Casting Begins for Upcoming RuPaul's Drag Race Reality Show!

 

You better wuuurk! ... That is, if you want to be America's Next Top Drag Queen - er - Drag Queen Superstar!

Up there with I Love Money in the realm of too-good-to-be-real ridiculous reality TV, Logo will air an ANTM/Project Runway-esque competition that pits drag wannabes against each other, with superstar RuPaul as judge and mentor! Seriously. Drag is an art, and these divas are ready to compete.

To quote the master, "Tell Tyra that the Queen has returned, and while you’re at it have Heidi clear the runway. I’m going to pump some 'realness' into reality." Well, RuPaul certainly could take on Ty-Ty if it came down to it. Blood and weave everywhere!

 

 

The show won't air until 2009, but until then, you've got to check out the casting site for RuPaul's Drag Race. Updated daily, the site lets hopefuls such as KayPasa (pictured above) create profiles, upload lip-synching audition videos and pitch to you why they've got the dragalicious goods to be on the show.

So get to voting - or enter yourself, if you think you're that fierce - 'cause you gays will determine who makes the cut. The next drag superstar needs you. Do your civic duty! And there's some classic RuPaul after the jump to get you into the proper spirits...

 

Idol Chat Recap Vlog With Jim & Penny: The Top 4

-- Dennis Ayers from AfterElton.com

After a week's absence, Jim & Penny return to talk about the most recent performances on American Idol ("Neil Diamond week" and "Classic Rock week").

They open up the reader mailbag and name their picks for most talented, most improved and most personable contestants from this season. Also, Penny asks Jim about recent comments made by Season One co-host Brian Dunkleman that the show's producers and certain judges were "mean-spirited and targeted specific contestants in an effort to break them." 

 

Co-hosts Ryan Seacrest (left) & Brian Dunkleman
from American Idol Season One

 

Check out their video blog after the break!

 

Suck It Up & Dance! The Step It Up Recap Vlog With Guest Dwayne/Milan!

We've got another special guest this week, Step It Up fans! It's Dwayne (a.k.a. Milan - that's his fierce drag persona, a downtown NYC star)! Dwayne's currently working it in the Broadway production of Hairspray. Not only do John, Colin & Dwayne discuss the most recent ultra-mod Step It Up episode, Dwayne - attempts! - to teach us some signature Hairspray motions of the ocean - and gives us his personal takes on Jerry Mitchell and Lance Bass!

As Milan, Dwayne has also rocked NYC as one of the pop/dance group Da Lipstyxx. Expect more from them soon! But today he's talking about dancing! And we all discuss that uncomfortable man-on-man mattress romp between Cody and Nick. Dudes, relax!

That's Milan, front-and-center with Da Lipstyxx (left). And this week's "Dance" castaway: Michael!

Check out NewNowNext's post-elimination interview with Michael after the jump...

Daily Buzz Bits: Gossip Girl Little Bro on Playing Gay; KYLIEX2008 Begins!

 

The Hills' Spencer Pratt is offering up advice on anal sex for Radar ... mainly, Take the subtle approach – unless you're gay, then go right ahead. – Radar

ELLE posted its official air-kiss to Rihanna – as well as some sexy photos. – ELLE.com

Seventeen-year-old Conor Paolo, who plays gay in Gossip Girl, told People, "I'm an actor and it's a part. Being gay is nothing but another way to live your life. It's just who he is." - People.com

Speaking of which, watch the major gay moments from the episode here. – Towleroad

Kylie Minogue is a knight in France's eyes - and she's officially kicked off her KYLIEX2008 tour! Check out a behind-the-scenes video ... The gays are everywhere! - ONTD

It looks like Lance Bass needs some release ... Somebody get that thing away from him! - Towleroad

 

Suck It Up & Dance! The Step It Up Recap Vlog With "Mr. Broadway"!

 

Here he cooomes, Mr. Broadwaaay... Well, that's what we'd like to call this week's guest on  Suck It Up & Dance, but we might get sued! Nevermind ... Suck It Up this week is all about pageants and glitter - and dancing like men - so prepare yourselves. And yes, we have an amazing guest: the winner of the second-annual Broadway Beauty Pageant Marty Thomas!

