News Round-Up: December 18, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• Who's getting ready for Christmas? (image via Instagram)

• Michael Critchfield, a transgender boy in West Virginia, was harassed while using the boys room at his high school by a vice principal. According to reports, Lee Livengood, the vice principal, kept yelling over the bathroom stall door, "Why are you in this bathroom?" Even though the bathroom was empty, the encounter left Critchfield in tears.

• After suggesting that immigrants are making America "dirtier" last week, Fox News host Tucker Carlson has lost 14 advertising sponsors to date.

• The White House has now signaled it will back off a threat of shutting down the federal government if Donald Trump doesn't get the funds he wants to build his infamous wall along the Mexican border. Wasn't Mexico was going to pay for the wall???

• Earlier today I wrote about the passing of director and actress Penny Marshall, but you really should click over to Matt Rettenmund's much more comprehensive obituary at Gr8erDays. Matt knows his TV history like no one.

• Queer as Folk is getting the reboot treatment on Bravo! According to my Instinct Magazine colleague, Mickey Keating, we’re getting all new characters in a new setting which follows a group of club going friends who find support in the gay community after a tragedy.

• Gus Kenworthy wins the award for yesterday's funniest tweet after Donald Trump accidentally referenced a gay movie in one of his Twitter rants.

Accidentally mentioning Paris Is Burning is the closest that Trump has ever gotten to supporting LGBTQ people... https://t.co/EJCFINDyYo

— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) December 18, 2018

File Under "I Love The Holidays"

My friend Ian Parks, of Where The Bears Are fame, shared this on Facebook and I think it's quite charming.

Hit the play button and smile.

Happy Holidays From The Randy Report

Wishing you all have the bestest, most wondermous Christmas Day from me and hubby Michael!

Poll: Favorite Holiday Movies

Axios and Survey Monkey queried folks to find out what their favorite holiday movies are.

I'm guessing there were a lot of younger folks in the mix as Elf and Die Hard made the cut.

No Santa Claus Is Coming To Town or Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer?

Not even Love Actually?

Leave a comment below if your favorite isn't here.

Over-The-Top EDM Christmas Lights Celebrate New Star Wars Movie

Ok, we're not just talking "Christmas lights" here. Video mapping, projection mapping, moving spotlights - designer Matt Johnson ain't playing here.

Johnson’s latest Christmas light show continues the tradition and unique style of fast-paced, high-energy, Dubstep and EDM remixed synchronized light displays that have become Matt’s signature style.

This 2017 Star Wars light show is located in downtown San Antonio, Texas at Dignowity Park and runs nightly from 6pm to 10pm until New Years. The show Celebrates the launch of the new movie Star Wars The Last Jedi which will be released December 15th.

I'm pretty sure this beats just about everyone's holiday decorations. Watch below.

(h/t Towleroad)

Mid-Day Brain Break: Unconventional Christmas Tree

Mid-day brain break for the creative types - a Christmas tree made from an old tire, plastic bucket, and 4 10ft tubes of PVC pipe.

Christmas Music: Natalie Toro "Just In Time For Christmas"

From Broadway actress Natalie Toro's Christmas CD, "Just In Time For Christmas."

Natalie brings her infectious energy and powerhouse vocals, coupled with luscious tones to melt any heart with the release of her new, eclectic holiday collection. The CD features classic holiday favorites, new songs and, duets with such artists as Ryan Kelly (of Celtic Thunder) and 3-time Grammy Award winner, Jon Secada.

And who doesn't love new holiday music to add to your library?

Among the selections on the album, Toro showcases holiday classics as well as more obscure gems - "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "Ave Maria" and "The Christmas Song" as well as "Once Upon A Christmas Song" and more.

You'll love her "over the bar" key change near the end of "Just In Time For Christmas" below.

You can check it out on Amazon or iTunes.

SNL: "Donald Trump" Visited By Christmas Ghosts Billy Bush, Vladimir Putin & Hillary Clinton

In the aftermath of former national security adviser Michael Flynn's guilty plea, Saturday Night Live delivered a Christmas Carol themed cold open.

Check out President Donald Trump (Alec Baldwin) being visited by the spirits of "Jacob Marley" Michael Flynn (Mikey Day), "Christmas Past" Billy Bush (Alex Moffatt), "Christmas Present" Vladimir Putin (Beck Bennett) and "Christmas Future" Hillary Clinton (Kate McKinnon).

MSNBC: Did Donald Trump Really "Bring Back Christmas?"

