Deeper Dish with Jackie Hoffman (who's 'Whining in the Windy City')

Jackie Hoffman will make you laugh out loud. I thought this funny lady was fabulous in her Broadway debut as Penny Pingleton's mother and other characters in Hairspray (for which she won a 2003 Theatre World Award). She's also appeared on Broadway in Xanadu and in such notable films and TV shows as Kissing Jessica Stein, Garden State, Strangers with Candy, Curb Your Enthusiasm and 30 Rock. However, the comedic actress has received some of her best reviews for her one-woman cabaret shows, which have included Jackie With a Z and The Kvetching Continues. Time Out New York called her "the funniest woman in America", while The New York Times said that "Jackie has a love-hate relationship with her audience: she hates and they love." And last year her debut solo album, Jackie Hoffman: Live at Joe's Pub, was released.

The Second City alum has now returned to Chicago to entertain us in TWO shows this holiday season--and I can't wait! Unless you've been living under a rock and not reading this blog, you should already know that Jackie is playing Grandmama in the new musical version of The Addams Family, which is having its pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago from November 13 - January 10. Most people would probably rest on their only day off, but not Ms. Hoffman, who is debuting her own show, Whining in the Windy City: Holiday Edition, on Monday nights (November 30 - December 21). It's a no-holds-barred original musical comedy rant that is not for the faint of heart or those easily offended. She promises to skewer everything that is "Merry", and a cash bar will be available for those looking to steady their nerves--but don't even bother requesting eggnog, mulled apple cider or any other such holiday drink. Sounds like a good time to me!

Considering her very busy schedule these days, I am so happy--but not merry--that Jackie was able to take some time to be here on the Dish to discuss her career and answer a few pop culture questions.

Let's start with Whining in the Windy City: Holiday Edition. What will you be ranting about here in Chicago?

The Addams Family, the holidays, children, benefits, Jewish people, Christian people, whiny stupid people, gay people, straight people, people.

What's your favorite holiday?

Shavuoth (it's a Jewish holy day to celebrate Moses receiving the Ten Commandments).

What is the most memorable and/or funniest moment you have had while performing onstage?

When I improvised my last moment in Hairspray and went on for 10 minutes.



You've lived in Chicago and New York City. In three words, how would you describe each place?

New York: Dirty, loud, crowded.

Chicago: Less dirty, loud, crowded (I know, that was four).

How did you get the role of Grandmama in The Addams Family?

I auditioned TWICE.

How would you describe Grandmama?

I'd describe her as really old and funny, and she has a surprising love of substances.

What is your favorite moment in the musical?

Anytime I see Thing.

You appeared on a 2007 episode of As the World Turns and more recently on One Life to Live. Are you a soap opera fan?

I watched All My Children for 30 years. I haven't gotten on that one yet.

You were kissed by Ilene Kristen's Roxy during your recent appearance on One Life to Live. How would you rate her as a kisser?

She's a little rough, but I like it that way.




In high school I was:

30 pounds more.

If I had to gain 30 pounds for a role, I would eat:

Whatever I ate in high school.

The last good book I read was:

Shelley Winters' second autobiography, Shelley II. She talks about food a lot.

When I was growing up, I never missed a television episode of:

Get Smart, The Carol Burnett Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, All in the Family, M*A*S*H.

Today I never miss a television episode of:

Project Runway, What Not to Wear, The Real Housewives of New York, New Jersey and Atlanta, and I don't have Bravo where I'm staying. Help!

The very first record album that I purchased with my own money was:

Great question. I think it was a collection of K-tel hits or the Carpenters' greatest hits.

If I was stranded on a desert island for a year, I would want to listen to:

I'd listen to my CD, Jackie Hoffman: Live at Joe's Pub.

If I could star on Broadway in any role in any musical or play, I would be:

The star of anything.

If I could have anyone in the world--living or dead--be a guest at my dinner party, I would invite the following three people:

Groucho Marx, W.C. Fields and Golda Meir.



What's next for Jackie Hoffman?

I'm down for The Addams Family for at least a year. Then, breaking out solo in a big way.

Thank you, Jackie, for getting Deeper with us here on the Dish, and I looking forward to seeing you in both of your shows. You can purchase tickets to Whining in the Windy City: Holiday Edition either by phone (312-988-9000), online at www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Royal George Theatre box office (1641 N. Halsted). For more information on Whining, go to theroyalgeorgetheatre.com. And for information on The Addams Family, go to www.theaddamsfamilymusical.com.

Dish of the Day #279

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week in the sidebar poll.

Groovy Gay Film Festival: New Queer Cinema & Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss

Reeling and The Queer Film Society will be presenting New Queer Cinema: Now or Never, a panel discussion on the state of independent queer cinema – then, now and toward the future – this Saturday, November 14, at 3 pm. Gay film critics Hank Sartin (Time Out Chicago), Richard Knight, Jr. (Windy City Times), Jonathan Lewis (Gay Chicago Magazine), Nick Davis (Assistant Professor of English and Gender Studies at Northwestern and writer of nicksflickpicks.com), filmmaker Joe Steiff (co-chair of the Film and Video Department at Columbia College), filmmaker Ky Dickens (Fish Out of Water), and actor Richard Ganoung (Parting Glances, Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss) will share their insights on the state of queer cinema and the following questions:

Is Hollywood up to the task of accurately representing the LGBTQ community?

