Billy Masters
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Photo via abc.com.
"Are you his interpreter or are you his Vice President? Come on!"
Joy Behar to Vice President JD Vance after he tried to explain El Presidente's comment, "I love the inflation."
They say no television show sells more books than "The View". Vice President JD Vance may be many things, but he's not stupid. So into the lion's den he went — and came out a winner. You'll find no bigger fan of "The View" than moi, but sometimes less is more. A good host gets out a specific question, lets the guest answer, and perhaps asks a follow-up. What happened here is there were simply too many people at the table. Multiple hosts chimed in on the same question, so all Vance had to do was sit back with a bemused smirk on his face and then pivot. Alyssa wanted to ask about the Iran deal. Didn't get to it. Will El Presidente ever leave office? Who knows? Is Vance planning to run in 2028? Never asked. I hate to agree with someone who gives Ivanka and the Bush twins a run for their money in the Republican nepo-baby sweepstakes, but Princess McCain probably summed it up best: "After all these years, they still get basic facts wrong, flub easy questions and can't get through a segment without yelling at each other. Vance handled it all very well."
Then JD made this confession to FOX News: "Honestly, I expected them to be absolutely vicious, and they were only a little bit vicious. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be." He added that during a commercial break, Joy Behar said, "You know what? You're pretty good...for a Republican!" Joy admitted she told him off camera that he should run for president because he has a "good vibe". She hastened to add that she wouldn't vote for him.
Billy Porter dropped by "CBS Mornings" to promote his run in "La Cage aux Folles", only to find himself being interviewed by Gayle King and another former "View" co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck was filling in! On the topic of "La Cage", Lizzie said, "It's funny, in that little tease you talked about not being a sports person. I'm not really a drag person, but I'm a person person, so we get to be who we are, and I love that about our world, right?" Billy laughed in that perplexed type of way. You can see this curious exchange on BillyMasters.com.
Yet another "View" alum is returning to the airwaves. As you know, Jimmy Kimmel often has friends fill in during his vacations. One in particular will surely make headlines. "As a special treat for our commander-in-chief, I asked one of his all-time favorites, Rosie O'Donnell, to be here to keep the hits coming. So, you're welcome. And all I ask in return, Mr. President, is that you don't do anything stupid while I'm gone." Rosie is scheduled to host the week of August 17th. I'm sure El Presidente will be tuning in! Before that, Rosie will be performing her latest one-woman show, "Common Knowledge", at the Daryl Roth Theatre off-Broadway July 22-August 8. It previously had sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well as Dublin, Sydney, Melbourne, and Glasgow.
Last week, Pete Buttigieg shared this on social media. "Eight years married and I still can't get enough of that smile. Happy Anniversary, my love!" Proving that there's someone for everyone!
Meanwhile on the Left Coast, Kamala Harris and hubby Doug Emhoff popped into The Abbey in West Hollywood. "She just stopped in randomly for no reason other than to hug people, shake hands and wish everyone happy Pride," said one patron who was there. "There was nothing going on. She just went into the dance area and walked over to the Chapel. Everyone started cheering." We hear she stayed for about 20 minutes. Secret Service agents were there but stood far away to give her the opportunity to talk to patrons and take some selfies. I couldn't help but think she might have made a better Grand Marshal candidate than Kathy Hilton!
Not to be outdone, my beloved Ptown got a quickie visit from Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. They were in town for a sold—out screening at the Provincetown International Film Festival. Their flick, "Family Movie", was truly a family affair. They not only co-wrote, co-produced, and co-directed the horror/comedy, they even co-starred in it...with their kids! While in Ptown, they checked out some of my favorite haunts, including Joe Coffee and the Shipwreck Lounge. And like Kamala, they even posed for photos, which you can see on BillyMasters.com.
Knowing how to wrap up a beloved series is a tricky thing. It rarely lives up to expectations. I love "Hacks", but felt the final season kinda limped along without the fervor of previous years. That said, I did find the last episode touching and fitting. It inspired me to revisit the series' original pilot. That's when I realized how PERFECT the finale was. A work of genius. While I don't love how they got there, they pulled it off. Bravo!
Speaking of "Hacks", it was only at the end of the run that Paul W. Downs showed off virtually every inch of his beautiful body on the show. We ogled his physical perfection, and wondered why he hadn't been flaunting it forever. He heard our cries — or, more likely, decided that with "Hacks" in the rearview mirror, he could distract us. What other reason could there be for him to recreate Marky Mark's iconic Calvin Klein undies photo shoot for "Paper"? While he doesn't seem to possess Wahlberg's "largess", he certainly makes up for it with his tight and toned torso — surely wasted on a straight guy. He even indulged in a number of shots with his "Hacks" cohort, Meg Stalter, taking up where Kate Moss left off. The sizzling snaps can be seen on BillyMasters.com.
In case you wanted even more of the "Hacks" hunk, Downs mounted the stage of the "Las Culturistas Culture Awards" on Bravo. He accepted "The Shrek Award" for "Top Thing We Want to Do to That Green Guy" — in full "Shrek" regalia, including the little brown vest and green body paint. While in character, he didn't rule out using a double-headed dildo (filing that away for future reference). You can see the entire bit on our website.
