It’s HAPPENINNNNNG. That Buffy reboot has finished filming its pilot episode and honestly, what more could we want? Bringing back Sarah Michelle Gellar as a mentor to the new slayer and time jump 25 years to, you know, now? Check. Bringing in the visionary, Oscar-winning director behind “Nomadland,” Chloe Zhoa, to helm the pilot? Check. Brining in a newcomer with three-names to play the new Slayer? Check, and welcome, Ryan Kiera Armstrong. No Joss Whedon anywhere in sight? Checkity check check!
Honestly, a series and pop culture presence as essential as Buffy deserves another shot, and to tell her own story unencumbered by the sins of those who made it in the past. She has grown to be more than just a chick who kills vampires, and saves the world a lot, to a character who means something to generations of fans. I can’t wait to see what they come up with, and I have high hopes it will honor and create a new legacy for her and all of us to enjoy. At least we all know who to beep when the next apocalypse comes. Which the way things are going, could be any day now.
If you’re going to cover Heart’s iconic “Barracuda,” you’d better do it right. And few things seem as right as Chappell Roan belting it out backed by an all-female band and a stage that looks like a sinister medieval fantasy fair. Now that’s how you start a week, people. Happy Monday, kitten.
The pipeline from starring in a queer film/movie to being queer and loving it remains undefeated. Chloë Grace Moretz, who famously played gay in the 2018 film “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” and voiced the non-binary and genderfluid title character of 2023’s “Nimona” wed her girlfriend of seven years, model Kate Harrison, over Labor Day weekend. And it was such a big deal none other than Vogue covered it. Yes, I know, Miranda Priestly must be so pissed she got scooped. Mazel tov to the happy, fashionable couple. I won’t comment on those cowboy hats, cause who is to judge another person’s cowgirl fantasies. Certainly not me. Congratulations to Chloe and Kate and happy weekend, all.
Since we’re going behind the scenes of beloved shows, let’s pour a little out for “Rizzoli & Isles.” It’s been 15 years since the show premiered, which holy fuck. And as much as I wish they’d finally create a mainstream show with an authentically queer tomboy lead, I’ll take a little Jane Rizzoli being Jane Rizzoli at a wedding any day of the week. And twice on Sunday. Man, I miss those recaps.
Here are some “Hacks” Season 4 bloopers to spark joy. They might spark something else too, because of how Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart love to tease. The funny thing about Deborah-Ava shipping is that if Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels actually did hookup it would be a May-December nuclear disaster. But then, things aren’t going to well in the real world, so why not Chernobyl our fantasies too.
I haven’t had a chance to watch “Honey, Don’t!” yet, but don’t worry I will. But I have made the time to watch all 9 minutes and 26 seconds of Aubrey Plaza and Margaret Qualley trying to make pizza together. And why would I not when it is filled with Aubrey calling Margaret “baby” and “mommy” and saying “this is what it would be like if we were married.” And that scene she is describing with the coconut oil? Yeah, I gotta see this movie immediately. If not sooner.
p.s. Does Aubrey just have insane chemistry with every female actress in the world or what?
I was looking for a little joy and also missing my favorite fictional friends from Manhattan, Kansas when I stumbled upon this video of Cyndi Lauper and Bridget Everett performing together in 2017. Now this was before “Somebody Somewhere” was a flicker in anyone’s eyes. But, goodness, if it doesn’t bring the joy. And these days, I’ll take any I can find. Guess that means it’s also time for a full series “Somebody Somewhere” rewatch. As it should be. Happy Monday, kittens.
Am I the only one who still feels unsettled by the sudden death of Anne Burrell this June? It wasn’t necessarily that her death was ruled a suicide, which is of course tragic. And I hope anyone contemplating the end knows you aren’t alone. Nor should we necessarily be surprised that the circumstances of her passing seemed at odds with her public persona. I’m not even truly talking about the fact that it was only posthumously that I realized Anne was actually bi (or pan, however she identified) and not lesbian as I had assumed since she first entered our collective consciousnesses with that female Guy Fieri hair. What makes me feel weird and hasn’t ceased to seem off is how the Food Network has basically not handled her death or memorialized her in any way. They just keep plugging her final season of “The Worst Cooks in America” as if nothing has happened. And I say this as a person who watched the so-called “memorial” to Anne that the network aired right after her death which was just a random assortment of “Guy’s Grocery Games” where she appeared and, again, never mentioned her death. What a sad, unceremonious ending for someone who was as much a face of that network’s early success as any dude who ate on camera. Put some respect on her name, Food Network. And rest in peace, Anne. Happy weekend, all.
Deborah and Ava crawled so Christine Baranski and King Princess could soar! I mean, not really, for either of them. But wasn’t it fun when we thought maybe it could be? Last week there was a brief shining moment when it seemed maybe the 73-year-old actress and the 26-year-old singer were an item. I mean, how else should we have interpreted the Instagram hard launch with the hashtag #loveislove?
