Happy Thanksgiving!

November 26, 2008

Before we chat about the Atlanta reunion, let's focus on the issue at hand: Thanksgiving. I am off to St. Louis, but before I split town, I called a few Bravolebrities to see how they're spending the holiday. Here, in two parts, is my chat with Atlanta diva NeNe, NYC Housewife Bethenny, Christian "Project Runway" Siriano, and Flipping Out's Jenni Pulos...

Well I am really curious what y'all thought of that Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion show and about the premiere of OC, so post away below. I thought the show was amusing, if not a little Springer-esque for my taste. Random thoughts:

I still don't totally know what Kim was sick with or what is happening with her hair, so I can't offer any info on that. I enjoyed that she said her hair has always been her signature. I just like that kind of self-awareness.

You could've knocked me over with a feather when Lisa went batshit on Kim. The Nene thing I was half-expecting, but I saw Lisa in a new light.

During a break, I referred to Sheree's ponytail as a "switch," which elicited a debate between us about the difference between a switch and a ponytail. Isn't a long pony that's clipped onto your hair called a switch? Am I dreaming? Talking to myself?

I love Dwight. And I love it that the gals were surprised that he appeared.

Real Husbands Eric, Greg, and Ed showed up to support their ladies at the taping.

I will be downloading "Tightrope" the second it comes out. I can't get the freaking song out of my head!

Hey, don't forget tonight's Top Chef Thanksgiving with the Foo Fighters, plus the premiere of Bravotv.com's "After the Knife," where we follow the eliminated chef back to reunite with the other cheftestants in the sequester house.

Nothing But Housewives

November 25, 2008

I saw "Milk" last night and I SHOULD be writing a state of the gay rights movement blog but that wouldn't be fair to the real stars of today, our Atlanta and OC "Housewives"... So before I get to "Milk" let me first present my chat with NeNe and OC's Vicki, featuring an amazing cameo from Bravo big Boss Lauren Zalaznick!

So what do you think of that video?? And how about LZ's cameo? That is what you might call "reality".

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Grazing Privates

November 24, 2008

Hey everybody. I bet I smell like burnt wood this morning because I feel like I've been roasting by a fire for the last 48 hours. By a fire is not a bad place to be, by the way. Specifically, we were upstate in Millbrook, and that ain't a bad place to be either.

Saturday night we watched "Quantum of Solace" and none of us understood one moment of what was happening. I didn't care because Daniel Craig was running around in (very tight) fantastic clothes, accessorized perfectly. When Bond is all cut up and cut off and homeless in one scene, and then he shows up in a tight Gucci cocktail outfit a minute later, where does he actually go to get the clothes? Does he travel with a valet? And how many pairs of sunglasses does he have and where does he KEEP THEM? Do they get scratched ever?? I know it doesn't matter. Oh and why did they cut the sex scene? Judi Dench was great, too.

Upon my return, the West Village had somehow been transformed into something of a Christmas spectacular. It is too early I guess, but I got inspired to buy myself a present or two before the sun set. As much as I've bemoaned Marc Jacob's overtaking my neighborhood with specialty boutiques, what he's doing is incredible. As many overpriced bags and shoes as he sells, he offers a ton of low-priced and great clothes for everyone in two of his Bleecker Street locations. His gifty store is all stuff under 50 bucks, and his men's store has amazing staples (thin black ties, dress shirts, wallets) for really reasonable (J Crew-ish) prices. Marc is democratizing fashion!

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TGIF

November 21, 2008

Before I get into anything, let me first present the 4th Annual "Real Housewives Blog Awards", featuring the Atlanta Housewives:

Wow I didn't love having to give DeShawn FUNDRAISING FOR DUMMIES but I think she took the joke in great stride. She seems fairly unflappable and undeterred, don't you think?

This weekend check out the new movie "Lake City" written and directed by my old friends Hunter Hill and Perry Moore. The film stars Sissy Spacek and Troy Garity, and features Dave Matthews as a drug dealer and Keith Carradine being Carradinesque. I am really proud of Hunter and Perry, who are concurrently adapting Perry's book HERO into a series for Showtime. Plus they are BF's and plus Hunter is the Fashion guru of Paper. Hunter is so fash that Grac and I nicknamed him 'Fashion' in '97 and it (kinda) stuck.

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A Bigtime Ramble

November 20, 2008

I didn't realize the Triborough Bridge had been re-named to commemorate Robert F Kennedy! Wow. What does Mr. Triborough and his family think about THAT? After all that Thurgood R. Triborough did for our city (not to mention what he did for the Jews). It just doesn't seem right. Is Bloomberg sending the Triborough clan a muffin basket or what?

(I do realize there is no Triborough family.)

The other night at the Paper Party someone was telling me they'd just seen the revival of David Mamet's "American Buffalo" starring John Leguizamo, Cedric the Entertainer and Haley Joel Osment. I freaked out because the casting seemed so random, like the subject of a "kiss, kill, cuddle" game. Now it turns out the show is dying a quick death. Sad, but isn't that a WEIRD threesome? Maybe it's not. What do I know?

