The Comix Strip: Pearls Before Swine

Rat and Pig as skyscraper developers - NOT!

Wednesday Wowness!

On a snowy morning like today, I'm sure we can all wish we were this guy right about now!

The Comix Strip: Pearls Before Swine

In today's outing, Pig dreams of a warm tropical vacation, until Rat decides to give Pig a reality check:

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Tuesday Two-Fer!

There's something to be said about Tuesdays - Enjoy!

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DVD Tuesday - January 6th, 2008

For you avid DVD collectors, I have great news! It's Tuesday - and that means new DVDs being released today.

This week's new releases include a little bit of everything - comedy, sci-fi and dramatic gay short films

Click on the jump link to view what's new and noteworthy this week:



       

• Battlestar Galactica - The Complete Fourth Season
• Pineapple Express - with Seth Rogan and James Franco
• Babylon A.D. (with Vin Diesel)
• Righteous Kill (with Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino)
• He Likes Guys - 8 Great Gay Short Films

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Inside the Larry Craig Bathroom Stall w/Michelangelo Signorile

As a subscriber to Sirius satellite radio, I have made a point to listen to the Michelangelo Signorile show on Sirius OutQ channel # 109 every day on my way home from work. His show airs weekdays from 2pm - 6pm EST.

I have to admit - since I have become an avid listener, I have learned a lot more about politics and it's affects on the GLBT community. He's tuned us in during the 2008 Presidential election campaign, as well as the fallout of Proposition 8 and the various demonstrations that followed.

Michelango does capture some video clips of his radio show from time to time. You can catch them on his YouTube channel.

While perusing his latest clips, I found this very amusing video where he visits the very bathroom stall made infamous by Senator Larry "I am NOT gay" Craig. Click on the jump link to check it out - it's a hoot!

New England: The Next Battle Zone for Marriage Equality

From source Edge New England:

GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders) have published a report in the January 4th edition of The Washington Times that outlines a directive to align the remaining 4 New England states - Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island - with Massachusetts and Connecticut in the goal of implementing marriage rights for all. 

Currently, Massachusetts and Connecticut are the only 2 New England states to allow gay marriage.  Vermont and New Hampshire have civil union laws already on the books.  GLAD's ultimate goal is to ensure that laws to allow gay marriage in the remaining 4 states are in place by 2012.

State representatives in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are already introducing separate bills to initiate discussion that could possibly further equal marriage rights for the GLBT communities.

For more information on the GLAD organization and it's ongoing endeavors to bring marriage equality to all, click here!

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See Ya! Wouldn't Wanna Be Ya!

From TowleRoad, file this under somebody finally got a friggin' clue!

Ann Coulter, the bombastic blond beyotch that has made a very comfortable living at spewing her incendiary brand of hate speech is finally feeling the heat that she created.  Matt Drudge (from The Drudge Report) has announced that Ann has not only been dropped from a scheduled appearance on NBC's The Today Show on January 6th to promote her new book, Guilty, but it appears she has been banned from the network - for life!!!  Feeling the pressure from the Media Matters group, network insiders have noted that they will no longer allow her airtime to promote her views.

There's an ironic twist to all of this.  Replacing Ann on The Today Show - none other than Perez Hilton, who is marketing the release of his own book, Red Carpet Suicide.
What comes around...know what I mean?

The Comix Strip: Pearls Before Swine

One of the things that I've always enjoyed about reading the daily newspaper was the comic strips. The unique characters and light-hearted and humorous storylines always seemed to brighten my day!

Well - the style and content of today's daily comic strip may have changed, but yet they still have the unique power to make me laugh and feel better, regardless of the darker issues going on in the world.

Case in point - my top fave - Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pattis. His array of animal characters have wit, sarcasm, silliness and stupidity, all rolled into each and every daily strip. I will admit that his humor is very rude, crude and politically incorrect...and that's just what I love about it. Any strip that can spoof the Larry Craig bathroom stall scandal into one of it's storylines just has to be a keeper!

My goal is to try and post the latest strip every morning before work (if possible). Today's strip takes an ironic step in making fun of itself. Have fun!



Previous posts of Pearls can be viewed at comics.com

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Monday Morning Male: Hot 'N Cold

Somehow, I don't believe that this is what Katy Perry was trying to convey in her song, Hot 'N Cold.  Regardless, both pics are nice to look at in ANY temperature!

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NBTGB Video Rewind

As a standard feature here on NBTGB, I offer an opportunity for everyone to catch up on online video clips that you may have heard about, but didn't get the chance to view the first time around.

