-- Sarah Warn from AfterEllen.com

Julie and Kate McKinnon talk to Club Skirts founder Mariah Hanson about Dinah Shore, same-sex marriage, and tiger tamers.

Check back next week for another Celesbian Interview, and watch previous episodes here.

 

 

Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo are back at it - well, they're not present in this video, but ... - with their second The Odd Couple single. And it's a cool one. Filmed in Jamaica, the video opens with the text, A group of friends celebrate their discovery of a portal to another dimension.

And so it goes: Upon discovering a magic door, a group of amazing dancers parade down their street to prop it up to determine where the portal leads. I love the concept paired with the cryptic, melancholy lyrics.

 

In Gnarls news, the band will play a "secret" show in New York on June 8, according to NME. And after the jump, you can watch a snippet of "Going On" MTV filmed when Gnarls was its Artist of The Week - featuring some mildly-enthused furries.

 

 

And here's a full performance of another The Odd Couple track, "A Little Better" ...

 

 

 

Chris Crocker has a new man, or a new pap-hunting buddy, in porn star Cameron Michaels. Mmm - can't wait for that sex tape. - Dlisted

Don't be scared, Cheyenne! Just kidding ... Xanadu's gay fave is totally comfortable around Harvey Fierstein at the New Dramatists Luncheon in NYC. – Getty

Hot Mess is right, you two! Gay blogger/outing machine Jonathon Jaxson filed papers yesterday against Perez for supposedly soliciting X-rated home movies from him. Grossest lawsuit ever. - Radar

Yes, Tyra probably made it happen, but I'm still happy a plus-sized model won America's Next Top Cover Girl Commercial Star for One Month. - Dlisted

The New York Marc Jacobs theft was an inside job! How could this employee do such a thing to Marc? And after he posed nude for him! - Towleroad

 

 

From waiting tables and recording demos in a village in northern Wales, to producing a debut that spent five weeks at No. 1 in The U.K., to appearing on TRL in the U.S. this week, small-town, 23-year-old Duffy admits overnight stardom is a tad ... foreign.

You've probably heard her lounge-y, soulful - but don't say Amy Winehouse-esque! - single "Mercy" at this point, which is all about pleading for sexual liberty. And if you haven't, check it after the jump ... as well our exclusive interview!

 

Duffy and I talked about the 'only gay' in her village, performing at New York's Hiro and transitioning from a life inside her own head to one in the public eye.

 

Read the Q&A after the jump!

 

 

So you performed at [New York's] Hiro recently? How was the crowd?

They were really lovely! They knew the words. They were fighting me for the microphone! I didn't know whether to hand it over and tell them to sing. And I played last night at the Apollo, which was just amazing as well. So I've had two really great gigs here in New York. In fact, two of my favorites.

The audience is what it's all about. I want people to have a good time at the end of the day.

You know Hiro is gay on Sundays...

Is it? I'm going to be honest with you, I spotted a couple - a couple of couples! - hanging out and ... enjoying themselves. But what a great venue. On a Sunday? I'm going to have check it out if I'm here in town!

You totally should.

Yeah! I'd be twirling on the dance floor. [laughs.]

 

 

So how are you feeling about taking on the young U.S. crowd?

It's really exciting to think that hopefully people my age will like my music because ... I like it. I like that sort of genre, and I'm hoping people feel the same in my age group.

I know you grew up in a small town and didn't have access to a lot of music. Did you go to any great lengths to hear something or to go see anyone perform?

I wish I did. But we didn't really have many live venues, so I didn't really do anything like that. But as I got to sort of my late teens, the power of the Internet is amazing: You can just check out any form of music. So in the last five years, I've been really spoiled. I've been doing all these searches of fantastic music that I love. It's a different time really than when I was growing up in Wales, 15 years ago.

Who's inspiring to you music-wise? Who do you love?

Um ... lots of weird and wonderful people. I like Scott Walker from the Wonder Brothers - really beautiful, soft ... it's almost like chocolate. He used to super, super iconic and really stylish; he still is, but he's retreated to be quite an iconic, avant-garde producer. But if you watch the old footage, he was super-sexy.

And then Joy Division, I like. That's my mix at the moment – which is quite dark! Both of them have kind of dark elements, which I like. I like a bit of edginess.

 

 

So I'm guessing there weren't a lot of gay people in your town growing up.

Have you ever seen Little Britain?

No...

The comedy. Oh my gosh, you've just got to check it out. Tonight, tonight! You are going to check this out, right? And there's this one sketch called 'The Only Gay in the Village,' and I think every Welsh community has one gay who is really, really territorial, right? And he prides himself in being the only gay – you've got to see this sketch!

So basically, if you watch that sketch, it will completely contextualize everything that goes on in Wales - and it's a Welsh sketch.

Did you know the one gay kid?

Yeah! And he was always introducing a little eccentricity to the town, like with a long jacket or something, you know? Or like ... a weird necklace. And all the girls would love it.

