The Brand New 'Pitch Perfect 2' Trailer Goes for the Side-Splitting Notes: VIDEO
Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow and the Barden Bellas are back along with Skylar Astin and Adam DeVine in Pitch Perfect 2, the sequel to the 2012 teen comedy hit directed by Jason Moore. This time around, Elizabeth Hanks is helming the film in her directorial debut, and it’s scheduled for release in May 2015.
Check out the brand new trailer, AFTER THE JUMP…
Andy Towle
Hating Katherine Heigl Is A Sexist 'State Of Affairs'
Middlebrow is a recap of the week in entertainment, celebrity and television news that provides a comprehensive look at the state of pop culture. From the rock bottom to highfalutin, Middlebrow is your accessible guidebook to the world of entertainment. Sign up to receive it in your inbox here.
With her return to television, Katherine Heigl is re-visiting the sort of redemption tour that we first saw when she appeared on the cover of Entertainment Weekly in March of 2010. Four years later, she’s still quite sorry, this time that Shonda Rhimes (and America) has a “crappy impression” of her. She’s hoping “State Of Affairs” and her turn as a woman named Charleston will set things straight.
“The Reason Why People Still Hate Katherine Heigl Isn’t The Reason You Think,” “Katherine Heigl Suing Duane Reade Is Yet Another Reason People Hate Her,” ”Does Everyone Still Hate Katherine Heigl?” the headlines read, both automatically assuming that we have such “hate” for this woman and wondering why that’s the case. But her alleged diva behavior on set isn’t enough of an explanation. It’s fine to skip “State Of Affairs” because it’s a lazy broadcast version of “Homeland,” but reports of Katherine Heigl being “ungrateful” aren’t good enough reason to not give Charlie a chance.
Difficult talents are about as common to Hollywood as weird crimes are to Florida. The problem for Heigl isn’t that she is allegedly hard to work with. It’s that she’s allegedly hard to work with … and stopped bringing in big box office numbers. “The Big Wedding,” though an ensemble effort, was a relative flop, making less than $22 million in domestic gross. Her last lead role, 2012’s “One For The Money,” made under $27 million. The reported on-set antics of her and her mother Nancy might be a bit easier to stomach if she was still breaking out hits like “27 Dresses” (nearly $77 million in North America) or “The Ugly Truth” ($89 million) or “Knocked-Up” ($149 million). Those three proceeded a series of projects where she seemed to repeat similar characters and plot lines with the ferocity of an industrial era rom-com factory. Hollywood turned on her, and now she’s back on television.
That explains the industry’s issue with her. What’s America’s problem, though? Is the movie-and-television-watching public so concerned about what demands K. Heigl and her mom have for their trailer? It would appear that we, as consumers of celebrity, have a huge issue with perceived personalities of female stars. The hatred for Anne Hathaway stemmed from the feeling that she was the type of person who had been to drama camp and might pronounce it “the-a-ter.” Now, as Kevin Fallon wrote over at The Daily Beast, “the court of public opinion [has] convicted [Heigl] of the celebrity crime of ‘seeming a little bitchy.'”
There is a ton of sexist malarkey embedded in the fact that strong, successful women are criticized for “seeming a little bitchy.” Male actors, male CEOS, male anythings can get away with being “a little bitchy” except for them it’s just “a little assertive.” The phenomenon is a bit more complex than that when it comes to the ladies of Hollywood, though. A public personality is an obligation for female stars, in a way that it isn’t for male ones. Chevy Chase, James Cameron, Isaiah Washington and Christian Bale are all supposedly “difficult.” Where are the think pieces about why people hate them? A man who is hard to work with might be susceptible to falling out of favor with industry executives if he can’t bring in big box office numbers anymore. The celebrity-obsessed public seems largely unbothered by that reality, while the possibility of “bitchiness” is all-consuming for their female counterparts.
So what if Katherine Heigl is hard to work with? An element of this is that part of her clash has come up against Shonda Rhimes, the rightful reigning queen of television. Let’s just assume Rhimes is completely in the right for bringing up Heigl’s name during an interview where she also discussed a “no-assholes policy.” As consumers and audience members, we should be concerned with quality of performance, not whether the actor is fussing over how many lines she’s given backstage. It’s about much more than that, though. We hold women to a completely different standard in Hollywood. It’s impossible for them to be judged solely on their work, because imagined brattiness means infinitely more than talent. Heck, maybe Katherine Heigl is, as a one character calls her on “State Of Affairs,” “one of the most obnoxious creatures, man or woman, roaming the planet.” But the man or woman portion of that sentiment isn’t irrelevant. It makes a huge difference.
