Obsessed with Hollywood

Season 4 of Dexter ended with — SPOILER ALERT for all you slowpokes! — Dexter discovering his wife's dead body. Season 5 (premiering Sept. 26 on Showtime) picks up right in the bloody aftermath, as our serial-killer protagonist (Michael C. Hall, center) must bury Rita and assume the role of single dad — all while battling his guilty conscience. ''By the nature of what he does, people around him tend to get hurt,'' says exec producer Chip Johannessen. ''He denied that all through season 4, and he can't deny it any longer.'' —Dan Snierson

Vampire Hotties were spotted leaving their hotel yesterday. The two co-stars have been rumored to be dating for a while.

Fresh off the heels of scoring 14 Emmy nominations, the cast of “Modern Family” has another reason to celebrate: They will be honored by GLSEN - the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, during its sixth annual Respect Awards in Los Angeles.

The hit freshman comedy will be honored for its portrayals of positive images and story lines that reflect a diverse America, including the depiction of a family headed by a gay couple, the organization said.

Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) have won over audiences for their antics as first-time parents who often get themselves into clumsy situations, usually involving raising baby Lily.

Both Stonestreet and Furguson garnered nominations for their roles.

New shows like “Modern Family” and “Glee” have received applause for continuing to tackle storylines revolving their respective gay characters.

“One of the wonderful things is we can talk about multiple shows out there like ‘Glee’ and ‘Modern Family’ that are touching on a lot of topics,” said the groups spokesman, Daryl Presgraves. “With ‘Modern Family’ we thought it was a show that really touched on the subjects that dovetail with what we stand for. [For example] inclusion - especially one that shows a gay family. It brings in a bit of a sense of something you don’t normally see [on television]. It really represents the truth of what so many people experience in their daily life. On top of that, it’s pretty darn funny.”

Executive Director Eliza Byard said in a statement that GLSEN is honored to be the first national LGBT organization to recognize the show.

“As a lesbian mother of two, I am grateful to see a show like ‘Modern Family’ offer an honest and often hilarious look at family experiences frequently overlooked or ignored in prime time,” she said. “From its positive portrayal of gay parents to its handling of school bullying, [the show] provides an invaluable window into what family life is like for millions of American youth.”

The Respect Awards will be held Oct. 8 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Past television honorees include Shonda Rhimes, Darren Star and Disney/ABC Television Group.

***Warning*** This article discusses some potential plot points for the HBO pilot The Miraculous Year.

While the HBO drama has only been ordered to pilot as of now, a lot of star power is involved. The potential cast includes Frank Langella, Lee Pace, Norbert Leo Butz, Eddie Redmayne and Hope Davis, the pilot's director is Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker), and it was written by Tony winner John Logan (Red),

With that roster of talent it almost seems impossible that HBO won’t ultimately pick up the series for 2011. And that’s a very good thing for gay viewers.

Set in the theater world of New York City, The Miraculous Year is a family drama that has at its center Terry Segal (Butz), a gay man who also happens to be a Broadway composing genius. Around him revolve a large cast that not only include his lover Frank (Pace), but his gay nephew Cameron, as well as Connor (Redmayne), a young actor with whom Terry has an affair, Frederick Hunter, an aging Broadway composer down on his luck, as well as several other secondary gay characters. Additionally, Patti LuPone will reportedly play a Broadway diva in a number of episodes.
To quote Neil Patrick Harris from the 2009 Tony Awards, “this show couldn’t be any gayer if Liza was named mayor.”

Indeed, it’s been a long time since a drama featured so many gay male characters this prominently. While Brothers & Sisters currently has three out characters – Kevin, Scotty, and Uncle Saul – with B&S’ large cast, both Scotty and Saul have been known to disappear entirely for several episodes in a row. The same is almost as true for other shows featuring prominent gay characters such as Glee, Southland, and the recently canceled Ugly Betty.