Anyway, turns out the “Nine Perfect Strangers” co-stars are just intergenerational BFFs. Who hold hands! And wear cute suits together! Duh! Stop being weird about it! Or get much, much weirder. Your call.
Has this week been all about catharsis and self-soothing? What of it? You handle late-stage capitalism amid the dismantling of our foundational institutions by a bunch of real-life authoritarian fascist cosplayers your way and I will handle it mine. Anyway, where was I? Self-soothing!
Thank goodness my favorite comfort show is back, and it appears gayer than ever. “The Great British Bake-Off,” known as “The Great British Baking Show” in America because capitalism is bullshit, returns to Netflix Sept. 5.
The new season features three kind of adorable looking gay men and one queer woman who is also a drag king. Yes, I know, skip to the good part. But first to honor of baking brothers, here are Aaron, Leighton and Tom. You can read about them on your own time.
But Jessika, ah, Jessika.
Per her official Bake-Off bio:
“With backflips as bold as her bakes, Jessika is a gymnastic, roller-skating Drag King whose creations are as vibrant as her personality. Gifting bakes is her love language, and she’ll spend months gathering information about her friends tastes before surprising them with the perfect birthday entremet. Raised in Cornwall, Jessika has fond memories of eating corner-shop cakes with her sister after dance classes, which solidified her sweet tooth. Her signature bakes fuse daring flavours like salted mango caramel and cardamom, or Jerusalem artichoke caramel with a dark chocolate mousse. When she’s not baking, Jessika’s on skates, cycling, or performing as her drag king persona. An ambitious baker, she’s all about pushing boundaries, in the kitchen and beyond.”
Per her Instagram, which features a rainbow flag and pictures like this.
And abs like this.
Goodness. We haven’t had a queer woman to root for on GBBO since, gosh, was it Yan in 2017? Wait, it can’t be that long. I mean last year Gill should have been a lesbian. But, wow. Yeah, we were due. But a drag king? And a top bun? Oh, GBBO, you’re almost spoiling us.
Yes, more reason to look forward to fall. But, dammit, I’m going to have to borrow someone’s Prime Video account for a couple hours. I’ve been trying to give Jeff less of my money because fuck billionaires. But now I fear my lack of access will keep me from seeing Tess Thompson yearning over Nina Hoss in Nia DaCosta’s “Hedda.” The film is billed as a “provocative, modern reimagining” of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play “Hedda Gabler” and comes out Oct. 29.
Now Nia is the director behind the truly underrated (fuck incels) “The Marvels” – which made her the highest-grossing Black female director of all time. And you of course remember Nina as Cate Blanchett’s character’s long-suffering wife in “Tár.” I don’t think I need to re-introduce Valkyrie. I have to say, that’s some mighty convincing chemistry in just a few quick seconds of screen time between Tessa and Nina. And in case you were wondering, the “provocative, modern reimagining”-part is them having been in lesbian with each other in the past, apparently (since old Henrik didn’t exactly write that into the original). All I know is, damn, that’s hot.
Thanks, universe. We needed this. We deserve this.
Look, normally I wouldn’t just post a teaser to an album. Life’s hard enough these days. Gimme the whole thing. But, there’s just something so cathartic about this snippet from Florence + The Machine’s upcoming album “Everybody Scream.” I mean, of course there is the name. Who doesn’t need a scream right about now? And then there’s the release date, which is none other than Halloween. So we’ve all having a collective primal witchy scream into the darkest corners of the universe this Halloween? Maybe while casting a few well-aimed spells towards people and entities who 100% deserve it? You know, just some pumpkin-spice girly Vive la Révolution stuff. Let’s go, spooky-screamy season. Happy Monday, kittens.
I have never been this excited about a horror movie, let alone a slasher film. But Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder, as written and directed by the scarily talented queer, trans, nonbinary director Jane Schoenbrun can have that effect on people. So hurry up, already and finish up “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.” I know you all finished shooting in June. So, clock is ticking. Someone needs some extremely hot scares. Look, there’s not a lot to look forward to right now, I’ll take what I can get. Happy weekend, all.
Creepy, yet still somehow hot. Like I was saying, hurry up. I need this.
Remember when Mabel was gay for a season? Ah, good times. Anyway, I can’t be too salty about a series that gave us Meryl Streep and Martin Short’s on-screen and real-life romances because, I can’t help it, I still love love. But, anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, “Only Murders in the Building” is back for its fifth season of murder and podcasting. And this time Renée Zellweger will be joining the cast. Bridget Jones and Miranda Priestly in the same television universe? I’ll take it. Also, there will be at least one real gay. I see you, Beanie Feldstein.
