Arts & Entertainment
‘Pose’ scores six history-making Emmy nominations
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ Schitt’s Creek’ also land noms
“Pose” landed six Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and a Best Actor nomination for Billy Porter, marking a historic milestone for the first television series to feature the largest cast of LGBTQ actors.
Porter, who portrays Pray Tell on “Pose,” is the first openly gay black man to be nominated for an Emmy.
āI just havenāt been breathing for the past day,ā Porter told Deadline about his nomination. āSo today, I was able to breathe ā that was my first reaction!ā
Other LGBTQ nominations include “RuPaul’s Drag Race” for Outstanding Competition Program and “RuPaulās Drag Race: Untucked” for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program. RuPaul also was nominated for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program up against Ellen DeGeneres for “Ellen’s Game of Games.”
Laverne Cox is nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for “Orange is the New Black” and Jane Lynch is nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Kate McKinnon was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for “Saturday Night Live” and Ben Whishaw is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for “A Very English Scandal.”
“Schitt’s Creek,” which stars out actor Dan Levy, was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series. “Queer Eye” was also nominated for Outstanding Structured Reality Program.
Outstanding Short Form Variety Series is full of gay nominees including “Billy on the Street,” “Gay of Thrones” and “The Randy Rainbow Show.”
“Game of Thrones” also made history with a total of 32 nominations, the most nominations received by a television series in one year.
The Emmys air on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. on FOX.
Check out more of the nominees below and the complete list here.
Outstanding Drama Series
“Better Call Saul”
“Bodyguard”
“Game of Thrones”
“Killing Eve”
“Ozark”
“Pose”
“Succession”
“This Is Us”
Outstanding Comedy Series
“Barry”
“Fleabag”
“Russian Doll”
“Schittās Creek”
“The Good Place”
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
“Veep”
Outstanding Limited Series
“Chernobyl”
“Escape at Dannemora”
“Fosse/Verdon”
“Sharp Objects”
“When They See Us”
Outstanding Drama Actor
Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”)
Kit Harington (“Game of Thrones”)
Jason Bateman (“Ozark”)
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Milo Ventimiglia (“This Is Us”)
Billy Porter (“Pose”)
Outstanding Drama Actress
Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”)
Robin Wright (“House of Cards”)
Viola Davis (“How To Get Away With Murder”)
Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”)
Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”)
Mandy Moore (“This Is Us”)
Laura Linney (“Ozark”)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks (“Better Call Saul”)
Giancarlo Esposito (“Better Call Saul”)
Alfie Allen (“Game of Thrones”)
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (“Game of Thrones”)
Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”)
Michael Kelly (“House of Cards”)
Chris Sullivan (“This Is Us”)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones”)
Gwendoline Christine (“Game of Thrones”)
Sophie Turner (“Game of Thrones”)
Maisie Williams (“Game of Thrones”)
Fiona Shaw (“Killing Eve”)
Julia Garner (“Ozark”)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Michael McKean (“Better Call Saul”)
Glynn Turman (“How To Get Away With Murder)”
Kumail Nanjiani (“The Twilight Zone”)
Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaidās Tale”)
Michael Angarano (“This Is Us”)
Ron Cephas Jones (“This Is Us”)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Jessica Lange (“American Horror Story: Apocalypse”)
Carice van Houten (“Game of Thrones”)
Laverne Cox (“Orange Is The New Black”)
Cicely Tyson (“How To Get Away With Murder”)
Cherry Jones (“The Handmaidās Tale”)
Phylicia Rashad (“This Is Us”)
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Game of Thrones āThe Last Of The Starksā
Game of Thrones āThe Long Nightā
Game of Thrones āThe Iron Throneā
Killing Eve āDesperate Timesā
Ozark āReparationsā
Succession āCelebrationā
The Handmaidās Tale āHollyā
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Better Call Saul āWinnerā
Bodyguard āEpisode 1ā
Game of Thrones āThe Iron Throneā
Killing Eve āNice And Neatā
Succession āNobody Is Ever Missingā
The Handmaidās Tale āHollyā
Outstanding Comedy Actor
Bill Hader (“Barry”)
Don Cheadle (“Black Monday”)
Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
Eugene Levy (“Schittās Creek”)
Ted Danson (“The Good Place”)
Michael Douglas (“The Kominsky Method”)
Outstanding Comedy Actress
Christina Applegate (“Dead to Me”)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”)
Catherine OāHara (“Schittās Creek”)
Natasha Lyonne (“Russian Doll”)
Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Henry Winkler (“Barry”)