Why don't queer audiences support queer movies when they're in theatres?

What stories are still untold?

Is Neil Patrick Harris the Great White Hope for gay superstardom? Does he have a female counterpart? And, more importantly, will others follow in his footsteps?

And are we ever going to see a Hollywood leading male actor or actress come out in our lifetime and continue to be a box-office draw?

After the panel discussion, Reeling and QFS will be showing Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss, the charming 1998 romantic comedy starring a pre-Will & Grace Sean Hayes, Brad Rowe (Shelter) and Richard Ganoung. A Q&A with Ganoung will follow the screening (and that's him in the photo in case you're wondering).

The New Queer Cinema panel discussion is free, while the 5 pm screening of Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss is $10 ($8 for Reeling members). Both events will be held at Film Row Cinema (1104 S. Wabash).

For a complete schedule of films and events at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival (which runs through November 15), go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark). And for further information on The Queer Film Society, go to www.queerfilmsociety.com.

Dish of the Day #278

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week in the sidebar poll.

Groovy Gay Film Festival #16: Riot Acts

I love when a film grabs me unexpectedly and doesn't let go until the very end. And Madsen Minax's fascinating documentary, Riot Acts: Flaunting Gender Deviance in Music Performance, is such a movie. I wasn't familiar with any of the trans musicians featured in the film, but a friend recommended that I check it out. And I'm so glad I did.

Riot Acts is a transfabulous (don't you just love that word?) rockumentary about the lives of transgender and gender variant musicians, who discuss songwriting, coping with voice changes (hormones often cause them to develop an entirely new singing voice), passing/not passing, media representation, audiences (and whether they should be "out" and disclose their transgender status), and many other relevant topics.

Minax spent three years interviewing 17 different bands and individuals who play a wide variety of music. I especially enjoyed listening to the stories of Geo Wyeth, a young Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist (accordion, piano, etc.) whose no-nonsense attitude is quite amusing at times; Systyr Act, a hilarious Boston trio of gender-queer cross-dressing nuns; and the engaging duo of Coyote Grace--Joe Stevens and Ingrid Elizabeth, who met when they were both women. Joe's transition into becoming a man has definitely affected their careers since gay audiences and performance venues now see them in an entirely different light.

But in the end--for all the musicians--it's their music that really matters over everything else. As long as they can go out on a stage and perform, life is good--and so is Riot Acts.



Show time: 7 pm, Wednesday, November 11, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)
Running time: 72 minutes
Website: www.actorslashmodel.com

Other films I recommend seeing at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival are (click on the title to read my review):

Shank at 9:15 pm, Wednesday, November 11, at the Landmark Theater

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction at 9 pm, Friday, November 13, at Film Row Cinema (1104 S. Wabash)

For a complete schedule of films and events at the festival (which runs through November 15), go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).

Deeper Dish with Leslie Jordan

Leslie Jordan has always made me laugh ever since I first saw him on a 1989 episode of Murphy Brown, in which he played one of Candice Bergen's secretaries. I also enjoyed him on the John Ritter sitcom, Hearts Afire, back in 1993-95, but the actor is now best known for two of his more recent--and hilarious--characters:

Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram, the cross-dressing Tammy Wynette-impersonating homosexual in the 2000 "black comedy about white trash", Sordid Lives, and its 2008 TV series prequel.

And Beverley Leslie, Karen Walker's nemesis on TV's Will & Grace (this recurring role earned him an Emmy Award for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2006).

I'm not the only one who adores both Brother Boy and Beverley, who have gained Jordan many fans. The openly gay man is also an accomplished stage actor and playwright, having written and starred in his autobiographical play, Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel (which was made into a film in 2000), and three successful one-man shows, Hysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies That Have Plagued My Life Thus Far, Like a Dog on Linoleum, and My Trip Down the Pink Carpet (which was based on his 2008 autobiography). Jordan can currently be seen in the film, Eating Out: All You Can Eat, and next month (December 10-20) he will be performing his brand new show, Full of Gin and Regret, at L.A.'s Renberg Theatre with his special guest, singer/actress Alexandra Billings.

Leslie Jordan has come a long way since he boarded a bus bound for Hollywood in 1982 with $1,200 sewn into his underpants. And I couldn't be more honored and thrilled to have this fabulous man here on the Dish to discuss his career and answer a few pop culture questions.

Let's start with your new show, Full of Gin and Regret. What's it about?

It's basically stand-up. I have three main stories, including my time on Will & Grace, but nothing is set in stone. The title is from one of Beverley Leslie's lines, "Well, well, well, Karen Walker--I thought I smelled gin and regret."

