show, will now make nearly $200,000 per episode. SAG winner Chandra Wilson, a far more talented actress in my opinion, was given a raise to about $125,000 per show - the same amount that James T. Pickens Jr., who plays the chief of staff on the show, will be getting. Hottie Justin Chambers and openly gay T.R. Knight are close to new signing new pacts for the same amount as Wilson and Pickens.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, terms of the new deal are retroactive, going back to the first episode of this season. There are 22 episodes in a season. You guys do the math. I'm figuring they are making a lotta cash!
The contract status for Isaiah Washington was not clear. It has been rumored that he might continue on the show without a raise in light of the recent controversy surrounding his use of a homophobic slur, but his communication with the show's producer, ABC TV Studio, has been kept under wraps.
Yet to close new deals are Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh and Katherine Heigl. Details on Heigl's stalled contract renegotiations were leaked to the media late last month making it clear that she was not happy with whatever bump she was being offered. Apparently the supporting players headed into the renegotiation process as a group that quickly dissolved, leading to individual contract talks between each cast member and the studio. Clearly they are not as tight a group as the cast of "Friends" which always, without fail, negotiated as a group, and got so rich that even if none of them ever have another hit, they are more than set for life.


March 7, 2007

Isaiah Washington's future on Grey's Anatomy: "I don't know..."

aaisaiah_l.jpgShortly after Isaiah Washington won the NCAAP Award last Friday for best actor in a drama series, Entertainment Weekly tracked him down to ask whether he'll be back at Seattle Grace next season.
''I don't know the facts of what's going on,' the actor said, cryptically.
Washington's future employment has been endlessly debated since the f-word incident involving co-star T.R. Knight
and is comment to EW seems to cast doubt on whether he'll return for season 4. Tthe studio says he's not going anywhere as does his newly-hired publicist Howard Bragman who says ''we are going to do our business in private, not in the press,'' adding, ''I'm looking at the bigger picture. I will not let [the f-word incident] define him. He will not let it define him.''
Washington was also asked about a "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off that would star Kate Walsh as well as Taye Diggs and Tim Daly: He said: ''I don't know when it came about — or why. They don't tell me anything!'

March 6, 2007

"The Class" dismissed for now...

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The season finale of "The Class" left me feeling flat! You would think the creative forces behind this promising show would want to end their first (and hopefully not last) season with a bang. Instead, it all ended kinda blah. The one brief ray of sunshine? A brief return of Perry Pearl! I love this guy! I don't care if he's gay or straight, he's such a wit and brilliantly played by the underused Sam Harris.
aclasss2.jpgAfter Nicole's husband Yonk has had a heart attack (just before she was to leave him for Duncan) and is in the hospital, the gang is in the hospital waiting room looking grim. In flounces perky Perry. He checks in on Nicole and says: "I don't know how you're holding up in this light?" Then he takes one look at Nicole's obnoxious, complete slob of a stepdaughter (the running joke was that she kept eating vending machine food the entire episode) and says ever so sarcastically: "It's like Audrey Hepburn is back among us."
Meanwhile, Kyle (Sean Maguire) is planning for the return of his boyfriend Aaron who has been in Chile. He walks into Ethan's apartment with a bouquet for Aaron and says: "There's nothing like two guys hugging at the airport with flowers to freak the old people out."
aclasss1.jpgSo at episode's end, do we get to see a reunion of the happy couple and once again gaze upon the beautiful Chrisitian de la Fuente who played the role for half the season? Uh no. (the photo is from an long ago episode) We get to see the back of some random actor's head with hair similar to de la Fuente's! He coulda been hugging someone from the studio audience for God's sake.
Anyway, lame ending to the season but overall, "The Class" gets a passing grade from me...for now.

March 5, 2007

"The Class" has season finale tonight...

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So tonight brings the first season of "The Class" to a close. All I have to say is, there had BETTER be a second season of this sweet and funny show. I think Jason Ritter has gotten more confident and funny as the season has progressed and reminds me of his dad, John Ritter, during the physical comedy bits.
acast1.jpgI have been disappointed though that Kyle (Sean Maguire) started the season with a hunky boyfriend (Christian de la Fuente pictured at right) but the boyfriend went missing around November. I hear he will re-appear fleetingly in tonight's episode.
If I have some trepidation about "The Class" returning, there's good reason. Last year, CBS cancelled the very good "Out of Practice" which starred Stockard Channing and Henry Winkler among others and had a terrific lesbian character who was attractive, confident and had a real love life. I do know thaT "The Class" has had better ratings than "Practice" did but I do believe "Practice" was a top 25 show. Channing was Emmy nominated for her role. Instread, we get a stupid sitcom with David Spade and another season of "King of Queens."

