MARTINA PETRIC AND PERCY RICHTER LIT UP THE LGBTQ+ LOVE
The artist with residence in Spain and the musician located in England, featuring for the first time a song that celebrates daily love and positivity. Petric and Richter were inspired by their stories inviting us to dance, making us remember the most important: love is love, it is lightning and healing.
A dance melody produced by Petric, that gained its upbeat style fromRené Roco, in which the artists seek to convey more positive feelings about romanticism. ‘Bringing along more awareness to our LGBT+ community, we want to leave a message with our music. In this single we have decided it would be about love, intimacy, affection, understanding that we live in a complex society that most of the time we don’t allow us to love and be ourselves; society of which we were victims’, they have said.
‘If there is someone that is suffering, dealing with hate, abuse and fear, we would like them to listen to this song, understand the message, watch the video and feel a glimpse of hope, peace and affection. You are not alone, there is an enormous force that is with you’.
‘One More Night’ video clip was recorded with a hi8 camera, directed by Martina Petric. It shows daily lives of LGBT+ couples bringing us closer to the intimacy and home feeling in a potent and exciting way.
'We expect that people will dance, sing and dedicate this song'. ‘One More Night’ the desire to repeat what makes us feel good every single night.
DALLAS' OWN NEZI MOMODU ANNOUNCES ‘THE POUND’ PROJECT DETAILS
Nezi Momodu stands out from the pack with her late 80's / 90's-infused melodies, hardcore messages and unique wordplay – earning her the title of “Wordplay Queen” and praise from the likes of icons like Missy Elliott and Snoop Dogg. She is also featured on “Introducing Nezi (ft. Nezi Momodu)” from Logic’s new album Vinyl Days, with Pitchfork noting, “Nezi Momodu’s verse is excellent.” She will also join Logic live on August 7th at the Dallas, TX stop of his Vinyl Verse Tour, the same week that the Nigeria-born, Dallas-based musician, visual artist and writer drops her upcoming EP, The Pound – due August 5th via Repost, SoundCloud’s artist services division.
The Pound gets its title from the white hot music scene in Dallas right now with an overflow of incredibly talented musicians – and how every artist is waiting for the big break to come, hoping to get plucked from “the pound” for the big league. The EP will feature 10 tracks including previous singles “N.E.Z.” – a track whose video is a take on classic hip hop videos from the likes of Missy Elliott and Lil Kim, and is dedicated “In honor of the women who never stopped reminding girls like me that talent was enough”; and “The Pound” featuring fellow Nigerian rapper D-Truce.
Nezi also recently shared her latest single “On Gawd,” produced by Paven Melody, and returns with a video for the track – an homage to her hometown of Dallas, TX. “This video is a love letter to Dallas jigging culture,” notes Nezi. “Taking you back to late-2000s Dallas dance culture, we hit local spots and show the world how much life we breathe into our community. Hip hop is alive and thriving here and it’s time that everyone sees exactly what we are made of.” Watch the “On Gawd” official video here:
Well known in the underground hip hop and art community in Dallas, Nezi stands out in the local MC cyphers and as a respected visual artist focusing heavily on acrylic works relating to black youth and pop culture. Her technique with various colors blended together with thick graphic lines is just one of the reasons why she is considered a new age pop artist. She dove heavily into studying flows, poetry and literature after the passing of her father, which would later on define her style of music.
Nezi was also recently named to SoundCloud’s “First on SoundCloud” Class of 2022 where she will work directly with SoundCloud over the next year to co-produce tangible, career-defining moments to deepen artist-to-fan connections, creating unique opportunities to reach new audiences. The artists chosen for this special honor are ones championed by fans on SoundCloud and hand-selected by SoundCloud’s music team. With almost 300k followers and 2.8 million likes, Nezi also has a rapidly growing presence on TikTok.
NEZI MOMODU - ‘THE POUND’ TRACK LISTING
1. I'm a Dog (Intro)
2. N.E.Z.
3. Menage
4. IYUM
5. Ante Up
6. OPP
7. The Pound ft. D-Truce
8. On Gawd
9. The Pack
10. I'm On (Outro)
Ashlee Keating's Fierce New Song "Saucy" is a Must for Your Summer Party Playlist
Ashlee Keating is ready to take the pop music scene by storm with her new single “SAUCY” and forthcoming EP. The hot new single has quickly become an anthem for both female-empowerment and the LGBTQ+ community. The track was created by the top-tier team of producers Tommy Brown (who works closely with Ariana Grande), YNG Josh and Nick Cooper. While the vibrant “Saucy” music video racked up over 100K views in the first week since its release, directed by Combina Key and choreographed by Shirlene Quigley.
Ashlee Keating “SAUCY” Official Music Video
As a Billboard-charting music sensation, Ashlee is a true multifaceted talent. Her music is a perfect mix of upbeat and inspirational, with lyrical themes of loving yourself and living your best life. Between her colorful style and dance-worthy music catalog, Ashlee has also become highly regarded within the LGBTQ+ community as an ally and activist. She strives to spread messages of love, positivity, and confidence through all of her work. Making major strides in the music industry, Ashlee’s recent single “YASSS” garnered over 1-Million streams on Spotify while her singles “Hurt Me So Good” and “Bad Mistake” spent weeks on the Top 20 Billboard Dance/Club Chart.
Born and raised in Southern New Jersey, Ashlee discovered her love for music at a young age. She made her Broadway debut at only 6-years-old, playing ‘Gretl’ in the national tour of “The Sound of Music” (alongside Richard Chamberlain). Shortly after, she was cast as the lead role of “Annie” at the famous Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia. Ashlee has since been seen as a contestant on CBS’ “Star Search”, a member of Radio Disney’s “Up and Coming Artist” Incubator Program (performing for artists such as Demi Lovato, Keke Palmer, & Raven Symone), in acting roles in movies such as “The Bandit Hound”, and with her holiday single “Ice Kingdom” featured in Coca-Cola’s ‘52 Songs of Happiness’ campaign.
Ashlee loves to use her platform for good, giving back to philanthropic organizations supporting women empowerment and the LGBTQ+ community. Over the years, she has worked closely with GLAAD, Girl Up, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Outside of her music career, Ashlee likes to stay active with her passions for fashion, dancing, pilates, make-up, traveling, and fitness. She also loves spending time with her pomeranian puppy Koko.
Stay tuned for upcoming Unleashed LGBTQ exclusive interview with Ashlee Keating.
MUSIC & SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram | TikTok I Twitter | Facebook |
Music: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube
Website: ashleekeating.com
Andy Cohen’s Pride Party with MUJEN and DE-NADA at The Skylark
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Andy Cohen attends the celeb-filled Pride Day celebration with MUJEN SPIRITS and DE-NADA TEQUILA at The Skylark on June 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: attends Andy Cohen's Pride Party with MUJEN and DE-NADA at The Skylark at The Skylark on June 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, June 23, 2022—The Skylark, Midtown West’s elevated bar and lounge with New York City’s most breathtaking 30th-floor views, today announces its PRIDE Day Celebration on Sunday, June 26, 2022 (4pm-9pm), hosted by Andy Cohen.
