07/19/2007
News: Yasser Arafat, Enigma Machine, Annie Lennox, Emmys
Did Yasser Arafat really die of AIDS? One Palestinian leader insists, yes.
William Hamilton Martin and Bernon Mitchell, NSA traitors whose treason was blamed in part on their homosexuality, are proven to be straight after documents are declassified: "After interviewing more than 450 individuals about the twosome’s character, habits, and sex lives—right down to the skin rash on Martin’s stomach—the NSA, in a 1961 report, could find no conclusive evidence the two men were gay. “Martin and Mitchell were known to be close friends and somewhat anti-social, but no one had any knowledge of a homosexual relationship between them,” investigators reported. Both, in fact, had American girlfriends, and Martin married a Russian woman four months after his arrival there. Mitchell also wed later."
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Sopranos, Ugly Betty lead Emmy nominations. Full list.
Gone before its time: Who killed A Mighty Heart?
Kylie Minogue teams up with Stuart Price, Madonna's producer on Confessions on a Dance Floor.
Courtney Love: Orange you glad she's back?
Spit-tune: If you're going to one of Amy Winehouse's concerts, be sure to stay out of range of her salivary glands.
Conservative Episcopal priest from Boston defects to become a bishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya: "The Rev. William L. Murdoch, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in West Newbury, will fly to Nairobi next month for his consecration as a Kenyan bishop, then return to Massachusetts to minister to other disaffected conservatives who are leaving the Episcopal Church over its 2003 decision to ordain an openly gay priest as the bishop of New Hampshire."
Fancy yourself the next Alan Turing? Have a bit of practice decoding some of the messages from this 1938 Enigma machine for sale on eBay. Bidding is currently near $20,000 but the reserve has not yet been met.
Window Media President Peter Polimino to step down, and will be replaced by three co-presidents: "Mike Kitchens is Window Media's chief operating officer, Steve Myers is chief financial officer, and Bill Kapfer is responsible for marketing and Genre's publisher."
Lover of flesh Spencer Tunick will make his next project a commentary on global warming and photograph hundreds of naked folk in the Alps. He is encouraging those who wish to participate to arrive there by public transportation.
Annie Lennox is back with Songs of Mass Destruction, a new album featuring the track "Sing" to which Madonna, Sarah McLachlan, Celine Dion, Fergie, Faith Hill, Pink, Dido, Gladys Knight, kd Lang, Angelique Kidjo, Bonnie Raitt, Shakira, Melissa Etheridge, Anastasia, Joss Stone, KT Tunstall and many others will add their voices. The track will raise awareness and funding for the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) - organizations fighting for human rights, education and health care for those affected by the HIV AIDS virus.
Do you take it? (warning: NSFW)
Nova Scotia tries to get in on the gay travel market with Rainbow Halifax.
"I could hear them.": Be careful when traveling in Belize and don't read this post while you're eating lunch.
Channel 4 in the UK presents 40 Years Out, a week of programming meant to mark the passing of the Homosexual Reform Act in 1967, which decriminalized homosexual acts in private between two adult men aged 21 and over.
Posted 2:30 PM EST by Andy in Alan Turing, Amy Winehouse, Courtney Love, Episcopal Church, Gay Media, Global Warming, Kylie Minogue, News, Religion, Spencer Tunick, Television | Permalink
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New Annie Lennox? Oh wow! That just made my day. I am so excited!
Posted by: BVC | Jul 19, 2007 2:45:35 PM
One could write volumes about how, once again, Emmy nominators have demonstrated their idiocy, but we will only address a few. The failure to nominate "Lost" or its best actors, Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly. The failure to nominate "Deadwood," and its best actors, Ian McShane and Brad Dourif. In fact both shows, particularly the latter, are so gifted with outstanding performances that they should get special ensemble awards.
As for the growing schism in the Episcopal church, the drinks are on me! Let these pious fascists wither and die on their wandering vine.