I keep hearing about this "War on Christmas" thing.

But where is it?

Donald Trump has said many times he will "bring Christmas back." But where did it go?

Did we stop celebrating Christmas? I must have missed that one.

Trump tells folks all the time that we're going to be able to say "Merry Christmas" again - but who stopped?

I know part of the rant from Trump is aimed at his favorite target, President Obama, who the Trumpster claims banned the words "Merry Christmas" from the nation.

But did he?

MSNBC's Chris Hayes sheds light on whether or not Barack Obama ever said the holiday Christmas greeting.

Donald Trump is claiming victory in the War on Christmas, saying he brought "Merry Christmas" back to the White House. We found plenty of evidence proving him wrong... #inners pic.twitter.com/fGBSbYybvx

— All In w/Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) November 30, 2017

Teaser: Will & Grace "A Gay Ole Christmas" Special

Even though we have to wait until January 4 for a regular Thursday night episode of Will & Grace, NBC is "gracing" us with a special holiday episode on Tuesday, December 5.

Apparently, the fearsome foursome travel back in time to 1912 Manhattan.

Via TV Guide:

Will & Grace's "A Gay Olde Christmas," airing the first week of December, starts with Will (Eric McCormack), Grace (Debra Messing)), Karen's (Megan Mullally) and Jack (Sean Hayes) wishing they could experience the New York city of old, and then by the magic of TV, are transported to 1912 Manhattan via alter egos.

Will will become Billem Van Williams, a wealthy and worldly (read: probably gay) man with exquisite taste married to Fanny Van Williams, who'll bear an uncanny resemblance to Grace. Megan Mullally, meanwhile, is in an ironic role reversal as Karolyn O'Malley, a dirt poor woman living in a tenement; she takes in a sailor, John Patrick Mcgee (Sean Hayes) who has relationships with men only at sea. This is all right before World War I, a time of great prosperity — for some — and the episode will show how their disparate worlds intersect.

Additionally, there will be a subtle homage to Debbie Reynolds, who played Grace's mother during the original run of the show.

Will & Grace airs "A Gay Ole Christmas" Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 9/8c on NBC.

Donald Trump's Christmas Tweet Gets Bigly Thumbs Down From Internet

The internet got quite a kick out of President-elect Donald Trump's rather narcissistic Christmas tweet.

Most high-level elected officials share heartwarming images of family - children, grand-children, spouses, etc. But this year? No Melania, Don Jr., Eric; not even Ivanka made the cut.

The Trumpster decided to share a Photoshopped pic of his upraised (tiny) fist set against the backdrop of a Christmas tree. He didn't even take the time to sit for the shot - he used a screen capture from a recent rally.

Not very warm and holiday-fuzzy, in my opinion.

It appears I'm not alone in my assessement:

@JentotheDen @tonyposnanski @realDonaldTrump I also love that it's just him, no family, no warmth, just a tiny fist and a tree.

— BreadBitch (@mary_olliff) December 25, 2016

@bessbell @realDonaldTrump Nothing celebrates Jesus' birth like a balled fist.

— Mary Wooten (@mfwooten1) December 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump Oh Donald I know you think that looks handsome, but do one without the smug look and fist in the air.

— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) December 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump I see ya went with the power fist over the Nazi salute this year. Good choice. Where's the wife & kid? Hiding from ya?

— liberalgranny50 (@peppersandeggs) December 25, 2016

@realDonaldTrump
So, no family pic huh? Just you with a teeny tiny fist raised.

Symbolic for your life #ForeverAlone pic.twitter.com/lObymNbib2

— ThisChickIsPissed🐥 (@OnePissyChick) December 25, 2016

@realDonaldTrump Impressive you couldn't even be bothered to pose for a Christmas photo, just a lazy screencap of you walking past a tree.

— Hong Kong Hermit (@HongKongHermit) December 25, 2016

@realDonaldTrump Nothing says: Merry Christmas like a clenched, infantile fist; similar to the fist of tiny baby Jebus. 😂

— (((CPT.BILL KELSO))) (@TrumpsMeltDown) December 25, 2016

Happy Everything!

President Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama Celebrate Final Christmas In White House

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama celebrate their final holiday season at the White House.

Join them in supporting America’s service members at JoiningForces.gov.

"Merry Christmas everybody!...Celebrating the holidays in the White House over these past eight years has been a true privilege. We’ve been able to welcome over half a million guests, our outstanding pastry chefs have baked 200,000 holiday cookies, and Barack has treated the American people to countless dad jokes. Although a few got a Frosty reception."