The invitation-only gala event includes an open bar servingspecialty cocktails by Master Mixologist Johnny Swet, featuring DE-NADA Additive-Free Tequila and MUJEN Spirits – a new premium line of Japanese shochu introduced to the marketplace this year; passed bar bites by premier caterer Abigail Kirsch; DJ Timothy Lucent spinning tunes; as well as exclusive merchandise by Bloomingdale’s.
Located in Manhattan’s historic Garment District, The Skylark is the brainchild of hospitality veteran David Rabin and premier catering and hospitality group Abigail Kirsch. It is an all-season, multi-level indoor/outdoor destination for sophisticated cocktails during the week and private events on weekends.
“PRIDE is something very close to our hearts here at The Skylark, and we can see this becoming an annual celebration and the premier post-PRIDE Parade event,” says Anthony Simone, General Manager, The Skylark. “We are making sure to pull out all the stops to make this the most epic PRIDE event in New York City, and one that benefits a very worthy cause.”
All proceeds from the joyous, high-energy PRIDE Day Celebration, which includes a silent auction, will benefit The Ali Forney Center in New York, which protects LGBTQ youth from homelessness. In addition, until the end of July at The Skylark, a portion of proceeds from cocktails made with DE-NADA Tequila and MUJEN Spirits will benefit the organization.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: DE-NADA Tequila is served at Andy Cohen's celeb-filled Pride Day celebration with MUJEN SPIRITS and DE-NADA TEQUILA at The Skylark on June 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
The Skylark’s PRIDE cocktails include:
De’Perfect Paloma
2 oz DE-NADA Blanco Tequila
1.5 oz grapefruit juice
0.5 oz lime juice
In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine all ingredients and shake until cold. Strain into a highball glass over ice and stir in grapefruit soda. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge sprinkled with salt.
Tokyo Lemonade
2 oz MUJEN Original or MUJEN Ai
1 oz lemon juice
0.75 oz simple syrup (3 parts sugar, 2 parts water)
In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine all ingredients and shake until cold. Strain into a Collins glass over ice and stir in 3 oz of soda water. Garnish with a mint sprig.
Just the Prick Margarita
1 oz MUJEN Original or MUJEN Ai
1 oz DE-NADA Blanco Tequila
2 oz prickly pear purée
0.75 oz lime juice
0.5 oz orange juice
0.5 oz agave nectar
In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine all ingredients and shake until cold. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Andy Cohen (R) attends the celeb-filled Pride Day celebration with MUJEN SPIRITS and DE-NADA TEQUILA at The Skylark on June 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Anthony Simone, Angel Au and guests attend Andy Cohen's celeb-filled Pride Day celebration with MUJEN SPIRITS and DE-NADA TEQUILA at The Skylark on June 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Andy Cohen attends celeb-filled Pride Day celebration with MUJEN SPIRITS and DE-NADA TEQUILA at The Skylark on June 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
THINGS WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO: BROS
By Arnold Wayne Jones
By the time the weather gets this stultifying hot – despite the appeal of pool season – we start looking forward to the fall and all that entails: Cooler weather, upcoming holidays and, this year, Billy Eichner.
Eichner has been the secret weapon of various filmed entertainments for a decade. Starting with his YouTube videos Billy on the Street – featured on FunnyOrDie.com, and later a proper series on cable – which were equal parts super-gay, super-funny and super-terrifying, ambushing pedestrians for what must seem like a bipolar flash-mob-of-one game show, he proved mania could be marketable and hysterical. But he’s also lent brilliant comic energy in supporting roles to such diverse properties as the reboot of The Lion King (voicing Timon), Parks & Rec and Friends from College.
Bros Courtesy of Universal Pictures
He finally will lead his own feature film, set to arrive in late September along with pumpkin spiced lattes and Halloween costume prep. Bros, which he co-wrote with (straight) director Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Neighbors), tells the romantic complications of Eichner’s character, Bobby, a schulbby intellectual loner, and Aaron (out hottie Luke Macfarlane), the athletic hyper-masculine muscle hunk he falls for. But don’t expect some chastely ordinary queer-rom-com. Based on the trailers (the second one dropped last week), it’s outrageous, sexy, winkingly smart at celebrating and skewering queer culture… and incredibly funny. It also seems to be the class reunion of every gay icon and out comedic actor in Hollywood, including Kristin Chenoweth, Debra Messing, Jim Rash, Guy Branum, Guillermo Diaz, Bowen Yang and Amanda Bearse.
Bros Courtesy of Universal Pictures
How appealing is all this? Just check out the new trailer, and put Sept. 30 on your calendar. We can all bro it up!
San marcos, Texas Gets GREEN-LIGHT On New Massive TV/Film Studios
Courtesy of Foley Design
SAN MARCOS, Texas – A $267 million, 820,000-square-foot TV, film and virtual production studio will be built in San Marcos, officials said Wednesday.
The studio is set to bring in more than 1,400 industry jobs to the community, according to Hill Country Group.
“The multiuse project, located at the entrance of the La Cima master-planned community, will also feature modern lifestyle and collaborative workplace amenities, headlined by post-production facilities, a 50-seat screening theater and a full-service restaurant and coffee shop,” Hill Country Group said. “Twenty-five acres will be reserved for vendor and commercial space built to serve both the studio and surrounding community.”
The San Marcos City Council approved the project Tuesday.
“The agreement provides a tax rebate incentive to support the construction of a film production studio in San Marcos. Construction on the project is expected to begin in April 2023 and will be conducted in three phases, with an anticipated completion date set for August 2025,” a city release said.
According to San Marcos officials, the facility will be built near Wonder World Drive and West Center Point Road.
“We’re excited to see the opportunities this project brings to San Marcos,” said Assistant City Manager Joe Pantalion. “We’re excited Hill Country Group, LLC has chosen to invest in San Marcos for this project and we’re confident the film production studio will positively impact our local businesses and our City’s overall economy.”
More news to come as plans continue to develop.
PEACOCK RELEASES NEW TEASER FOR ORIGINAL FILM THEY/THEM
THEY/THEM -- Pictured: (l-r) Carrie Preston as Cora Whistler, Anna Chlumsky as Molly, Boone Platt as Zane, Kevin Bacon as Owen Whistler -- (Photo by: Josh Stringer/Blumhouse)
Peacock releases new trailer for They/Them (or more appropriately They Slash Them) by award-winning screenwriter John Logan’s in his directorial debut from Blumhouse. They/Them will premiere exclusively on Peacock Friday, August 5, 2022.
This slasher horror film stars Kevin Bacon as Owen Whistler, the creepy owner and director of Whistler Camp, a conversion therapy retreat for LGBTQIA+ youth. This week of programming promises to offer guests the opportunity to “help them find a new sense of freedom”, but as the camp’s methods become increasingly more psychologically unsettling, the campers must work together to protect themselves. Audiences can expect thrills and chills from this queer-horror slasher flick as things go from bad to worse when an unidentified axe murderer starts claiming victims.
They/Them also stars Anna Chlumsky, Carrie Preston, Theo Germaine, Quei Tann, Austin Crute, Monique Kim, Anna Lore, Cooper Koch, & Darwin Del Fabro.
