Are The Times A-Changin'

My jar nearly dropped in astonishment when I read Mike Nichols's recent editorial in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that points out what a lot of pro-amendment advocates forget: it's about people's lives.

Brilliant.

Sunday Jukebox Wishes It Was 1984

I like to think that we're living in a right-wing version of 1984, the book, when I'd much rather be living in 1984 the anime year.



But maybe, that's just me, since I've been known to sing "Dreamy My Love"* when drunk.

* I know it's not a slit your wrists type of ballad, but it's the exception that proves my rule.

It's Baaaaack

Just in time for Thanksgiving, The Closet is being reissued in a Platinum Edition Box Set.

Relive the wonders of:

"She said you were sleeping with her...and her husband (SLAP)"

"I'm not gonna be yuh secret anymor-ah"

"His grandson is a homosechsual"

and of course:

"I want to wake up every morning and see that black ass that belongs to me"

Noah's Arc is our Julia, and The Closet is our Mommie Dearest.

My recapping abilities are saved for Eurovision season, but I'd highly suggest that you get a group of your friends (the ones you can queen out with), some alcohol, and pop this in the DVD player.

The Splash-View Post-Mortem: Who said weirdness was limited to the 31st?

For starters, I want you to imagine the opening theme song to Galvion playing on a loop when you read this, because that's exactly what I was doing.

First, let's begin at Splash, because I did. I have come to an interesting revelation about The Cypriot. He makes sense when you are talking with someone, because I wound up chucking my observer routine tonight due to a very eager Spaniard* who engaged me in conversation downstairs. It's hard to focus on what others are saying when someone is feeling up your calves, and that's all I'm saying. The Cypriot came in to take my drink order at just the right lulls.

* I don't know what it is with Spain, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but apparently the locals are very intrigued by American blacks.

After the Spaniard left, I made my way upstairs where there was a HUGE backdrop with the logo for BETJ. I want you to process this for a second: a backdrop for BET's Jazz Channel was at Splash, one of the whitest bars in existence even on its "ethnic" night. (Seriously, it is, especially with this new "Ocean" theme.) Unfortunately, I never got a chance to ask what the connection was, but rest assured that for the remaining 2 drinks I had there I was trying to figure out why it was there. All I can come up with is that it is possible that BETJ was plugging Dance Diva #8907 in whatever way possible.

It certainly attracted a very...um...scenester crowd. Apart from the odd man who always dances at Splash with his herky-jerky reaching movements (if you've been, then you know who I'm referring to here), there were a few groups of Noah's Arc clones swaying to the various songs, eager to dance, but too self-conscious to actually go onto the centre of the dancefloor.

Normally, I would've taken that as a sign to do a runner to The View, but since Shequida bought me a shot (why, I do not know) , it seemed rude to do so. Plus, I am trying out those Chaser hangover pills tonight; so, I reckoned I could play with fire to some degree. Not to mention, the weirdness of seeing a group of gay white men congregate around a sign for BETJ was worth it.

Duties complete, I made it over to The View, which was relatively tranquil and playing music videos by that time. After hearing the young, kind bartender go on about his lovelife (unsolicited, I must add), I got involved--against my nature--in being the kindly ear to a man go on about the differences between '70s gay life and present and the subsequent parallels between that and modern black gay life. I get it, no need to remind me.

By time La Ryan's "Alive" came on, I knew it was time to go. Midnight or Kate Ryan, I always say.

Some House Business

If you've noticed this link to The Story The Person and wondered what it is, well, it's basically the flip side of this corner of the internet, or rather, the processed side of me which some would call emotional, but since I'm an Aquarian it's more like the Splenda version of feelings*, if you will.

*Aquarians don't feel. We analyse.

Here is going to be the home of alcohol-induced sociological observations, Anime nostalgia, Eurovision, political and cultural opinion, and other pop culture tidbits.

Over there is where the playwright comes out periodically to run amok: Character notes, writing observations, occasional diary entries, all that jazz is over there. Some truth, some fiction, and the lines between the two will be blurred at random.

Saturday Jukebox Says WTF?

Since I'm on a Tomino kick today, I looked into one of Tomino's recent shows: Overman King Gainer.

All I have to say is that artistically, I liked him better when he was all depressed and nihilistic, although I'm happy that he's better, of course. Still, look at this opening and tell me this isn't a warning to take the happy pills in moderation:



Go-go dancing robots? "Metal Full Coat?" Oh yes, makes as much sense as this.