All clips posted can range from news to sports, politics to comedy (is that an oxymoron?), sci-fi to drama and everything in-between - all with a decidedly GLBT slant.

So - what's on the agenda this week?  A little queer Trek, some Gays Gone Wild and all the reasons to consider Jon Stewart as our ally. Click on the jump link below to find out!


Let's start our video rewind session with a long-awaited trip about the Starship Enterprise.

Star Trek: Phase II, a fan-based web series that picks up where the original Star Trek left off has released the highly anticipated episode, Blood and Fire. The episode was written by David Gerrold, who worked on both the original, as well as Star Trek: The Next Generation. The story was originally proposed for development during ST:TNG, but never made it due to concerns surrounding the allegory to AIDS contained within the script.

In the episode, Peter Kirk (played by Bobby Rice) is an ensign aboard his uncle's well-renowned Starfleet vessel.  However, his relationship with his uncle is not on the best of terms, as neither has seen the other for years and James is concerned about putting his nephew in harm's way.  What the captain also is not aware of is Peter's boyfriend, Lt. Alex Freeman (played by Evan Fowler) is also assigned to the Enterprise.  The interaction between the two actors is a little wooden, at best.  However, they clearly bring out the notion that these are 2 people who love each other immensely and want nothing but to spend the rest of their lives together.  Nephew and Uncle finally encounter one another, in Peter clearly sets boundaries and expectations with the Captain as to being treated no differently in his duties.  The scene also includes an "ultimatum" of sorts, in which Peter coerces his uncle into marrying he and his "husband", once the current mission is over.  The reaction by James T., in his conversation with Spock, is priceless.

Alas, no love story ever flows smoothly, as both Peter and Alex are assigned onto a perilous away mission involving a derelict Starfleet vessel that is carrying a destructive and deadly life form that can't be killed, leaving the Enterprise with the very real possibility of destroying the ship - and Captain Kirk with a decision that will either end his Starfleet career - or kill his nephew and fiance to abide by protocol.

Blood and Fire is being made available in 2 parts. Part one is available for free download at the Star Trek: New Voyages website.  Part 2 is being released in February, with Denise Crosby (formerly, Tasha Yar of ST:TNG) guest starring as a scientist who may have the answer to saving the away mission crew.

The clip below is "act one" of part one, in which we see Peter and Alex having some intimate "alone time".

Our second stop along the rewind is on modern day planet earth - Fort Lauderdale, to be precise, which is exactly where we catch up with the fabulous foursome from Another Gay Movie to it's second outing, Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!

In the second of the gay teen sex-romp series, the boys re-group during college vacation for a romp in Fort Lauderdale.  The guys will contend with a twinkish terrible threesome, known by the locals as "The Jaspers" who always win the "Gays Gone Wild" contest, which consists of various events that require various hook-ups.  As usual, the boys will find themselves challenged with dirty tricks by the Jaspers, testing the waters of "open relationships" and for Andy, he may actually find love for the first time!

In this clip, the guys have lost their swim trunks to The Jaspers during a skinny-dipping scene.  The guys try to out-run the beach police, only to wind up in a retirement villa full of Jewish grandmas.  Oy Vey!

Check it out!

And lastly, our final clip is from a recent episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. On this edition, he sits down with former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Jon decides to challenge Mike's ever so dim view of gay rights and why gays can't (or shouldn't) get married. Suffice it to say, Jon isn't taking anything Mike says at face value and calls him on every viewpoint. Jon makes it seem so effortless - but then again, this is Mike Huckabee that we're dealing with here.

Check it out!

NBTGB Weekly Recap

Can you believe that 2009 is well under way? Time certainly does fly, and with that being said, I'd like to do a quick recap of some of the highlights of the blog since it's inception. I'm hoping to do this on Friday of every week, with a bulleted list to each of the more noteworthy blog entries - with a little surprise ending!

That being said, here we go:

• NBTGB made its online debut
• We got a preview of new films appearing on Here! TV in January
• We got two helpings of Friday Hotness - Craig Horner AND Bryan David Thomas
• The Doctor's replacement was FINALLY announced!
• Ryan Schulteis came out - and we're happy to have him in our camp!
• Rachel Maddow IS the one to watch on MSNBC
• The Advocate shifts gears in 2009 

And the weekly recap is brought to you by...(Click on the jump link to see who!!!)


...this guy!  Enjoy your week!

QueerView for Week of January 5th, 2009

Yup - the holidays are over and everyone is going back to work - and I mean EVERYONE (including me)!

So - what can we all look forward to?  Hopefully, another holiday - and soon (I have MLK day off).  And what can we look forward to watching on TV this week?