THEY/THEM -- Pictured: (l-r) Cooper Koch as Stu, Anna Lore as Kim, Monique Kim as Veronica, Quei Tann as Alexandra, Austin Crute as Toby, Darwin del Fabro as Gabriel, Theo Germaine as Jordan -- (Photo by: Josh Stringer/Blumhouse)
HIGHLY SUSPECT RETURN WITH NEW ALBUM THE MIDNIGHT DEMON CLUB
PHOTO CREDIT: JIMMY FONTAINE
JUNE 22, 2022 – Roadrunner Records / FRKST band Highly Suspect have announced details of their anxiously awaited fourth full-length album, The Midnight Demon Club, which will arrive on September 9th. It is available for pre-order / pre-save at all streaming platforms now. The three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated band have also shared two new tracks: “Natural Born Killer” (streaming HERE) and “Pink Lullabye” (streaming HERE) with “Natural Born Killer” joined by an Andrew Sandler directed music video streaming on the band’s official YouTube channel.
Regarding the LP, lead vocalist and guitarist Johnny Stevens a.k.a. “Terrible Johnny” shared, “Life comes at you fast. We are constantly reminded of this, and perhaps no greater occurrence will spark the imagination more than the death of a loved one. In my experience, it’s during these moments of processing great loss that the mind is completely focused on ‘what if’s’ as we try and escape what is. The Midnight Demon Club is about becoming the best version of yourself after tragedy, so it’s a second chance on life with a happier mindset. The Midnight Demon Club is all about having fun and keeping it moving. Because as we all know, this life is way too short.”
Stevens also remarked on lead single “Natural Born Killer” explaining, “I’m always fighting for my place out here in this world. And there are two mindsets one could have - rollover and mope about the hard shit or just be a motherfucking life beast and smash all your challenges at hand. And if you’re really a badass, have fun doing it. That’s the flow. That’s the essence of being a natural born killer.”
The Midnight Demon Club finds Highly Suspect at a turning point. Produced by Highly Suspect and WZRD BLD, the 12-track offering teems with truth barely contained in fits of metallic exorcism and hip-hop-induced beat-craft. Stoned musings about a world on the brink of destruction ride over gorgeously uneasy orchestration and vocal transmissions that drip with sadness, longing, rage, and confidence all at once [tracklisting / album art below].
Right now, the band are canvasing Europe on “The Devils In The Detail Tour.” The trek visits multiple countries before wrapping up at Lollapalooza in Paris, France on July 17. They’ll head back to the United States for appearances at Louder Than Life in Louisville, KY on September 22nd and Pointfest in Maryland Heights, MO on September 24th [tour itinerary below]. For tickets and more information on Highly Suspect’s upcoming tour dates, visit www.highlysuspect.net.
Never content to follow, Highly Suspect push rock music forward by trusting their instincts and raising a middle finger to everything else. The multi-GRAMMY® Award-nominated and gold-certified band - Johnny Stevens [vocals, guitar], Ryan Meyer [drums, vocals], Rich Meyer [bass, vocals], Matt Kofos [guitar] and Mark Schwartz [synths] - don’t just talk about burning the rules and breaking the mold; they actually do so. The band’s chemically imbalanced mix of gritty guitars, haunting piano, off-kilter synths, hip-hop production, cinematic vision, and beautifully possessed vocals transformed them into a phenomenon beloved by a diehard global fanbase known as “MCID” [My Crew Is Dope].
After grinding it out as an underground curiosity, they scraped a path to mainstream infamousness with their 2015 full-length debut, Mister Asylum. It earned a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Rock Album” as the single “Lydia” received a nomination for “Best Rock Song” was certified gold by the RIAA. The 2016 follow-up The Boy Who Died Wolf roared to life with the gold-selling “My Name Is Human,” which catapulted to #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart and garnered a GRAMMY® Nomination for “Best Rock Song.”2019’s MCID affirmed them as the rare outfit who could collaborate with Young Thug and Gojira on the same album. Loudwire hailed the latter among the “50 Best Rock Albums of 2019.” With hundreds of millions of streams and sold out shows on multiple continents, Highly Suspect charge ahead of the pack again on 2022’s The Midnight Demon Club with no compromises and no apologies as they challenge rock to be dangerous and maybe even life-changing again.
[ALBUM ARTWORK / TRACKLISTING / TOUR ITINERARY BELOW]
HIGHLY SUSPECT
THE MIDNIGHT DEMON CLUB
The Sound
Natural Born Killer
Ice Cold
Midnight Demon Club
Caught On Fire
Wild Eyed Son
Pink Lullabye
New California
Need To Say
Cool Kids
Love Like This
Evangeline
TOUR DATES
6/22- Warsaw, Poland - Proxima
6/23 - Krakow, Poland - Klub Kwadrat
6/27 - Glasgow, UK - SWG3
6/30 - Manchester, UK - 02 Ritz Manchester
7/1 - Camden, UK - Electric Ballroom
7/2 - Camden, UK - Electric Ballroom
7/4 - Bristol, UK - Marble Factory
7/5 - Birmingham, UK - 02 Institute
7/7 - Madrid, Spain - Mad Cool Festival 2022
7/9 - Vienna, Austria - Simm City
7/11 - Berlin, Germany - Festsaal Kreuzberg Biergarten
7/12 - Cologne, Germany - Die Kantine
7/14 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
7/15 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli Vredenburg
7/17 - Paris, France - Lollapalooza
9/22 - Louisville, KY - Louder Than Life 2022
9/24 - Maryland Heights, MO - Pointfest 2022
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HIGHLY SUSPECT:
OFFICIAL SITE / SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / FACEBOOK
CONTACT:
LILY GOLIGHTLY / LILY@THREEHUNDRED.BIZ
ROSS ANDERSON / ROSSANDERSON@ELEKTRA.COM
Bobby Newberry and Fia Nyxx Offer an “Escape”
To The Dancefloor with Their Sexy New Summer Jam
Bobby Newberry and Fia Nyxx are out to make people dance, sweat, feel free, sexy and have a good time this summer. Their new single, “Escape” is a scorcher of a dance record with sultry house elements, a disco infusion and a seriously hypnotic baseline. “Honestly, I had been feeling a lot of pressure and stress from the world and everyday life,” Bobby Newberry explains when discussing the genesis of the song. “I was hearing it a lot from friends too; how there is just always something draining our energy.” He says he and Fia wanted to give party people a moment to drown out their troubles and re-energize their bodies with a good time. They wrote and produced “Escape” with their mutual friend, Sam J Garfield. “It’s about taking an emotional journey, letting go of the world and its problems, getting lost on the dancefloor and feeling alive.” Bobby Newberry and Fia Nyxx’s “Escape” is available on Apple Music, Spotify, and all digital platforms. The video is available on YouTube.
“The song writing experience was pretty magical,” Bobby Newberry recalls from his Los Angeles home. “I had the idea for the hook and I kept singing it over and over with Fia, on continuous loop, while rallying Sam to hurry in with the house drop. It was an incredible session. The vibe between the three of us was electric.
The energy resonates in the high voltage music video that accompanies the song. Filmed at Sam J Garfield’s BlackRose Los Angeles, Newberry co-directed with Logan James who also shot the video. Choreography is by Bobby Newberry, Taylor Knight and Robbie Blue.
A shoulder injury sustained by Newberry nearly shut down production on the video. “We had to adjust all the choreography and creative,” he explains. “If you watch closely, I do ninety percent of the choreography with my left arm because my right shoulder was in pain.”
