Fame Dogs Winners of Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest

It's Britney, bitch.

Tricks – lots of tricks – and furry visual treats greeted spectators who quickly learned to watch where they stepped during the 17th Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade held in New York City’s East Village on October 28. The paw-pular event claims to be the largest of its breed in a country where an estimated 7 million pets get dressed for the ghoulish holiday.

More than 1,200 humans watched on a blustery Sunday afternoon in the venerable First Run dog park as some 220 canines competed in rounds to win prizes like pet store gift certificates, video iPods, and barking, er, bragging rights for their most creative guardians.

Needless to say, whole kennels of gay sensibility were on display throughout the contest, which featured audience favorites like Elvis, an award-winning giant African millipede, and, yes, a four-legged Britney Spears - from Queens!

Gimme gimme paw …

Unleash more photos of festooned hounds after the sit, no, jump!

Queers For Fears: Halloween Horror Movie Video Blog

 

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

That's right, folks: I, too, have hopped aboard the videoblogging bandwagon (although it's more of a haunted hayride in this case) for a Halloween horror movie special.

In this Queers for Fears spooktacular, my boyfriend Andy and I highlight a few fun horror flicks that have special places in the hearts and gizzards of gay fans and celebrate the upcoming holiday in the most traditional of fashions: by making total asses of ourselves.

Enjoy the bloody good time after the jump!

Video Lunch: Ben Jelen - "Where Do We Go?"

Ben Jelen (whose name is just too fun to say) is a bit pretentious for my tastes, but his single for his sophomore album, Ex-Sensitive, is pretty good. I'm kind of surprised it's not doing better on the charts. Well, check out this overlooked track (and this beautiful face), along with some little hand-drawn narrations. (I wonder if Ben did those himself...)

Ex-Sensitive, which came out in July of this year from the Scottish-American multi-instrumentalist, may be Ben's second album, but it's only his first with Linda Perry's Custard Records. Ben switched labels (he started with Maverick) after poor sales of his debut, Give It All Away. Not sure if this album's doing any better - maybe Ben should have taken Joseph Janus of Fearless Management's original offer of a career as a model!

He certainly has the looks! Keep reading for an interview with a shirtless Ben (no complaints) in which he discusses his environmentalism and the "Pulse" track from his new album.

UK's Second Annual Stonewall Awards: November 1

-- Fallen Angel from AfterElton.com

Stonewall’s second annual awards ceremony takes place at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum on November 1, 2007.

The awards, to be hosted by television presenter Anthony Crank (pictured at left), are designed to celebrate the positive contributions being made by individuals and organisations to the lives of gay people in Britain.

Nominees include actor and TV presenter Antony Cotton, Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and lesbian rapper Mz Fontaine for Entertainer of the Year; Hollyoaks and Doctor Who for Broadcast/Broadcaster of the Year; and Russell T Davies and Scottish author Val McDermid for Writer of the Year. Former premiership footballer Graeme Le Saux, an activist for gay rights in football, is nominated in the Sportsperson of the Year category.

Winners from six categories will be chosen by a panel of judges, which includes Matt Lucas, Clare Balding, Nicky Campbell and Paul Gambaccini.

From Scream Queen to Screen Queen: Big-Name Stars with Horror Roots

-- Dorothy Snarker from AfterEllen.com

Boo! Did I scare you? No, well,  fine. But I do know a scary secret. Lean close, I'll tell you. Closer.  A bit closer. Boo! OK, come on, that time I had to scare you, just a  little. Actually, this news is probably only truly terrifying to the  actresses whose dirty little secrets I’m about to spill. You see, before  they were screen queens, these ladies were all scream queens. Sure,  they’re all big Oscar winners, A-listers and TV stars now. But at  the start of their careers, they were just glorified bait.  Here's aa look at  10 actresses' horrific early careers.

Jamie Lee Curtis   (Halloween, 1978): Like mother, like daughter. Jamie Lee followed  in her mom Janet Leigh’s bloody footprints by squaring off with a Psycho killer. But at least Jamie got to live to fight another day,  albeit two decades later in Halloween H20.

BOO! It's the NewNowNext NOISE Halloween Special! Want Some Candy?

Scary scenes, dopey hats, plus chat about Jodie Foster, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kathy Bates, Shelley Duval and other spooky movie ladies... Trick or treat!!!

Boo, y’all! Since it’s Halloween, today’s episode of NewNowNext NOISE features hockey masks, pirate garb, witch hats, spooky lighting and a freaky little spider who just keeps crawling up and down the screen! And lots of candy.

And somewhere in this mix, Colin and I discuss the tricks and treats of good music, including Halloween-themed (sort of) tunes from Bloc Party and Band of Horses (whose videos you can watch here), Britney Spears' Blackout, cute Swedish bands and the sweet-as-candy-corn marvel that is Carrie Underwood.

Of course, we also discuss our favorite scary movies, and (in Part 2) I blather on deliriously about a visit to Anne Rice’s home in NYC. A word to the wise: Don’t let me into your house if you wanna keep your lip balm.

NNN NOISE: Halloween Edition, Part 1

NNN NOISE: Halloween Edition, Part 2: The Quickening

Oh, the horror...

Billy Eichner's "Halloween 101"

You gotta love New York-based comedian/actor/gay Billy Eichner. He's one half of the amazing comedy duo Creation Nation, and he's also the guy behind "Jen's Vlog," that freakily genius chronicle of one dishy office girl's rants, raves and meltdowns. And he's a sweet guy, too.

