Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Billy Masters
by Billy Masters
2015-02-25

This article shared 3858 times since Wed Feb 25, 2015
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


"Benedict Cumberbatch—it's not only the most awesome name in show business, it's also the sound you get when you ask John Travolta to announce Ben Affleck."—Neil Patrick Harris' callback to last year's Oscars, and part of his introduction of Idina Menzel and John Travolta.

How can I start this column without talking about Lady Gaga. Even I, who knew she was classically trained, was taken aback by her singing of the medley from The Sound of Music. If you thought you were knocked out of your seat at home, you can only imagine what it was like in the Dolby Theatre. And once Julie Andrews came out, the theater actually shook with excitement.

Until that point, it was a rather pedestrian production. Sure, Harris was a charming and affable host, but also somewhat unmemorable—save for re-enacting the underwear walk from Birdman ( albeit in stuffed undies ). His opening song was fun, but Jack Black ultimately upstaged him. The show kicked off with Lupita Nyong'o thinking she was still at the SAG Awards. Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall looked like they were posing for their "In Memoriam" photo. Speaking of which, I thought Jennifer Hudson did a great job on "I Can't Let Go." I was puzzled by the inclusion of Maya Angelou as an "actress," but I guess Madea's Family Reunion and Elmo Saves Christmas count. And by those standards, where was Joan Rivers?

Best speech of the night—Graham Moore, who wrote The Imitation Game. He started with a laugh by thanking Oprah, who presented the award. He then brought it home by comparing his struggles and suicide attempt at 16 with the struggles and suicide of Alan Turing, the subject of the film. He spoke directly to everyone out there who is weird, different, and doesn't fit in. "Stay weird, stay different, and then when it's your turn and you are standing on this stage, please pass the same message to the next person who comes along." Bravo. By the way, contrary to what you may think, Graham Moore is not gay. Double bravo!

As to fashion, I liked NPH's first tux ( except for the lapels ), loved the second one, thought the third one was ill-fitting and liked the fourth, but thought it was a bit too casual ( and I hated the flower ). As to the ladies, how can I not mention Jennifer Lopez's dress—or was it a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade? Let's put it this way—she and Oprah looked like twins.

How fortuitous that on the eve of new Oscar winners being announced, a former recipient went public with her complaints. Mo'Nique gave an interview to The Hollywood Reporter claiming that winning the 2010 Best Supporting Actress Oscar wasn't all it was cracked up to be: "It should come with more respect, more choices, and more money. It should and it normally does. I thought, once you won the award, that's the top prize—and so you're supposed to be treated as if you got the top prize." Let us not forget—one role ( even an Oscar-winning one ) does not a career make. And, if we know anything about Hollywood, it gives you what it wants—not what you think you deserve. According to sources, Mo'Nique was less than pleasant to work with and uninterested in campaigning for the Oscar. ( A win would mean more money for the studio. ) A few months ago, Lee Daniels called her to say, "Mo'Nique, you've been blackballed."

It's not every Valentine's Day one gets to spend with Cheyenne Jackson, but I was lucky to escape Boston and be in Fort Lauderdale when he appeared in concert with Seth Rudetsky at the Parker Playhouse. Over the years, I've seen Cheyenne many times—in Aida, All Shook Up, and Xanadu on Broadway; Altar Boyz off-Broadway; and It's a Bird....It's a Plane....It's Superman in Los Angeles. Each time, I left frustrated. Obviously he's gorgeous. He has a marvelous singing voice. One can't quibble about his acting ability. But, inexplicably, the sum didn't equal the parts; he never seemed to have "it."

But lately, my opinion of him has changed. He gave a wonderfully nuanced performance in the film The Green. He showed his comedic chops on 30 Rock. And, most importantly, he really connected with audiences in concert. I noticed this last summer during his run at the Provincetown Art House. Perhaps it was that he was being himself rather than playing a character. Or perhaps he's simply grown as an artist over the past decade. But the difference is extraordinary. In the past, we've run into each other socially but, given my criticism ( to say nothing of my endlessly directing people to BillyMasters.com to see his infamous jerk-off video ), I suspect I'm not his favorite person. But never let it be said that Billy Masters doesn't have balls of steel—perhaps all the firmer due to the wearisome winter in Boston. After last week's concert, I found myself being ushered over to Cheyenne and Seth for a photo-op. Seth greeted me with a kiss, I complimented Cheyenne, shook his hand and we posed for the photo—with Jackson looking at me quizzically. Another bullet dodged.

By the way, Cheyenne has a new single out. "Find The Best of Me" is available on iTunes and the proceeds will be donated to the American Foundation for AIDS Research. He better be careful or I'm gonna turn into a fan!

Lastly, did you see Miss Cicely Tyson on How To Get Away With Murder? Why don't they just give her the Emmy now, because you ain't gonna see anything top that all year. And the writing? Wow! In case you missed it, I'll share every second of her performance on BillyMasters.com . It was truly something to behold.

