Awards Season Update: PGA, DGA, NAACP Image Awards & People’s Choice Awards
January 7, 2010
Nominations were announced this week for the Directors Guild Awards, the Producers Guild Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards, as well as winners for the People’s Choice Awards. All recognized a range of LGBT-inclusive work, but one film in particular rose above the rest.
Openly gay director Lee Daniels and actress Paula Patton were recognized this week for Precious
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, received a slew of nominations from the NAACP Image Awards, which honor performances by people of color in film, television, music, and literature. In addition to nominations for Motion Picture and Independent Motion Picture, the entire central cast of Precious was recognized, including a Supporting Actress nod for Paula Patton, who played the lesbian teacher who ultimately becomes Precious’ savior. Openly gay director Lee Daniels was nominated for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture.
Daniels was also recognized for his work by the Directors Guild, making him a strong contender for an Academy Award nomination. Furthermore, Precious was one of ten films recognized by the Producers Guild.
Other Image Award nominees of note include Glee and Ugly Betty for Outstanding Comedy Series, Grey’s Anatomy and The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency for Outstanding Drama Series, Rosie O’Donnell for her role in the Lifetime TV movie America, and Wanda Sykes: I’ma Be Me for Outstanding Variety.
The People’s Choice Awards were presented live last night on CBS, and though Twilight: New Moon dominated the film awards, the LGBT community was recognized in several other categories. Bisexual superstar Lady Gaga triumphed over openly gay popstar Adam Lambert to win Favorite Breakout Music Artist in addition to being named Favorite Pop Artist. Glee was named Favorite New TV Comedy and out creator Kevin Williamson’s Vampire Diaries was named Favorite New TV Drama. True Blood was voted Favorite TV Obesssion, House was the Favorite TV Drama and The Ellen DeGeneres Show was crowned Favorite Talk Show.
Related Posts:What to Watch: Wednesday, January 5
January 6, 2010
Lady Gaga is all over the airwaves tonight as the People’s Choice Award nominee also drops by to inspire a challenge on Launch My Line. And after checking out an all new Modern Family, stayed tuned to ABC for Ugly Betty in its brand new 10 pm time slot.
Wednesday, January 5
8:00 pm Mercy, NBC (1 hr) NEW
On top of having to help a patient cope after a horrible accident, Veronica must deal with her suspicions that her husband has moved on and begun dating again. Hopefully gay nurse Angel will be there to help her out.
Queen Latifah hosts the People's Choice Awards
9:00 pm Modern Family, ABC (30 min) NEW
Mitchell and Cameron continue to take in the joys of being new parents as they attempt to reclaim a full night’s rest by sleep training Lily. Meanwhile, Benjamin Bratt guest stars as Manny’s deadbeat dad. Seeing him square off against Jay should be amusing!
9:00 pm People’s Choice Awards, CBS (2 hrs) NEW
Queen Latifah hosts this star filled night in which awards are handed out for the people’s picks in film, TV and music. Nominees of LGBT interest include Adam Lambert, Lady Gaga, Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Patrick Harris, Modern Family, Glee, The Office, FlashForward, True Blood, Gossip Girl and more!
9:00 pm Glee, Fox (1 hr) REPEAT
Sadly, there are no new episode of Glee until April. But in addition to a repeat that airs tonight at 8:00 pm, be sure to catch this gem in which Kurt squares off against Rachel in a “diva-off” to determine who will win the solo on “Defying Gravity.” The episode also features some touching scenes with Kurt’s supportive single mechanic dad.
9:00 pm Law & Order: SVU, NBC (1 hr) NEW
Let’s hope openly gay criminal psychologist Dr. Hwang is on hand to provide some council as Stabler and Benson hunt down a rapist who is infecting women with HIV. This case could get dicey.
10:00 pm Ugly Betty, ABC (1 hr) NEW
Jesse Tyler Ferguson returns tonight as Betty’s orthodontist, Dr. Farkas. Is it finally time for her famed braces to come off? Meanwhile, Marc begins to panic as he realizes that his one night stand from the Bahamas not only works at Mode, but has also become smitten because Marc was his “first.”