But yeah, there was only a couple. You're dealing with a town that only has about 2000 people in it, so it doesn't really have enough of a community. I imagine the majority of people are quite in the closet ... you know, because we're quite traditional. I mean, being gay is amazing, being free, being true to yourself – but in traditional places, I don't think it's so easy.

Yeah, I imagine it's just hard to feel like there are others like you.

But again, going back to the Internet, it's amazing because now my friends who maybe weren't able to express themselves - and that sounds really quirky – 'express themselves.' [she does that click-click suggestive thing.] No, there are places now that they can share.

 

 

So your life has changed really suddenly, right? Is there any aspect of all this you know you'll just never get used to?

I don't think you ever get used to any of it! I mean, people would assume that it feels normal, but at the end of the day, I'm just a girl who's singing a bunch of songs that are, you know, really close to my heart. And I never expected it to transcend to America ... and here I am. And the kind of response is so overwhelming, you know? So it's kind of scary, but lovely at the same time.

But I don't think I'll ever understand it or ever feel as though it's something normal or natural.

So is everything on Rockferry autobiographical? Did you always draw from a certain person or a time in your life?

I don't really know where my songs come from. But I draw them from personal experiences, because music is the only thing I can really be honest with. There's so much ... politics, and contradictions, and hidden agendas with everything in life – everything's got subtext - but music is the only thing I can really be straightforward with. So it definitely comes from somewhere, but I try not to assess it or I'd probably start being an emotional wreck.

But they sort of just come out, and I don't know how.

 

 

Do you like to express yourself in other ways as well?

I think I can wear my heart on my sleeve in many things I do, but nothing beats the power of words in music. You can't quite define it, you know? And I think that's where my head's been at for the past four years, just in the songs and in the writing. I never thought of myself as a voice for the past four years, I was just so consumed with the emotion. And when somebody says to me, I really like your voice, I'm like, Whoa! Oh yeah, that's what it's about. I remember now!

 

I fully recommend this video interview Duffy took part in with mtvU. (You have to watch it to see how sweet and humble she really is!)

 

 

-- the linster from AfterEllen.com

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me a dozen times, shame on you, again —  especially if you’re a production company that has sucked me in time after time with the promise of a great, comic-based female action hero movie or TV series. Case in point: Elektra.

Jennifer Garner as Elektra, for all her tight, skimpy outfits, awesome abs and ass-kicking goodness, was not the Elektra of comic books. She was more like Elektra on Xanax. Sure, I watch the movie every time it’s on, but I’m superficial that way.

Catwoman was even worse — so bad that I haven’t watched it more than once, despite the presence of Halle Berry in this outfit.

 

 

But now comes an announcement that I want to be excited about: a live-action version of Witchblade is coming to the big screen. Do I dare to hope again?

Witchblade is a familiar story: In each generation, a female is chosen to receive special powers to slay, er, fight evil. In this case, the power comes via the Witchblade, a conscious weapon that looks like a jeweled gauntlet when not in use. If the right person wields it, the Witchblade heightens the wearer’s senses and transforms into whatever it needs to be to protect her. If the wrong person tries to wield it, she loses her arm — harsh.

The current Witchy woman is Sara Pezzini, a NYPD homicide detective. Even if you’re not a comic fan, you probably remember Witchblade from the TNT series starring Yancy Butler as Sara. (This shot is the cover of the series DVD, coming July 29.)

 

 

Opinions about the series were mixed among Witchblade comic fans. I liked it personally, but I didn’t read the comic book until I watched the show, so I’m not speaking as a true 'blade geek. In any case, the show got decent ratings but was canceled after two seasons, probably due to Butler’s too frequent (and not too effective) visits to rehab.

We don’t know much about the upcoming movie yet, except that it starts shooting this fall in Australia. Top Cow, publisher of the comic, is involved in production, so I assume the story will mirror the comic book. I am of two minds about that possibility: A devil on one shoulder reminds me that in the comic, when the Witchblade activates, it shreds Sara’s clothes in the process, leaving a lot less than the full-body armor depicted in the television version. How can I not want to see a movie featuring a scantily clad, butt-kicking female?

In my other ear, an angel whispers about the comic book’s rich mythology. Past wielders of the Witchblade include Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Boudica, Elizabeth Brontë and Marie Curie. Imagine a film that introduces the mythology and segues into a new TV series, Tales of the Witchblade, with a different beautiful and fascinating heroine every week. Call me, Top Cow; we’ll talk.

Until the producers tell us more, we are left with the difficult task of speculating on who should play Sara. We already know finalgirl’s pick.

 

 

But in case Rachel McAdams has other plans, we have to be ready.

Megan Fox would certainly be worthy of Witchblade transformation.

 

 

And we know that Sarah Shahi has special powers — and looks very nice with very little clothing (you’re an idiot, Shane). She also knows how to play a cop.

