Jimmy Kimmel Returns To The Air

Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air and spoke about all of the people who have reached out over the last six days, including fellow late-night talk show hosts, fans of the show, and those who don’t support what he believes but support his right to share those beliefs anyway. 

 He also made a point to say that it was never his intention to make light of the murder of far-right activist Charlie Kirk, and how important it is to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this. 

 While he started out on the more sober side, he did lean into some laughs. 

 Jimmy also chatted with the new FCC Chairman (Academy Award winner Robert De Niro) and dove into Trump’s day addressing the United Nations, the escalator breaking, the teleprompter having trouble, and the headache he’s creating with Bobby Brainworm over Tylenol.

   

 And yes, the viewership was waaaaaaay up. The YouTube clip has nearly 12 million views less than 12 hours later. 

By the way, YouTube is my preferred way to catch Kimmel's monologue. So much so that YouTube puts his latest monologue in my 'Recommended' feed the minute I log on :) 
Of course, the Donald took to his failing Truth Social platform to toss a word salad or two about Kimmel's return. 

Florida Tries To Erase Pulse Nightclub Memorial Crosswalk + More LGBTQ News

In this week’s episode of The Randy Report podcast: The Florida Department of Transportation erased the Pulse Nightclub memorial rainbow crosswalk in the middle of the night. Plus... 

 • An appeals court has ruled that West Texas A&M University’s ban on drag shows is likely to be unconstitutional 

 • A trans woman has been found guilty of “sexual assault” after not revealing her gender identity to a male sexual partner 

 • And the new Netflix series “BOOTS” is an offbeat comedic drama series following a closeted young man and his best friend through U.S. Marines boot camp (photo)

 All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

 

Podcast: New Web Series 'The Nature Of Us' + More LGBTQ News

In this week's episode of The Randy Report podcast: 

• The enchanting new web series "The Nature Of Us" follows two young gays fresh out of high school, looking for a sign to lead them to what comes next. 

 • The Air Force has reversed on an option for transgender military service members to take early retirement, opting instead to force them out with no retirement benefits

 • The U.S. Supreme Court has been formally asked to reconsider its 2015 ruling that made same-sex marriage legal nationwide

 All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report. Find past episodes on all major podcast platforms.
   

Podcast: Navy To Remove Harvey Milk's Name + Best States For LGBTQ Safety + More LGBTQ News

In this week’s episode of The Randy Report podcast:

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the US Navy to remove pioneering gay rights activist Harvey Milk’s name from a ship. Plus...

• A new report ranks the best and worst states for LGBTQ safety.

• The Missoula city council designates Pride flag as "official city flag" in order to sidestep a new Montana law banning Pride flags.

• Pride Flags fly over Hawaii’s capital for the first time this Pride Month

All that and more LGBTQ news in this episode of The Randy Report. Hit the play button below. 

Happy Pride!

The Randy Report Podcast - LGBTQ News · LGBTQ News: Defense Sec orders Harvey Milk's name removed from ship, Pride flags in Hawaii, and more

Exciting News Here At The Randy Report

I can't believe I'm actually writing this!

After over 8 years of hosting The Randy Report on Blogger.com, I've finally launched the blog at my own domain, TheRandyReport.com.

I've been meaning to do this for years but never made the time. Thank you to everyone who has followed me here since 2011.

Please bookmark the new site - www.TheRandyReport.com - and visit me there (often, I hope). 

You can also follow me on my award-winning podcast, The Randy Report, here.

In addition to being a more sleek, modern style, the new website loads and functions much faster.

Here's a sample of what you'll find.

All of my previous content has been copied over to the new site, but I plan on leaving this version of TRR here on Blogger as an archive because, you know, just in case...

There will be some kinks to work out as I get used to the workflow, but I'm excited about this next chapter for The Randy Report.

#Forward

First Look At New Netflix Series 'The Politician' Starring Ben Platt

Ben Platt in The Politician

Check out the latest from producer Ryan Murphy, who gave us Glee, American Horror Story, and Pose - the new original comedy series, The Politician.

This is the first series for the streaming service from Murphy, who last year signed a five-year $300 million contract with the company.

The show will be an anthology series, like Murphy's American Horror Story and American Crime Story, wherein each season will tell its own tale.

In Season One, Payton Hobart, played by Tony Award winner Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen), is a wealthy student from Santa Barbara, California, who's known since age seven that he's going to be the President of the United States.

But before he can get to the White House, he'll have to navigate the most treacherous political landscape of all: Saint Sebastian High School.

The longterm plan is: get elected Student Body President, get into Harvard, and no matter what - keep his eye on that Oval Office prize.

But first, Payton will have to outmaneuver his cold-blooded, cunning classmates without sacrificing his own morality and carefully crafted image.