But this whole Halloween thing? I mean, really...  What the f**k???  No worries. Billy explains it all above...

Have another Reese's cup while you watch.

New Video Blog: Geek Talk with Marc and Lee

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

We've got a new video blog starting today that looks at all things geek from a gay perspective. Right now it's called Geek Talk with Marc and Lee, but in their first installment they put a call out for suggestions for a snazzier title. Along the way they discuss video games, television, Katee Sackhoff, and more. Enjoy, and drop your title ideas in the comments!

Video after the jump...

We're Getting Nowhere: America's Next Top Model Episode 9.6

-- Karman Kregloe from AfterEllen.com

This week on ANTM (Episode 9.6), something unprecedented occurred. [Spoiler alert!!] And no, it was not a thoughtful discussion between the contestants about the problematic nature of accurate representation on reality television. The twist was that when Ambreal and Ebony found themselves in the bottom two and Ebony was spared, she quit the show anyway! Whaaaaat? Quit? Would you be surprised to know that Tyra hates quitters? Neither were we.

This week, we discuss:

   
• The universal appeal of Tyson Beckford (1 out of 3 lesbians agree!)   
   
• What (extra virgin) olive oil, caulk and kiełbasa have in common 
   
• Why spokesmodels shouldn't have to write their own scripts

Also, in another We're Getting Nowhere bonus feature, we'll see a very special PSA from the "lost" ANTM contestants, Loquacious, Lorelai and Natalia. How does one turn public service into an opportunity for fisticuffs? Watch and learn.

Listen to Blake Lewis' New Single, "Break Anotha!"

Blake Lewis, the American Idol Season 6 runner-up, has a debut album due in December, but his new single (I can't think of the title without smiling), "Break Anotha," hits the radios today.

Blake - who's kind of cute, right? - sounds like a poor-man's Justin Timberlake to me. You know what? I take that back, he’s better than Justin - as far as his voice goes. I love JT’s music (don’t get me wrong), I just never cared for his actual voice. I always found it...harsh, but Blake is like a more-palatable JT to me.

As far as music quality, though...no, JT is definitely better. But I like "Break Anotha," and I could definitely see a remix being a big club hit.Supposedly, Blake wrote the don't-fall-for-that-creep track with Ryan Tedder of the Timbaland's One Republic.

Blake announced the new single on his MySpace on Monday, letting fans know, "I'm so freakin stoked! Ahhhh!" (By the way, I don't really recommend visiting Blake's MySpace page because you'll immediately hear Blake say, "Holy Molasses!" and then sing about MySpace...)

Aw! Blake and the actual Idol winner, Jordin Sparks, share a kiss back in May on TRL. Check the "morning-after" below!

Dangerous Muse Wishes Everyday Was Halloween

-- Adam Lubitow from AfterElton.com

Electro-pop duo and former Advocate coverboys Dangerous Muse have gotten into the holiday spirit with their new single, a cover of Ministry's "Everyday Is Halloween," released today.

Originally due for release a week ago, the track was delayed due to a "minor complication" between Warner Music and iTunes. It's a shame, as the song surely would have been a huge hit in the clubs this Halloween weekend. The track is a lot of fun and I love lead singer Mike Furey's vocals: sometimes growly, sometimes breathy, but always incredibly sexy. I've got to say, I prefer his voice over Al Jourgensen's in the original.

But as good as the single is, the "Josh Harris Club Mix" (which you can preview over on the group's Myspace page) is even better. Adding in some throbbing techno beats, the remix is pretty irresistible.

"Everyday Is Halloween" is available, starting today, exclusively through iTunes, as is a five-track EP of remixes.

My So-Called Life Finds New Life in a New Box Set

-- Dorothy Snarker from AfterEllen.com

The long lusted-after, dreamed-about and angsted-over My So-Called Life: The Complete Series DVD box set is here. It’s finally here. I think Rickie’s World Happiness  Dance is in order  here. Who knows the steps? Geez, where are all the gay boys when you  need them?

The deluxe set by Shout! Factory  includes all 19 episodes from the much-loved landmark show’s one and  only season, as well as a slew of extras. It’s an upgrade and then  some from the first box set, released in 2002. Which, of course, I also  own. But don’t think I haven’t hinted profusely to all my family,  friends and assorted passersby about this new set, since, well, my  birthday is coming right up. What? I’m just being helpful.

Ooh La La: Goldfrapp to Release New Album in February

Goldfrapp branches out with 'Seventh Tree.'

British electronic duo, Goldfrapp, may have called their 2005 smash album Supernature, but now it sounds like the real tales of gothic spirits and spooky attics had been yet to come.

Vocalist Alison Goldfrapp and composer Will Gregory have revealed that their next full-length effort will be released on February 25 by Mute records. Called Seventh Tree, and recorded in their Somerset studio in the English countryside, this fourth album is described on the pair’s Web site as “a sensual counterpoint to the glitterball glamour of Supernature” that is “gilded in the butterfly colors of an English surrealism shared from Lear to Lennon.”

Verily, that’s something to brood over amidst the mushrooms, Sgt. Pepper.

Of course, stylistic transitions are fundamental to the appeal of the Grammy-nominated Goldfrapp, whose directions have included ambient, glam rock and dance since they were founded in 1999.

As for more verse about the sound of Seventh Tree, that will have to wait until the duo releases another clue.

