There is a stretch of 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenue scares the bejesus out of me. It's so densely packed with chain restaurants, souvenir stores, and massive clumps of tourists trying to decide whether they should first get a photo taken of themselves by a street vender who will then artfully photoshop them to look like slutty cowgirls or stop off for a basket of mozzarella sticks at TGIFriday's that I can rarely make it halfway down the block without a panic attack.
Still, there is one place among the madness that's worth the trip: Madame Tussauds. The New York outpost of the world famous wax museum lets visitors rub elbows with some of the most notable celebrities in the world. Not only are the statues incredibly realistic, but where else can you ogle Brad Pitt for minutes (or hours -- it's up to you) at a time without him fleeing on foot or having his bodyguard discreetly crush your man parts? The museum also offers the infamous American Idol stage where you can play Adam Lambert for a day and audition in front of Simon Cowell (only this time he can't make any wisecracks).
Now, to celebrate Gay Pride in the month of July, Madame Tussauds is featuring figures of beloved LGBT icons like Elton John, Billie Jean King, Lance Bass, and RuPaul (OK, OK -- not all of them are exactly "icons," but for the sake of celebrating Pride, let's just pretend, eh?). Before you head to the museum to check out the waxy gay celebs, get in the mood by playing the Madame Tussauds New York's Gay Pride Trivia Game online. Once you've boned up on your homo history, use reference code PRIDE5345 to receive a free adult admission to the museum when you buy one adult ticket (now through July 31).
Madame Tussauds is located at 234 West 42nd Street (b/w 7th and 8th Avenues) in New York City's Times Square. The museum is open from 10am - 10pm, Monday through Sunday. For more info and tickets, visit www.nycwax.com or call (800) 246 - 8872.
Kiss frontman Gene Simmons, in an interview with AOL, recently had this to say about American Idol's Adam Lambert: "If only the world was not homophobic, but it is. I would be the first one to vote for equal rights for gay women and men, and get the church and the state to stop telling everybody how to lead their lives, but do I think he's killed his career? Oh, in an instant. I hope I'm completely wrong. I hope he becomes the next Beatles and proves me wrong."
Simmons started his rounds of staying-in-the-closet promotion a few days earlier with the interview in the video above where he claimed Adam "should shut up about his sexual preferences." Lambert, who snagged the runner-up spot on the latest season of reality singing competition, stayed in the closet throughout the season, finally announcing his sexuality on the cover of Rolling Stone two weeks ago.
Clearly washed up rockers with reality shows on A&E are the authority on all matters of success, but we think Simmons may be a little misguided on this one. Most stars that have come out in recent years (at least the truly talented ones) have found little trouble continuing their careers -- does Ellen DeGeneres ring a bell? Welcome to 2009, Gene. They gays are here, and they're not about to "shut the f*** up."
From the overwhelming tidal wave of news stories, rumors, and conjectures surrounding The Death of Michael Jackson and all things related, there's one speck of plankton that's caught our eye. The AP reports that MJ recently spent several days filming an elaborate video project, perhaps for use in the London comeback concerts planned for this summer. The video, now in post-production, incorporated several different sets including a Thriller-esque cemetary, a set "draped in black with an oversized portrait of Jackson in
his "Thriller" werewolf costume," and a "lush jungle."
Now Thriller-inspired nostalgia is a no-brainer and as for the jungle, well, we'll assume until proven otherwise that it was meant for a lavish Bubbles retrospective. But there was a fourth set involved -- one "built to replicate a construction site" -- that leaves us scratching our heads. By way of explanation, the AP only notes that "One scene filmed on the construction site set included scantily clad male dancers wearing carpenter's belts." Oh. Of course.
Okay granted, the album is not going to go platinum, and it's certainly not destined for Grammy glory, but Brooke Hogan's sophomore release The Redemption is going to get stuck in your head. The album, led by the current single "Falling," is one of those things (like some kinds of porn) you know you shouldn't probably admit you enjoy, but do, despite how much you despise lyrics like "I want to see you strip."