The NY POST today is all about the 11 year old WOLF BOY in India. Poor little Prithviraj Patil has hypertrichosis, which means he has a thicket of hair all over his bod, including his face. The hair doesn't stop him from playing cricket and doing boy's stuff, but the mom don't want him to be a kid in wolf's clothing. This is clearly not funny but put it in Bel Air and isn't it a potential sitcom?

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Night Out With The Girls

November 19, 2008

Oh man, how do I describe my night out with Atlanta Housewife NeNe and OC's Vicki? How about: intense, madcap, hilarious, and boozy?

We started at Home and Guesthouse for Instinct Magazine's Leading Men party hosted by "Make Me a Supermodel" alum Ronnie Kroll. The gaggle of very cute boys were verklempt by the sight of the Housewives, and it was most hilar watching the reaction of the left-out-lady when a boy would go up to her counterpart and say "YOU are my favorite, number one housewife." Inevitably the other housewife would challenge the kid and whip them into adoring submission. Oh joy.

From there we hit Christian Siriano's "surprise" birthday soiree on 21st Street where the MisShapes were spinning. Christian was adorable as ever and I ran into my co-presenter from the Paper Awards, NYC Trans club queen Sophia Lamar working some fierce bangs. I also met Bravo publicity exec Tory Brody's ball ‘n’ chain, which was a pleasant shocker!

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Milky Housewives

November 18, 2008

It seems to be all about "Milk" and the "Real Housewives", don't you think? And green week.

Here's my Green Week tip of the day: bring a water bottle to work and stop using and disposing a ton of plastic bottles in your wake. I promise it will make you feel good.

Last night was a dinner for the cast of "Milk" at a friend's house. The timing of this film is amazing given what's going on around us. The gays are unified and energized. I am so excited to see this film!

Have you seen the clip that's giving "Milk" a run for its money in the Drama Dept? It's NeNe giving it to Kim on next week's "Real Housewives of Atlanta" reunion. The finale airs tonight, but take a look at what's to come:

Read on for a less dramatic clip:

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Barack Has Big Ears

November 17, 2008

t's fall in NYC everybody! There's a nip in the air, I had firewood delivered yesterday and I'm wearing an overcoat today. I am FEELING it.

It was a crazy whirlwind weekend that amounted to a lot of fun and some TCB'in too. Friday night I went with some friends to see "The Seagull" on Broadway. It made me very sleepy for the first 20 minutes, then I snapped out of it and was enthralled. Kristen Scott Thomas was great. Renee Taylor was a couple rows back and I hear she dozed a wee bit, but that could be hearsay.

We went to Orso for dinner and then I split for the Out 100 after party at the Chelsea Hotel. I was drilled about my choice to see "The Seagull" over recently reunited supergroup LaBelle perform at that Out 100 event. Hmmm. All I know is that somehow I dropped, or let go of, my new cashmere sweater amongst hundreds of homos in the Chelsea Hotel basement and I will never hear from that powder blue 4-ply again. I miss it, and for the last two nights while trying to sleep, I think I hear it faintly crying. (It misses me too.) This economy is not one to be dropping sweaters in dingy basements. What am I thinking??

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Sunshine n' Sue-shine

November 14, 2008

The truth of the matter is that I am still in such post-election zen that the negativity and snipeyness that occasionally fuels my blogging is running low. I am chilled out enough that I am even happy to plug a new NBC News video Yes We Can: The Barack Obama Story available HERE. Let's see where my mellowness takes us today ....

Anderson Cooper talked about the Atlanta Housewives on Leno last night. He trashed Kim and said she has no talent, and pledged his undying love again to NeNe. I need to send Anderson a muffin basket or something to dull the pain of Big Poppa taking a hit out on him. By the way, big news on Kim's CD on the reunion show.

The picture in this entry is what I saw when I looked out my window this morning.

Wow. Seeing the tree has two immediate effects on me. First it makes me vow to do some Christmas shopping this weekend. It also makes me think of the first lady of NYC local news, and the first lady of Rockefeller Center, Miss Sue Simmons. I think that instead of the tree, we should erect an eight-story red pant-suited statue of Sue and dangle lights and ornaments from her.

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Team Euro vs. Team Rainbow

November 13, 2008

The results of your viewer voting last night during Top Chef showed that 70 percent of you (the proverbial "you") favored Team Rainbow over Team Europe to go far in the competition.

Let's take a closer look at the homosexuals and the foreigners...

Team Rainbow

Team Europe

Top Chef Inspires Patriotism!

November 12, 2008

Those aren't my words, folks. It's what THE NEW YORK TIMES says in its review of tonight's premiere of Top Chef: New York! I agree. When I watch TC, I am proud to be an American. I am so in love with this season's chefs, and with tonight's super-sized premiere.

I grabbed Padma and Gail for some chats at our big TC event in NYC 10 days ago, and here they are ...

NeNe, Slimmons, Lance and More!

