You're Just a Bee Charmer

Remember a bit ago when there was a small flurry of movies about queer women being made and it felt a bit like Lesbian Christmas (or, you know, whatever favorite holiday you celebrate)? And it was duly dubbed The Carol Effect? Well we’ve been treated to the first footage from the Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger lesbian romantic period piece “Tell It To The Bees.”

Set in 1950s Britain it stars Anna as a doctor who returns to her small hometown to take over her late father’s practice and Holliday as a recently single mother. If you’re keeping score at home, yes, this is the second film about a lesbian/bisexual/queer women returning home because of their father’s death (the first being “Disobedience”/that spitting movie).

Now this is just a clip, not a trailer. But already I’m into it because a) lesbian historical romance is awesome, and b) I’m a sucker for ladies who love ladies having lazy pastoral picnics together on a blanket. You can thank Idgie and Ruth for my affinity for the latter.

Also, kudos for getting hero points for the dramatic toy boat rescue and engaging in a tasteful wet T-short contest. Now, Anna just needs to give Holliday a jar of honey and it’ll be a done deal.

Tank Top Tuesday

Remember two Tuesdays ago when I showed you the gay-cred (gay+sacred, I’m still trying to make it happen like fetch) image of K-Stew at a Hooters pre-coming out? Well, here’s another one to add to the pantheon. Lily Tomlin (gay) on a motorcycle (gay) shot by Annie Leibovitz (gay) in a tank top (GAY). You are welcome, universe.

Non-Problematic Solution

Finally! A solution for all those people who whine about the art lost because of the exposure of problematic men, a.k.a. horrible sex monsters who believe they’re entitled to women’s bodies. I’m not kidding, I would actually buy this. But, seriously, the world will continue rotating even if people stop lionizing the Allens and Cosbys and Spaceys of the world.

Also, Hannah Gadsby was right, Picasso really was trash.

My Weekend Crush

Rarely do you get to say, “I laughed, I cried,” about a movie and mean it. But, kittens, do I mean it about “Crazy Rich Asians.” What a well-crafted, beautifully appointed, wonderfully cast and all-around scrumptious movie. I finally got a chance to go see it last weekend and – despite all the glowing reviews – was not prepared for just how good this movie would make me feel. As an Asian-American woman, as an immigrant, as a person who loves good romantic comedies it was everything I could have hoped for. Funny, romantic, sad, funny some more and just absolutely luscious to look at.

And let’s talk a little more about what it means to have a movie filled with such Asian Attractiveness and Asian Excellence. I was both acutely aware and sometimes completely forgot that the cast was all Asian. There was a universality and specificity to the story that is wonderful to behold. Like, even if you’ve never played mahjong, you understand the import of that scene. And if you do play mahjong, goodness.

Also, did I mention how attractive this cast is? Because this cast is very attractive.



You can count the Asian-led mainstream Hollywood films on two fingers: “The Joy Luck Club” in 1993 and “Memoirs of a Geisha” in 2005. There are 4.5 billion Asian people yet Hollywood can only find time to make a movie about us every 12 or so years? It’s even more outrageous when you consider the entire world only has 7.4 billion people, total. Thanks, guys, appreciate the effort. It’s not like there are a lot of us or anything.

Here’s the thing about representation: It matters. It always matters. No, I’m not talking tokenism, I’m talking representation. It’s hard to aspire when you’ve never been shown what you can truly achieve. It’s a lesson we must continually apply for women, POC, LGBTQ people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and any other marginalized group. We continue to be the other, while the straight white male continues to be the default norm.

And, believe me, everyone shoved into that “other” category notices. When I was little, I used to watch the evening news on TV with my parents every night. Yet, I never dreamed I could possibly do that as a profession until I saw Connie Chung co-anchor the “CBS Sunday Evening News.” Granted, I have no desire to be a TV news anchor. But I do appreciate the option. Happy weekend, all.

p.s. I would also like respect for being a mad Constance Wu stan from the start.

p.p.s. You remember I told you she was just in a lesbian movie, too, right? Right.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Cate Edition

Oh, Cate Blanchett. You and Gillian Anderson seem locked in an all-out war to see who can devastate queer women more with their ridiculous hotness. Gillian debuting her new clothing collection looking like a lesbian James Bond was a shot over the bow. But Cate showing up looking like this on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar is the sartorial equivalent of assassinating Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

But, as if that wasn’t enough, she then showed up at an event in Venice over the weekend in a dress covered in naked women and boobies.



Yes, those are boobies all over Cate Blanchett. Boobies.



And, as if her boob dress wasn’t enough, she apparently helped honor someone where the trophy is what appears to be a woman emerging from a well-groomed vagina.