February 23, 2007

Brian Austin Green to play gay man in TV sitcom...

david.jpgWhen I saw Brian Austin Green several months back on the red carpet at the DVD release for "Beverly Hills 90210." he playfully smooched former co-star Jason Priestly for photogs. Now I realize he was just rehearsing! According to The Hollywoodwood Reporter, Green will play a gay man in a new comedy pilot from the creators of "Will & Grace." The untitled CBS project, from David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, is about two friends and writing partners, one straight and one gay (Green), and the women working with them (Jessica Capshaw, Vanessa Lengies). The project is loosely based on Kohan and Mutchnick's friendship.
Green proved he had terrific comic chops co-starring on ABC's comedy "Freddie." He was the funniest thing about that show, kinda like Barney on "How I Met Your Mother." Trivia: Did you know that Brian played Donna Mills son on "Knots Landing"? I did!

February 19, 2007

"Grey's Anatomy" ratings surge as Meredith fights for life...

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By this time, we pretty much know that there is no ratings backlash toward "Grey's Anatomy" resulting from ABC's decision to keep Isaiah Washington on the show after his homophobic remarks directed at co-star T.R. Knight. Still, it's pretty astonishing that ratings have actually been going UP. The show kept up its torrid pace durings sweeps, handily beating "CSI" head-to-head and giving ABC the win Thursday in the adults 18-49 demographic. "Anatomy" averaged 25.6 million in the adults 18-49, according to preliminary estimates released Friday by Nielsen Media Research. That continues its strong streak recently atop last week's 25.2 million viewers which was the highest demo ratings since the September premiere.
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It's been two weeks of cliffhangers. Last week, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) falls into the ocean while trying to save a man's life. She is discovered by her true love Dr. McDreamy (Petrick Dempsey) but it might be too late. She looked dead at the end of Thursday's episode.
Now, I know the show is named after her and Meredith is a key character but I say kill her off! She gets on my nerves! I mean, when Valerie Harper was fired from her sitcom "Valerie" in the late 80s, CBS temporarily renamed the show "Valerie's Family" before settling on "The Hogan Family."
Let's say Meredith Grey does kick the bucket. What do you think the show should be called??
I'm thinking "McDreamy's Anatomy."


Andrew Van de Kamp: Stepford son?

It was such a touching scene on "Desperate Housewives" last night. Poor Bree Van de Kamp (an obviously very pregnant Marcia Cross) wakes up in the hospital after falling from a ladder and there is her angelic son Andrew, comforting her and telling her it's going to be all rigjht.
pyfrom3.jpgThis is the kid who, at the end of last season, she dumped on the side of a road! This is the scheming kid who blackmailed his mother, who let his boyfriend sleep over just to tick off Bree, and who, driving recklessly, ran over neighbor Carlos' mother with his car. He was so much FUN!
Andrew must have been such a blast for actor Shawn Pyfrom to play. Now, if he has any lines at all, he's a little angel...as if he's become something of a Stepford son! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. As his sister Danielle said in last night's episode: "I liked you better when you were a psychopath!"
Me too...
04 2.jpgSome other thoughts on the latest installment of DH: this was really the "Dixie Carter Show" and the woman who played the lovely Julia Sugarbaker for so long on "Designing Women" showed us how evil and murderous a character she can be. In a flashback scene, her character of Gloria kills her son's mistress. He walks in on the bloody scene. She looks at him, holding a wrench and says very matter-of-fact: "It was self defense. What's done is done." As the two prepare to bury her, Gloria grabs a pair of pliers and starts yanking out her teeth: 'You don't want her to be identified by her dental records do you?" she asks her incredulous son. Fast-forward to the present: Gloria laces Bree's soup with sleeping pills then tries to drown her in the bath tub. When Andrew tries to stop her, she knocks him out with her cane. Son Orsen, hospitalized after falling off the roof of a hospital, finally bounds in to save Bree from his mother who then promptly has a stroke.
13 2.jpg The final scene is of mother and son at the hospital when Orsen says to Gloria with barely contained glee: 'Good news mother. The doctor says your stroke has left you completely paralyzed."
It was just delicious!

