Sometime over the last decade or so, glasses became cool. And hot. And the world began to see what lesbians always have known: that women who wear glasses are both cool and hot. And downright sexy.

Personally, I'm glad views have changed. As a little tomboy, I resisted glasses as long as I could, to the point of memorizing the eye chart every year so I could pass the vision exam. When I finally was too blind to resist specs any longer, my family was about to move to Texas from Pittsburgh. One of my friends said, "Wow, glasses don't seem very Texan." At the time, I was devastated. Now I know better. Texans with glasses rock. … continue reading

T-minus one week and counting to my favorite psuedo-holiday of the year. I love Halloween. Think about it. It's the only time of year that it's OK to accept candy from strangers. In fact, soliciting candy from strangers is expected. It's also the only time of the year it's socially acceptable for those of us who aren't paid actors to dress up in costume and pretend to be something or someone we're not.

For more than a decade, Bette Midler has been throwing one of the best Halloween bashes around. I say best not because it's the biggest or the scariest. I say best because she throws the bash to raise money for New York Restoration Project, a nonprofit founded by Midler to clean, restore and revitalize New York City's parks. The group reclaims abandonded parks, plants community gardens and offers youth education programs aimed at greening up New York City.

In conjunction with the annual bash at the Waldorf-Astoria, the group also holds an online auction. Among the items available for bid this year are a day on the set of Wolverine with Hugh Jackman and tickets to Jessica Alba's next movie premiere. Sign me up for that one.

This year, they're also having "Wicked Day" on Oct. 28, complete with block party, performances by the cast of Wicked and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Friendship Gardens. … continue reading

ABC apparently noticed the success of recent cable shows with strong women as leads. The network has ordered a script about the most powerful woman in New York — The Fixer. Russell Gewirtz, who wrote Inside Man, will write and produce the pilot. The show’s lead character was inspired in part by Madeline White, Jodie Foster’s character in Inside Man.

Although Madeline’s character was not fleshed out in the movie, we know that she was in the business of cleaning up image problems for her clients — at any cost. Foster even described Madeline as a “fixer figure” in an interview for Inside Man. Gewirtz says that the woman at the center of The Fixer is “a single mother who is very clever, influential and powerful.” And, like Madeline White, she is morally ambiguous. No word on sexual orientation, but given the character profile, I'm not sure we want her to be the network's first leading lesbian.

The important question for us, of course, is who will play The Fixer? Stepping into a role associated with Jodie will be no picnic (just ask Julianne Moore), so the actress needs some powerful acting chops to make it her own. The first person to come to mind, unfortunately, is already headed to another ABC show.

Can’t you just see Dana Delany as a smart, sexy, manipulative power broker? She could even wear that suit she almost took off when her Senator Grisham seduced Bette. Excuse me; I need a moment.

Another TV powerhouse we haven’t seen enough lately is Sela Ward.

… continue reading

Dana Delany is in talks to join the cast of Desperate Housewives next season as a new series regular. Wow, that might actually make me watch the show. She would join the cast as Bree’s long-lost sister Katherine, a “conservative Republican with an all-American wholesomeness and a mastery of passive aggressiveness.” So, what, she’ll bake you an apple pie with salt instead of sugar? Delish.

Dana reportedly turned down the role of Bree (played by Marcia Cross) three times while the show was in development. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Katherine will move to Wisteria Lane with her younger husband (possibly played by Firefly and Serenity’s Nathan Fillion) and teenage daughter (Lyndsy Fonseca, who also just landed a the role of April the gay cheerleader on Heroes. Geez, that girl is busy.) … continue reading