People's Choice Award nominee Lady Gaga pulls double duty tonight as she drops by Launch My Line
10:00 pm The Real World: Washington D.C., MTV (1 hr) NEW
Looks like everyone might be making peace after last week’s heated debate over religion. And by “making peace,” I mean hooking up as bisexual Mike sets his sights on Ashley and Ty feels a connection with bisexual Emily. In other words, it’s business as usual in the Real World house.
10:00 pm Launch My Line, Bravo (1 hr) NEW
The final six contestants are in for a monster treat tonight as the poker faced one herself, Lady Gaga, drops by to provide inspiration to the designers as they must create an avant-garde look.
10:00 pm Nip/Tuck, FX (1 hr) SEASON PREMIERE
The always controversial show’s seventh and final season kicks off tonight. Tune in for lesbian Dr. Liz Cruz.
Grammy and Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations Announced
December 3, 2009
Nominations were announced yesterday for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards and one LGBT artist in particular received a lot of love from the Recording Academy. Openly bisexual pop sensation Lady Gaga received five nominations, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Dance Recording for her smash hit “Poker Face,” which Gaga has said is about being with a man while fantasizing about a woman. Her multi-platinum album The Fame also received two nominations for Album of the Year and for Best Dance/Electronica Album. Openly lesbian classical guitarist Sharon Isbin was nominated for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance.
Lady Gaga received five Grammy nominations
Several LGBT allies received nominations, including Kathy Griffin for Best Comedy Album, Liza Minnelli for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, and Carrie Fisher for Best Spoken Word Album.
Earlier this week, nominations were also announced for the 25th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards, which are awarded to outstanding independent films and filmmakers. Nominated for Best Director was openly gay filmmaker, Lee Daniels, for his hauntingly captivating film, Precious, which also earned a Best Feature nomination. Precious was also nominated for Best First Screenplay, Best Female Lead (Gabouray Sidibe) and Best Supporting Female (Mo’nique). Tom Ford’s A Single Man also received nominations for Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, and Best Male Lead (Colin Firth). A Single Man follows George Falconer, a gay college professor in 1960s Los Angeles who is recovering from the death of his longtime partner.
Tune in to The Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 5, 2010 at 8 pm P.S.T. on IFC, and the Grammy’s on January 31, 2010, at 8 pm on CBS. As awards season continues to ramp up, be sure to check in with glaadBLOG.org for the latest on nominations for the year’s best in LGBT film, music and television.
Entertainment Media Intern Lauren Mattia contributed to this post
Related Posts:Good Morning America Cancels Adam Lambert Appearance After Racy AMA Performance
November 24, 2009
On ABC’s Sunday night broadcast of the 2009 American Music Awards, American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert gave a show-stopping performance of his lead single “For Your Entertainment,” that ultimately proved to be quite controversial.
Since coming out on the cover of Rolling Stone in June, there’s no denying that Lambert has become the most prominent openly gay music performer of the year. In a show packed with A-List talent such as Whitney Houston, Jay-Z, Kelly Clarkson, and the openly bisexual Lady Gaga, Lambert was chosen for the plum show-closing performance at the AMA’s, a strong testament to America’s anticipation for his debut album, For Your Entertainment, which was released yesterday.
Prior to the show, Lambert promised MTV that his AMA performance would be “sexy” and he certainly delivered. Strutting amongst leather-clad musicians and dancers, Lambert made out with a male keyboardist, danced suggestively with numerous dancers of both genders and simulated oral sex with a male dancer on a leash. The simulated oral sex was censored for the West Coast broadcast, though the rest of the performance was shown in full.
Not surprisingly, the performance sparked the ire of the anti-gay Parent’s Television Council which called on its members to contact ABC and Dick Clark Productions. ABC says they has received 1,500 complaints, though they also say this is only a “moderate” number. It’s unlikely ABC will face any fines from the FCC, which does now allow “indecent material” between the hours of 6-10 PM. Lambert took the stage well after 10 PM.
