Soap Dish #12 (In Which We Celebrate The 20th Anniversary Of Port Charles)

From: Deep Dish

Today we celebrate the 20th anniversary of ABC's Port Charles, which was a spin-off of General Hospital that focused on seven young interns (Eve, Chris, Julie, Joe, Matt, Karen and Jake) as well as longtime GH characters Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring), Kevin Collins (Jon Lindstrom) and Scotty Baldwin (Kin Shriner). So sit back and enjoy the first 22 episodes of Port Charles from June 1997 (click here for previous Soap Dish posts).

CAST

Danielle Ashley - Renee Griffin

Gail Baldwin - Susan Brown

Lee Baldwin - Peter Hansen

Scotty Baldwin - Kin Shriner

Serena Baldwin - Carly Schroeder

Dr. Ellen Burgess - Debbi Morgan

Lucy Coe - Lynn Herring

Dr. Kevin Collins - Jon Lindstrom

Dr. Victor Collins - Nicholas Pryor

Greg Cooper - David Holcomb

Mike Corbin - Ron Hale

Audrey Hardy - Rachel Ames

Dr. Matt Harmon - Mitch Longley

Dr. Tony Jones - Brad Maule

Dr. Eve Lambert - Julie Pinson

Dr. Jake Marshak - Rib Hillis

Dr. Julie Morris-Devlin - Lisa Ann Hadley

Dr. Alan Quartermaine - Stuart Damon

Dr. Monica Quartermaine - Leslie Charleson

Dr. Chris Ramsey - Nolan North

Frank Scanlon - Jay Pickett

Dr. Joe Scanlon - Michael Dietz

Mary Scanlon - Pat Crowley

Mac Scorpio - John J. York

Rex Stanton - Wayne Northrop

Dr. Karen Wexler - Jennifer Hammon

Rhonda Wexler - Denise Galik-Furey

Below are three promos for the show from May and June 1997.

Episode 1: Sunday, June 1, 1997

Here is TV Guide's review of the prime-time premiere: "The prime-time debut of this General Hospital spin-off (which joins the daytime lineup on Monday) features seven gorgeous residents at soapdom's most famous hospital. Expect typical daytime drama with a heavy infusion of ER. In the opener, one resident performs brain surgery with a power drill while another performs a striptease to divert the louse who's holding staffers hostage. Meanwhile, a pregnant Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring, a GH regular) hangs by her fingernails in an elevator shaft - and she's the comic relief. Charles is middlebrow melodrama, but marketable. My score (0-10): 5"

Karen is reunited with her childhood friend Joe. The new interns are held hostage by Greg Cooper, who was turned down for an internship. Cooper hits Audrey Hardy in the head with his gun, and Joe has to use a drill to relieve the pressure on her brain. After his daughter Serena is kidnapped, Scotty heads to Port Charles to confront Lucy, who is arrested.

Episode 2: Monday, June 2, 1997

Lucy tries to convince everyone that she had nothing to do with Serena's disappearance. Scotty is knocked down by a hit-and-run driver.

Episode 3: Tuesday, June 3, 1997

Lucy finally tells Kevin that she is pregnant. Alan asks Ellen to become the new Chief Resident.

Episode 4: Wednesday, June 4, 1997

Karen learns that Joe has been suspended and that she has been called to testify at his hearing.

Episode 5: Thursday, June 5, 1997

A towel-clad Julie distracts Frank. Scotty leaves the hospital and collapses in Lucy's arms.

Episode 6: Friday, June 6, 1997

Jake and Danielle have a passionate reunion. An angry Eve goes to the lighthouse to get Scotty to sign the release forms.

Episode 7: Monday, June 9, 1997

Joe and Frank's mother, Mary, drops by unannounced and meets Julie, who agrees to rent their basement apartment. Eve agrees to help Scotty find Serena. Danielle tells Jake she's moving to Port Charles to be with him.

Episode 8: Tuesday, June 10, 1997

Kevin asks Lucy to marry him. Joe tells his mother about his suspension. Mary introduces Mike Corbin to Frank.

Episode 9: Wednesday, June 11, 1997

Jake introduces Danielle to Chris, Eve and Julie. Lucy tells Victor that she and Kevin are expecting a baby.

Episode 10: Thursday, June 12, 1997

Julie accepts Frank's invitation for dinner, but she later has to cancel their date. Unaware that Frank has already promised the basement apartment to Julie, Joe offers it to Eve. Mac tells Lucy and Scotty that the car that hit Scotty was used by the same people who kidnapped Serena.