Natalie Saidi styled the video and Bobby says the fashion became a whole character in itself. “Natalie took us places we had never been, fashion wise. She really made some iconic looks happen.”
His absolute favorite are the red pants with the flowing tulle. “I could hardly move in them but they were incredible!” he laughs.
Bobby Newberry began his career in the music industry as a choreographer for Eminem. He would go on to work with a string of the world’s top artists including Nicki Minaj, The Pussycat Dolls, Missy Elliot, and Lil’ Wayne. His choreography work has been seen on TV in Dancing with the Stars and X-Factor. In 2014, Bobby Newberry released his first single and music video, “Dirrty Up (featuring Jessie and The Toy Boys).” It was soon after followed by his debut EP, The Newberry Special.
Fia Nyxx recently released her sophomore album, Red Umbrella. In her music, Nyxx embraces a theatrical approach, embodying a brilliantly experimental clash of genres from rock to pop. “Fia is passionate and rockstar glamorous with such an amazing falsetto register,” Newberry says. “It was really fun to vocal produce her on this record.”
Escape is the third single from Bobby Newberry’s upcoming EP. The dancers in the “Escape” music video are Taylor Knight, Robbie Blue, Brynda Rowen, and Devin Neal.
Follow Bobby Newberry on Instagram @ bobbynewberry
Film Review: CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH
By: Arnold Wayne Jones
A great farce requires crackerjack timing, a potent thriller the skillful withholding of information, but effective cinematic charm? There’s no formula for that most elusive of movie delights. Too far one way, you get smug self-awareness; too much the other, cringeworthy forced schmaltz. (Last year’s Licorice Pizza managed to embody both with its overwrought “authenticity” and meandering ideas coagulating on the screen.) Done well, though, an ideal charmer can transcend entertainment and enter a realm of sui generis enchantment.
The nouveau rom-com Cha Cha Real Smooth, despite its edge-of-0ff-putting title, finds that Goldilocks Zone. It’s pure magic — quirky, specific, complex, unpredictable. It’s a touchstone of Gen Z angst and optimism.
Writer-director Cooper Raiff also plays the lead: Andrew, a recent college grad who hates working his mall-food-court job while girlfriend’s Fulbright Scholarship has taken her overseas. To save up money so he can visit her, he moves back in with his mom (Leslie Mann, who’s never been better), younger brother David (Evan Assante) and new stepdad (Brad Garrett). Andrew accompanies David to a bat mitzvah, where his outgoing personality enlivens a dull party. Suddenly he’s in-demand as a professional party starter – introducing the guest of honor, emceeing the festivities, leading the “Cha Cha Slide” (where the movie gets its title), etc. It’s also where he meets Domino (Dakota Johnson), a young mother of an autistic teenager, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt). Andrew’s toothy smile and extroverted personality manages to win over the protective mom, but also her closed-off daughter.
Andrew is too old to be a love interest for Lola and too young for the already-engaged Domino… or is he? We already know he’s a born romantic, an open-hearted but aimless people-person whose lack of focus makes him fun but unreliable. In a different cinematic universe, this would be The Wedding Singer or Sweet Home Alabama, where the stodgy-and-wrong-for-her boyfriend is justly cuckolded, but Cha Cha Real Smooth defines such conventions. Tonally, it’s closer to a less-yuppified Jerry Maguire than a 21st century Kate Hudson-Matthew McConaughey-Jennifer Lopez romantic comedy. It doesn’t feel churned out, it feels lived it.
Johnson delivered a career-best performance – she underplays with the same delicately ethereal mood of a young Jessica Lange – and newcomers Burghardt and Assante provide unique presences so that when they are off-screen, you miss them. But clearly the greatest credit goes to Raiff, who seems to be the love child of Adam Scott and Oscar Isaac with the perfect amount of smarm and zero smirk. Raiff layers his character without leading the audience through his personality by the nose. The script withholds information not to be mysterious, but because some things simply wouldn’t be emphasized in reality (his incipient alcohol problem, his mother’s bipolar condition). He wins over us in the audience the same way he does the Jewish mothers at the bar mitzvahs. The script and direction are nothing short of brilliant. Cha Cha Real Smooth establishes Raiff as an important new voice … and reinvents movie charm for a new generation.
Now in theaters and available on Apple TV+.
Peacock Reboots a Gay Staple with Unexpected Success QUEER AF
By Arnold Wayne Jones
If you’re old enough (and gay enough) to remember watching when Russell T. Davies’ original British series Queer as Folk debuted more than 20 years ago – I, sadly, am – then you will never forget the adrenaline-rush of seeing sexually-active gay men engaged in realistic-seeming sex without AIDS, shame or suicide being the dramatic driving force. It was staggering in its radicalism. There was no marriage equality; it was still GLBT – the “A” hadn’t been added, the letters reversed, the Q codified. It was sexy, frivolous, and its politics was that of stentorian outrage at closet-cases, homophobia and hypocrisy. The original QAF – and its American remake, which ran on pay-cable for five seasons – was a kind of fantasy soap opera of bed-hopping, shade-throwing and melodramatic cliffhangers. (Question: Should we call a gay soap opera a “lube musical”? But I digress.)
Courtesy of NBC/Universal
We live in a new world now, although not always a better world. Gay weddings are now called “weddings,” Grindr gets joked about in primetime, COVID has replaced HIV as the virus of the moment, trans kids are… well, a thing. But there’s also the Pulse nightclub shooting, anti-trans legislation and the current SCOTUS membership. We’ve come far, but there’s still far to go.
Which is why, as I discovered slightly to my surprise, that we really needed a reboot of Queer as Folk. I needed convincing; I’m generally opposed to rehashing old properties simply because Hollywood is so bereft of courage or originality that it assumes audiences only want what they already know. (Unfortunately, they are often right.) Why revisit the same characters, or “new” characters regurgitating the same ideas, just for clicks and a 4.5 in the demo? The fact that this QAF was coming to NBC’s Peacock – the buggiest and boringest of the major streaming services from the most middle-brow of networks – gave me little hope.
Courtesy of NBC/Universal
Then I watched the first episode. And the second. And third. And it dawned on me that, of all retro series reboots out there, this may be the one that has the best chance to seem more relevant than the original.
In some ways, this is a critique of the American version. A dirty little secret: Most gays will concede that we often hate-watched that show. We wanted to see idealized versions of our own lives on screen (hard bodies glistening with perspiration in soft-core lighting), but these scenes were sandwiched between stereotypes, often painfully overwrought dialogue and predictable plotting. Most episodes left you with the same dissatisfaction as a Diet Coke: You asked for it, but the empty aftertaste left you wanting something better. The Peacock version needed to improve upon those feelings, and so far, it has.
Courtesy of NBC/Universal
The first amazement for me was the opening scene: A fairly explicit and rolicking anal sex scene that shows more ass and abs than I expected from NBC. The second amazement: Diversity. Another reason why the earlier incarnation was so disappointing was the total lack of color in the primary cast: Of the dozen or so regulars, every single one was as white as a Trump rally. There were token lesbians, a mix of tops and bottoms, twinks and doms but virtually no bears, no queens, and no POC. Not so this time out. The lesbian couple are mixed race – a butch black dyke and a thin lipstick transwoman; the local slut is mixed, the adopted son of white parents (including an almost unrecognizable Kim Cattrall, doing excellent character work) with a brother on the spectrum (Special star Ryan O’Connell); there are Latinos, gender-fluid teens, otters, a disabled guy and Juliette Lewis. (Sadly, no senior queers – hey, it’s still a gay fantasy.)
