Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will produce a lesbian-themed sitcom entitled Swordfighting, according to Advocate.com . The series is about two friendly married couples whose bond is tested when the two wives fall in love with each other. Casting for the four leads has not been announced for the show, which will air on the CW network.
Actor Ewan McGregor will star in the HBO series The Corrections, which is based on the highly praised Jonathan Franzen novel about a dysfunctional Midwestern family, according to EW.com . McGregor (I Love You, Phillip Morris; Beginners; Star Wars) will play one of the children, Chip, joining Chris Cooper and Dianne Wiest, who play the parents. This will be McGregor's first regular role in a TV show.
Forty-four survivors and family members of four victims of the Aug. 13 stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair are suing country duo Sugarland, according to the Huffington Post. The document alleges breach of reasonable care to the victims, and seeks unspecified damages from Sugarland, producers and others connected with the show. A wind gust caused stage rigging to fall onto people attending the show, killing seven people and injuring more than 40 others. Among those killed was Chicago lesbian activist Christina Santiago; her wife, Alisha Brennon, survived; however, neither Brennon nor the other lesbian survivor, Beth Urschel of Indiana, is included in this suit.
On the TV show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, house band The Roots played the Fishbone song "Lyin' Ass Bitch" when GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann made her way across the stage, the Huffington Post reported. Before the show, Roots member ?uestlove (pronounced "Questlove") tweeted, "you love it when we snark: this next one takes the cake. ask around cause i aint tweeting title." Democratic Congresswoman Nita Lowey criticized the song choice, saying Bachmann "deserves to be treated with respect," the Chicago Tribune reported. Fallon and NBC have apologized to Bachmann.
It's official: Soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live will not continue online, according to Deadline.com . Prospect Park had signed a licensing deal with ABC to keep the canceled dramas in production for online distribution, but will not proceed with plans for an Internet soap network. In a statement, Prospect Park said, "We believed the timing was right to launch an Online TV Network anchored by these two iconic soap operas, but we always knew it would be an uphill battle to create something historical, and unfortunately we couldn't ultimately secure the backing and clear all the hurdles in time."
Singer George Michael has canceled his remaining U.K. tour dates on the advice of his doctor, Digital Spy reported. Michael is being treated for a "severe" case of pneumonia. Doctors Christoph Zielinski and Thomas Staudinger of the Vienna, Austria, hospital where Michael is being treated said, "George Michael has severe community acquired pneumonia and is being treated as an inpatient." The "Careless Whisper" singer, 48, missed an earlier date of his UK Symphonica orchestral tour last month after suffering what has been described as a "viral infection."
An adult-film company is using a tent in the middle of the "Occupy Oakland" encampment as the setting for a new gay-porn movie, the Huffington Post reported. Dirty Boy Video's "Occupy My Throat" is said to have been inspired by Brandon Watts, 20, an original member of the Wall Street occupation who lost his virginity in New York City's Zuccotti Park before being arrested. The film's tagline is, reportedly, "Police can ban the erection of tents at Occupy Wall Street, but they can't keep us from pitching a tent in our pants!" Watts does not appear in the movie.
Out fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier has an exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art, according to the Washington Post. Dallas is one of just three North American cities—along with Montreal and San Francisco—hosting the exhibit of works by the French designer. Gaultier said of the women in Dallas, I saw some women that were very elegant, super elegant. And that were even more Parisian than some Parisians."
Lady Gaga has conceived and designed a workshop at the Barneys New York flagship store, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The workshop is an in-store holiday shop that features 5,500 square feet of bright colors, crazy shapes and a gigantic cartoon statue of the superstar herself. At the grand opening, Gaga said, "It's a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory moment. We wanted it all to be whimsical and fun, with a sense of art and fashion."
Mark Consuelos, husband of talk-show host Kelly Ripa, is part of the production Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays at off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theater—and he makes out with actor Craig Bierko, according to the Huffington Post. Consuelos told the Post, "I didn't tell her about the kiss, [I] wanted her to be surprised," adding, "She loved it. I thought she could relate." The former All My Children actor also said, "I hope gay marriage will be legal in every state," and that he would be fine if any of his three children were gay.