I must admit that there is very little that is new this week.  Most networks are holding off until the February sweeps (usually starts the last week of January).

That being said, here is what you CAN view that is new and noteworthy.  Click on the jump link for details!



Monday, January 5th:



Gossip Girl: In The Realm of the Basses - The CW Network (8pm EST)

The fallout from Bart Bass' death continues to impact everyone.  Bart's brother, Jack, arrives in town to help Chuck deal with the loss, but may wind up pushing Chuck over the edge.  Meanwhile, Blair deals with her rejection from Chuck by trying to get acceptance into a prestigious country club and Jenny returns to school and once again, faces off with Blair for school supremacy.

Tuesday, January 6th:



90210: Hello, Goodbye, Amen - The CW Network (8pm EST)

Annie begins to grow suspicious of her long-lost "brother" after overhearing one of his phone calls.  Adrianna asks that Brenda accompany her to a support group meeting, where she receives news that will alter her life forever.  Meanwhile, Dixon continues to see Christina, unbeknown to Silver.



Rick and Steve: House of Race Cards - LOGO Network (10pm EST)

Steve goes to an ethnic gar bay to prove that he isn't racist, while Kirsten panics when she thinks she's lost the baby.

Thursday, January 8th:




365 Gay News w/Ross Palombo - LOGO Network (7pm EST)

News stories and headlines of interest to the GLBT community



Socket - LOGO Network (12am Midnight EST)

LOGO continues it's Graveyard Shift movie series, post-holiday, with the network television premiere of Socket.  Derek Long plays Dr. Bill Matthews, a surgeon whose physiology is altered when he is struck by a freak lightning storm.  Infused with a natural craving for electricity, he teams up with Craig (Matthew Montgomery), a handsome intern with the same mysterious condition.  An unusual love affair develops, but as the good doctor's cravings intensify and mutate, Craig must decide whether to save his lover or protect others from him - at any cost!

Advocate-ing for Change in 2009

No doubt about it. Magazines and newspapers are having a very difficult time these days making ends meet. With the ever-increasing dependence upon the internet for more real-time reporting - resulting in a subsequent decrease in subscriptions to the paper versions - publications (such as The Advocate) are making drastic changes to meet the ever-changing demand in how the public wants to receive - and read - the news that is pertinent to their lives.

For instance,The Advocate is changing from a bi-weekly to a monthly format. In addition, some (but not all) of the "fluff" pieces are being dropped for more in-depth news analysis. The paper consistency will also be changing to a heavier stock. I'm not sure how that equates to cost savings or readership increase, but we'll have to wait and see on that one.

I actually just received the latest edition - the first of the new year, dated for February 2009 - with President-elect Obama on the cover. The paper consistency is, indeed, heavier than it's predecessor editions. Upon initial inspection, it's not that much different from the previous, save for more pages. However, I do find the articles to be of better writing, with the overall format being almost reminiscent of Time or Newsweek.

Given the fact that Regent Entertainment - the parent company of Here! TV - acquired The Advocate and Out magazines last year, there has been some concern that the new ownership would taint the overall quality that GLBT readers have come to know and resepect. Given that this is a new year, I'm willing to bide my time to see if that concern comes to fruition.

Having glanced at the February edition, I think it may be premature to write off the future of either magazine just yet. Click on the jump link to check some of the noteworthy articles to read in this edition:

• The Nation's First Out Governor - a discussion with Providence, RI mayor David Cicilline, who may be making a run for his state's governorship
• When A Nod's Not Enough - a report on Barack Obama as our next Commander-in-Chief and the potential impacts of his Presidency - both good and bad - that could be felt in the GLBT community
• The Revolution will be Digitized - a remarkable and thought-provoking 12-page pictoral on the Proposition 8 demonstrations that took place across the country
  
• Hail Mary - a heart-felt interview with Sigourney Weaver, on her portrayal of Mary Griffith in the Lifetime movie, Prayers for Bobby, based on the book of the same name (premieres Saturday, January 24th)
• Just Can't Get Enough - a review of Jamaica Plain author and journalist Benoit Denizet-Lewis' book, America Anonymous, which delves into his long battle with sexual addiction

Subscribers should be receiving the February edition of The Advocate and should be available in book stores within the next week or so. For up-to-the-minute coverage, please check out The Advocate website.

Rachel Maddow - The One to Watch!!!

I just recently started to partake in weeknight viewings of The Rachel Maddow Show and boy, am I ever glad! She is such a breath of fresh air and a true compliment to the band of professional pundits over at MSNBC. Her ability to infuse humor along with common-sense dialogue makes her news show a must-see!

Case in point - her coverage of the issue involving Obama's choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation at his swearing-in. If you haven't see the video clip, you really should. Rachel brings out the absurdity of Rick's claims that he is not the man that the media makes him out to be - and she does it with ease.

To watch the clip (and others), click on the jump link:

On New Year's Eve, Rachel presented the first annual "Denial Isn't Just a River in Egypt" awards. The nominees were: Alaska senator Ted Stevens, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (no big surprise there), VP Dick Cheney and Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren. You'll be surprised at who actually won. To accept the prize, Rachel called upon Queer as Folk alum Hal Sparks. When watching the video clip, try not to be too horrified with Hal's new hair style.

The Rachel Maddow Show airs weeknights at 9pm EST on MSNBC.

Boston TV Reporter Ryan Schulteis Comes Out!

Per Loaded Gun and Wicked Gay Blog:

"Move over Randy Price. There's a new TV gay in town. Ryan Schulteis, a general assignment reporter with WHDH's 7News and my latest on-air crush (sorry Anderson Cooper), comes out in the upcoming January/February." Ryan's announcement is part of an interview that will be featured in the January/February edition of Boston Spirit Magazine.

Personally, I am very proud of Ryan to make such a bold step towards being open and hopefully, will inspire others to live their lives with pride and dignity. Way to go, Ryan!

As The World Turns: Luke & Noah Update - Week of January 5th

For all of you die-hard Luke and Noah fans, you can be sure to get your updates here at NBTGB!

Coming up this week, there's going to be a shake-up as an end result of what happened between Luke, Noah and Brian at Metro on the December 30th episode.  Click on the jump link for the recap and a preview for the week of January 5th (including video clips):

During the Christmas holiday, Luke and Noah re-kindled their relationship with a present from Noah.  The boys decided that New Year's Eve would be "the night".  However, with all good plans, nothing ever goes the way it should!

Lucinda wanted to make love to Brian, but Brian wanted to party at Metro. Lucinda got upset and told Brian to do whatever he wanted.  He decides to go to Metro to join the festivities, leaving Lucinda to question both his - and her - actions.

Luke and Noah meet up at Metro, but it isn't long before Noah's ex-girlfriend (and Luke's former BFF) Maddie shows up, all upset over Casey.  Noah leaves with Maddie, with Luke chatting with his cousin Jade, trying to figure out what's up.  Luke gets mad and starts drinking.

Luke tries to leave Metro drunk and runs into Brian, who persuades him into getting some fresh air and sobering up.  While in the OldTown courtyard, Luke decides to put the moves on Brian, which Noah winds up seeing and decks Brian in the face.  Noah and Luke leave together, while Lucinda and Jade find Brian in a rather precarious position.  Brian tells the ladies that he was mugged.

Back at the Snyder home, Noah is ready to go back for seconds with Brian, at which point Luke confesses that it wasn't Brian's fault.  Noah is shocked and storms out of the house, leaving Luke to read the letter that Noah had written for him to read "the morning after".  After reading the letter, Luke knows that he's made a very bad mistake - which may ultimately cost him the love of his life!

Spoiler Update (week of January 5th):

• After a verbal spat with Lucinda, Jade spills the beans about what she knows of Brian to Lucinda and Lily
• Brian confesses the truth to Lucinda, who responds by throwing him out
• Casey and Allison hatch a wild scheme to get Luke and Noah together to hash things out
  

Spoiler Update (week of January 12th):

• Lucinda finds she can't let go so easily of Brian, while Luke fears for Brian's safety.
• Brian will find "resolution" during the January 14th episode - a must-see episode!

Watch a clip of last week's episode:

Clip # 1

Clip # 2

Clip # 3

...And lastly, a preview for the week of January 5th:

Special Announcement: The NEW Doctor Who is...

Since the season 4 finale of the latest Doctor Who incarnation, it's been no big secret that David Tennant, the current and 10th Doctor, will be leaving the hit show.  The question that has been raging on since then is: who will be the 11th Doctor?

[Pictured below: David with season 1 & 2 companion, Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), companion # 2 Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) and most recent, Donna Noble (played by brit comedienne Catherine Tate)]



Fear no more, as that question was answered today on the Doctor Who Confidential special - and the name will come as a surprise to some, as the actor wasn't even speculated as being in the running.

