in culture

Details Takes On Al Reynolds?

Details Magazine is already notorious for exploring the gay elements behind controversial public figures and personalities. The magazine got into a lot of trouble for its "Gay or Asian?" feature two years ago and sparked a lot of discussion with its "Gay or Rapper?" feature last year. But now Details is exploring another topic. This month's back page feature is titled "Gay or Talk-Show Diva's Husband?" It's not hard to guess who they're talking about.

Here's what the piece says: "One is red-carpet arm candy, and the other needs a little sugar, Daddy. Whether you're hitching your wagon to a star or lying back while someone else brings home the bacon, the key is to keep your million-dollar baby happy. So bow down and prepare to primp, pluck, and deny, deny, deny."

Posted in culture on June 1 2006, 4:06 PM | Read More | Comments (1)

Musical Chairs, Vietnam & Star Jones

What do George Bush, Katie Couric and Star Jones-Reynolds have to do with each other?

It all started during the Vietnam War. That's when George Bush suspiciously escaped to the Alabama Air National Guard and allegedly used his father's connections to avoid the draft. More than a decade later in 1988, George's father was president and got into a heated nationally televised altercation with CBS News Anchorman Dan Rather. That left some bad blood in the Bush family. It all came full circle in September 2004, when CBS Anchor Dan Rather carried and defended a controversial story that alleged that young George W. Bush, now the president, had dodged the draft. With a president and a former president against him, that was the beginning of the end for Dan Rather at CBS News.

But as one door closes, another opens. Rather's departure from CBS created a golden opportunity for a major shakeup. ABC's Peter Jennings had passed away from lung cancer and NBC's Tom Brokaw was already scheduled to step down from the anchor chair to make way for the specially groomed Brian Williams. That left CBS holding onto the past with Dan Rather. What's all this got to do with Star Jones? The plot thickens.

Posted in culture on June 1 2006, 10:06 AM | Read More | Comments (4)

So That's Why They Call It 'The View'

Style commentator Lloyd Boston did not disappoint yesterday with his presentation of summer swimwear for men. Lloyd was a guest on the ABC television show "The View" and he brought along male models of various races, shapes, sizes, and body types to show how to pick just the right swim trunks for any man.

I've always liked Lloyd Boston, but I particularly enjoyed the way he handled this provocative little discussion with the four women on the show. The conversation was so hilarious I decided to bring it to you without editorial comment.

Posted in culture on May 30 2006, 10:05 AM | Read More | Comments (6)

Jermaine Taylor Has A "Secret"

Meet Jermaine Taylor. He's the handsome star of the new TV show "I've Got A Secret" on the Game Show Network. The show is a contemporary remake of the 1950s classic in which a panel of four stars try to guess a secret about contestants. But the difference between this show and its black-and-white predecessor is not just the color. There's another twist. All four of the panelists are openly gay, and one of them, Jermaine Taylor, is black.

As part of our ongoing web series called "My Favorite Things," I spoke to Jermaine over the weekend about his new show, his new life in Los Angeles, his career as an actor, his love life and five of his favorite things. We spoke twice. The first time was early Saturday while Jermaine was making breakfast in LA. The second time was Sunday night after Jermaine had a chance to participate in the Long Beach Pride celebration. Here now is my interview with Jermaine Taylor.

Posted in culture on May 22 2006, 12:05 AM | Read More | Comments (2)

Must Be A Slow News Day

If you were watching CNN Headline News in the past hour, you may have noticed a lot of coverage of a car chase. No it wasn't O.J. Simpson speeding down the California freeway again. Instead, it was a garden variety car chase in Texas. CNN Headline News spent almost the entire 30 minute broadcast covering the car chase without a commercial break. In the end the suspect was apprehended and arrested, but it raises a question: Is this really news?

If you've been paying attention to the 24 hour news channels lately, you've probably noticed that the so-called news has been reduced to an endless stream of repetition, lurching back and forth between car chases, snippets of political conflict, and cases of missing people. With our government involved in three wars at the same time (the war on terror, the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War), Nancy Grace still manages to devote nearly every one of her shows to the case of the missing woman in Aruba. And CNN's Lou Dobbs, bless his heart, seems to talk about nothing other than immigration.

Posted in culture on May 18 2006, 3:05 PM | Read More | Comments (3)

ABC Vetoes Commander In Chief

Geena Davis as President Allen There is no justice in the world.

President Bush can mislead us into war, run up record debt, abandon the people of New Orleans, hire the incompent and reward his cronies with no-bid contracts and government sweetheart deals, and there's not even as much as a congressional investigation, much less an impeachment.

President Mackenzie Allen, on the other hand, rescues American hostages in Latin America, avoids a nuclear catastrophe, and personally talks to a potential terrorist and prevents him from blowing up Air Force One. And what's her reward? Her TV show gets canceled.

Posted in culture on May 3 2006, 4:05 PM | Read More | Comments (21)

Why A Black Man Can't Get A Cab

Standing out in the rain last weekend, a doorman took on the task of hailing cabs for patrons leaving the business where he worked. The doorman was black and most of the cab drivers who passed by appeared to be people of color as well. The first cab drove by with his Available Light on but didn't stop. The second cab looked over at the doorman, who was not wearing a fancy outfit, and kept driving. The third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh cabs sped off as well. I was next in line for a cab but the white couple behind me were so shocked by the behavior of the cab drivers that they mouthed their outrage. "That's against the law," the white man said to his female partner.

After almost 10 minutes of failure, the doorman returned to the dry awning and apologized. At this point, the frustrated white woman simply walked to the curb in the rain and hailed down the first of several cabs. It was just that simple. It was another day in the city for the two black men (myself and the doorman), but it was an eye opening experience for the white couple who had probably never been so directly affected by racial discrimination.

Posted in culture on April 28 2006, 12:04 AM | Read More | Comments (13)

in culture

Details Takes On Al Reynolds?

Musical Chairs, Vietnam & Star Jones

So That's Why They Call It 'The View'

Jermaine Taylor Has A "Secret"

Must Be A Slow News Day

ABC Vetoes Commander In Chief

Why A Black Man Can't Get A Cab

American Idol Predictions

It's Hard Out There For A Model

The Cultural Revolution Is On

Easter at the White House

In Memoriam

I'm Ready For My Closeup, Mr. Jamal

A Time To Change

A Visit to Black Gay London

The Week In Review

Brokeback's Revenge

Remembering the 'Good Times'

Men We Love

Oprah's Makeup Artist: Before & After

Can Cartoons Cause This Much Trouble?

Diddy's Secret Plan To End The War

Fighting Spam or Feeding AOL?

The Five People You Meet in Rio

He Told Our Stories

BET J Launches New Web Site

Carnival Draws To A Close

My Two Cents on BET J

Carnival Continues in Rio

Carnival 2006

Black Men Can't Dance?

The Lawrence Summers I Knew

A New Look For BET

Noah's Arc Renewed for 2nd Season

Rod McCullom: My Favorite Things

The Miracle of Life

Funeral Arrangements for Mrs. King

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