"I don't know about you, but you've answered my prayers!"—Bruno Tonioli after watching Carlos PenaVega's stripper routine on Dancing with the Stars. Just remember—big things come in small packages. Or is it big packages come in small things?!
Settle down: Class is in session. Today, we are going to discuss the difference between three terms. First, transvestite. This is someone who likes to dress in clothes of the opposite sex. Typically, these people are known as drag queens ( or drag kings ) and have no desire to be a member of the opposite sex. A transsexual lives as the opposite of their biological sex, which may, or may not, include surgery. A transgender person believes he or she is born in the wrong body and typically undergoes surgery to "transition."
While there is some overlap between transsexual and transgender, transvestites are a completely different thing entirely. To refer to a transgender as a transvestite or drag queen is not only demeaning, but completely incorrect. And yet, Laverne Cox, that trailblazer for transgender folks everywhere, is taking on a role where she'll blur those lines. She's just been cast as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in FOX's remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The trades tout this as perfect casting—for this country's premier trans person to sing, "I'm a sweet transvestite, from Transsexual, Transylvania." But the role was written for a biological man in female lingerie. What is shocking is that it's a guy "making a man, with blond hair and a tan"—to say nothing of him having sex with both Janet and Brad. For this role to be played by a woman—even a transgender woman—is ridiculous, to say nothing of insulting to all the brave transgender people who have worked so hard to let everyone know they are not simply drag queens.
When Glee did its "Rocky Horror" tribute show, the person initially cast as Frank-N-Furter was John Stamos. At the last minute, those plans were changed because of "network resistance"—I guess someone at FOX didn't wanna see Stamos in fishnets. Now watch how seamlessly I weave this into a current event story. Stamos' DUI court date was supposed to be on Oct. 16; at the last minute, it was pushed to Nov. 24 We don't know what the holdup is. But we do know that he's been charged with driving under the influence of drugs. Some sources say that the drug in his system was GHB! So my dream of bumping into Stamos at a late-night rave wearing fishnets could actually come true!
Caitlyn Jenner has just gotten quite a bit of good news. First, her reality show, I Am Cait, has been renewed for a second season. It's also been announced that she's going on a five-city speaking tour next year. "Up Close and Personal" will make stops in Toronto, Vancouver, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle. You can get more info and tickets by going to UniqueLives.com/caitlyn-jenner.
Last week, a certain story caught my eye. A mother in Nebraska bound her two sons with duct tape and forced them to watch Mommie Dearest over and over again. I half-expected the mom's last name to be Dunaway. Alas, it was not. Mary Lucas claims that after her kids called her the "meanest mommy," she wanted to show them what a real mean mother was like. She's been charged with felony child abuse. Faye was only charged with overacting!
This leads perfectly into a new installment of Fayewatch. As I previously told you, Faye has signed a deal to write a book about the making of Mommie Dearest. The trouble is: a ) she hates talking about it and b ) doesn't remember much about the filming. She thought her memories could be jostled by Rutanya Alda, the actress who played Carol Ann in the movie. She heard that Rutanya had kept a diary and was planning on publishing it. Faye got in touch with her agent and asked if her former co-star would be interested in "collaborating" on Dunaway's book—for acknowledgement but no pay. Rutanya declined and published her own book. The Mommie Dearest Diary—Carol Ann Tells All is a short, breezy read with precious little that would interest most people. But there is a handful of dishy Dunaway dirt. Left to her own devices, Faye was photographed in a Hollywood bookshop buying a Mommie Dearest script and Christina Crawford's book. There's no word on when her book is coming out.
Our "Ask Billy" question kinda has a literary bent. Brandon in Chicago asks, "What is the story about this movie being made about that gay porn murder that Brent Corrigan was involved in?"
Way back in 2007, the owner of a gay porn company ( Cobra Video ) was murdered by two escorts, Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes. Allegedly, they killed Bryan Kocis so that they could make a movie with Corrigan ( who was not involved in the plot ). The story was chronicled in the book Cobra Killer: Gay Porn Murder. The book is being turned into the movie King Cobra, which James Franco is producing.
Corrigan was approached to be involved in the production, but declined. The film will star Christian Slater as Kocis and Molly Ringwald as his sister, Melody. We believe that Keegan Allen, from TV's Pretty Little Liars, will play Cuadra, and Franco will play Kerekes. Garrett Clayton, best known for his Disney Channel flicks Teen Beach Movie and Teen Beach 2, will play the pivotal role of Corrigan. Brent initially seemed unimpressed with the casting choice: "I was 17-21 in the years the screenplay spans. I looked much younger. He doesn't embody Brian's [sic] preference for not legal boys." However, once the 24-year-old Garrett posted a photo of himself in a very revealing costume, Corrigan changed his mind: "Looks just like me at 17 ;- )." We'll post pics of both boys on BillyMasters.com and you can decide for yourself.
When a porn star is turning down being in a Molly Ringwald movie, it's definitely time to end yet another column. How rare it is for me to continue a theme for a whole column. But that's what keeps people coming back to www.BillyMasters.com, the site that always delivers the unexpected. If you have a question for me, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com, and I promise to get back to you before John Stamos lets me play with his glow stick! Until next time, remember, one man's filth is another man's bible.
