boy culture

The Kane Scrutiny

Sandy Kane is still singing for her supper in Times Square. She sounds like Fran Drescher and looks like Mamie Van Doren's meemaw. This is a desperately sad thing to behold in person, not even fun to make fun of.

The Kick-Off

Madonna celebrates Michael Jackson in her July 4 Sticky & Sweet kick-off in London. The photo of him as a child was a nice touch. Madonna knows he was "one of the greatest artists" who's ever lived, but not necessarily THE greatest...

I like her hair when she enters the show 10 times more this time—much more flattering. She looks healthier in general wherever she looks different from the first leg, or looks the same when she doesn't—the rest helped:

From Madonnatribe.

One of my favorite Madonna songs ever, "Frozen," was another addition to her spruced-up set. I regret not getting to see this song performed live again, plus she threw in a bit of "Open Your Heart":

Also loving the short but sweet "Holiday," which would probably be even more fun live:

Finally, Madonna flatly refused to sing "Dress You Up" when I flashed her my fan-request sign on the first leg of the tour ("I don't wanna do 'Dress You Up"), but she must have figured it was a fondly remembered song when tons of fans continually pestered her about it all over those shows...because the bitch added it to her set. I think this (slightly) rocked-up arrangement is much more befitting of this song than it was of "Borderline," though still less so than my favorite of all her guitar-driven re-inventions, "Burning Up":

She's now performed so many of her best songs live on her last few tours (or at least bits of some of them), it makes me wonder what the next concert could pull out as a massive, rarely-heard crowd-pleaser.

Guydar: His Name Was Art

Guydar: Italian Style

My friend Giulio is at it again, sending me these unbelievably hot photos of two guys he spotted on a visit to the beach at Pescara:

Tons more of both guys after the jump...

The Torso Whisperer

I'm not a devotee of fitness mags, and I do believe that too much is sometimes more than enough, yet I found myself craving the model on Men's Exercise (September 2009) in the same way I often yearn for cold spaghetti or a cupcake late at night. He's probably famous or definitely should be, but also of note (aside from his body beautiful) is that he was shot for the mag by Hans Fahrmeyer, who also happened to shoot the amazing cover for my first novel, Boy Culture, for which this site is named.

Here is that cover, proving Hans is like the torso whisperer:

More of the gorgeous Men's Exercise man after the jump...

There's Nothing To It

Madonna, "Vogue"

Cameron Diaz salutes Madonna's style in V (Fall Preview 2009):

Madonna, True Blue album cover

Madonna, Amica Magazine cover

Madonna, Vanity Fair

In Exactly 29 Moves, The Queen Will Memorialize The King

Rehearsal shots from Madonna.com reveal that Madonna's tribute to Jacko will not be second-rate.

Put A Fork In 'Er...

...'cuz lipstick or not, this pig is done.

Taking A Towle

I'll be guest-blogging at Towleroad from now through a week from Saturday. What this means is that I will continue posting like crazy here at Boy Culture, but will also hold down the fort over there while Andy takes a break. Please visit both and feel free to comment. As with my own blog, please always feel free to send me suggestions and links to matthewrettenmund@gmail.com.

Dick Pics

Two shots from Dick Tracy that I'd never seen until now (thanks, Trub). One is above and the other (said in my best Breathless Mahoney voice) is down below...

The Homosexual Gourmand

Shia LaBeouf submits to Steven Klein's penchant for crotch spreading (remember Madonna's Hard Candy cover?) in Italian Vanity Fair (July 1, 2009):

Ryan Kwanten is just one of the hot men from HBO's True Blood. Here, he's captured in broad daylight in Us Weekly (July 13, 2009):

Life & Style (July 13, 2009) captures Mario Lopez while vacationing in Turks & Caicos:

More after the jump...

Snack Attack

Religious homophobe (and, though the two are not always synonymous, complete idiot) Sherri Shepherd is hawking an autobiographical inspirational book called Permission Slips: Every Woman's Guide to Giving Herself a Break. In it, according to National Enquirer (July 13, 2009), Sherri recounts how she was almost raped by a lesbian.