The scene-stealing Stalter is poised to make her Broadway debut in "Oh, Mary". Could it be that, like Maya Rudolph, she will prove that a woman can actually play the role of Mary Todd Lincoln and do well at the box office? We'll find out when she debuts on July 6th. She's scheduled to stay with the show until September 12th.
If there's a show that works with stunt casting, it's "Jesus Christ Superstar". You'd think it couldn't get more stunty than last summer's Hollywood Bowl production with Cynthia Erivo and Adam Lambert. But let me tell you about a production that already played Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London. After winning all sorts of awards, it just transferred to the London Palladium, where it will play until September 5th. And, kinda like "Chicago" on Broadway, there will be a rash of rotating Herods — most notably Jesse Tyler Ferguson (June 20-July 11) and Boy George (August 3-15). Due to demand, the production will then transfer to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in the fall and feature a few fantastic fellas in the role. Even more intriguing are Matt Bomer (October 16-31), Bob the Drag Queen (November 16-21), and Michael Ball (November 23-December 5). Praise the Lord!
An old story surfaced in our "Ask Billy" sack a couple of weeks ago. Roger in Phoenix asks, "What's going on with Lil Nas X? I would think you'd have an update by now."
I held onto this question until there was something to actually report. Lil Nas X has finally emerged from his cocoon to let us know what's been going on. First things first — he looks great and appears to be in good spirits! He's somewhat tentative when it comes to his revelations — understandably so. He says that he spent a few months in rehab and, since then, has been splitting his time between Atlanta with family or in LA alone. He's continuing therapy, which he's finding helpful. And he's been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (the late-night strolls in undies and cowboy boots were clearly a sign). "I feel like I had known for the past few years, but I didn't want to admit to it because I didn't want to have to take medication and, I dunno, have people think differently of me. I dunno — I'm already black and gay! Damn, God, I'm black, gay and bipolar! I'm like living life on like extreme hard mode. But on a serious note, I'm doing much better. I'm doing better. I'm feeling better. I'm creating freely. And there's less fear in my heart." If he feels as good as he looks, he's definitely on the right path! You can see his full statement on BillyMasters.com.
When stars are showing up in "our" places, it's definitely time for me to end yet another column. While all of these luminaries are frolicking in the States, I'm still cavorting on the Continent. But no matter where I am, the one thing that never gets neglected is BillyMasters.com — the site that tells (and shows) all. If you've got a question, send it along to [email protected] and I promise to get back to you before Billy Porter brings Hasselbeck to her first drag brunch! Until next time, remember, one man's filth is another man's bible.
Joy Behar to Vice President JD Vance after he tried to explain El Presidente's comment, "I love the inflation."
They say no television show sells more books than "The View". Vice President JD Vance may be many things, but he's not stupid. So into the lion's den he went — and came out a winner. You'll find no bigger fan of "The View" than moi, but sometimes less is more. A good host gets out a specific question, lets the guest answer, and perhaps asks a follow-up. What happened here is there were simply too many people at the table. Multiple hosts chimed in on the same question, so all Vance had to do was sit back with a bemused smirk on his face and then pivot. Alyssa wanted to ask about the Iran deal. Didn't get to it. Will El Presidente ever leave office? Who knows? Is Vance planning to run in 2028? Never asked. I hate to agree with someone who gives Ivanka and the Bush twins a run for their money in the Republican nepo-baby sweepstakes, but Princess McCain probably summed it up best: "After all these years, they still get basic facts wrong, flub easy questions and can't get through a segment without yelling at each other. Vance handled it all very well."
Then JD made this confession to FOX News: "Honestly, I expected them to be absolutely vicious, and they were only a little bit vicious. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be." He added that during a commercial break, Joy Behar said, "You know what? You're pretty good...for a Republican!" Joy admitted she told him off camera that he should run for president because he has a "good vibe". She hastened to add that she wouldn't vote for him.
Billy Porter dropped by "CBS Mornings" to promote his run in "La Cage aux Folles", only to find himself being interviewed by Gayle King and another former "View" co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck was filling in! On the topic of "La Cage", Lizzie said, "It's funny, in that little tease you talked about not being a sports person. I'm not really a drag person, but I'm a person person, so we get to be who we are, and I love that about our world, right?" Billy laughed in that perplexed type of way. You can see this curious exchange on BillyMasters.com.
Yet another "View" alum is returning to the airwaves. As you know, Jimmy Kimmel often has friends fill in during his vacations. One in particular will surely make headlines. "As a special treat for our commander-in-chief, I asked one of his all-time favorites, Rosie O'Donnell, to be here to keep the hits coming. So, you're welcome. And all I ask in return, Mr. President, is that you don't do anything stupid while I'm gone." Rosie is scheduled to host the week of August 17th. I'm sure El Presidente will be tuning in! Before that, Rosie will be performing her latest one-woman show, "Common Knowledge", at the Daryl Roth Theatre off-Broadway July 22-August 8. It previously had sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well as Dublin, Sydney, Melbourne, and Glasgow.
