Five Observations About Battlestar Galactica

Jean Barolay (Alisen Down) in Episode 3.11, "Rapture"
Photo credit: Sci Fi/Eike Schroter

 

-- Malinda Lo from AfterEllen.com

Last week's Battlestar Galactica episode, "Faith," rocked the house. This whole season, though, has been incredible, delving into complex, challenging issues such as religion, mortality and politics. This is not TV lite, therefore I rarely watch it on Friday nights at 10 p.m., since by then my brain is fried from the previous week's work and I can't concentrate with the appropriate amount of attention.

So, after watching "Faith" on DVR delay, I have a few observations to share with you about this most recent episode of BSG. (Please note: No attempt at synopsis has been made; for a synopsis, go here. This post is pure critique and conjecture.)

 

1. Starbuck has a fan base in the BSG world, too.

 

SHE MADE ME WATCH THIS! Vlog: Women in Action Movies

-- Sarah Warn from AfterEllen.com

Gearing up for the summer action movies, Lori and I list our favorite female action heroes of all time, from Bridget Fonda in Point of No Return (1993) to  Halle Berry in Die Another Day (2002) to Michelle Yeoh in three movies, including the upcoming Mummy one.

Along the way, we lament the lack of non-martial arts roles for Asian American actresses, debate whether Harry Potter's Hermione can properly be considered an "action hero," and argue over the value of women in Bond movies.

 

Come on, Get Happy: Songs From The '80s

-- Ace from AfterEllen.com

OK, "Come on, Get Happy" — otherwise known as the Partridge Family Theme Song — is from the '70s, not the '80s. But if you were listening to music in the 80s, you have to admit that a lot of it was up-tempo, pretty happy stuff. With that in mind, several months ago, the Stuck in the '80s blog asked readers to submit the happiest songs of the '80s. The readers submitted their suggestions and the site winnowed them down to the 80 happiest songs of the 1980s.

I was an adolescent in the '80s, so I'm reasonably familiar with the music of the decade. Consequently, some of the songs that made the list perplex me. For example, I certainly like No. 32 "Jenny 867-5309" (Tommy Tutone) but I don't know that I'd call this song about obsession with a stranger happy. And I probably wouldn't include Cheap Trick's similarly themed "She's Tight" (No. 25). I might be OK with the inclusion of Irene Cara's "What a Feeling" (No. 21) if I didn't associate it with my grandfather's death. But I definitely cannot see the Violent Femmes' "Blister in the Sun" in the top 10. I mean, it's a great song, but not the 10th happiest song of the 1980s.

 

Best And Worst Album Titles

-- browne from AfterEllen.com

The U.K. website Digital Spy recently put together a list of what they consider to be the top 10 worst album titles of our times. Much as I like Alanis Morissette, I'm not really inclined to disagree with their choice of her Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie at No. 4.

But some of their other selections seem a bit baffling: Michael Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present and Future – Book I may have been a disappointment as a collection, but I don't really see much wrong with the title. And I doubt many people would have made the connection that Digital Spy makes between Beyoncé's B-Day and the French word bidet (for non-Europeans: the meaning of that word is too gross to explain here). Somehow I feel that the fact that they made that connection says more about Digital Spy than it does about Beyoncé.

Their list got me thinking, though, and I've come up with some of my own worst (as well as best) album titles. To start with the worst:

Christina Aguilera, Stripped (2002)

Straight Musicians Dedicate Their Songs to Us

-- Trish Bendix from AfterEllen.com

Surely you've noticed that straight people are just as fascinated with us as we are with them (probably more so). Some are so intrigued that they use us as fodder for song lyrics, which  can be either disastrous or hilarious, depending on the context. Others walk a fine line (i.e., Kanye West rapping, “Heard they'd do anything for a Klondike/Well I'd do anything for a blond dyke” in his single, “Stronger” — funny or offensive? The jury's still out.)

 

Here are some of my favorite tunes about us, but not by us:

Weezer - “Pink Triangle” — Choice lyrics from this '90s hit include:

 

We Are Women, Hear Us Roar, See Us Inspire

-- Dorothy Snarker from AfterEllen.com

God bless women! Can I get an amen? While it may seem redundant   to sing the praises of women on a site for gay/bi women, I say we can never lift our voices high enough when it comes to the truly inspirational women of this world. I’ve always looked to other women, real and fictional, as my role models. Whenever I’m feeling a little down, I use their wit and wisdom to lift me up. Whether on the big or small screen, something about the righteous (or riotous) indignation of a woman is just so satisfying. It practically sizzles.