While not all of us can deal with our parents' very public divorce by releasing an album full of radio-ready, corporate-created tracks, Brooke can -- and does, holding nothing back -- literally starting the album with an intro referencing her mother's 19 year old boyfriend. (Side note to readers: Stop hating on Linda. You know you love 18+ nights.)
Regardless of what Brooke may have wanted the album to be, it's catchy as all get-out. Listen to the second single above, "Hey Yo," and you're going to be hooked. No seriously, don't listen to it if you're not secure in your manhood -- or maybe even womanhood or transhood.
And if you're already a fan of Brooke's show Brooke Knows Best on VH1, check out our interview with Brooke's BFF, Glenn Douglas Packard.
Deborah Cox’s unwavering support for the gays isn’t anything new. Now, though, she’s also turning her attention to the earth. The big-voiced belter known for her hit “Absolutely Not” was crowned “National Green With Pride Ambassador” for L.A. Pride, which is launching an eco-friendly approach to this year’s June 13-14 festivities in West Hollywood.
Out spoke with the R&B diva -- and longtime LGBT-rights supporter -- about going green, her three (!) upcoming albums, and what everyone’s wondering lately: Can Whitney Houston really make a comeback?
Out: You’re killing two birds with one stone here, supporting the gays and a green initiative. Have you cared about earth issues for as long as you’ve cared about gay ones? Deborah Cox: Yeah, I was an early supporter of bringing your own shopping bags to certain supermarkets. Living in California for a while, [and then] moving here to Florida, I was subconsciously living green again -- walking to certain stores, or whatever. I guess the reason I really decided to come on board as a national ambassador specifically for Green With Pride is because I work out, I go to gyms -- with [my] kids, we drink a lot of water, and we have sippy cups and bottles -- so when [I heard] about these water bottles that have their own filtration system [Clear2Go is the presenting sponsor for L.A. Pride], I was like, “That’s really brilliant.” It really completely cuts down on cost and on the amount of plastic that you use. I just fell in love with the whole idea, and I decided to help bring it to the forefront. I think everyone should have one.
Chastity Bono, or Chaz as he's now known, revealed today via his agent, Howard Bragman, that he is transitioning from female to male. Bragman made the following statement on behalf of Chaz, author, journalist, civil rights activist, and perhaps best known for being the child of the late Sonny Bono and singer/actress/performer/gay icon extraordinaire Cher:
"He is proud of his decision and grateful for the support and respect
that has already been shown by his loved ones. It is Chaz's hope that
his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public
regarding this issue, just as his 'coming out' did nearly 20 years ago."
In "most ironic place for a privacy request to be made" news, TMZ.com reports Bragman asks that the media does not badger Bono for interviews at this time.
OK, so she may not be a pre-op transsexual woman with a meth addiction (we found that out the hard way) but that doesn't mean LeAnn Rimes is all half-assed hugs and boring bunnies. Because now she's being accused of stalking another woman's man! (A claim she, obviously, vehemently denies.) Yes, Brandi Glanville, the wife of Rimes's Lifetime-movie costar Eddie Cibrian, went there. Rimes reportedly chatted up Cibrian at a basketball game. Oh, and recently they maybe a torrid affair. Btw, Billy Corgan was there too. Wait, is this a dream? Or just the premise for a sticky little ain't-life-simultaneously-good-n-bad gift book (sequel)?
It's that time of year again -- at least for the certain segment of the population born roughly (brace yourself) around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall. It's time to trade pencils and books and teachers' dirty looks for a shared cubicle and -- if luck permits -- an occasional withering glance from an industry bigwig.
Yes, internship season is in full bloom, and with it, our new favorite spectator sport: celebrity internship season, where candidates are as likely to arrive from an NFL locker room as from an underclass dorm. So far this month we've welcomed Yale comp lit major Theo Spielberg (son of Kate Capshaw and Steven) to the editorial department at New York magazine, and we anticipate seeing more boldface names join the ranks of resumé builders before the summer is out. In the meantime, be sure to brush up on the stats with Out.com's exclusive guide to celebrity interns past and present.
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