Let the Men of Strokes Float Your Boat

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

Recently the DC Strokes Rowing Club released their first-ever "Men of Strokes" calendar, filled with 24 months (that's two whole years, by my count!) of yummy gay athletes who like the water. The Strokes are the country's only independent LGBT rowing club in the country and the proceeds go toward funding their organization.

Here are a few of the handsome fellas from the calendar -- for more info and to see where the men are appearing in person, check out their website.

Oh, Snap! More Celebrity Halloween Costumes: Ashley Takes a Bite Out of Marc!

So I was thinking about Marc Jacobs after seeing LC be a total brat to him last night on The Hills...and then I found these amazing pictures of the designer (along with his BF) at Kate Hudson's Halloween party! And not sure where MK was, but Ashley's costume is fantastic!

And Jake and Reese were also in attendance...although less photo-friendly.

Check more pictures after the jump!

Halloween Music All Mixed Up

-- thelinster from AfterEllen.com

Ever since Malinda told us about SpotDJ over the summer, I've been spending far  too much time making mix tapes. I think part of the appeal is that when  I was of mix-tape age, the technology was not friendly to such an endeavor.  Making any kind of compilation required finding a stereo that had both  a turntable and cassette recorder, then painstakingly finding songs  on records and recording them to cassette. You young'uns have it so  easy. And yes, I did have to walk to school in the snow.

Anyway, what better reason  to make a mix tape than Halloween? I started with the intention  of doing an all-female mix. For reasons I don't care to explore, the  first song I thought of was "The End" by Nico. And   Pat Benatar's "Hell Is for Children." When did Benatar  start looking like this?

Listen to the Full Album: Backstreet Boys - Unbreakable

Now this takes me back to high-school: Both Britney Spears’ Blackout and the Backstreet Boys' Unbreakable officially hit the market as of this morning (although you’ve probs already heard them). It's a pop vets showdown!

And of course, I’ve talked at length about Britney’s surprisingly-good and light-on-the-Britney album - but how about some good old BSB discussion? You can listen to their new album (sans Kevin) on AOL right now...or you could go out and buy it, but I mean...who does that?

The BSB are also recording an episode of TRL today…Hey, it's like the year 2000 all over again...

Check my feelings on the Unbreakable tracks (as well as the video for the lead single) after the jump!

Are You a Super Gay Media Consumer?

-- Lyle Masaki from AfterElton.com

The Asterix Group recently released a study on gay and lesbian consumers aimed at helping marketers understand how to target their product to queer customers. (You can also read a 50-page condensed version of the report as a PDF presentation.)

The overall point of the study is that companies can't reach out to gay and lesbian customers with a one-size fits all approach. Instead the report divides gays and lesbians into five categories that each have different interests and therefore demand distinct approaches.

The report's five groups are:

Video Lunch: Mark Ronson ft. Lily Allen - "Oh My God"

Mark Ronson's overall sexiness is pretty much off-the-charts for me, so I'm a little jealous of Lily Allen in this video (well, a cartoon version of Lily Allen) when she asks, "Was that right for you, Mark?"

But anyway! Today's video, a cover of Kaiser Chief's track, is from DJ Mark Ronson and his 2007 album, Version (which is loaded with cool covers). And, of course, the vocals come from that crazy, little Lily Allen - in Jessica Rabbit-eqsue cartoon form, no less. The video's pretty genius - and who doesn't love close-ups of cartoon boobs?

When the camera does pan away from Mark (which is always sad), check for the Kaiser Chiefs cameo!

Who Thought THAT Was a Good Idea? Episode 3

-- Sarah Warn from AfterEllen.com

In this week's countdown of dumb celebrity and entertainment news, we cover the outing of Dumbledore, moms cashing in on their celebrity daughters' fame, and Law and Order: Criminal Intent's wonderful contribution to the canon of evil, psychotic lesbians on TV (for more background on that, read Malinda's 2005 overview on Lesbian and Bisexual Women on Law and Order).

You may notice this week's episode is a little shorter than usual. That's wasn't intentional, it just worked out that way this time given the topics we had to work with. And the fact that Lori accidentally erased the video of some of our first takes, so we had to rant about the same topics a few times, and we somehow got more succinct along the way. We won't let that happen again! Next week we promise to be get back to our usual long, rambling rants.

(If you can't wait that long, check out Friday's She Made Me Watch This, where there's plenty of ranting and rambling).

Watch it after the jump:

NewNowNext NOISE: "Exes & Ohs" Star & Creator Michelle Paradise Brings It!

"Take me down to Paradise City..." Goofing w/the super-cool Michelle Paradise.

Happy Monday! Time for a special installment of NNN Noise! Today check out my interview/gabfest with the awesome Michelle Paradise, the star and creator of Logo’s newest comedy series, Exes & Ohs. Michelle swung by the office recently (on her way to happy hour—cheers!) and graced us with her smarts and sass.

Our chat is chopped up into to two segments. First, we talk about Michelle’s all-time favorite lesbian movies (including Bound), lesbian movie icons, Lucille Ball, her hot Exes & Ohs costar Marnie Alton (loooove her!) and how much of Michelle goes into Jennifer, her Exes & Ohs alter-ego.

Then, in part two (below) we dish about hot female stars—Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys, Madonna, Buffy vs. Willow, Ellen vs. Portia—and the casting process for Exes & Ohs (Gay-friendly talent only, please. Duh!). And Michelle schools us on what is the #1 rule to keep in mind about lesbian relationships. Pay attention, folks!

