Arts & Entertainment
Drama queens
Logo’s ‘A-List’ returns Monday; cast dishes on Reichen’s full-frontal pics, ‘evil’ Austin; Crews follow cast six days per week
The cast of Logo’s ‘A List: New York’s’ second season, which returns Monday night. From left are Rodiney Santiago, Mike Ruiz, Ryan Nickulas, Austin Armacost, Reichen Lehmkuhl, Nyasha Zimucha, Derek Saathoff and TJ Kelly. (Photo courtesy of Logo)
It’s the show gays love — and love to hate. But many, of course, end up watching anyway.
TV’s gayest, guiltiest pleasure — even its creators embrace the “guilty pleasure” label — is back. “A List: New York’s” second season debuts Monday at 10 p.m. on Logo. The entire season one cast returns for 11 new episodes, this time with a gal pal in tow. The Blade spoke with the cast and crew to get the lowdown on the new season, find out what it’s like shooting the controversial series and ponder the show’s appeal.
The reality show, from the same people (True Entertainment) who brought “Real Housewives of Atlanta” to the air, debuted last October and follows the lives of five gay (and one bi; six total) men in New York who claim they’re at the top of the Manhattan social totem pole through their lives, loves and career ventures. Reality show vet Reichen Lehmkuhl (he won the fourth season of “Amazing Race” and formerly dated Lance Bass) unofficially heads the cast. A central theme of the first season was his tempestuous relationship with Brazilian model Rodiney Santiago, with troublemaker Austin Armacost never missing an opportunity to keep their social pot stirred.
It was a hit and helped, along with “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” put Logo, which debuted in 2005, on the pop culture map. The channel, owned by Viacom’s MTV Networks, won’t release ratings for the show but says it’s the second-highest rated show in the gay channel’s history (after “Drag Race”). A Dallas-based spin-off is planned for a fall debut.
The show’s reception has been wildly mixed. Some reviewers and fans say it’s great to see a gay-centric reality show instead of a mainstream show with token gay characters. Others have been appalled at what they say is a superficial and stereotype-laden cringe fest. Still others agree with that assessment but admit it’s well constructed and addictive.
Executive producer Dominic Pupa, who’s gay, says the show is “absolutely” a guilty pleasure and says the critical drubbing doesn’t mean it’s not successful at what its creators are aiming for.
“People roll their eyes all the time, but it captures people’s attention because it’s three things — people with means and access who live in New York. That trifecta of factors means it’s fascinating to watch. There’s something fun about people who are of means and do have access and discovering their lives can be just as exciting, dramatic and disappointing as yours. Plus it’s an ensemble show and people love ensembles because they can pick their favorite and tune in to see how they’re faring. Even the ones people hate — I hate to say character because it’s reality, but in the sense of being a dramatic narrative, they do sort of become characters — you still love to watch the ones you hate.”
Reichen, during a gym break (it’s legs-and-shoulders day; he goes seven days a week), says he learned early on to let go of the naysayers. It was also hard, he says, watching the first season and seeing how much was left out that would have added context to some of the less-flattering scenes.
“I used to read the blogs but then half way through, I stopped. I got rid of my Google alert and I have become a much happier person,” he says. “I kind of live in my own world. There were so many comments about my relationship with Rodiney, they said I didn’t care about him, I just brought him here and dropped him, but the truth is I made sure he had everything he needed and every opportunity he wanted and you know got him on his feet so he could pursue the stuff he wanted to do. It was such a slap in the face to watch this kind of play out in a very one-sided way … Rodiney knew it too. He was like, ‘Oh my god, he tried his best and Reichen’s not like that with me at all.’”
Letting go of the negative energy has centered Reichen in other ways, he says. It helped him shrug off the full frontal nude photos that surfaced recently of him. He admitted the photos — shot from the neck down — are of him.
“If that had happened five years ago, I think I would have shut myself into a mental institution,” he says. “But now my skin is so thick, I knew as soon as they surfaced, there would be every possible reaction. People would make fun of me, they would hate me, some people would like them — you just get to a point where you can deal with it whether it’s good or bad. It totally sucks that they surfaced without my permission — it was supposed to be a private thing, not something I broadcast for the whole world … but I wasn’t gonna pull an Anthony Wiener and lie about it. I was like, ‘Yeah, it’s me, go ahead and start shooting your arrows and let’s get it over with.’ I did mention that a lot of gay men do this kind of thing. I don’t feel I did anything immoral or illegal. It just so happens that because it was me, people cared.”