Courtesy of NBC/Universal
Another big difference is how the stakes seem contemporary and relevant. There’s less worrying about HIV (PrEP!) and molly overdoses and more mass shootings, social media awareness and criticism of faux allies. But there are still the cliches: Young gays having/wanting kids (heteronormative ideals are the flesh-eating viruses of most mainstream portrayals of gay culture); superficial conversations about overwrought emotions; secondary characters praising/apologizing for the anti-heroic stars; and so, so many pretty boys fucking wildly to fill in for plot (OK, I admit I like that part a lot). The trade off works, though.
Courtesy of NBC/Universal
I’ve enjoyed the acting (other than O’Connell, who is sweet but never convincing in his line delivery) and the mancandy helps the bad dialogue go down easier. I’ll definitely watch all eight episodes and probably wait for another season. And maybe two decades from now, another version will come along and rewrite the gay script over again for a future generation. And maybe it will be Queer AF too.
FELIX III DEBUTS “THE SOUNDS I MAKE” VIDEO TODAY
Queer, Mexican-American musician and composer FELIX III releases his new video for "The Sounds I Make" today. FELIX III’s music focuses on giving into carnal pleasures at the cost of mental wellbeing – and centers around unlearning the damage caused by poverty, homophobia, higher education, heartbreak and the great sadness of not living up to the American Dream that we are conditioned to believe in as our ultimate goal.
Of “The Sounds I Make” and its accompanying video, FELIX III says: “This song is about dancing away your problems. ‘The Sounds I Make’ is my lyrical mantra. It is facing the things you aren’t happy with in your life, and letting them go. Every sound you make is a chance to grow, learn and expand your potential. I used Big Room style beats with rave-ready anthemic synths to drive the song forward, much like life. Then I used a modulating vocoder to change my voice as the song progresses like the way we change our points of view as we mature and grow wiser.
The video is shot vertically. We want you to watch it on your phone, just like everything else. “The Sounds I Make” was shot in a swimming pool, a bathtub, and at the ocean. I wanted to capture the vulnerability of being in and beside a body of water. Water can be both healing and dangerous - one minute we are floating at the top, and the next we are under the waves. Being in water is also a place where we cast aside inhibitions and expose our bodies. As the ingenue in the video, we wanted that voyeuristic side of the starlet in the swimming pool gazing at the Hollywood producer debating how far he would go to get the part.”
FELIX III is the official artist-in-residence for OUTsider Fest – an Austin-based transmedia nonprofit that celebrates the bold originality and creative nonconformity of the LGBTQ+ communities through the presentation of provocative, overlooked and out-of-the-box film, dance, theater, performance art, music, writing and visual art. Through OUTsider Fest, FELIX III will be the recipient of the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts Grant). The residency began with a performance earlier this year and will continue with the presentation of a semi-surreal feature film to be shot this year and premiere in 2023.
FELIX III will perform at Brooklyn’s 3 Dollar Bill on July 20.
Felix III: Instagram / Spotify / Apple Music / TikTok / Twitter
This Pride, Talia Keys Releases “We’re Here”
Photo Credit: Stefan Poulos
Her Call-to-Action Song and Visual Encourages Queer People
Be Proud, Keep Fighting and Shake Sh*t Up
Talia Keys is celebrating Pride month with the release of a new music video that calls for today’s queer generation to be loud and proud in who they are. Written and produced by Keys, “We’re Here” is a reggae inspired, feel good anthem that is broken into three parts. The first verse is about the internal struggles many LGBTQ youth face when their outward appearance doesn’t quite fit the societal mold. The second verse challenges them to smash the patriarchy of society’s expectations around gender binaries. Finally, the outro encourages all to own who they are because by simply existing, they are changing the world into a better place. “We need to fight the status quo,” asserts Keys, “Because like it or not, We’re Queer, We’re Here and We aren’t going anywhere.” Talia Keys’ “We’re Here” is available now on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms. Its music video is on YouTube.
“I was inspired to create ‘We’re Here’ because I grew up in Mormon Utah as a closeted queer Catholic girl,” Keys reflects. “Being different in Utah put a target on me. In school, I was bullied for being a Tomboy and then I became a bully to protect my secret.” When she finally came out in her mid-twenties, Talia, a successful musician, lost fans and gigs, but she kept her drive. Today, she uses her music and performances to preach the good word of love, acceptance and fucking shit up. “I see the stage as my platform to spread awareness.”
Photo Credit: Stefan Poulos
That message is echoed in the “We’re Here” music video. It was shot in an empty theater because, as Talia explains, “Sometimes it feels empty when you come out and the support you once had is gone. As queer people, though, we learn to be strong willed and to perform with our entire heart, even if it is to an empty room.” She also wanted to shed light on the fact that queer art is suffering during the pandemic.
The video features several queer, trans, enby artists and drag queens. “We’re Here” stars Madazon Can-Can, a gender non-binary drag king, burlesque dancer and clown. “I first saw Madazon Can-Can perform at our local Pride and was captivated by their ability to entertain rowdy queers, dance burlesque, shine as a drag king and make us laugh and cry as a clown,” Talia says. “When I began visualizing the We’re Here’ video, I immediately thought of Madazon whose multifaceted talents would be able to convey the message of the song.”
Photo Credit: Stefan Poulos
She also cast local drag artists Kay Bye (they/them), Lilia Maughn (she/her/they/them) and M’Lady Wood (she/her), as well as local musician Zaza Historia VanDyke (She/Her) in the music video and assembled an all-Queer crew to shoot the video. The award-winning filmmaker Melahn Atkinson (she/they) produced, filmed and edited “We’re Here.” Talia directed, produced and acted in the video. Ismene Vetas and Marz Catrow (they/them) long-time collaborators, were the additional camera operators.
Talia Keys is an activist-musician who has enjoyed a loyal following in Salt Lake City clubs for over a decade, and has made a name for herself on national tours and jam festivals from coast to coast. Growing up, she and her brother were raised by a single mother. Her dad struggled with addiction and his battles forced Talia to grow up sooner than one would expect.
Still, she was a kid with a big imagination and whether she was pretending to be Michael Jordan or impersonating Elvis Presley, Talia could entertain herself for hours. She began piano lessons at age 9, drums at 11, guitar at 16 and mandolin at 22. Music was always very prevalent throughout her youth, beginning with The Beatles and turning to Bob Marley in middle school. Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, and Talking Heads were some of the other artists that played a big role in her musical development. She even had a Kris Kross phase (and yes, she wore her clothes backwards for a time). It opened Talia up to rap and hip hop and she became a huge fan of Tribe Called Quest, The Fugees and Blackalicious.
Talia Keys’ trademark fire and brimstone stage presence is an amalgam of her journey, identity, and musical influences. While her physical appearance may scream LESBO, her music does not. It presents a modern twist on the rock n’ roll troubadour singing songs of struggle and ultimately, triumph.
