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

Tracy Oliver's comedy Harlem has been renewed for a second season on Prime Video, per Deadline. Created, written and executive-produced by Oliver, Harlem follows four stylish and ambitious best girlfriends (played by Meagan Good, Jerrie Johnson, Grace Byers and Shoniqua Shandai) in the title New York City area. Johnson plays Tye, the successful creator of a queer dating app who prefers keeping vulnerability—and romantic partners—at arm's length.

HBO Max has renewed the series Peacemaker—directed by James Gunn and starring John Cena—for a second season, a press release announced. The series follows the explosive escapades of the character Cena reprises in the aftermath of James Gunn's 2021 film The Suicide Squad—a vainglorious man who believes in peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it. In a related matter, out.com noted that a recent episode revealed that Cena's antihero character is part of the LGBTQ+ community—at Cena's suggestion; also, Danielle Brook's Vigilante character is lesbian.

In an exclusive with People Magazine, Harry Hamlin said playing a gay writer in the 1982 movie Making Love "ended my film career." "Even though I was told by my friends not to do it, my agent said I should," he noted. "He said I was somewhat Teflon because I was out in the press having had a son with Ursula Andress." Hamlin also said the movie was ahead of its time, adding, "It never really got the attention that I think it probably deserves, given the time in which it was released." The exclusive is at people.com/movies/harry-hamlin-says-playing-a-gay-man-in-making-love-ended-my-film-career-it-was-ahead-of-its-time/ .

Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over—a tell-all documentary about the legendary singer—will be available on CNN+ when the streaming service launches in March, according to American Songwriter. The film, created by Dave Wooley and David Heilbroner, follows Warwick's journey from singing at her grandfather's church to becoming the first Black woman to win a Grammy. One reviewer noted that it is "likely the first documentary in history to include commentary from both Snoop Dogg and Bill Clinton." Warwick has five Grammys and more than 80 charting singles since 1962.

HBO has renewed the drama series The Gilded Age for a second season, per a press release. The Gilded Age begins in 1882 with young Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) moving from rural Pennsylvania to New York City after the death of her father to live with her thoroughly old money aunts Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon). What ensues is a war of old versus new money involving one of her aunts and her wealthy neighbors, a ruthless railroad tycoon and his ambitious wife.

Gay couple Will and Sonny will be coming back to the daytime serial Days of Our Lives on Feb. 21, out.com noted. Actor Billy Flynn, who plays Chad DiMera on the show, introduced the latest preview, saying, "Good news: Two of my best friends are coming back to Salem." Viewers then see Chad embracing Will and Sonny. Will Horton (Chandler Massey) and Sonny Kiriakis (Freddie Smith) made history when they became the first male couple to get married on daytime drama TV back in 2014. Massey also won three Daytime Emmys, becoming the first actor to win Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series awards for playing a gay character. Later, Smith won the same award.

Actor Rockmond Dunbar—who played a gay main character on the Fox show 9-1-1—is suing Disney and 20th Television after being dismissed from the hit drama series for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, per The Hollywood Reporter. He is accusing his former employers of racial discrimination and alleges they to refused to grant him a religious exemption and other vaccine-related accommodations when they did so for other, non-Black cast members. Dunbar alleges religious and racial discrimination, retaliation and breach of contract, among other claims that allow for punitive damages.

Reality-TV star and former pro football player Colton Underwood,—probably best known leading season 23 of ABC's The Bachelor and for his public coming-out journey last year—is taking part in CBS' newest competition series, Beyond the Edge, out.com noted. A celebrity-filled, Survivor-esque competition that takes place in the Panaman jungle, Underwood joins a cast that includes country singers Lauren Alaina and Craig Morgan; athletes Ray Lewis, Mike Singletary and Metta World Peace; model Paulina Porizkova; Full House actress Jodie Sweetin; and TV host Eboni K. Williams. Last fall, Underwood starred in his own Netflix docuseries entitled Coming Out Colton.