What is the most memorable moment you have had while touring with your previous one-man shows?

One night when I was doing Like a Dog on Linoleum, I peeked out and there was Phyllis Diller in the audience. She and Carol Burnett were my childhood idols, and I used to pretend to be her when I was a kid. So I called my mom and said, "You’re never going to believe this." Phyllis was so tiny--a little bitty thing like me--and she was really old with her wig all askew. I waited for her after the show. She told me, "Happiness is a choice", and I remember she was crying so hard, her false eyelashes fell off.



We, of course, have to talk about Sordid Lives. How did you first meet Del Shores and become involved with Sordid Lives?

I was Del's best man at his wedding, and I'm the godfather of his children. I have great gaydar, so I was surprised when I learned he was gay. Del was married to Kelly, the daughter of Dr. Eve and Wardell--Rosemary and Newell Alexander, who are married in real life. I’ve known Del forever.

As for Sordid Lives, I gave Del a book of short stories to read when he was having a lull in his own career. It was called Shiloh and Other Stories by Bobbie Ann Mason, a wonderful Kentucky writer. It inspired him to write three short stories--"Nicotine Fit" about three women trying to stop smoking, "The De-Homosexualization of Brother Boy" about a drag queen being held in a hospital, and another one about a woman going into a bar and holding up her husband with a gun for cheating on her. Del later combined them all into a play, Sordid Lives, and I told him that there was too much going on in it. Thank God he didn’t listen to me.

What has been your favorite Brother Boy scene?

My favorite scene is when he tells Dr. Eve off and says, "Now if you’ll PLEASE excuse me...I have a show to do."



In a war of words, who would win--Brother Boy or Beverley Leslie?

Beverley Leslie--only because he’s so much cleverer. Brother Boy is a little dim.

On your website, you mention that Megan Mullally is thinking of developing a musical around her Will & Grace character, Karen Walker. If Karen and Beverley could sing a duet, what song would you choose?

It would have to be an original tune. Something that starts with "Well, well, well" and goes back and forth like a takeoff on that Bea Arthur song, "Bosom Buddies". My favorite Karen line is when she says to me: "Beverley Leslie, you look more like a woman every time I see you." And I love my line when I walk into a room and see Karen and Grace together: "Well, well, well. Karen Walker and her Jewess." It's so politically incorrect.

You grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and moved to Hollywood in 1982. In three words, how would you describe each place?

Chattanooga: Frozen. Backward. Fad.

Hollywood: Liberating. Exhilarating. Through the roof. When I got off the bus in '82 and saw West Hollywood, I was home.

You've appeared on many different TV series over the years. What's the first thing that pops into your mind about:

Murphy Brown?

The break.

Hearts Afire?

Memorable. It was a blast working with John Ritter, Billy Bob Thornton, Conchata Ferrell and Markie Post.

12 Miles of Bad Road (a series that HBO decided not to air in 2008 after filming six episodes)?

Heartbreaking. It was brilliant, but then HBO brought in a prissy queen who hated it from day one.



In high school I was:

Popular but terrified--because I had a secret.

If I had to gain 30 pounds for a role, I would eat:

Pasta and pizza. And bread--lots of bread.

The last good book I read was:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

When I was growing up, I never missed a television episode of:

Green Acres. And My Friend Flicka and Fury--I’ve always loved horses. I wrote my first fan letter to Bobby Diamond, the star of Fury.

Today I never miss a television episode of:

The First 48 on A&E. It’s a reality show that follows the first 48 hours of a murder investigation. They show the body and everything. I’ve always been fascinated by forensics.

The very first record album that I purchased with my own money was:

The Beatles--their very first album with all their faces. I liked Paul, the cute one. And my first 45 was “Wipe Out” by The Surfaris.

If I was stranded on a desert island for a year, I would want to listen to:

Joan Baez from my early hippie days and Bonnie Raitt. I’m not into S&M (Streisand and Midler).

Six movies that I think everyone should be required to watch are:

To Kill a Mockingbird with Gregory Peck.
Raging Bull--I don’t know what that's all about. I’m not even a boxing fan.
Garbo Talks, a wonderful movie--and one of the most underrated.
My Little Chickadee with Mae West.
Altman's Nashville and Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, which is a perfectly cast movie.

If I could give an Oscar for any neglected film performance of the past, I would give one to:

Anne Bancroft in Garbo Talks.

If I could star on Broadway in any role in any musical or play, I would be:

Beverley Leslie in Karen Walker: The Musical.

If I could have anyone in the world--living or dead--be a guest at my dinner party, I would invite the following three people:

Joan Didion, who wrote The Year of Magical Thinking. She changed my life when I was a 14-year-old hippie with her book, Slouching Towards Bethlehem. Jesus Christ--to find out what really is supposed to be going on and to see if he really exists. And Montgomery Clift.



What's next for Leslie Jordan?

