In a desperate attempt to save itself from eviction, Big Brother Australia has been leading up to this year's show as something new. This week revealed exactly what's up. But first, can I just take a minute to bemoan the passing of Gretel Killeen as host?

I miss ya, Gretel. As hosts of reality TV shows go, you were about the only one I could stomach. Sometimes your flirtation with the house boys made me queasy, but Kyle's ogling of a certain busty female housemate last night nearly brought up the chuck. But ratings drop, and so it's out with the too "mature" and in with the young and new.

Except. This year, Big Brother picked a handful of the normal firm-bodied 20-somethings, but also assembled a wacky lot including a UFO nut complete with Roswell tattoos and — hold on to your seats for this one — a grandmother. I know, crazy. … continue reading

There was a time in 1997–98 when you'd turn on the radio and just about the only tune you could hear was Natalie Imbruglia's chart-topping hit single "Torn." A lot can change in 10 years. For example, the fact that when I read her name online, my first thought was, "Huh. Where's she been?" Also, Imbruglia is all grown up now. I almost didn't recognize her at first glance. (And hey — do people even listen to the radio anymore? Isn't it all iTunes and iPods, anyway?)

It wasn't long, though, before I remembered why we liked her. And by "we," I mean me and all of my lesbian friends in college, most of whom also sported this very haircut. What? It's still cute.

I find it hard to believe, but apparently Imbruglia's amassed enough hits across the past decades to compile a 14-track greatest hits album. Entitled Glorious, it is due to be released later this month. I'm still not convinced she's been around long enough to really qualify for a best-of album, but fine. … continue reading

Tonight's premiere of The Real World: Sydney (10:00 p.m. on MTV) introduces us to Shauvon Torres. She's 24; she's a sex columnist; she's a student at Sacramento State; she's bisexual. She's probably going to keep things interesting.

And you've probably seen The Real World, so I'll spare you the summary. When it first hit the airwaves, I thought the show was the coolest thing ever, but I eventually came to see it as the most incontrovertible proof that growing up is the coolest thing ever. The so-called real world, as envisioned by the series, is often just a shallow, selfish display of drama and whining, with the requisite hot-tub kissing scene thrown in for good measure.

But, well, Shauvon seems kinda cool, as well as kinda hot. Apparently she just broke off an engagement to a man who asked her to choose between him and her career. Reminds me of the time my sister's boyfriend asked her to choose between him and softball. You can guess how that turned out. … continue reading

Joan Chen is an actor and director whose work I've admired for years.

How can you not respect a woman who, when faced with a dearth of interesting roles from a (still!) largely white industry, will go and make her own films? And brave the displeasure of the Chinese government in the process? Chen has also been good to lesbian audiences, accepting roles in films with lesbian stories, such as What's Cooking and Saving Face. She spoke with AfterEllen.com about Saving Face and also did an interview with iFilm.com: … continue reading

This week on the set of Baz Luhrmann's new period drama, Australia, co-star Bill Hunter offered AfterEllen Hottie No. 94 Nicole Kidman a friendly hand. Australian papers couldn't help but caption this (and clearly, nor can I):

Northern Territory News: "Nicole Earns a Territory Handshake"
Daily Telegraph: "Nicole's Bum Steer in Outback"
Me: "Nicole's Helping Hand Down Under"

We can anticipate a big-screen tweaking of Kidman's bum when Australia opens in 2008. Set during WWII, this scene from the movie is designed to show the difficulties that her character, Lady Sarah Ashley, faces in a male-dominated world. (Gee, I wonder what that's like?) … continue reading