So in honor of Scribegrrrl’s impending departure (sob, sniffle, bawl!), let’s burn bright with sisterfire today. The Linster and I have assembled some of the best speechifying by fabulous female characters to celebrate the fabulous female that is Scribe. 

Bette Porter (The L Word): No additional explanation required.

The Best Female Buddies on Film and TV

-- browne from AfterEllen.com

It seems like every couple of years or so, someone will release another one of those lists: You know, the ones that talk about the greatest on-screen partnerships and duos. There will be a top ten: Hepburn and Tracy will be mentioned, as will Bogart and Bacall. In the realm of (allegedly) non-romantic pairings, there will be Paul Newman and Robert Redford as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and maybe Laurel and Hardy, or the guys from Lethal Weapon. What there reliably never will be is any female-female buddy relationships.

Well, I think that’s nonsense — so without any further ado, here is a list of my favorite (allegedly) non-romantic female partnerships on film and television:

Dorothy (Jane Russell) and Lorelei (Marilyn Monroe), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

The '50s showgirls of this classic film travel together, trade banter, stick up for each other in the face of outsiders, and even walk up the aisle together at the end in matching wedding dresses. Sadly, they weren't actually marrying each other — even though the picture does make it look like it.

Angry Puppy Vlog: Justice League, Lost & 10 Worst-Cast Characters Ever

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

This week Marc and Lee begin by geeking out over the new Justice League animated movie (which boasts one of the best voice casts evah), which leads to a discussion of some of the worst-cast projects of all time. Needless to say, it's a fun chat.

The fellas also talk Lost, Torchwood and It's Alive!, and toss in another Mystery Geek Challenge, to boot. Check it out!

The Best Lesbian-ish Music Videos

-- browne from AfterEllen.com

Despite the fact that my father refers to them as “chewing-gum for the eyes,” I admit I love watching music videos. A good video can make me like a song I wasn’t that keen on when I heard it on the radio; a really bad one can put me off a song I thought I liked. But they have to be bad indeed in order to get me to switch off altogether.

Despite all that, I’m aware of a pervasive lack in the majority of music videos. Where — amidst all the heterosexual bumping and grinding and declarations of love — are the lesbians?

Worst Movie Titles Ever

-- scribegrrrl from AfterEllen.com

Brad Brevet of RopeOfSilicon.com recently compiled a list of the worst movie titles of all time. Of all time?  That's ambitious. It actually seems to be just of the last 10 years or so. Here are some of his choices (he didn't really specify any criteria) and some of my additions.

1. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)

Six '80s Videos That Made Me Weird and Gay

-- scribegrrrl from AfterEllen.com

A couple of months ago, I blogged about some '80s videos that made me gay. At the end of that post, I said that Les Rita Mitsuoko made me feel weird. I've come to realize that '80s videos are probably largely responsible for my weirdness. Here are some examples of musical abnormality that helped me shun conventionality and further embrace my lady-loving ways.

1. Laurie Anderson, "O Superman" (1982)

Lists I've Liked Lately: Movies, Toys, Geeks and More

-- scribegrrrl from AfterEllen.com

I keep coming across lists I can't really improve on, so I'm just going to list them. In a list. Of lists. (A few of these are via Pop Candy, which is always a good source for lists and, well, just about everything else.)

1. 10 Star Wars toys that unintentionally look like other celebrities

When I was a kid, I often complained that my Princess Leia action figure just wasn't made right — it kept toppling over. And it annoyed me that her gun was so flimsy and useless, especially compared to Chewbacca's giant over-the-arm weapon. But at least the '70s toy version of Leia didn't look like Christian Bale:

Girls Aloud: The Modern Spice Girls?

-- browne from AfterEllen.com

When Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh, Cheryl Tweedy, Sarah Harding and Nicola Roberts won the girls’ section of the U.K. reality TV talent contest Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, and then formed a group called Girls Aloud, I don’t think anyone was really expecting much from them. 

"What Is Sexy?" — A Secret I Wish They'd Kept

-- scribegrrrl from AfterEllen.com

I don't frequent Victoria's Secret stores. I don't watch those lame Victoria's Secret TV specials. I don't peruse the Victoria's Secret catalog and never have, not even when one of my college friends insisted it was the perfect study break.