Two things loom. I’ve been desperately trying to get on Dancing with the Stars, but they’ve turned me down the last three seasons. I’m a good dancer, but I don’t have the same level of fame as someone like Tori Spelling. And since I fell out of my mother’s womb and landed in her high heels, I would try to be masculine and butch it up if I got on Dancing.

I’ve also just been talking to some investors, and I’m hoping to bring My Trip Down the Pink Carpet to Off-Broadway in February. It would be great to first appear on Dancing with the Stars and parlay that into the New York show. I think it would sell some tickets.

Thank you, Leslie, for getting Deeper with us here on the Dish (and I hope to see you on Dancing in the near future). Click here to purchase tickets to Leslie's show, Full of Gin and Regret, at L.A.'s Renberg Theatre or call the box office at 323-860-7300. For information on other upcoming appearances, check out his website at www.thelesliejordan.com. You can also become a Facebook fan by clicking here.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Dr. Marlena Evans

Every Tuesday I post five questions relating to television or film, and the first person who sends me the correct answers wins the highly coveted Auntie Mame Award (for excellence in trivia).

Please send your answers for this week's questions to deepdishdrama@aol.com or via a private Facebook message (DO NOT post your answers on here where everyone can see them or they will be deleted). This week's theme is the daytime soap opera, Days of our Lives, which celebrated its 44th anniversary on November 8.

1) Who are Hope Brady's biological parents?

2) What was the name of Marlena Evans' twin sister?

3) Who was The Salem Strangler?

4) Who did Vivian Alamain bury alive?

5) What did The Salem Stalker use to "kill" Alice Horton?

Last week we had two lucky winners, Steven Morris and Robb C. Sewell-Wolff, who answered the following questions about the TV sitcom, Laverne & Shirley, correctly:

1) What was Laverne's favorite drink? Milk and Pepsi

2) What was the name of Shirley's large stuffed cat? Boo Boo Kitty

3) What city did Laverne and Shirley originally live in? And what city did they move to at the beginning of the show's sixth season? Milwaukee, Burbank

4) Who was on the poster that the girls kissed in the opening credits beginning in the sixth season? The Beatles

5) In the final episode of the series, Carmine auditioned for and landed a role in what Broadway musical? Hair

Dish of the Day #277

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Groovy Gay Film Festival #15: College Boys Live

When I first started watching the intriguing documentary, College Boys Live, I kind of felt like Charlie, a lonely, older guy in the film who lives his life vicariously through Tim, one of the college boys. The movie initially makes you feel as if you're actually on CBL's website, collegeboyslive.com, which is "the world's biggest gay voyeur webcam house and reality show." If you go the site, you will learn that over 64 webcams are filming every inch of two houses--and six college-aged men--24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These hot, horny boys are "just waiting to chat with you" and "show you a little something" as you watch them "party, have fun, laugh, cry, have tricks over, and just experience unhibited gay life." All this for just $19.95 a month!

Okay, well, that gives you a pretty good idea of what CBL's website is all about. However, the film eventually becomes something much more interesting than just a cute boy taking a shower or jerking off on camera (not that there's anything wrong with that). The movie takes place back in 2003 when website owner--and "queen mum"--Zac Adams and his younger boyfriend, Jonathan, only have one house--with three college boys and 32 cameras--in a quiet suburb of Orlando, Florida. The boys--J.C., Chuck and Tim--are selected from over 60 applicants to live together for six months and have their lives taped and broadcast as they chat online with and entertain CBL's 2000 members. In return, they receive free room and board. As Adams describes CBL, it's like "watching a favorite soap opera."

But, fortunately, director George O'Donnell is able to delve a little deeper into the lives of all these people. Once Adams' upscale and prudish neighbors sue to have CBL evicted from their home for running a business in a strictly residential zone, the movie suddenly becomes a serious documentary worth seeing. O'Donnell also shows Chuck and J.C. visiting their families, and we learn that what they have now with CBL is a lot better from what they came from. Will Adams be forced to find a new place for everyone to live? Will Charlie's obsession with Tim take a nasty turn? And will the destructive J.C. be kicked out of the house for his bad behavior? By the end of its 94 minutes, College Boys Live does become an addictive soap opera that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. O'Donnell makes you care about these boys, who are lost souls just looking for a place to be accepted. But the best thing about the film is that he's able to turn a voyeuristic webcam house into a supportive family of friends.

Show time: 9:15 pm, Tuesday, November 10, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)
Running time: 94 minutes
Website: collegeboyslivemovie.com

Other films I recommend seeing at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival are (click on the title to read my review):

Shank at 9:15 pm, Wednesday, November 11, at the Landmark Theater

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction at 9 pm, Friday, November 13, at Film Row Cinema (1104 S. Wabash)

For a complete schedule of films and events at the festival (which runs through November 15), go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).

Mad about the Men: Divorce American Style

And so another season of Mad Men comes to an end. And what an amazing season it has been. I hope the Emmy Awards will reward the show and its brilliant writers and actors come next September because they all deserve to be recognized for their outstanding scripts and performances.