 

 

However, one name came to mind and just won’t leave — not that I want it to. Our own “Ladycop,” Christina Cox: hot, buff and tough. You can see it, too, can’t you?

 

 

No, then who? Who is your chosen bearer of the Witchblade? And am I a fool to hope that, at last, a good female action hero movie is on the horizon?

 

 

For R.E.M.'s second Accelerate single, the band recruited graphic design studio CRUSH to create the manifested lyrics and the oft-overwhelming digital graphics. I'm guessing that's part of the experience, though. Front man Michael Stipe sings, 'I'm overwhelmed / I'm on repeat' in his plea for someone to save him from what he's become.

I do enjoy the mixing in of the human condition - although the band members don't appear - with an interpretation of the near-constant sensory parade from the media. Not to get philosophical on y'all ... but R.E.M. does bring that out, right?

 

And watch the video for lead Accelerate single, "Supernatural Superserious," after the jump...

 

 

Jean Barolay (Alisen Down) in Episode 3.11, "Rapture"
Photo credit: Sci Fi/Eike Schroter

 

-- Malinda Lo from AfterEllen.com

Last week's Battlestar Galactica episode, "Faith," rocked the house. This whole season, though, has been incredible, delving into complex, challenging issues such as religion, mortality and politics. This is not TV lite, therefore I rarely watch it on Friday nights at 10 p.m., since by then my brain is fried from the previous week's work and I can't concentrate with the appropriate amount of attention.

So, after watching "Faith" on DVR delay, I have a few observations to share with you about this most recent episode of BSG. (Please note: No attempt at synopsis has been made; for a synopsis, go here. This post is pure critique and conjecture.)

 

1. Starbuck has a fan base in the BSG world, too.

 

When Jean Barolay (Alisen Down) volunteered to go with Starbuck, Anders and Athena to the Cylon base ship to talk to the Hybrid, Starbuck told her she wasn't looking for volunteers. Jean countered that yes, Starbuck had asked for volunteers back on the Galactica, that Starbuck had been a super-hot badass leader since forever, and Jean would like nothing less than to be ordered around by Kara "Lesbian Icon" Thrace. (OK, maybe I'm paraphrasing a little, but didn't Jean seem to have a little crush on Starbuck? Too bad that crush got her killed.)

 

2. Six kisses Six.

 

After the Six who accidentally killed Jean Barolay was shot by Natalie, she confessed to Natalie that she had not been able to deal with the trauma of being killed by Jean on New Caprica. Natalie called her "sister" and kissed her before she died. I saw this as a grand, poetic statement of blood calling to blood, as well as a reflection of the fact that each Cylon model is so closely linked — closer than family, even — to the others of their model. Here's hoping most folks didn't see it as gratuitous girl-on-girl action starring hottie Tricia Helfer in a fantasy twin lesbians scenario.

 

Tricia Helfer as Natalie

Photo credit: Sci Fi/Carole Segal

 

3. Welcome back, Number Three!

 

The Hybrid, once she is unplugged in a disturbing and somewhat grotesque manner, declares that the Three will be used to find the Five. What does that mean? Natalie thinks it means that Cylon model Number Three, aka D'Anna Biers (Lucy Lawless) and her sisters, need to be "unboxed" so that they can reveal the identities of the final five Cylon models. All I thought was: I've missed you, Lucy, and your strange threesome with Gaius and Six, too!

 

Photo credit: Sci Fi/Justin Stephens

 

4. Sometimes I think the BSG writers screw up.

 

I was shocked to find that I thought the mostly awesome BSG writers messed up in this episode. Not during the majority of the episode, but with the sub-story line involving President Roslin's cancer treatments. Basically, I didn't understand why she was having all those intimate conversations about mortality and religion with a total stranger in the sick bay who was going to die at the end of the episode, when she could have been having them with Admiral Adama, her true love!

 

Edward James Olmos as Admiral William Adama (left) and Mary McDonnell as Laura Roslin

Photo credit: Sci Fi/Justin Stephens

 

OK, fine, maybe she needed to talk to someone on the verge of death, but this is one time I docked the BSG writers some points here. In my opinion,  Adama and Roslin don't get nearly enough screen time together, and to give such an intimate scene to someone we viewers have no connection with when there's a character available who would give the scene much more bang for the buck — well, it just didn't make sense to me. And it made the story line less affecting to me than it should have been.

 

5. Starbuck is the harbinger of death!

 

As the Hybrid said in this episode and as another Hybrid said at the end of Razor, Kara Thrace is part of the prophecy to lead the human race to its end. Does this mean that Starbuck should not be trusted?

 

Photo credit: Sci Fi/Carole Segal

 

Or, does this mean that the Hybrid is just plain crazy? I am not sure whether the ramblings of the Hybrid really should be believed or not, and yet at the same time it seems like it would make a twisted kind of sense that Starbuck would inadvertently bring destruction upon the human race. She's well-meaning and all, but she's also a bit hotheaded and not, perhaps, the best kind of leader. On the other hand, maybe Starbuck really is a Cylon. She heard that weird music and all. 