Last week, Pete Buttigieg shared this on social media. "Eight years married and I still can't get enough of that smile. Happy Anniversary, my love!" Proving that there's someone for everyone!
Meanwhile on the Left Coast, Kamala Harris and hubby Doug Emhoff popped into The Abbey in West Hollywood. "She just stopped in randomly for no reason other than to hug people, shake hands and wish everyone happy Pride," said one patron who was there. "There was nothing going on. She just went into the dance area and walked over to the Chapel. Everyone started cheering." We hear she stayed for about 20 minutes. Secret Service agents were there but stood far away to give her the opportunity to talk to patrons and take some selfies. I couldn't help but think she might have made a better Grand Marshal candidate than Kathy Hilton!
Not to be outdone, my beloved Ptown got a quickie visit from Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. They were in town for a sold—out screening at the Provincetown International Film Festival. Their flick, "Family Movie", was truly a family affair. They not only co-wrote, co-produced, and co-directed the horror/comedy, they even co-starred in it...with their kids! While in Ptown, they checked out some of my favorite haunts, including Joe Coffee and the Shipwreck Lounge. And like Kamala, they even posed for photos, which you can see on BillyMasters.com.
Knowing how to wrap up a beloved series is a tricky thing. It rarely lives up to expectations. I love "Hacks", but felt the final season kinda limped along without the fervor of previous years. That said, I did find the last episode touching and fitting. It inspired me to revisit the series' original pilot. That's when I realized how PERFECT the finale was. A work of genius. While I don't love how they got there, they pulled it off. Bravo!
Speaking of "Hacks", it was only at the end of the run that Paul W. Downs showed off virtually every inch of his beautiful body on the show. We ogled his physical perfection, and wondered why he hadn't been flaunting it forever. He heard our cries — or, more likely, decided that with "Hacks" in the rearview mirror, he could distract us. What other reason could there be for him to recreate Marky Mark's iconic Calvin Klein undies photo shoot for "Paper"? While he doesn't seem to possess Wahlberg's "largess", he certainly makes up for it with his tight and toned torso — surely wasted on a straight guy. He even indulged in a number of shots with his "Hacks" cohort, Meg Stalter, taking up where Kate Moss left off. The sizzling snaps can be seen on BillyMasters.com.
In case you wanted even more of the "Hacks" hunk, Downs mounted the stage of the "Las Culturistas Culture Awards" on Bravo. He accepted "The Shrek Award" for "Top Thing We Want to Do to That Green Guy" — in full "Shrek" regalia, including the little brown vest and green body paint. While in character, he didn't rule out using a double-headed dildo (filing that away for future reference). You can see the entire bit on our website.
The scene-stealing Stalter is poised to make her Broadway debut in "Oh, Mary". Could it be that, like Maya Rudolph, she will prove that a woman can actually play the role of Mary Todd Lincoln and do well at the box office? We'll find out when she debuts on July 6th. She's scheduled to stay with the show until September 12th.
If there's a show that works with stunt casting, it's "Jesus Christ Superstar". You'd think it couldn't get more stunty than last summer's Hollywood Bowl production with Cynthia Erivo and Adam Lambert. But let me tell you about a production that already played Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London. After winning all sorts of awards, it just transferred to the London Palladium, where it will play until September 5th. And, kinda like "Chicago" on Broadway, there will be a rash of rotating Herods — most notably Jesse Tyler Ferguson (June 20-July 11) and Boy George (August 3-15). Due to demand, the production will then transfer to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in the fall and feature a few fantastic fellas in the role. Even more intriguing are Matt Bomer (October 16-31), Bob the Drag Queen (November 16-21), and Michael Ball (November 23-December 5). Praise the Lord!
An old story surfaced in our "Ask Billy" sack a couple of weeks ago. Roger in Phoenix asks, "What's going on with Lil Nas X? I would think you'd have an update by now."
I held onto this question until there was something to actually report. Lil Nas X has finally emerged from his cocoon to let us know what's been going on. First things first — he looks great and appears to be in good spirits! He's somewhat tentative when it comes to his revelations — understandably so. He says that he spent a few months in rehab and, since then, has been splitting his time between Atlanta with family or in LA alone. He's continuing therapy, which he's finding helpful. And he's been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (the late-night strolls in undies and cowboy boots were clearly a sign). "I feel like I had known for the past few years, but I didn't want to admit to it because I didn't want to have to take medication and, I dunno, have people think differently of me. I dunno — I'm already black and gay! Damn, God, I'm black, gay and bipolar! I'm like living life on like extreme hard mode. But on a serious note, I'm doing much better. I'm doing better. I'm feeling better. I'm creating freely. And there's less fear in my heart." If he feels as good as he looks, he's definitely on the right path! You can see his full statement on BillyMasters.com.
When stars are showing up in "our" places, it's definitely time for me to end yet another column. While all of these luminaries are frolicking in the States, I'm still cavorting on the Continent. But no matter where I am, the one thing that never gets neglected is BillyMasters.com — the site that tells (and shows) all. If you've got a question, send it along to [email protected] and I promise to get back to you before Billy Porter brings Hasselbeck to her first drag brunch! Until next time, remember, one man's filth is another man's bible.
