Ryan Kelley in "Prayers for Bobby"

Actor Ryan Kelley, star of the new Lifetime Television film Prayers for Bobby, will join the Dayton chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) on Sunday, January 25 in an event to celebrate the film’s release and talk about his own experience bringing the acclaimed novel to the screen.

“We are extraordinarily excited to welcome Kelley to Ohio for this special PFLAG event,” said Jan Couchman, the chapter’s president. “Prayers is a unique opportunity to show the role PFLAG plays in so many parents’ lives, and Kelley’s visit underscores the priority that both PFLAG and the film’s cast have placed on changing hearts in the heartland. Though Prayers is a Hollywood production, its impact will be felt most in places like Dayton, where families turn to PFLAG as they learn to embrace and celebrate their lesbian and gay children.”

via Actor Ryan Kelley to Join Dayton Parents to Celebrate the Premiere of New Film Prayers for Bobby.

Leroy Aarons

If Leroy Aarons were still alive, he’d probably feel very proud to see his book “Prayers for Bobby” finally turned into a film for Lifetime TV. Aarons, who is listed as one of the film’s co-producers, accomplished much before his death in 2004, but he took special pride in his 1995 book about the real-life tragedy of a boy from Walnut Creek who wasn’t allowed to be himself.

Who was Roy Aarons? First, a consummate journalist who started his career at the New Haven (Conn.) Journal-Courier and went on to the Washington Post, where he stayed for 14 years during the very heady times of the 1960s and early ’70s…

But there came a time when work became personal. In 1990, Aarons, then a senior vice president of the Tribune, headed up a survey of gays and lesbians working in the media for the American Society of Newspaper Editors, which found that those journalists often encountered hostility in the newsroom and that media coverage of gay and lesbian issues was “at best, mediocre.”

Aarons delivered the study’s findings at an ASNE meeting in Washington, D.C., and then added a personal note: “I, as an editor and a gay man, am proud of ASNE.”

Recalling the dramatic coming-out moment in a column for the Tribune, Aarons wrote that his voice may have been shaky as he uttered that sentence, “but it was not from anxiety or fear. It was the welling up of emotion. It said, ‘Here I am, world, at last. All of me.’ ”

Within four months, Aarons and other gay and lesbian reporters met to found the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, which continues his legacy today in newsrooms across the country.

via Leroy Aarons: consummate journalist

There is a lot of Emmy buzz swirling around “Prayers for Bobby.”

“Well, I don’t read reviews. I just hope people tune in. I’m delighted that I’ll be able to come into the living rooms of so many families because I think this is a very timely story and a very moving one,” she said.

…Weaver’s character doesn’t give up her faith or religion, but changes the way she looks at it. The storyline develops with Mary’s journey after her son’s death – and Weaver gives an amazing performance.

According to Weaver, meeting the real Mary and her family helped her to encapsulate the character.

“It was very important to me. You know, the reason — I mean, the family wanted this story told. They wanted to share it with as many families as possible so that other families, devout families, don’t make the same mistakes that they did,” she said…

via Sigourney Weaver’s Emmy Buzz, Three-Time Oscar Nominee Discusses Her Emotional Performance In “Prayers For Bobby” – CBS News.

Sigourney Weaver marches with P-FLAG in "Prayers for Bobby"

Parents in Kalamazoo, MI, whose city commission was recently pressured into repealing a gay rights ordinance, are inviting the public into their homes to watch Prayers for Bobby.

In “Prayers,” to premiere at 9 p.m. Saturday on Lifetime, (Sigourney) Weaver plays Mary Griffith, a devoutly religious woman whose son Bobby (Ryan Kelley, “Smallville”) reveals he’s gay. She tries to help him become heterosexual through prayer. After Bobby commits suicide, Mary questions her religious beliefs and becomes a gay-rights advocate.

“I just felt it was very important to make this movie, because I felt it was a story to save lives and to open minds,” said Weaver, 59, during a phone interview. “I love stories that are about something more than the people in them. It seems to me what’s begun to happen is that television is more interested in those stories sometimes more than studios are because studios are trying to make a lot of money. Television takes more risks.”

…Western Michigan University student Adam Taylor, 20, was an extra in “Prayers.” Taylor is the director of Kalamazoo-based Project Light, a resource of the Kalamazoo Gay/Lesbian Resource Center. Founded in January 2008, Project Light provides an educational forum on the mental health of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered (GLBT) youths.