Britney Spears and her attorney, Mathew Rosengart, have been invited by Congress via a letter to speak about guardianships and conservatorships, Variety noted. The outreach from Capitol Hill follows Spears' recent legal victory; the singer was freed from a 13-year conservatorship last November. Spears posted the letter on her Instagram, telling her followers that she had received it months ago and was "immediately flattered," but wasn't yet at the "healing stage" she is at now.

Out gay musician Bob Mould released The Ocean, a new EP featuring three solo acoustic live performances and available now via Merge Records at all DSPs and streaming services, a press release noted. Originally recorded for NPR's World Cafe at Mould's Granary Music home studio in San Francisco, The Ocean collects stripped-down versions of "The Ocean" and "Forecast of Rain," both first found on the 2020 album Blue Hearts, as well as a rendition of the Husker Du classic "Divide and Conquer" (from 1985's Flip Your Wig). The EP arrives alongside a brand new solo live performance video of "Forecast of Rain," filmed last October at the Stoughton Opera House in Stoughton, Wisconsin.

Teen Wolf star Tyler Posey is set to reprise his role as Scott McCall in Paramount+'s upcoming movie sequel to the 2011 MTV series, Deadline noted. Eleven other series regular and recurring cast members of the original series are set for the full-length reunion film, including Crystal Reed, Holland Roden and Colton Haynes. Missing from the list are former series regulars Dylan O'Brien, Arden Cho and Tyler Hoechlin.

Season two of the critically acclaimed comedic series The Great will arrive on DVD April 26 from Paramount Home Entertainment, a press release announced. Season two is now available for purchase on digital platforms. The Great is a satirical comedy—and occasionally true story—about the rise of Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) from outsider to the longest reigning female ruler in Russia's history. With Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult reprising their Golden Globe-nominated roles, season two finds Catherine finally taking the Russian throne for her own.

Apple Original Films announced that CODA will be re-released in theaters for a limited theatrical run following its history-making Academy Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Picture, a press release noted. The film will be presented in major cities across the U.S. and London, free of charge and with open captions, Feb. 25-27. Star Troy Kotsur is the first deaf male actor to ever be nominated for an Oscar. CODA is now streaming on Apple TV+.

Showtime has picked up a seventh season of its drama series Billions, starring Oscar nominee/Emmy winner Paul Giamatti, Corey Stoll, non-binary actor Asia Kate Dillon and Maggie Siff, a press release noted. Season six is currently airing on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. CT. With Axe (Damian Lewis) gone for season sex and Michael Prince (Stoll) assuming his place, Chuck (Giamatti) must develop a new strategy that is keener and more sophisticated than before.

LGBT sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson suggested racism was to blame for the recent decision to allow Russian skater Kamila Valieva to compete at the Winter Olympics in Beijing despite testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, according to out.com . Richardson was forced out of competition at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo last year after testing positive for THC. Richardson tweeted, "Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and [mine]? My mother died and I can't run and was also favored to place top 3. The only difference I see is I'm a black young lady."

The North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) announced it will host its annual LGBTQ+ softball tournament in Salt Lake City May 26-28, 2023, at the Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex, a press release noted. The top elite A and B division teams from NAGAAA organizations all over the United States and Canada will compete to determine the NAGAAA Cup Champions. The tournament also allows teams to qualify for the Gay Softball World Series.

Kate McKinnon is set to join the cast of Barbie, the new film centered on the iconic doll line starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, Deadline noted. America Ferrara and Simu Liu are also on board with Greta Gerwig directing. Robbie is on board to play Barbie, with Gosling set to play Ken. The film marks a reunion for McKinnon and Robbie, who last appeared together in the Lionsgate drama Bombshell! Liu—the star of the latest Marvel action movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings—was embroiled in controversy last year over alleged Reddit comments he made about how pedophilia is "no different from being gay," according to LGBTQ Nation.

