Open Thread

Playbill reports: Dr. Anthony Fauci recently joined actor Jennifer Garner for a conversation on facing the coronavirus pandemic, current and future best safety practices, long-term ramifications, and more. During the Instagram Live interview (below), the Emmy nominee asked when we might be able to attend live performances as we did prior to the mass shutdowns. Dr. Fauci’s answer, while optimistic …

Billboard Magazine reports: Godmother of Soul Patti LaBelle will step up to the mic against Empress of Soul Gladys Knight for the next Verzuz battle Sunday, (Sept. 13). “The Master Class we’ve ALL been waiting for! @MsGladysKnight vs. @MsPattiLaBelle,” VerzuzTV announced on social media Tuesday (Sept. 8). “Leave ya church clothes on all Sunday and pull up to the affair …

Billboard Magazine reports: Madame X is adding auto-biopic screenplay writer to her long list of titles, as the pop icon shared details about the movie telling her life story during an Instagram Live Thursday night (Sept. 10). Oscar-winning Juno writer Diablo Cody has been accompanying Madonna in her quarantine hobby for the past few months. Although the pair have yet …

Deadline Hollywood reports: John Fogerty says that Donald Trump’s use of his song Fortunate Son at campaign rallies is “confounding, to say the least,” given that the lyrics to the song were inspired by rich people who were able to avoid the draft during the Vietnam war. When the song was played at Trump’s rally in Michigan on Thursday, a …

Page Six reports: A news site didn’t break copyright laws when it published a paparazzi shot it did not own showing actor Jon Hamm‘s pants bulge, a judge ruled Thursday — because of all the fuss surrounding the “Mad Men” star’s member. HuffPost used the viral image showing Hamm strolling down the street on two legs — with an apparent …

Deadline reports: New York’s Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, considered the largest participatory event in the country with 50,000 costumed revelers typically marching up Sixth Avenue, has been canceled due to concerns over COVID-19, parade organizers said today. The locally televised parade was to have featured Pose actor Billy Porter as grand marshal, with a theme of “Big Love.” An official …

The Hollywood Reporter reports: Disney’s big-budget remake of Mulan, already the subject of a pro-democracy boycott, has come under additional fire for filming scenes in China’s Xinjiang Province, where Beijing is accused of perpetrating human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims on a massive scale. Following Mulan’s release on Disney+ on Friday, some viewers began noticing a “special thanks” in the …

Billboard Magazine reports: With Folklore’s sixth week at No. 1, Taylor Swift’s cumulative weeks at No. 1, across all of her seven chart-topping albums, now rises to 46. That ties Whitney Houston for the most weeks atop the chart by a woman in history. Houston landed four No. 1 albums: her self-titled debut (14 weeks at No. 1 in 1986), …

Deadline reports: British citizens missing the movie-going can experience films like they’re English royalty, almost. The Sandringham Estate, which has been the private home of her royal majesty Queen Elizabeth and monarchs before her, has opened up to host drive-in movie events. Starting Sept. 25, the royal house will open up for a handful of drive-in showings of titles including …

Playbill reports: A night full of sharp tongues, party games, and secrets awaits these boys. Check out the first trailer for the Netflix adaptation of The Boys in the Band, starring the cast of the 2018 Tony-winning revival. As previously announced, the film debuts September 30 on the streaming service. The cast includes Jim Parsons as Michael, Zachary Quinto as …

Billboard Magazine reports: With their brand new music video for their track “It’s Alright, It’s OK,” pop singer Bright Light Bright Light and indie star Caveboy shifted the focus away from themselves. Instead, the entirety of the new clip focuses on New York drag performer and activist Glow Job, as she puts her makeup on while social distancing in her …

Variety reports: “No Time to Die,” the 25th movie in the James Bond franchise, unveiled an explosive new trailer on Thursday. The trailer packs a serious amount of action in its 2 1/2 minutes and features all the thrills fans of the globe-trotting superspy could hope for from a much awaited big-screen outing. In the upcoming film, Bond’s (Daniel Craig) …

Variety reports: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have set their sights on streaming: The royal couple has signed a deal with Netflix, Variety has confirmed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who moved to California earlier this year, had been pitching movies and TV plans around Hollywood, Variety previously reported. Under their new, multi-year deal at Netflix, the couple will …

New from our pal Matt Baume: At the start of the 90s, prime time’s first same-sex wedding appeared on the show Roc. And while there’s some differences between Roc’s story and Living Single’s, they’re similar enough that you can compare the homophobia expressed on Roc with the characters on Living Single, who just five years later fully embrace their queer …

Playbill reports: Though proms across the country were put on hold this spring, Netflix will make Christmas the “time to dance.” Ryan Murphy, who helms the streaming service’s upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical The Prom, shared a cast photo while teasing in the caption, “Christmas is right around the corner…” The shot offers our first look at several …

Variety reports: With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging on, almost every event – including the MTV Video Music Awards – has had to go virtual since March. But, the lack of live performances has birthed a new music industry obsession in the form of live stream concerts. Therefore, it’s only fitting that the VMAs came up with a brand new …

Billboard Magazine reports: Fans of Dua Lipa’s smash-hit debut album Future Nostalgia have good reason to celebrate today — the pop superstar teamed up with all-star queer DJ The Blessed Madonna for a complete remix of the album, featuring massive guest stars like Missy Elliott, Gwen Stefani, Blackpink and many more. “There was a never a moment where there was …

NBC New York reports: An out-of-control car plowed into the streetside outdoor dining area at a Brooklyn restaurant Thursday, video showed, and then immediately took off after injuring at least one customer. The car turned onto Franklin Street in Greenpoint around lunchtime and came crashing into where tables and chairs were set up for outdoor dining at Cafe Alula, video …

The Verge reports: Activision debuted a new trailer for the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and it happens to feature a somewhat eerie and unexpected new character in the series: actual President Ronald Reagan. The trailer aired during the digital-only Gamescom 2020 event, following the game’s official reveal yesterday. Incorporating a real-life historical and political figure — …

Playbill reports: EQUAL, a four-part docuseries celebrating trailblazers who fought for justice and equality in the queer community of post-war America and the pre-Stonewall uprising, will premiere in October on HBO Max. Premiering during LGBT History Month, EQUAL honors the rebels of yesteryear with archival footage along with depictions that bring to life their back stories. Part 1 explores the …