“One in three gay, lesbian or bisexual youth between the ages of 14 and 24 contemplate, plan, attempt or complete suicide. One in two transgendered youth do (the same),” Taylor said. “About 83 percent of transgendered youth will attempt suicide in their lifetimes, which is 20 times higher — not 20 percent, but 20 times higher — than the standard population of their heterosexual peers. It’s not nationally proven, but it is definitely in one of the highest categories when dealing with suicide.”

Taylor, who is openly gay, said he tried to commit suicide at 16 when “dealing with my sexual-orientation issues.”

Public invited to viewings of film about gay issues – Kalamazoo News

In Prayers for Bobby, Sigourney Weaver plays Mary Griffith, mother of Bobby Griffith, who committed suicide August 27, 1983, after his mother spent years trying to cure his homosexuality with religion. The movie “may be the best TV movie on gay issues ever” says Brent Hartinger at After Elton.

The movie is based on the book by Leroy (Roy) Aarons, who at 56 years old came out to his peers at a convention of the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE), and then founded the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLJGA).

From the Daily Express (UK):

Ryan Kelley plays Bobby in Lifetime’s ‘Prayers for Bobby.’

Weaver claims Leroy Aaron’s (sic) book of the same name, from which her new film was adapted, has become a tool some gay youngsters use to help their parents come to terms with their child’s sexuality – and she hopes her movie also helps.

She tells TV Guide magazine, “Prayers For Bobby is the book kids give their parents when they come out. This (film) will be another way for them to sit down with your family and say, ‘I have something to talk to you about. Let’s watch a Sigourney Weaver movie.’

“There are no aliens in it, there are no ghostbusters, but it gets them in the room.”

Daily Express | Showbiz :: Weaver hopes new movie becomes a tool for gay teens.

An L Word spinoff is in the works, but don’t look for Leisha Hailey’s Alice Pieszecki character to leave L.A. for London or New York. She’s going to prison.

Showtime entertainment president Robert Greenblatt confirmed that a pilot starring Hailey has been shot. The Hollywood Reporter describes the show as a gritty drama set at a women’s prison that will not solely involve lesbian characters.

Leisha Hailey’s “Alice” Heading to the Slammer  | Entertainment News | Advocate.com

Last night’s commercial with David Cook in reverse was pretty awesome.

Danny Gokey auditions on American Idol

And though Danny Gokey’s grief over his recently deceased wife was a bit overdone by the teasing and editing and producing (I can just hear the producer’s thinking “C’mon Danny cry for us!”), his singing was pretty good, and in my eye, he’s friggin hot. A muppet on American idol! Glasses? Check. Crazy reddish hair? Check (but probably dyed). Scruff or goatee? Check. A little stocky? Maybe check, but he’s not skinny. Way cute face? Check! Self depreciating humor and fun attitude? Check. Visit Ricky.org for video. He’s my other fave for now.

Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell’s behavior on Tuesday night’s Idol was disgusting. Bikini Girl, a.k.a. Katrina Darrell, wasn’t a very good signer and she didn’t deserve to go to Hollywood.

The new judge Kara DioGuardi was right about the contestant, but DioGuardi should limit her judging to critique and not one-upmanship, no matter how much an auditioner says, “Oh yeah, well you couldn’t do any better.” It makes her look petty. She’s the music pro. We expect her to be able to sing better, so doing it proves nothing.

It only took “American Idol’s” judging newbie, Kara DioGuardi, one episode to leave a memorable mark on season eight of the televised talent search.

In an attempt to dash the dreams of a bikini-clad hopeful, the panelist sang over the wannabe and gave the contender a pointed piece of her mind. Her tactic didn’t work, as Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson have a preference for talent-packed bikinis, but DioGuardi told Ryan Seacrest she has no regrets.

Tidbits: ‘Idol’ judge defends attack on Bikini Girl – Tabloid Tidbits- msnbc.com

Ricardo Montalban, TV’s Mr. Roarke, Trek’s Khan, Dead at 88 – E! Online

RuPaul's Drag Race

Ready, set, drag! How does a man compete at becoming America’s next hot, glamorous thing? The answer, we’re certain, will be revealed when RuPaul’s Drag Race hits MTV Networks’ gay and lesbian cable channel Logo on Monday, February 2.

RuPaul, America’s first drag queen superstar, will star as judge and jury to 9 men competing to fill her high heels. Watch out! And, no matter how you swing it, she’s not messing around: “Hey Tyra, step back girl. The queen has returned. And you can tell Heidi: Clear the runway. Miss RuPaul is back to pump some ‘realness’ into reality!”

Gay Entertainment Report: RuPaul Unveils Wild Drag Race | On Top Magazine :: Gay & Lesbian News, Entertainment, Commentary & Travel.