November 11, 2008

Where on earth do I begin to report the nonsense that has transpired since Friday? I am boarding a plane from Atlanta to NYC after a -- what's the word here -- um, how about dramatic Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion taping. I mean DRAMA, people. I haven't seen anything like it since never. And watch the show tonight to find out the results of NeNe's DNA test, and to hear Sheree say "She, by Sheree" 10 times too few. I am obsessed with "She by Shiree."

The love affair between Anderson Cooper and NeNe continues. Yesterday afternoon I had NeNe (who has a new short 'do) leave him a (hysterical) voicemail, and last night he gave her a shout-out on "360." I will have much more on the Atlanta Reunion as the weeks come. I need to process it, OK?

Last Friday night in LA was all about a birthday celebration for a friend in Koreatown. We started with Korean BBQ and followed it up at what is the best karaoke joint I think I've ever been to.

The Palm Tree.

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UNReality

November 07, 2008

Hi from LA. It's a beauty here, but when is it not?

Last night was an insane one at Paper Magazine's UNreality extravaganza sponsored by Levi’s. It was kind of like the "Night of 100 Reality Stars", but it was not to be confused with DeShawn's "Night of 1000 Stars".

It was Jeff Lewis and Jenni Pulos, Rachel's Brad (she was at Madonna), Josh and Madison from "Million Dollar Listing", Nick Drago from "Step It Up and Dance", Big Daddy and Robert from "Top Design", and all the "Real Housewives of Orange County". If that's not enough reality superstardom for you, factor in Coolio, some whore from "Rock of Love", some TransAmerican from "I Wanna Be BFFs with Paris" and the one and only Tiffany "New York" Pollard. It was a group.

Mr. Mickey (wearing a top with a sequined fox on it) and I hosted a very ghetto awards show which we presented Levi's sashes to honorees like the Housewives (they got the most UNHousewifely award), Jeff (he got the most UNControllable Control Freak), and even me (the most UNAffected something -- I think they made something up to thank me for co-hosting.)

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Hi From LA

November 06, 2008

Good morning from Los Angeles, where tonight I am co-hosting Paper Magazine's Superstars of Reality Television party and Award Show with the legendary Mr. Mickey. Paper is a cool magazine and they throw fantastic parties. This one is going to be a cavalcade of reality faves, which sounds to me like the hottest mess since Bristol Palin.

Congratulations to "Top Design" winner Nathan! I thought each of the three houses in last night's finale were beautiful. Preston is coming to tonight's Paper party, by the way, so come ogle him if you're in LA.

And a big shout out to Susan Lucci, who got canned from last night's "Dancing with the Stars". Awwwww. I want Lance to win and I want it to be over. And I want Cloris to come back.

I'm still digesting the emotion of Tuesday night. Man are the stories about Palin starting to come out. Wowsa. Am I actually starting to feel sorry for her? No. You need to know which countries are in North America in order to be Veep. And you need to know that Africa is a continent. Ya just do. I'm going to read NEWSWEEK, that's for sure.

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Did I Earn A Puppy, Too?

November 05, 2008

Greetings from Barackefeller Plaza!!!! What a night.

I have watched the President - Elect's speech several times and I'm done in by his humility, grace, honor, dignity and optimism in the face of our daunting, uncertain future. He is our President. His audience was a rainbow of faces taking in his words like water; we need his energy to face what is ahead.

Might we compare our country's shift in spirit today to when Reagan took office? And, more importantly, what did we think of Michelle's dress? I was taken aback upon first seeing it, just because it was so unexpected, but I thought she looked like a million bucks. And I love it that she took a chance on a dress that I hear was designed by
(Obama supporter and great guy) Narciso Rodriguez. We have a black first lady. History.

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Election Plaza

November 04, 2008

The day is finally here! My election rituals include voting at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center (be sure to grab some free condoms and lube at the front desk on your way out!) and lunch at the Palm with "Colbert Report" Producer Emily Lazar and CBS News star Harry Smith.

It is really festive here at 30 Rock -- um, I mean ELECTION PLAZA... Here's what's up in the electoral belly:

One Day To Go

November 03, 2008

Why do I feel like tomorrow is my birthday? What if I don't get any prezzies? What if I DO? I am so excited that, as of Wednesday, I will shut off MSNBC and FOX NEWS for a long time. Is it possible to 'delete' them from my menu?

Avoid the electoral hype and watch Bravo tonight when my fave Goldie Hawn stops by "Inside the Actor's Studio". I love her. She was on "Graham Norton" the other night and I fell in love with her all over again. After Lipton, go inside the highest-end travel biz with the premiere of "First Class All the Way".

Friday night was a madhouse in my neighborhood. Halloween in the West Village is gay pride times 1000. It's for EVERYBODY in the tri-state area. And I love it. There were many drag queen Sarah Palins, some holding babies, some bloodied, and some with Bristol (I saw TWO bearded Bristols!). I also saw a Diane von Furstenberg and lots of Obamas.

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