Arts & Entertainment
‘AbFab’ returns!
BBC fave comes to Logo, Chaz puts on his dancing shoes
A new Logo acquisition heralds the return of Patsy and Edina in gay cult favorite ‘AbFab.’ (Photo courtesy Logo/BBC)
ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” starts Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. and this season’s cast is already generating buzz thanks to the inclusion of Chaz Bono, the show’s first trans contestant.
Cher, Bono’s mother, has taken to Twitter, blasting the critics and encouraging her followers to support him. His partner, Lacey Schwimmer, who danced with Lance Bass her first season as a pro on the show, has shown support.
“I just think it’s absolutely ridiculous when people have anything negative to say about anybody other than themselves,” Schwimmer told E! Online. “It’s not fair. It’s not nice. And it’s degrading. I really get sad about it.”
‘Dancing’ executive producer Conrad Green has also spoken out.
“We thought Chaz’s story was pretty compelling,” Green told E! Online. “He comes from Hollywood royalty and obviously the personal changes in his life have been quite profound.”
Former “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” Carson Kressley, is also a part of the cast and will be dancing with Anna Trebunskaya.
“Modern Family,” with gay couple Cameron and Mitchell, returns Sept. 21 at 9 p.m.
“Grey’s Anatomy” returns with a two-hour premiere on Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. When season seven ended, Arizona Robbins and Callie Torres, played by Jessica Capshaw and Sara Ramirez, had just gotten married after a pregnant Callie nearly died in a car accident.
ABC Family’s “Pretty Little Liars” may have had its summer finale and the second half of the season won’t start until the new year, but a special Halloween-themed episode will air Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. The episode, which takes place before the series premiere, will offer a glimpse of the relationship lesbian Emily, played by Shay Mitchell, had with her friend Allison.
Fox’s “Glee” begins its third season Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. Previews have shown Blaine, Kurt’s love interest, out of his Dalton uniform and dancing with Santana and the rest of the Cheerios while Quinn sports a new look. Sue Sylvester, played by out actress Jane Lynch, even gets glitter-bombed by Will. And don’t forget Lynch is hosting the Emmys on Fox Sept. 18 at 8 p.m.
The Oprah Winfrey Network has two new shows coming with familiar gay faces.
Rosie O’Donnell is returning to television with her own show, “The Rosie Show,” starting Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. Suze Orman will be joining Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz for “Ask Oprah’s All Stars,” which premieres Oct. 16 at 8 p.m.
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” starts its ninth season Monday. Her premiere week guests have already been revealed and Ashton Kutcher will be giving his first daytime interview before the premiere of “Two and a Half Men.” “Ellen” airs in D.C. on channel four at 3 p.m. For other areas’ times, visit ellentv.com.
Bravo has a couple new series starting this fall.
“Mad Fashion,” which premieres Oct. 4 at 10 p.m., will feature former “Project Runway” alum Chris March, as he and his crew create designs for high-profile clients, including a Mardi Gras float ensemble for Jennifer Coolidge.
Also starting is the second season of Bravo’s “Work of Art,” a reality show seeking to discover new artistic talent. The season begins Oct. 12 at 9 p.m.
“The A-List” is slowly becoming a franchise with a new show based in Dallas starting Oct. 3 at 10 p.m. on Logo. The cast includes a former rodeo star, a gay Republican, a serial dater and more.
It’s also been announced that Logo is partnering with BBC America to bring back a couple of favorites in a new way. Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley will be reprising their roles as Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone for three new “Absolutely Fabulous” specials.
Logo has been airing repeats of the first five seasons of “AbFab” since April.
MTV starts the 26th season of “The Real World” on Sept. 28 with the show’s return to San Diego. The cast includes Virginia native Samantha, who goes by Sam, and is said to be a lesbian. A trailer for the upcoming season also shows a male roommate who is said to be bisexual.
The D.C. Front Runners held the 14th annual 5K Pride Run at Congressional Cemetery on Saturday, June 6.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Books
‘Mighty Real’ explores history of LGBTQ music
From Judas Priest to Whitney, something for every taste
‘Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969-2000’
By Barry Walters
c.2026, Viking
$35/496 pages
Step, step, tap, back step.
Shimmy in a circle, left hand waving over your head, shake your tail feathers, repeat to the beat. Once there was a time when you could do any dance in your sleep, but it’s been a while. So read “Mighty Real” by Barry Walters, and see if your toes don’t tap.
Fifty-seven years after Stonewall, and here we are: LGBTQ musicians still face scrutiny for their sexuality because, says Walters, music isn’t created for gay listeners. No problem: LGBTQ artists and writers have often penned lyrics carefully in order to say what can’t be said, “coding” songs for gay audiences that straight (and ignorant) listeners can dance to and enjoy with apparent obliviousness.
Walters offers “just a few” examples.
Lou Reed sang about trans people in the late ‘60s and offered a rallying song for the Gay Liberation Front in 1972, the latter of which felt like a message to a then-11-year-old Walters. Janis Joplin claimed she was straight, but she had several girlfriends. Motown singers often offered sometimes-ambiguous lyrics.
John Lennon’s hand placement on the back cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band made Walters begin to understand that he was different from other boys.
David Bowie is on his list, of course, as is Bette Midler, Elton John, Donna Summer, and Queen. You’ll find Judas Priest here, Green Day, and punk music. The Village People are included in this book, also Grace Jones, Duran Duran, and Cher, Whitney, Melissa, Latifah, and the lyrics from several blockbuster movies.
Two of Prince’s band members were lesbians, and they heavily influenced his albums. Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out” cemented her position in LGBTQ culture, and Michael Jackson’s inclusion here takes much careful consideration.
Read about Olivia Newton-John and the B52s. And then there’s Sylvester, for whom Walters has a soft spot in his heart. Sylvester’s death still makes Walters cry.
In his preface, author and music writer Barry Walters points out that music is what you make it and that it’s interpreted differently by each individual. To that end, this book naturally consists of preferential history and personal opinions about singers, bands, albums, and songs.
Agree or disagree. That’s where much of the appeal lies in “Mighty Real.”
Here, Walters wraps his memories around his choices, giving readers room for their own views, memories, and list making. Music-loving readers might also be surprised to note who’s not on Walters’ list – there aren’t many country performers here, for example, and the overall list focuses entirely on music from roughly 1968 to the year 2000, mostly on the kinds of songs you’ll want at the club or party. Again, discuss, and curate your own playlist.
This is a hefty book, but the chapters are browse-able and generally short enough to read in under five minutes. It’s nostalgic, yet also serious in the history it presents. This is the kind of book you want to leave near your album collection, or wherever you get your tunes. But finding “Mighty Real” is your first step.
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The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington performed “Soul Divas” at the Lincoln Theatre over the weekend. The show featured songs popularized by Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Whitney Houston and more.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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