She was arrested for a traffic violation but was wearing a hoochie outfit (of the variety that born-again Christians, which she is now, do not wear), so the women she was incarcerated with took her for a prostitute. Once she was moved to the Sybil Brand Institute for Women—which sounds like the Sybil Danning Institute for Caged Heat—Sherri says a "masculine female janitor" offered her a Snickers bar. A cellmate told her that if she took the candy she would "be her wife." So she passed.

Moral of the story: Lesbians are like pitbulls, friendly one minute and ravenous the next.

Survivor

The above is in honor of the second leg of Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour. I am happy that my chosen icon is still nimble onstage and generous in her outings. In light of the events of the past week, I do feel lucky to still have a favorite performer from my high school days whose tour is kicking off Saturday instead of having the performer herself kicking off.

His 'n' rehearsals.

Hung Up On Tu

Shakira's new look is Madonna's old one, which itself was retro.

Love For Youth

I was remiss in failing to mention Debbie Harry's 64th birthday yesterday (Kenneth remembered). She won't die young, I'm happy to report, but she's done a fair job of staying pretty.

Free, Gay & Indian

The high court has decriminalized homosexuality in New Delhi, India, striking down a law created in the 1860s by the British.

Feeding Frenzy

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Tip/Wag - Cynthia Davis & Fox News
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Jeff Goldblum

Missouri state rep Cynthia Davis (a birther who doesn't believe President Obama was born in the U.S.) opposes subsidizing lunches for low-income students during the summer months because, "Hunger can be a positive motivator." For this too-Republican-to-be-true stance, she earns a very funny "Tip of the Hat" from Stephen Colbert.

Fitting Tribute

Michael Jackson's iconic glove—not the first one he ever wore, but the illuminated one he wore on The Victory Tour—is up for auction October 2 from Profiles in History. Fittingly, their most recent successes have come from monster-related sales (a Frankenstein one-sheet, the mask from The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Bela Lugosi's Dracula ring).

 

I imagine it could realize $100,000. Then again, it might go for more—much more—considering some of the prices they've achieved with far less famous items. (A duck toy from The Nightmare Before Christmas sold for $38,350.)

Also fitting: The glove will be displayed at ComicCon. Captain EO would be proud.

Something Better

My e-friend Sean forwarded me this and conjectures that it's possible Benny Benassi (who's shared a stage with Madonna) could potentially have used the Electric Daisy Carnival to debut a new remix of "Vogue" that might pop up on her hits collection. That's "could" and "might." But the remix is well worth a listen.

Bunny Lady

The full set of Louis Vuitton images is available at Absolument Madonna, including some "making-of" shots.

More Remi

Rémi Martin (named for the cognac) is an acrobat, and his layout for Winq (Summer 2009) will have you doing cartwheels, I suspect:

One more after the jump (and it's the best kind)...

Guydar: Northern Exposure

In honor of Canada Day: My neighbors to the North know how to celebrate Gay Pride, and how to look good doing it. Thanks to Doug for these images from Toronto Pride:

More after the jump...

Certifiable

Just think of everything President Obama hasn't done for gays just since Al Franken won—and Franken is only now considered the actual winner! It's almost time to go into re-election mode. Certify him, Pawlenty. Don't be a douche.

UPDATE: Coleman concedes. He should concede that he's a fucking undemocratic asshole and less pretty than Sarah Plain and Tall, too.

Weekend At Michael's

So for all the people who bawled their eyes out and beat their chests when ETOnline.com showed an image of Michael Jackson in death, I wonder how they will react now that it appears his family would like for there to be a public viewing of his corpse at Neverland? Who knows, they might even charge. I am wondering how long it will take for this greedy, desperate family to have the audacity to ask fans to contribute to a fund for the formerly rich man's children even though his likeness and recordings will eventually wipe out his debts?

I said before that there is a history of famous bodies being displayed, and of course it's still quite common for funerals to be open-casket. Like Rudy Valentino and Elvis Presley before him, both also huge icons and huge lovers of spectacle, it's only fitting that he would be gussied up EIGHT DAYS after his death so his fans can check out the ultimate Madame Tussaud's exhibit. Why not just drive him around the country? Quite gross—if true.