Episode 11: Friday, June 13, 1997

Danielle tells Rex that it's time to give Serena back. Frank helps Julie move in, but Eve then arrives and asks what they are doing in her apartment.

Episode 12: Monday, June 16, 1997

Lucy and Scotty read the ransom note in which the kidnappers demanded five million dollars for Serena's return. When Eve realizes she doesn't have enough money for the rent, she offers to share the apartment with Julie, who agrees.

Episode 13: Tuesday, June 17, 1997

All the interns gather for Joe's hearing.

Episode 14: Wednesday, June 18, 1997

At Joe's hearing, Scotty says he is acting as Joe's attorney and threatens to sue the hospital. Audrey thanks Joe for saving her life. Alan later informs Joe that his internship will not be terminated.

Episode 15: Thursday, June 19, 1997

Lucy and Scotty discuss the plan for the ransom drop during the Nurses' Ball. Danielle tells Rex that she has fallen for Jake.

Episode 16: Friday, June 20, 1997

While Julie is taking a shower, Frank catches Eve sneaking a peek at Julie's checkbook.

Episode 17: Monday, June 23 , 1997

Matt catches Ellen crying. Danielle takes Lucy's discarded dress back to Rex, who says they are rich.

Episode 18: Tuesday, June 24, 1997

Rex reminds Danielle that their scheme is necessary to right a wrong done to her long ago. Lucy explains to Kevin and the FBI agents how the kidnapper arranged for her to make the ransom drop by sewing five million dollars worth of diamonds into the dress she discarded. Scotty is happily reunited with Serena.

Episode 19: Wednesday, June 25, 1997

Scotty introduces his daughter to Lucy. Julie invites Frank to go out with her and the other interns to celebrate their first paychecks.

Episode 20: Thursday, June 26, 1997

Eve breaks into Chris' apartment to look at Julie's file. Mike buys the Recovery Room, the bar near the hospital. Mike offers to let Matt have the wheelchair-accessible apartment above the bar. Scotty introduces Serena to her sister, Karen.

Episode 21: Friday, June 27, 1997

Mary and the interns help Mike celebrate his purchase of the Recovery Room. Danielle tells Rex she can no longer be a part of his scheme. She later arrives home to find her "uncle" Rex there.

Episode 22: Monday, June 30, 1997

Rex lets Danielle know that he could destroy her relationship with Jake at any time. A financially strapped Eve steals some of the unused ransom money from Scotty.

365 Groovy Books Worth Reading

From: Deep Dish

92

I Blame Dennis Hopper: And Other Stories from a Life Lived In and Out of the Movies 

by 

Illeana Douglas

2015

I've always enjoyed Ms. Douglas as an actress in such movies as Grief, To Die For and Grace of My Heart, and her amusing memoir is a fun read (the title refers to her parents’ decision to run a hippie commune after seeing Dennis Hopper in the film, Easy Rider).

15 Moving Tributes To The Orlando Pulse Nightclub Victims

From: NewNowNext

10

Broadway Stars Release Cover Of “What the World Needs Now Is Love” To Benefit Orlando

Gloria Estefan, Fran Drescher, Sara Bareilles, Whoopi Goldberg, Sean Hayes, Bernadette Peters, Rosie O’Donnell, Kristen Bell, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kellie O’Hara, Jessie Mueller, Nathan Lane, Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Carole King, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick and Edie Winsor were just some of the names that turned out to lend their voices.

365 Groovy Books Worth Reading

From: Deep Dish

91

My Mother Was Nuts

 by 

Penny Marshall

2012

The actress/director shares her life story in this entertaining memoir, which includes her roles on The Odd Couple and Laverne & Shirley and such memorable directing credits as Big, Awakenings and A League of Their Own.

365 Groovy Books Worth Reading

From: Deep Dish

90

That Girl and Phil: An Insider Tells What Life Is Really Like in the Marlo Thomas-Phil Donahue Household 

by 

Desmond Atholl 

and 

Michael Cherkinian

1990

I've always liked Marlo Thomas as an actress - but having read this book, I don't think I would enjoy working for her. I was, however, thoroughly entertained by Mr. Atholl's adventures as a majordomo for That Girl and her husband, Phil Donahue. 

15 Moving Tributes To The Orlando Pulse Nightclub Victims

From: NewNowNext

8

JLo & Lin-Manuel Miranda Perform Orlando Tribute “Love Make The World Go Round”

The entertainers, who are both Puerto Rican, were moved to write the song after reports revealed that nearly 95% of the victims of the attack were members of the Latinx community.