Only Modern Family can claim to truly feature its gay characters prominently in every episode and even then 22 minutes of screentime is split between that show’s three different families.
But The Miraculous Year isn’t just noteworthy for having so many gay characters. What's truly significant is that it features such a complicated gay character as its main protagonist and it is around him the central drama of the show will swirl.
Based on casting sides for the show (these are portions of a script — in this case from the pilot — used by actors auditioning for different roles. Much can change about the sides, but they do give a good indication of what the show should be like) Terry is described as being a “charismatic, self-destructive composer” having “messy hair and beard. Body’s a wreck. Unhealthy lifestyle taking a toll. 40s.”

He also comes across as bitter, cynical and under a great deal of pressure as he’s attempting to mount an original Broadway musical he’s been working on for ten years. In other words, he's your tortured, brilliant artist, only gay.

His high pressure life "causes" Terry to act in inappropriate ways including sexually and by using drugs. Of course, this has an impact on his relationship with his partner Frank who has seen Terry’s self-destructive behavior before.

At one point in the pilot, Frank comes home to find Terry high on coke and in bed with Connor, an aspiring actor in Terry’s current musical.

After escorting Connor out of their townhouse, Frank confronts Terry.

FRANK
In our bed, Terry? Come on, I can’t sleep in that bed.

TERRY
It’s not like I don’t try! I do. I do try. But these kids throw themselves at me.

FRANK
They throw themselves into the house and up the stairs into the bed?

TERRY
Very much like that, yes.

FRANK
Shut the f*ck up.
It isn’t the cheating that most bothers Frank, but what Terry is doing to himself. When Terry tries to justify his behavior due to the stress he’s under, as well as what appear to be Frank’s own past infidelities and drug use, Frank says, “Stop. Take a look in the mirror … That’s what’s killing me. Not the f*cking around. That.”
But Terry isn’t interested in hearing it.
Shortly thereafter he delivers a scathing monologue about how stressful his life is – and how much their finances depend on his success.
Says Frank:

It’s all me, you understand? All those actors, all those musicians, our house, our life, the whole goddamn thing depends on my pencil up there in that room – so, YES, I f*ck up, I drink too much, I eat too much, I am unfaithful, I am selfish, I am back on f*cking coke, but that that is ME RIGHT NOW IN MY LIFE and I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR IT…

Let’s just say these two are not Kevin and Scotty.

As for the show’s other gay characters, considerably younger and more optimistic is Terry’s nephew Cameron. The sides describe him as “about 17, sharp, theatrical, sunny and busting to come out of the closet which will surprise no one.”
He’s also best friends with his sister Lara who is considerably less sunny. At one point they have the following exchange:

CAMERON
I wish I could give you a tiny piece of me. I’m happy all the time. Which makes me stupid, I know. But I can’t help it.

LARA
That’s your gift, Cam. You’re the one who’s gonna get out of this f*cked up family alive … For me, it’s like … I’ve forgotten how to be happy.
While Cameron isn’t out at the start of the pilot, his sexuality isn’t an issue for his family. Indeed, at one point Mandy, his mother, thinks he’s going to come out to Terry (who is his uncle). Says Mandy, “This is so adorable! … I think I’m going to cry.”
But Terry is worried about how he’ll handle it.

TERRY
This is just the kind of thing I will totally f*ck up and ruin his life … What should I say?

MANDY
Just be nice. Tell him you love him and you’re proud of him … And do not introduce him to any of your friends!

He laughs.

TERRY
God, I remember when I came out. He wasn’t trying to, but Dad made me feel immoral. He looked at me and in his eyes … it’s like he saw my whole life stretching out ahead of me: a nonstop spiral straight down … Guess he wasn’t all that wrong.
The sides do include a later conversation between Terry and Cameron about what Terry was like as a boy, as well as a discussion of what a theater life is all about. Cameron, who dreams of also succeeding on Broadway, is a refreshingly sweet, self-accepting kid and a welcome addition to the growing pantheon of gay teens on U.S. television.

The show is also refreshing in its depiction of gay male sexuality. Indeed, in the scripts obtained by AfterElton.com, the only sex portrayed is between Terry and Connor, and it reads as if the scene will be handled the same as any heterosexual sex scene on HBO.