Marty entered as Mr. Xanadu and roller-skated out of there with the title - and with that tiara! We chatted about Xanadu's origins, roller-skating injuries and his childhood owning of one Britney Spears on Ed McMahon's Junior Star Search. And, of course, we recapped the most recent Damn Yankees-themed episode of Step It Up & Dance.

 

 

We're not done yet! NewNowNext has an exclusive interview with recently-eliminated Oscar. Read the Q&A after the jump!

 

Suck It Up & Dance! Step It Up Cast Interviews & "Thriller" Performance!

 

You're in for it this week, Suck It viewers: John & Colin hit up the Tribeca Film Festival screening of the Making of Thriller documentary last week ... and guess who was there? Why, the entire Step It Up & Dance cast along with series judge - and "Thriller" co-choreographer - Vincent Paterson!

You'll hear all about it in the video - and you'll get to see the cast's own performance of "Thriller!" And we got to chat with everyone: Janelle's a tranny at heart! The Plastics are still in love!

 

 

Of course, we have our very official Stomp challenge recap video as well. Tovah is Ovah ...

 

Daily Buzz Bits: Girlicious Is Ready, Amy Winehouse Is Taking Names

 

A once-closeted MTV music exec is releasing a out-ing memoir May 13, citing an established gay sub-culture in hip-hop. ...Why am I doubtful of the juiciness? - Gawker

The CW's Search for The Next Pussycat Doll Wannabe is over – and the girls of Girlicious already have a painful album cover. - Idolator

The Hills' Whitney Port is never less than stunning, but did OK! have to go for the Ethel Mertz look? – OK!

Top Chef's most recent episode had a "strong lesbian plot line"; Gawker asks, Is Top Chef a lesbian morality play? - Gawker

Amy Winehouse punching and head-butting people on the street? I'm scared just reading about that... - Dlisted

 

MySpace Boots TransAmerican Lover Jim Over Nude Pics! Boo! Hiss!

Don't try this on MySpace, Kids!

Who knew Tom and the nerds/moguls at MySpace were such fussy prudes? They'll kick you off without a warning if they deem your pics too saucy, as our pal Jim Howley -- who you may know as one of the suitors who fought for the love of trans beauty Calpernia Addams on Logo's TransAmerican Love Story dating show -- found out this week.

Jim posted some cool arty pics of himself (nudes, but tasteful and not really crotch-exposing) on his MySpace photos page. The pics had been shot by photog Jen Rosenstein for an art show called "Transcending Boundaries" (opening in late May in L.A.) and you can see them here (above and after the jump). Jim's a trans man himself, so he was more than ready to get sexy and pose to help further the cause of hot transgender folks everywhere.

But then... as Jim tells us: "As far as MySpace is concerned, I did not receive ANY warnings or anything, my page was just deleted no questions asked. I had received 17 comments on one of the standing pictures within less than a day! POOF...my page was gone. I felt pretty sick to my stomach and am actually working to get it back. Screw Tom and his puritanical ways!"

More pics after the jump! And Jim tells us more, too!

Daily Buzz Bits: Tila Tequila's Second Shot; Mariah's "Bye Bye" to Leona

 

It's baaaack ... Tila Tequila's second season of A Shot at Love apparently featured lots of chode-showing - and the lipsticks heavily outweighed the butches. – Remote Control

Speaking of trashy reality TV I love, can this I Love Money New-Rock-Flavor-Love-York mash-up show really be happening? Could it really be? - Gawker

Madonna's intimate April 30 concert in NYC continues to taunt me... Well, there are a lot of gay chances to win tickets, at least: Modern Tonic readers, Perez readers - and VH1 wants a poem...?