February 14, 2007

Perry Pearl: "When life hands you lemons..."

sam_harris.jpg"...make Chicken Piccata!"
Oh, I love it. The deliciously flamoyant Perry Pearl (played by Sam Harris) returned to the CBS sitcom "The Class" on Monday night and brightened up things considerably. The actress who plays the wife of the seems-so-gay-but-is-straight Perry has left the show but writers found a way to incorporate Perry into the Valentine's Day episode. He shows up to Nicole's house for an interior decorating job and gets snowed in along with Duncan who is Nicole's high school boyfriend and now contractor. Perry insists on making a Valentine's Day dinner. "This is my holiday," he said. "This and Thanksgiving and Christmas and the Academy Awards!" When Perry flounces out of the kitchen holding some Pears Flambe, he says: "At our house, it's not Valentine's Day unless there's something flaming!"
I had been wondering if Perry would end up coming out as gay but now I have no idea since Monday's episode indicated that he and his wife has a rather robust sex life: "We have a highly sexual relationship all the time - but throw in Cupid and some roses and it's SING OUT LOUISE!"
I was encouraged a bit that Kyle, whose boyfriend has been absent from the show since like, November, at least got to talk to him on the phone to acknowledge his existence: "Oh God, I miss you so much," he said.
So do we!

February 13, 2007

Neil Patrick Harris likes getting physical on show...

aneil22.jpgHe doesn't talk about his personal life but his professional life is fair game. This item was in Marylin Beck's column that I thought I'd share: "How I Met Your Mother" regular Neil Patrick Harris says his character, Barney, on the CBS sitcom is becoming an homage to the late John Ritter — who was also a master at physical comedy. "I've suddenly become Jack Tripper," says Harris, referring to Ritter's character on the '80s series, "Three's Company." "I begged them for pratfalls, and I'm getting them. We've got some really, strangely funny things coming up." Harris admits since the addition of the more physical comedy, "I took some headers … I bruised my legs up a lot recently because I couldn't move my legs in the episode we were doing, so I was doing wacky walk for a while." He adds, "I can hurt myself, but if I laugh at myself when I watch the DVD, then it's all right. It's all for the sake of comedy, and the bruises heal."

February 10, 2007

"Grey's Anatomy" still Thursday night's hottest ticket...

2387262-m.jpgUnless a post-gayhab Isaiah Washington pops off again (hey, you never know), it seems that it is back to business on "Grey's Anatomy." My guess is that we might see his role minimized ever-so-slightly from here on end but I base that on nothing but a hunch. At any rate, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the medical drama-soap opera had its highest demo rating since its September premiere carried ABC to a primetime win Thursday even as the premiere of "Survivor" came out ahead of ABC's "Ugly Betty" and NBC's sitcoms at 8 p.m. The demo win means most viewers between the ages of 18-49, the group advertisers most covet since, I guess, people 50 and over don't spend money? They've never seen my mother at the mall!
1_11.jpg"Grey's Anatomy" averaged 24.9 million viewers and a 10.7 rating/25 share in adults 18-49; it was its highest rating in the demo since its premiere in September. That came in ahead of "CSI" (22.3 million, 6.8/16) at 9 p.m.
"Survivor" won at 8 p.m. with 15.9 million viewers and a 5.8/15; it was the lowest premiere ever for a "Survivor" and down 17% from last year's "Survivor: Panama" and down 11% from "Survivor: Island" in the fall. "Ugly Betty" (14.3 million, 4.7/12) wasn't any slouch either, riding high after its Golden Globes and SAG wins. It remained even with its demo performance last week, which was the highest rating since it premiered in September.

February 9, 2007

"The War at Home" continues to do gay storyline justice...

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I haven't been keeping up with the FOX sitcom "The War at Home" but I sure am glad someone at AfterElton.com is as the sitcom continues to portray the journey of Kenny (Rami Malek) who was kicked out of his house after coming out to his parents and comes to live with the family of his best friend. The gruff family patriarch Dave (Michael Rappaport) would seem an unlilkely source of support for Kenny but he does what Kenny's parents, and any parent of a gay kid, should do: he parents him.
kenny.jpgThis week's episode had Kenny going out on a date and Dave has a talk with him about safer sex. He does so because wifeVicky (Anita Barone) , when realizes Kenny has a boyfriend, insists Dave talk with him about safe sex because she’d “…like to keep him from getting AIDS.�
Dave starts off talking about how comic books come wrapped in plastic for their protection (hint, hint). Things proceeded to considerably more detail as Dave attempts to demonstrate how gay sex works with a very funny montage of hand gestures. He then explains that all men are animals so when you get two men together it’s different than regular sex “…where there is some girl there to say no to everything.�
AfterElton reports that next week "Dave steps up to the plate when Kenny and his new boyfriend Dylan are told they can’t attend the school’s Sadie Hawkin’s dance. No doubt Dave will fumble and say some foolish things, but it will be in service of doing the right thing, and I, for one, can’t ask for much more than that."