Producer Harvey Weinstein has said that he wants singer Katy Perry as the lead in the Broadway adaptation of My Week with Marilyn, according to Digital Spy. The movie, starring Michelle Williams, is currently in theaters; however, Weinstein would like to develop it as a musical. Weinstein told Entertainment Weekly, "If the movie works, I would try to make it a musical and I would go to Katy first. I think she can play Marilyn on the Broadway stage. … I think she would be amazing."
On The View, moderator Whoopi Goldberg called GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann a "bonehead," according to Newsbusters.org . While the panel was discussing Bachmann's appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, co-host Sherri Shepard tried to get Barbara Walters to say what word popped in her mind when she thought of Bachmann. Walters declined to say, but Goldberg said, "Bonehead. That's what I would say. ... Listen, I'm sorry. She looks fantastic, I have to say. She's gorgeous. But she's not presidential material. I'm sorry, she's not. I'm just saying."
Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/actress Melissa Manchester and Academy Award-winning actress Mary Steenburgen have collaborated on "Rainbird," an original song for The Weinstein Company's Dirty Girl, according to a press release. Written and directed by Abe Sylvia, Dirty Girl follows Danielle (Juno Temple) and her parenting class partner, Clarke (Jeremy Dozier), on their journey to freedom. Together, the mismatched misfits head to California, and discover each other and themselves through friendship.
British and U.S. conservatives are bristling at Meryl Streep's portrayal of former English Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the upcoming movie The Iron Lady, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Tim Bell, one of Thatcher's key PR advisers, said he has no interest in seeing the movie. Director Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia!), however, is unfazed by the uproar, saying that Thatcher "certainly burns brightly as a still very divisive character." The Iron Lady is slated to be released Dec. 30 in New York and Los Angeles (before going wide Jan. 13), and Jan. 6 in the U.K.
Glee: The Music, Volume 7, will be available Dec. 6, courtesy of Columbia Records and Twentieth Century Fox Television, according to a press release. Among the 15 tracks are the mash-up of Adele's "Rumour Has It" and "Someone Like You" as well as Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" and Beyonce's "Run the World (Girls)." More than 36 million Glee songs have been digitally downloaded.
Lady Gaga's designer said that the singer did not purposely flash her bottom at the International Emmy Awards held Nov. 21, Digital Spy reported. Gaga wore a black dress with a slit up the left side to present American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe with a Founders Award. A spokesperson for the dress designer, Stéphane Rolland of Haute Couture, said that the wardrobe malfunction occurred because the gown was made for a taller woman.
Speaking of Gaga, a special with Charlie Brown topped her feature Thanksgiving night, EW.com reported. ABC's Charlie Brown Thanksgiving had 5.8 million viewers, while 5.4 million people saw A Very Gaga Thanksgiving. However, a repeat of the CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory bested both, garnering 11.2 million viewers.
The newest film in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn Part 1, may be triggering seizures in a few of its viewers, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Two men in California and Utah suffered seizures while watching the movie—with one of them suffering the malady while watching the violent birthing scene. Medical experts say the scene—which features red, white and black images—could have triggered episodes of photosensitive epilepsy.
Iconic movie and singing star Doris Day will release her hit UK album, My Heart, in the United Staes Dec. 2, according to Showbiz411.com . At 88, Day will be the oldest person to ever chart if the CD sells well. My Heart—a compilation of later unreleased recordings—includes tracks written and produced by her late son, Terry Melcher. See www.DorisDay.com to listen to the album.
Del Shores has issued an open letter to fans and friends announcing that he and husband Jason Dottley are divorcing. In the letter, the mind behind Sordid Lives wrote, "I will always cherish the almost ten years that we were together—married for eight, legally for three. Jason was a wonderful husband to me and a great stepfather to my daughters. I will miss being his husband." He added, "Our divorce only proves that like straight people who have the right to marry and divorce, we are all equally human. ... I welcome any words of support, but this is so hard, and privacy is important to me and my daughters during this difficult time."
On the other end of the matrimonial spectrum, two-time Tony nominee Christopher Sieber has married longtime partner Kevin Burrows, according to Broadway World. Sieber, currently touring as Albin opposite George Hamilton in La Cage aux Folles (in Chicago Dec. 20-Jan. 1), received Tony nominations for his performances in Shrek and Spamalot. Sieber has also been in the Broadway productions Chicago and Into the Woods as well as TV shows such as Sex and the City and All My Children.
