Jane Lynch Heads for
Spring Breakdown
Almost under the radar, lesbian actor Jane Lynch has become one of the movies' most hilarious comic presences. From A Mighty Wind to The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Talladega Nights, Lynch can always be relied upon to bring on the funny. Now she's teaming up with other lovable laugh-getters—including Parker Posey, Amy Poehler, Amber Tamblyn, Missi Pyle, Leslie Grossman ( TV's Popular ) , Loretta Devine, Rachel Dratch and Kristin Cavallari ( TV's Laguna Beach ) —for Spring Breakdown. The comedy, co-written by Dratch, follows three women who hit a popular co-ed spring break destination. And it's not just packed with funny women—the film, set to hit theaters in 2007, will also feature Arrested Development's Will Arnett ( Poehler's husband in real life ) and SNL's Seth Meyers.
Zac Efron Graduates from
High School Musical to Hairspray
OK, admit it—you totally sing the songs from High School Musical in the shower. That made-for-TV musical has been a gigantic boost for both the Disney Channel and its cast members. Case in point: Zac Efron has been cast as hunky Link Larkin in the upcoming movie of the hit Broadway musical Hairspray, set to hit theaters in 2007. In other Hairspray happenings, West Wing star Allison Janney ( who also played Meryl Streep's Sapphic sweetie in The Hours ) will play humorless Prudy Pingleton, while Amanda Bynes has been cast as Prudy's 'checkerboard chick' daughter Penny. This project is turning so 'all-star,' they should have their pictures in a row of boxes at the bottom of the poster.
Little Britain Swings American
There are both proud ( The Office ) and embarrassing ( Coupling ) traditions of adapting hit British TV series into American shows. Romeo has high hopes regarding the recent announcement that the comedy geniuses behind Little Britain ( gay Matt Lucas and straight David Walliams ) will be making a U.S. version of their smash sketch-comedy show for HBO.
Viewers of BBC America are already familiar with the duo's naughty, hysterical characters, including Daffyd, who's wrongly convinced that he's the 'only gay' in his Welsh mining village. Romeo can't wait to see how Daffyd, slutty teen Vickie Pollard, unconvincing drag queen Emily Howard and all the rest play with American accents. And, as Romeo previously reported, queer TV mogul Darren Star is Americanizing the pitch-black British sitcom Nighty Night, so it looks like a new British Invasion is well underway.
Logo Develops Three New Series
If you're hungering for original series from Logo ( and Noah's Arc has gotten on your last nerve ) , you'll be thrilled to hear that the MTV-owned channel is developing several new shows. Romeo is most excited about That Gay Ghost, about a conservative family whose move to San Francisco is complicated by the presence of, well, a gay ghost who lives in their closet. How fast can you say, 'hijinks ensue?' Also on the Logo docket is Sordid Lives: The Series, a weekly comedy based on Del Shores' 2001 cult comedy, and The Service, an hour-long drama about gay and lesbian military recruits dealing with 'don't ask, don't tell' on a base in the South Pacific. These are still in early stages, but don't be surprised to see them on the air before the end of 2007.
Romeo has no ghosts in his closet—and no wire hangers either. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com .