You can watch a new episode of Exes & Ohs tonight on Logo at 10pm EST. And you can watch Michelle Paradise’s own vlog (she’s a chatty one!) on AfterEllen.

Me? I'll be humming the tune "Almost Paradise" the rest of the day... Wanna slow dance?

Teresa Palmer: the New Wonder Woman?

-- Ace from AfterEllen.com

As the linster blogged about a month ago, rumors about the  casting of Wonder Woman in George Miller's upcoming Justice League movie are all over the blogosphere.   Lucy Lawless, Victoria Hill and Jessica Biel have  all been bandied about (and discarded) as possible heirs to the Lasso of Truth. Well, the latest name out there is Teresa Palmer, star of ... well,  nothing, really, thus far.

OK, that wasn't really fair.  It depends on where you live. Palmer is relatively  unknown in the United States, although she did appear in The Grudge  2 with Sarah Michelle  Gellar  and Jennifer Beals:

Well Hello, Dali! New film Explores Artist's Gay Leanings

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

A new UK/Spanish production explores the sexual relationship between legendary artists Salvador Dali and his countryman Federico Garcia Lorca, whose close friendship has long been a subject of speculation, thanks in part to Dali's repeated claims that Lorca had tried to seduce him.

The film, Little Ashes, stars Robert Pattinson (best known as playing poor Cedric Diggory in the fourth Harry Potter film) as the legendary surrealist painter, and Spanish actor Javier Beltran as poet Lorca, who was openly gay during his short life. (The poet was murdered during the Spanish Civil War.)

The movie comes from Brit Paul Morrison, whose film Solomon and Gaenor was nominated for a Best Foreign Language Academy Award in 2000. The film promises to be "racy and sexy" and also features surrealist filmmaker Luis Bunuel in a major role, although the emphasis appears to be on the curious arrangement that otherwise heterosexual Dali and gay Lora arrived at to share intimate moments.

Screenwriter Philippa Goslett defends the film's approach, noting:

"Having done a huge amount of research, it's clear something happened, no question ... It began as a friendship, became more intimate and moved to a physical level but Dali found it difficult and couldn't carry on. He said they tried to have sex but it hurt, so they couldn't consummate the relationship. Considering Dali's massive hang-ups, it's not surprising."

Well, if Dali couldn't consummate the relationship because it hurt, maybe Lorca was the one with the "massive hangups". Either way, we'll be keeping an eye on this one...

Oh, Snap! Crazy Celebrity Halloween Costumes!

Well, these might not be the crazi-est celeb costumes...(check out Paris Hilton's costume lineup)...but there were definitely some interesting choices this weekend at the Dream Halloween fund raiser for children affected by AIDS.

I've got no idea what Rumer Willis was supposed to be / thinking...and Teri's lookin' a little scary, considering there were children there. And, by the way, that's Marlee Matlin (from Children of a Lesser God) dressed as Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean...in case you needed help, as I did. Nice pose, I guess?

Cobra Starship's Viva La Cobra! Is Streaming Now! (Plus the "Guilty Pleasure" Video!)

I remember wanting to like Cobra Starship’s debut album, While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets, since it was so campy, but I just didn’t enjoy the music itself. You know? I wanted to support them and wanted to say I listened to them, but just couldn’t get into it.

How a second album can change things! I am now completely behind Cobra Starship’s sophomore CD, Viva La Cobra! (I don't know how to do the upside-down exclamation point that goes at the beginning), which came out on Tuesday. The album’s songs are hilarious and catchy - yet powerful and pretty sexy - and Viva La Cobra!’s streaming online right now!

Sadly, Cobra doesn't quite enjoy household-name status, but here's how you may know of them: They wrote that song from Snakes on a Plane...the lead man, Gabe Saporta, used to be the face of the band Midtown...and they’re signed to Pete Wentz’s Decaydence label and have opened for Fall Out Boy many times (and kind of sound like them).

But they’re amazing, and you should also check out the video for the album’s lead single, “Guilty Pleasure” - although that track should not have been single Number 1, in my opinion. I’m a fan of the video, though, as Gabe is totally cute, and the whole crew looks like a bunch of American Apparel models (the video’s amateur charm fits with that look).

And my heart just melts when Gabe smiles at me and tells me to shut up...

My takes on the Viva La Cobra! tracks…as well as OUT’s interview with Gabe in which he talks about his love for making out with guys…after the jump!

Puffy AmiYumi Serves honeycreeper with Sugar and Spice

Model behavior: Ami and Yumi fall into the Gap.

Since 1995, when agents joined them after their separate entries in a Tokyo talent contest, Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura, aka Puffy AmiYumi, have become a cultural phenomenon in Japan, conquering music and television there while making inroads among U.S. audiences who live to look eastward. After all, it isn’t just any group that gets to collaborate with Cyndi Lauper on her classic, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” as this pop/rock duo did on Lauper’s 2005 release, The Body Acoustic.

Of course, recently there was the Gap ad by Annie Leibowitz, the very definition of arrival in American pop culture. And to think that Sean Combs once sent the women a cease and desist letter asking them to change their name from "Puffy," the original moniker that they still use at home.

Now, hot on the heels of their sonic cornucopia, the Splurge album from 2006, Puffy AmiYumi are preparing to drop their new release, honeycreeper in the U.S. The duo will offer American fans a sneak listen soon during a five-date, West Coast "honeysweeper" tour that begins on November 11.