Talia Keys’ “We’re Here” is available now on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms. Its music video is on YouTube. Visit Talia’s website and follow her on Instagram @taliakeys
Photo Credit: Stefan Poulos
Mr. Man Unveils “Battle of the Streaming Services” Pride Guide
Netflix Wins Title of Streamer with the Most-Gay Content
This Pride, Mr. Man is pitting the top streaming services up against one another to determine which network is the gayest with the best male nudity. The editorial team at Mr. Man had the laborious task of combing through all of the content on Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, and Prime Video to find their gayest titles. They then went even further, counting the number of intimate gay scenes within each title! Results for “Mr. Man’s Battle of the Streaming Services” Pride Guide were broken down into four categories: the series with the Most Gay Scenes, those with the Most Nude Scenes, and those with the Most Full Frontal and the Most Butt Scenes.
Netflix wins the Most Gay Scenes category. It comes as little surprise as Netflix is the network behind such LGBTQ hits as Grace and Frankie, Orange Is the New Black, Queer Eye, and its latest phenomenon Heartstopper, starring cutie Kit Connor. But it is the network’s other Kit, Kit Williamson, who stars in its gayest title. With 28 steamy gay scenes in it, Eastsiders, the popular series about a tangled web of gay relationships, has the distinction of being the gayest title on the gayest streaming network.
HBO comes in second place with 128 gay scenes, 17 of which come from Looking, HBO’s very first series to center around the lives of gay men. The show starring Jonathan Groff, Russell Tovey and Murray Bartlett enjoyed two seasons and a TV movie and nearly every episode featured a steamy gay scene.
In the Most Nude Scenes category, Netflix once again dominates with over 700 male nude scenes! El Marginal, the Argentinian cops-and-criminals show tops all other series with 28 scenes, ten of which are full frontal. Elite, its teen series features the most rear scenes with 26 bare bottoms!
HBO comes a close second in the Most Nude Scenes category with Oz, the series about inmates and correctional officers battling for power and survival, scoring the most naked scenes on the network. Mr. Man counts 72 nude scenes in Oz, with 43 being full frontal! In fact, the one category HBO leads in “Mr. Man’s Battle of the Streaming Services” is in Most Full Frontal Scenes, and it is in large part thanks to Oz.
Showtime, the network that introduced Queer as Folk to the world, ranks as the #3 streaming service in all categories in the battle. It’s show, Shameless, features male nudity in nearly every one of its 134 episodes and Gigolo, it’s reality series about real life escorts in Sin City, is second only to Oz for its number of full-frontal scenes.
Prime Video and Hulu consistently rank at the bottom of “Mr. Man’s Battle of the Streaming Services” Pride Guide but special recognition goes to Prime Video’s El Juego de las Llaves, the only series to be named in all four categories, and to Hulu, for scoring big in gay hearts with its two endearing series, Love Victor and Normal People.
All scenes featured in “Mr. Man’s Battle of the Streaming Services” Pride Guide are viewable in their entirety with free signup at https://www.mrman.com/promos/tv-pride-guide.
To Write Love On Her Arms Partners with SkullcandY On New INEQUALITY CRUSHER HEADphones in Support Of LGBTQIA+ Community
Melbourne, FL – June 1, 2022 – Non-profit organization To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) is excited to announce that they have partnered with Skullcandy for their limited-edition Inequality Crusher headphones to help fund LGBTQIA+ mental health programs.
"The rates of suicide and suicide attempts are higher within the LGBTQIA+ community than among their peers,” shares Amber Gardner, Director of Partnerships at TWLOHA. “But we also know that access to affirming care and support can lower those numbers. We're so grateful to Skullcandy for helping us provide life-saving resources to the LGBTQIA+ community.”
“The LGBTQIA+ community faces higher-than-average rates of depression, PTSD and anxiety disorder. This reality, coupled with Skullcandy’s support of equal rights for all, is why this collaboration with To Write Love on Her Arms is so important to us,” said Jessica Klodnicki, Chief Marketing Officer of Skullcandy. “The limited-edition Inequality Crusher celebrates all love, all year. We’re proud to do our part by raising awareness, enabling resources and expressing unconditional love and support for the LGBTQIA+ community."
The Inequality Crusher headphones are offered in a unique Rainbow Pride colorway which features an eye-catching full-spectrum gradient highlighted by the Progress Flag and an “All Love'' inscription, representing and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. This limited-edition colorway celebrates individuality and uniqueness, just like every color in the rainbow. Tech specs tied to each of the Skullcandy x To Write Love on Her Arms Inequality Crusher headphones collab include:
Skullcandy x To Write Love on Her Arms Inequality Crusher Evo Wireless Headphones – $209.99 MSRP
● 40 hours total battery + Rapid Charge
● Crusher adjustable Sensory Bass
● Personal Sound via Skullcandy App
● Call, track and volume control via touch controls
● Built-in Tile Finding Technology
● Flat-folding and collapsible
About TWLOHA
To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Since its start in 2006, they have donated over $3 million directly into treatment and recovery making it possible to access mental health care when they need it the most.
Each month, TWLOHA creates more than 11 million moments of hope through their online and social media presence for people in over 100 countries. And these moments lead to people taking the next step to find help as TWLOHA connects 3,000+ people monthly to mental health resources like crisis lines, support groups, and affordable local mental health resources through the FIND HELP Tool.
For more information, please visit: www.twloha.com
About Skullcandy®
Skullcandy is the original lifestyle audio brand, born in 2003 on a chairlift in Park City, Utah. Fast forward to today where Skullcandy is on a mission “to unleash the visceral power of music for all.” Skullcandy headphones and earbuds are created, tuned and tested to deliver music you can feel, specially engineered to provide a deeper, more immersive listening experience. The brand features The Workshop, home of custom, limited-edition audio products designed by artists and partners and hand-printed using state-of-the-art digital technology and a personal touch. Skullcandy supports charitable causes through its Music With A Mission program where dedicated campaigns and a portion of proceeds from limited-edition product sales help make an impact. Skullcandy designs, markets and distributes its audio products through a variety of distribution channels globally. The company’s website can be found at www.Skullcandy.com.
Meet the cast of the new 'QUEER AS FOLK' on Peacock
To celebrate the upcoming release of Peacock's Queer As Folk, GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos joins Queer as Folk cast members Devin Way, Fin Argus, Jesse James Keitel, CG, Johnny Sibilly, Ryan O’Connell and creator, writer and executive producer, Stephen Dunn and executive producer, Jaclyn Moore to discuss the vibrant reimagining of the groundbreaking British series.
From Creator Stephen Dunn, the Vibrant Reimagining of the Groundbreaking British Series Created by Russell T. Davies,
Queer as Folk Premieres Exclusively On Peacock Thursday, June 9
Ash Gordon Releases New Single “Cosmic Colors” feat. Trixie Mattel
June 3, 2022 – LGBTQIA+ music maven Ash Gordon is making her long-anticipated debut as a solo artist with her new single “Cosmic Colors” featuring world-renowned drag queen Trixie Mattel. A feel good track complete with acid-trippy lyrics, “Cosmic Colors” brings a taste of early 2000’s girl bands and modernizes it for 2022 and is Ash’s self-proclaimed “favorite piece of ear candy ever.”
“Cosmic Colors” is available to stream now at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ashgordon/cosmic-colors-feat-trixie-mattel
On the new release, Ash shares: “If Scott Pilgrim vs. The World had a female lead, this would be the song you hear when she beats the bonus level and makes out with her manic pixie dreamboat.”