Even his mother, played by Oscar-winner Gywneth Paltrow, admits to Payton, "Your ambition frightens me."

The sly, satirical dark comedy offers a rare glimpse into just what it takes to make a politician.

The trailer is a fast-paced affair and includes a same-sex kiss for Platt - so don't blink.

Bette Midler recently announced on Twitter that she and LGBTQ ally Judith Light have also joined the cast.

It's worth hitting the play button just to see Jessica Lange wonder why calling a gay man a 'butt-muncher' would be a scandal: "It's what gays do - munch butt and celebrate Halloween..."

The Politician premieres on Netflix September 27.

Magnum Ice Cream Apologizes For Comparing Eating Ice Cream To Being Imprisoned For Being Gay

(image via Magnum Ice Cream)

After receiving a ton of heat on social media, Magnum Ice Cream has issued an apology for a Spotify ad in the U.K. that compared the 'guilty pleasure' of eating ice cream to gay people being imprisoned.

In the spot, a voiceover says, “A hug for my boyfriend—that’s my guilty pleasure. Because in my country, just a simple hug with the man I love could send me to prison for more than 10 years.”

The ad didn't specify which country by name.

Folks on social media clapped back calling the spot "racist" and "homophobic."

@MagnumIceCream your advert comparing the potential to be killed if you're gay to the guilty pleasure of eating a magnum is disgusting, racist and homophobic. Please withdraw it immediately.

— nell blane (@firegoat67) August 5, 2019

At the beginning of the backlash, a Magnum spokesperson told Newsweek that the aim of the spot was “to remind people that what is considered a guilty pleasure isn’t always what you would expect.”

A Magnum spokesperson has now issued a statement apologizing for the ad.

“Magnum has a history of championing LGBTQ+ rights and Pride Month is a moment when lots of us celebrate progress," read the statement. "We’re sorry for any offence caused by the advert, which aimed to bring awareness to the injustices people still face around the world."

NYPD Fires Officer For Chokehold Death Of Eric Garner

New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill

From The New York Times:

The New York City police officer whose chokehold was partly blamed for Eric Garner’s death in police custody in 2014 was fired from the Police Department on Monday, ending a bitter, five-year legal battle that had cast a shadow over the nation’s largest police force and the city it protects.

The police commissioner, James P. O’Neill, dismissed the officer, Daniel Pantaleo, just over two weeks after a police administrative judge found him guilty of violating a department ban on chokeholds.

“The unintended consequence of Mr. Garner’s death must have a consequence of its own,” Mr. O’Neill said. “Therefore I agree with the deputy commissioner of trial’s legal findings and recommendations. It is clear that Daniel Pantaleo can no longer effectively serve as a New York City police officer.”

The leader of the city’s largest police union immediately denounced the decision, saying Mr. O’Neill had bowed to “anti-police extremists” and that Mr. Pantaleo’s dismissal sent a message that the city did not stand behind its officers when they make arrests.

BREAKING: "The unintended consequence of Mr. Garner's death must have a consequence of its own."

NYPD officer involved in Eric Garner's death fired, NYPD commissioner announces: https://t.co/p5TX3vVZ3M pic.twitter.com/r6NMl9ny0Y

— ABC News (@ABC) August 19, 2019

“Eric Garner was killed five years ago. It took five years for the officer to be fired. I don’t want another Eric Garner,” says one of his daughters, Emerald Garner, after the firing of NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo. https://t.co/2yCV0s6rPc pic.twitter.com/ijoSsxKHzY

— CNN (@CNN) August 19, 2019

Garner died on July 17, 2014, after Officer Pantaleo tackled him from behind, then, along with other officers, jumped on top of Garner.

Video footage of the arrest showing Garner struggling for breath and repeatedly saying — “I can’t breathe” — quickly went viral and galvanized the Black Lives Matter movement.

Garner was being arrested on charges of selling untaxed, individual cigarettes on a street corner. For that crime, he was choked to death.

After watching the video himself, O'Neill said he came to two conclusions: Garner should not have resisted arrest; and that while Pantaleo began the interaction appropriately, the officer escalated to a prohibited chokehold.

I have this to say: at the time of his death, there were four - FOUR - police officers holding Garner down.

Nine times Garner, who was unarmed, said, "I can't breathe."

With three other police officers with him, couldn't Pantaleo have loosened his (prohibited) chokehold just a bit?

Eric Garner’s final words before then Officer Daniel Pantaleo used an illegal and fatal chokehold on Garner in 2014. pic.twitter.com/Wegv7DXmh2

— Karine Jean-Pierre (@K_JeanPierre) August 19, 2019

When someone claims white privilege is a myth, tell him/her about the tragic death of Eric Garner pic.twitter.com/OQDmzYnUOI

— elenadreams (@elenadreams2) August 19, 2019