Drag queen Kimora Blac called out hypocrisy in the gay community after an image of Bad Bunny went viral, pride.com noted. The "Dakiti" rapper has been praised after posing in a recent ad campaign wearing heels and a dress. However, Blac wrote on Facebook, "A lot of you guys are full of toxic masculinity—[a lot] of you guys literally degrade feminine men and when a male celebrity put on heels, you guys all the sudden 'live' for it. You know how hard it is for us feminine men to feel like we are even wanted in our own community?" She expressed a hope that gay men would bring the energy they have for these celebs to their interactions with queer men that present more feminine, noting a bias against them particularly when it comes to dating.

Multiple outlets reported they obtained court documents filed by Kelly Clarkson to legally change her name to Kelly Brianne, HuffPost noted. Brianne is Clarkson's middle name, which she apparently wants to give an upgrade to last name status. Documents obtained by Us Weekly claim that the Texas native has "a desire" to go by her first and middle names because "my new name more fully reflects who I am." A hearing regarding the petition is set for March 28. Although her legal last name was Blackstock during her marriage, she successfully changed her name back to Kelly Clarkson after the divorce.

Oscar-winning actress/comedian Mo'Nique (Precious) opened up about her history with Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey while on the FOX Soul show Turnt Out with TS Madison, Yahoo! News noted. "Everyone's mad at me—s—t," Mo'Nique told Madison about the two people she claims cost her fame and fortune for years. Mo'Nique said the drama began after Perry and Winfrey became executive producers of Lee Daniels' independent film Precious—and Mo'Nique wouldn't promote the film because it wasn't a priority and doing so reportedly was not something she was "contractually obligated to do." The Tyler Perry-Oprah drama came after Mo'Nique announced a lawsuit against Netflix, which offered her $500,000 to do a comedy special; meanwhile, Amy Schumer, who's white, was paid $13 million for a special.

South Park is moving to Paramount+ in 2025, Deadline noted. Beginning with season 27 in 2024, new episodes of the hit franchise will make their streaming debuts exclusively on the service, both in the U.S. and globally. And beginning in 2025, Paramount+ will become the global streaming home for the full catalog of South Park episodes, movies, and made-for-streaming movies. Also, the Beavis and Butt-Head revival series, originally set at Comedy Central with two-season order in 2020, will be moving to Paramount+ with a new season, joining the previously announced Beavis and Butt-Head movie, which has now been titled Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.

After appearing in three blockbuster films in 2021, House of Gucci star Adam Driver has been cast in the upcoming film Ferrari, The Blast noted. Driver has replaced The Greatest Showman actor Hugh Jackman in the lead role. Driver will play the titular role of racing mogul Enzo Ferrari in the upcoming biopic about his life. Joining Driver in the cast are Oscar winner Penelope Cruz and Big Little Lies star Shailene Woodley, who will play Ferrari's wife and mistress, respectively.

SAG Award- and Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet will present the 57th SAG Life Achievement Award to five-time SAG Award and Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren during the 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Feb. 27, a press release noted. Mirren's previous honors have included an Oscar, multiple SAG Awards, three Emmys, numerous BAFTA Awards, a Tony, a BAFTA Fellowship Award, an Olivier Award, and The Film Society at Lincoln Center's Chaplin Award, and she was made a dame of the British Empire in 2003.

Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson will host NBC's upcoming musical-competition series American Song Contest, Deadline noted. The announcement was made in a promo that aired at the start of the Super Bowl halftime show on NBC, which featured Snoop as one of the headliners. American Song Contest is based on the Eurovision Song Contest, and will premiere March 21.

Hulu has renewed How I Met Your Father for a 20-episode second season, a press statement noted. The Hilary Duff-centered first season debuted on Hulu on Jan. 18. In the near future, Sophie tells her son the story of how she met his father: a story that catapults viewers back to the year 2022, when Sophie and her close-knit group of friends are in the midst of figuring out who they are, what they want out of life, and how to fall in love in the age of dating apps and limitless options.

A former videographer for Todrick Hall has alleged exploitation and psychological abuse at the hands of the singer, Queerty noted. A Twitter user identified as "Jacob" and using the handle @bewilderberry claimed Hall never provided him meals, that his paychecks were frequently late, and that he was forced to load-in sets to venues—something a videographer would not be forced to do on a union production. In 2019, several former dancers and crew for Hall's music videos claimed he never paid them for their work. Hall is currently on Celebrity Big Brother—and the public has labeled him a bully.

Netflix's Stranger Things has been renewed for a fifth and final season, per Deadline. In addition to the climactic renewal, the company said the long-awaited Season 4 of the show will premiere in two "volumes"—the first on May 27 and the second on July 1. The third season debuted more than two-and-a-half years ago, on July 4, 2019.

In a rare video filmed on a Florida beach, talk-show host Wendy Williams shared an update about her life and health, which has been the subject of rumors and scrutiny since she took an extended hiatus from her show last year, BET.com noted. During the five-minute clip that her son filmed, Williams seemingly shut down those rumors and asked fans to keep sending positive messages for her to read daily.

Actress Susan Lucci (All My Children) opened up about her battle with heart disease, ABC News noted. She told Good Morning America's Amy Robach that she recently underwent an emergency heart procedure for the second time. "I was having kind of a shortness of breath," said Lucci, adding that she soon also felt discomfort around her ribcage and her back—similar to symptoms she had three years ago with her first heart scare. After undergoing several tests, Lucci's doctor told her that she experienced an 80% blockage in one of her arteries due to plaque buildup. She was rushed to a cardiac catheterization lab, where another stent was put in to open up the blockage.

Actress Rosario Dawson and U.S. Cory Booker have split after more than two years of dating, according to an EW.com item that cited People Magazine. The pair sparked romance rumors after they attended a performance of Dear Evan Hansen together in New York. In March 2019, Dawson confirmed her relationship with the lawmaker when approached at an airport, calling Booker a "wonderful human being."

NFL star Aaron Rodgers and actress Shailene Woodley have split—just over one year after he made the surprise announcement that they were engaged, People Magazine noted. (InTouch first reported the news.) News of their breakup comes after Rodgers received backlash concerning his vaccination status in November 2021 when it was made public that he tested positive for the coronavirus. That same month, Woodley slammed "disparaging" claims about Rodgers.

Yellowstone actor Forrie J. Smith will not attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Feb. 27 due to rules requiring all attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Variety noted. "I want to apologize to y'all for not being at the Screen Actors Guild Awards," Smith told his Instagram followers. "I mean no offense to anyone. I'm not vaccinated, and it's a requirement to be vaccinated. … I haven't been vaccinated since I was a little kid. I don't vaccinate my dogs, I don't vaccinate my horses. I've never had a flu shot. I never will. I believe they compromise your immunities. … It's just my beliefs. I just don't believe in that stuff. Whatever."

Former Jerry Springer Show and Divorce Court producer Jill Blackstone—charged with killing her sister—pled no contest to voluntary manslaughter, Deadline reported. Blackstone, 59, was immediately sentenced to eight years in state prison following her plea to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter involving the March 2015 death of her 49-year-old sister Wendy Blackstone in Studio City, along with three felony counts of animal cruelty involving three dogs—two of whom died. Authorities said Blackstone set a garage on fire, killing her sister and two of the dogs, and staged it as an accident.

Kanye West, or Ye, cut frequent collaborator Kid Cudi from his upcoming album DONDA 2 due to Cudi's friendship with Pete Davidson, who's dating Kim Kardashian, according to Page Six. JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, CUDI WILL NOT BE ON DONDA BECAUSE HE'S FRIENDS WITH YOU KNOW WHO," Ye shared via Instagram. West also shared a Photoshopped image inspired by Captain America: Civil War, in which he, Drake, Julia Fox, Travis Scott and Future face off against Davidson, Kardashian, Cudi, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift.

During a recent interview on CBS' This Morning, correspondent Jim Axelrod asked actor Chevy Chase about his thoughts when he reads things that might affect his reputation—such as former costars on shows like Saturday Night Live and Community calling him out for bad behavior and saying he's a "jerk," Entertainment Weekly noted. "I guess you'd have to ask them," Chase responded with a laugh, adding "I don't give a crap! I am who I am. And I like... who I am. I don't care. And it's part of me that I don't care.