Mariah Carey's E=MC2 album – which I'm loving right now – just enjoyed the highest sales week of 2008. Mariah's also over this Leona Lewis character. – Idolator & ONTD 

Before performing at G-A-Y in London, Robyn rocked an AOL performance sesh ... check out the videos. - AOL.com

 

Daily Buzz Bits: Gossip Girl's Gay Revealed, Clay Aiken's Love for Tyra

 

Way to ruin it, Mom! Gossip Girl's Kelly Rutherford officially revealed the series' gay character. And yes, Kelly, since you filmed it, it's probably going to happen. – USWeekly

'Cause Ty Ty just loves him: Clay Aiken guested on The Tyra Banks Show's 500th episode. True love! – Just Jared

You kind of have to watch the Riskay "Smell Yo D*ck" music video – but, surprise, it's for mature audiences only. – Blastro

Lindsay Lohan gave the best quote I've heard in a long time when she told an Olsen to back off her main woman, Samantha Ronson. - Dlisted

Pushing Daisies and Soldier's Girl star Lee Pace is hot ... basically. - ONTD

 

Suck It Up & Dance! The Step It Up Recap Vlog: Episode 3!

John & Colin are totally Team Pink Stink - or something! - and they're ready to battle it out! So watch this week's Step It Up & Dance recap vlog: It's loaded with special guests and even more ridiculous "dancing" on our parts.

And Part 2 is after the jump. We've got special guest Tommy Berklund, who's currently starring in Broadway's A Chorus Line, to teach us some moves. See? We do have people who know what they're talking about on this vlog.

And! NewNowNext has an exclusive interview with recently-eliminated Jessica. Don't miss....

9021-LESBO

-- Mollie Mullett from AfterEllen.com

If you were alive in the 1990s, then you are aware of the ever-popular show Beverly Hills, 90210, about trendy high schoolers from the chic Beverly Hills zip code who never seemed to graduate. OK, they did graduate, but it took a really long time. 

The CW network owns the rights to create a new version of the 90210 series, but the project still hasn't been greenlit.  I'm not sure why they're delaying  this brilliant piece of magic.

As an avid fan of the original show, I sat in my bedroom at night and pictured myself as the cool, rebellious Luke Perry, aka Dylan McKay (what a fabulous and truly believable character name), but now in retrospect I was really Nat from the Peach Pit. Beverly Hills, 90210 changed me, as it changed so many other teens wearing hypercolor shirts and MC Hammer pants.

Although there is no replacing the lovely and extremely talented Tori Spelling, I have decided I want to do my own casting for the lesbian version of 90210, and it would go something like this:

 

Brandon Walsh, played by Ellen Degeneres

 

Alan Tudyk Cast as Gay Lead of New Mutchnick/Kohan Pilot

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

Michael got the good news (in our opinion, anyway) late last night that Firefly and Death at a Funeral star Alan Tudyk has been cast as the gay lead in the new pilot that Mutchnick/Kohan (the guys behind Will & Grace) are producing for ABC. We're excited because Tudyk is a great comic actor and isn't afraid of taking risks (as his extended comic nude scene in Funeral can attest).

Another plus to Tudyk's casting, purely from a visibility perspective, is that he's got an enormous built-in fanbase of folks who might not otherwise be inclined to tune into a gay/straight buddy comedy: sci-fi geeks.

 

Bravo's Top Design Returns for Second Season

-- snicks from AfterElton.com

A lot of people were surprised to learn that the reality competition Top Design had been renewed for a second season by Bravo. When it comes to Bravo's cashcow of homocentric reality shows, Top Design was the runt of the litter. Unlike Project Runway, Top Chef, and Shear Genius, it suffered from tepid ratings and even worse reviews. We even stopped recapping it before the finale, because all of the gay competitors had been eliminated, and because the show was, well ... suckish.

 

Luke MacFarlane of Brothers & Sisters Comes Out Publicly as Gay

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

Canadian actor Luke MacFarlane, who plays the character of Scotty on Brothers & Sisters, has come out in an interview with the Canadian Globe and Mail. Regarding his decision to come out after years of speculation in the press regarding his sexuality, Macfarlane comments:

"I don't know what will happen professionally ... that is the fear, but I guess I can't really be concerned about what will happen, because it's my truth. ... There is this desire in L.A. to wonder who you are and what's been blaring for me for the last three years is how can I be most authentic to myself - so this is the first time I am speaking about it in this way."