Rodiney agrees the show complicated their dating life and admits he was naïve about what he was getting into when he signed on.
“Last year was not easy for me,” he says. “It was very intense. It’s like I do the show and I forget I have the cameras with me but it’s who I am and they’re shooting me. There were a lot of difficult people who liked to create drama in my life. I’m the kind of person who just wants to live my life and not worry about somebody else’s life.”
Reichen Lehmkuh (left) and his then-boyfriend Rodiney Santiago in a scene from the show’s first season. (Photo courtesy of Logo)
The couple broke up in November, shortly after the first season started airing. Rodiney admits the show was a factor. Might they still be together without “A-List”?
“I’d say it was half and half,” he says. “The show helped us to break up. We started to date and moved to New York together just six months into the relationship. It was very stressful for us. I can’t handle that.”
Reichen says he and Rodiney are now “friends in the best way possible” and says the second season has been much easier to shoot since he’s not in a relationship.
“It’s been more focused on my business ventures,” he says. “When it comes to the drama, I’ve been off the pedestal in the best way possible.”
New this season is 25-year-old Nyasha Zimucha, a straight entrepreneur and mega-achiever who runs her own business, hair-and-wig shop Embrace Your Hair. She was previously a judge on Little Miss Perfect. She’s a native of South Africa and came to the United States in 2001. She’s been in New York three years and knew “A-List”-er Mike Ruiz before joining the cast.
She says her presence adds an interesting punch to the new season.
“I think you’re going to be very entertained at how some of these relationships develop, both positive and negative,” she says. “It’s an interesting mix. Here you have this straight black girl with these six white, very handsome, very accomplished gay men. I think it’s historic because there’s really been nothing like it on television. You’re going to see not just the fights but the fun too, and I think that will be fun for the audience.”
The second season is still taping even as its first episodes are set to air. Three are fully edited and in the can. Pupa says he doesn’t know how long they’ll shoot — until he feels they have enough footage to bring the storylines to a sensible conclusion.
So how organic or contrived are the scenarios and does editing, obviously a necessity, sometimes distort the narrative?
“Like on any show, we like there to be a beginning, a middle and an end,” Pupa says. “You want to see the cast members start somewhere and end somewhere else. For each one it’s different. Last season we were still shooting until 10 days before the last episode, which is really unusual for this type of show … but it’s a lot more real than people think. They think it’s all very planned out but it’s really not. We ended last season with an argument between Austin and Reichen. That happened less than two weeks before it aired.”
None of the participants were contractually obligated to return for the second season. And the producers don’t tell them they have to meet with certain people or attend certain events. They take suggestions, though, and say they want to do their part to make the show as compelling as possible.
“It’s a nice relationship with cast and production,” Reichen says. “We all understand the result is trying to create something that people will want to watch.”
Camera crews follow cast members six days per week for about 10 hours each day when the show is shooting. Pupa says the cast does its best to schedule things more likely to be interesting when the show is shooting and save the boring stuff — like meeting with lawyers for their business ventures — off-camera. Reichen, for instance, says he traveled much of the six months between the two seasons, though he did see all the cast members at least once during that time, most often at charity events, which he says draw little media attention. He guesses he was only in New York for about 60 days of that six months. He’s been busy prepping a new book and getting ready to launch a fragrance line.
Often the best moments happen when the full cast is together.
“That’s when we have the greatest dynamic,” Pupa says. “Everybody loves Ryan. If he’s throwing a party, you know the whole cast will be there. If Austin throws a party, we don’t know who will walk through the door.”
And what about Austin — is he really the troublemaker he seemed to be from season one?
Reichen says there’s “some stuff” between them that goes down in season two. “You’ll just have to watch,” he says.
Rodiney has a tougher assessment.
“I don’t trust him and we cannot be friends,” he says. “He’s the kind of person I want him far away from my life. He’s evil and he does crazy stuff and I don’t want him part of my life.”
Pupa says Austin is reality’s answer to characters like Alexis and J.R.
“The golden rule of docu soap TV is that just because someone is hated doesn’t mean they’re not watchable,” he says. “It’s a Joan Collins thing for sure. Sometimes you don’t want to admit to liking Austin, but you love watching him.”
Nyasha says the title is a bit of a misnomer and says the show ultimately works because it’s real and people from all walks of life can relate.