Now let's take a closer look at how our favorite characters ended up on last night's third season finale:

Don Draper: Last week's "End of the World" theme continued with Don losing his family--but gaining his own ad agency as almost everyone came together to form a brand new company, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (although I bet Mrs. Pryce isn't going to be too happy since she hates living in NYC). However, Don's main drama was the end of his marriage to Betty. The look on his face when Roger let slip about Betty's relationship with Henry Francis was priceless (Roger learned this from his daughter, who's friends with Henry's daughter). Don and Betty's big confrontation was a doozy worth waiting for as he said she wouldn't receive a nickel from him in a divorce--and he threatened to take the kids (he is the better parent, I will give him that). "You're a whore", Don told his wife, which is the pot calling the kettle black in my opinion. Don's been a whore since the very first episode. Anyway, it will be very interesting to see Don and Betty move forward in their lives separately next season. Also, I'm glad Connie Hilton terminated his arrangement with Don because their scenes together were boring me to death.



Betty Draper: The Drapers' crumbling marriage was finally put out of its misery last night, but you do have to wonder if Betty's new life with Henry Francis will be all peaches and cream. I seriously doubt it will be since that wouldn't be too exciting to watch. And Betty's going to have her hands full with little Sally, who didn't take the news of her parents' divorce very well. It was a heartbreaking scene when Don and Betty sat down with their children to tell them the news. Will Betty and Henry be happily married by the next time we see them? And what about Don and the schoolteacher? I'm curious to know how much time will elapse onscreen between seasons. Will they skip over 1964? I can't wait to find out.

Peggy Olson: So great to see Peggy stand up to Don and tell him off for treating her like dirt for three seasons. She's not going to follow him anymore "like some nervous poodle." You go, girl. However, I am glad that she decided to join Don's new agency, and I really liked Don's confession that he would spend the rest of his life trying to hire her if she refused to come work for them. It was a nice moment between the two characters. And Peggy refusing to get Roger a cup of coffee was another priceless moment.

Joan Holloway Harris: Well, it looks like Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce has an excellent office manager as Roger didn't hesitate to call up "Red" to help them find and move all their important files. I have a feeling that Joan and Roger might end up cheating on their spouses next season.

Roger Sterling: I didn't care much for Roger at the beginning of this season, but his recent renewed interest in Joan has made him a more likable person again.

Pete Campbell: Of course, Pete would want his name in the lobby of their new ad agency. As much as I often think Mr. Campbell is a self-absorbed ass, I agreed with Don when he said that Pete kept them looking forward at the agency. The guy is good at his job.

Sal Romano: Sal is still missing in action, but hopefully we haven't seen the last of him. He's too interesting of a character to just forget about it.

"Isn't this exciting?" gushed Trudy when she arrived at the hotel digs of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce with lunch for everyone. What a groovy gal she is (whom Pete really doesn't deserve)--and she's right. It is exciting how Mad Men's third season came to an end with the creation of a brand new ad agency and the dissolution of the Draper marriage. I look forward to the show's fourth season, but I will miss my weekly recaps. Sunday nights just aren't going to be the same without my Joan and Peggy fix.

Dish of the Day #276: Hiding the Family Jewels Week

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Groovy Gay Film Festival #14: Mr. Right

I really liked Mr. Right, a British dramedy about a group of gay friends--and one lovely fag hag--looking for the right guy. The interesting cast of characters include:

Harry (James Lance), a TV producer of a Trading Spaces reality show called House Sweep.

Alex (Luke de Woolfson), Harry's younger boyfriend who works for a catering company while he pursues his dream of becoming a successful actor.

William (Rocky Marshall), a hunky rugby-playing antiques dealer whose love life is suffering due to his disapproving nine-year-old daughter.

Lawrence (Leon Ockenden), the object of William's affections who plays a nurse on the soap opera, Emergency Accident.

Tom (David Morris), an artist whose handsome lover, Lars (Benjamin Hart), casts his roving eye on Harry when he temporarily becomes a carpenter on House Sweep.

Louise (Georgia Zaris), Alex's best friend whose only requirement for a boyfriend is that he not be gay.

Paul (Jeremy Edwards), Louise's new boyfriend whom she fears might be gay despite his insistence to the contrary.

Obviously with all these intertwining lives, there's a lot going on in Mr. Right, but directors David Morris (who also wrote the witty screenplay) and his sister, Jacqui Morris, are able to give equal screen time to each of the characters. It also helps that every role is perfectly cast with some wonderful actors. I especially enjoyed Marshall's conflicted father, Hart's gorgeous bad boy, and Edwards' uncomfortable but curious "straight" guy. And I must confess that I'm a sucker for a gorgeous guy with a British accent, which this film is overflowing with.

I just enjoyed spending time with Mr. Right and all of its cute homosexuals. The drama is realistic, the comedy is amusing, and the eclectic score by Jacqueline Kroft is quite catchy. So go see this movie. I think you'll like it, too.



