THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Does the success of Superbad and its teenage protagonists expressing love for one another—however drunkenly—signal the beginning of a trend in the comic treatment of heterosexual male intimacy? Is this the age of the "bro-mantic comedy"? The new movie, I Love You, Man, makes that look likely. Co-produced by Judd Apatow ( Knocked Up ) and starring Paul Rudd ( whose willingness to "go there" with gay-related subject matter in films like The Object of My Affection and The 40 Year-Old Virgin is well documented ) , the film centers on an engaged man who finds himself without a best man. He has to find a male friend he considers close enough to fill that position. Expect a lot of mock dating situations as the poor straight guy navigates gay ( ish ) waters. Shooting this spring, here's hoping it's better than I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Like that'll be hard.

Nathan Lane Casts Swing Vote

He's acting up a storm on Broadway right now with Laurie Metcalf in the new David Mamet play, November, but stage fixture Nathan Lane will be back on the big screen this new year, too, with a role in the ensemble comedy Swing Vote. Starring Kevin Costner as a low-achieving, apolitical American citizen, the movie concerns a presidential election that hinges entirely on Costner's not-entirely-well-informed vote and the national chaos that results from it. Lane will co-star, along with Dennis Hopper, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, George Lopez, Mare Winningham, Willie Nelson, and political commentator Arianna Huffington as herself. Already wrapped, the film—if audiences vote for it with their ticket dollars—could find itself increasing poll turnouts. But not likely.

Addams and Mapa

Make Transamerican Love

It was just a matter of time, really. Get ready for Transamerican Love Story, a reality dating show feature Calpernia Addams, a 36-year-old transgendered woman ( whose life and tragic relationship with an Army private inspired the TV movie Soldier's Girl ) . Addams will be the object of affection for a group of men competing to date her—all of whom will know about her formerly male body. Contrast that to the U.K. series, There's Something About Miriam, on which the male contestants were not told about Miriam's transgender status, and the new concept marks a bold step for the reality television genre. Actor and stand-up comic Alec Mapa will host the show that's just been given the green light by gay cable channel Logo. The dating game begins later in 2008.

Choosing America's Prom Queen

For further evidence that pop culture is now dominated by entertainment designed for the High School Musical demographic, look no further than America's Prom Queen. ABC Family has given the go-ahead for the new series that will pit a group of high school-aged young women against each other in the quest to be the fairest prom queen of them all. The contestants will reside in a mansion and compete in challenges that will show if they've got what it takes to wear a tiara in public and wave at less popular people; then they'll stay or go based on viewer votes. But Romeo has one complaint: in an era when young men are routinely making the news after being voted prom queen at their school, why no boys allowed?

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