So, fine; I didn't really expect to like the  2008 What Is Sexy? list, which was released by Victoria's Secret earlier today. But nor did I expect to be thoroughly confused by it. You've probably seen headlines about the most ridiculous one: Ryan Seacrest made the list for "sexiest smile." Ryan Seacrest? I think they must have accidentally copied and pasted from their What Is Icky? list.

Five Gay Films That Deserve Sequels More Than Rambo Did

-- Lyle Masaki from AfterElton.com

This past weekend, a new Rambo movie hit theatres, the first in 20 years. Recently, we've also seen a new Rocky film arrive 16 years after the previous one, a Die Hard sequel that took 12 years to reach theatres and a fourth Indiana Jones film - 19 years after Indiana Jones and the Lost Crusade - is expected to draw huge audiences in May.

Seeing so many characters return after a long absence got me thinking about the various gay characters who'd I'd like to see again and gay films that deserve a sequel more than Rambo does:

Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Janet Jackson: Why Gays Love Some Pop Divas And Can't Get Up For Others

Gay-chasing pop stars - learn from the masters! Catchy songs, hot dances-moves and high-budget record deals help, yes, but the Kylies and Janets of the world have a gay devotion the Fergie Fergs, J.Los and Hannah Montanas could only dream of. ... OK, I own The Duchess, but it's not the same.

I'€™ve listed a few ladies-of-pop gays live and die for and pinpointed the moments in their careers they won us over. It'€™s not all the same; we ain't easy to please!

Find out the secrets of these divas after the jump!

Bad Beefcake: Submissions Wanted

-- Dennis Ayers from AfterElton.com

What do you get when a male celebrity intentionally and self-consciously tries to be sexy? You get bad beefcake. And hey, in my book there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Silly though it is, sometimes bad beefcake is actually sort of cute. Case in point: recently a whole series of photos of Gossip Girl’s Chace Crawford popped on the web. No question the boy is adorable - but he might want to rethink the fringe suede jacket, ten gallon hat and come-hither smile. (Okay, he can keep the come-hither smile.)  Now that’s bad beefcake, and I love it.

Five Ways For Celebrities to Improve Their Images in 2008!

Attention, celebs! I’ve got your New Year’s resolutions all planned out for you; forget those fake ones your publicists wrote for you - Heidi Montag's gem of “treat people with kindness, even if they don’t deserve it” comes to mind – and take these tips to improve your images and increase your fame-levels in 2008.

And this Britney-in-the-hospital drama (see below) makes me feel even more motivated to offer my help, yeah?

A warning, most of these resolutions are gay-related, reality TV-related and/or Lindsay Lohan-related; but you know, that is kind of my whole life - so what did you expect?

NUMBER 5: Shoot For Second Place When You're On a Reality Show...

The Best Film Costumes of All Time? Really?

-- Lyle Masaki from AfterElton.com

In Style magazine and British TV channel Sky Movies have conducted a poll asking, "What are the best film costumes of all time?" The winner is a striking green dress worn by Keira Knightley in 2007's Atonement (pictured above).

Now, it's a stunning gown, and one that effectively captures the eye. But looking at the rest of the list, I have to ask if it's a bit early to decide that that is the best film costume of all time. Let's take a loot at the rest of the selections:

Revenge Movies Are Sweet

-- Siege from AfterEllen.com

The holidays are supposed to be about love, joy and forgiveness.  The holidays are supposed to bring us together.  They remind us to give to those who are less fortunate.  We are supposed to set aside our family feuds, our petty disagreements, our bitterness at perceived wrongs.  (Heck, we should do that all year long.)

Revenge is not a part of the holiday season.  No matter: Every season is the right time to watch a good tale of revenge on the screen.  Revenge tales allow us to live vicariously through the fictional heroes who exact their righteous revenge in ways we never could.

So what are the best revenge movies of all time?  EW.com has compiled a list.  As you might expect, this list is primarily populated with testosterone-fueled action epics like The Godfather, Gladiator, Death Wish and Payback.  But the girls do get in on the action, sometimes in surprising ways.

Let's start with the most obvious films.  First, and most recent, we have Jodie Foster.  Yes, The Brave One made the list.  Such a shame for me to be forced into posting yet another shot of the lovely Ms. Foster.

Cover Me: Songs That Are Better the Second Time Around

-- Ace from AfterEllen.com

Last week, some boys at The Onion's A.V. Club compiled a list of “23 Songs That Should Never Be Covered Again.” I thought it would be a fun list, but I found it kind of boring because it was full of songs that have been covered well (“All Along the Watchtower,” “Respect,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”) and songs I've never heard covered (“99 Luftballons,” “Come On Eileen”). So I quickly found that I did not care. However, it did get me thinking, and I eventually came up with a list of my own: covers  I like even more than the originals.