 

Work Out Season 3 Preview: Bravo's Tricep Opera Returns Tonight

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

Last season we found ourselves sliding into a love affair with Bravo's gym-based reality soap, Work Out, against our own will. Tonight the show returns for season three with a slew of new trainers on board, as well as gay massage therapist JD Jordan (if you haven't read the new tandem interview we posted with JD and returning gay trainer Jesse Brune, definitely check it out).

Enjoy the trailer below ... anyone else excited about this one? Has it been too long since season two to get back into training?

 

Daily Buzz Bits: Straight Girls Love Jackie Warner, Ashlee Simpson Still Pregnant?

 

Thank god that's over; I like my Madonna gettin' laid! Madge said hubbie Guy Ritchie went on some cookies-only diet that took away his sex drive. – Dlisted

And Madonna and crew remixed "4 Minutes" for Verizon customers ... yes, they remixed their own song. I guess I trust them? But I don't love this "mobile remix" thing.  - Idolator

Rebecca's not the only straight girl who'd switch it up for Work Out's Jackie Warner: American housewives are all sweating over Jackie. - Gawker

It looks like Ty Ty got the wonderfully-talented but far-too soft-spoken Leona Lewis to let loose on an upcoming episode. - ONTD

MTV News says Pete Wentz emailed them to deny Ashlee Simpson is pregnant, despite what USWeekly is saying. – MTV.com

Mariah Carey's E=MC2 comes out tomorrow, and here are some early reviews -  which are ... OK. New single "Bye, Bye" is on iTunes today, though. - Idolator

 

Will As the World Turns Reality Web Series Out-Gay the Actual Show?

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

Not like that's really too hard, these days. But fans of Luke and Noah (and their real-life counterparts, Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann) and the mechanisms of daytime television might want to keep an eye on the web show InTurn, which awards one lucky aspiring soap star with a 13-week contract on As the World Turns. (Get it? In Turn?)

While it doesn't look like any of the four male contestants is openly gay (three of the guys mention girfriends or wives in their bios), the preview video suggests that they'll be asked to do a guy/guy love scene in one of the challenges, as screencapped above. (From what I can tell, that's Peyton on the left and Michael on the right.)

 

 

Suck It Up & Dance! The Step It Up Recap Vlog! With Mario Lopez!

 

We really crammed it in this time! First off, John and Colin recap Episode 2 of Bravo's Step It Up & Dance - we're a little upset about that elimination - then Colin plays segments from his interview with the lovely, and booted-off, gay, James.

And then! John runs over to A Chorus Line rehearsals to interview newly-cast Mario Lopez ... and Mario touches him!

 

 

It's a Saved by the Bell reunion! ... kind of.

 

Shot at Love With Tila Tequila 2 Trailer & Cast

What a quick turnaround! Tila Tequila recovers faster than Flava Flav. Yup, Season 2 of bisexual dating show A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila premieres April 22, and we've got the official trailer below. The trailer reminds us last season there were "16 straight men and 16 hot lesbians" – hot ones ... oh, play to the audience - vying for Tila and that there will be more of the same.

 

 

I'm seeing head-butting, puking (again), security (again) ... and a d*ck in a box? If you're curious, you can check out Shot at Love 2 cast bios here. That girl on the bottom left, Brittany, is the season's only gold-star lesbian. ... Really?

But will anything ever top the Vanessa-Brandi fight from last season? Relive the magic after the jump...

 

Bravo Battles Lifetime Over Project Runway

-- Lyle Masaki from AfterElton.com

If you heard a collective gasp Monday afternoon, that was the sound of TV reporters learning that Lifetime had picked up the rights to air five seasons of Project Runway, snatching the popular show away from Bravo. Bravo, meanwhile, is suing, saying that they weren't given the chance to beat Lifetime's offer, even though that's stated in Bravo's contract with the show.

Suck It Up & Dance: Step It Up Recap Video Blog! "Do I Look Like a Fag?"

Judge Nancy O'Meara would have a heart attack; it's our gayest vlog recap evaaah! We even brought our dance gear. Yes, John and I will be recapping Bravo's new dance competition show, Step It Up & Dance, every Monday. "We're so excited; we're so scared!"