No Milk.

Mad Men! 30 Rock!

HFPA – Nominations and Winners

Motion Pictures:
Drama: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Musical or Comedy: “Vicky Christina Barcelona”
Actor: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Actress: Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”
Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Colin Farrell, “In Bruges”
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Sally Hawkins, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Foreign Language Film: “Waltz With Bashir”
Animated Film: “Wall-E”
Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Original Score: A.R. Rahman, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Original Song: “The Wrestler” (performed by Bruce Springsteen, written by Bruce Springsteen), “The Wrestler”

Television:
Series, Drama: “Mad Men”
Actor, Drama: Gabriel Byrne, “In Treatment”
Actress, Drama: Anna Paquin, “True Blood”
Series, Musical or Comedy: “30 Rock”
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Tina Fey, “30 Rock”
Miniseries or Movie: “John Adams”
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Linney, “John Adams”
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Paul Giammatti, “John Adams”
Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Dern, “Recount”
Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Tom Wilkinson, “John Adams”

Cecil B. DeMille Award: Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg after accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award from Golden Globe Awards on Vimeo:

John Denver and The Muppets: “A Christmas Together” is still one of my favorite Christmas albums, and the album and TV special are part of my fondest memories as a child. So it was delightful to see this memory from Miss Piggy on Monsters and Critics during an interview about the new Muppet Christmas special on NBC Wednesday, December 17, 2008, at 8:00 p.m. (tomorrow).

April MacIntyre’s Miss Piggy interview: NBC’s A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa

What’s your fondest memory of past Christmases?

Miss Piggy: My fondest memory? Let’s see, you know, it might’ve been sitting around a campfire with my Kermie and John Denver…
Yes. And he was a very special friend to all of us. And we just sang Christmas songs together and it was wonderful. It was cold outside but we had the fire and we had our body warmth…which I shared with Kermie.

Who do you think is the most beautiful female celebrity currently?

Miss Piggy: Besides moi?

Yes, that you would give props to.

Miss Piggy: Okay. Of course, the assumption has to be made. Let’s see, well, you know, we have many beautiful, talented actresses that I handpicked to costar in the Christmas special with moi.

Just to name a few: Uma Thurman, yes – you might have heard of her?

You have Petra Nemcova and Uma Thurman appearing with you on your special.

Miss Piggy: Yes, Petra Nemcova – yeah, exactly. Her and Jane Krakowski, yes, and Whoopi Goldberg. Yes, all of them. Yeah, I handpicked them myself because I find that they are beautiful people both on the inside and the out, but not nearly as beautiful as moi.

Mad Men's Betty Draper takes aim at NBC

NBC’s Leno Move Could Turn 10 p.m. Into Cable’s Sweet Spot

NBC’s decision to give Jay Leno a 10 p.m. show, five nights a week could be a blessing for cable, making it a bigger player in the scripted-drama business, according to Madison Avenue and cable executives.

During the past few years both basic-cable and premium-cable networks have made aggressive forays into original hour-long series, with services such as TNT, USA Network, FX and AMC reaping ratings and critical success with fare such as The Closer, Saving Grace, Monk, Psych, The Shield, Damages, Nip/Tuck and Mad Men.

A number of cable’s scripted shows air at 10 p.m. And these cable series will be competing against one less broadcast rival in the drama genre—in that particular time slot—once Leno starts doing his topical show next fall on NBC in primetime.

“Certainly if you take out the ERs and the Law & Orders and these other dramas that NBC has been running, cable could stand to benefit, particularly the originals, shows like Mad Men or Saving Grace or Psych, which are 10 o’clock-type shows, ” said Brad Adgate, Horizon Media’s senior vice president and director of research. “They (cable networks) will try to look at this as an opportunity and capitalize on it.”

Tim Goodman. The Bastard Machine : The 10 good, bad and the truly dumb points of NBC putting Leno on at 10.

(The Bad) 5. Losing five hours of scripted programming is bad news for the creative community and television. No, NBC does not care about this right now. But one day it will. One day it will hire someone with vision who can actually program the network. That person will want something a little more gritty and adult at 10 p.m. because that’s what viewers prefer – if anyone at NBC watches cable or the Emmys they would have picked up on this. With fewer hours to program and only the 9 p.m. slot to use for such fare, a future programmer will be hamstrung and a creator with talent will go elsewhere. Also, cutting out five scripted hours sends a bad message to current series creators who will undoubtedly choose ABC, CBS, Fox or something like TNT over NBC. Trust me here – this has long term ramifications for a network that doesn’t think long term.