GLAAD is the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Each year they give out awards to people and projects in the media that are Against the Defamation of gays, or to put a positive spin on it, For the Famation of gays. This is their 19th year of doing so.
Last night was the Los Angeles leg of the Awards Ceremony. Apparently there's like four of 'em. I don't know about the others, but this leg was exhausting. 7 hours of open bars, fundraising, auctions, dinner, photo-ops, and yes, a few awards.
It was the hottest day of the year so far. Ideal for wearing a black suit. Boy, did I stink by the end, but the free vodka numbed my sense of smell.
Whenever I wear a suit, I feel like I'm going to a prom or funeral or something equally comforting. Because I felt so nerdy, I decided I might as well wear my glasses. They're so UGLY BETTY. I RARELY do this, but tonight I wanted to look more like a writer. It worked. Some of my friends didn't even recognize me. How fucked up is that?
Glasses can be really cool, but if they get just a little crooked in a picture, you look like a drooling idiot.
Kathy Griffin kicked off the ceremony by bringing her mom on stage. She asked her to point out the gayest looking person in the audience. Her mom quipped, "Is Ryan Seacrest here?"
Wilson Cruz got a very big award from GLAAD a couple weeks ago. Next week he's coming into the studio to reprise his role as Evan on RICK & STEVE season 2.
With Adam Bouska and Jeff.
It's Jesse Brune from WORK OUT. We went to school together and he starred in my thesis film ROBERTA LOVED.
PROJECT RUNWAY'S Rami.
During the ceremony and dinner I sat with Craig Chester and Nicol Paone.
DEGRASSI's Adamo Ruggerio easily got the loudest screams from the audience. The ceremony was in the Kodak Theatre and the fifth floor was filled with young 'uns from Gay Straight Alliances across the country. They howled like twink-banshees every time DEGRASSI was mentioned. I wish they were down in the orchestra, we needed some energy.
The ladies from EXES AND OH'S also sat at our table.
Our table had a disco-ball Absolut bottle as a centerpiece. I took it home.
After the dinner and auction I shared a town car with TRANSAMERICAN LOVE STORY'S Calpernia Addams and Andrea James to the East/West Lounge for a night cap.
We finished our first week of recording voices for RICK & STEVE! It has been such a long and exhausting week. I'm wiped O-U-T. We still got a ways to go, but the second season is going to be more fun than the first!
All our amazing actors from the first season are returning along with a butt load of celebrity guest stars! I'm not gonna say who they are yet. But it was a fun and humbling week of meeting hilarious people I have always wanted to work with!
It's Rick & Steve! Will Matthews and Peter Paige.
Taylor Dooley and Emily Hands.
Taylor Dooley and Billy West.
My fellow Filipino cast member, Liza Del Mundo. We play Rick's parents. We'll get a little Tagalog in there this season! Liza also plays Pussy and Ebony and various and sundry other townsfolk. She has an amazing little boy voice.
Last night I went to the premiere of yet another gay movie by yet another wonderfully talented friend. This one is KISS THE BRIDE directed by C. Jay Cox. You may have seen his last film, LATTER DAYS, or the big Hollywood film he wrote, SWEET HOME ALABAMA.
KISS THE BRIDE stars Tori Spelling and two really hot guys you probably don't know yet. One who I used to see at my old gym (Crunch) all the time and the other bartends at the Abbey. I really love seeing people from everyday life make it to the big screen. It's inspiring.
The film opens Friday in LA at the Regent Showcase Theatre. I hear it will be the last film to play there, as it's being turned into some kind of church.
With C. Jay at the after party. Another premiere another open bar.
With Jonah Blechman, whose hair is getting lopped off today. He'll be having his own gay movie premiere soon with ANOTHER GAY MOVIE's sequel.
I sat with Alec Mapa, who squirms a lot and has a great laugh for movie-going. We were a little Filipino sisterhood in an ocean of gay vanilla.
The poster was shot by the supercool Brian To, who also shot our BOY CULTURE poster.
Remember the Pulicinella Awards? The Italian animation award named for the wife-beating puppet, Punch? RICK & STEVE was nominated in the odd category "Best TV Series for All Ages." Well, we didn't win that category... but what I didn't know was we were also in the running for for BEST TV SERIES OF THE YEAR. Period. 176 shows from 24 coutries. And we won it!
We got the biggest Pulcinella of all. Here's what the jury said: "For pushing social boundaries and tackling stereotypes in a wickedly well-written, irreverent and hysterical one-of-a-kind television series."