A cursory listen to “Oriental Diamond” and “Sayonara Saturday,” two tracks forthcoming on honeycreeper, suggests that Ami and Yumi could be headed in a punk and garage direction after a previous album that seemed to emphasize ska and surf rock. Then again, with contributions from the Offspring's Dexter Holland and Butch Walker, producer for Avril Lavigne and Pink, who knows what to expect?

The fun of Puffy AmiYumi is that predictions prove futile, much like the vast majority of Americans’ attempts to understand the Japanese lyrics in “Oriental Diamond.” Whatever they mean, the song sure sounds like a great way to hurtle toward the weekend.

Colton Ford Sings Alicia Keys' "No One"...Through a Glory Hole...

Damn it, Colton Ford, stop confusing me. You want to sing a cover of Alicia Keys' "No One"...you want to be all heart-felt (well, you want to try to be all heart-felt)...but then you also want to make fun of Larry Craig? Why at the same time? And why in front of a wall that says SHAFTWAY on it?

And I'm guessing you don't want to be thought of as a porn star anymore - but your promo pictures still look like this.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for making fun of Larry Craig - but why are you bringing Alicia into this, Colton? Why are you trying - trying - to be taken seriously most of the time, but then sing through a glory hole the rest? I guess I'm asking too many questions. Just enjoy Colton in all his glory...

 

Interview with In the Blood Director Lou Peterson

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

On Sunday night Logo (our parent company) is premiering a gay supernatural thriller called In the Blood, which deals with a college student (Tyler Hanes) struggling to come to terms with his sexuality as bodies pile up around campus and strange visions begin clouding his thoughts. (Check out the wonderfully creepy trailer for the film after the jump.)

I caught In the Blood at NewFest (NYC's LGBT film festival) and loved it. The setup's clever, the acting (particularly Hanes) is solid, and it's a completely fresh take on both the "coming out" film and the psychic thriller. I had the chance to ask director Lou Peterson a few questions about the film...

Vanity Fair Picks the Best Soundtracks Ever -- and So Can You

-- Ace from AfterEllen.com

In their next issue, Vanity  Fair will publish their list of the top 40 movie soundtracks  of all time. But  we don't need to wait to find out their top 10: Purple Rain, A Hard Day's  Night, The Harder They Come, Pulp Fiction, The  Graduate, Superfly, Trainspotting, Saturday Night  Fever, American Graffiti and The Big Chill.   

I don't know about you, but  this is not exactly my top 10. I own and agree with a few -- A Hard  Day's Night, The Graduate, American Graffiti and The Big Chill. And Purple Rain is tricky. I can understand  why others would rank it as such, but I wouldn't. Ranking soundtracks  is complicated though, because there can be so many factors to consider.  Do the songs tell the story of the movie? Do they evoke scenes from  the movie? Are they just a collection of great songs? Ten people could  probably come up with ten different criteria for what makes a great  soundtrack.

Therefore, instead of analyzing Vanity Fair's selections, I'm going to have more fun making my own  list. Here are the parameters: It must be a movie soundtrack. I must  own it. I must have listened to it in the past year.  And I'll give each pick a category for context. And I won't pick all  movie musicals (even though I could.) 

1.  The Sound of Music (Best movie  musical soundtrack)

This one is a no-brainer. The Sound of Music is, without question, my pick for  best movie musical ever, so it stands to reason that the soundtrack  would be the best movie soundtrack.

Watch Lil Mama's New Video, "G-Slide!"

I've been waiting for another video from Lil Mama and her album Voice of the Young People...I've been wondering if she could top herself after the wonderful "Lip Gloss" and "Girlfriend" remix. Her newest video, "G-Slide," is definitely a worth addition to her work - although...you know...nothing could really ever top "Lip Gloss."

But whoa - it's really high-budget, right?

The Lo-Down: Lesbians, Gender and Tila Tequila Episode 3

-- Malinda Lo from AfterEllen.com

This week while watching A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila, both Sarah P. and I were, admittedly, a bit bored. Now that the foam party's over, it just seems like nothing can compare — not even a game of Spin the Bottle-cum-Truth or Dare topped off by a stripper pole injury.

Nonetheless, we persevered and have delivered another episode of The Lo-Down for your amusement. In this week's episode, we talk about a certain video clip in which Vanessa does a little job for Maxim, so if you haven't seen the video, check it out here. (Warning: NSFW! Unless you have my job.)

We also addressed the following important issues:

Natalie Portman in Parade: Go With Your Gut, Don't Show Your Butt

Almost-too-beautiful, Oscar-nominated actress Natalie Portman recently told Parade magazine (for which she's a contributing writer, apparently?) she regrets doing a nude scene in the short film, Hotel Chevalier. (Check here for her gorgeous photo shoot with Parade.)

She said..."last year I did something that I wasn’t comfortable with, and I’m really sorry I didn’t listen to my intuition. There was a scene in a movie that felt inappropriate for me, but I didn’t want to make waves. So I let myself get talked into it, even though it shook me up. From now on, I’m going to trust my gut more."

It's OK, Natalie...you kind of went nude in Closer and you were fantastic!

The movie in question, a short prequel to the upcoming The Darjeeling Limited, features Natalie as Jason Schwartzman's ex-lover. The pair have sex in a hotel room. Intrigued? You can download Hotel Chevalier on iTunes right now and judge for yourself if Natalie dropped the ball on going nude.

Mary J. Blige Is "Just Fine" Thanks!

How you doin', Mary? Girl, I'm "Just Fine!"