Posted by: Leland | Jul 19, 2007 3:27:22 PM
Never seen "Lost," but I certainly think Evangeline Lilly's performance as Dominic Monaghan's girlfriend is worthy of an Emmy.
Posted by: 24play | Jul 19, 2007 3:37:23 PM
"Do you take it" reminds me of songs by Romanovski and Philips. Wonderful!
Posted by: Rad | Jul 19, 2007 3:47:06 PM
Do you take it is fantastic!! And coupled with the news about Annie Lennox...well, my week is made! I downloaded the youtube video and just cut it to use as a ringtone! LOVE it!
Leland, I sort of agree with your Emmy assessment, but Lost didn't get good this season until the last few episodes, and Deadwood, while quality television, has low ratings and was finished before anyone had a chance to see it this season. I actually thought many of the nom's were right on target: Rain Wilson from the Office...fantastic! And Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey from 30 Rock too...Love that show! But I'm saddened that another Desperate Housewife got a nod, and that 24 and House continue to rank. At least several of the FX networks shows were hit this year, including the Closer and Rescue Me.
Posted by: Wayne | Jul 19, 2007 3:57:54 PM
Screw the Emmys. "The Wire" couldn't even garner one nomination, even for best writing? Proves once again that Hollywood is a town full of brain dead bigots.
I am looking forward to the Annie Lennox album. Love her soooo much.
Posted by: James | Jul 19, 2007 4:01:12 PM
Call me skeptical, but I'm always going to be suspicious when a news organization like "Israel Today" reports the "news" about Arafat. Israel Today is a 'Jews for Jesus'-type organization that drinks a lot of the so-called biblical/messianic Christian kool-aid about End Time prophecies and whatnot.
So, no, I don't buy it.
Posted by: Tyler | Jul 19, 2007 4:02:19 PM
The link to the Windows Media seems to be former boss Chris Crain's website, where he says he "moved to Brazil to be with his partner, who is Brazilian." Um, Peter Palolino FIRED your ass from the company due to mismanagement. Your press release on Windows Media site is an outright lie, something real journalists don't tolorate.
Posted by: Eric | Jul 19, 2007 4:13:06 PM
Leland,
I agree with you that the omission of Deadwood from the Emmys is a travesty. Not only is Ian McShane fantastic in the part of Al Swearengen, but the entire cast is stunningly good.
I don't have HBO so I watch Deadwood on DVD. When I first started watching Deadwood, I was hooked so I watched it several times per week. At that same period of time, I kept noticing a woman in my gym who looked vaguely, kind of, maybe-a-little-bit familiar. I never could place her. Finally one day it hit me on the head like a ton of bricks. It was Robin Weigert, whose portrayal of an alcoholic Calamity Jane is at once sad, touching and often times humorous. An actor playing someone who is drunk is rarely believeable. With Robin's performances, I can practically smell the alcohol on Calamity Jane's breath. The fact that my favorite Deadwood character was virtually unrecognizable in her real life actress self was a further testament to Robin's acting skills.
I'm not yet finished with the DVDs of the final season, but already I mourn the passing of Deadwood.
As for LOST...I was (and I suppose still am) a huge fan of the show. But I do have to agree with Wayne that this season was disappointingly mediocre.
Let's all take a (virtual) shot of whiskey and toast Deadwood...cocksuckers!
xo,
peterparker
Posted by: peterparker | Jul 19, 2007 5:17:36 PM
"Screw the Emmys. "The Wire" couldn't even garner one nomination, even for best writing?"
James,
It's pretty unfuckingbelievable! I watched a marathon session of the Wire before this seasons finale and was riveted - absolutely blown away by its writing, acting, and urgent social relevance!!
I don't get it, The Wire - especially this season's amazing (and heartbreaking!!!) story line - has been unanimously lauded by every possible media outlet yet it is consistently ignored during the awards season. WTF??
