Hey old friend, here's to us, who's like us? Damn few...

With my "old friend" Jeff Williams

"Hey old friend, what do you say, old friend...."

I had a fab lunch/reunion with my fellow Syracuse University alum Jeff Williams today here in Las Vegas as he's about to open in the Nevada Conservatory Theatre production of "Seminar" - a play by  Pulitzer Prize winner Theresa Rebeck.

From the Nevada Conservatory Theatre website:

A provocative comedy from Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck, which appeared on Broadway in 2011 with Alan Rickman originating the lead role.

In Seminar, four aspiring young novelists sign up for private writing classes with Leonard, an international literary figure. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and hearts are unmoored.

The wordplay is not the only thing that turns vicious as innocence collides with experience in this biting Broadway comedy.

Jeff is a veteran of several Broadway productions (Susan Stroman's The Music Man; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; The Pirate Queen) and national touring companies (The Will Rogers Follies; Me and My Girl).  NCT is lucky to have him.

I'm seeing his performance Saturday night and can't wait. I love to see old friends doing well.  (I had a talent for hanging out with the talented kids in college. I hoped it would rub off....)

College life builds friendships on the foundations of stress, pressure, stress, celebration, stress, youth...  and did I mention stress?  Jeff and I ran in the same crowd back in the day.  He's always been a talent to be reckoned with, and no matter how many years go by we know we did this "college thing" together. 

One of my few regrets from my college days was being cast in a production of Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along and not being able to do it.  Jeff was cast as the lead - "Franklin Shepard" and I was to play his best friend "Charley."  I always remember watching Jeff on his opening night, thinking how fantastic he was in the role, and how I wish I had been onstage with him for that journey.  In theater, we really don't think about roles as a job - they are, in and of themselves, "a journey."  I can't think of the show today without that crossing my mind.

Life goes on, but we remember the things that "got away."

In our early NYC days, Jeff and Carlye and I saw each other a lot.  But often, it seemed just as I would finish a national tour gig, he'd be heading out on a new one.  He'd come back to NYC and I'd be heading out on tour again.  Time goes by, life moves us on, but if you've lived some life with someone, when you see them next it's as if time stood still.

Sending best thoughts to my fellow "Orangeman" on his opening night.

As Sondheim wrote:

"Most friends fade
Or they don't make the grade
New ones are quickly made
And in a pinch, sure, they'll do
But us old friend what's to discuss old friend?
Here's to us,
Who's like us?
Damn few."

HBO's LOOKING - Episode 4 clip "Folsom Street Fair"

From upcoming Episode 4 of HBO's LOOKING - Watching the Folsom Street Fair from a distance, Patrick (Jonathan Groff)  and Kevin (Russell Tovey) discuss the fine details of the famous San Francisco street fair.

I think Jonathan is funny with his answer when asked if he has a pair of chaps in his closet - "Maybe I do, and maybe, I do...."

Google sends a message to Sochi Olympics

Check out the homepage for google.com

Video: Russia declares gay bashing newest Olympic sport

Via press release:

The video is the newest fundraising tactic by the Russia Freedom Fund, which aims to raise a million dollars by the end of the Olympics to support LGBT Russian activists.

The video was produced by the Fair Games Project, an Indiegogo campaign launched by filmmaker Michael Rohrbaugh.

Athlete Ally is one of the producing partners on the video as well.

Other fundraising tactics for the Russia Freedom Fund include a new national initiative called Uprising of Love: Pride House 2014, where restaurants, bars, and clubs will donate $1 of every drink sold from 9 p.m. to midnight to the fund. It takes place during tomorrow's Opening Ceremonies.

In addition, Melissa Etheridge released a new single last week and will donate 100% of the profits to the fund.

The significance of the Russia Freedom Fund is that it's the only way Americans can directly support LGBT Russian activists.

(via JMG)

Franklin Graham: Satan is to blame for marriage equality

Franklin Graham

Writing on his father's website, Franklin Graham says that Satan is the one behind equal rights for gays and lesbians:

This is a full-scale assault against Christianity and the followers of Christ. When prayer is banned from the public square, when our President fails to defend biblically defined marriage, and he openly and zealously advocates for gay rights; when legislators rush to overrule existing laws to promote gay marriage; when schools and courts consistently suppress religious freedoms; we know we are locked in a war against the Christian faith, not culture.

The architect behind this offensive is none other than Satan himself. The Scripture says that the devil, our archenemy, is bent on as much destruction as possible. “But woe to you O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short” (Revelation 12:12).

Satan knows that one day very soon, he will be cast into the lake of fire and sulfur in hell (Revelation 20:10). As that day draws near, his malicious, hellish activity is intensifying. He has already been decisively defeated on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ, who took away his ultimate weapons of death and condemnation. For now, however, he still has power to work woe on earth.