Your move, Gillian, your move.

Bering & Wells Redux

Just when I think I’m out, they suck me back in. Over the weekend our little Bering & Wells shipper hearts grow three sizes, and then some when Joanne Kelly and Jaime Murray had a surprise reunion at Dragon Con. Four years after “Warehouse 13” ended on a whimper, these two keep reminding us what could have been for Myka Bering H.G. Wells. *Long sigh forever*.



I mean, they basically cosplayed as each other.



Thanks for the memories, and then some, ladies.

Tank Top Tuesday

Jamie Lee Curtis’s look for the new “Halloween” film is a MOOD. I’m not much of a horror movie fan. But I am pleased to see Jamie Lee back and badass as Laurie Strode. And her magnificence should be another reminder that women in their 50s and 60s can still kick all of the ass. ALL OF IT.

In fact, now that I’ve seen her all knifed up, I demand Jamie Lee and Linda Hamilton star in a buddy action movie together. Immediately.

Waterloo Day

ABBA's "Waterloo" but every time they say "Waterloo" it's Cate Blanchett from CAROL. This is my life. These are my choices. pic.twitter.com/7UER6W8sTL

— Michael Domanico (@cateblanchetttt) August 14, 2018

Today is a holiday in the United States. But even if we’re celebrating the hard work of laborers everywhere today, I would never leave you hanging. So please enjoy ABBA’s “Waterloo,” with Carold Aird saying the “Waterloo” line each time. See, now doesn’t this most jaunty of mashups make you feel like you’re on permanent holiday in Waterloo with a very fashionable lesbian?

My Weekend Crush

Can Gillian Anderson be a sexuality? Because right now, my sexuality is Gillian Anderson. While Mulder is still futzing around with little green men, our gal Scully has been busy transforming into Bond, Jane Bond. Gillian’s new clothing collection for Winder London is…good.



It’s good. It’s very, very good.



And that’s really all I have to say about that. Happy weekend, all.

Gender Fuck Thursday: A Simple Favor Edition

Look, I do not know why Blake Lively wears what appears to be a series of impeccably tailored tuxedoes, waistcoats and suits in the trailer for “A Simple Favor.” But I also know not to look a gift suit in the mouth.



From its trailer, this movie is like “Gone Girl” meets “Single White Female,” but with suits! Obviously if I was Anna Kendrick, I would grant whatever simple favor Blake wanted – but only if she was wearing one of those suits. Hey, favors aren’t free.



This is also the film that inspired this brilliant “Therese and Carol but modern” tweet.



And, well, you can see why.

Back By Design

Am I sick of all the reboots in Hollywood? Yes, OMFG, yes. Am I still kinda excited they might be rebooting “Designing Women?” Also yes. I think Julia Sugarbaker & friends could be a righteous hoot in 2018. I mean, just last year I was longing for these ladies to come back and read Trump the riot act. Granted, she already did. But, this would be on a much, much (much, much, much) grander scale. Also, you’ve got to think at least one of those designing women would be a gay lady in this day and age. I mean, if the writers don’t make Suzanne Sugarbaker a lesbian this time around, well, I might have to go all The Terminator on them. I mean, she already knew a bunch of lesbian facts back in the 80s. I think she’d be an expert by now.

Tank Top K-Stew

Kittens, kittens. Did we know this most gay-cred (gay + sacred) of images existed? No, neither did I. But here it is, Kristen Stewart with a bunch of Hooters waitresses back in 2013. That’s less than a year after she warpped the “Twilight” series and some four years before she “so gay, dude”-ed herself while coming out in her “Saturday Night Live” monologue. I feel like a visit to Hooters and all its tank tops is some kind of truth serum for burgeoning queer ladies. And, hoo-boy, did K-Stew let her truly gay colors shine through.

I mean, come on, she isn’t even really trying to hide it.

My Monday Crush

I think the most relaxing thing I did this summer was float in the pool, drink beer and watch “Moana.” If you have a chance to give it a try, I highly recommend it. I had a both busy and relaxed weekend. Lots of work and, when not working, lots of crash. Hence Friday’s missing crush. Still, even though a new week has started, I cannot recommend watching “Moana,” pool and/or beer or no pool and/or beer, to instantly feel back in your weekend. And this scene, each time, gives me the most glorious, serene shivers. Happy Monday, all.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Lady In Black Edition

Hey, remember when I wanted Tessa Thompson to join the Terminator series? Well, apparently she’s too busy being in the “Men In Black” reboot. Though, may I suggest a name change to Badasses In Black?