Show time: 9 pm, Monday, November 9, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)
Running time: 86 minutes

Other films I recommend seeing at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival are (click on the title to read my review):

Training Rules at 7 pm, Monday, November 9, at the Landmark Theater

Shank at 9:15 pm, Wednesday, November 11, at the Landmark Theater

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction at 9 pm, Friday, November 13, at Film Row Cinema (1104 S. Wabash)

For a complete schedule of films and events at the festival (which runs through November 15), go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).

Groovy Gay Film Festival #13: Fish Out of Water

Chicagoan Ky Dickens' experience in coming out to her Tri Delta sorority sisters at Vanderbilt University led to the making of Fish Out of Water, the fascinating documentary that she wrote and directed. Dickens' rejection by her college friends sparked her desire to explore the relationship between homosexuality and the Bible--and in her film, she does this successfully--and, at times, amusingly--by dissecting the seven Bible verses used to condemn homosexuality and marriage discrimination.

Through the use of cute but effective animation, Dickens makes her movie accessible and non-threatening to everyone, and hopefully it will help educate and open many minds across our country--although I seriously doubt that it would change the twisted beliefs of the anti-homosexual propagandist Fred Phelps (who appears in the film and comes across, of course, as a creepy nutcase) and his followers. But you never know. In an interview with Dickens that I recently read, she says: "I'm hoping that if I can get just one Evangelical to scratch their head and think 'Hmm, maybe I'm wrong,' then change will have a chance to happen. A storm starts with only one drop of water." Or one Fish Out of Water as the case may be.

I especially enjoyed all the interviews that Dickens conducted with various theologians, who offer their expert opinions, as well as with members of the LGBTQ community, who share their own personal stories. One young girl reveals that her father suffered a heart attack when she came out to him, and he later blamed her for his condition because she "broke his heart" with her news. On a much lighter note, another interviewee makes the sassy statement that if all the homosexuals end up going to hell instead of heaven, "we'll have a big party"--and I definitely second that emotion.

Fish Out of Water is an important, thought-provoking documentary about a serious subject that needs to be confronted and discussed all across this country. With her film, Ky Dickens has taken us another step forward in our continuing fight for gay rights, and for this, I say to her: Thank you.



Show time: 5 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport)
Running time: 60 minutes
Website: www.fishoutofwaterfilm.com

Other films I recommend seeing at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival are (click on the title to read my review):

Fruit Fly at 2:30 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)

American Primitive at 7:30 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Landmark Theater

Training Rules at 7 pm, Monday, November 9, at the Landmark Theater

Shank at 9:15 pm, Wednesday, November 11, at the Landmark Theater

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction at 9 pm, Friday, November 13, at Film Row Cinema (1104 S. Wabash)

For a complete schedule of films and events at the festival (which runs through November 15), go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark)

Groovy Gay Film Festival #12: Pornography: A Thriller

I must confess that I'm not sure what Pornography: A Thriller, is all about. I also didn't get The Blair Witch Project, but I still felt it was a film worth seeing. Pornography doesn't have much in common with BWP except that they both tell creepy stories in which the audience has to figure out what's really going on. I failed miserably at this, but I did enjoy the weird and sexy journey that Pornography director and writer David Kittredge took me on.

I will now attempt to explain the basic plot of the movie. There are three distinct parts with a different cast of characters, who are somewhat connected to each other. The first section revolves around a popular gay porn star named Mark Anton (Jared Grey), who mysteriously disappears after he decides to retire from the business in 1995. The second part jumps forward 14 years to the present day, and we meet a gay couple, Michael (Matthew Montgomery) and William (Walter Delmar), who are moving into Mark's old apartment. Michael is writing a book about pornography, and he becomes interested in finding out what happened to Mark. Strange things then start happening to him after he discovers a disturbing snuff film starring the porn star. Then there's the final section, which centers around Matt Stevens (Pete Scherer), a current porn star whom Michael tries to contact for his book. Matt has written a gay porn thriller about Mark Anton, which he wants to direct and star in. And that's about all I can tell you without giving away too much and totally confusing us both.

It helps that Kittredge has cast his film with an attractive group of actors who can also act. Grey, Montgomery and Delmar are all excellent, and I like that Dylan Vox (also known as gay porn star Brad Benton) plays a porn star in the movie. However, for me, Mr. Scherer delivers the best performance, and it doesn't hurt that this handsome hairy-chested hunk is frequently naked. As the saying goes, "If you got it, flaunt it"--and he does.

According to the online Urban Dictionary, a "mindfuck" is "an idea or concept that shakes one's previously held beliefs or assumptions about the nature of reality." Pornography: A Thriller is a mindfuck kind of movie. It's also a unique, creative and ambitious film, which kept me glued to my seat. There are some genuinely scary moments, and the final scene is a real eye-opener. Just don't ask me what it all means.