“What it’s really about is interesting, dynamic people living in New York,” she says. “Some have great careers and some ain’t doing nothing, but it unfolds as great TV because it’s honest. Even a young straight woman can relate to this or that. Some might think, ‘I don’t relate, what the hell am I doing watching this crap?’ but any level of negative is part of the drama of any relationship and there’s not one person who doesn’t have some level of drama. If there is, give me their number. … It’s just heightened because it’s on TV.”
Out & About
Gala Hispanic Theatre’s Flamenco Festival returns
Gala Hispanic Theater will host the 21st Annual “Fuego Flamenco Festival” from Thursday, Nov. 6 to Saturday, Nov. 22.
The festival will feature American and international artists who will gather in the nation’s capital to celebrate the art of Flamenco. Guests can save 20% on tickets with a festival pass.
The festival kicks off now through Nov. 10 with the D.C. premiere of Crónica de un suceso, created, choreographed and performed by Rafael Ramírez from Spain, accompanied by renowned flamenco singers and musicians. In this new show, Ramírez pays homage to the iconic Spanish Flamenco artist Antonio Gades who paved the way for what Flamenco is today. GALA’s engagement is part of an eight-city tour of the U.S. by Ramírez and company.
The magic continues Nov. 14-16 with the re-staging of the masterpiece Enredo by Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company, a reflection of the dual nature of the human experience, individual and social, which premiered at GALA in 2023.
For more information, visit the theatre’s website.
Friday, November 7
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 12 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. To RSVP, visit the DC Center’s website or email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Social” at 7 p.m. at Silver Diner Ballston. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, November 8
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 12 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Sunday Supper on Saturday will be at 2 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This event will be full of food, laughter and community. For more information, email [email protected].
Monday, November 10
“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).
“Soulfully Queer: LGBTQ+ Emotional Health and Spirituality Drop-In” will be at 3 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This group will meet weekly for eight weeks, providing a series of drop-in sessions designed to offer a safe, welcoming space for open and respectful conversation. Each session invites participants to explore themes of spirituality, identity, and belonging at their own pace, whether they attend regularly or drop in occasionally. For more details visit the DC Center’s website.
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary, whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.
Wednesday, November 12
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
“Gay Men Speed Dating” will be at 7 p.m. at Public Bar Live. This is a fresh alternative to speed dating and matchmaking in a relaxed environment. Tickets start at $37 and are available on Eventbrite.
Thursday, November 13
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
Sports
Gay speedskater racing toward a more inclusive future in sports
Conor McDermott-Mostowy says anti-DEI push is driving away corporate sponsors
LOS ANGELES — As the countdown begins to the February Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Pride House LA is shining a spotlight on queer athletes who are breaking boundaries both on and off the field. Among them is Team USA speedskater Conor McDermott-Mostowy – a fierce competitor and proud member of the queer community. With blistering speed on the ice and a steadfast commitment to equity in sports, Conor is doing so much more than winning medals – he’s redefining what it means to represent one’s country while representing one’s community.
McDermott-Mostowy is one step closer to the 2026 Winter Olympics after winning the recent silver and bronze medals at the U.S. Championships in speedskating. He appeared at a Nov. 1 event presented by Out Athlete Fund/Pride House LA in the organization’s efforts to raise funds to support Conor and other out athletes as they pursue their Olympic dreams in Milan 2026 and beyond.The Blade spoke to the star athlete to talk about resilience, representation, and the legacy he hopes to leave one day.
Blade: Huge congrats, Conor! Winning a World Cup gold is no small feat. Do you feel like this win proved something to the world – or more importantly, to yourself?
McDermott-Mostowy: Winning gold with my team last year was definitely a major goal achieved. That said, the event we won isn’t yet an Olympic event. The races that have had the most profound impact on me actually happened two years ago.
The first was the team pursuit in Obihiro, Japan. I’d always been more of an alternate for that event, since it’s typically raced by skaters who compete in both the 1500m and 5000m. But I’d been itching for the opportunity to race it at the World Cup level. I finally got that chance when a teammate had to pull out at the last minute due to a back issue. We led the race through six of eight laps, ultimately finishing third. While it was a little disappointing to fall out of the lead, I was proud to prove that I could contribute meaningfully and help the team medal.