Anyway the very first set pictures of Tessa and her co-star (some dude named Chris Hemsworth, you know, if you’re interested in that sort of thing).Besides being a “Thor: Ragnarok” reunion, it’s also a “This is How You Wear a Suit and Tie” tutorial.

Oh, and did I mention Emma Thompson is coming back for this movie as Agent O, the Men Badasses In Black chief. Look, if I knew a career in a secret government organization would get me 1) Emma Thompson as my boss, 2) Tessa Thompson as my co-worker, and 3) A bitching black suit and tie, I would have signed up ages ago.

Loving Eve

Goodness, do I miss “Killing Eve.” Just watching this video (Note: DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THE SEASON) makes me want to rewatch the whole season again. And again. And again again. I still marvel at how smart and unexpected and stone cold sexy the whole thing was from start to finish. What an exhilarating and unexpected ride. It’s one I literally cannot wait to get back on. And for now, there’s always my sixth complete rewatch of Season One. And, you know, the fanvids.

p.s. I am really not kidding, do not watch if you haven’t watched the season yet because you only be ruining your future joy.

p.p.s. If you have not seen it yet you will be able to stream it all on Hulu later this year. Which, again, I cannot recommend more.

The Good Bloopers

I am not going to lie, I could watch 24-hours straight of Jameela Jamil flubbing her lines and saying, “Fuck me!” Alternately, I will accept a 48-hour steam of her exclaiming, “Fuck! Bollocks! Wank! Spider-Man! Shitface! Fuck!” Dear sweet merciful Zeus, I miss this show.

Sensual Eating 101

🚨Sensual Eating: 101🚨 @enriqueiglesias #yatlok #hongkong #bailamos pic.twitter.com/EPpd5wJIfE

— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) July 18, 2018

I’ll admit, I stopped watching “Top Chef” a while back. I can’t take all those insane chef egos (particularly the insane dude chef egos). But I have not stopped enjoying looking at Padma Lakshmi. Quite the contrary. So please enjoy along with me as Padma teaches us the art of sensual eating. Now that is a way to start a week. You’re welcome.

My Weekend Crush

Sometimes, despite everything that is happening right now, you realize how lucky we are to be alive at this moment. I feel lucky to have I witnessed Barack Obama’s presidency. Was her perfect? No, no one is perfect. But to be even a small part of that kind of history and greatness, well, like I said – lucky. I feel lucky to have lived through such a sea change for LGBTQ Americans. Are we where we need to be yet? No, far from it. But now in all 50 states we can marry the person we love – so, you know, lucky.

I feel a similar good fortune when I think about Aretha Franklin. My, weren’t we lucky to have been alive during her reign? The Queen of Soul now belongs to the ages. Her majesty the stuff of legends and her voice the echoes of eternity. Because, believe you me, people will be listening to Aretha sing forever.

And, one day, people will ask: “Goodness, what it must have been like to be around when Aretha Franklin was alive?” See, like I was saying – lucky. Rest in power, Queen. Happy weekend, all.

The Lesbo-less Mrs. Maisel

So, are they gonna go ahead and make Susie a lesbian in Season 2 or what? I really enjoyed the first season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” It was fun and punchy and very funny. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most (beside Rachel Brosnahan’s everything as Midge) is Alex Borstein’s portrayal of Midge’s manager and obvious lesbian Susie Myerson. Now, there are a lot of things you could probably do to improve the show (chief among them adding more POC to the cast in significant roles and not just “Jazz Musician #2”), but giving Susie more of a backstory and owning up to her unmistakable queerness is right up there. I mean come on, look at Susie. She isn’t a 100-footer, she is a 200-footer. Also this is 1959 America. No woman dressed like back then that who isn’t an out proud gay lady. So, yeah, let’s get happy and witty and gay in Season 2, show.



p.s. Since they’re going to the Catskills there had better be at least one sly, “Nobody puts baby in a corner” reference.

p.p.s. I would also accept a joke about carrying watermelons.

Love, Decency

In these hateful and hurtful times, I think we hunger for decency. For people with integrity. For people who inspire. For people who blazed trails and made a difference. For people who care. For people who are kind. I feel the same way about this new Gilda Radner documentary that I did for Mr. Rogers and his cry-through-the-whole-damn-thing documentary earlier this year. She was such an inspiration to generation of comics and women and women comics and women who aren’t comics but sometimes get off a funny line here and there. Her passing at age 42 from ovarian cancer means we were robbed all those years of her brilliance. And it’s also a reminder that before we do some ridiculous, astronomically expensive boondoggle like create a Space Force, how about we invest in medical research and give every American adequate healthcare? I dunno, just a thought.