“Dear Evan Hansen,” “Hello, Dolly!” Win Big At The 2017 Tony Awards

Host Kevin Spacey almost sort of came out during the telecast
From: NewNowNext

 Last year’s Tony Awards telecast opened with a dedication to the victims of that morning’s Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. Despite the current political climate, this year’s ceremony largely kept current events out of the spotlight.

Hosted by master impressionist Kevin Spacey, the 71st Annual Tony Awards jumped straight to the chuckles with an opening number lampooning this year’s biggest musicals—and poking fun at the fact that the House of Cards star was far from the first choice to host the ceremony.

 “I’m coming out,” sang Spacey, in drag as Sunset Boulevard’s Norma Desmond, before pausing—”no, wait, no”—and switching gears. He also aimed an ironic “closet” joke at Whoopi Goldberg, who appeared in the opening number with Stephen Colbert and Billy Crystal.

Speaking of closets, Spacey later jokingly called out American Beauty co-star Chris Cooper, nominated for his performance in A Doll’s House, Part 2. “The last time I saw Chris, he kissed me in the garage and shot me in the kitchen. And then we did American Beauty together.”

 In one of the night’s most memorable political jabs, Colbert compared the White House to a theatrical revival with “huge production values” and a main character who’s “totally unbelievable. And the hair and makeup? Yeesh.” He roused the audience by suggesting it “could close early.”

Among those honored from Broadway’s 2016–2017 season, Bette Midler took home the award for Best Actress in a Musical and delivered one of the longest acceptance speeches in recent memory—loud play-off music be damned. “Shut that crap off,” she snapped.

Out Hello, Dolly! actor Gavin Creel also won Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical.

Accepting his award for Best Actor in a Musical for Dear Evan Hansen, which explores bullying and teen suicide, Ben Platt said, “To all the young people watching at home, don’t waste any time trying to be like anybody but yourself. Because the things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful.”

 Dear Evan Hansen, which won Best Musical, also earned gay-straight super-duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul the award for Best Score.

Cynthia Nixon, who won Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for her performance in The Little Foxes, thanked her wife in her speech, which included a shout-out to the resistance movement.

Walking away with a total of six awards, Dear Evan Hansen was the evening’s biggest winner. In comparison, Hamilton, last year’s biggest winner, snagged 11 Tonys. Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 led this year’s race with 12 nominations but only won two awards.

See the full list of winners and watch Spacey’s opening number below.

Best Musical

Dear Evan Hansen

Best Play

Oslo

Best Book of a Musical

Steven Levenson

Dear Evan Hansen

Best Original Score

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Dear Evan Hansen

Best Revival of a Play

Jitney

Best Revival of a Musical

Hello, Dolly!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Kevin Kline

Present Laughter

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Laurie Metcalf

A Doll’s House, Part 2

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Ben Platt

Dear Evan Hansen

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Bette Midler

Hello, Dolly!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Michael Aranov

Oslo

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Cynthia Nixon

The Little Foxes

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Gavin Creel

Hello, Dolly!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Rachel Bay Jones

Dear Evan Hansen

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Nigel Hook

The Play That Goes Wrong

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Mimi Lien

The Great Comet

Best Costume Design of a Play

Jane Greenwood

The Little Foxes

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Santo Loquasto

Hello, Dolly!

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Christopher Akerlind

Indecent

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Bradley King

The Great Comet

Best Direction of a Play

Rebecca Taichman

Indecent

Best Direction of a Musical

Christopher Ashley

Come From Away

Best Choreography

Andy Blankenbuehler

 Bandstand

Best Orchestrations

Alex Lacamoire

Dear Evan Hansen

Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre

James Earl Jones

Special Tony Award

Nina Lannan and Alan Wasser

Gareth Fry and Pete Malkin

Regional Theatre Tony Award

Dallas Theater Center

Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award: Baayork Lee

34 Mouthwatering Photos From Broadway Bares

From: NewNowNext

Broadway Bares 2003: Burlesque is Back
Jane Krakowski

Groovy Flashback Featuring Morgan Fairchild and Erik Estrada

From: Deep Dish

 Today's Groovy Flashback is from the October 1982 issue of Penthouse featuring Morgan Fairchild and Erik Estrada, who starred together in the NBC movie, Honeyboy, on October 17, 1982.