What did you think about last week's episode? Please mark any discussion of upcoming episodes with clear spoiler warnings!

 

 

I can't complain about the The Hills-friendly, bite-sized pop that is "Shake It," the third single from the Cali band's self-titled debut. The video concept makes me think of America's Best Dance Crew ... not that I've ever seen that show. But who let all these hipsters into this beautiful theater? Oh, there's security.

I know I said this after I watched Metro Station's "Control" video, but I greatly prefer tattooed Trace Cyrus to the band's other vocalist Mason Musso, who comes off cheesy and Angels & Airwaves-y. ... Sorry. That wasn't called for.

 

 

The, um, National Enquirer reported Jodie Foster and her "beautiful Cydney" are no longer together ... you know ... "together." – NY Daily

Lindsay - since you're still on probation and all, you might not want to guest in N*E*R*D's "Everyone Nose" video, what with its not-so-subtle attack on your ... former behavior and all. - Idolator

The upcoming MTV reality spin-off starring god-like Brody Jenner will be called Bromance. Thank you,  Ryan Seacrest Productions! - EOnline

The Vicky Cristina Barcelona trailer is pretty darn steamy – mostly because of the Javier Bardem, Scar-Jo and Penelope Cruz making-out footage. - Egotastic

Posh said the only men checking for her now, other than her husband, I'm assuming, are gay men. Oh ... we are? – The Sun

Janet Jackson showed up to Alexander McQueen's L.A. store launch party in one of the designer's more experimental creations. The cones totally make it. – Faded Youth

 

Photo credit: FOX

 

-- carolinagrrrl from AfterEllen.com

It’s do-or-die time on American Idol, and I can happily say that Syesha Mercado is still alive and kicking.  While most Idol "experts" (and even some judges) will tell you that the finals should come down to a battle of the two Davids, I've been hoping for a small miracle that would allow Syesha to strut her stuff into the finals. Last night she may have gotten her opportunity.

The show was split up into three pseudo-rounds: In the first round, songs were chosen by a judge, in the second the contestants chose their own songs, and lastly the producers made selections.

 

For boy-wonder David Archuleta, the evening resulted in mixed reviews.  Paula Abdul chose “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel for his first song, and Randy Jackson said he was completely “in the zone.”

 

Photo credit: FOX

 

David’s personal choice was possibly the most interesting of the season, singing “With You” by Chris Brown.  Though it’s definitely the first time he’s tackled something that’s even remotely targeted towards his age bracket, it didn’t necessarily make it a good decision. Simon Cowell’s assessment of the situation (like a chihuahua acting like a tiger) was right on the money. Lastly, the judges had him sing “Longer” by Dan Fogelberg.  Bor-ing.

David numero dos (David Cook, for any Idol neophytes out there) was given the task of tackling Roberta Flack’s “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” My first thought was, “What the F?”  But, alas, I begrudgingly admit that the talents of Mr. Cook and the musical prowess of Mr. Cowell did, indeed, prevail.  It was an awesome, awesome performance.

 

Photo credit: FOX

 

His last two songs were very widely recognizable songs — “Dare You to Move” by Switchfoot and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith, respectively — and while they were both solid, they weren’t nearly as inspired as his first of the night. The Aerosmith song did provide a different texture to his voice that I don’t remember hearing from him before.  It was nice.  He is a shoo-in for the top two.

Syesha, on the other hand, needed a bit of a boost to have a shot, and Randy tried to give it to her by selecting “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys.  When she found out, Syesha was visibly excited to be singing some Keys.

 

Photo credit: FOX

 

The judges and I were all in agreement that Syesha sang the song perfectly, and they stole words out of my mouth during their critiques as well:

Paula:  And aside from all of that, you look absolutely stunning.
Simon:  Overall, it was — you look gorgeous, by the way.

Yeah, Simon couldn’t even complete his thought without getting that out.

For herself, Syesha chose “Fever” by Peggy Lee and gave a very sexy performance, complete with a prop chair and a short dress. The judges weren’t too crazy about her song choice, but who cares? (OK, so at this point I’m just being shallow, but do any of you really mind?  I didn’t think so.)

Lastly, the producers chose Gia Farrell’s “Hit Me Up” from Happy Feet, which really actually angers me.  That song was very obviously not the type of song Syesha has done well on, and while the two boys were spoon-fed songs that my hamster could have chosen for them, she got this random song from a cartoon soundtrack.  Now, I’m not hating on the song — I quite like it — but they had to have known she wouldn’t be able to provide the type of performance needed to surpass the Davids with that. I have tried so hard to avoid writing about “conspiracies” and things being rigged on Idol and whatnot because, frankly, there is enough of that silly chatter around the net to make my eyes cross.  But this, well, this is a travesty.

