Out Personalities: April 2008 Archives

This week's episode of "How I Met Your Mother" featured Emmy-nominated Neil Patrick Harris shirtless! We don't often get to see how hunky he is! He's so smart, talented and witty that I don't think we objectify him enough! It's been a heady weeks for NHP with his "Harold and Kumar" sequel doing better-than-expected business at the box office.

Here is a clip from NPH's recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel:

There has been some serious problems with the blog system today so my posts are taking a long time to publish - if they do at all. I'm trying tho!

Today is the Day of Silence which takes on a lot more meaning because of the horrible death of teenager Lawrence King who was allegedly shot in the head by a classmate he apparently had a crush on.

TR,Knight, speaking with students at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex's School of Social Justice, said "straight guys feel so threatened by us - look at me, I'm not going to hurt you!"

He said crushes are completely natural and while they may be a nuisance for the object of affection, they are most certainly not a license to kill.

I watched a screener of Robert Gant's new flick "Kiss Me Deadly" in preparation of our interview next week. It was great to see him in a lead role like this as an ex-spy turned photographer who is dragged back into his old life. He is strong and sexy and in just about every scene! Robert dons his best James Bond tux for Instinct's May cover to promote the upcoming spy flick which debuts next week on here! Networks and co-stars Shannen Doherty. "Our movie shows that the gay guy can kick ass," he tells Instinct, "that the gay guy can be the hero."

Here is some video from his cover shoot:

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VIDEO BONUS: I came across this episode of "Nip/Tuck" on which Robert guest stars. It's so bizarre and the woman who plays his horny elderly wife is an absolute hoot!

FROM DOOGIE TO KUMAR: Neil Patrick Harris and his boyfriend, actor David Burtka, are pictured here at the premiere of "Harold and Kumar go to Guantanamo Bay," a sequel that features NPH as an exaggerated version of himself. Very exaggerated...

KISSING THE GROOM: Here is actor Philipp Karner at last week's premiere of his new film "Kiss the Bride." He plays the high school best friend - and former lover - of the groom who shakes things up when he returns home for the wedding.

As part of this year's Day of Silence (April 25) commemorating those lost to anti-gay violence, Lance Bass has taped a message speaking out against homophobia.
Former boy bander and forever homosexual Lance Bass came out against homophobia for this year's Day of Silence, which commemorates those lost to anti-gay violence. This year, the day honors Lawrence King, the 15-year-old high school student who was shot by a classmate (allegedly at this point) on whom he apparently had a crush.

Says Bass: "I heard about Lawrence on the news, and it was just incredible to me that kids that age that would have such an issue ... with the subject of being gay."

With his leading man looks and overwhelming talent, it was only a matter of time before Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson hit the big screen. The star of "Xanadu" has just signed on to appear in director Chuck Griffith's highly anticipated, New York-inspired film, "Shifting the Canvas."

The film that tells the story about a group of artists living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn who struggle to maintain a rather dysfunctional family of friends in a post-9/11 world challenged by gentrification, deception and sterilization. The openly gay actor will be playing Jens, a straight Ivy League type who works on Wall Street with Denton, a young gay character recently relocated to New York from the South, who is trying to reconcile his newfound sexuality and relationship with everybody around him.

The film will also star Scott Thompson (Kids in the Hall), John Paul Pitoc (Trick), Gedde Watanabe (Sixteen Candles), Matthew Montgomery (Long-Term Relationship) and various cameo appearances by New York nightlife icons.

After undergoing a lumpectomy and radiation in 2006,Cynthia Nixon has gone public with her battle against breast cancer. It is so nice to see a big star who is so articulate and who can make a real difference in raising awareness and stressing the importance of mamograms.

Hooray!

We have another successful TV actor who has publicly come out. Luke MacFarlane, who plays Scotty on "Brothers and Sisters," gave an interview to Canada's Globe & Mail and publicly acknowledged that he is a gay man. This comes as no surprise given that he had been linked to TR Knight and there was much Internet speculation over his friendship with "Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller. But it is a wonderful thing and, I think, will make him more high-profile than ever. Look what it has done for TR and for Neil Patrick Harris.

Here is an excerpt from the article: "Though no secret to his family and close friends, Macfarlane has, until now, been guarded about his personal life as a gay man. Over lunch in Los Angeles, where he lives, he initially insists that he has no concerns about his public revelation - but a few seconds later he is shifting nervously in his chair, and concedes that he is 'terrified.' ... 'I don't know what will happen professionally ... that is the fear, but I guess I can't really be concerned about what will happen, because it's my truth. There is this desire in L.A. to wonder who you are and what's been blaring for me for the last three years is how can I be most authentic to myself - so this is the first time I am speaking about it in this way.'"

He also talked about future plotlines on "Brothers and Sisters" that, I believe, have him and Kevin (Matthew Rhys) getting hitched. Here's what he says about it: "From a standing outside perspective, and also as someone who is gay, I think that it's a very exciting time. How exciting that we're saying, 'This can be part of the cultural fabric, now,' because it is two series regulars, two people that you invite into your home and you see every week. It's telling of the beginning of more waves and I'm very proud of that...Most importantly, in portraying gay people, the more we realize it's just like portraying anybody else and, gay marriage, it's not about two people being gay, it's about two people who love each other and who have decided to commit to each other for the exact same reasons any other couple would get married. Hopefully, the more that becomes part of the cultural awareness it won't be...(he pauses and says, employing a mock, exaggerated voice of a television announcer)...a spectacular Sunday episode."

The bad news: country music is really not George Takei's strong point. The good news: the show he sang on, "Secret Talents of the Stars," was cancelled after one episode! I love George and one of the judges, Debbie Reynolds, but let's bring back scripted television!

Sam Harris, the extraordinary singer and Broadway star who I loved as Perry Pearl on "The Class," has just posted a video blog with some extraordinary news: he and partner Danny Jacobson have adopted a little boy. The baby arrived at their home on Monday and Sam says his name is Cooper Atticus Harris-Jacobson.

"He is beautiful and he is perfect...he's here and he's ours," an emotional but composed Sam says.

See Sam's message for yourself but don't expect to see any footage of little Cooper just yet: "Danny and I have decided not to show you Cooper ... Certainly in awhile we will....I know you understand that."

Congratulations to the sensational Sam and to Danny on their bundle of joy. This was such a happy story that I'm late to a dinner because I had to post it right now!

Kevin Spacey just leaves me cold. That's probably why I find this item sp much fun to share: It seems that Spacey, whose new film "21" is currently nimber one at the box office, has dismissed the UK reality show "I'll Do Anything" as nothing more than a plug for Andrew Lloyd Webber.

John Barrowman, a judge on the show had this to say to Spacey during an interview on Capital Radio: "You know what, shut up! It's promoting theatre. Maybe he's a bit upset because his plays just aren't hits."

Ouch!!!