The fall out continued this morning as ABC’s Good Morning America announced that they had canceled tomorrow’s planned performance by Adam Lambert. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, they said:
“Given his controversial American Music Awards performance, we were concerned about airing a similar concert so early in the morning.”
GLAAD has reached out to ABC to voice our concerns. In positive news however, the above Entertainment Weekly article also reports that CBS‘ The Early Show has booked Lambert to appear, as has David Letterman, so be sure to tune in to CBS tomorrow for your Adam Lambert fix!
Related Posts:What to Watch: This Weekend
November 20, 2009
Don’t miss Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga as they rock out at the 2009 American Music Awards. Wonder what Ms. Gaga will be wearing?
Ms. Gaga will attend Sunday's American Music Awards
Friday, November 20
9:00 pm Stargate Universe, SyFy (1 hrs) NEW
Lt. Scott and Camille return to Earth thanks to the communication stones to spend time with family while the crew discovers new sections of the ship, which yields a promising discovery.
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Saturday, November 21
11:00 pm The Wanda Sykes Show, FOX (1 hr) NEW
Move over Leno! The queen of funny is taking over with her own late night talk show! Don’t miss Wanda comment on everything from news, politics, sports, and pop culture mixed with field pieces, comedy segments, and panel discussions.
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Sunday, November 22
Watch for Adam Lambert at the American Music Awards
8:00 pm 2009 American Music Awards, ABC (2 hrs) PREMIERE
Watch as the top performers gather for the 37th annual American Music Awards. With performances by Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga it will be a night to remember!
8:00 pm The Amazing Race, CBS (1 hrs) NEW
The brothers McMillen journey to Prague in this 21-day, eight-country race around the globe! Will their competitive spirit rub everyone the wrong way? Who cares? They’re fighting for a spot in the final three, after all!
8:00 pm The Simpsons, FOX (30 min) NEW
Bart learns of a famous prankster (Jonah Hill) who walked Springfield Elementary’s halls before him and sets out to find him. No surprise they become fast friends but how old is too old to be a prankster?
9:00 pm Styl’d, MTV (1 hr) NEW
This new reality show follows hungry young stylists as they fight and claw their way through grueling challenges all to win a styling contract and spot on the Margaret Maldonado Agency’s impressive roster of artists. Watch out world, here come the stylists!
9:30 pm American Dad, FOX (30 min) NEW
After crashing a My Morning Jacket concert to drag Hayley home, Stan realizes he likes the band and becomes a groupie and follows them on the road. What will Roger have to do to get Stan back from this one?
Bisexuality Exists, and Mika is Proof
September 23, 2009
Yesterday, on the eve of Celebrate Bisexuality Day, it was reported that U.K. pop star Mika acknowledged his bisexuality, ending speculation that began when he first burst onto the music scene with his 2007 album, Life in Cartoon Motion.
In an interview with Dutch magazine Gay & Night, Mika said:
“I’ve never ever labeled myself. But having said that; I’ve never limited my life, I’ve never limited who I sleep with. So, whatever…call me whatever you want. Call me bisexual, if you need a term for me.”
Mika
As news spread throughout the blogosphere yesterday, reaction from many commenters mirrored many of the gay community’s longstanding misconceptions regarding bisexuality. Towleroad reader Crispy put it best when he commented: “Isn’t bisexuality just the last exit to gaytown?” Even rapper Kanye West chimed in on the topic of bisexuality this week in an interview with hardknock.tv in which he stated: “There’s no such thing as a bisexual guy. If a guy is bisexual that makes him gay. Don’t try and re-term it.”
West went on to deliver an outstanding message in support of the gay community despite his lack of knowledge on bisexuality. GLAAD would like to point out that bisexuality does in fact exist and we are proud to have bisexuals as part of the LGBT community. AfterElton today published a list of their “Eight Favorite Bisexuals Ever” and we would like to commend Mika for joining the likes of Michael Stipe and Alan Cumming, as well as Margaret Cho and Lady Gaga, as prominent out bisexual celebrities.