Follow Lauren Duca on Twitter: @laurenduca
This text convo between a gay 13-year-old and his 'bro' will warm your heart
Fist bump for cuteness
joem
Brooklyn Man Nicknamed “Sally Fingers” Denies Pinning Down And Inappropriately Touching Male Colleague
Plaintiff Michael Sabella leaving the courthouse.
“My name is out there on the street now,” Salvatore Buzzetta lamented after testifying in Brooklyn Federal Court last week. “They call me ‘Sally Fingers!’”
Buzzetta, a married father of three, has been accused by a former male colleague of having “loose hands,” allegations the longshoreman calls “appalling” and “all lies.”
The lawsuit was filed by Michael Sabella, who alleges that, while he was employed at the New York Container Terminal, Buzzetta, who was his supervisor at the time, threw him over a desk, grabbed his crotch, and shoved his finger up his butt. When Sabella filed a complaint with the Waterfront Commission about the alleged attack, he claims he was suspended and ultimately banned from the pier in retaliation.
“I was attacked,” Sabella testified. “[Buzzetta] went to grab my crotch and I pushed his hand away. He threw me over the desk and I couldn’t get out — he was strong.”
His voice cracking, he continued: “He put his finger in my ass. Everybody was looking. If it wasn’t for the old-timer, he said, ‘Let go of that boy.’”
But Buzzetta says he never touched Sabella’s private parts, though he did acknowledge there was some “wrestling with the men” at times in the workplace.
“I played around with the guys,” he testified. “Horsing around.”
Sabella’s lawyer, Matthew Blit, then asked what parts of men’s bodies Buzzetta specifically touched when he was “horsing around.” Buzzetta said it was “only their arms, shoulders, and heads.”
“Mr. Buzzetta, what is your sexual orientation?” lawyer Janine Bauer then asked.
“I like women,” he replied.
As a result of the sexual harassment allegations, Buzzetta says he was mocked so badly by colleagues that it forced him to find a different job on the waterfront.
“The men were just absurd, this thing with this case and all this was too much stress for me,” he said.
Related stories:
NYC Steakhouse To Pay $600K In Male-On-Male Sexual Harassment Suit
This Lesbian’s Boss Thinks She’s Too Ugly To Sexually Harass
What’s Man-on-Man Sexual Harassment Gonna Cost Cheesecake Factory? $345k
Graham Gremore is a columnist and contributor for Queerty and Life of the Law. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
Graham Gremore
Procter & Gamble Comes Out In Support Of Same-Sex Marriage – VIDEO
For the first time in its history, Cincinnati-based consumer products group Procter & Gamble (P&G) is openly supporting same-sex marriage, reports Cincinnati.com.
This may not be great news for right wing anti-gay zealots. Tony Perkins, the leader of listed hate group Family Research Council, last week hinted at a possible boycott of Apple after CEO Tim Cook came out.
Procter & Gamble says that it has embraced LGBT employees for more than 20 years and same-sex marriage has become an important enough issue to its workers that it is taking a public stand.
Deborah P. Majoras, P&G’s chief legal officer and executive sponsor to GABLE, the company’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender-allied employee group, said:
“We have always supported our employees and fostered a culture of inclusion and respect – this includes the right to marry whomever they choose and to have that union legally recognized.”
William Gipson, P&G’s chief global diversity officer, added that being LGBT-inclusive is “not a political statement, but a statement of support for our employees.”
P&G’s announcement of its support for same-sex marriage comes a week after the city of Cincinnati won top score for inclusion by Human Rights Campaign (HRC). P&G also received a perfect score this year from HRC for its inclusion policies.
Terry Kelly, principal and investment adviser at Cincinnati-based investment management firm Bartlett, said that although P&G’s latest stand could anger some consumers, the company has already weighed those risks.
Back in 2007, P&G supported the first kiss between two same-sex teenagers on soap As The World Turns, which you can watch AFTER THE JUMP…
Back in August, advocacy group the Bilerico Project called on people to boycott P&G, the biggest television advertiser in Russia. P&G was also a Worldwide Olympic Partner and a sponsor of the controversial 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
Jim Redmond
www.towleroad.com/2014/11/procter-gamble-comes-out-in-support-of-same-sex-marriage-video.html
Michael Phelps' girlfriend reveals she was assigned male at birth
While given a male name at birth, she found out she was actually intersex and identified as a woman
joem
www.gaystarnews.com/article/michael-phelps-girlfriend-reveals-she-was-assigned-male-birth201114
PHOTOS: The Happy Socks Campaign Is Super Trippy
The Happy Socks Special Special Collection has already got us talking, and not to mention, walking with a little more spring in our step. Never have we ever seen socks shown off in such a way. It has us wanting more trippy bodysuits, more limited edition collections, and obviously, more happy socks. Each of the socks in the Special Special Collection is partnered up with a bodysuit. With patterns that resemble outer space, gummy worms, and even aluminum foil, the socks keep the vibrant and “look at me!” attitude. This new set of socks is absolutely brimming with attitude, and your outfit should follow suit, from head to toe.
For more information, go to The Underwear Expert.
Photo credit: Gregg Homme
Underwear Expert
Transgender Day of Remembrance: Those We've Lost in 2014
Today we pause to remember the beautiful lives needlessly lost to antitrans violence this year.
Mitch Kellaway
www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2014/11/20/transgender-day-remembrance-those-weve-lost-2014
'American Horror Story: Freak Show' Episode 7 Recap: Freaks Are Family
*** WARNING: Contains spoilers! Please do not read on unless you’ve seen Episode 7 of “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” titled “Test Of Strength.” Or if you don’t mind spoilers, go right ahead! ***
Everyone’s strength was tested tonight on “American Horror Story: Freak Show” — from Amazon Eve to Dell to Jimmy to Bette and Dot. So many characters pushed their boundaries, and many questioned what their limits even are. How long can Dell hide the secret that he’s gay? Will Jimmy ever be able to leave the confines of the freak show grounds with Maggie? Can Bette and Dot’s newfound aggressiveness (and one swanky coif of blonde hair!) ever release them from Elsa’s strangehold? Of course we don’t get the answers to this (yet), but there’s a definite sea change brewing.
Tonight is pretty much all about Dell. Sure, he can easily knock the bell in the carnival game, but he is absolutely worthless when it comes to real-life strength. He’s more attached to his “hustler” (a deceased Matt Bomer) than he is to anyone at the freak show, and he loses it when Bomer’s not at the bar. Stanley sees Dell smash a glass over the bartender’s head, and then proceeds to use it as blackmail against him. In exchange for his silence, Dell must kill a freak and hand him/her over to Stanley.
Dell’s first target for murder is Amazon Eve, which has to be the stupidest call of them all. Yes, Dell, smart move. Go for the biggest person, the strongest person who’ll put up the most resistance. She kicks his ass in an awesome scene and closes with “Who’s the Strongman now?” action-hero line. Pure gold.
Dell then intends to kill Jimmy, but instead has a drunken father-son chat with him. It would be kind of hard for him to do after Jimmy’s like, “You’re my DAD! SAY IT!” So rather than a brick to the head, Jimmy gets a big fatherly bear hug. Win-win … at least for them.
It’s not a win for us (the audience) and Ma Petite, who ultimately ends up Dell’s victim tonight. Pfft, Strongman. Not even close — he’s killing the smallest person possible. Literally. While we’re spared the horrific image of Ma Petite drowning in that vat/container/cylinder, we’re expected to be able to look at the screen while Dell twists her neck and breaks it. I couldn’t, so I don’t even know what happened. All I saw were Ma Petite’s little hands and painted fingernails fall lifeless against Dell. My heart broke for her. And us. No more adorable popping out of birthday presents, no more cute hair-brushing, and no more of that little voice! Elsa is going to be pissed when she finds out.
Elsa’s already pissed off about Bette and Dot trying to extort money from her, but discovers that Dot wants surgery to separate from her sister for good. Elsa tells Stanley, who then proposes that someone just kill them instead. That seems to suit Elsa just fine, too. (Just as an aside: what does Stanley do all day besides walking around the freak show, concocting plans and making deals with people? If I were Elsa, he’d be out the door. He’s not exactly a good “manager,” either, since he’s gotten Elsa a big fat zero so far.)
In the other story going on — OK, there’s also Jimmy and Maggie, who debate for two seconds about leaving and starting their life together, it doesn’t happen, then they drop it. The show is obviously setting this up for plot reasons down the line — Paul and Meryl Streep, Jr. are together, and she’s caring for his wound. Her father punishes her in the worst way he knows how: by bringing a guy who looks very unsanitary (hi, Morris!) to cover her face in tattoos, fork her tongue and shave her hair into a strange pattern. Straight up, it’s not that bad, but man, did that facial tattoo ever look fake! Paul accepts her with open arms, and of course blames himself. This is not going to end well for Streep’s father, who is unquestionably going to die (hopefully at the hands of Paul!) before this season is done.
I think the same goes for Dell, too, especially now that he’s killed another freak. There are some lines you just don’t cross, and that’s one of the cardinal rules of this season of “AHS”: freaks are family, and they only survive if they look after each other. The threads between them all are unravelling, and with an angry Dandy, an Elsa out for herself, a reprehensible Dell, and a conniving Stanley on the loose, things are going to get worse before they get better.
Freak Of The Week: Sorry, girl. We’ll miss you, Ma Petite.
Random Thoughts:
“American Horror Story: Freak Show” airs on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. EST on FX and FX Canada.
Episode 6 Recap
Episode 5 Recap
Episode 4 Recap
Episode 3 Recap
Episode 2 Recap
Premiere Recap
Recognizing Transgender Awareness Week
As a suicide-prevention organization, The Trevor Project knows how important it is for young people to feel accepted for who they are and know that someone out there cares about their future. That’s why we’re standing alongside national organizations, colleges, and communities nationwide during Transgender Awareness Week (November 14-20) to help raise the visibility of trans* people and the unique issues they face.
Trevor’s social-media platforms feature quotations from trans* youth — including TrevorLIVE Youth Innovator Award Honoree Skyler Kergil and Trevor supporter Jazz — as they share what makes them truly happy. On Thursday, Nov. 20, we are also excited for “Trans Awareness Week Google Hangout on Air,” hosted by GLAAD Senior Strategist Tiq Milan. During the hangout, Tiq will be joined by Jack Ori, a Trevor volunteer; Charlie Kerr, a member of the Trevor Youth Advisory Council; and Miasha Forbes, a human-rights activist, to talk about trans* visibility, awareness, and more. We hope you can join us!
Every day, The Trevor Project makes it a priority to offer nonjudgmental support for transgender and questioning youth who have nowhere else to turn to for help. Our crisis-services volunteers go through extensive training to understand the distinct challenges these young people face, and they continue to learn about various LGBTQ topics throughout the year. TrevorSpace, our secure social network for LGBTQ youth and their allies, gives members a chance to choose from a myriad of gender terms; they can use more than one or forgo a label completely. For some youth, this can be the first time they’ve ever identified as their true self.
Our newest resource, the Trevor Support Center, features accessible information about gender, transgender and gender-nonconforming identities, and more. No matter how old you are or where you live, this life-affirming online hub allows readers to explore a wide range of topics, Q-and-As, and resources in a way that promotes visibility, spreads awareness about diverse identities, and offers support to youth around the country.
For example, in our “Trans* + Gender Identity” section, we talk about how most of us were taught that there are only two genders (men and women) when in reality, there is a wide spectrum of additional gender identities out there. Above all, who we are is something each of us decides for ourselves. It shouldn’t matter if we identify with the gender we were given at birth (which is called being “cisgender”) or if our gender is fluid and changes over time; everyone’s experience is unique, valuable, and valid and deserves respect.
But even with educational and affirming resources like the Trevor Support Center, there are far too many youth who encounter hate, rejection, and even assault just because they identify as, or are perceived to be, transgender. Researchers estimate that over 40 percent of transgender people have reportedly attempted suicide. In school, 80 percent of transgender students stated that they felt unsafe because of their gender expression. This year, Europe’s Trans Murder Monitoring (TMM) project reported that there have been over 1,500 reported murders of trans people worldwide since January 2008. To honor the people we have lost to anti-trans violence and discrimination, Transgender Remembrance Day is observed on Nov. 20.
Thankfully, society is slowly changing to be a more affirming and accepting place. Shows like Transparent and The “T” Word are promising advancements in visibility and understanding. Heroes like Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, Geena Rocero, Chaz Bono, Laura Jane Grace, and Lana Wachowski are starting invaluable new conversations about what it means to be transgender. Organizations like The Trevor Project will continue to be there for trans* youth who need lifesaving help or want to connect with someone who simply lets them know that it’s OK to be who they are. Advocates will continue to push forward in the fight for true equality, and for the rights of trans* people nationwide who face disproportionately high risks and discrimination. Whether or not these pivotal steps continue to make a difference is up to all of us. As author and activist Jennifer Finney Boylan said in GLAAD’s recent video series, I AM: Trans People Speak:
People don’t need to understand all the ins and outs of what it means to be trans in order to be loving. If we begin with love, everything else will flow from there. And the things that we need to understand will flow from that as well.
If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, please call the Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
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