Cook, without even a blink, should be in the finals.  Will the other — to my surprise and delight — be Syesha?  Goodness, I hope so.

 

 

Is it really over? Jon and I are almost relieved, to be real with y'all! For our final vlog, we explain why The Hills needs to acknowledge the actual lives of its cast and which (alleged) sex tape we'd really like to see!

 

 

 

You better wuuurk! ... That is, if you want to be America's Next Top Drag Queen - er - Drag Queen Superstar!

Up there with I Love Money in the realm of too-good-to-be-real ridiculous reality TV, Logo will air an ANTM/Project Runway-esque competition that pits drag wannabes against each other, with superstar RuPaul as judge and mentor! Seriously. Drag is an art, and these divas are ready to compete.

To quote the master, "Tell Tyra that the Queen has returned, and while you’re at it have Heidi clear the runway. I’m going to pump some 'realness' into reality." Well, RuPaul certainly could take on Ty-Ty if it came down to it. Blood and weave everywhere!

 

 

The show won't air until 2009, but until then, you've got to check out the casting site for RuPaul's Drag Race. Updated daily, the site lets hopefuls such as KayPasa (pictured above) create profiles, upload lip-synching audition videos and pitch to you why they've got the dragalicious goods to be on the show.

So get to voting - or enter yourself, if you think you're that fierce - 'cause you gays will determine who makes the cut. The next drag superstar needs you. Do your civic duty! And there's some classic RuPaul after the jump to get you into the proper spirits...

 

 

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

This week on Homophonic, Alex takes a spa day with queer electro/rock group Naked Highway. Lead singer Sy dishes the good stuff with tales from their European tour, his strong belief in hardcore-burlesque, and the unusual bond he shares with his partners in crime.

But wait!  There's more!  Buckle your seat belts in that lowrider, 'cause we've got the world premiere of Naked Highway's newest video, "Shorty the Pimp". So put your headphones on, pop some bubbly, and get Naked!

 

Check it all out after the break!

 

 

-- Trish Bendix from AfterEllen.com

Whether you loved it and didn’t understand it, or hated it but claim to “get it” all, the film Donnie Darko is undeniably a cult classic. The 2001 indie film starring Jena Malone and both Gyllenhaals focused on the lead character’s existential crisis involving a bunny rabbit and his untimely death. It also featured cameos from Patrick Swayze and Drew Barrymore and had a rocking '80s soundtrack. Why mess with perfection? The director Richard Kelly did not want to — and still doesn’t, which is why he wants no association with the film’s upcoming sequel, S. Darko.

The new film stars Daveigh Chase (Big Love), who played Donnie’s young sister, Samatha, in the original film.

 

She reprises her role alongside other new cast members Ed Westwick (Chuck from Gossip Girl) and Briana Evigan (Step Up 2: The Streets). The director is Chris Fisher, whose previous work includes Nightstalker and Rampage: The Hillside Strangler Murders (guess I missed those two at the box office.) The film follows Samantha at age 18 on a road trip to L.A. with a friend when they start to have “bizarre visions” — perhaps the ghosts of Sparkle Motion Past, Present and Future.

Filming is slated to begin May 18, and S. Darko will screen at next years’ Cannes Film Festival. The probability of this being bought is most likely very high, but the probability of it being very good? The jury’s still out — it might depend highly on a Swayze appearance. Come on — he did it for Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights!

 

 

Who spared me and broke up Adam Levine's shrill vocals with something actually pleasant to listen to? I'm grateful Rihanna sings about half of the lyrics of the fourth It Won't Be Soon Before Long single ... boy, is it better for it! This track will also be on Rihanna's re-release of Good Girl Gone Bad.

For the video, a heavily-powdered Rihanna writhes and rubs for Adam, while he only offers his signature wide-legged, blank-stared performance. Maybe I'm being too hard on that douche Adam - I actually do enjoy this track now that Rihanna's involved - but somehow this video wound up so un-sexy...

 

You can watch an MTV interview with the pair on the music video set. Luckily, the reporter only wants to hear what Rihanna has to say. Word.

 

 

 

Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford poses for a GQ summer fashion spread. Hey, these pics are much better than those cowboy ones from back in the day! - ONTD

I love that these two are friends: Newlywed Mariah Carey went on Ellen bearing super-girly gifts for her Ellen and Portia. We can't all pull off the poof, Mimi. - PopCrunch

The London Sex and the City premiere offered underwear models for Kristen - and a butterfly garden on SJP's head for everyone else. – Queerty

It's not "4 Minutes"; it"s "7 Things," OK? If you listen to Miley Cyrus' new track, keep in mind it's no "See You Again" – and it features lyrics, 'If you text it, I'll delete it.' - PopEater

Elizabeth Berkeley spoke with Page Six about Showgirls, calling it a 'no-brainer' on paper. We feel the same way, Nomi. - ONTD

 

-- Dorothy Snarker from AfterEllen.com

I want to believe … in the new X-Files movie. As a fan since the early '90s (Hey, remember those? Good times.), I watched nearly religiously until 1998 when something funny happened. I went to see The X-Files movies. While I liked the film, it was my jump-the-shark moment. Afterward, I felt like all the twists and turns in its convoluted conspiracy were too much come-on, not enough pay-off.