Reverse Negativity

All the rest of the Louis Vuitton ads featuring "Madonna" are now available by clicking here. I would like the artsy take more in a magazine layout as opposed to in an advertisement—it just looks like they were desperate to make the bag and the bag look pretty, not to mention this is the best the bunny outfit has ever looked. I would rather see the original shots with maybe some eye wrinkles swiped and the rest as is. I'm a fan of Madonna, not of her reverse negative.

Hung

I couldn't identify more with this yellowing image of 14-year-old Curtis Tucker receiving his iconic Farrah poster if I tried! Yet another FF remembrance here.

Making A Splash

"Poseidon" by Pieter Henket captures Edilson Nascimento at his most perfect, whether he's modeling swimwear or lounging in the raw in the surf:

More after the jump...

Clothes-Minded

"Day Off" by Vincent Ferrané is a sensual, chic editorial from TETU (Juin 2009) starring sultry model Nil Hoppenot:

More after the jump...

Guydar X 15

More after the jump...

Kerryed Away

Breaking news: Kerry Degman is hawt. More proof here.

Gay Like Me

 

President Obama's 20-minute live address (full transcript) from the White House at the "controversial" LGBT reception today (for the record, I would have gone—I respect those who wouldn't and those who would, so I guess I'm an unrepentant starfucker) was a historic first for a sitting president.

Nice Ashton

Over at AKA William, a bunch of shots of Ashton Kutcher nude, showing off his fine ass in the upcoming movie Spread.

Cowboy Diplomacy

The Rosedale Saloon and Cowboy Palace as well as the Rainbow Lounge may be the new Stonewalls—the Fort Worth gay bars were the scene of disgraceful, inexplicable (and well-timed!) late-night police raids that resulted in arrests for public intoxication and one man suffering a fractured skull.

Totally unacceptable. Joe.My.God. reports that around 200 people protested outside Fort Worth's police HQ.

Here is a sickening eyewitness account of what went down. Must-read.

The Good-Buy Girl

Madonna's new pad "only" ran her $32.5 million, a good deal according to The New York Times.

Bowing To The King

I almost did a Michael Jackson tribute magazine (I know, but I'm a pro, you'd never have known I was at best ambivalent behind the keyboard!) having done them on Princess Diana and JFK Jr. in the past, so I'm quite interested in those that do come out. Newsweek (July 13, 2009) has him on its cover, but it's not a full issue. Interesting quote of the day:

"True, for a while he was the King of Pop—a term apparently originated by his friend Elizabeth Taylor—and he's the last we're ever likely to have. Before Michael Jackson came Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles; after him has come absolutely no one, however brilliant or however popular, who couldn't be ignored by vast segments of an ever-more-fragmented audience. Not Kurt Cobain, not Puffy, not Mariah Carey, not Céline Dion, not Beyoncé, not Radiohead—not even Madonna, his closest competitor."—David Gates (with Raina Kelley)

The Death Of "Perez Hilton"

I hope Mario will read this all the way through without overreacting to the title; I know he reads my stuff and I've sent him words of encouragement from time to time, so I trust he will. And in truth this is less about Perez Hilton than it is about what he has come to represent, in both meanings of the phrase.

Problem with the evil tongue? It's also realllly cool.

Long before my recent seeming defense of Perez Hilton on several issues (here, here and here), I wrote a lot about the culture of negativity in celebrity journalism and the at times hatred the public feels  toward its anointed stars, specifically throwing my hands up at the popularity of his site, which was built up as quickly as it could tear others down. I did not always "get" Perez; I still am not so much a fan as I am an admirer, and there is a difference. I used to resent his power (he steals ideas and images, he can't spell), but now I think I understand what fuels it and I do see his work as a whole, with its plusses (stars should not go unchallenged, he's funny, he's pro-gay) and minuses (that use of faggot was pretty stupid, who is he to act like the death photo of Jacko was beyond the pale compared to what he's done?). I can sometimes be a black-and-white, love-or-hate person, but I am nothing if not against irrational, unparsed stances.