At last! The return of Perry Pearl to "The Class"

the-class.jpgI was just lamenting a few days ago about how Perry Pearl, the gayest "straight' man on television, had disappeared from the CBS sitcom "The Class" along with Kyle's boyfriend. Well, Kyle's boyfriend is still MIA but Perry, played with much hilarity by Sam Harris. will be featured on Monday night's show. According to TellyNelly (see my blogroll for a link), while redecorating their spacious pad, Perry ends up stuck at Yonk and Nicole’s home and makes the most of the storm by cooking an elaborate meal for Duncan and Nicole.  Meanwhile, Kat and Kyle get stuck at Ethan's apartment.

February 6, 2007

What is happening to network TV's gay characters?

Last season, the wonderful teenage sociopath Andrew Van de Camp (Shawn Pyfrom) had lots to do on "Desperate Housewives" including blackmailing his mother Bree. Andrew also spent some time with his boyfriend locking lips and more.
300px-Andrewvandecamp.jpgThose were the days...
This season, Andrew has been reduced to glorified extra. In the last original episode, I think he literally had maybe one line. He was sitting on the sofa eating chips and tells his mother that his stepfather had gone across the street. Couldn't Andrew have been sitting on that sofa with his boyfriend? I am stunned by his being put on the back burner this way and very disappointed given that the show's creator, Marc Cherry, is a gay man who took great pride in revealing that Andrew is gay after the show had become a blockbuster. This way Cherry did not have to run it by the network and face possibly interference.
But given that the network is ABC, and that a show on that network, "Brothers & Sisters," has the most fully-realized gay character in all of television (Kevin Walker played by Matthew Rhys), I doubt it would be much of a problem.
sean_maguire.jpgThen we have the CBS sitcom "The Class" which I still like but liked a lot more when the gay character on the show, Kyle (played by Sean Maguire) was actually in scenes with his boyfriend. The boyfriend has been absent for several episodes as Kyle becomes closer pals with the straight Ethan (Jason Ritter). Also absent from the show has been openly gay actor Sam Harris who was showcased each week as Perry Pearl, the gayest straight man ever. Some people had trouble with Harris' character who seemed so obviously gay to everyone but himself and his high-strung wife. But I personally thought Harris was hilarious in the role.
And perhaps most disappointing of all is what happened this season on NBC's 'Heroes." I don't watch the show but followed a controversy that was well-reported on AfterElton.com. The character of Zach, best friend of the regenerating cheerleader Claire, was originally gay but was quietly changed.
heroesgay.jpgShow creator Tim Kring has said in an interview before the show's debut that Zach, played by Thomas Dekkar, is gay. AfterElton said that Dekkar's management insisted the character of Zach not be gay. Kring later told the Web site that indeed, the character was changed from gay to straight but said the change occurred only because of the needs of the story.
"I am very sorry this has caused concern for the readers of your website. It was certainly not our intention to confuse the issue of Zach's character being gay," Kring wrote in an e-mail. "We have too much respect for our audience to do that intentionally. However, it has simply become too complicated behind the scenes to push this issue further with this particular character. We apologize for misleading the audience, and wish that we could have handled things better on our end. But making a TV show is often a very imprecise business."
When these gay characters fade from prominence and instead we get homophobic ad campaigns for Snickers bars during the Super Bowl, it is concerning and a reminder of how far gays still have to go on network television.
For now, Kevin Walker is carrying the flag for all of us.

January 19, 2007

Ratings up Thursday for "Grey's Anatomy"

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They say there is no such thing as bad puiblicity. How true in the case of "Grey's Anatomy." This week's episode turned in an above-average performance with 21.9 million viewers, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Between the show's Golden Globe Award win Monday and the Isaiah Washington controversy that followed, the show has become a real water cooler topic. Still, "Grey's" barely managed to edge ratings stalwart "C.S.I."
I wonder if the extra eyeballs were curiosity about how the actors interact now that we are more aware than ever about the backstage drama. There was an intimate scene between Washington's Dr. Burke and T.J. Knight's George O'Malley that went off without a hitch. And, ironically, this episode was a real showcase for Knight whose on-screen father dies of cancer. It was a heartbreaker.

January 4, 2007

Gay teen comes out tonight on "The War at Home"

arami2.jpgNetwork television officially gets another gay teen tonight when Kenny (Rami Malek) comes out to his friend Larry on Fox's "The War at Home," according to Advocate.com.
“I think it’s great that we're doing this on this show, which reaches so many people around the country, the way The Laramie Project did,� says Malek, 24 and straight, referring to the HBO adaptation of the acclaimed play about M