Graham goes on to cast people like himself - white, straight, male, wealthy - as the true victims of same-sex marriage. That men such as himself are the ones with the uphill climb.

Because being born white, straight, male and wealthy really sets you up for disaster compared to others in America.

Right....

(via Good As You)

Quote of the day: Aaron Sorkin

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin

Academy Award-winner Aaron Sorkin has penned an "obituary" for the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

The two had worked together on 2 film projects in the past (Charlie Wilson’s War, Moneyball) and had connected with each other over their own issues with addiction.

Hoffman once remarked to Sorkin, “If one of us dies of an overdose, probably 10 people who were about to won’t” - meaning that their death might scare someone clean.

Phil Hoffman, this kind, decent, magnificent, thunderous actor, who was never outwardly “right” for any role but who completely dominated the real estate upon which every one of his characters walked, did not die from an overdose of heroin — he died from heroin. We should stop implying that if he’d just taken the proper amount then everything would have been fine.

He didn’t die because he was partying too hard or because he was depressed — he died because he was an addict on a day of the week with a y in it. He’ll have his well-earned legacy — his Willy Loman that belongs on the same shelf with Lee J. Cobb’s and Dustin Hoffman’s, his Jamie Tyrone, his Truman Capote and his Academy Award. Let’s add to that 10 people who were about to die who won’t now.

Read Aaron's full essay at Time.com

Laugh of the day

You may have to be a child of the 80s to get this...

Pageant: The Musical Comedy Beauty Contest returns to NYC

The new contestants of "Pageant"
Photos by Jenny Anderson

While I was still acting in New York City, I made my off-Broadway debut in a huge hit show called Pageant.

Opening to rave reviews, the show was a parody of what we put women through in beauty pageants across the country and around the world.  With six contestants vying for the title of "Miss Glamouresse" the audience is treated to talent, swim wear, evening gown and spokesmodel competitions.

And the best part?  The audience decides the winner each night - the cast has no idea who will win.

Immediately after the show opened, the production realized they didn't have someone to understudy the contestants.  Quick audition held - one callback - and I got the job.  Two weeks later I was on for the fab "Miss Deep South" originally created by Obie Award winner David Drake.

I loved doing the show.  I was only with the production for the first three or four months as I got a job on the national tour of "A Chorus Line" which paid more.  But it was amazing fun to be in Pageant and the cast was brilliant.

The new NYC cast includes Nick Cearley (of The Skivvies), Frankie James Grande(Mamma Mia), Douglas Lyons (Beautiful), Alex Ringler (West Side Story), Marty Thomas (Xanadu), and Seth Tucker (Our Kiki). The evening is "hosted" by Tony Award nominee Brad Oscar (The Producers; Big Fish).

Fifty percent of ticket sales benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations.

Pageant is running on Monday nights for the rest of February at the Red Lacquer Club, home of the new Lucky Cheng’s.  Tickets are available here.

Head over to Queerty for more pics.

Brad Oscar as host for the evening "Frankie Cavalier"

Marty Thomas as "Miss Deep South" during the Talent competition

Frankie J. Grande as "Miss Industrial Northeast" shows her Talent

And for a little "Throwback Thursday," here I am going on as "Miss West Coast" in the original off-Broadway run of Pageant.  On the left is Russell Garrett ("Miss Texas") and on the right is Tony Award nominee Dick Scanlan ("Miss Great Plains")

Madonna introduces Pussy Riot at Amnesty International concert in Brooklyn

Madonna introduced Russian protest-punk band Pussy Riot at Amnesty International’s Bringing Human Rights Home concert in Brooklyn, praising the band's courage and conviction for standing up for LGBT rights in Russia.

Madge spoke of her own experience performing in Russia: being told to "tone down" her show (she didn't), being sued for millions of dollars for her show being "pro-gay," seeing 87 audience members arrested during her concert for behavior that was "too gay."

And she spoke about members of Pussy Riot being imprisoned for staging a protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin inside a Moscow cathedral.

Watch the queen of pop's introduction below:

No "Club Bud" for Sochi Olympics

Budweiser pulls out of Sochi due to fear of terror attack

Budweiser has decided to pull its employees from the Sochi Winter Olympics.


In addition, there will be no "Club Bud" party for this year's Olympians either, like the Bud bashes at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and at the 2006 Olympics in Turin.

According to TMZ, “it’s all because the company is not comfortable with the situation in Russia.”

“A rep for Anheuser-Busch confirms to TMZ Sports … there will be no Club Bud in Sochi.”

