"And now we go back to Chris Cuomo. He's on the docks and looks like it's taking quite a pounding!"Anderson Cooper tossing it back to Cuomo during CNN's Hurricane Irma coverageeach in tight, wet shirts. Alas, no pounding was shown.
I am a terrible name-dropper. Last week, I posted about spending a lovely day in Venice with old friends Michael and Shakira, and completely forgot to mention any last names. So the inevitable guessing game began, and everyone was trying to figure out who this Michael was with Shakira from The Voice. Sighthere are other Shakiras. The one I was with is Mrs. Michael Caine and, to the best of my knowledge, the former Miss Guyana never sang "Hips Don't Lie"! They were at the Venice Film Festival for the premiere of Michael's documentary, "My Generation," which I absolutely LOVED! It was everything a good documentary should beentertaining, touching, and you learned something you didn't know before it began. Michael was proud as punch that the capacity crowd gave him a huge standing ovation. If it plays near you, definitely check it out.
Rami Malek, from Mr. Robot, just began playing Freddie Mercury in the long-delayed biopic about the band Queen. Actually, director Bryan Singer has eschewed the term "biopic," saying that it's a celebration of the band's music. The film is expected to solely chronicle the time Queen was activefrom its inception in 1970 to their performance at Live Aid in 1985, six years before Mercury's death. A photo of Malek as Mercury during the iconic concert has been leaked and, while he looks better than anticipated, I can't help but feel the previously attached Sacha Baron Cohen would have been a more effortless fit. Decide for yourself on BillyMasters.com .
As expected, the much-lauded UK production of Angels in America will be coming to Broadway. The mammoth two-part epic will continue to be led by Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane. In fact, most of the cast from London will make the leap across the pond, with the sole exception being Russell Tovey, who has a scheduling conflict. The Broadway run will take place at the Neil Simon Theatre, with previews beginning on Feb. 23, 2018. It is only scheduled for a limited 18-week run. If you can't make it, worry notyou can watch the entire epic from the comfort of your own home on BillyMasters.com .
Everyone had been speculating what would happen once Bette Midler left Broadway's Hello, Dolly. After Carol Channing departed, the original production lasted for six years led by such luminaries as Phyllis Diller, Betty Grable, Ethel Merman, Martha Raye, Ginger Rogers and even Pearl Bailey. Alas, we live in different times, and there aren't quite as many Dollys out there with the necessary name recognition and box-office clout.
I hardly expect Scott Rudin to put millions of dollars behind the serviceable talents of such regional Dollys as Vicki Lewis or Sally Struthers. So, the casting of Bernadette Peters as Bette's replacement is not only inevitable but expected. Midler leaves on Jan. 14. The show will shut down for a week. Then Peters begins previews on Jan. 20 and officially opens Feb. 22. And she won't be alone. When Bette leaves, she takes David Hyde Pierce with her. So, the new Horace Vandergelder will be the dashing Victor Garber. If anyone is keeping track, this production touts two queer icons playing Dolly and two gay men playing Horace. That's gotta count for something.
A curious casting change has taken place at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge. I've previously told you that the play WARHOLCAPOTE ( about Andy Warhol and Truman Capote ) would be led by Stephen Spinella ( the original Prior Walter in "Angels" ) as Warhol and Leslie Jordan in the role he was born to play, Truman Capote. Suddenly, a week before opening, it was announced that Dan Butler would be joining the cast ... as Capote! Officially, Jordan has left the production due to "unforeseen personal circumstances." Although I have a call out to the diminutive diva, I don't know anything more ... yet.
I was watching the latest season of Hulu's Difficult People and saw someone who looked awfully familiar in episode seven. He may have been bundled up in layers of clothes as Julie's dog walker, but I knew I'd seen him before. Sure enough, the actor named Dan Puck played a male stripper on Debra Messing's ill-fated Mysteries of Laura. While he may be married in real life, his body of work is required viewing on BillyMasters.com .
Speaking of hot guys, Charlie from Dallas sent in the following "Ask Billy" question: "Remember that hot NYC cop who was gonna pose for Playgirl? I heard there are some nude photos of him. Could you track them down?"
I suspect the guy you are talking about is Miguel Pimentel, who garnered quite a bit of interest with some mega-hot photos on social media in 2015. At the time, Daniel Nardicio from Playgirl approached him. "He's expressed interest in meeting and talking about it. It would have to be full frontal." Pimentel felt he would have to take a leave of absence from the force, so Nardicio offered him $45Kthe equivalent of a year's salary. Alas, Miguel turned him down and we never got to see the goodsuntil now. Allegedly, he was taking a selfie at home and "accidentally" posted two nude photos of himselfcomplete with an erection! He promptly deleted the pics, but not before our spies grabbed them. And, of course, you can see 'em on BillyMasters.com .
When cops are sticking 'em up, it's definitely time to end yet another column. Although I'm still overseas, my thoughts are with everyone living through all this crazy weather. If you're looking for any port in the storm, check outBillyMasters.com, the site that's known its share of seamen! If you have a question, send it along to me at BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before someone casts Pimentel on the new Will & Grace as a stripper! Until next time, remember: One man's filth is another man's bible.