"Grace does her own shucking."A line in the rider of things required backstage for Grace Jones. You see, Grace asks for an oyster knife along with two dozen unopened oysters on ice. You've gotta love a gal who isn't afraid to shuck in public.
These days, questions about the sex life of a celebrity only makes that person more famous. ( Take note, Tom. ) Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is very popular with the gaysa community appreciative of a set of balls, to say nothing of an impressive torso. Ronaldo has been spending lots of time with world champion kickboxer Badr Hari. The duo is regularly captured in provocative photos roughhousing in various forms of undresswhich I suppose well-built athletic guys are wont to do. Lots of tongues wagged after the Moroccan kickboxer captioned one photo as "Just married Hahahahaha"the implied hilarity must have gotten lost in translation.
The situation exploded last week on live TV in France. A guest on the show Touche Pas à Mon Sport made a comment that went global in a matter of seconds. However, every single report repeated the original account. Nobody bothered to track down the actual videountil now. TV personality Daniel Riolo was making a point that athletes' off-time activities can have ramifications ( as it were ) on the field.
While my French is limited to getting directions to a bathroom in the Louvre, let me tell you what he said ( the original video is on BillyMasters.com ): "What interests me is the implication on the field of perks football players have. For example, Cristiano Ronaldo currently uses a private jet three or four times a week to see his friend in Morocco and to cuddle. That will affect his performance." That brought an audible gasp out of several people in the studioand the French don't shock easily. After all, this is a country where the funeral of a former president was attended by his wife AND his mistress! Since these rumors are nothing new, I'm sure Ronaldo isn't that concerned. He's previously said, "I'm at ease with my sexuality, so it's not a problem for me." God only knows what language he said that in!
This time last year, I was the first to reveal that NBC's next live musical would be The Wiz. So let me be the first to tell you what is being planned for next year. Prior to deciding on The Wiz, the plan for this year was a live version of The Music Man, starring Neil Patrick Harris. The powers that be are revisiting that idea and feel that updating the classic show with an ethnically diverse cast could be a winner. But there is another contender in the mix. Since the network also scored huge ratings with its Dolly Parton movie Coat of Many Colors, why not marry the two formats into one ginormous extravaganza? Is America ready for a live version of Best Little Whorehouse In Texas? It's not exactly family fare ... but, ya gotta think outside the box. Another possibility being talked about again is a live version of Annie Get Your Gun, starring Parton. Stay tuned...
Meanwhile, ABC is getting into the musicals gameit's announced plans to remake Dirty Dancing. How quickly people forget the disastrous Dirty Dancing series starring Patrick Cassidy and Melora Hardin. A remake of the musical was originally announced in 2011. Then it was postponed. Then it was revamped as a TV project. And then it was cancelled. And now it's back as a three-hour extravaganza led by Abigail Breslin'cause we're all clamoring for that! But, here's what you haven't heard. ABC purchased the project as a vehicle for one of its top ( and I use that term loosely ) talentsDerek Hough. 'Cause nobody puts Derek in a corner.
Time for more of "Billy's Holiday Gift Giving Suggestions." For the sensible shopper, I'm suggesting a couple of books that are fun and dishy. The bio that should be at the top of everyone's list is Becoming Beyonce, by the prolific J. Randy Taraborrelli. You know, I run hot and cold on Beyoncé. But occasionally she falls down a flight of stairs or gets her weave caught in an onstage fan. Then I fall in love her all over again. Admittedly, I could have used more anecdotes like that, but I still loved it.
Then there's the autobiography of Grace Jonescalled I'll Never Write My Memoirs. Of course, she didn't write it on her own ( or, perhaps, at all ). It was "co-written" by Paul Morley. Yes, she's nutty as a fruitcake, but she's also entertaining and has fabulous, dishy storiessome of which are coherent. On the flip side, she writes poignantly about the many friends and colleagues she lost to AIDS, and how this health crisis changed her life.
There's no doubting the audience for Broadway babe Nick Adams. He may make the ladies swoon, but we know it's the lads he likes. He makes no secret of that, which only adds to his appealas if this perfect specimen of male beauty needed any help in that department. Recently, Nick has had a few hush-hush meetings with the powers-that-be behind the Magic Mike musical. So, he's obviously in peak formboth vocally and vascularly. How fortuitous that he got to show off both during The Skivvies holiday show at Joe's Pub in NYC. He was wearing a onesie and singing "I'm a Slave 4 Santa" as a naughty elf with an awfully large secret. Oh, yes, the onesie came off and ... well, you can see for yourself at BillyMasters.com . Make sure you're hydrated before watching.
This leads perfectly into our "Ask Billy" question. David in Michigan asks: "Do you happen to have the nude photo of Phil Sullivan? I hear there was a full frontal that was removed at the request of his management."
I had no idea who Phil Sullivan was/is. I must admit, I was not a devotee of the late America's Next Top Modelexcept for that brief weekend with Nigel Barker. While Nyle DiMarco won the crown, many fans were taken with Phil Sullivan. I guess I should have at least heard of him, since he's from the Boston area and, oh yes, has a nude photo floating around out thereand what a photo it is. If you want to see him lying back, fully aroused, looking slightly like Chewbacca and brandishing a sizeable light saber, check out BillyMasters.com .
When even I'm jumping on the Star Wars bandwagon, it's definitely time to end yet another column. This was a long one, so let me quickly remind you to check out www.BillyMasters.com, the site that tracks down top models ... and bottoms, too. Send your questions to me at Billy@BillyMasters.com, and I promise to get back to you before Grace learns what "never" means. So, until next time, remember: One man's filth is another man's bible.