The second race was later that year in Salt Lake City, my home ice. After competing in Japan, I came down with a lung infection that affected my performance at the next few World Cups. Fortunately, I had time to recover before the North American World Cups and World Championships. At the Salt Lake City World Cup, I was balancing competition with completing my undergraduate degree. I didn’t know what to expect, but I ended up finishing fifth in the 1000m—my highest individual finish ever—and posted a time of 1:06.91. That’s a very significant time in speedskating; only three other Americans have gone under 1:07 in that event, all of whom became world champions. That result felt like a turning point, showing me that an Olympic or World Championship medal wasn’t just a dream—it was within reach.
Blade: This PrideHouse LA event is a huge moment. What does that support from the queer community mean to you?
McDermott-Mostowy: It’s incredibly meaningful. Being queer in Olympic sport can be very isolating, both inside and outside the sport. I barely have time to socialize outside of skating, and relocating to Salt Lake City doesn’t exactly help when it comes to queer community. So having that kind of solidarity and support from the wider LGBTQ+ community really means a lot.
Blade: Do you remember the moment you realized skating could take you all the way to the Olympics?
McDermott-Mostowy: There hasn’t been one single moment. It’s been a series of them. Over the years, I’ve had many races that shattered the limits I thought I had and inspired me to reach higher. That Salt Lake City race was one of them. It made me realize I shouldn’t just aim for the Olympics. I should aim for medals.
Another key moment came in 2018 at my last Junior World Cup, when my teammate and I finished 2nd and 3rd in the mass start. That event is similar to short track but held on a long track. It was my first full year focusing on long track after previously dabbling in it, and we had no expectation of medaling. But after we did, I realized I might actually have a future in this discipline—and that I could be competitive on the world stage. It was a pivotal realization, especially as I was trying to decide whether to continue skating or pursue a traditional college experience.
Blade: What initially drew you to speedskating? How did you get into the sport—and what’s kept you motivated?
McDermott-Mostowy: I grew up on skates. I started at age two and became a strong skater early on. But I never had any interest in hockey or figure skating. One winter, I was skating with my family on the C&O Canal in Washington, D.C., when a guy skated past us on these wild-looking speed skates. I was immediately intrigued. My parents found a local club, which happened to be run by three-time Olympian Nathaniel Mills, and I was hooked.
What’s kept me going is simple: I love it. This isn’t a sport you get rich in. I’ve only earned more than $20,000 a year twice in my career, and you can’t use it to pay for college either. The motivation has to come from within—the pursuit of excellence, the dream of going to the Olympics, and pure love for the sport.
Blade: What’s been your toughest race to date, and what did it teach you?
McDermott-Mostowy: That would be the team pursuit in Japan. I wasn’t expecting to race it and had already competed in a full weekend of events before getting the call. Team pursuit is arguably the toughest event in speedskating. Stepping up without being mentally or physically prepared was a challenge, but I did it. It showed me I could push through, even under extreme circumstances.
Blade: You’ve made headlines not just for your speed, but for your openness. What was it like coming out publicly in the world of elite sport?
McDermott-Mostowy: By the time I was publicly identified as gay, I had already been out to anyone who asked. So “coming out” doesn’t feel like the right term. It wasn’t a big declaration. I had the benefit of growing up seeing openly gay athletes and being part of a supportive community. I never felt the need to hide who I was.
Eventually, as I started achieving more on the ice, people began noticing me and the content I posted, and they put two and two together. When I was asked to speak publicly about being an openly gay athlete in speedskating, I didn’t hesitate.
Blade: What have been the biggest challenges in your career – physically, mentally, or otherwise?
McDermott-Mostowy: Honestly, my entire career has been about overcoming challenges. The two biggest obstacles have been illness and finances.
I’ve dealt with asthma, a norovirus that derailed my chances in 2022, and a fatigue condition last season that affected my performance. These setbacks take a toll. Not just physically, but mentally. When you invest everything into your sport, being forced to pause or scale back is a huge emotional hurdle.
Financially, speedskating is a tough path. Even as a consistent top-20 skater in the world, I’ve only broken $20k twice in a year, and we’re paid for just nine months, even though we train year-round. I’ve leaned on friends and family for support many times just to make ends meet.
Blade: Have you ever been told – explicitly or implicitly – that being openly gay could hurt your chances with sponsors or coaches?
McDermott-Mostowy: Never with coaches. In our sport, selections are based on the clock, not someone’s opinion. My coaches have always been great.
But when it comes to sponsorships, especially over the past year, I’ve noticed a shift. As anti-DEI sentiment grows, brands are backing away from anything that could be seen as “controversial.” Being openly gay seems to fall into that category now. Since most of our income comes from sponsorships, that retreat is deeply felt.
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