“My favorite songwriter in the world has teamed up with my favorite drag queen in the world,” adds Trixie.
Alongside the release, Ash Gordon has announced that her debut solo double albums, Ash Gordon and Ash Gordon II, will be available on July 15. Complete with collaborations from Trixie Mattel, Alaska Thunderfuck, BONAVEGA, Earl St. Clair, Bob the Drag Queen, and many others, the albums provide sixteen psychedelic songs that perfectly encompass Ash’s lipstick garage-rock vision.
Ash Gordon Tracklist
1. Alright Alright Alright
2. Good On Ya
3. I Wanna Be A DJ
4. Cosmic Colors (feat. Trixie Mattel)
5. Nice Personality
6. Feel Like This (feat. Marty James)
7. YES
8. Come and Get It (feat. Earl St. Clair)
Ash Gordon II Tracklist
1. Everyone Is A Little Bit Gay (feat. Alaska Thunderfuck)
2. WIN/WIN
3. Viva Electric (feat. Bob The Drag Queen)
4. Chicka Boom Boom
5. Hit Different
6. All I See Is Gold (feat. BONAVEGA)
7. Connection
8. I Want It
Ash Gordon is a guitar slingin' New Yorker residing in LA. As founder of The Blah Blah Blahs, she's been styling songs for music artists, film, and TV over 10 years and will be making her debut as a solo artist with an upcoming lipstick garage-pop double album featuring the likes of Trixie Mattel, Alaska, BONAVEGA, and many more.
First-Look Images for Billy Porter’s Directorial Debut ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE – Globally on Prime Video July 22
Launching Globally on July 22 Exclusively on Prime Video
Anything’s Possible is a delightfully modern Gen Z coming-of-age story that follows Kelsa, a confident high school girl who is trans, as she navigates through senior year. When her classmate Khal gets a crush on her, he musters up the courage to ask her out, despite the drama he knows it could cause. What transpires is a romance that showcases the joy, tenderness, and pain of young love.
Director: Billy Porter
Written by: Ximena García Lecuona
Producers: Christine Vachon, David Hinojosa, Andrew Lauren, D.J. Gugenheim
Executive Producers: Ximena García Lecuona, Billy Porter, Allison Rose Carter
Music by: Leo Birenberg
Executive Music Producers: Billy Porter, Justin Tranter
Cast: Eva Reign, Abubakr Ali, and Renée Elise Goldsberry
Genre: Romance, Coming-of-Age Drama
Rating: PG-13 for strong language, thematic material, sexual material, and brief teen drinking
Soundtrack on Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
#AnythingsPossible
Fire Island | FILM REVIEW
By Arnold Wayne Jones
What a difference a generation – and medical advances – can make. More than 30 years ago, the seminal gay movie Longtime Companion opened with a sense of orgiastic abandon: A group of gay friends embrace their unabashed sexuality by ferrying to queer summer Mecca Fire Island, frolicking at unbridled, sweaty, molly-fueled tea dances, cruising other bikini-wearing studs and hooking up in the dunes with flagrant horniness. The next 90 minutes of that film, though, then portray the ravages of the then-rampaging AIDS epidemic. It’s a beautifully humane tragedy full of both empathy and rage, a movie every gay man knows (or should know) but which doesn’t enjoy the legacy it deserves because of its downbeat, political tone.
(From L-R): Margaret Cho, Tomas Matos, Bowen Yang, Joel Kim Booster, and Matt Rogers in the film FIRE ISLAND. Photo by Jeong Park. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved
So when the new hom(0)-rom-com Fire Island (which debuts June 3 on Hulu) opens with virtually the exact same establishing montages (helicopter shots of gayboys about to dock, overhead shots of throngs of half-naked partiers, flirtatious tracking shots of men strutting along wooded walkways), it’s impossible to ignore the probability that director Andrew Ahn and writer-star Joel Kim Booster know exactly what they are doing: They are reclaiming the images of an iconic gay drama for a world were PrEP, the “cocktail” and same-sex marriage rights have transformed the gay community … mostly (but not exclusively) for the better. The world of Fire Island is one of sexy bodies, romantic cliches … and NO disease (not even COVID!). It exists, happily, in the artificial twilight of skin-deep emotions, cheesy plot complications and tidily upbeat conclusions for all the characters we like (and humiliating sadness for those we don’t).
Which is to say, it’s awesome.
OK, so it’s not exactly “awesome,” but it does exude a sexy, post-lockdown energy that feels like a welcome relief after two years of quarantine. It is decidedly not Longtime Companion… or Moonlight, or Brokeback Mountain. Instead, Fire Island romps perkily through the garden of earthly delights previously relegated to heteronormative romances, joining that club while also subversively undermining it.
(From L-R): Matt Rogers, Bowen Yang and Tomas Matos Photo by Jeong Park. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved
The gay rom-com is nothing new, of course, but the sly uniqueness of Fire Island is the decision to simultaneously wallow in the eye-candy of ripped, youth-centric Millennial self-indulgence while also arguing for diversity and body positivity. The three main characters – hunky, shallow Noah (Joel Kim Booster), his Eyeore-like buddy Howie (Bowen Yang) and his fussy rival Will (Conrad Ricamora) – are all Asian, as is the de facto comic den mother, played by Margaret Cho; but while ethnicity factors into the plot briefly, it’s not the point: These people are friends… they are gay friends… but this is not a variation of the yellowploitation genre. Booster and Ahn aren’t making a cultural document that aims to be both woke and celebratory, as you could say a Crazy Rich Asians is… unless that culture is angsty 30-something, gig-economy gays. Its agenda, if any, is couched in its casualness. Don’t misunderstand: it definitely traffics in the predictable – characters include a rail-thin chulo drag queen; a sexless, bearish Black comic relief; and a bitchy, Botoxed, roided-up golddigger. But the friendships are from a varied group of types where white boys aren’t the enemy and some Asian guys are dicks.
(From L-R): Torian Miller, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho, Tomas Matos and Joel Kim Booster in the film FIRE ISLAND. Photo by Jeong Park. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved
The plot hinges on people not saying things any normal person would in a similar situation because that would derail all the complications – but it also undercuts them with its quirky lightheartedness. I have to say, this is not something I was expecting from Ahn, whose first feature, Spa Night – a brooding drama about a closeted Korean teen working at a bathhouse – makes Longtime Companion look like a Bugs Bunny cartoon. He demonstrates effortlessness with the cotton candy plot, which involves (no surprise) a quintet of friends reuniting for what may be their last week together at their gay getaway. Promiscuous Noah has decided to keep his penis in his pants and instead dedicate his efforts at getting schlubby depressive Howie laid. There appears to be a prospect in Charlie (James Scully), a recently single doctor, but Charlie’s obnoxious rich buddies think Howie and company are beneath them (sadly, they are sorta right: they behave like assholes at a fancy party) which sparks some social dueling a la Revenge of the Nerds: Can Noah outfox the roadblocks erected by Will and Cooper (Nick Adams), while lightly pursuing daddy-in-training Dex (Zan Phillips)? But might Will not be the villain he seems?
