"I'm just a gay guy from Indiana who doesn't play basketball."CBS Entertainment president Glenn Geller talks to the press about diversity both in front of and behind the camera. And yet CBS is the only major network NOT doing a Broadway musical. What's up with that?
Did you hear about Shuttlegate? Because of increased security at the Golden Globes, everyone not in a limo had to park in a single garage about a mile away from the venue. The lines in the garage were endless, with celebs and civilians alike waiting more than two hours to go through a metal detector and board a shuttle. The trades quoted people as saying, "This is like waiting to get off the Titanic" or "It was like a prison camp." Such a First World problem. Meanwhile, there are people in Uzbekistan who don't even have cable!
To avoid this, I found a parking spot nearby and walked to the hotel. Well, I attempted to walk to the hotel. A burly cop of undetermined gender stopped me and said I could not cross the street to the venue because it was a secured area. "Really? I don't think so," I said. The hand on the Taser told me I should think again. Undaunted, I walked down the block to the next corner. Again, I was stopped. But this time I said that the other security guard sent me there. Success.
I think Ricky Gervais is the perfect host. Everyone in Hollywood has a love/hate relationship with the Golden Globes. On one hand, it's a joke. On the other hand, it's an indicator of the Oscars since Academy ballots are due days later. You know who'd like to host next year? Caitlyn Jenner. The reality star was not thrilled when Ricky said she didn't help the image of women drivers. OK, perhaps mean. It may have been unintentional, but Cait did kill someone. So did Matthew Broderick. So did Brandy. And Laura Bush. Let's not even get into Teddy Kennedyand I'm a Bostonian! Cait, lighten upat least the charges were dropped.
Two days later, I was at a very different awards showthe Cybersocket Awards. If you want to feel old, try walking through a room filled with scantily dressed gay porn stars in their 20s. Chi Chi LaRue hosted the event with aplomb. And Frenchie Davis blew the roof off the joint ( while the "talent" was blowing other things ). After Davis left, the Best Sex Scene was awarded to Two Americans For One Frenchie. And I thought I was versatile!
Before we change topics, NBC has announced its next live musical will be Hairspray. Kinda soon for a new version of that great show, but anything to get the taste of Travolta out of my mouth, so to speak. I hear that there is already a Link on boardNick Jonas is all guaranteed to reprise the role he played at the Hollywood Bowl in 2011. And it's a no-brainer that Harvey Fierstein should get the chance to immortalize his inimitable Edna for posterityto say nothing of posterior! Plus, he's already got an in with the producershe revamped the book for The Wiz: LIVE!
While we'd all love to see the original Tracy from the musical play the role, Marissa Jaret Winokur has made it clear via Facebook that won't happen: "Thank you all for your delusional support that I could play a 16-year-old! We are all VERY excited for 'Hairspray' on NBC, but 'Mamma I'm an OLD girl now...welcome to my 40s!'" That said, she make a formidable Miss Baltimore Crabs or Mrs. Pingleton ... or the gym teacher! Lastly, I think it's obvious that Motormouth Mabel should be played by Black-ish breakout star Jenifer Lewis. After all, the part was written for her, she did the original demos and workshop, and eventually starred in the Broadway production. DUH!
Last week, Charlie Carver ( one of the hot twins from Desperate Housewives and Teen Wolf ) came out. He did this via Instagramas the kids are wont to do. It's an extensive coming-out essayfive parts in all. It all boils down to a handful of quotes: "I hadn't really ever been 'in,'" "I've lived 'out,' not feeling the need to announce so. I was comfortably out in my private life" and "Let the record show thisI self-identified as gay. Does that really matter anymore? As a young man, I needed a young man in Hollywood to say thatand without being a dick about it, I owed it to myself, more than anything, to be who I needed when I was younger." With a tip of a hat to his equally hot brother Max, he said, "And let the record show my twin brother is just as cool for being straight."
Our "Ask Billy" question comes from Gary in Sacramento: "Do you watch Undateable? Last week, Chris D'Elia was in his underwear and it sure looked like he has a huge penis."
Not so much a question as a statement, but one I'd question. Let me say how thrilled I am that anyone is watching Undateableperhaps the best sitcom on TV. Once they decided to go live every week, the show has been on fireeverywhere except in the ratings. They do the show live twice on Fridaysonce for the East and once for the West. And this explains Gary's statement. In the West Coast feed, D'Elia's undies were about to burst. Let's just say they went in a different direction for the East Coast. I'll post both versions on BillyMasters.com .
When we're analyzing bulges, it's definitely time to end yet another column. But before I wrap, let me take a moment to apologize to Project Runway alum Blake Patterson. You know how you watch people on TV and you think you know them? When I saw Blake at the Cybersocket Awards, I knew I knew himI just couldn't place him. I figured he couldn't place me when I greeted him a tad too familiarly, while taking inventory of his thread and bobbin. Once I got home, it hit meI've never met him before! Oops, sorry. But perhaps he'll now be a fan of www.BillyMasters.com, the site that has a whole lotta bobbin' goin' on!
If you have a question, send it off to Billy@BillyMasters.com, and I promise to get back to you before Ricky Gervais replaces Chi Chi LaRue as host of the Cybersocket Awards ... and nobody can tell the difference! Strike thatbefore Caitlyn Jenner replaces Chi Chi LaRue as host of the Cybersocket Awards ... and nobody can tell the difference! So, until next time, remember: One man's filth is another man's bible.