"At first I felt a sense of responsibility. But now I kind of just don't care. It's not my job. Of course I want to spread good ideals, but I'm not nobody's parents. At the end of the day, I'm just doing me, and hopefully everybody else is following the lead and doing themselves."—Lil Nas X responds to GQ asking if he is a good role model.
Masks are off, people are out and life goes back to normal. I'm cautiously optimistic. But would I rush into a Broadway theatre, packed to the rafters? Maybe for Patti LuPone in Company (previews starting Dec. 20; opening Jan. 9, 2022). But for Chicago, Hamilton, The Lion King or Wicked? I don't think so. They all open on the first date Broadway can reopen—Sept. 14, 2021.
While we're waiting for the 2020 Tony Awards, don't hold your breath waiting for the 2022 Golden Globes. They won't be happening—at least not on NBC. The peacock network has decided not to air the awards until the Hollywood Foreign Press Association does something about the diversity of its limited judging pool—to say nothing of some other scurrilous activities involving producers plying voting members with premium perks. Lest you fear NBC is growing a backbone, fear not. The network banished the telecast only after big players like Netflix and WarnerMedia announced they were boycotting the awards. You would think a show that endured rewarding Pia Zadora over Kathleen Turner would be able to weather a storm. But can it weather people like Tom Cruise and Scarlett Johansson returning their statuettes?
When awards return to the air, a notable presence will be missing from the red carpet. Giuliana Rancic has announced her departure from E! to take up a development deal with NBCUniversal—the company that owns … you guessed it: E! Laverne Cox will greet nominees and ask what they're wearing.
Ellen is leaving the building … in another year. DeGeneres said she made this decision on her own, and she always planned to leave at the end of the 19th year—something I don't believe. She also asserts that she had no idea her set was a toxic work environment, and wishes someone had told her. Ellen even swore to Savannah Guthrie that not a single guest has had anything but a good experience. She may want to peruse Kathy Griffin's book. Or check in with Wendy Williams, who said, "I'm not sure that all the guests are happy. I was a guest. I wasn't happy." Ellen feels this was an orchestrated and misogynistic attack on her. Haven't I heard that one before?
Oh, I know where I heard it—on "Billy Masters LIVE." Last week, we had another fabulous panel discussion. I was joined by E! legend and pioneer Steve Kmetko; and the morning host on Palm Springs KGAY 106.5 FM, Ben Patrick Johnson. Filling what Regis dubbed the "Young One" slot was the dashing, devilish and divine Mark MacKillop—who is the top fundraiser for Broadway Bares two years running, bringing in $168K! On my show, we talked about Ellen, the Golden Globes, Kevin Spacey and oodles of other things. It was totally fun, totally dishy and totally unscripted. You can watch "Billy Masters LIVE" on our YouTube channel, Billy Masters TV or BillyMasters.com/TV.
As someone who was a member of Bachelor Nation, I am disgusted. This Colton Underwood story gets worse every day. After all the backlash about him coming out and cashing in with a Netflix series, he's tried a different tack. In an endless interview with Variety, he now claims that he came out because someone was blackmailing him with nude photos! Not just nude photos, but nude photos of him at what the mag calls "a spa known for catering to gay clientele." He claims he went "just to look," adding "I should have never been there." Well, I have so many problems with this—starting with, I don't believe it. If Colton was just looking, then he wouldn't have been nude—in public! So either he's lying about that, or no photos exist. Second, it's awfully hard for someone to take a photo in one of these places…trust me, I know. And third, if he is now being honest, being out, and being a role model, why should he "have never been there"? Color me skeptical and disgusted—although I'll probably watch The Bachelorette when it debuts June 7. And, yes, I'm ashamed.
This week's "Ask Billy" question comes from Gary in Utah (yes, I was surprised, too): "I heard Andrew Garfield is nude in his new movie. Do you know if that's true??"
It's true … but also false. The film in question is Mainstream—and it's anything but. It sounds like it's targeting a niche market…but if anyone can fill that niche, it's Andrew Garfield. In the film, he walks around in a flesh-colored thong with an enormous fake penis sticking out. So if the thought of Garfield's not-so-unappealing torso and bum are to your liking—to say nothing of a big fake penis being to your licking—then check out BillyMasters.com.
When anything about Andrew Garfield is enormous, it's definitely time to end another column. I didn't make it to Fort Lauderdale last week. But I am there now—COVID be damned! Actually, given the company I'll be keeping, the coronavirus is the least contagious thing I could catch. You know where you won't get even a computer virus? On BillyMasters.com—the site that's fun for the whole family (depending on the family). Send your questions to Billy@BillyMasters.com , and I'll get back to you before we get those damn 2020 Tonys! So, until next time, remember: One man's filth is another man's bible.
