Towleroad Guide to the Tube #407

DR. SANJAY GUPTA: The new surgeon general?

ROOSTER: Forget the snooze alarm.

STATIC: Andy Warhol, Steven Spielberg, and Bianca Jagger contemplate the mysteries of TV and radio.

2008: The year in movies.

Spielberg and Capshaw Give $100,000 to Fight Gay Marriage Ban

More high-profile Hollywood figures have joined the fight against Proposition 8. Brad Pitt donated $100,000 last week and Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw matched that, Variety reported late yesterday.

Said Spielberg and Capshaw: "By writing discrimination into our state constitution, Proposition 8 seeks to eliminate the right of each and every citizen in our state to marry regardless of sexual orientation. Such discrimination has NO place in California's constitution, or any other."

Said Producer Bruce Cohen: "It's phenomenal that Kate and Steven are affirming their unwavering commitment to equality in such a significant a way. More than 15 years ago, Steven was the first person in Hollywood who I came out to, news which he greeted with his full love and support then and ever since. It is my fervent hope that other entertainment industry leaders will follow the lead of Brad Pitt and the Spielbergs and fight to maintain equal rights for all Californians."

Today, the L.A. Times reported that backers of the ban are outraising opponents: "So far, the main group promoting the Constitutional amendment, which would overturn a recent California Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage, has raised $17.8 million. The main No-on-8 campaign has raised $12.4 million."

No on Prop 8 [official site]

News: Brett Favre, Kentucky, Gus van Sant, Dallas, Danny Noriega

Gay Kentucky couple blocked from adopting child through state's foster care system: "Phillips and Parsley said they are outraged because they had already passed a criminal background check and a home survey by a Sunrise employee who was fully aware of their living arrangement. And they have attended two of five classes required for certification through the free program, they said."

Gus van Sant on filming his new film: Paranoid Park. REVIEW: Van Sant "makes another pretty, vacant movie about pretty, vacant boys..."

Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty posts video of himself smoking a cock.

Documentary explores Florida hate crime killing of Ryan Keith Skipper.

Gay porn films pulled from sale in the UK following barebacking investigation: "Two of the DVDs featured footage from a week-long shoot during which eight British models had sex with each other in multiple combinations without condoms. Four of those who took part were diagnosed as HIV positive soon after. One of the men told the BBC he was distressed that footage which he believed showed him becoming infected had been put on sale."

Green Bay Packers Brett Favre to retire. Sportrait flashback...

Lance and Ben document their romance.

Simon Cowell to produce Billy Eliot-Style musical on Britain's Got Talent winner, opera singer Paul Potts: "That particular day was one of the worst, the acts were just terrible, we were fed up and on comes this guy with a funny little suit and bad teeth who looked very nervous. I can remember looking at the other judges, with that 'here we go again' feeling. We had 2,000 people in the audience, and I'll never forget how much the room changed when he began singing." Video Flashback...

Steven Spielberg to launch social networking site for people interested in the afterlife: "The focus will be on users who’ve had or who are interested in sharing paranormal and extraterrestrial experiences. The new social network may also have original video content investigating alleged ghost and UFO stories."

Pink Speedo down under: Carson Kressley definitely not a fashion coward.

Dallas man claims he was assaulted at Station 4 nightclub: "Sid Gonzales, 43, said he suffered two broken bones in his wrist, a puncture wound to his hand and multiple bruises on his backside when two men assaulted him at about 11 p.m. Gonzales said he was near the main dance floor of the Dallas gay nightclub when two men and a woman walked over and stood nearby. Gonzales said he was 'a little buzzed' from alcohol but not intoxicated. He said he tried to be friendly and make small talk with the trio. But he said he was not trying to hit on the men, whom he described as straight-looking, well-dressed and college-aged. When Gonzales asked a few questions, the woman responded but the men said nothing and looked uncomfortable, he said. Gonzales said he reached out to shake hands with one of the men. The man grabbed Gonzales’ arm, twisted it in the air and slammed it against a knee. Gonzales said the first man also stabbed him in the hand with an unidentified object, while the second began kicking him in the backside."

American Idol contestant Danny Noriega wishes you a Merry Christmas.

News: Clay Aiken, Buenos Aires Snow, Steven Spielberg, Madonna

Analyst: Apple planning iPhone Nano priced at $300 or lower.

Look out, Buenos Aires: City sees first snow since 1918.

Though Sunday night's episode featured its first (and apparently only) full-frontal shot, the boys of Entourage won't be showing much skin any time soon. Says producer Doug Ellin: "I don't have any interest in seeing that. Adrian has tried to do that a couple of times. I've told him no. Sundance specifically. One scene in the hot tub he just decided to go without his pants on, but we didn't use that take."

Smell this: Clay Aiken's wandering foot in fracas at 35,000 feet.

Michigan judge Janet Neff, whose nomination was objected to by Sam Brownback because she once spoke at a lesbian civil union, is confirmed for Michigan's federal court.

The L.A. Times talks to Hairspray director Adam Shankman: "The movie is so laden with message you can't play the message, ever. I just want people to relate to Tracy's journey. The craziness of the material will never go away. The whole reason you have a man playing Edna is because everything is all mixed up and crazy and you can't judge books by their covers. I am Tracy. I'm this outsider who always just desperately wanted to perform and be successful."

Meet Lance Bass' Latin lover Pedro Andrade.

Steven Spielberg-designed videogames to be shown off at gaming conference E3: "The first, codenamed LMNO, is a contemporary action adventure, said Neil Young, general manager of EA's Los Angeles studio. The second, with the codename PQRS, is a puzzle game designed for Nintendo's Wii console...Spielberg said the puzzle game 'seemed like a great thing for the entire family to play together over Christmas; although you don't need the excuse of a holiday to enjoy it.' The game has been described as a mix of Saturday-morning cartoon and Jenga. Mr Young said: 'Of course just playing with blocks does not a game make. Now imagine there are up to 50 different properties that can be associated with them. They can explode or form a chemical reaction.'"

Shut up and drive: Residents of Oregon town upset about penis-shaped traffic posts.

Madonna demands eye contact at Live Earth interviews: "Never look down to check notes - all questions must be memorised or the interview will be terminated."