That’s where the script goes off track. Will is less a hard-to-get romantic interest in the way of, say As Good As It Gets, than he is an outright humorless prig, whose sympathies come late and feel forced. Ricamora strives gamely to make him relatable, but the screenplay always goes for the easy gag in place of a character-driven motivation. You never really feel that Will and Noah would be right for each other, just as you don’t really dislike Dex as much as you’re supposed to when he turns out to be the “bad guy” everyone says he is.
No matter. There are too many snarky one-liners, too much joyously queer enthusiasm, too many sexy rippling abs to hold any animosity against the film. Yang reminds us why he’s such a charismatic presence on SNL, and Booster makes for a credible leading man, but the success owes as well to its decision to recast the imagery of Fire Island for froth, not death, with an inclusive cast where inclusivity is neither the gimmick nor the point. It’s the perfect kick-off to Pride Month and a shiny summer of cinema.
RUPAUL’S DRAGCON LA - A RECAP
The Queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 7 pose with RuPaul during the ribbon cutting ceremony- Getty Images
[Los Angeles, CA - May 15, 2022] Emmy ® Award-winners RuPaul and World of Wonder (“RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Million Dollar Listing,” “Wojnarowicz: F**k You F****t F**ker,” “Explant,” “Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes”) hosted the tenth annual RuPaul’s DragCon at the Los Angeles Convention Center this weekend. The drag and pop culture extravaganza welcomed 50,000 attendees, with over 150 the world’s top drag queens mixing and mingling with fans of all ages and backgrounds.
Said RuPaul: “The return of DragCon LA exceeded my wildest expectations. To our dazzling queens, our amazing vendors, and each and every one of our beautiful attendees, thank you for 3 dragalicious days of love, light and laughter. It takes a village, people! The celebration continues later this week as ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7’ makes its global debut on Friday, May 20.”
Said World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato: “At this time in our herstory where we have spent so many months isolated from one another, we are especially delighted to bring our tribe together again to celebrate life and love at RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2022. Drag is the resistance! We thank the talented queens and gorgeous attendees of all ages and walks of life who joined us from all over the globe. Cheers with a House of Love cocktail and see you for RuPaul’s DragCon UK in January!”
RuPaul DJing from the House of Love MainStage - Getty Images
Created by RuPaul and World of Wonder Productions, RuPaul’s DragCon is a family-friendly event welcoming attendees from around the world to kiki with their favorite drag queens and pop culture stars in a creative, inclusive and accessible environment. RuPaul himself DJ’ed two dance party sets for all attendees to enjoy. House of Love cocktails and mocktails officially launched, with attendees and queens alike enjoying the beverages throughout the weekend. The House of Love-sponsored Main Stage included live runway performances, a kids’ fashion show, fan competitions and makeovers, and electrifying performances by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” stars The Frock Destroyers and rocker Adore Delano, among others. Other happenings on the convention show floor included fan signings, the ever-popular Kids’ Zone, and over 350 exhibitor booths offering everything from interactive fan experiences, exclusive merch, beauty products, apparel, art and more.
The three day event also included extensively curated panels, reuniting select casts for the franchise including “Bring Back My Girls,” an original WOW Presents Plus series of exclusive DragCon panel conversations with the casts of RuPaul’s Drag Race (Season 12), RuPaul’s Drag Race vs. The World, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (Seasons 1 & 2), RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, Canada’s Drag Race (Seasons 1 & 2) and Drag Race Holland (Seasons 1 & 2), hosted by TV personality and LGBTQ+ activist Ts Madison.
World of Wonder made major franchise announcements out of the convention, including the news that “Drag Race Philippines” will premiere exclusively on WOW Presents Plus on August 18, 2022 with “Drag Race” alum Jiggly Caliente serving as the first confirmed member of the judges panel. Jiggly herself announced the news from the Main Stage. World of Wonder also announced a full lineup of original programming coming to WOW Presents Plus in 2022. This slate includes reality dating show starring “Drag Race”’ star Miss Vanjie, “Vanjie: 24 Hours of Love” presented by House of Love, and second seasons of fan-favorites “All The Queens Men” and the previously announced season two of competition series “Painted with Raven.”
The convention featured Queens and other celebrity talent for performances, meet and greets, panels and more, including: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Willow Pill, Jinkx Monsoon, Monét X Change, Raja, Shea Couleé, The Vivienne, Trinity the Tuck, Kornbread The Snack Jeté, Priyanka, Kita Mean, Lawrence Chaney, Symone, Kylie Sonique Love, Carmen Farala, Icesis Couture, Aquaria, Mariah Balenciaga, Alaska, Tammie Brown, Kim Chi, Heidi N Closet, Eureka O’Hara, Gigi Goode, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Kameron Michaels, Naomi Smalls, Pandora Boxx, Ariel Versace, Blu Hydrangea, Kahmora Hall, Mrs. Kasha Davis, Scarlet Envy, Nicky Doll, Vivacious, Dusty Ray Bottoms, Baga Chipz, Shuga Cain, Sasha Velour, the United Kingdolls, the Frock Destroyers, and more. Additional notable attendees include June Diane Raphael, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ts Madison, Cheyenne Jackson, Julia Butters, Lisa Loeb, Adam Shankman, and Daniel Franzese, and World of Wonder co-founders & DragCon co-creators Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.
DragCon also featured a robust lineup of special guest stars. Across the WOW Podcast Network, celebrities joined live recordings; Daniel Franzese (“Mean Girls’) joined It Do Take Nerd. “Drag Race” judge Carson Kressley got in on the action as well and sat down for the WOW Presents Plus: Fashion Photo Ruview panel. Cast members from upcoming feature film “Fire Island” including Joel Kim Booster and Matt Rogers, with drag queens Jan and Yuhua Hamasaki chatted with Variety’s Marc Malkin about what fans can expect from the film.
On Sunday, World of Wonder's WOWIE Awards took place to honor the very best in artistry, activism, entertainment, and more. This year's nominees feature the trailblazers, innovators, and legendary icons that made us go “WOW” in 2022. A full winners list is available HERE.
Hot off the heels of DragCon LA, World of Wonder also announced that tickets are also now on sale for DragCon UK 2023. The gag-worthy three-day spectacle, which will take place from Friday, January 6th to Sunday, January 8th 2023, will see ExCeL London play host and once again feature extraordinary Drag Queens from all over the world. For more information and to buy tickets and VIP experience passes to RuPaul’s DragCon UK at ExCeL London visit: https://uk.rupaulsdragcon.com/
World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato pose at WOW booth- Getty Images
About World of Wonder:
World of Wonder (WOW) has reshaped international pop culture, earning 28 Emmys, inspiring two Oscars, creating global network WOW Presents Plus across 190 territories, and bringing drag culture to the world stage via RuPaul’s Drag Race and DragCon. WOW’s pioneering television portfolio includes other smash-hit franchises like Million Dollar Listing. Their film division WOW Docs produces groundbreaking documentaries including Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures, Party Monster, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye. WOW also operates YouTube channel WOWPresents, music label World of Wonder Records, the WOW Podcast Network, and year-round international live events. Co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato have been profiled in Variety’s Reality TV Impact Report. Honors for their trailblazing work include the IDA Pioneer Award, Realscreen’s Global 100 list, and the OUT 100. Most recently, World of Wonder was ranked #2 among film and TV powerhouses in Fast Company’s World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies.
Nicky Doll & Wesley Smoot