So now, with the new The X-Files: I Want to Believe opening July 25, I'm not sure whether that old paranormal magic will work on me again. Can Scully and Mulder make me believe, one last time?

I wasn't sure. And then I saw the trailer today. (If you don't like squinting, watch it on this Web site and click on "View High Res.")

 

 

I'll admit it, once the show's spooky theme started to play, I was hooked. Dark hallways. Secret labs. Big needles. And, oh, what glorious flashlights. But then, after my inner geek calmed down at the sight of Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny together again, I put my analytical hat back on. (What? I can't wear the tinfoil one all the time.)

 

 

What's good? The creepiness. The vagueness. The Scully-Mulderness. What's not so good? The creepiness. The vagueness. The Scully-Mulderness. Let's take them one at a time.

The creepiness. I love that the sequel's much-guarded plot is a stand-alone monster-of-the-week type story instead of part of the series' larger mythology arc. But why do the brief glimpses we see remind me of every other horror movie where a young woman is being held captive by a psycho killer? I want have to believe they'll do more with the story than the standard girl-in-peril plot. On the plus side, who knew that charming Scot Billy Connolly could be so creepy as a gray-haired psychic?

 

 

The vagueness. Of course it's vague. This is The X-Files. It's all vague and darkly lit and just short of confusing. That's what we love/hate about the series. Go with it.

 

 

The Scully-Mulderness. We want them to get together; we don't want them to get together. It's one of this generation's great debates, ranking just below "Paper or plastic?" and "Chicken or egg?"

 

 

Tantalizing us even further are two viral video shorts (really short, like 10 seconds each) of Scully and Mulder talking about what they miss about each other. If the clips are any indication, the film will treat their re-teaming as a reunion. They also play up the couple angle.

 

 

So, what do you think of the trailer. And the viral clips? Are they out there? Are they the truth? Do you believe? Discuss.

 

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

This morning out actor David Hyde Pierce (who won a Tony last year for Curtains) and Grey's Anatomy's Sara Ramirez (who won a Tony herself alongside Pierce in Spamalot a few years ago) announced the Tony nominations for 2008.

Best Musical: Xanadu, aka Gayness on Skates, was nominated (also for Best Book), as well as gay-pedigreed Cry-Baby (Cry-Baby also snagged a nom for Best Score and Best Book).

Best Actor in a Play: Out actor Ben Daniels (Beautiful Thing) was nominated for his brilliant (and revealing!) performance in Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

 

Best Actress in a Musical: Xanadu's Kerry Butler was nominated, as was Faith Prince for the gay-themed A Catered Affair.

Featured Actor in a Play: Out actor Raul Esparza (Pushing Daisies) was nominated for The Homecoming. And gay-fave actor Bobby Cannevale (Will & Grace) was nominated for Mauritius.

Featured Actor in a Musical: Out actor Robin De Jesus (Camp) was nominated for In the Heights.

 

Best Choreography: Xanadu and Cry-Baby were both nominated.

And gay composer Stephen Sondheim will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award (deservedly!).

 

Of course, the big disappointment is that multiple-threat hunk Cheyenne Jackson wasn't nominated for Best Actor for his short-short-filling turn in Xanadu. Sigh. Well, we know we still haven't seen the best of him (at least, I know I haven't!). Congrats to all the nominees! The Tony Awards will be handed out on June 15th, and check out the full list on noms...

Nominations for the 2008 American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards®

Presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing

Best Play

August: Osage County
Author: Tracy Letts
Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Jean Doumanian, Steve Traxler, Jerry Frankel, Ostar Productions, Jennifer Manocherian, The Weinstein Company, Debra Black/Daryl Roth, Ronald & Marc Frankel/Barbara Freitag, Rick Steiner/Staton Bell Group, The Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Rock 'n' Roll
Author: Tom Stoppard
Producers: Bob Boyett & Sonia Friedman Productions, Ostar Productions, Roger Berlind, Tulchin/Bartner, Douglas G. Smith, Dancap Productions, Jam Theatricals, The Weinstein Company, Lincoln Center Theater, The Royal Court Theatre London

The Seafarer
Author: Conor McPherson
Producers: Ostar Productions, Bob Boyett, Roy Furman, Lawrence Horowitz, Jam Theatricals, Bill Rollnick/Nancy Ellison Rollnick, James D'Orta, Thomas S. Murphy, Ralph Guild/Jon Avnet, Philip Geier/Keough Partners, Eric Falkenstein/Max OnStage, The National Theatre of Great Britain

The 39 Steps
Author: Patrick Barlow
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy, Bob Boyett, Harriet Newman Leve/Ron Nicynski, Stewart F. Lane/Bonnie Comley, Manocherian Golden Prods., Olympus Theatricals/Douglas Denoff, Marek J. Cantor/Pat Addiss, Huntington Theatre Company/Nicholas Martin/Michael Maso, Edward Snape for Fiery Angel Ltd.