More pimpin. This weekend my good friend Casper Andreas' film A FOUR LETTER WORD opened here in LA. I love the title, it involves reading and math at the same time. See it while you can.
A FOUR LETTER WORD stars (and is co-written by) Jesse Archer, who plays the hottie they have a threeway with in BOY CULTURE. By the way, that character's name is actually "hottie" in the script. Jesse LOVED being called "hottie" on the set.
Casper and Jesse came into LA this week to promote the film with a lot of nights at a lot of bars. Even a BINGO night, which I attended with my friend Mark. We won nothing.
With Casper Andreas and Jesse Archer.
Charlie David, another star of the film.
Jesse hasn't aged since puberty.
Mark Christopher and I lost at Bingo, but had a bunch of good talks. Oddly, it turned out Casper had worked for Mark 10 years ago. Casper was Ryan Philippe's stand-in in 54, which Mark directed.
Jesse and Mark.
Here are some pics that ubiquitous photographer Brian Putnam took. Check out his work!
Jesse again.
Micah McCain was hosting the bingo night. A weird connection there too. Micah starred in GAY HOLLYWOOD with me waaay back in the day...
Keeping track of the Bingo numbers was a lot more difficult than it ought to have been. It's strange how such an idiotic game can make you feel so untalented.
Every now and then I’ll get a random bit of news from some random part of the globe that sort of makes my day. Today I found out RICK & STEVE has been nominated for a Pulcinella Award!
I had no idea what the fuck that is, so I had to look it up. It’s a prestigious Italian animation award that’s given out in Positano, Italy (right under the Tuscan sun). We’re nominated for "Best TV Series for All Ages" against shows from France, Malaysia, Italy and the US. They’re considering Rick & Steve to be Canadian.
All ages? I’m guessing from other the categories, "All ages" really means "not just for kids."
"Pulcinella" is Italian for "Punch," as in the "Punch and Judy" Punch. Apparently the award is shaped like him. I love creepy awards. And one shaped like a wife beater? Wow!
The winners are announced are next weekend, but there is no free trip involved. Which is a pity, because I’m getting really good at fake-smiling and clapping as someone else wins.
Last night Phillip, Glenn and I went to the Improv to see Rebekah Kochan do her stand-up comedy routine. You might recognize Rebekah from the EATING OUT movies, where she plays the uber-sexified Tiffani.
I love a good abortion joke and Rebekah had lots of them. Also in the set were Alonzo Bodden, who was quite funny, and Drew Carey! Drew had some great toilet humor that he’d never get away with on "The Price is Right."
The lowlight was the disgusting homophobia of Ralphie May. He spent nearly his entire set screaming "FAGGOT" at the audience and compaining about faggots and homo-acting straight guys. He went on to say he’s not homophobic because he supports gay marriage. But argued that he supported gay marriage because (after another long diatribe against gays) he wanted to see two homos fighting over custody of a hamster in a gay divorce.
I’m all for edgy comedy. I’m even for using the word "faggot" in comedy and I love good gay jokes. I have a career based on them. I’m not for banning words. I think homophobia and racism is not merely the use of the word; it’s the intent, point of view and context. Here, the intent, point of view, and context was pure, uneducated homophobia delivered with such anger and vitriol. He had lot to blame on us.
It made Michael Richards’ racist tirade look tame because it was so completely accepted. The largely straight audience laughed. But Phillip, Glenn and I just sat frozen, wondering what to do.
Had I not been a comped guest of my friend, I would have booed and walked out. I didn’t want to tarnish her reputation with the venue. She needs the work. So I just sat there, staring off into space, trying to mentally document his vile words and ignore them at the same time.
In the end I felt complicit in his hate. I wondered if there were other gays in the audience, perhaps someone struggling with his or her sexuality. I wondered how I would feel if they recognized me and read my silence and approval of the act.
I doubt anyone in the audience wanted to go out and physically harm a gay person. But I wondered if there was a parent laughing in the audience. Perhaps a parent with a child like Brandon McInerney, the 14-year old boy who murdered 15-year old Larry King in his classroom less than two months ago... because he was gay. I wondered if this parent might unintentionally foster atmosphere at home that reflected the hateful sentiments being spewed forth on stage. Then I wondered how that parent’s child would treat a gay-acting classmate.
I love Rebekah, but I should have left.
Rebekah talks about her vagina.