Show time: 9:30 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)
Running time: 113 minutes
Website: www.pornographythemovie.com

For a complete schedule of films and events at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival (which runs through November 15), go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).

Groovy Gay Film Festival #11: Eating Out: All You Can Eat

Eating Out: All You Can Eat makes for a delicious lip-smacking meal of hot guys and raunchy humor. And if that opening line doesn't entice you, I don't know what will.

The popular Eating Out film franchise has been entertaining audiences since 2004, and now comes the third installment written by Phillip J. Bartell and directed by Glenn Gaylord. The silly plot revolves around the sweet and skinny Casey (Daniel Skelton), who quickly becomes friends with the outrageous Tiffani (Rebekah Kochan) after they meet at a funeral. When he falls for the gorgeous Zack (Chris Salvatore), Casey doesn't know how to pursue such a hot hunk until Tiffani convinces him to create a fake online profile, using sexy photos of her ex-boyfriend Ryan. Of course, Zack is immediately smitten with "Ryan", but their plan hits an unexpected snag when the real Ryan (Michael E.R. Walker) shows up and agrees to go on a date with the clueless Zack to get back at Tiffani. I know, it's a totally ridiculous story, but if you can suspend your disbelief for 78 minutes, you'll have a pretty good time.

As much as I enjoyed all the rippling eye candy on display, Kochan's comedic brilliance is what makes the movie for me. This girl is a foul-mouthed hoot who will say and do anything for a laugh, making Tiffani the real star of the movie. She's a raunchy delight from start to finish.

The rest of the performances aren't quite up to Kochan's level, but I was impressed by Walker, who shows himself to be quite adept at comedy as well as possessing a killer bod. And in supporting roles, the fabulous Mink Stole (as Casey's aunt), Leslie Jordan (as a wise and witty volunteer at a LGBT center), and Julia Cho (as Zack's sassy friend) all deliver some funny lines. You also can't help but root for Casey and Zack to get together due to Skelton and Salvatore, who are immensely likable.

Finally, the answer to your burning question is "Yes". There is full frontal male nudity in the film--but I won't ruin the surprise and tell you who takes it all off. So if you're hungry for some hilarious lowbrow humor and horny hunks, go see Eating Out: All You Can Eat. Your appetite will be satiated.



Show time: 5 pm, Saturday, November 7, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)
Running time: 78 minutes
DVD: If you can't make it to the screening tomorrow, the DVD of the film will be released this Tuesday, November 10. Also, if you like Chris Salvatore's groovy tune during the closing credits, "It's You (The La La Song)", it's available on iTunes.

Other films I recommend seeing at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival are (click on the title to read my review):

Fruit Fly at 2:30 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)

American Primitive at 7:30 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Landmark Theater

Training Rules at 7 pm, Monday, November 9, at the Landmark Theater

Shank at 9:15 pm, Wednesday, November 11, at the Landmark Theater

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction at 9 pm, Friday, November 13, at Film Row Cinema (1104 S. Wabash)

For a complete schedule of films and events at the festival (which runs through November 15), go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).

Groovy Gay Film Festival #10: American Primitive

American Primitive is an excellent gay drama with an outstanding cast. It also doesn't hurt that it's set in 1973 with a groovy soundtrack of music. Give me the Hollies' "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" emanating from a car radio and I'm happy. However, cool oldies do not necessarily make a good film, so I was quite pleased that the screenplay by director Gwen Wynne and Mary Beth Fielder effectively evokes all the emotional conflict between their many fascinating characters.

The movie centers around Harry Goodhart (Tate Donovan) and his two teenage daughters, Madeline and Daisy, who move to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 1973 to start a new life--and in Harry's case--a new business (selling American Primitive furniture). The recently widowed man also has a handsome new business partner, Mr. Gibbs (Adam Pascal), who moves in with the family and immediately wins over the girls with his culinary skills. Of course, this tranquility cannot last as Madeline soon discovers a shocking secret when she visits a Provincetown gay bar one night with her friends: her father is there dancing with Mr. Gibbs! This disturbing surprise causes Madeline much anguish, and eventually Harry's homosexuality threatens to tear their family apart.

American Primitive has been blessed with an exceptional cast, including:

Donovan (The O.C., Damages) and Pascal (the original Roger in the Broadway musical, Rent), who make an attractive and believable couple. I was especially impressed by Pascal, whom I didn't even recognize at first with his dark hair and groovy sideburns, and he even gets to show off his amazing vocal pipes, which is a nice treat.

Danielle Savre and Skye McCole Bartusiak as Madeline and Daisy. They're both terrific young actresses, but Savre really shines as her character is the main focal point of the film.

James B. Sikking (Hill Street Blues) and Susan Anspach as Harry's former in-laws. It's so wonderful to see Anspach again as I've always been a fan of her work in such films as Five Easy Pieces, Blume in Love and Montenegro.

Anne Ramsay as Katrina Brown, a local resident who befriends the Goodharts. Providing most of the lighter moments in the movie, the actress has lost none of her comedic talents since her days as Helen Hunt's sister on TV's Mad About You.