5. “I Think We're Alone Now,” Tiffany (original — Tommy James and the Shondells)

Don't hate me because I like this song. I love the Tommy James version of the song, and I was never a Tiffany fan. But there's something about her cover (mall performances and all) that is very memorable and — dare I say? — good. My affinity may be influenced by my early college memories surrounding the song, but there's something about her perky, raspy voice that just works. 

Generation Gaps: Six Starlets and the Stars They Recall

-- scribegrrrl from AfterEllen.com

When I think of big movie stars, I always go right to the grand dames with long careers, like Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Susan Sarandon, Sigourney Weaver, Diane Keaton and Glenn Close, or to the supernovas who seemed to change the entire industry, like Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn. I sometimes wonder: Do they make 'em like they used to? So I've been pondering the current crop of starlets, and am pleased to say that several babyfaces remind me of their more weathered forebears.  Here are six pairs of actresses who have a lot in common despite their generation gaps.

6. The rebels: Ellen Page and Debra Winger

Both Page and Winger have that  twinkle in their eyes that makes you wonder, each time they open their mouths to speak, whether you're about to be charmed or affronted. It's an edge that will keep me tuning in, even if somewhat trepidatiously. And Page, like Winger, seems inclined to do exactly (and only) what she wants to do.

Colin's Top 5 Songs of 2007!

Best for last, yo! Here are my Top 5 Songs of 2007...I'll admit, my taste in music isn't exactly "sophisticated," but these tracks are amazing - and if you don’t like them, I just don’t believe you.

Now for the countdown...

Number 5: Sugababes - "About You Now"

The subject of this song reminds me of Rihanna's “Unfaithful” - are we really supposed to feel badly you can't stop cheating on your boyfriend, Ri-Ri? And “About You Now,” particularly the line, “How could I know what you meant? / There was nothing to compare to,” comes off pretty bratty..."I thought I could do better than you, so I dumped your ass, but it turns out I can’t do better, so can we date again?"

OK, but that’s not important; who listens to these types of songs for the lyrics, anyway? "About You Now," which came courtesy of Cathy Dennis, of “Toxic”-by-Britney and “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”- by-Kylie fame, is just so freakin’ fun. It’s a bit bubble-gum – could use some edge – but I appreciate the Sugababes just embracing a girl-y good time, and I've been loving it all year.

(Check the video and the rest of my picks...after the jump!)

Eleven '80s Videos That Made Me Gay

-- scribegrrrl from AfterEllen.com

When it comes to videos, I'm old. I remember the premiere of Friday Night Videos, and even before that (and even before MTV), I watched something called FM-TV (later Teletunes) on a local public access channel. It was such a thrill to stay up late and enter that strange  new world. My sister even figured out how to hook up our clunky TV to the stereo so we could enjoy bizarre bands like Les Rita Mitsouko in high fidelity.

And just as the age of music video was dawning, so was my baby dykedom. Here are some '80s videos that helped me explore my newfound appreciation for the fairer sex. (Note to  the PMRC  types: I'm not really saying these videos made me gay; just that these women are totally worth going gay for, if that were possible.)

1. The Eurythmics, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (1983)

NewNowNext Noise: Gay Pop-Culture Video Blog. Our Top 5 Songs of 2007!

OK, this picture might give away one of John's picks for Top 5 Songs of the Year, but there's plenty more, don't worry! In this edition of NewNowNext Noise, John and I each count down our favorite songs from the entire year - and we've got some good ones.

And yes, we had a little too much fun with Movie Maker's ridiculous "special effects" this round, but we needed to get it out of our systems at some point, all right?

And if our choices got you all riled up, check for links to both John and my Top 5s, after the jump!

Pro-Gay and Just Gay Moments in America's Next Top Model History

First off, I'm calling out Cycle 9 of America's Next Top Model (you know the finale airs tonight, right?) for not being gay enough. This is not the show I signed up for! Tyra, what are you doing? The Jays are not enough!

OK, Cycle 9-not-included (this shot is from the previous season), it's safe to say, where there's Top Model, there's gay-ness...from photo shoots, to cameos, to panel, to the girls themselves...and as nuts as Tyra is, I love her for bringing gays to such a wide audience (and not I'm not just talking about making Miss Jay a judge, 'cause you know no one else wanted that to happen).