Anthony Carrigan (“Barry”)
Stephen Root (“Barry”)
Tony Hale (“Veep”)
Tony Shalhoub (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Alan Arkin (“The Kominsky Method”)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Sarah Goldberg (“Barry”)
Sian Clifford (“Fleabag”)
Olivia Colman (“Fleabag”)
Betty Gilpin (“GLOW”)
Marin Hinkle (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Robert De Niro (“Saturday Night Live”)
John Mulaney (“Saturday Night Live”)
Adam Sandler (“Saturday Night Live”)
Matt Damon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Luke Kirby (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Rufus Sewell (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Peter MacNicol (“Veep”)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Fiona Shaw (“Fleabag”)
Kristin Scott Thomas (“Fleabag”)
Emma Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Sandra Oh (“Saturday Night Live”)
Maya Rudolph (“The Good Place”)
Jane Lynch (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
“Barry” (āThe Auditionā)
“Barry” (āronny/lilyā)
“Fleabag” (āEpisode 1ā)
“The Big Bang Theory” (āStockholm Syndromeā)
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (āAll Aloneā)
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (āWeāre Going To The Catskills!ā)
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
“Barry” (āronny/lilyā)
“Fleabag” (āEpisode 1ā)
“PEN15” (āAnna Ishii-Petersā)
“Russian Doll” (āNothing In This World Is Easyā)
“Russian Doll” (āA Warm Bodyā)
“The Good Place” (āJanet(s)ā)
“Veep” (āVeepā)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series
Mahershala Ali (“True Detective”)
Hugh Grant (“A Very English Scandal”)
Benicio del Toro (“Escape At Dannemora”)
Sam Rockwell (“Fosse/Verdon”)
Jared Harris (“Chernobyl”)
Jharrel Jerome (“When They See Us”)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series
Amy Adams (“Sharp Objects”)
Patricia Arquette (“Escape At Dannemora”)
Michelle Williams (“Fosse/Verdon”)
Joey King (“The Act”)
Aunjanue Ellis (“When They See Us”)
Niecy Nash (“When They See Us”)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series
Ben Whishaw (“A Very English Scandal”)
Stellan Skarsgard (“Chernobyl”)
Paul Dano (“Escape at Dannemora”)
John Leguizamo (“When They See Us”)
Michael K. Williams (“When They See Us”)
Asante Black (“When They See Us”)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series
Emily Watson (“Chernobyl”)
Patricia Clarkson (“Sharp Objects”)
Marsha Stephanie Blake (“When They See Us”)
Vera Farmiga (“When They See Us”)
Patricia Arquette (“The Act”)
Margaret Qualley (“Fosse/Verdon”)
Outstanding Television Movie
“Bandersnatch (Black Mirror)”
“Brexit”
” King Lear”
“My Dinner with HervĆ©”
Outstanding Short Form Variety Series
“Billy On The Street”
“Carpool Karaoke: The Series”
“Gay Of Thrones”
“Honest Trailers”
“The Randy Rainbow Show”
Outstanding Competition Program
“American Ninja Warrior”
“RuPaulās Drag Race”
“Nailed It!”
“The Amazing Race”
“The Voice”
“Top Chef”
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program
Ellen DeGeneres (“Ellenās Game of Games”)
RuPaul (“RuPaulās Drag Race”)
Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman (“Making It”)
James Corden (“The Worldās Best”)
Marie Kondo (“Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”)
Outstanding Structured Reality Program
“Antiques Roadshow”
“Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives”
“Queer Eye”
“Shark Tank”
“Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”
“Who Do You Think You Are?”
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
“Born This Way”
“Deadliest Catch”
” Life Below Zero”
“RuPaulās Drag Race: Untucked”
“Somebody Feed Phil”
“United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell”
Movies
Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells want to adopt baby in ‘I Don’t Understand You’
Film premiered at SXSW in Austin
Editor’s note: Jack Morningstar attended SXSW in Austin, Texas.
“I Don’t Understand You” focuses on a couple whose romantic Italian getaway devolves into bloody chaos while they prepare to adopt their first child.Ā
The film, while veering into hilariously gruesome hijinks, tells the story of a gay couple who is willing to kill for a chance at fatherhood. It sheds light on the hurdles that same-sex couples often go through in the adoption process: Financial burdens, time constraints, fraud, and in this case, a rural Italian family.
The film premiered last weekend at SXSW in Austin and stars Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells along with Nunzia Schiano, Morgan Spector and Eleonora Romandini. It was written and directed by Brian Crano and David Craig, who are married. They sourced inspiration from their own adoption struggles and an Italian vacay gone wrong.
āWe were about to leave for Italy when we found out that we had matched with a birth mother and our son would be born in about six weeks,ā said Crano.
According to Craig, the trip was tense and it culminated in their car getting stuck in a ditch on their way to an anniversary dinner.