You'd think popping up on America's Next Top Model this week (I loved that she showed underdog/America's sweetheart Heather some love) would be enough for most stars. But most folks ain't Mary J. Blige. (Well, of course, nobody's Mary J. Blige, 'cept Mary herself.)

But Ms. Mary kicked stuff up yesterday by premiering her new video for the lead single from her forthcoming record Growing Pains (due in December) on MTV and BET. And the song, “Just Fine” is just fierce. I’m totally living for the synth-groove that underlines the whole tune. It’s spry and zizzy and catchy and upbeat. I also like clangy cow-bells that pop up in the tune periodically. Watch it right here (after the 30-second ad that comes first; argh)!

As for the video, I also love how it’s a multiple Mary-fest. She always has to star opposite about 40 versions of herself in her videos, and I think that’s “just fine” (heh). You know the girl loves her wardrobe and hair, so why not get all loose and crazy with the outfits and weaves if you can, right?

More Mary -- and why she does not need an "Umbrella" -- after the jump!

Alien Boot Camp Launches on LOGO Tonight!

Yum! Gay CG vampires...What's not to love?

So tonight marks the launch of a new show on LOGO called Alien Boot Camp - but don't let the name fool you (not that that name could really fool you into anything), this show is for all you gay techy-sci-fi fans out there...like me!

It's actually a bit broader that that: The program's designed to be a "gay fusion of Adult Swim and G4." Alien Boot Camp compiles videos for fans of video games, animation (and anime), sci-fi, comics, horror and tech...all with gay leanings. Not that those worlds' weren't pretty gay-friendly to begin with, but they can always be gayer.

Pics from Oedipus N+1 and Drawn Together...a few of many ABC offerings.

Alien Boot Camp will premier tonight at 10 p.m. EST, and in the meantime, check out this animated short (available on www.alienbootcamp.com...along with a bunch of others) called Dad, I'm Not Gay...

Another (geeky - kinda kinky?) clip after the jump!

We Are Gay America, And So Can You

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

GLAAD's efforts for LGBT History Month have centered around "Friends & Allies", and it would be harder to find a stronger or more fantastically entertaining ally to gay visibility than The Daily Show's Jon Stewart.

On the occasion of the show opening its staggeringly thorough online video vault (it boasts every bit of video from the show going back to Stewart's taking the anchor chair in 1999), our own Christie Keith has designed a knockout tour of the show's best gay moments ... and its few missteps.

We are of course proud of all of our articles here ... but seriously? This is the berries. I haven't had this much fun reading since my local paper stopped running Marmaduke.

Enjoy!

Pushing Daisies Pushes on With a Full Season Order

-- Dorothy Snarker from AfterEllen.com

Who here is watching Pushing  Daisies? Raise your hands. OK, keep them up. So who here would be  excited to hear that Pushing Daisies got a full season order? Feel free  to wave those arms around with joy. Here, I’ll join you.

The quirky little show is one of the  season’s most unexpected successes. And when I say quirky, I mean really quirky. Like women-in-giant-dandelion-outfits quirky.

Nicole Atkins: Twin Peaks Meets Coney Island!

Steady diet of Atkins.

You’ve seen the Pipettes. You’ve heard of the Raveonettes. Now, listen to the Jersey girl who has toured with them both, and opened for Vanessa Carlton. Check out the dark, weird and dramatic pop-folk from Nicole Atkins, who will release her debut full-length album, Neptune City, on October 30, the same day she performs on the Late Show with David Letterman.

If Loretta Lynn and Roy Orbison were to defy his grave and merge into a duo managed by Nancy Sinatra, that confluence of delightfully moody strangeness might approximate the vibe of Atkins and her backing band, the Sea. Last year, in fact, an early alert in Rolling Stone said that her music was, “Like Rufus Wainwright with less piano, more atmosphere and a stronger pleasure principle.”

Hallelujah.

Songs by Atkins such as “The Way It Is” indeed reflect a different era, perhaps the early days of Monument Records, while “Maybe Tonight” sparkles with the feeling of retro-infused indie. However, the best sonic thrift shopping can be found in the groovy number, “Party’s Over,” which offers an irresistible soundtrack to Armageddon in this season of unfolding environmental catastrophes, plunging home values and Britney and K-Fed's co-parenting initiatives.

Feeling sad rarely sounds so good.

Oprah Asks What It's Like to Be Gay Around the World

-- Lyle Masaki from AfterElton.com

Yesterday's Oprah Winfrey Show was quite amazing to watch, as it featured the kind of coming out experiences we don't hear about very often. The show started with Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of India, who came out after a nervous breakdown prompted by a miserable, closeted marriage. The Prince's coming out was a huge scandal in India, with his mother buying an ad in the paper announcing that she had disowned her son and wouldn't allow for anyone to refer to him as her child.

His mother was the first thing that Oprah asked him about and the Prince answered that he wasn't surprised by her reaction: "I don't blame her, I blame her ignorance." It wasn't so difficult to accept her reaction, he explained, since they were always distant (he was raised by governesses). When they did speak to each other, he explained, they never referred to each other by familiar names. Instead he referred to her as "Her highness" while she called him "The Prince".

The Prince also explained how he struggled with his sexuality, eventually getting married in the hopes that his homosexuality was a phase he'd get past. Unlike many other gay men in India, he wasn't coerced into getting married, but went into his wedding willingly. Oprah questioned him quite a bit about his wife and how she felt in the marriage, getting him to admit that he made her miserable by ignoring her and showing no interest in her physically.