Conversely, Lambchop singing the hits of Judy Garland doesn't seem all that far-fetched at all. In fact, it makes you say "ahhh, bless."

Space: So What?

I was watching Wanda Sykes's new comedy special recently and she said that the space programme was "welfare for really smart people, who are so smart that they are worthless." The more I think about it, her comments really reflect the sort of ambivalence that many people have today over Space in general. I have no problem admitting that I'm pretty ambivalent about it as well.

The funny thing is that a lot of my own writing style and character development was inspired in great part from Leiji Matsumoto and especially Yoshiyuki Tomino's space operas, even though I don't write anything that has a science-based theme. A few days ago, I was wactching several old anime TV opening sequences, and it is interesting to note just how the use of space has gone from something that inspired awe and whimsy in the 1980's to being rather anonymous in the present day.

Note the way that it's presented in the opening for Bismark.



And several years later in the 2nd opening for Zeta Gundam.




Compare those with these two opening sequences from Gundam Seed & and its sequel Gundam Seed Destiny (2002 & 2004, respectively):





Who'd ever think that anime sci-fi would start turning inward?

Another Reason to Vote

Stories are being lost courtesy of congress cutting money.

Watch to find out more, and visit SaveDeafTheatre.

And now who?

T.R. Knight is now out, and perhaps the time is coming that a line is being drawn in the sand where people realise that to play along with the closeting and bearding is basically claiming that being gay is something to be ashamed of.

So who is next?

Jorja Fox?

George Eads?

Eric Szymanda?

Wanda Sykes?

Neil Patrick Harris?

Only time and character will tell.

Observations from the Elliptical Trainer

• Now that WNBC has moved Megan Mullally's show up against The View, the 11-12noon hour is probably the gayest hour on broadcast television. This is a very good thing.
• Today probably had the most segments with gay sensibility as well with Megan hosting Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty, The L Word) , Mario Vazquez, and Shelley Morrison (Rosario from Will & Grace), and The View hosting Julian Macmahon and Ruben Studdard.
• As much as everyone talks about Ruben's weight loss, something is still awry because he shouldn't be sweating like he's in the desert before he starts singing.
• Why did Julian wear that cap? It made him look like he was in the throes of a midlife crisis.
• Who were those two dancing bimbos that Mario Vazquez had onstage with him? They had no rhythm. (And I should know about that, since I have none myself.)
• The View & Megan Mullally were being aired on neighbouring televisions, so it looked like Eric Mabius were a gay couple being interviewed by 3 hosts talking in tandem.

Does This Seem A Bit Misguided To You As Well?

I'm not saying that this is in poor taste, because it isn't...but at the same time, I just don't think that a gay news website should run an AP story about stripping marines and not add a comment about "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

Friday Jukebox Says You Will Respect Anna Oxa

Attention wannabe ballad singers: Until you can give a performance like this, you will never be taken seriously...at least by me.




Because Anna has been at it since 1978, and only improving.

When Bad Theatre Happens Nearby

Every single cliche about gay theatre wrapped in a shoddy knockoff of The Dying Gaul.

I'm just sayin'

Umm...Okay

Well, I haven't heard it on either VH1 or MTV, nor have I seen it in Splash, nor heard it on KTU, but according to ESCToday, Helena Paparizou is #11 on Billboard's Dance & Regular charts with "My Number One."

I know things move slow in this country, but a song from Spring 2005 only just hitting the charts in Fall 2006? Something's fishy.

It's Just You & Me, Clive

The revival of A Chorus Line has now premiered and based on the reviews I've seen so far, Clive Barnes of The Post and myself saw one show and Gus Solomons Jr. of The Gay City News saw some other revival of A Chorus Line which seemed to be appearing simultaneously at the same theatre.

Funny that.

Update: Guess who also sides with us? Ben Brantley of The Times. (Link may require registration)

It Makes You Wonder

Ever wonder why Wisconsin is a swing state?

By the way, my home district is #5, home of the idiot Sensenbrenner.

Thursday Jukebox Praises Donna Summer

I remember listening to "This Time I Know It's For Real" and wishing that I was in my twenties and going to big city nightclubs.

Oh well, it's always 1989 in my mind.



And the video version