āWe ended up at an old ladyās house after she rescued us in her Fiat. Her family cooked us a meal and we stayed up drinking with them until 3 a.m., not understanding a word they were saying,ā he said.
Without spoiling anything, the couple in the movie go to absurd lengths to ensure that their adoption goes through. Craig explained that the theme of the movie was “what would you do for your kid.”Ā
“We were three years into our own journey at the time and realized we would literally do anything to make that dream a reality. Itās really a love letter to our son,ā he said.
The film is hard to relegate to a single genre.
āWhen conceiving the story, we saw it as different parts ā romantic comedy, horror movie, murder play ā but I think by bringing in Nick and Andrew that blend actually became much more of an organic mix where the comedy sustained throughout. They elevated it in a more elegant fashion,ā said Craig.
“I Donāt Understand You”was produced by Pinky Promise, a women-led production company with the mission to elevate diverse voices in their storytelling. Kara Durrett, Pinky Promiseās current president was a champion of this script from the beginning. Founder Jessamine Burgum recounts that when Durrett was onboarding, she said āIf you donāt get [“I Donāt Understand You”] I donāt know if this is going to work.ā
It ultimately became one of the first projects Burgum and Durrett collaborated on.Ā
Kroll and Rannellsā chemistry carried the film.
āThere was a desire to work with each of them because they had both separately been in such amazing comedian teams ā like Andrew with Josh Gad and Nick with John Mulaney. Nick and Andrewās characters are in almost every scene of the movie together, so they needed to be adept to basically doing a shared performance. There was no one more well-positioned to do this as naturally as possible,ā said Crano.
Their characters are easy to root for, yet also deeply flawed.
āA big thing we wanted to do with this movie, and with all of our work in telling stories, is avoid telling a cliched gay trauma film. Weāve never ascribed to the idea that there is a subcategory to film that is LGBTQ, rather ā movies are for everyone. We want to make a movie where gay characters are flawed, not for being gay, but because of who they are. They can be villains, but they are our protagonists,ā said Craig.
Out & About
Celebrate spring with these D.C.-area events
Galas, Cherry Weekend, Pride, and more on tap
Temperatures outside are starting to rise and the sun is shining again. Hereās a list of upcoming D.C. events that can make enjoying the good weather even that much more thrilling.
Cherry Weekend Washington begins on Thursday, April 4. The Cherry weekend is a spectacular and joyous event held over four days featuring 16 world renowned DJs, nine different events and four fun daytime parties.
3rd Friday Night Open Mic will take place on Thursday, March 15 at 9 p.m. at the Bus Boys and Poets location in Brookland. This event will be hosted by Mariah Barber (they/she), a queer storyteller, consultant, spoken word artist, and activist who has been creating social justice-oriented art for the last 15 years. Tickets start at $5 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.Ā
RuPaulās Drag Race Season 15 winner Sasha Colby will bring her Sasha Colby: Stripped Tour to the Howard Theatre on Wednesday, March 27 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased on the Howard Theatreās website.Ā
Decades DC returns with Throwback Thursdays on Thursday, March 14 at 10 p.m. This event will have an open air rooftop and the first drink is on the house. Entry is free until midnight and more details are available on Eventbrite.Ā
Skin and Wellness Center will host Equinox Celebration on Tuesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at 929 W. Broad St. This event will involve movement, breath work, meditation and community connection to celebrate the spring equinox and embrace energies of rebirth, fertility, creativity, balance, and expansive growth for mind, body, and spirit. Tickets cost $28.52 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.Ā
Models Inc. will host The Front Row! Fashion Show on Saturday, March 30 at 7 p.m. at the Silver Spring Black Box Theatre. This is the ultimate destination for designers seeking to showcase their talent and brand. This exclusive event provides a platform to promote artistry and visions, featuring various artists, creatives, fashion enthusiasts, models, stylists, and visionaries. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.Ā
Spring Bling Adult Prom will be on Friday, April 26 at 8 p.m. at Graces Event Center. Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite spring colors and show up for a night of dancing, food and fun.Tickets cost $92.55 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
TSR Productions will host Spring Salsa Bash on Saturday, March 23 at 8 p.m. at The Salsa Room Tysons. This event will feature Hermanos Galvan and Orquesta live in concert playing the best salsa, bachata, and merengue. There will also be top DJs playing the best in Latin trap, urbana, reggaetton. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.Ā
We Will Survive Cancer will host Spring Fling Cocktail & Dance Party on Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Whino. This event will be hosted by DJ Steve. Tickets cost $25 and all proceeds are donated to cancer patients. More details are on Eventbrite.