Mika went on in the interview to say:
“Let’s say if you’re a 16-year-old guy, and you’re not sure about your sexuality, you should be as free as you want…Having a role model who makes you feel like it’s alright to do whatever you want, without the pressure of a label, I think that’s a good thing as well. I think there’s a million different ways to do it, there isn’t only one. And I hope I’m right.”
The decision to come out as gay, lesbian or, yes, bisexual is a personal one. Though Mika clearly still prefers not to label himself (as is his right), we are glad that Mika has recognized the importance of being an out role model for questioning youth.
Mika’s latest album, The Boy Who Knew Too Much, came out yesterday. Learn more at his official website.
Related Posts:Lady Gaga: “I’m gay. My music is gay. My show is gay.”
August 14, 2009
Lady Gaga, the current reigning queen of pop, graces the cover of the September issue of OUT Magazine. In the cover story, Gaga details what she told rapper Kanye West before agreeing to tour with him.
From Out.com:
Before agreeing to tour with Kanye West this fall, Gaga told the rapper, “I just want to be clear before we decide to do this together: I’m gay. My music is gay. My show is gay. And I love that it’s gay. And I love my gay fans and they’re all going to be coming to our show. And it’s going to remain gay.” That’s another clause in the Gagaland constitution: Gay culture shall gush undiluted into the rapids of society. It shall not be co-opted, fancified, dolled up, or Uncle Tommed. “I very much want to inject gay culture into the mainstream,” she says, “It’s not an underground tool for me. It’s my whole life. So I always sort of joke the real motivation is to just turn the world gay.”
Gaga also goes into some detail as to her own sexual orientation:
Despite a lesbian subtext to “Poker Face” — the song is about, among other things, a woman lusting after a woman while dating a man — Gaga says, “I myself am not a gay woman — I am a free-spirited woman: I have had boyfriends, and I have hooked up with women, but it’s never been like ‘I discovered gayness when I was dot dot dot.’ ”
Visit Lady Gaga’s official website for details on when to catch her show in a city near you.
Related Posts:GLAAD To Be Part of Dinah-Mite Weekend
February 18, 2009
Our friend Mariah Hanson, the founder of the legendary “Club Skirts presents The Dinah“, has once again delivered a line-up for the Dinah Shore weekend festivities that can only be described as ‘Dinah’Mite.’ This year’s events will be held April 1-5 in Palm Springs for lesbian participants from around the global.
Click here to buy tickets for the weekend festivities.
Grammy nominee Katy Perry will be taking a break from her World Tour and dance sensation Lady Gaga will be departing from the Pussy Cat Dolls “Dolls Domination Tour” to join the festivities, Saturday, April 4 during the “Hollywood Party” at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
They join a line-up that already boasts Margaret Cho, Robin S., Indigo Girls, Jill Bennett, Elizabeth Keener, Suzanne Westenhoefer, Uh Huh Her, Yo Majesty, God-Des and She, Fannius III, Erin Foley and Briana Stockton.
Hanson began the weekend in 1991 and it quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Today, The Dinah is considered the largest lesbian event in the world, drawing over 10,000 participants.
This year, GLAAD is proud to be the official charity recipient and we will be hosting our first ever reception at The Dinah. GLAAD and The Dinah will host a private cocktail reception at the Palm Springs Riviera on April 3, 2009 that will be attended by Mariah Hanson, as well as other special guests.
Event attendees will receive a one-year membership to GLAAD and an entry into a raffle with prizes including backstage passes to meet one of the special guest performers of the weekend.
The Dinah is expected to reach a new level this year as Hanson has booked the newly renovated Riviera Resort and Spa as the hotel host. The Riviera Resort and Spa recently underwent an estimated $90 million rejuvenation becoming a contemporary Mecca for world-class travelers.
With the accommodations and huge talents, Mariah Hanson has ensured that this year’s event will be unforgettable.
Tickets for the weekend can be purchased through The Dinah’s site. We hope you join us to see you in Palm Springs!