The Black Eyed Peas reportedly performed for the last time together Nov. 26 in Miami, according to the Daily Mail. Fergie, who is supposedly leaving the group, said to the crowd, "Tonight is our graduation. It's a very special night for all of us. We're so thankful to be sharing this night together." Cee-Lo Green, Queen Latifah, T-Pain and Sean Kingston were among those who also took the stage in what will be the last Peas show for some time. Group member Will.i.am has denied that Fergie is departing.
Has Sara Gilbert found a new lady love? The Daily Mail has reported that the former Roseanne star and current co-host of The Talk was holding hands with musician/songwriter Linda Perry recently. Gilbert recently split from Linda Adler, her partner of a decade; they share custody of two children—son Levi, 6, and daughter Sawyer, 4.
Another A-List: Dallas star has reportedly been attacked, according to Advocate.com . Levi Crocker said he was assaulted in an Oklahoma City gay bar, tweeting, "I got jumped in the middle of a bar in OKC, 4 guys, one busted a barstool [on my] head"—possibly as a reaction to the show. Another cast member, Taylor Garrett, has said that he's been attacked twice because of his friendship with conservative Ann Coulter.
Producer/director G.B. Hajim and writer Shelley Doty will unveil Strange Frame—the first computer-animated lesbian-themed film—at the LGBT-themed Bent-Con convention in Los Angeles Dec. 3, SheWired.com reported. In the futuristic movie, heroine Parker falls in love with songwriter Naia, who is genetically engineered and enslaved to be a miner. Tim Curry, Claudia Christian, Alan Tudyk and George Takei are among those lending their vocal talents to this film.
Rapper T.I. feels that, to a certain extent, gay people are un-American, according to a Huffington Post article. In the most recent issue of Vibe magazine, the "Whatever You Like" hip-hopper said that he supports anyone's sexual orientation, but that he feels gay people are too sensitive: "They're like, 'If you have an opinion against us, we're gonna shut you down.' ... That's not American. If you're gay you should have the right to be gay in peace, and if you're against it you should have the right to be against it in peace."
Controversial film director Ken Russell has died at age 84, reportedly after a series of strokes, according to the New York Times. The British auteur's most popular film was the 1969 adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's Women in Love, for which Glenda Jackson won a Best Actress Oscar. He also helmed 1988's Lair of the White Worm; 1980's Altered States; the 1975 film Tommy (based on the Who's rock opera/concept album); and the extremely controversial 1971 film The Devils, which had to be trimmed in the U.S. to avoid an "X" rating.
Out singer Adam Lambert supports gay marriage—just not for himself. On Top Magazine reported that in Rolling Stone, Lambert (who is dating Finnish reality-TV star Sauli Koskinen) said, "I'd never considered marriage before. But now that I am, I can't do it." On his upcoming studio album, Trespassing, Lambert considers marriage on the track "Outlaws of Laws."
Oxygen Media has three new docuseries in development, according to a press release. All the Right Moves looks at four men (including So You Think You Can Dance's Travis Wall) who launch a dance company. That's D'Amore focuses on sisters Caroline, Bonnie and Christie D'Amore. Lastly, Taking NY is a real-life Sex and the City that looks at the lives of a beauty director, gossip columnist, fashion designer and celebrity publicist who are best friends.
Lesbian DJ Samantha Ronson's house was recently burglarized, Digital Spy reported. Authorities were called to her Venice, Calif., home Nov. 28 when thieves tried to break into her garage. They did not get inside her house, but apparently made off with an item valued at more than $1,000. The home is next door to a house owned by ex-girlfriend Lindsay Lohan.
Producer/director Tyler Perry wrote an open letter for Newsweek praising an alleged victim in the Penn State University sex-abuse scandal, Digital Spy noted. Perry, who was abused as a child himself, penned the letter to an unnamed boy pursuing charges against former football coach Jerry Sandusky. In part, Perry wrote, "What you have done is so courageous. The strength that it must have taken for your 11-year-old voice to speak out about such a horrible act is something that I didn't have the strength or courage to do at that age."
Gay actor Alan Cumming will star in a one-man production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth in which he will portray the title character and Lady Macbeth, according to an Advocate.com item. Cumming said he's been obsessed with the play since he performed it earlier in his career. The new production will run at Scotland's Glasgow Tramway next June before running in New York City's Lincoln Center.