Chase Brexton Health Care hosts its 2024 Gala at the Baltimore Museum of Art, with the theme centered around the NEW Roaring ā20s on Saturday, March 30. Details at chasebrexton.org.Ā
CAMP Rehobothās annual Womenās FEST is scheduled for April 25-28. Lea DeLaria will headline with Crys Matthews opening. Visit camprehoboth.org for details.
Trans Pride Washington, D.C. is scheduled for Saturday, May 18. The full day of conference activities will take place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Visit transpridewashingtondc.org for details.
The Bladeās 17th annual Summer Kickoff Party in Rehoboth Beach is scheduled for Friday, May 17; details to be announced soon.
D.C.ās 49th annual Pride celebration kicks off May 31-June 9, culminating with the parade and festival. Visit capitalpride.org for details. The annual Pride on the Pier with fireworks celebration is slated for Saturday, June 8, 2-9 p.m. at the Wharf. Visit prideonthepierdc.com for details.
The Tryst Puerto Vallarta begins welcoming discerning gay guests this spring, just in time for the Mexican resort city’s Pride celebrations.
The 55-room resort includes a penthouse suite featuring two terraces, three large suites with expansive living areas and terraces and several junior suites with unique features. A highly anticipated rooftop pool with a bar area and restaurant offering fine Mexican cuisine are just some of the highlights.
āYou can stay here and never leave the resort,ā said Tristan Schukraft, the driving force behind Tryst Hotels, and self-described CEO of “everything gay.”
While he started out in his career working in the early days of electronic ticketing, Schukraft may be more known for his work with MISTR, a popular online source for PrEP. He also recently entered into an agreement to purchase the Abbey in West Hollywood, Calif.
With Tryst he promises “itās a fun, exciting atmosphere.”
“The idea is not just the guests are coming to the resort, but locals,” said Schukraft. “So, when you stay here itās the way to mingle with the local gay community.ā
To welcome and include both guests and locals, the resort will host drag brunches in the hotel restaurant. Weekend parties featuring DJs on the eighth floor pool and bar area also seeks to make this not just a place to stay, but one to celebrate with the community.
Schukraft hopes visitors will get to know guests or locals poolside, or in the restaurant, and make lifelong friendships.
Or perhaps find a bit of romance: After all the hotel is set in the famed Zona RomƔntica.
āTryst Hotels are not merely luxury destinations; they are a celebration of gay culture, where every guest is embraced,” said Schukraft. “Our mission is to create spaces where luxury and identity flourish without compromise.ā
The D.C. Travel and Adventure Show took place last month in D.C., and LGBTQ-specific travel was among the topics the convention highlighted. The Washington Blade in its preview of the expo noted LGBTQ travelers may book a resort or vacation that promises “everyone is welcome,” but upon arrival feel uncomfortable by reactions of staff or other guests due to expressing their identity as queer people.
Schukraft has experienced this.
āI was at a hetero-friendly hotel Miami, but it was also marketed to gay men,” he explained. “So, you have two guys kissing at the pool and you have a straight couple looking over and wondering are they staying at a gay hotel. Itās sort of an awkward occurrence.ā
Everyone, therefore, is welcome at Tryst resorts, but it is not being marketed outside of the community.
āMy boyfriends and I have even experienced side-eye glances for our choice of swimwear,” Schukraft said. “You wonāt find that at Tryst Hotels.ā
Speaking of attire: Many luxury guesthouses, inns and hotels catering to gay men offer clothing-optional zones for guests. Itās an allure for some travelers.
But, not at Tryst.
āDonāt get me wrong, clothing optional resorts are fun, but thatās not our concept. Our concept is a luxurious, inclusive resort,ā Schukraft said with a touch of elan apropos for the “CEO of everything gay.” āOf course wear your thongs [and] Speedos.ā
Tryst Puerto Vallarta and Tryst San Juan in Puerto Rico, which is slated to open in 2025, are being marketed as gay-owned, gay-focused resorts with luxurious offerings and amenities. Many resorts known to epitomize luxury may be seen as slightly conservative or āstuffy.ā
Luxury promises not to come only in the form of superior bedding, bathrobes, slippers and skincare products, but also in the stunning interiors.
The Puerto Vallarta property engaged the same studio known for their acclaimed work at the Four Seasons Tamarindo. Designers from Estudio Esterlina bring a refined mix of minimalism, modernism and Mexican.Ā
āWhy canāt you have fun and luxury in the same space? Here, you let your hair down by the pool, enjoy a pool party, a fine Mexican meal in our full-service restaurant, a drag brunch on weekends and socialize with new friends all while feeling safe,” Schukraft said. “Our goal is to show luxury doesnāt have to mean stuffy.ā
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