For all of its professed liberalism it appears that Hollywood elite could care less about the plight of four teenagers in drug infested Baltimore and would rather instead focus on um... Boston Legal?!!?
It sucks for everyone involved in producing such a complicated and deeply layered show - especially when you consider how great the young leads were and the fact that they cast actual kids from the streets of Baltimore to play small but enagaging roles.
Not one nomination?? - Honestly, television just doesn't get any better than this so it's kind of bewildering especially when you consider how unremarkable the final season of the Sopranos was - and I am big fan of the show.
For those of you who have never seen The Wire it also has one of the most interesting gay characters to ever be seen on television - well, anywhere actually but even if you can't relate to him in any way the show deserves to be checked out. This coming season is its last and ironically enough will focus on the media and how it relates to the inner city. Give it a shot!
Posted by: Giovanni | Jul 19, 2007 5:49:03 PM
Good one, Peter! Ironically, given the extent "Deadwood" creator Milch had to go in order to defend the pervasive vulgarisms, I was shocked to hear the use of the word "homosexual" in the last season. While the word had been coined by the time of the show's setting, it was not known to hoi polloi until many years later. "George Hearst" might as well have been asking to borrow "Al Swearengen's" Iphone.
And while I previously expressed my great admiration for the show and cast, I was damn well depressed by the end of its last season, the last act's last act of cold-blooded cruelty [which I won't specify for fear of spoiling for others] was immobilizing. And I feel it also fair to criticize from a creative standpoint because I believe the complicity in it by Seth Bullock and others was inconsistent with their characters. There were other issues with the plot for me, too, and I was even more depressed when I realized it would be the last season both because I would not get to see these performances again [unless the films come to fruition] and the situations at serie's end would not be redeemed.
As for "Lost," as I've acknowledged before, the first half of this season repeatedly stumbled, but the season finale was one of the best shows ever seen on TV. Unfortunately, even if it were always perfect, professional TV critics keep pointing out that the Emmys have not caught up with how to evaluate the increasing number of "serial" shows, let alone those as complex as "Lost." Even had the producers submitted screeners of that season finale, there would be no way for anyone not knowing what had come before to appreciate its many emotionally powerful moments that left a devotee like me with his jaw on the floor.
And who can forget last year's nomination of otherwise wonderful actress Ellen Burstyn's FOURTEEN-SECOND performance?
Posted by: Leland | Jul 19, 2007 5:52:06 PM
Giovanni,
I found this article this morning. Says so much about Hollywood and how ill equipped the town is to judge "The Wire."
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117927818.html?categoryid=1945&cs=1&s=h&p=0judge
Posted by: James | Jul 19, 2007 6:13:00 PM
If you like the Wet Spots song "Do You Take it?" check out our hour long interview with them on our podcast:
http://www.feastoffools.net/gay-fun-show/2006/04/27/fof-298-the-joy-of-the-wet-spots-042706/
Posted by: Feast of Fools Podcast | Jul 19, 2007 6:13:54 PM
i enjoy my addiction to LOST, but the show's momentum is frustrating, esp because of deadbeat scheduling... tho if i spent all my time in hawaii i wouldn't get much work done either... but egads, that the show doesn't begin again now till january is an insane abuse of a fanbase.
the show's been uneven, but the acting remains superb... and emmy worthy.
the ommission that irks me is hbo's Rome... i adore that series, the combo of intrigue, occult, incredible casting, lush detail... Rome deserves a TV-trophy.
Posted by: A.J. | Jul 19, 2007 6:20:54 PM
Keeping up the Isaiah Washington theme on this website:
Hey, Isaiah - TR Knight was nominated but you weren't - ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!! Maybe now, people will finally stop claiming that the idiotic IW can act... (though I won't be holding my breath)
Regarding LOST:
Awards shows are always ridiculous popularity contests, but I shed no tears for the snub of a show that has avoided homosexuality like a plague.