Rebekah and her vagina between Phillip and I.
They’re probably thinking of abortion jokes.
The set list was loaded with Last Comic Standing folks.
I went to a charity event called "Tan for a Cause" yesterday. It was held at a giant tanning salon swimming with reality stars. I’m not sure how they made money or what charity they were raising it for. I just went because it was a couple blocks away and I heard HELLGA from AMERICAN GLADIATORS was gonna be there. How could I resist?
I didn’t see HELLGA but Wolf was there. As were tons of other reality wonders: Debbie Gibson, Jeff Timmons, Real Worlders, Amazing Racers, Top Modelers, Big Brother-ers, etc. Jackie Warner from WORK OUT was the host. I didn’t see her do a show or anything, but I did see her nipples through her shirt.
Afterwards, Drew and I went to yet another SHELTER promo party. You gotta promote. This one was at The Standard hotel. They had a fashion show and gift bags with speedos and EATING OUT 2 DVDs in them.
I ran into a lot of friends and waited 30 minutes to pay a $10 for some water. It was very LA.
The tanning salon felt like a warehouse, only with reality stars climbing all over each other.
They spray-tanned a twink at one point, which was interesting.
Drew and art.
I got in a tanning bed for a second. CREEPY. I’m so glad to have naturally ethnic skin.
At the SHELTER pool party I ran into my buddies Dennis Hensley and Mark Cirillo.
And more buddies, Jason, Rex Lee and Michael Serrato.
For the fashion show, models wore N2N swimwear and circled the swimming pool. Notice how everyone else is bundled up. It was fucking freezing.
The audience, largely made up of bitchy queens, commented on the models’ imperfections, attitudes and walks.
Last night was the theatrical premiere for the gay surfer movie SHELTER. It officially opens today. The after-party was at the old standby, ELEVEN. It’s been a while since I’ve been to one of these, so it was nice to see the other indie film queers lining up for free drinks.
One of my cheeks is really dark red because I just got out of a yoga class where we spent like 15 minutes in frog with our faces smashed against the hardwood floor.
The entrance. I feel like I have a million of these pictures, only with a different poster at the door.
With SHELTER star Katie Walder and producer JD Disalvatore.
John Amaechi is TALL, but I got most of his head in there. His friend Jeff Sheng teaches a class at UCSB and said my work has come up a few times in the papers of his students. I hope he gave them A’s.
With Chad Darnell. We’re working on a script together. A crazy one.
Adam Bouska! I keep forgetting the other guy’s name, I’m such an asshole because I’ve met him a dozen times over the past three or four years.
THE LAIR stars Brian Nolan, Dave Moretti, and Dave’s bf. THE LAIR is about gay vampire witches who operate a sex club.
It’s a hot weekend for queer cinema. Queer films by friends of mine are opening on BOTH coasts tomorrow. It is my pleasure to pimp for them. Because it is our tradition. Pimping. It is how we survive.
In New York, Casper Andreas’ A FOUR LETTER WORD opens. Its star and co-writer, Jesse Archer, appears in BOY CULTURE.
Here on the left coast, Jonah Markowitz’s SHELTER opens in Los Angeles. Produced by JD DiSalvatore (EATING OUT 2) and Anne Clements (who I worked with on PORNO VALLEY).
Both films won awards at Outfest last year need good opening weekends to open in smaller cities across the country. If they’re not opening at your local arthouse theatres, drop the theatre an email and ask for it. I’ve heard of films getting booked after a theatre received just one or two requests for them. It definitely makes a difference!
I might as well pimp myself too. The EATING OUT 2 trailer has passed the ONE MILLION VIEWS milestone on YouTube.
Finally, this just makes me laugh. It’s the lame reality show THE HILLS about rich Beverly Hills brats re-enacted word-for-word with senior citizens. It’s called OVER THE HILLS.
Congratulations to EATING OUT star Jim Verraros. Over at gay.com and planetout.com, he’s the front page story. The sites have a new feature called "The Full Package" where they profile a different entertainment figure with each installment. The first person they featured was Anderson Cooper. Jim is the second!
I confess, I did not thoroughly explore Anderson’s package. Though I’ve heard enough about it from pervs who go to Gold’s Gym.
Jim’s package is a fun inteview that covers everything from being gay during the American Idol tour to his mother’s reaction to watching his role in the racy EATING OUT movie. Read it here.
Words do make a difference.