Check it out: We recreate our favorite dance moves of the ep, dish on who we love (i.e. Cody) and on who we hate ... and on Nomi Malone.

 

 

Who Are The People on Gayborhood.tv?

-- Lyle Masaki from AfterElton.com

Is there not enough gay TV for you? Then maybe you should check out Gayborhood.tv, a site that features a variety of web series focused on different views of gay life, with discussion being heavily encouraged.

My immediate favorite so far is The Box, which started as a collection of gay people speaking their mind at various gay events. However, the tone of the series changes in the third episode, where people talked less about issues and more about the event they were attending. I remember when I was a kid, CBS used to mix little educational segments titled "In the News" amid the commercials -- The Box reminds me of that, giving you a quick view of The Folsom Street Fair, The Gay Rodeo Finals or The White Party in Provincetown.

Idol Chat With Jim & Penny Recap Video Blog: The Top 10

-- Dennis Ayers from AfterElton.com

Last week on American Idol the contestants sang songs from the year of their birth — which means its was eighties week all over again.  Jim Verraros and Penny Frulla talk about the performances and the questionable fashions — including the unfortunate dress that Project Runway winner Christian Siriano designed for Kimberley Locke. They also break out the viewer mail bag.

Check out their video blog after the break!

SHE MADE ME WATCH THIS! Cashmere Mafia's Future; Bionic Woman's End

-- Sarah Warn from AfterEllen.com

AfterEllen.com's managing editor Malinda Lo guest-stars on this episode of She Made Me Watch This!, which is  dedicated to answering the TV and movie questions you left in the comments last week. Questions like:

• Is Cashmere Mafia / Life / The Sarah Connor Chronicles being renewed for another season?
• Why are good pilots sometimes not picked up?
• How could Bionic Woman have been fixed?
• What goes into determining whether a TV show/season is released on DVD?

We also discuss our favorite L Word storylines from this season, and which  shows we're most excited about returning in April.

Daily Buzz Bits: Danny Noriega Judges Drag Idol; Leona Lewis Rules!

Just when I thought Madonna as a person was too weird for me, she gave a really cool radio interview. P.S. Hearing "Holiday" or "Like a Virgin" will cost you 30 mil. – z100

Young, gay Idol-reject Danny Noriega judged the "Suicide Drag Idol" contest in Upland, CA. - Dlisted

OK, I just think Raven herself is really cool, not the new album. She was great on Ellen, and she wants "to be Disney." - ONTD

Consistently-sweet Leona Lewis is the first British woman to top U.S. charts in 20 years with the to-die-for "Bleeding Love." - BBC

Christian Siriano and Nina Garcia will guest on Ugly Betty. You know how Christian will greet Rebecca Romijn. – Gawker

Kimberley Locke Performs on Idol!

There'll be more Idol news coming - Chikezie is gone; Kristy Lee Cook remains... - but I'm just happy Season 2's second runner-up, Kimberley Locke, got to perform ... and she looked amazing! That's my girl; the new bod does look great, but I still kind of wish she hadn't done Celebrity Fit Club. And apparently, Project Runway-winner Christian Siriano designed the dress!

Kim - whose second album sang Based on a True Story track "Fall" (skip to the 2:40 mark); it kind of never lets up, if you know what I mean, but I do love her...

Some Kimberley classics after the jump!

We're Getting Nowhere: The L Word Recap Vlog 5.12

-- Karman Kregloe from AfterEllen.com

This week marked the season finale  of The L Word. And for such a grand occasion, we thought it fitting to invite our own posse of troublemakers to join us for our vlog. You can call them our "friends" if you like, but I prefer to think of them as "repeat offenders." (Or maybe both terms are correct.)

Accompanying us on the enchanted sofa this week are actresses Meredith Scott Lynn and Coley Sohn, and comedians Liz Feldman and Bridget McManus. We also had an unexpected visitor, a lovely girl whose car broke down in front of Jill's house. I don't think she knew what she was walking into when she asked to use the phone.

SHE MADE ME WATCH THIS! March 24: Lipstick Jungle, Top Chef and More!

