At the Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film & TV Music Conference, Glee star Darren Criss (who plays gay student Blaine) serenaded Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Menken—who wrote the music for Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, among other films—once gave a struggling Criss a $100 tip when he performed at a coffee shop. "I used to play for pennies at a cafe at the University of Michigan," Criss told conference attendees. "I was just ruining [The Little Mermaid's] Part of Your World when Alan comes in. I was just mortified!"
A pathologist said that Amy Winehouse died from drinking too much, according to the New York Daily News. The "Rehab" singer had a "very large quantity of alcohol" prior to her sudden death, and her blood and urine samples showed she was 4.5 times over the legal drunk-driving limit. Winehouse's physician, Dr. Christina Romete, said the singer had resumed drinking after a period of abstinence.
George Michael has been praised for his Symphonica Tour, which recently launched in London, the Hollywood Reporter noted. During a concert at Royal Albert Hall, there was a giant LED lightwall as Michael was backed by the 41-piece London Symphonica Orchestra. Michael sang hits such as "Freedom" and "Praying for Time" along with covers of the Police's "Roxanne" and Rufus Wainwright's "Going to Town." One review of the show read that Michael's "glittering musical pedigree was absolutely centre-stage."
Two new documentary specials related to transgender individuals will premiere on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Sunday, Nov. 27, according to a press release. Being Chaz chronicles Chaz Bono and girlfriend Jennifer Elia after Bono's gender-reassignment surgery, and will air 7 p.m. CT. Being Chaz is the anticipated follow-up special to the 2011 Emmy Award-nominated OWN Documentary Club film Becoming Chaz. I Am Jazz: A Family in Transition—about the life of a family and a transgender daughter—will premiere at 8 p.m.
Popular TV chef Paula Deen has denied having a feud with First Lady Michelle Obama, according to Digital Spy. News outlets have reported that Obama regretted appearing on the show Paula's Party in 2008 because Deen doesn't always employ healthful eating strategies. Deen told Page Six, "There's no truth... that Mrs. Obama called me to stop talking about her [2008] appearance on my program. ... It was easy to see by her buff arms she follows a healthy lifestyle, but it didn't stop her from enjoying the food. Everything in moderation!"
In England, a high court has ruled that Morrisey's libel action against the publication NME can proceed, according to Digital Spy. The singer, 52, is suing NME former editor Conor McNicholas and publisher IPC Media over an interview, claiming he was characterized as a racist. In the interview, Morrissey claimed he appeared to complain that an "immigration explosion" lead to an erosion of British identity. The case probably won't proceed to trial before next summer.
Mary J. Blige and Kelly Clarkson are among the headliners for the VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul special, airing Dec. 19, according to USA Today. Cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and Memphis, Tenn., will be the musical inspirations for the singers, who will also include Jill Scott, Jennifer Hudson and Jessie J. The concert will be taped Dec. 18 in New York City.
Rosie O'Donnell told out MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts that the media has contributed to anti-gay bullying problems, according to On Top Magazine. She said that in the '70s, "there seemed to be a moral fiber in the programming executives' souls—so that they wouldn't put on things that hurt people." She added that things changed in the '90s: "[Y]ou turn on the TV and you see people who look like mommy and daddy physically beating each other up. Like there became a national agenda of bullying."
Barbara Walters attended the well-publicized wedding of Bill White and Bryan Eure at New York City's Four Seasons restaurant Oct. 23, according to Women's Wear Daily. When asked if she supports gay marriage in the United States, she said, "Yes, I do." Aretha Franklin serenaded guests—who included former NYC Mayor David Dinkins, Gayle King and shoe designer Brian Atwood—with "I Will Always Love You," "Respect" and "I Say a Little Prayer." White, 44, chairs a consulting firm while Eure, 32, is a senior vice president at an insurance broker.
Actress/talk-show host Mo'Nique is urging Maryland residents to support same-sex marriage in a video produced by Marylanders for Marriage Equality, according to the Washington Post. Mo'Nique, a Baltimore-area native, says, "I believe since we've all been given free will, let's use our will to let others be free. Gay and lesbian couples believe in commitment, family and love." Gov. Martin O'Malley and Baltimore Ravens football player Brendon Ayanbadejo were in the group's first two videos.
Krisily Kennedy—who has competed for men on the ABC shows The Bachelor and The Bachelor Pad—recently revealed that she's bisexual, TheCelebrityCafe.com reported. The former Miss Rhode Island USA said that she has been dating women for the past three years, although she is "completely open to still dating men."
While on TV's The View, singer Kelly Clarkson said that part of the reason she's had difficulty finding love is because many people have thought that she's lesbian, the Huffington Post reported: "I'm from a small town so, like, everyone's married with children or about to have children. So it's a little hard when you go home and people are like—and that's why people think I'm gay—because they're like 'Why aren't you married?' And I'm like, 'it doesn't happen for everyone right off the bat.'" Clarkson has repeatedly denied rumors that she likes other women.
The Al Pacino film Wilde Salome won the fifth annual Queer Lion award at the 68th annual Venice Film Festival, according to On Top Magazine. Twelve movies vied for the prize that recognizes films with queer elements at the festival. The film, which co-stars Jessica Chastain, is described on its website as "an experimental documentary that journeys into the mind of a film icon, and his fascination for a piece of literature that transcends time, and opens the door to a rising star."
Simone Battle—a recently eliminated contestant on the Fox show X Factor—has released a single, "He Likes Boys," and a video, according to the Huffington Post. The video shows Battle regretting her habit of falling in love with gay men; however, by the end, she appreciates gay men, singing "We both like vintage shopping ... And we both like... boys."
Out comedian Mario Cantone is a married man. Cantone—also famed for his role on Sex and the City—wedded longtime partner Jerry Dixon, the Huffington Post reported. "We got married on my roof by Jamie Bakker, who is Tammy Faye Bakker's son," Cantone said. "It was beautiful; just my family was there." The couple walked down the aisle to the Rufus song "In Love We Grow."
Ellen DeGeneres recently revealed that her recent time as an American Idol judge disappointed her, Digital Spy reported. DeGeneres was added to the panel of Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi after Paula Abdul left. DeGeneres told Parade, "It was disappointing to hear things about the kids, the drama going on. Some of them are not as grateful as you would expect." She added, "It was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings."
Former Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes said he doesn't want to be pigeonholed as a gay artist, Pink News reported. Hayes, 39, told News.com .au, "I don't want to be a gay or a straight artist. I don't make gay records —I make records. ... I don't want to feel like I have to be a poster child for anything other than being a great artist." Hayes has been in a civil partnership since 2006.
The '90s show In Living Color will return to Fox for two special half-hour episodes, according to Digital Spy. It will premiere next spring, and will feature musical performances and a new cast. The original series had such future stars as Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx and Damon Wayans; Jennifer Lopez and Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba were members of dance troupe The Fly Girls.
Legendary actress/singer Doris Day will receive this year's Career Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, according to Deadline.com . Among her films are 1959's Pillow Talk with Rock Hudson; 1962's That Touch of Mink; and the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock thriller The Man Who Knew Too Much. Day will be the first woman honored since 1999.
Celebrating its eighth anniversary on Broadway, the musical Wicked hosted a monthlong slate of activities that culminated in Wicked Day, which took place Oct. 30, according to Playbill.com . During Wicked Day, there was a special, one-time-only ultimate encore performance. Other events during the month included one at Neiman Marcus and a weekend at the Bronx Zoo. Wicked also supported the National School Climate Center's BullyBust program during National Bully Prevention Month (October).
Actor James Franco—inspired by behind-the-scenes stories about the James Dean movie Rebel Without a Cause—created a controversial art project involving a gender-bending orgy with sex dolls, according to the Hollywood Reporter. For his project, Rebel, Franco asked his actors to dress in drag as they re-enacted the reported incidents connected with the classic film. Among the project's highlights are a nude drive down Sunset Boulevard, and an orgy with sex dolls and dildos.
Gay blogger Perez Hilton has continued criticizing X Factor contestant Stacy Francis, according to the Hollywood Reporter. After initially saying that Francis, 42, was too old to be a pop star, he ranted about her professional past and her link to out singer Adam Lambert. Lambert tweeted that Perez would've criticized singer Adele "if rolling in the deep hadn't blown up." However, Hilton brought up a poster for a 2008 event in which Lambert and Francis were supposed to perform together. Hilton later said, "She'll be out of the competition as soon as Simon Cowell gets wind of all this treachery."
Speaking of X Factor, there's another clash—between judge Paula Abdul and host Steve Jones. According to a Popcrush.com item, Abdul was offering her condolences to an act that was just eliminated when Jones cut her off because the show was behind schedule. Jones said, "I will never apologize for doing my job. Paula was cool, but she did look a little bit annoyed." Abdul had initially complained that "[American Idol's] Ryan Seacrest never, ever cut me off like that," the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby actress Hilary Swank has fired manager Jason Weinberg, Deadline.com reported. Reportedly, the two-time Oscar winner is also removing CAA agents Amie Yavor and Josh Lieberman from her team. These developments are happening after Swank received unfavorable publicity following the revelation that she accepted a fee to attend a party to tyrannical Chechnyan President Ramzan Kadyrov.
Former American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert and singer Steve Cooke interpret 10 rock ballads each on the exclusive double deluxe collection Paramount Sessions with Madonna and Seal's backing band. "Paramount"—which features Lambert's official pre-Idol recordings—will be out Dec. 6.
Singer Adele is having surgery on her vocal cords, but is not suffering from throat cancer, People.com reported. Her rep said that the "Rolling in the Deep" singer "is to undergo surgery for a hemorrhaged vocal chord [sic]. All reports regarding any other condition are 100% false." The Grammy winner has canceled the rest of her North American tour in addition to several shows in the U.K.
There will be another Amy Winehouse album. According to People.com, Island Records will release a posthumous collection, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, that features 12 previously unreleased songs. Among the tracks are the brand-new song "Between the Cheats" as well as a slower version of her hit "Valerie" and a cover of the Leon Russell song "A Song For You." The album will be Winehouse's third release, following Frank and Back to Black.
The Real L Word stars Jill Goldstein and Nikki Weiss-Goldstein have penned an open letter to Kim Kardashian regarding her 72-day marriage to Kris Humphries, Advocate.com reported. In part, the letter reads, "we can't help but wonder if your 'sacred union' was indeed a ploy to boost the ratings of Keeping Up With The Kardashians," and asks Kardashian, "Why not take a portion of the millions of dollars you earned on your wedding and donate it to the Human Rights Campaign to help fight for marriage equality? It would speak very loudly." Kardashian, along with sisters Khloe and Kourtney, have posed for the NOH8 campaign.
The estranged father of singer/Glee semi-regular Charice Pempengco has been stabbed to death in her Philippines hometown of Laguna, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Police Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz said that a man stabbed Ricky Pempengco, 40, with an ice pick after Pempengco accidentally brushed against the drunken attacker. Charice (who occasionally plays Sunshine on Glee) tweeted, "I loved him and I will still love him. He's still my Dad after all."
FX has renewed Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story for a second season, the Hollywood Reporter noted. The series is the network's number-one premiere in the 18-49, 18-34 and women 18-34 demographics. The show stars Dylan McDermott, Jessica Lange, Connie Britton and openly gay actor Zachary Quinto, among others, and features a family that moves into a haunted home.
Michelle Williams said she studied tapes to learn to speak like Marilyn Monroe for the film My Week with Marilyn, Digital Spy reported. The Oscar-nominated actress, 31, told Elle UK, "I studied tapes. There's really nothing that exists of her, that I could find anyway, that exists of her having a conversation with a friend." The movie centers around Monroe and Sir Laurence Olivier filming The Prince and the Showgirl.
Hunk Henry Cavill said that he had to train eight hours a day for the movie The Immortals, which will be out in theaters Nov. 11, according to Digital Spy. The former star of the TV show The Tudors said he had to exercise every day for six months before shooting, adding, "I was up at four in the morning, doing a couple of hours there and then a day's work [on The Tudors]." He also said that his physique in his upcoming movie Man of Steel (in which he plays Superman) is even more impressive, with him sporting "an eight-pack."
Singer Rihanna recently canceled a show in Malmö, Sweden, after being rushed to the hospital, according to RollingStone.com . She later tweeted an apology along with a picture of her arm with an IV tube. (The nature of her medical situation was not publicly known.) She posted that performing "would have been a great time" and "so much better than being sick with the flu."
In observation of November being National Homeless Awareness Month, the show In the Life looks at the plight of LGBT youth dealing with homelessness, according to a press release. The episode features Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Residence, the first permanent affordable housing to be offered to LGBT at-risk youth in New York City. The number of homeless youth in the United States may be as high as 3 million, with 40 percent identifying as LGBT.