Video Lunch: Regina Spektor - "Better"

There's something strange to me about seeing Regina Spektor jam with a bunch of clones...and jamming about sweet and motherly things, like kissing you and making it all better. No? I'm the only one kind of creeped out? And what's with the XBox?

Well, anyway...Regina's fourth album, Begin to Hope, propelled the Russian-born singer from performances at small venues in Manhattan's Lower East side to the major success she enjoys today. Begin to Hope came out in summer 2006 at the mere Number 70 spot...but because everyone became obsessed with that "Fidelity" song, the album jumped to Number 20.

And what do we think about that clicking noise she starts making at the end? OK, I don't know what my issue is; I do like this song...

Oh, Snap! Gay Dumbledore T-Shirts! All Wizards Are Gay!

Now who wouldn't pay for this? Whether or not you knew the Hogwarts headmaster was totes gay, why not show your support of all the gay, dead wizards out there? Or if you just find these shirts, courtesy of www.dumbledorepride.com, as hilarious as I do, you can order either Dumbledore-Is-Gay T-shirt right now for $18. To quote these geniuses...

"We could've seen Neville turning out to be gay. Or Dolores Umbridge turning out to be a lesbian. But Dumbledore? We'll admit, we didn't see it coming. But, apparently, a lot of people did. You just knew...since he was never married, you postulated, his love must have been the taboo kind you can only express by taking a wide stance in a bathroom while you wait for your train at Platform 9 and 3/4ths...And we have a shirt for you to celebrate your inability to turn off your gaydar while reading a children's book."

And a portion of the proceeds will go to GLAAD! Dumbledore would be proud - spread the love!

Listen to Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride Stream - She's So Lovable!

Slant magazine complained that Carrie Underwood, on her sophomore album Carnival Ride, is "nothing more or less than pleasant." I have to strongly disagree with those haters, and I don't even like country music or American Idol...this girl is fantastic! Carnival Ride, which came out Tuesday, is streaming on AOL.com, and you should really give it a chance.

Carrie, who won Season 5 of American Idol, has made the headlines for, along with her six-times platinum debut album and five Number 1 singles, possibly-dating Gossip Girl's Chase Crawford and for Faith Hill's nasty reaction to Carrie winning Female Vocalist of the Year at last year's Country Music Association awards. But Carrie really does have the vocals to back all the attention up - despite what Faith Hill thinks.

And I really like Carnival Ride and it doesn't even sound that country to me (not that I'm knowledgeable about country music); it sounds more like a great pop musician with a country twang to her voice.

Check my track picks, video clips of Carrie's killer Idol performance and Faith after the jump!

Bette Midler's Halloween Hoopla

--Siege from AfterEllen.com

T-minus one week and counting to my favorite psuedo-holiday of the year.  I love Halloween. Think about it.  It's the only time of year that it's OK to accept candy from strangers.  In fact, soliciting candy from strangers is expected.  It's also the only time of the year it's socially acceptable for those of us who aren't paid actors to dress up in costume and pretend to be something or someone we're not.

For more than a decade, Bette Midler has been throwing one of the best Halloween bashes around.  I say best not because it's the biggest or the scariest.  I say best because she throws the bash to raise money for New York Restoration Project, a nonprofit founded by Midler to clean, restore and revitalize New York City's parks.  The group reclaims abandonded parks, plants community gardens and offers youth education programs aimed at greening up New York City.

In conjunction with the annual bash at the Waldorf-Astoria, the group also holds an online auction.  Among the items available for bid this year are a day on the set of Wolverine with Hugh Jackman and tickets to Jessica Alba's next movie premiere.  Sign me up for that one.

Baseball Movies: On Rare Occasions, the “Boys of Summer” Are Girls

-- Ace from AfterEllen.com

Depending on where you live  and whether you pay attention to American baseball, you may be aware  that the Boston Red Sox will face the Colorado Rockies tonight in game  1 of the World  Series. I care  because I'm a Red Sox fan (of the intrepid variety — living in New York).  But, although I like baseball, I don't like that's it's so exclusively  a boy sport. 

For the most part, girls are  relegated to the separate, but unequal, realm of softball. (Before you  yell at me, I'm not denigrating softball or softball players. I'm just  saying that no one who isn't directly connected to the sport pays attention  to it.) Of course, there is a history  of women playing baseball on a national scale.  There were the league-less “bloomer girls” teams in the late 19th  and early 20th centuries, and the All-American Girls Baseball  League in the 1940s and '50s. Additionally, a handful of women played  in the men's Negro Leagues in the 1950s.

Lance Bass on Tyra Turns Into Lance Bass on Tyra

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

Lance Bass's Best Gay Year Ever Media Jamboree continued yesterday with a visit to the Tyra Banks Show and once again proved an affable and well-spoken young gay man. I really can't imagine what it would have been like to turn on the television and see someone like Bass talking about his sexuality and coming out on a talk show as opposed to, say, scrapping gay couples on Jerry Springer or whatnot.

Tyra, as usual, brings the ridiculous with comments about how ironic it is that the gay guy in the band sang bass (as opposed to soprano, like most sissies apparently do) and questions about whether Lance slept with girls and all that. Later, Ty gets Bass to admit he had a crush on her and then kiss her (check out the clip!), to the audience's delight. Tyra screams, "Lance Bass is straight!"

Ridiculous or no, it's a lively interview and one worth watching if only to see how a polite guest deals with a well-meaning but slightly unhinged host.

