WATCH LIST: Gay Exposé “Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood” in Theaters, and “Orange Is the New Black" Returns
In Theaters
Gay Columbia University psychology professor Andrew Solomon’s 976-page bestseller about how parents cope, reconcile, and ultimately help support children who are born "different"—from queer and transgender to with Down Syndrome, autism, or dwarfism, and even criminal impulses—is turned into a profound documentary by director Rachel Dretzin that follows a handful of subjects with Solomon himself serving as host. (IFC)
Handsome Hollywood gas station attendant Scotty Bowers serviced some of the biggest stars and VIPs of the 1940s-50s, including Cary Grant, Charles Laughton, Cole Porter, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, in more ways than one. He shared all his tea in a 2012 memoir, Full Service: My Adventures In Hollywood And The Secret Sex Lives Of The Stars, which this dishy and revelatory documentary goes into and beyond. (July 27, Greenwich Entertainment)
DVD/Blu-Ray/Video on Demand
Moving back to San Francisco for a fresh start, Asian-American millennial Cole (Kyle Cabral, also director and co-writer) discovers that whatever he draws in an old sketchbook can alter what's happening in real life. Could he end up back with Max (Henry Lee), the old flame he still carries a torch for, and correct a major mistake made by his straight bestie, Daren (Nathan Brown)? (DVD, Dekkoo)
Before his untimely death at age 40, Aucoin was the go-to makeup artist for just about every A-List female star during the 1980s-90s including Cher, Whitney Houston, Isabella Rossellini, Celine Dion, and Liza Minnelli, and became a celebrity in his own right. His detail-filled journals and home videos play a big part in this documentary about his too brief, albeit inspiring life. (VOD, The Orchard)
TV/Streaming
A bit of a reset and return to form with a pared-down cast, the sixth season of OITNB follows up last season's riot with a stint in maximum security for some of the ladies. Alas, Lea DeLaria's Boo is MIA this go-around, but it's a strong 13 episode run. (July 27, Netflix)
This six-episode standup comedy series spotlighting Asian-American comics includes one-hour sets by song-and-laughs man Kevin Lee and transgender female comedian Robin Tran. (August 1, Hulu)
After surviving a stabbing last season, lesbian tech geek Lou Linklatter (Breeda Wool) is back in the second season of Stephen King's dark comedy-tinged mystery/thriller series about a jaded detective, Bill Hodges (Brendan Gleeson), on the trail of a serial killer. (August 2, AT&T Audience Network)
New on Netflix in August
The second season of addictive series about a family forced to launder money, Ozark, premieres August 31, and it looks like Jason Butler Harner’s gay FBI agent will be on their trail again. Debuting August 23, original series Follow This is sure to be a little queer, in which BuzzFeed journalists investigate off-kilter and trendy topics. Watch 1980s gay fave Steel Magnolias—Dolly Parton! Julia Roberts! Sally Field!—starting August 1, and Matt Groening’s new satirical animated series, Disenchantment, debuts August 17.