365 Groovy Books Worth Reading

From: Deep Dish

74

How I Lost 10 Pounds in 53 Years: A Memoir 

by 

Kaye Ballard 

with

Jim Hesselman

2006

The actress, who will turned 91 on November 20, shares amusing stories about her long career, which includes roles in film (The Ritz, Freaky Friday), television (Cinderella, The Mothers-in-Law, The Doris Day Show) and on Broadway (The Golden Apple, Carnival!, The Pirates of Penzance).

Soap Dish #10 (In Which You Are Invited To A Pine Valley Wedding)

From: Deep Dish

Today we revisit All My Children and the dramatic events leading up to the wedding of Adam Chandler and Dixie Cooney on June 1, 1989. Unfortunately, most of the 25 episodes below are edited, but you can still enjoy this main story line  (Click Here For Previous Soap Dish Posts).

CAST

Pat Baxter - Lee Chamberlin

Adam Chandler - David Canary

Dixie Chandler - Cady McClain

Julie Chandler - Lauren Holly

Ross Chandler - Robert Gentry

Stuart Chandler - David Canary

Marian Colby - Jennifer Bassey

Melanie Cooney - Paige Turco

Palmer Cortlandt - James Mitchell

Will Cortlandt - Lonnie Quinn

Sean Cudahy - Alan Dysert

Skye Cudahy - Robin Christopher

Tom Cudahy - Richard Shoberg

Bitsy Davidson - Ann Flood

Brooke English - Julia Barr

Myrtle Fargate - Eileen Herlie

Dr. Angie Hubbard - Debbi Morgan

Jeremy Hunter - Jean LeClerc

Natalie Hunter - Kate Collins

Cecily Kelly - Rosa Nevin

Nico Kelly - Maurice Benard

Marcia - Lori-Nan Engler

Dr. Joe Martin - Ray MacDonnell

Joey Martin - Michael Brainard

Ruth Martin - Mary Fickett

Tad Martin - Michael E. Knight

Barbara Montgomery - Susan Pratt

Erica Kane Montgomery - Susan Lucci

Jackson Montgomery - Walt Willey

Travis Montgomery - Larkin Malloy

Karen Parker - Ellen Wheeler

David Rampal - Trent Bushey

Marissa Rampal - Nancy Addison

John Remington - Eddie Earl Hatch

Donna Sago - Candice Earley

Jasper Sloane - Ronald Drake

Myra Murdock Sloane - Elizabeth Lawrence

Olga Svenson - Peg Murray

Stan Ulatowski - Eugene J. Anthony

Langley Wallingford - Louis Edmonds

Phoebe Wallingford - Ruth Warrick

Dr. Cliff Warner - Peter Bergman

Monday, May 1, 1989

Erica is upset when Jackson agrees with Travis that they should hire Barbara. Dixie is convinced that Brooke knows the truth about her baby.

Tuesday, May 2, 1989

Dixie and Ross tell Adam that Brooke knows the truth, but Adam refuses to believe them.

Wednesday May 3, 1989

Brooke confronts Dixie about her nightmare. Adam convinces Dixie to go to Sea City.

Thursday, May 4, and Friday, May 5, 1989

Marissa and Jeremy kiss after being held hostage. Melanie and David ride horses in West Virginia as Peter Cetera sings "Glory of Love". Cecily has Nico pick a name from a hat to determine whom she will marry in order to get her trust fund money. A suspicious Brooke hires a private eye to follow Adam, who sleeps with Dixie again. Dixie believes Adam's pledge of love when he chooses her over Brooke. Brooke discovers Adam and Dixie in an embrace.

Monday, May 8, and Tuesday, May 9, 1989

Brooke tosses her wedding ring at Adam and later breaks down at Laura's grave. She is then almost hit by Tom's car. Dixie meets a minister named Kevin while praying in his church. Nico and Cecily announce to their friends that they are getting married. Julie shows up at Nico and Cecily's engagement party.

Wednesday, May 10 - Friday, May 12, 1989

Dixie tells Will that she's carrying Adam's baby, and he later confronts Adam with a bullwhip. Adam presses assault charges against Will, who is arrested.

Monday, May 15 - Wednesday, May 17, 1989

Dixie convinces Adam to drop the charges against Will, who is released from jail. Brooke tells Adam their marriage is over, and he later learns that she has filed for a divorce. Nico and Cecily marry and spend their honeymoon in New York City. Travis agrees to let Erica move in with him to take care of Bianca, who has the chicken pox. Julie accepts a summer job with Jackson.