Best Musical

Cry-Baby
Producer: Adam Epstein, Allan S. Gordon, Élan V. McAllister, Brian Grazer, James P. MacGilvray, Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Anne Caruso, Adam S. Gordon, Latitude Link, The Pelican Group, Philip Morgaman, Andrew Farber/Richard Mishaan

In The Heights
Producers:  Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller, Jill Furman, Sander Jacobs, Goodman/Grossman, Peter Fine, Everett/Skipper

Passing Strange
Producers:  The Shubert Organization, Elizabeth Ireland McCann LLC, Bill Kenwright, Chase Mishkin, Barbara & Buddy Freitag, Broadway Across America, Emily Fisher Landau, Peter May, Boyett Ostar, Larry Hirschhorn, Janet Pailet/Steve Klein, Elie Hirschfeld/Jed Bernstein, Spring Sirkin/Ruth Hendel, Vasi Laurence/Pat Flicker Addiss, Wendy Federman/Jackie Barlia Florin, Joey Parnes, The Public Theater, The Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Xanadu
Producers:  Robert Ahrens, Dan Vickery, Tara Smith/B. Swibel, Sarah Murchison/Dale Smith

Best Book of a Musical

Cry-Baby
Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan

In The Heights
Quiara Alegría Hudes

Passing Strange
Stew

Xanadu
Douglas Carter Beane

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Cry-Baby
Music & Lyrics: David Javerbaum & Adam Schlesinger

In The Heights
Music & Lyrics:  Lin-Manuel Miranda

The Little Mermaid
Music:  Alan Menken
Lyrics:  Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater

Passing Strange
Music:  Stew and Heidi Rodewald
Lyrics:  Stew

Best Revival of a Play

Boeing-Boeing
Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, Bob Boyett, Act Productions, Matthew Byam Shaw, Robert G. Bartner, The Weinstein Company, Susan Gallin/Mary Lu Roffe, Broadway Across America, Tulchin/Jenkins/DSM, The Araca Group

The Homecoming
Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Jam Theatricals, Ergo Entertainment, Barbara & Buddy Freitag, Michael Gardner, Herbert Goldsmith Productions, Terry E. Schnuck, Harold Thau, Michael Filerman/Lynne Peyser, Ronald Frankel/David Jaroslawicz, Love Bunny Entertainment

Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy

Macbeth
Producers: Duncan C. Weldon & Paul Elliott, Jeffrey Archer, Bill Ballard, Terri & Timothy Childs, Rodger Hess, David Mirvish, Adriana Mnuchin, Emanuel Azenberg, BAM, The Chichester Festival Theatre

Best Revival of a Musical

Grease
Producers: Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations Inc., Terry Allen Kramer, Robert Stigwood

Gypsy
Producers: Roger Berlind, The Routh-Frankel-Baruch-Viertel Group, Roy Furman, Debra Black, Ted Hartley, Roger Horchow, David Ian, Scott Rudin, Jack Viertel

Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific
Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Bernard Gersten, Bob Boyett

Sunday in the Park with George
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy, Bob Boyett, Debra Black, Jam Theatricals, Stephanie P. McClelland, Stewart F. Lane/Bonnie Comley, Barbara Manocherian/Jennifer Manocherian, Ostar Productions, The Menier Chocolate Factory/David Babani

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Ben Daniels, Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Laurence Fishburne, Thurgood
Mark Rylance, Boeing-Boeing
Rufus Sewell, Rock 'n' Roll
Patrick Stewart, Macbeth

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Eve Best, The Homecoming
Deanna Dunagan, August:  Osage County
Kate Fleetwood, Macbeth
S. Epatha Merkerson, Come Back, Little Sheba
Amy Morton, August:  Osage County

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Daniel Evans, Sunday in the Park with George
Lin-Manuel Miranda, In The Heights
Stew, Passing Strange
Paulo Szot, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific
Tom Wopat, A Catered Affair

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Kerry Butler, Xanadu
Patti LuPone, Gypsy
Kelli O'Hara, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific
Faith Prince, A Catered Affair
Jenna Russell, Sunday in the Park with George

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Bobby Cannavale, Mauritius
Raúl Esparza, The Homecoming
Conleth Hill, The Seafarer
Jim Norton, The Seafarer
David Pittu, Is He Dead?