Actually, the negativity of which I speak struck me before I'd ever heard of Perez, but I found it in the same place I found Perez—on the Internet. Make no mistake—I am a viper. I have joked about death, about maiming, about others' misfortunes. I have done it both out of a lack of sympathy depending on the subject, out of political competitiveness and for less dishonorable reasons, such as a desire to break the tension, gallows humor. I am capable of saying almost anything and thinking even worse. But even I was shocked at the things I saw on the Internet when it came into being because people—anonymously—began to make public forever the kinds of heinous comments that previously had rarely if ever been unleashed except in private. They were called trolls, but to me they were worse because trolls are imaginary.

The bile was aimed not only at celebrities, but the worst of it seemed to plague the famous, who if they were considered beautiful would be savagely criticized for every minor flaw, if they were considered elegant would be dragged through the mud. Even deaths were mocked before bodies were cold.

This should not have surprised me. Throughout entertainment history, there has been a cutthroat media thriving on negativity as well as positivity. The negativity didn't come out of nowhere; it was actually conjured up by the celebrities themselves, though without their knowledge.

In order to capitalize on a star in the biggest possible way—a necessity since stardom is based on commerce—all of their positive attributes had to be blown out of proportion by their promoters. This was resolved via a new invention: publicity. Which can mean spreading the beneficial truth (she donates to charity!) but more often has meant spreading bald-faced lies. Tell the people what they want to hear—he's not gay, she's not promiscuous, they're not divorcing, he never did drugs, there was nothing suspicious about her last husband's death—and they will love you for it.

And they do.

Until they hate you.

The Homosexual Gourmand Latino

Great stills from a shoot involving Eugenio Siller from TV Notas (Junio 30, 2009):

TV y Novelas (Julio 1, 2009) provides a centerfold and more on soap stud Mario Cimarro:

More Mario, more men after the jump...

Crazy Like Foxx: He Was Really, Really Bad

I haven't been a Janet Jackson fan since I misguidedly bought into her Control persona, but I'm surprised so many are buying into her appearance at the BET Awards. Points for loyalty to the community/first fan group, and I can't knock someone for however they grieve (I'm not counting the dad, whose idea of grieving is thieving), but to my ear Janet didn't sound like she had a compelling need to be there. This to me looks like the beginning salvo in a long soaking up of the public's grief by his survivors. Well, unlike her father, at least she tried.

If she were so upset by her brother's passing, I honestly don't see how she could have gone out onto the same stage after this occurred:

Honestly, this approaches lampooning Jacko. Shameless & shameful.

And should we even talk about Jamie Foxx??? I think this site sums it up the best, noting the room was so silent during his (cracked out? drunken?) tributes you could hear the squeak when Amber Rose crossed her legs.

His monologue was beyond repulsive. He's talking about Michael Jackson's nose, his effeminacy (the Chico DeBarge reference), etc. It's one thing to say we shouldn't be sad when someone dies and should celebrate their life, but...should we really do a buffoonish semi-roast of them including comments about your own camel toe/boa constrictor and heterosexuality and televise it? Alicia Keys's face said it all.

Check out the monologue after the dancing.

As for the actual performances, if the famous man dies too soon before your awards show to allow for rehearsals, then don't fucking do so many numbers saluting him.

A Little Behind

Even though it just saw only its second Gay Pride Parade, India is about to do away with its 150-year-old law against homosexuality. This Times Online article notes that "even China lifted its ban in 1997."

Now watch, they'll have full marriage equality before all of the U.S. does

A Leg Up

Gale Storm, star of the classic '50s sitcom My Little Margie, died at 87 today (and pitchman Billy Mays died, too, and, and, and). My Little Margie was way before my time, but I was addicted to the What Ever Became Of...? books so I learned of her pre-Matthew stardom and read insinuations about her alcohol abuse, which was quite shocking when I was little.

But the most interesting thing to me about her passing is that she was remembered to CNN by a former co-star (age 80) named Skip E. Lowe, who has a cable-access show that's been on the air for 35 years and...who wrote a book called The Boy With the Betty Grable Legs.

I think I have to buy this.