I whole-heartedly agree with Media Dis&Dat’s take on the difference between the phrases "confined to a wheelchair" and "uses a wheelchair" and thank them for pointing out our usage on the rickandsteve.com site. We’ve changed it happily and learned something that seems so obvious in hindsight.
Saturday night my BFF Glenn and I went to two birthday parties. The first, Perez Hilton’s 30th. Or as he called it, Quinceanera Part 2. The second, a network exec’s 40th. I wasn’t feeling very shutterbuggy, so the pictures are limited.
Both parties had a LOT of planning. Extravagant shows, activities, press lines out front, and strict guest lists. It felt like My Super Sweet 16, only with gay 30 and 40-year olds. I kept imagining the tantrums the birthday boys might have had earlier. What a great show THAT would be.
While both were fun and very gay, everything about the second one felt 10 years older. There was a distinct generational difference in everything, from the themes, décor, music, atmosphere, even the way they partied. At 35, I’m exactly in between, so it kind of felt like traveling from my past to my future. Only with more celebrities and corporate sponsorship than I’ll ever know. (The top photo came from Perez’s photo both, sponsored by KY Jelly).
At the 30th with Glenn and Gregg.
My favorite celebrity sighting of the night. Another corporate sponsor.
They were serving absinthe at 30th. I had one tiny glass and MAN, that stuff fucks you up. The 40th was all about coke in the bathroom. I did not partake.
The 30th had gift bags which included these souvenir T-shirts. The 40th distributed Compact Discs.
When we first got there, there was a very sweaty guy dancing like mad on the dance floor. It’s actually RuPaul.
EATING OUT 2’s Marco Dapper is on the cover of Spanish version of Men’s Health this month. (Thanks boy culture for scanning this hot cover). Way to go Marco! He did the English Men’s Health in September, only with less lady...
What the hell, here’s one more. Marco’s November cover of the French Mensuel.
Meanwhile, EATING OUT 1 & 2 star Jim Verraros is hosting afterelton.com’s "Idol Chat with Jim & Penny." They give recaps peppered with inside dish about the current season of idol. Jim’s was a top 10 Idol contestant from the first season, so he knows what he’s talking about. I love Idol Gossip and Jim’s got a lot of it. Here’s a clip, I particularly like the reference to David Archuletta as being in the "Princess Diana seat."
Phillip and I are currently writing the script for EATING OUT 3...
This video is fucked up on so many levels. Is it really supposed to make John McCain seem "hip" and "with it?" It’s funny how trying to make the gayest song in the world straight, somehow makes it gayer.
Because I’m forcing myself to stay in and write, I just had groceries delivered to my house from Vons. It was awesome! It made me feel like a millionaire recluse.
It only cost $4.95. I got 20 gallons of water and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. They actually picked out really good, ripe stuff. I saved an hour of shopping, parking, waiting in line, carrying bags and water bottles to and from the car, and wasting gas (one delivery guy hitting a number of homes is much more efficient than a number of cars making round trips). AND you’re not allowed to tip. How affordable is that?
I’m still writing season 2 of RICK & STEVE. I’m close to the end but I have a major case of senioritis. I keep staring out the window when I should be writing about creative uses for sperm. So I shut the blinds and live in a cave. It’s weird being inside all this time. You’d think a nerd like me would be used to it by now.
An awesome reader sent me the above art. It’s Nintendo Wii avatars of all the RICK & STEVE characters. I thought it was pretty fucktastic. Last time I played a Wii, I got so frustrated creating my little dude that I gave up and went with one of the ugly defaults. So I appreciate the work that went into this.
I play OBLIVION in my spare time, and my character on that took hours scrolling through color choices and face measurements, but I love him. Told ya I was a nerd.
I just got word that RICK & STEVE will be premiering on UK television this fall. At last! Check it out on E4! And if you’re excited about it,E-mail them and let them know, it really helps. Cheerio and all that.
If you’re too continental to be bothered with England, RICK & STEVE will be featured at the Annecy Animation Festival in France this summer. It’s an awesome festival and I’m praying to Santa Claus to send me a ticket.
RICK & STEVE got a shout out over at Media Dis & Dat as one of the Top 10 TV Shows Featuring Disability. Chuck’s got quite a few interesting uses for his wheelchair next season. I can’t wait to film them.
That’s it. Oh, if you didn’t hear Obama’s speech yesterday, do yourself a big favor and watch it in its entirety, no matter whom you support. I watched it yesterday morning and made me feel good all day. Hopeful.