Given that, as well as the show’s handling of the other gay elements and the number of gay characters, The Miraculous Year stands a good chance of being the most gay-centric show seen on American television since Queer as Folk went off the air in 2005.

Given that this is coming from HBO, already known for the gay favorites Oz, Six Feet Under and True Blood, and with the talent involved across the board, it stands to reason this might just be the most well done gay series American viewers have ever seen.

Miraculous indeed.

The new series, called "Off the Map," starring Caroline Dhavernas (Wonderfalls) and Martin Henderson (The Ring), is about the adventures of a group of doctors and nurses who leave their jobs to practice medicine in a remote clinic in the Amazon.

Hawaii's scenic locations will be used to portray the Amazon.

"Off the Map's" executive producers, Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, are responsible for ABC's medical drama hits "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice."

A few months back the Asian American reality show produced by Tyrese lit the Internet on fire. The cast for the Ktown Reality Show has finally been revealed. This picture was posted on twitter and shows the 8 cast members. 4 guys and 4 girls that will be on the show. With our research, we found that people competing include Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang. The pilot episode was shot over the weekend at BCD, Bohemians, and BoBo’s in Koreatown. From what we hear, there was drinking and drama on the set. Here’s a few more pictures from the pilot episode:

Stupid Villains!

Tonight's episode opens with the bewildered buffoons' walk of shame around camp after voting out "super all-star" Boston Rob, their greatest (or only?) asset. Talk about morning-after regrets!

Survivor loves the underdog—but without its alpha Rob, can this pack beat the Fierce Five?
Ruh-roh.

Neither Scooby Snacks nor immunity were awarded to the divided, exhausted, "starving" (except for Coach) and demoralized (except for King Russell and Queen Parvati) Villains tribe tonight. So they did the smart thing and voted off...Coach?!

Liars' Remorse: It was exasperating to hear Coach complain that he "did not want Boston Rob out" when he effectively sent him home last week, but it was downright infuriating to hear Danielle say, "This is not fair to keep people in the game that don't have any physical ability at all. And they're actually making us lose." No, Danielle, you made you lose by voting out Awesome Rob (remember, the guy with all the physical ability?) last week. And Tyson before him. Yes, we're keeping count, Danielle, and like Coach, we are utterly pissed off. The Villains got what they deserved tonight. Too bad none of them got dragged around like Chet in tonight's rerun of the Micronesia Immunity challenge.

Dumb All-Girls Alliance: If Russell can play the Heroes without even trying, how much control will he exert after the merge? Well, according to the previews, he persuades J.T. to consider giving him his immunity idol. Dayum! If the Heroes only knew the giant catfight going on at the Villains' camp.

The Spider and the Fly: There might not be a black widow alliance in the Villains tribe, but damned if Sandra hasn't been silently spinning a web these past 18 days—and now the Pearl Islands champ has snared Russell! And what will Queen Parvati say about his fickle vote for Courtney? Most important: Is Russell still the king?

WHO WILL GET VOTED OFF NEXT?

A Villain. Even if there is a merge, the unified Heroes will not vote out one of their own, and they'll add to their numbers via pre-alliances. Sandra won't risk tearing her web with a bold move, so unless she Lady-Macbeths Russell into offing Queen Parv, Courtney's going to the guillotine.

Another Survivor woman scored a victory this week: Cook Islands' Sundra Oakley had a small role on Lost's epic episode. I chatted with her this morning about her short but pivotal scene (you can see for yourself in the clip below), for which they actually flew her out to Hawaii for a week.

Even after auditioning, she didn't know she'd be sharing the screen with two of the show's biggest stars—Henry Ian Cusick and Dominic Monaghan: "When I first got the audition material, [their characters'] names were different," she told us. Filming Lost in Hawaii, Sundra added, was "a golden trip—everything from beginning to end was just magnificent." What, better than Cook Islands? "It was exactly the same!" she joked. "Except instead of having to fish for food, I ate at Nobu." Atta girl!

-EONLINE