President Obama And Family Light The National Christmas Tree For The Last Time

Man, I'm going to miss this president.

For the last time, the First Family lights this year's National Christmas Tree.

Las Vegas: Opportunity Village Opens "The Magical Forest 2016"

Easily one of the holiday season's brightest highlights in Las Vegas is Opportunity Village's "Magical Forest."

From Thanksgiving to New Years, folks of all ages can enjoy the magic and fantasy of Christmas lights, music and more at the annual Opportunity Village attraction.

This past Friday, Australia's most successful vocal group, Human Nature, and the world famous Chippendales joined Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus for the lighting of the "Magical Forest" Christmas tree.

"The Magical Forest" is a winter wonderland with millions of sparkling lights, nightly entertainment, great food and endless cheer not to be missed during the holiday season.

From the official website:

Opportunity Village is a not-for-profit organization serving children and adults in the southern Nevada community with intellectual disabilities, to enhance their lives and the lives of the families who love them. Opportunity Village is dedicated to helping people become the very best they can be. Through vocational training, community employment, day services, advocacy, arts and social recreation, citizens with severe disabilities are able to find new friends, realize future career paths, seek independence and community integration and unleash creative passions.

Through hard work, sweat, and a little luck, Opportunity Village has helped southern Nevada’s most vulnerable citizens integrate into the community through wage-paying jobs. These jobs provide opportunities for these individuals to display and be rewarded for their talent and achievement while gaining a measure of independence. It’s no wonder that Opportunity Village has earned the distinction of “Las Vegas’ Best Community Organization.”

Almost entirely self-funded, Opportunity Village is possible because southern Nevadans realize the value in supporting their neighbors with intellectual disabilities. In our society, people with disabilities live their live being told what they can’t do. Opportunity Village strives to break that stigma, encouraging the people it serves to follow their dreams.

As regular readers of The Randy Report know, opportunities for those folks with special challenges hold an important place on my blog. From my brother, who is a bright light as he shines through Autism Spectrum Disorder, to the amazing athletes who inspire us every four years at the Special Olympics.

If you've never been to the "Magical Forest," you really should put it on your must-see list for December.  Check out some pics from the tree lighting event, then make sure you go get some Christmas cheer thanks to Opportunity Village.

Human Nature with Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman

Las Vegas' Mayor Carolyn Goodman with Chippendales' James Davis & Mikey Perez

Australia's best selling vocal group, Human Nature, delivered the Christmas tunes

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman officially proclaimed "Magical Forest Day"

Who's lap do you want to sit on - Santa's?
Or the Chippendales' Mikey Perez and James Davis?

Me and handsome hubby Michael take a stroll through The Magical Forest

Just Because: Christmas Is Coming

(via Instagram)

Eric Trump: Dad Ran For President Because Folks Stopped Calling It A "Christmas Tree"

Speaking to right-winger James Robison earlier this week, Eric Trump explained several of the "reasons" why his dad is running for president.

Along the way, Eric erroneously says that the National Christmas Tree has been renamed "Holiday Tree."

“He opens up the paper each morning and sees our nation’s leaders giving a hundred billion dollars to Iran, or he opens the paper and some new school district has just eliminated the ability for its students to say the pledge of allegiance, or some fire department in some town is ordered by the mayor to no longer fly the American flag on the back of a fire truck,” Trump told James Robison in an interview posted this week.

“Or he sees the tree on the White House lawn has been renamed ‘Holiday tree’ instead of ‘Christmas tree,’” continued Trump. “I could go on and on for hours. Those are the very things that made my father run, and those are the very things he cares about.”

Psst, Eric - that's not true.

Eric also says he thinks his dad should get extra credit for running since he really "does not need the job."

Reading through the interview, you can't help but notice Eric really likes the phrase, "There's no question..." He uses it over and over again in the span of a few minutes.

What is it about Trump's and their love affair with absolutes?

Queen Elizabeth's Christmas Address - "Light Can Triumph Over Darkness"

Queen Elizabeth II released her annual Christmas message Friday, emphasizing that light can triumph over darkness after a difficult year.

The Queen also mentioned how she enjoyed watching great-grandchildren decorate the Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas From Miss Richfield 1981

Silent Night on the musical saw

Merry Christmas!

Posted by Miss Richfield 1981 on Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Festive Holiday Video: Andrew Christian's "The Night Before"

Nothing unusual happening here - just some hunky cops and santas getting their holiday groove on :)