When I'm predicting the Emmys while reporting from the Oscars, it's time to end yet another column. I do have one last observation about the Oscars ... or, rather, ABC's pre-show: Whose bright idea was it to get Michael Strahan to say the name Reese Witherspoon? The only worse thing would have been Sissy Spacek. You can find more insights on www.BillyMasters.com—the site that never pulls a punch. While I didn't have space to squeeze in a question, I am always available whenever you need me. Just dash off a note to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before I am able to work Sissy Spacek's name into another column. So, until next time, remember one man's filth is another man's bible.


This article shared 3858 times since Wed Feb 25, 2015
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Theater Review: Billy Elliot, The Musical
2024-02-19
Book and Lyrics: Lee Hall; Music: Elton John. At: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora Tickets: 630-896-6666 or Paramountaurora.com; $28-$79. Runs through March 24 Billy Elliot: The Musical may nearly be two decades old, but ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Kelly Clarkson, Billy Porter and Luke Evans, 'All of Us,' 'Book of Mormon'
2024-01-05
Video below - At Kelly Clarkson's "Chemistry: An Intimate Evening" residency show in Las Vegas, two men got married with the help of the singer/talk-show host as a witness, EW.com noted. In an audience video from the show, fans ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: The tea that got spilled in 2023
2023-12-26
"No offense, but you look like Billy Masters." —I don't know which part of this quip from a stranger insulted me more—that he didn't realize I am Billy Masters, or he thought someone would take offense ...


Gay News

MOVIES Bill Oliver reflects on a queer couple's custody fight in 'Our Son'
2023-12-21
In the compelling, intimate movie Our Son (in theaters and available via streaming), Luke Evans and Billy Porter portray a married couple in which one of them decides to file for divorce. However, this is no ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: Barry Manilow really was just interested in the articles
2023-12-19
"I wouldn't be in it now if they gave me a million dollars. I'm never going to change my mind. They can just go you-know-what themselves." —Cher tells Kelly Clarkson her thoughts on being snubbed by ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ baseball executives announce cancer battles
2023-12-13
Openly gay Major League Baseball (MLB) executive Billy Bean announced he has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and that he needs a donor for a bone-marrow transplant, Gay City News noted. USA Today initially reported ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: Fun messiness from the Ladies of the '80s
2023-12-12
"Everybody wants a bf like Timothée Chalamet...until it's time to change a tire." —Meghan McCain. OK, so she only retweeted it. But I'm filled with the spirit of giving. Alas, I suspect Timmy could only ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: The icing on the cake at a gender-reveal party
2023-12-05
"To hell with this place!"—George Santos's parting comments after being ejected from Congress. He also said that Congress "is full of felons galore." At least, that's what I think he said. With his lisp, it sounded ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: The Dolly Cowboy Cheerleaders
2023-11-28
Whoever intended to dumb down the citizens of America have done a FANTASTIC job. We are dumb as shit!"—Patti LuPone in an interview with broadcaster Tom Power prior to her touring show Don't Monkey with Broadway ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Billy Porter, queer novel, 'Tammy Faye,' queer DJ, Bella Ramsey
2023-11-24
Billy Porter released his long-awaited new album, Black Mona Lisa, via Island Records UK/Republic Records, and it's executive-produced by Justin Tranter, a press release noted. Porter said, "So many of the songs on my album have ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: Was Kim Kardashian officiating your wedding worth it?
2023-11-20
I'd hoped to never again type the word "Jada" again. But this week, it's inevitable. It is being alleged that actor Duane Martin (don't feel bad—I had to look him up as well) slept with Will ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: The times Streisand failed to make a splash
2023-11-13
"Fame is a hollow trophy. No matter who you are, you can only eat one pastrami sandwich at a time."—Wise words from Barbra Streisand. You all know that Barbra Streisand's book is out. And I ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: Barbra's bio hits stores...but don't rain on Cher's parade either
2023-11-07
"I will be forced to be in a position where I will have to openly say how I feel about the film and go against you, my mother and this film publicly."—Lisa Marie Presley's e-mail to director Sofia Coppola after reading ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: Britney spills the tea
2023-10-31
"Brad Pitt, I think, in 'Troy'. That's a beautiful man. There's no denying it."—Jacob Elordi tells Jimmy Fallon his first celebrity crush. (If you can't place Jacob, you'll soon see him playing Elvis Presley in Sofia ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: Madonna sets her watch to Diva Time
2023-10-23
"It is truly obscene what they're charging for tickets to 'Merrily We Roll Along' on Broadway. $500 to $800. PLUS—$40 a ticket 'handling charge.'"—Kevin Chamberlin voices his outrage at the price of Broadway tickets. Imag ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.