“It’s wonderful so many have supported Britney! I’ve just heard the news! Wonderful things can happen when we stand together … but not too close because I have just learned that some of you do not bathe.”—Dionne Warwick tweets her support for Britney Spears—and tries out some of her stand-up material.
I’ve often quipped that men attracted to me could be contestants in a Wilford Brimley look-a-like competition—no offense to any of them … or to Wilford, who surely would have made me a hearty bowl of post-coital Quaker Oats! This observation took on new significance when I learned that Paul Rudd is older than Brimley was when he filmed Cocoon.
I hear that Rachel Maddow may soon abandon her perch on MSNBC. Since her contract with the network is up next year, my spies say she’s weighing her options. I hear the two big reasons are: 1) She’s less hungry since Trump left office; and B) The grind of a nightly weekday show has taken a major toll on her personal life.
As you know, the rescheduled 2020 Tony Awards will take place Sept. 26 and air on CBS as The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back! We can now report that the show will be staged at the fabled Winter Garden Theatre—where Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster plan to open a revival of The Music Man on Dec. 20.
Every decade or so, a revival of Funny Girl is planned. The show hasn’t had a Broadway run since the original production at the Winter Garden closed in 1967. Due to the close association with Barbra Streisand, it’s assumed anyone playing Fanny Brice would suffer by comparison—although it should be noted that Barbra’s replacement, Mimi Hines, played the role on Broadway longer than Streisand. Back in 2012, a production starring Lauren Ambrose was announced. Then it looked like Lea Michele might bring it back to Broadway in 2014. So it’s with great trepidation that I announce a revival is scheduled to open on Broadway on April 2, 2022. The Fanny will be Beanie Feldstein—who played Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly! opposite Bette Midler and will play Monica Lewinsky in Impeachment: American Crime Story. Rosie O’Donnell said she’d be in the Broadway revival, but producers are still auditioning hopefuls for the role of Mrs. Brice.
One of my dearest friends was filmmaker Rick McKay. When he began making a documentary about Broadway, he’d use my LA abode as a base when he’d interview stars on the West Coast. Five years later, Broadway: The Golden Age was a hit. In 2018, he died unexpectedly. He already filmed thousands of hours of interviews for his next two projects. One of the last things he did was assemble a rough cut of the sequel. This week, PBS debuted Broadway: Beyond The Golden Age, and it’s as magical as the original. Catch it if you can—it’s priceless.
I’m rarely wistful about LA—but this week, I wish I were there. A year ago, the divine Charles Busch told me he was making a film with his longtime collaborator, Carl Andress. He’d star alongside his frequent leading lady, Julie Halston, in a caper about a movie collector who comes into possession of a lost silent film. There would be chases, heists and Margaret Cho as the nemesis, plus he’d get to sleep with Tim Daly! Fast forward, and The Sixth Reel will premiere Aug. 19 at Outfest—where it was already named the most anticipated screening of the whole damn festival. If you’re not in LA, you can buy a ticket to stream it Aug. 20-22 (unless you are me, and have already seen it). It is a fabulous, frothy, fun-filled flick—I would have called it a romp, but I needed an F-word. Get your ticket at OutfestLA2021.com/the-sixth-reel. Or simply Outfest.org.
Many comic-book aficionados have long asserted that Robin (of “Batman &” fame) is gay. Of course, I said that when it was George Clooney and Chris O’Donnell in skin-tight latex. DC Comics has heard our prayers and is letting Robin spread his wings. In Batman: Urban Legends, Robin’s alter ego is Tim Drake. From what I’ve gathered, someone named Bernard tells Robin that he has a crush on his friend, Tim. Bernard doesn’t know that Robin is Tim—who thus far has never expressed any same-sex attraction. But when Bernard summons up the courage to ask Tim out on a date, Tim says yes. Is he gay? Is he bi? Stay tuned—same bat time, same bat channel.
Our “Ask Billy” question comes from Roger in Chicago: “You talked about the nudity in The White Lotus. You should check out Sex/Life—lots of really hot nudity there.”
A member of the Billy Masters family raved about Sex/Life—including the large amount of nudity (“large” being the operative word). While I haven’t actually watched any of the episodes all the way through, I saw enough to wet my whistle. Sure, everyone is talking about Adam Demos’ dick—which, by the way, was no prosthetic. But give me Mike Vogel’s ass any day. Should you want to check out these anatomical parts individually or collectively, head on over to BillyMasters.com.
When I’m serving up a hot dog and buns, it’s time to end yet another column. This week, I’m Boston-bound for Big Mama Masters’ birthday BBQ. Although I’m shifting my focus from men to mom, I’ll still have time to update BillyMasters.com. If you have a question for me, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com, and I promise to get back to you before Paul Rudd serves me some “Wild Oats”. Until next time, remember: One man’s filth is another man’s bible.