TMZ adds, “we’ve seen an email from a Budweiser rep which says the company does not want its U.S.-based representatives in Sochi … and the message is clear — the terrorist threat is simply looming too large.”

On the subject of terror attacks, a new CNN poll finds 57 percent of Americans think a terror attack at the Sochi Olympics is “likely.”  In 1996 at the Atlanta Olympic Games only 51% thought such an attack was likely.

Missouri: Judge rules flashing headlights as speed trap warning is "free speech"

According to USA Today, a federal judge has ruled that flashing your headlights to warn drivers about a possible speed trap is protected as free speech under the First Amendment:

U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey in St. Louis on Monday issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the St. Louis County town of Ellisville from citing and prosecuting drivers who flash their lights to warn of radar and speed traps. Ellisville's city attorney said there are no plans to appeal.

[snip]

Jonathan Turley, a criminal attorney and a professor at George Washington University Law School, said courts across the country are dealing with the same issue. In virtually every case except those still being decided, the person cited has prevailed, Turley said.

"This has sweeping implications for the First Amendment," Turley said. "What this citizen is doing is warning other citizens about the violation of law. People regularly warn others about the possibility of arrest. There's no difference between a verbal warning and a mechanical warning. Both are forms of speech."

Who hasn't done this while driving?

Who knew you could be cited with a possible $1,000 fine?

New baby! Congratulations to Rusty Joiner and family!

New dad Rusty Joiner

Congratulations are in order for super hottie actor and model Rusty Joiner and wife Charity who welcomed their new daughter into the world last night!

Cariss Alaina Walden Joiner was born 2/5/14 at 9:26pm. At 5lb 15oz and 19 3/4" long, she's certain to be as beautiful as her gorgeous parents!

Rusty's face is familiar to audiences around the world. The former 12-time Men's Fitness Magazine cover man has appeared in tons of movies ("Dodgeball" with Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn, "Resident Evil: Extinction" with Milla Jovovich, Ulli Lommel's "Absolute Evil"), and TV shows ("The Closer," "Bones," "Close To Home," "CSI: Miami," "ER," and "Spin City") with guest appearances on Extra, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, E! News Daily and The View.

And then there are the numerous commercials like his current Cannes nominated Liquid Plumr commercial, which was a big hit here on The Randy Report.

He's been super-busy having recently completed filming on the upcoming films "Prey," "To Have and To Hold," and "Behaving Badly."

I've met Rusty a several times over the years at celebrity events in LA. On top of the face and talent, he could not be a nicer guy. The last time we ran into each other all he could talk about was the upcoming birth,  and he was already the proud dad.

Congratulations to the Joiner family!

Who wouldn't want to call him 'daddy?'

Trailer: Southern Baptist Sissies to be released February 21

Southern Baptist Sissies is the live film of the GLAAD Award winning play by Del Shores.

In 2000, Del Shores wrote a play called Southern Baptist Sissies exposing the painful journey of growing up gay in a church that preaches it is a sin. It has been produced by over 30 theatre companies across the country, and won countless awards for Del's productions and for other productions as well, including the GLAAD Award for Best Los Angeles theatre.

In 2006, a national tour starring Leslie Jordan, Dale Dickey and Delta Burke played to sold out houses across the country.

The film is a live production of the actual play. Del Shores updated the script and directed the play with multiple cameras in front of live audiences, and then filmed additional days for close-ups and coverage to make it so the final film feels as though it was shot in one live show with fifteen cameras.

The film will be released in select theaters February 21st.

Synopsis:
Southern Baptist Sissies is the story of four boys who are gay growing up in the Southern Baptist Church and how they each deal differently with the conflict between the teachings of the church and their sexuality.

Journalists tweet about hotel horrors at Sochi Olympics

HRC to keep running analysis of NBC's coverage of Sochi Olympics

The Human Rights Campaign has announced it will issue reports of NBC's coverage of the Sochi Olympics and how much time is spent covering the anti-LGBT activity in Russia during the games.

Via press release:

Over the course of the seventeen-day event, it is expected that the station, which has exclusive rights to air the events, will air about 1,500 hours of Olympics-related coverage; HRC plans to report daily on the time spent discussing Russia’s social and legal homophobia at HRC.org/Russia.

Shortly after Russia enacted its controversial anti-gay laws in the summer of 2013, HRC President Chad Griffin wrote to NBCUniversal, asking the station to take advantage of the opportunity to expose the situation created by Russia’s homophobic laws.

In January 2014, the Olympics executive producer of NBC, Jim Bell, told press, “We’re not there to poke a sharp stick in anybody’s eye, but we’re not going to shy away from reporting anything either.” HRC also reported that other networks have announced their intent to air segments about the current plight of the Russian LGBT community.