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Sinead Cusack, Rock 'n' Roll
Mary McCormack, Boeing-Boeing
Laurie Metcalf, November
Martha Plimpton, Top Girls
Rondi Reed, August: Osage County

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Daniel Breaker, Passing Strange
Danny Burstein, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific
Robin De Jesús, In The Heights
Christopher Fitzgerald, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein
Boyd Gaines, Gypsy

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
de'Adre Aziza, Passing Strange
Laura Benanti, Gypsy
Andrea Martin, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein
Olga Merediz, In The Heights
Loretta Ables Sayre, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Peter McKintosh, The 39 Steps
Scott Pask, Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Todd Rosenthal, August: Osage County
Anthony Ward, Macbeth

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
David Farley and Timothy Bird & The Knifedge Creative Network, Sunday in the Park with George
Anna Louizos, In The Heights
Robin Wagner, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein
Michael Yeargan, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Best Costume Design of a Play
Gregory Gale, Cyrano de Bergerac
Rob Howell, Boeing-Boeing
Katrina Lindsay, Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Peter McKintosh, The 39 Steps

Best Costume Design of a Musical
David Farley, Sunday in the Park with George
Martin Pakledinaz, Gypsy
Paul Tazewell, In The Heights
Catherine Zuber, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Kevin Adams, The 39 Steps
Howard Harrison, Macbeth
Donald Holder, Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Ann G. Wrightson, August: Osage County

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Ken Billington, Sunday in the Park with George
Howell Binkley, In The Heights
Donald Holder, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific
Natasha Katz, The Little Mermaid

Best Sound Design of a Play
Simon Baker, Boeing-Boeing
Adam Cork, Macbeth
Ian Dickson, Rock 'n' Roll
Mic Pool, The 39 Steps

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Acme Sound Partners, In The Heights
Sebastian Frost, Sunday in the Park with George
Scott Lehrer, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific
Dan Moses Schreier, Gypsy

Best Direction of a Play
Maria Aitken, The 39 Steps
Conor McPherson, The Seafarer
Anna D. Shapiro, August: Osage County
Matthew Warchus, Boeing-Boeing

Best Direction of a Musical
Sam Buntrock, Sunday in the Park with George
Thomas Kail, In The Heights
Arthur Laurents, Gypsy
Bartlett Sher, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, Cry-Baby
Andy Blankenbuehler, In The Heights
Christopher Gattelli, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific
Dan Knechtges, Xanadu

Best Orchestrations
Jason Carr, Sunday in the Park with George
Alex Lacamoire & Bill Sherman, In The Heights
Stew & Heidi Rodewald, Passing Strange
Jonathan Tunick, A Catered Affair

*       *       *

Regional Theatre Tony Award
Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Special Tony Award
Robert Russell Bennett (1894-1981), in recognition of his historic contribution to American musical theatre in the field of orchestrations, as represented on Broadway this season by Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific.

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Stephen Sondheim

*       *      *

Tony Nominations by Production
In The Heights - 13
Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific - 11
Sunday in the Park with George - 9
August: Osage County - 7
Gypsy - 7
Passing Strange - 7
Boeing-Boeing - 6
Macbeth - 6
The 39 Steps - 6
Les Liaisons Dangereuses - 5
Cry-Baby - 4
Rock 'n' Roll - 4
The Seafarer - 4
Xanadu - 4
A Catered Affair - 3
The Homecoming - 3
The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein - 3
The Little Mermaid - 2
Come Back, Little Sheba - 1
Cyrano de Bergerac - 1
Grease - 1
Is He Dead? - 1
Mauritius - 1
November - 1
Thurgood - 1
Top Girls - 1

www.TonyAwards.com

 

 

This new British electro-pop duo totally just snuck in on me: The Ting Tings sound is so well-packaged and catchy and ... pop-solvent to me, yet I know nothing about them. Well, I know they've had lots of live-show buzz and that the band consists of Katie White and Jules De Martino - and I know Jules is registering pretty gay. But that's just me...

Check out the video for "That's Not My Name," the band's first single from debut album We Started Nothing. (I love it when Jules starts layering on the back-up vocals.) And if you're liking this, check out the video for "Great DJ" after the jump, as well as the the full album preview on LOGOonline. We've got your hookup, Joleisa!

 

 

By the way, you may have heard The Ting Tings in that new iPod commercial; it's another We Started Nothing single "Shut Up and Let Me Go." Check it out on the Apple Web site.

 

-- Dennis Ayers from AfterElton.com

After a week's absence, Jim & Penny return to talk about the most recent performances on American Idol ("Neil Diamond week" and "Classic Rock week").

They open up the reader mailbag and name their picks for most talented, most improved and most personable contestants from this season. Also, Penny asks Jim about recent comments made by Season One co-host Brian Dunkleman that the show's producers and certain judges were "mean-spirited and targeted specific contestants in an effort to break them." 

 

Co-hosts Ryan Seacrest (left) & Brian Dunkleman
from American Idol Season One

 

Check out their video blog after the break!