Thursday, May 18, 1989

Adam hires Sean to work at Tempo. Adam tries to reconcile with Brooke, but after she rejects him, he asks Dixie to marry him.

Friday, May 19, 1989

After learning that Adam is the father of Dixie's baby, Palmer thinks it's in Dixie's best interest to marry Adam. Travis thinks Erica is trying to seduce him. Dixie turns down Adam's marriage proposal.

Monday, May 22, 1989

Although he and Cecily have to wait six months to get her trust fund money, Nico calls off their annulment and seeks a loan so they can purchase the club. Palmer catches Natalie when she breaks into Marissa's hotel room. Cliff proposes to Angie.

Tuesday, May 23 - Wednesday, May 31, 1989

Travis and Barbara kiss. Adam pretends to be Stuart, hoping to make Dixie think that Adam is planning to kill himself. He is delighted when his plan makes Dixie agree to marry him. Brooke changes her mind about quitting Tempo. After Stuart reveals that he didn't talk Dixie into going to see Adam in Sea City, Tad realizes that Adam pretended to be Stuart. Rushing to stop Adam and Dixie's wedding, Tad spots Skye crying in the rain, and she is then struck by lightning.

Thursday, June 1, 1989

Adam and Dixie are married just before Tad carries an unconscious Skye into the room. Ross finds Natalie out in the rain after Jeremy breaks up with her. Nico and Cecily name their nightclub "Kelly's". Tad tells Dixie that Adam pretended to be Stuart.

Friday, June 2, 1989

Adam goes to see Brooke to tell her he loves her, but she tells him to go home to his wife.

Glenn Close Stops "Sunset Boulevard" Mid-Show Due to Photo-Taking Audience Member

From: Broadway.Com

Glenn Close, who is currently reprising her Tony-winning performance as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, stopped performing the number "With One Look" during the May 24 matinee to ask an audience member to stop taking photos.

Representatives for the production confirmed the incident, stating, "She politely asked them to stop, saying it was distracting and disrespectful, adding, 'Now we can have a show or we can have a photo shoot.' She quickly started from the top of the song after her point was made." 

The presence of cell phones in theaters has been an issue disrupting performers and audience members since as early as 2003, when potential bills were introduced to prevent their usage.

'Facts of Life' star Charlotte Rae, 91, has bone cancer

From: LA Times

Charlotte Rae, the actress who played matriarch Edna Garrett on "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life," has bone cancer.

The 91-year-old sitcom star, who beat pancreatic cancer seven years ago, was diagnosed last month, according to People.

“So now, at the age of 91, I have to make up my mind. I’m not in any pain right now. I’m feeling so terrific and so glad to be above ground,” Rae told the magazine. “Now I have to figure out whether I want to go have treatment again to opt for life. I love life. I’ve had a wonderful one already. I have this decision to make.”

The actress’ mother, sister and uncle died from pancreatic cancer, she said. Rae, who said she was cancer-free after six months of chemotherapy when she fought pancreatic cancer, was supposed to start chemo again Thursday, but held off to “think about it first.”

The first time around, nobody knew about her treatment, she said, noting that she had “great wigs.”

“I think I’m going to go for it,” said the TV veteran, who celebrated her birthday over the weekend. “The side effects were not too bad when I did it originally. I’ve had a great life, but I have so many wonderful things happening. I’d like to [choose] life. I’m grateful for the life I’ve already had.”

Rae was born in Milwaukee in 1926 and got her start in theater at Northwestern University. She perfected her comedy in clubs “to showcase myself for Broadway,” she told The Times in 2006 when her impish album “Songs I Taught My Mother” was rereleased.

Rae, who was wed to the late Emmy- and Grammy-winning composer John Strauss, most recently appeared alongside Meryl Streep in 2015’s “Ricki and the Flash,” on Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World” and ABC Family’s “Pretty Little Liars.”

14 Young Artists Who Are Changing The Way We Think Of Gender

From: Queerty

• amandlastenberg
• Releasing a music video & single this week...
• keep those eyes peelt heheeee
• 
  

Amandla Stenberg

Best known for a star turn in The Hunger Games as Rue, the 18-year-old actress and musician identifies as non-binary and used to identify as bisexual.

Last year, Stenberg told Elle: 

“Bisexual is a word I am not too attached to….”

“It implies a dichotomy that doesn’t take into account trans people. So maybe pansexual is more accurate for me.”