Ready to find out?  Click on the jump link to see who it is:

The new Doctor (and the 11th actor to portray the time-traveling hero) is:

Matt Smith:



Matt is 26 years old, making him the youngest actor to ever take on the role.  Matt has been seen theatrically in The History Boys in London and was sidekick to former time-lord companion Billie Piper in two period piece detective films, The Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow in the North, where he played Jim, right hand man to Billie's detective heroine Sally Lockhart.

Currently, David is scheduled to complete the remaining 4 episodes that will make up the 2009 season (including the Christmas special that just aired in the U.K.).  Matt is scheduled to take over the role during principal shooting of the 2010 season episodes this summer.

For more details on the announcement, click here!

"Melrose" Return Fast-Tracked for The CW

E! Online News has announced that the CW is fast-tracking all efforts to bring back Melrose Place as part of it's 2009 fall schedule.  Mark Schwann, writer for One Tree Hill, is penning the pilot script. Casting is slated to begin this month, with the final cast announced as early as mid/late January.

So - which former tenant of 4616 Melrose Place will show up in the new version? Rumors are swirling fast and furious over Heather Locklear, who played vixenous ad-exec Amanda Woodward. When the show ended in May 1999, we saw Amanda and boyfriend Peter Burns (played by current real-life boyfriend Jack Wagner) getting married on a remote island, as both were escaping their criminal pasts -Amanda for a murder rap during her teen years and Peter for embezzelment at Wilshire Memorial Hospital.

Since so many other cast members have since moved on to more memorable roles on other network series, it's going to be slim pickings to see which other former cast member (other than Heather) may drop in.

Also, the producers are stating that the new cast will be much more "culturally diverse" than it's predecessor.  I wonder if we could loosely translate that to seeing more GLBT characters that actually have full-on relationship with partners that they get to kiss and have sex with.  Let's hope so!

Until then, you can catch up on the 90's version of Melrose Place on DVD.  Seasons 1 - 4 are now available and season 5 (volume 1) will be released on Tuesday, February 10th.

QueerView Weekend

With the holiday season officially complete, we can now begin to see new episodes of our favorite shows returning to the airwaves.  Click on the jump link below the flat-screen HD TV to see what is new and/or noteworthy this weekend:




FRIDAY, JANUARY 2ND:


Hot Gay Comics # 4 - on Here! TV



Featuring the comic stylings of Frank DeCaro, Bob Smith and Cara Kilduff

Stargate Atlantis: "Vegas" -  Sci-Fi Channel (9pm EST)



A rift in the time/space continuum finds the Atlantis team leading different lives on an alternate Earth, unaware that it is on the verge of an attack from a rogue Wraith armada.  Part 1 of the 2-part series finale!

Sanctuary: "Revelations - Part One" - Sci-Fi Channel (10pm EST)



The Cabal is linked to the release of a pathogen that causes abnormals to attack humans, prompting Helen and the Sanctuary team to seek out the help of the remaining members of "The Five".  Part 1 of the 2-part season finale!


SATURDAY, JANUARY 3RD:

The Graham Norton Show - on BBC America (10pm EST)



This week's featured guests are Brendan Fraser ("The Mummy") and Alesha Dixon


SUNDAY, JANUARY 4th:

Desperate Housewives: "Home is the Place" - ABC-TV (9pm EST)



Bree finds herself at odds when she meets Andrew's future in-laws for the first time.  Susan and Lee's "girl's night out" turns into a night Susan can't remember - but thinks she and Lee may have spent the night together.  Lynette catches Preston talking with Porter on the phone, leading her to another family member that may be very much aware of her missing son's where-abouts, and Edie becomes suspicious of Dave's increasingly bizarre behavior.


Brothers and Sisters: "A Father's Dream" - ABC-TV (10pm EST)



The repercussions of Elizabeth's illness take their toll on Kevin and Tommy, leading to a possible all-out war between the two brothers.  Meanwhile, Justin considers leaving the Walker homestead for his own place and Nora contemplates a date with a high school friend of Saul's.

Friday Hotness Extra: Bryan David Thomas

As I am in such a good mood today (I have the day off), I thought it might be a good idea to give everyone an extra post-holiday gift in the form of an "extra" Friday Hotness.

Meet Bryan David Thomas - a fitness model who was just awarded the 2008 Mate of the Year award from aussie gay men's mag DNA.

Bryan has graced the covers of several fitness magazines this year, but his most noteworthy was on the cover of DNA issue # 104.  His pictorals (and pectorals) speak for themselves.  

For more on the DNA magazine award, check out the article at DNA Magazine Online.

For more info on Bryan himself, please check out the following sites: Bryan Thomas' Blog Site

For good measure, click on the jump link to view some extra pics of Bryan - Enjoy!