So, let's take a look back (yup, I go all the way back to Season 1; I'm a Top Model expert - heeey) at some of the gayest moments in a very gay show, starting with...

The Funniest Gay Rumors of 2007

Marcia and Jan Brady's Steamy On-set Romance

When the National Enquirer reported Maureen McCormick's a.k.a Marcia Brady upcoming memoir recounted her lesbian affair with Eve Plumb (little sister Jan), let’s just say Maureen's publicist took her time denying the rumor. After all, the book was getting far too much press. Uhh...something suddenly came up!

The Enquirer printed, in regards to the book…

"The most explosive comments will be how the then-blonde, blue-eyed cutie developed a crush on Eve Plumb, which led to some sexual play. This book will certainly come as a shocker. While Maureen is not a lesbian, she reveals there were some sexual hijinks going on behind the scenes. It's bizarre because she played such a virginal character on the show."

That's not the only reason it's bizarre, sir - had it been true, of course. Too bad it wasn't, though; Jan yelling, "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" would have taken on a whole new meaning!

Hotness rating? 1/4 The Bradys are unsexy enough on their own - no need for underage hookups. If Adult Marcia/Ben Stiller's wife and Adult Jan/I-have-no-idea were doin' it, we could talk.

Oh, we haven't forgotten about you, Lindsay!
There are plenty more where that came from...after the jump! Miss Latifah has been hogging the possibly-gay spotlight as of late, but the gay finger-pointing bountiful and succulent this year. Don't miss!

Top 10 Things to Love About Johnny Depp!

Yep, pardner... We sure do like that there Johnny Depp!

It’s not hard to come up with a list of reasons why Johnny Depp rocks. The iconoclastic actor is pretty much beloved by everybody, and it’s no surprise that gay folks are also fans of his good looks, his sharp talent and his always fun/refreshing “outsider” sensibility when it comes to taking on roles.

That’s only going to skyrocket as the new film version of the mega-classic Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd opens on December 21st. I got to see a press screening last week, and I’ve gotta say, “Depp can sing!” And the film doesn’t cut corners musically. All the big numbers are there and they’re recreated pretty faithfully. Plus, there’s blood and guts galore. Which always perks up a holiday movie musical!

Razor Sharp: Depp with his best pal in Sweeney Todd.

If you want to check out photos from the movie and get more Sweeney action, you can visit this big movie page that LogoOnline has crafted.

In the meantime, what follows is a Top 10 List of why Mr. Depp rules. See if you agree!

All the Pop-Culture, News and Gay-ness of '07: Check Out NewNowNext: 2007 Rewind!

Gay in '07, what?

Trying to take in all the wonders of gay pop-culture, celebrity meltdowns and juicy scandals from 2007 almost puts me into overload. What a year, right? Iggy-gate?  Sanjaya? Leave Britney alone? Come on!

And that's just the beginning. If you need a little closure (cause some stories were almost too much, let's face it), check out the NewNowNext: 2007 Rewind page! We break down all the pop-culture heavyweights from 2007...from celebrity feuds, to Pride parades, to Internet sensations to mug shots (Oh - the mug shots!). We could just rehash forever - but we worked to pick the best-of-the-best and the gayest-of-the-gay.

Remember me, U.S. Americans?

Let's break it down: The page has tons of polls (topics range from celebrities-gone-wild, TV, movies, actual news, among others), so you can weigh in and see what others are saying.

Also, there are plenty of gay-leaning photos (and some straight eye-candy) in the flipbooks section, as well as a handy news and pop-culture timeline to help you put it all in perspective. Did Britney shave her head in July...or did Lindsay re-re-enter rehab in February? Don't worry - we've got you.

Gimme More, 2007!

Female Villains: When Does Bad Become Magnificent?

-- Siege from AfterEllen.com

FHM has an interesting list of what they consider the 10 best female movie villains. They also have some disturbing, yet fun, video clips to go along with their choices. And it got me thinking: What exactly makes a villainess a grand dame in the baddie world?  So here's my take on the qualities that make a villain truly great.

1. The hotness factor

OK, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I can get swept up by a villain just because she's hot. I'm not alone:  Malinda has her own list of baddies who are also hotties. Both Malinda and FHM include the likes of Catherine Tramell (Basic Instinct) and Catwoman as played by Michelle Pfieffer. O-Ren Ishii makes the FHM list and mine as well. I'd also like to suggest two more recent villains to add to the "hot" list: Sarah Corvus and Caprica Six (Battlestar Galactica).