Stenberg is also notably candid when fans ask questions about gender identify:

13 Times Katharine Hepburn Was Queer Perfection

From: NewNowNext

13

Hepburn and Tracy

Yes, even one of Hollywood’s most cited romances had a queer tinge. To hear Larry Kramer tell it, the two icons were the ultimate Hollywood beards.

“Hepburn and Spencer Tracy were both gay,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2015. “They were publicly paired together by the studio. Everyone in Hollywood knows this is true.”

14 Young Artists Who Are Changing The Way We Think Of Gender

From: Queerty

• rubyrose
• When it's 5 am on set and you're just trying to pretend 
• you're not feeling like a dried raisin.. 
• a dried raisin that's been living down the side of a stoners couch
•  half melted to an m&m. #pitchperfect@pitchperfectmovie

Ruby Rose

Ruby Rose has worn many hats in her relatively short career: She’s been a model, DJ, recording artist, MTV VJ, television presenter, and actress.

Best known for her work in Orange is the New Black, Rose came out as gender-fluid in 2014.

She came out as a lesbian when she was 12 and wanted to be a boy when she grew up.

“I am very gender fluid and feel more like I wake up every day sort of gender neutral,” she told News.

In an interview with The Guardian, she further clarified:

I feel like I’m neither, yeah. Well, if I had to choose it would be a boy, a guy. I feel like I’m a boy, but I don’t feel like I should’ve been born with different parts of my body or anything like that. I feel like it’s just all in how I dress and how I talk and how I look and feel, and that makes me happy….

I think I’m lucky enough to have accepted my body. I’ve done a lot of therapy. I have a lot of trans friends, and I’ve seen them go through the surgeries. I saw the desperation that they had. I remember thinking, “Do I have that? Do I really need to go and put myself through that?” And I thought, No, I don’t. I really sit in a more neutral place, which I’m grateful for as well. I really admire the people that do it, and I think that they’re amazing. I just wish that there was more support for them. Because it’s an elective surgery it costs an arm and a leg — I did a lot of research into it. It’s not a priority, but it should be. It’s such a huge cause of suicide, a huge cause of self-harm. I think at this stage I will stay a woman but … who knows. I’m so comfortable right now I feel wonderful about it, but I also fluctuate a lot.

13 Times Katharine Hepburn Was Queer Perfection

From: NewNowNext

 12

“Suddenly Last Summer”

A Tennessee Williams play adapted by Gore Vidal starring Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and closeted actor Montgomery Clift. Does it get any gayer than this?

It does, actually: Hepburn played Violet Venable, a socialite who “procures” young men for her gay son, Sebastian. (Taylor, as cousin Catherine, picks up the slack when Violet gets too long in the tooth.)

Released in 1959, Summer never overtly mentions homosexuality directly, but the Production Code Administration gave filmmakers a “special dispensation” to depict Sebastian as a predatory gay.

The Legion of Decency concluded, “Since the film illustrates the horrors of such a lifestyle, it can be considered moral in theme even though it deals with sexual perversion.”

13 Times Katharine Hepburn Was Queer Perfection

From: NewNowNext

11

“The Millionairess”

Hepburn starred in the 1952 West End production of George Bernard Shaw’s play as Epifania, yet another single woman who can’t find the right man. (Go figure.)

The lesbian Hollwyood tell-all The Sewing Circle described Hepburn in The Millionairess as “butch”: “In slacks, turtlenecks, and casual jackets, [she] told chat-show audiences in clipped humorous and disdainful pronouncements what she thought of women’s lib, marriage, her need for privacy and increasing fear of everything.”

13 Times Katharine Hepburn Was Queer Perfection

From: NewNowNext

10

Her Friendship With George Cukor

Known widely in Hollywood as a “woman’s director” and a gay man, Cukor was one of Hepburn’s closest friends, and helmed some of her biggest hits.

“He was the kind of man she adored,” said Mann. “He was smart. He was witty. He threw great parties. He respected the complexity of her own life without ever needing to put a definition on her. And that’s what she needed. She wasn’t like Dietrich or someone who you could throw out the word ’lesbian’ and they’d love it, the camp of it. Cukor accepted who she was.”

DEBRA MESSING TELLS SETH MEYERS HOW THE ‘WILL & GRACE’ REBOOT HAPPENED

From: Bear World

Debra Messing sat down with Seth Meyers on Late Night and explained how the short sketch the cast did for Hillary Clinton ahead of the election set the ball in motion for a reboot, 11 years later, of Will & Grace.

“Because that little skit got 7 million views – NBC, they were like, ‘wait a second.’”

Watch:

Here’s more from their interview: