"And I really like her, I swear to God. I really like her."Rosie O'Donnell comments on her new View co-host, Republican strategist Nicolle Wallace. Let's see how long this lasts. We'll start an office pool at BillyMasters.com .
Since I'm on the tail end of my travels, I now feel comfortable revealing that this column is coming to you from Istanbul, Turkey. Thus far, I haven't been spat upon, abducted, or robbed of a limb. In fact, it's been quite lovely. But, I must say that traveling abroad has a lot in common with breaking up with a boyfriendthe more I'm away, the more I appreciate what I had. However, I must remember to not take a walk down memory lane and look up old beaus once I get home. They're "former" paramours for a reason.
The big television event last week was Barbra Streisand's return to late night. It's been more than 50 years since Babs had deigned to appear on The Tonight Show. ( Her last visit was in March 1963. ) Why she's stayed away is a mystery, but here's a fun fact: Carson begged her to be on his penultimate show, the slot Bette Midler ultimately filled. Maybe Babs finally returned because she knew Jimmy Fallon would gush. Or maybe she just really wanted to sell CDs. Or maybe it was because it was arranged in advance that she'd be filmed from her good side ( as if ). Yes, the whole business of Jimmy letting her sit in his chair fulfilled an edict from Babsshe had to sit on his left. So the choices were for her to take his chair or for the set to be flipped around ( which is what Rosie O'Donnell did ). Fallon was happy to oblige, and even made it look kinda spontaneous.
During her media blitz, Streisand shared some details about the proposed big screen remake of Gypsy. Yes, she does have the rights to the show and is still working on the script. ( "Downton Abbey" scribe Julian Fellowes was initially asked to write the new version, but he has been jettisoned in favor of Streisand's previous collaborator, Richard LaGravenese. ) Regarding if she will star or direct or both, she said, "Stephen Sondheim would prefer that I just concentrate on [starring in] Gypsy. But if it ever gets made, I see it, I see every frame of it. And I kind of write my notes, and I think it's possibly gonna happen." If she hires another director, it would behoove that person to read about William Wyler's experience "directing" Streisand in Funny Girl.
During her first week on the job, Julianne Hough wasted no time in creating a scandal on Dancing with the Stars. The new girl at the judges' table was chatting with Dancing alum Mario Lopez on Extra. It all went well until she started talking about contestant Jonathan Bennett. "He tweeted me last year and said, like, I had a nice butt," she said. "But he also tagged my trainer. And so I was like, 'Oh, he's hitting on me. I should try to go on a date with him." Mario asked how that turned out. Without batting an eye, Julianne says, "He's gay. So I was, like, 'That's not gonna work.'" This struck me as amusing for two reasons. First, this may be news to Mario, but my faithful fans have known Bennett was gay since I reported his relationship with the now openly gay Matt Dallas way back in 2009. Secondly, since when has someone being gay stopped Hough from dating that person?
Last week, Nick Jonas was all over New York promoting his new single ( "Jealous" ) and a new television series ( DirecTV's Kingdom ). Because he's as smart as he is pretty, his first stop was the gay nightclub BPM. He told MTV News, "It's been a fun couple days partying with some of my gay fans. I love them to death and their support of me, so why not go out and hang?" And hang he didincluding posing with underwear-clad strippers. He even showed off his own absanything to sell a CD!
When asked about his gay fans, he said, "I'm thrilled by that. I've always had a pretty strong gay fan base, having been a theater kid. That's a community that I love and have embraced, and they've embraced me. I love them. They're so supportive." They'll be even more supportive when they see his show. Jonas told Andy Cohen that Kingdom will contain lots of nudity, sex scenes and perhaps more. Andy asked if this meant that Nick's mixed martial arts fighter character was "bi-curious." With a mischievous grin, Jonas answered, "We'll see."
Nick then paid a visit to Ryan Seacrest's radio program, which was being broadcast in NYC to coincide with promoting the new clothing line, Ryan Seacrest Distinction. Jonas was given one of the collection's new shirts and, being a clever cad, Ryan asked Nick to try it on. Nick promptly doffed his topyeah, like that wasn't the point all along. Seacrest later posted, "It took some convincing, but he finally gave in ( and we're glad he did! )" I bet!
While Jonas was being buoyed in the Big Apple, Bieber was booed. Justin was in NYC for Fashion Week and made an appearance on Fashion Rocks. After being brought onstage by model Lara Stone, Bieber clumsily stammered out, "I actually don't feel comfortable unless I'm, uh, in my Calvins. So, uh, what's up? Is that cool?" He then adroitly took off his pants, unbunched his hip briefs and took off his tankto a chorus of BOOS! Why? He certainly looked great. But was it all too ... I don't know ... desperate. Contrived. Ridiculous. Join the chorus over at BillyMasters.com .
Lastly, a few of you have written in asking if the latest purported photo of a bare Bieber is real or not. Fake, fake, fake. I'll post the fake and the real version on our website so you can see for yourself.
When Nick Jonas is trading in his promise ring for a cock ring ( anything for his gay fans ), it's definitely time to end yet another column. By the time you read this, I'll be winding down my travels and winging back to the good ole USA. But, no matter where in the world Billy Masters is, he's only a mouse click away at www.BillyMasters.com . We didn't have room for an "Ask Billy" question, but I'm always available to answer your queries. Send them along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Julianne Hough outs anyone else from her past. So, until next time, remember, one man's filth is another man's bible.