I also liked the two actors whose characters compete for Madeline's affections--Josh Peck as Spoke, the scruffy fisherman's son, and Corey Sevier as Sam, the high school heartthrob who's definitely a looker.

At the beginning of the film, the words "inspired by actual circumstances" are shown onscreen, and at the end Wynne dedicates the movie to "Dad and Mr. Phipps". The story is loosely based on her own life--except her father did not come out of the closet until she was an adult. Also, we haven't seen the last of the Goodharts as American Primitive is the first part of a planned trilogy about the family. Having enjoyed getting to know Harry, his daughters and the charming Mr. Gibbs, I look forward with great anticipation to their further adventures.




Show time: 7:30 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)
Running time: 93 minutes
Website: www.americanprimitivemovie.com

Other films I recommend seeing at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival are (click on the title to read my review):

Fruit Fly at 2:30 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)

Training Rules at 7 pm, Monday, November 9, at the Landmark Theater

Shank at 9:15 pm, Wednesday, November 11, at the Landmark Theater

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction at 9 pm, Friday, November 13, at Film Row Cinema (1104 S. Wabash)

For a complete schedule of films and events at the festival (which runs through November 15), go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).

Dish of the Day #275: Vote for your Favorite

This week's Dishes are for Steve Frame: I hope you enjoy them, my friend, and get well soon!

Today's Dish is Mexican actor, singer and producer Sergio Mayer. Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning today you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week in the sidebar poll.

Last week there was a rare tie for first place between #268 and #270 with each receiving 30.7% of the 88 votes cast. #269 came in second with 22.7%, followed by #267 (10.2%) and #266 (5.7%).

Online Surveys & Market Research

Dish of the Day #274

This week's Dishes are for Steve Frame: I hope you enjoy them, my friend, and get well soon!

Today's Dish is personal trainer/fitness model Ryan Barry. Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Groovy Gay Film Festival #9: The Big Gay Musical

The Big Gay Musical really isn't a true musical. No one breaks into song while walking down the street in the rain or running to catch a train or a boat. But most of the characters in the film are in an Off-Broadway show called Adam and Steve Just the Way God Made 'Em, which gives them all a chance to show off their vocal prowess. Also, a few people perform at an open mic night at The Duplex, an actual New York City cabaret and piano bar. So there's a lot of singing in the movie--but it's always on a stage in front of an audience.

I also found the film to be much more of a drama than a comedy. Oh sure, there are some scantily clad tap-dancing angels in one big number, which is always good for a laugh. However, the movie touches on many serious subjects as it tells its story of acceptance and friendship by following two young men, Paul and Eddie (Daniel Robinson and Joey Dudding), who become close while dealing with their individual problems. Paul gives up looking for the perfect guy in order to become a slut like all the chorus boys in the show, while Eddie comes out to his deeply religious parents and loses his virginity during unsafe sex, which leads to HIV testing. Their onstage characters, Adam and Steve, have their own troubles with Steve's televangelist aunt and uncle, Patty-Maye and Benny (think Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker). As you can see, The Big Gay Musical covers its fair share of drama during the course of its 90-minute running time.

The best moments of the movie for me are when someone is singing (the score is by Rick Crom, who co-wrote the lyrics with co-director Fred M. Caruso). The always fabulous Steve Hayes was born to play God, who belts the amusing opening number, "Creation", while Jim Newman leads a catchy tune called "Straight to Heaven", which takes place at a camp that tries to turn gay kids straight. I also enjoyed the moving ballad of acceptance, "As I Am", sung by Liz McCartney's Patty-Maye, and "I Wanna Be A Slut", a hilarious open mic number that Robinson's Paul sells to an appreciative crowd. But my favorite musical moment is "Someone Up There", a sweet tune sung by a cute guy named Charles to the man he's interested in. Actor Michael Shiffman shines brightly in this small part, and I hope to see him again in a leading role someday soon.

As for the other performances, Robinson and Dudding make an attractive leading duo, but co-directors Caruso (who also wrote the screenplay) and Casper Andreas have thrown in a few cameo appearances that add some extra humor to the film: The Village Voice's Michael Musto (as himself), Rick Skye (as Slice O'Minnelli, a Liza impersonator whom I could've used a little more of), and Aurelia Williams (as The Diva--her single line is a hoot). I also must pay homage to the absolutely amazing abs of Brian Spitulnik, who plays one of the chorus boys--they are almost worth the price of admission. Seriously.

Although the drama gets a bit heavy at times, the constant show tunes always keep the mood of the film from getting too dark. The Big Gay Musical is big and gay and full of cute boys wearing very little. And they all sing. What more can you ask for?



Show time: 7:30 pm, Thursday, November 5, at the Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport)
Running time: 90 minutes
Website: www.thebiggaymusical.com

For a complete schedule of films and events at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival (which runs November 5 - 15), go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).