Posted by: Gregg | Jul 19, 2007 6:37:48 PM
I've always marveled at who & what get nominated for awards, Emmy's and otherwise. One thing to keep in mind with the HBO series: ATAS eligbility period is something like August through July. HBO series are usually 6-10 episodes and don't necessarily air annually within the ATAS period. I think there were years when both the Sopranos and Six Feet Under weren't eligible for EMMY awards. That may be what happened with Deadwood (or not), but unfortunately it doesn't explain The Wire.
Posted by: basis4insanity | Jul 19, 2007 6:39:32 PM
Much to admire about "Rome," AJ, and not just of the phallic variety.
And I can't wait to see "Lucius Vorenus"/Kevin McKidd in "Journeyman" on NBC this fall!!!! And we assume you know "Rome" was not the first time he had seen "Mark Antony's"/James Purefoy's prodigious appendage
http://sheepranch.home.mindspring.com/mightymarc.jpg
as they played gay loverettes in the ultimately disappointing "Bedrooms & Halways."
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/1638/bedroomshallways2ek.jpg
Posted by: Leland | Jul 19, 2007 6:44:32 PM
Gregg,
Washington can act. Granted he's not Michael K. Williams (Omar in "The Wire"), but his acting chops are not an issue. Now his ability not to use bigoted language is but that is a different matter.
Posted by: James | Jul 19, 2007 6:45:50 PM
James, this quote from the the Chicago tribune seems to be the general consensus
"The Wire" is not just considered one of the greatest TV shows of all time. It's simply a classic work of art, by any standard in any creative field. The HBO drama getting only one nomination in its four-season history is like "The Godfather" getting one measly Oscar nomination. It's not just wrong, it shows an institutional inability (or even unwillingness) to recognize true greatness"
Oh well, at least Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee was nominated (a good thing!) and for three hours on a Sunday night in September the televison industry can feel good about itself while the rest of the country is catching up on their tivo.
Posted by: Giovanni | Jul 19, 2007 7:00:33 PM
See, that's why I didn't hold my breath...
James - you and others may think that IW can act, but I do not. He is terrible, and no quantity of press releases will convince me otherwise.
'Wooden' with a dash of 'nervous' does not equal good acting. Thank god for Sandra Oh acting circles around the poor bastard.
Posted by: Gregg | Jul 19, 2007 7:19:46 PM
Giovanni,
That's a great line. Hollywood will be so contented with itself in September. I'll just spend the evening re-watching season three of "The Wire" on dvd.
Gregg,
"James - you and others may think that IW can act, but I do not. He is terrible, and no quantity of press releases will convince me otherwise."
The beauty of America. We can have two opposite views on a topic and no one is hurt or maimed.
Posted by: James | Jul 19, 2007 7:26:28 PM
Here's another bit from EW posted a little while ago which hightlights the flaws in the nominating system - if it seems like I am repeating myself it just because I am that passionate about the show - I really want people to watch it!
Re The Wire (Et al):
"... But the Emmys still have a huge problem to fix: Their valiant attempt at a democratic voting system gives too many people with too little taste too much of a say in the outcome. Volunteer judging panels watching one episode of an actor's performance is a bad enough system, but the fact that their votes are then weighed down by the ballots of thousands of voters who may never have even watched the shows at all is shoddy.
Did I mention The Wire earlier? Being grim and complicated and urban and irreducible to one episode (and, not incidentally, largely about poor black people), The Wire's just not really Emmy's cup of tea. The thing is, ignoring a show like this doesn't hurt the reputation of the series, just of the prizegivers. There is, however, a way to rectify it. The Emmys have a Governor's Award, which can be given at its discretion for an outstanding current achievement. Handing it to The Wire this year would not only be richly deserved; it would serve as an acknowledgment that the Emmy Awards can still recognize excellence, even when their own nominators can't."
Posted by: Giovanni | Jul 19, 2007 7:48:34 PM