HOLLYWOOD: Rosie O'Donnell._______
Rosie O'Donnell Goes for Laughs with Big Gay Sketch Show
What with a cruise line, a feud with Donald Trump, and keeping the ladies of The View on their toes, you'd think Rosie O'Donnell wouldn't be able to fit anything else into her schedule. But she's found room to executive produce The Big Gay Sketch Show, a self-described comedy series set to debut on Logo on April 24. O'Donnell isn't the only established queer talent behind this eagerly-awaited show - lesbian Married...with Children star Amanda Bearse will direct, and filmmakers Craig Chester ( Adam & Steve ) and Q. Allan Brocka ( Eating Out, Boy Culture ) are among those who have cooked up sketches in the writers' room. With producers from Kids in the Hall and Mad TV behind the scenes, there's every reason to expect this to be a Big Gay hit.
Angela Robinson Pledged to Sorority
Perhaps the most angst-free lesbian filmmaker in history, Angela Robinson has already developed a following from her hilarious and romantic girl-loves-girl spy thriller D.E.B.S. and her witty spin on Disney's established "Love Bug" series with Herbie: Fully Loaded. Now she's casting her eye on the exclusive and well-guarded secrets of sorority life with Pledged, based on Alexandra Robbins' book about a 20-something investigative journalist going undercover through sorority rush. Jill Soloway, one of Six Feet Under's best writers ( and sister to lesbian comedian-singer Faith Soloway ) , is attached to adapt. Meanwhile, Robinson has two other projects in development - the warlock love story Witches and the cyborg adventure Jenbot - so prepare to see lots more from this talented director who clearly isn't afraid to indulge her sweet tooth.
Parker Posey and Kristin Chenoweth Head for Asphalt Beach
Gay fans of indie film queen Parker Posey will follow her anywhere, from Hal Hartley's quirky dramedies to the larger-than-life Superman Returns. Now Posey is headed for Asphalt Beach, a new musical about a clash between two boarding-school girls from opposite sides of the tracks. Starring opposite Posey will be another gay fave, Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth ( Wicked ) , who recently played a closeted lesbian housewife in the little-seen Running with Scissors. Directing and co-writing Asphalt is Peter Spears, who caused quite a stir at queer film fests a few years back with his darkly hilarious Ernest and Bertram, which recast a certain ambiguously gay duo from children's TV as the protagonists of The Children's Hour. He sounds like the perfect director for these actresses, and vice versa.
Bryan Singer May Make Merry with Russell Crowe
We know that gay director Bryan Singer has really arrived in Hollywood, because every time a big-budget project gets announced, his name almost always seems to be attached. Take the recent news about Nottingham, which casts the Sheriff of Nottingham ( to be played by Russell Crowe ) as a hero, and Robin Hood as a dirty, low-down thief. With Crowe's Beautiful Mind producer Brian Grazer attached and even the writers scoring a seven-figure deal, Nottingham is officially a Very Big Deal in Hollywood. And Singer may wind up directing it. Unless Ridley Scott does. Or Sam Raimi. That part's still up in the air. Nottingham starts shooting at the end of the year or in early 2008, so Singer should know soon if he needs to put it on his calendar.
Romeo San Vicente would like to be attached to Russell Crowe, but that's another story. Romeo can be reached at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com .