Even More Gay Coming to Desperate Housewives?

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

*-*-KINDA SPOILERY-*-*

As though the arrival of two bona-fide Desperate Househusbands last week weren't enough, it looks like there's another gay character arriving on Wisteria Lane in coming weeks, in the form of a possible love interest for Andrew.

Here's the word on the street: After their house is totaled by the tornado, Bree and Orson turn to a local contractor named Walter to do the rebuild. Bree learns that Walter is gay and she sets to work ambushing the guy with Andrew. Let's hope Andrew has gotten out of his Halloween costume by then, at least.

The casting call just went out for the character, so no word yet what the cut of Walter's jib will be ... but we'll let you know as soon as we find out!

Video Lunch: Fergie - "Clumsy"

I’m happy Fergie’s put out five singles for her album, The Dutchess, at this point…I’m by no means Fergie’s biggest fan, but that was a good album, plain and simple. And although I agree with some comments that “Clumsy,” single Number 5, isn’t that radio-friendly, I really do like it – and I liked it back when I bought The Dutchess. (The track samples from Little Richard’s “The Girl Can’t Help It,” by the way.)

The video's also cute and well-done...and I’ve also never seen Fergie look so good as she did on that DSquared2 runway (or on that pop-up book version of a runway, anyway) before her Janice Dickinson-esque fall. Later on, for that car scene, Fergie goes totally dragalicious, which is hard not to love.

And I’m glad they crammed the excessive lip-gloss and cell-phone product placement into the very end. If you gotta do it...

NewNowNext NOISE: Mike Albo Talks Music, Shopping--and The Hills!

Mike Albo (right) joins the "NOISE" to explain it all...

Hey Brainy Gays! Today we take the chatter on NewNowNext Noise up a notch 'cuz we've got a super-smart, very lovely and funny writer/performer in the house. Yep, novelist/essayist/wit Mike Albo stopped in for a conversation (Or two. Or three.). Mike's the author of novels like "The Underminer" and "Hornito" and a style columnist for The New York Times (he's the "Critical Shopper"). And he's just a blast talk to.

We discussed shopping, intimidating stores, Joni Mitchell's latest music, Oprah, politics and more.

Then, after the jump, Colin swings by to discuss a topic that both he and Mr. Albo are super-passionate about, MTV's demented and dishy reality show which tracks the missteps and make-out sessions of those Laguna Beach-bred babes Lauren & Heidi, The Hills. I've never really seen the show, but check it out below: Mike and Colin totally school me.

Mike and Colin try to brighten John's dim world with the gleaming knowledge that comes from loving "The Hills."

Watch New Common Video, "I Want You"...Loaded with Cameos!

Common is just so cool ... and even though his latest music video takes itself super-seriously, I'd say the longtime rapper can pull it off. Common also pulled off recruiting some seriously A-list cameos for this single, the third from his album, Finding Forever. The video premiered yesterday on BET's 106 and Park and on AOL.

Will.I.Am produced the "I Want You" track (even though he doesn't make an appearance), and Kerry Washington co-directed the vid - which features Alicia Keys, Kerry Washington, Serena Williams, Kanye West and Derek Luke (and his wife) ... whew! Very impressive...and there's something so fun about seeing these celebs playing minor characters in a music video.

 

So Common, being the irresistible class-act that he is, has both Kerry Washington and Alicia Keys vying for his affection. To Kerry's dismay, it looks like Common goes with Alicia (who, by the way, acted with Common in Smokin' Aces). The whole concept for the video, apparently, drew from the 1986 movie 9 1/2 Weeks, starring Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger.

Gays Mean the World to Oprah

Oprah Winfrey: global gay icon.

Oprah Winfrey may not be gay, be she and her team are savvy and cosmopolitan enough – adjectives that no doubt describe all gay people – to air the program, “Gay Around the World,” tomorrow. How timely of her, on the heels of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran's comments last month about the non-existence of gays in his country, to present the face of the global gay community in that introspective, sensitive way that only the Queen of Talk can deliver.

In addition to a glimpse behind the lavender veil of Tehran, the show's trailer promises that viewers on Wednesday can expect to see the United Kingdom’s John Amaechi, the former basketball player who came out after his career in the NBA; the Indian prince, Manvendra Singh Gohil, who came out to the consternation of his royal family last year; and the feminist spoken word poet, Staceyann Chin, who will explain that being a lesbian in Jamaica made her so fearful that she moved to a different country, aka, New York City.

Thanks to Oprah for showcasing that gay people do exist outside American vodka and airline advertisements, appreciated though those may be, and to the brave individuals who stepped forward to tell their stories in these dangerous times.

Video Lunch: Britney Spears - "Gimme More"

We've all seen Britney attempting to be a stripper for her "Gimme More" video a thousand times by now  (OK, maybe that's just me), but come on, you know you like that song...and it'll get you back into Britney Mode before you listen to her full Blackout album, streaming on LOGOonline right now!

Yup, Britney's fifth studio album got pushed up to October 30, but you can listen to the whole thing today - and I actually can't recommend it enough. I'm pretty obsessed with it; it's just so much better than those online leaks (and Britney herself, lately - let's be honest) made it out to be.

But as far as the "Gimme More" video...although it's an improvement from Britney's VMAs performance of the track, she can definitely do better (Check my and LOGOonline Producer Jon Mallow's take on the video in last week's NNN Noise vlog!)

My take on Blackout...after the jump!