American Idol heartthrob Adam Lambert’s scheduled appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America has been cancelled following his controversial number on Sunday’s VMA Awards show. Reportedly some 1500 complaints flooded ABC after Adam locked lips with one of his male bandmates, live on east coast TV. The west coast feed was censored.
For the first time, a same-sex couple is competing on the Fox TV show So You Think You Can Dance. Jacob Jason and Willem De Vries performed a Latin ballroom dance in their audition on Wednesday’s show, determined to demonstrate to the judges and the audience that there is “a world of same-sex dancers.” They’ve moved on to the next stage of the competition.
The show’s producer, Nigel Lythgoe, has been criticized for remarks he made last May when he rejected another gay couple, expressing fear that their appearance might “alienate” viewers. Lythgoe later tweeted that he was “not a fan of Brokeback Ballroom,” a remark some thought was disparaging. So You Think You Can Dance has a significant gay following, many of whom were upset by the remarks. Following a call to action from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation, Lythgoe and Fox execs met with GLAAD, and Lythgoe apologized. Gay choreographer Adam Shankman, who directed the film Hairspray, was appointed to the panel of judges.
Following Jason and De Vries’s performance, Lythgoe told them, “Thank you for showing me that same-sex ballroom dancing can be very strong and very good.”
Sam McMillen, 23, and his brother Dan, 21, are one of the 12 teams competing for a million dollar prize on the CBS reality show The Amazing Race, which begins a new series September 27. Growing up in a conservative Christian community in Liberty, Missouri, it wasn’t until last year that the brothers came out to each other as gay. According to publicity for the show, “they’ve found a whole new bond with one another and instantly became closer through honesty and trust.”
Sam and Dan McMillen
Daniel Vosovic’s burgeoning career as a fashion designer took another leap forward with his victory last night on a special “all-star” edition of Project Runway. The reality show is in its first season on Lifetime after five seasons on Bravo.
Vosovic was a leading finalist in season two. Following that success he has continued to develop his talents, and recently announced that he will introduce a signature line at NY Fashion Week in February, 2010. Last night’s episode pitched him against eight other former contestants whose challenge was to create four looks, including one red carpet look for Nicole Kidman’s Nine movie premiere, with each designer given a $1,200 budget.
Last year, Vosovic published a book, Fashion Inside Out, featuring interviews with leading fashion designers including Diane von Furstenberg, Todd Oldham, Tim Gunn, and Nina Garcia. He’s actively involved in groups that support gay youth including The Trevor Project and the Matthew Shepard Foundation. AfterElton.com named him one of their “Top 15 Gay Reality Stars.”
Daniel Vosovic
As they reach day 74 on Britain’s Big Brother reality series, tensions have been rising between the bisexual Brazilian, Rodrigo Lopes and the former Mr Gay Newcastle, Charlie Drummond. Their earlier embrace marked them as the first gay couple on the series. When a tipsy Charlie and friends fell giggling into sleeping Rodrigo’s bed the other morning, the cranky South American yelled at them to get out. The girls left but Charlie stuck around. Rodrigo eventually poked him in the face and threw a glass of water at him. Called on the carpet by Big Brother, Rodrigo threatened to leave the show. “I was sleeping and you did nothing! I am leaving and everyone will see how all I did was sleep and you did nothing Big Brother. I’m leaving! I’m leaving! Why is it always me you call? And not him?” Video here
Rodrigo in a calmer moment
Bravo TV has announced the lineup for the sixth season of Top Chef, and it includes two open lesbian/bi women. The show, set this season in Las Vegas, begins airing on August 19. Preety Misty is the London-born executive chef at Google’s headquarters in California. She trained at Le Cordon Bleu in London. Ashley Merriman, born in New Hampshire, is the chef at Branzino in Seattle and worked in New York restaurant Butter. No word on the distinct possibility of gay men among the contestants this season.
Ashley Merriman and Preeti Mistry
US magazine is reporting that Jon Gosselin (of Jon & Kate Plus 8 fame) has a new wild girlfriend, Hailey Glassman who, according to a “college pal” is bisexual. In fact, she has in the past had a strong preference for women, but is making an exception for the reality show star. Read more
Andy Cohen, Senior Vice President of Production and Programming for Bravo cable television network, is known for overseeing shows including Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Project Runway, Project Greenlight, and Top Chef. He’s also been on the air hosting the reunions of Real Housewives, where he recently stunned the ladies with his announcement that, as a gay man, he was offended by an anti-gay remark from one of the husbands. Andy’s blog attracts an audience of fans looking for behind-the-scenes scoops about Bravo shows, and recently featured a poster of Aretha Franklin in answer to Perez Hilton’s posting nude photos of Dustin Lance Black. That didn’t make sense to me either.
Anyway, Bravo has announced a new late night show beginning July 16, called Watch What Happens, hosted by . . . Andy Cohen! I would have loved to have been at those auditions. Further enticement from Bravo’s press release:
“Live, every Thursday at midnight, Cohen will sit down with guests from some of Bravo’s most popular series, as well as from the world of entertainment, to chat about what has transpired on-air and in pop culture that week for a live half-hour full of viewer interaction. The series will include lively debates and passionate discussions about everything from fashion, to the latest Housewives drama, to what celebrity news is making headlines that week.”
Internet geek as Andy is, viewers will be able to participate via e-mail or Twitter.
Andy Cohen, Bravo TV
Though he’s claimed to have a real-life boyfriend, UK Big Brother contender Charlie Drummond says he’d like to have a televised relationship with a fellow contestant: “Can you imagine that? It’ll be groundbreaking.” Perhaps he’ll give Rodrigo a go. Read More
Charlie Drummond
Nude photos have surfaced of Lola Van Vorst, leading contender in Australia’s Next Top Model show. Though now she has a girlfriend (Chadwicks’ model Lyndsay Anne, 23), she blames an ex-boyfriend. The photos are due to be published in Famous. Confidential quotes Lola’s reaction to the media firestorm: “I’m not embarrassed about the photos, it’s just the thought that he’s gone and done this. In my mind I never thought I would be on a show like this and that they would come out.”
Search this site (or select the “Models” category in the sidebar) for more about Lola, Ruby, Myf, and Catherine.
Lola Van Vorst
Queer of the Month | December 2009
Total Voters: 10
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