-- Sarah Warn from AfterEllen.com

As promised, Lori and I are finally back on the  interweb with a new episode of She Made Me Watch This!

This week, we talk about that ridiculous lesbian kiss in the Lipstick Jungle season finale; the new Judy Greer comedy Miss Guided; Marlee Matlin and Kristi Yamaguchi on Dancing with the Stars;  the  status of the queer women currently on Survivor and Top Chef; and the tragedy that was Marvita's haircut on America's Next Top Model (A mullet, Tyra? Really?)

Can Christian Siriano Out Fierce Joan Rivers?

-- browne from AfterElton.com

In the annals of red carpet interview awesomeness, this has the potential to rank up there with Kathy Griffin and The Fanning Incident.

Pixie-ish Project Runway winner Christian Siriano has been tapped to be a guest correspondent for Access Hollywood at this years Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

"Christian IS fierce, fabulous and ferosh and he is a pop culture catchphrase machine," Access Hollywood supervising producer and style maven Ryan Patterson said. "He also really knows fashion — he's a style stud who will stand out on the carpet with his one-of-a-kind hairdo and electric personality and most importantly, he'll be able to spot out whose fashion is a 'hot mess' and whose fashion is 'fierce.'

If that statement isn't alarming enough, the fierce one himself chimed in with this:

Gossip Girl Goes Gay for Its Upcoming Return ... But Which Character?

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

Michael Ausiello posted some juicy scoop over the weekend that when Gossip Girl returns to small screens in April, one of its fellas may very well be batting for the other team. He then posts pics of Dan (Penn Badgley), Nate (Chace Crawford) and Chuck (Ed Westwick) and offers the following clues:

• This person may or may not be pictured above.
• The revelation significantly impacts the lives of at least three people.
• The aftershocks will be felt on both sides of the East River.
• Some viewers will be surprised by the twist, others not so much.

We're Getting Nowhere - 5.11: The L Word Recap Video Blog

-- Karman Kregloe from AfterEllen.com

It's the beginning of The End. The end of Season 5 of The L Word, that is. And in this second-to-last episode, a lot of groundwork is laid to get us prepped for what is sure to be the shocking conclusion of the fifth season next week on Showtime.

Luckily, groundwork isn't the only thing getting laid in this episode. Bette and Jodi are splitsville, but that doesn't stop them from getting physical, and Jenny and Niki's breathtaking tryst from last week is relived in high-def when their pilfered home video resurfaces once again.

Those are just a few of the topics we discuss this week on WGN, along with pressing issues such as gun safety, pay rates for actors with speaking roles on television shows, and whether or not telling a woman "I really hope you bleed soon" is (1) honest; (2) grounds for divorce; or (3) simply an invitation for a satisfying slap of the face.

Daily Buzz Bits: Goldfrapp Disses Kylie Minogue; Jesse Heats Up Instinct

Goldfrapp’s next single is called "Happiness," but Alison's scoff of Kylie Minogue and Madonna makes me feel something called "Hatred." – Boy Culture

It turns out Project Runway runner-up Rami Kashou’s "friend" Tim Gunn met was, in fact, the designer’s boyfriend. - HX

Break me off a piece of that Jesse Brune! The Work Out foodie/hottie will be on April’s Instinct. - Instinct

Britney Spears looks like her old self on the set of How I Met Your Mother ... what gives? – Dlisted

Details is still not a gay magazine ... despite this comparison to The Advocate ... and in other news, Ryan Seacrest is on the new cover. - Queerty

I can’t express how much I love Charlize Theron. Please watch her call the MTV movie guy a mother-f*cker and Jason Bateman a talentless hack with a tight ass. – Gawker

Idol Chat: American Idol Recap With Jim & Penny: The Top 12

-- Dennis Ayers from AfterElton.com

Last week on American Idol the top 12 contestants sang Beatles tunes, and Jim & Penny have a field day dishing on Chikezie's triumph, David Archuleta's crash & burn, the untimely passing of David Hernandez, Amanda Overmyer's Beetlejuice pants, and Kristy Lee Cook's frenetic banjo butchery of "Eight Days a Week" They also open up the viewer mail bag. It's a fun week on Idol Chat.