News Round-Up: October 24, 2017

Kayne Lawton

Some news items you might have missed:

• Fitness coach Kayne Lawton (above) spent the day on Miami Beach; me, at my desk. Lawton wins this one :)

• Disgraced/dismissed Fox News host Bill O'Reilly is mad at God for not protecting him from all those sexual harassment allegations.

• Two-time Emmy Award-winner Robert Guillaume, best known as the dry, acerbic title character in the TV sitcom “Benson,” passed away today at the age of 89. The versatile actor was nominated for a Tony Award for his star turn in the 1976 revival of Guys and Dolls, and was the first black actor to play the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera.

• CBS All Access has renewed Star Trek: Discovery after only six episodes. This newest iteration of Star Trek includes the first to feature same-sex couple being played by out actors Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp.

• Out actress Jane Lynch is in talks to develop and host a new daytime variety show. Lynch has proven her chops as a TV host, winning two best reality host Emmy Awards for emceeing NBC’s Hollywood Game Night. And of course, she's well known for her Emmy Award-winning turn on Glee.

First Look At New Jane Lynch Series "Angel From Hell"

Coming to CBS this November, Jane Lynch returns series TV as a quirky, sassy and not quite right guardian angel.

(h/t Queerty)

Jane Lynch - "It Got Better"

You might know her best for her role on Glee, but Jane Lynch wasn't always about song and dance.

Jane shares what it was like growing up with an "affliction", and how New York's piano-bar scene changed her life.

Says Jane, "I found my people."

Dan Savage and Lisa Kudrow serve as executive producers on this project.

Jane Lynch admits to major 70s crush on pop legend Olivia Newton-John

Jane Lynch chatted with Conan O’Brien about a number of things last night on the Coco show. They spent a good amount of time talking about each other’s easy-to-manage haircuts:

Conan: I think your hair is fantastic.
Jane: Thank you, I feel the same way. I think you have, like, the best hair in Hollywood, so coming from you…
Conan: Yes, I do, yes. Yes I do.

Don't you love how deep and important the chat can get on talk shows these days?

Then moved onto more pressing matters—namely, how Olivia Newton John turned young Jane gay.

“Growing up in the ’70s, she was it for me,” Lynch explained. “’I Honestly Love You.’ I would weep to that song on the radio. And, I just loved her… I named my dog after her. My dog’s name is Olivia. I had a big lesbo crush on her, and I named my dog after her.”

I've heard this before as Olivia has guested on GLEE performing WITH Lynch, and it was at that time she shared her dog's tribute name.
 
Talk then turned to Newton John’s Grease co-star, heterosexual actor John Travolta. “I loved John Travolta so much that I drew pictures of him,” Lynch said. “I knew every plane of his face. I knew the dimple of his chin… the light eyes with the dark lashes. I loved him, I loved him, but I think what it is is that I wanted to be him. I didn’t want to make out with him.”

(via Queerty)

2013 Emmy Awards opening "Monologue"

In one of the few fun things about last night's Emmy Awards, Neil Patrick Harris tried to open the Emmys, but was interrupted by past hosts of the show, including Jimmy Kimmel, Jane Lynch, Jimmy Fallon, Conan O'Brien, and finally Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

"Said Lynch: I want to tell you why I wasn't asked back. I wasn't asked back because I am a woman."

Replied Harris: "Oh, c'mon Jane. I don't think anyone who watched that night thought of you as a woman."

Lynch: "I'm gonna show you just how much of a woman I am Harris."

Harris: "I wouldn't like it, Lynch."

Lynch: "I would like it less, Harris."

(source)

Jane Lynch talks divorce with Larry King

Jane Lynch, who filed official divorce papers on Friday to end her marriage to Lara Embry, sat down with Larry King on the second season premiere of his show Larry King Now on digital on-demand.

Lynch told King that the split was amicable: "We have to remain adults, which we have... We keep everybody — especially Haden's — good in our mind."

GLEE's Jane Lynch to divorce

According to People Magazine, Jane Lynch is divorcing her wife Lara Embry: People magazine reports:

"Lara and I have decided to end our marriage. This has been a difficult decision for us as we care very deeply about one another. We ask for privacy as we deal with this family matter," Lynch says in a statement.

Lynch, 52, and Embry, 44, met at a 2009 fundraiser in San Francisco at which Embry was being honored. Shortly after confirming their engagement, the women married on Memorial Day in 2010 in an intimate ceremony in Sunderland, Mass., one of the few states where gay marriage is recognized.

The musical break-up of church and state

Starring the ever-fab Jane Lynch and Jordan Peele.

From Americans United.

First look at Jane Lynch as "Miss Hannigan" for Broadway's ANNIE

From Playbill we get a first look at Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch, known for playing a bullying cheer coach on TV's "Glee," as orphanage matron "Miss Hannigan" in Broadway's Annie beginning May 15.

Two-time Tony Award-winning actress Katie Finneran, who created the role of Miss Hannigan in the new production of Annie, will depart the production at a date to be announced, in order to begin filming a new NBC comedy series with Michael J. Fox.

Annie plays the Palace Theatre. Visit anniethemusical.com.

Joan Rivers and Jane Lynch discuss politics, viagra and contraception

CNN guest host Jane Lynch and Joan Rivers criticize politicians and the debate over abortion and contraception.

Dustin Lance Black's play "8" in L.A. with an all-star cast

"8"- Dustin Lance Black's play about the Prop 8 trial.

Featuring an all-star cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Christine Lahti, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch, Kevin Bacon and others, "8" is a play written by Academy Award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black and directed by acclaimed actor and director Rob Reiner. It is a powerful account of the case filed by the American Federation for Equal Rights (AFER ) in the U.S.

GLEE star Jane Lynch to host the Emmy Awards

Glee star Jane Lynch has been confirmed to host the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards this September 18th.

“I am tickled pink to be hosting the Primetime Emmys on FOX,” the out actress said in a statement announcing her hosting duties Thursday. “I’m looking forward to singing, dancing, and sporting my finest tracksuit.”

Emmy executive producer Mark Burnett said Lynch was his first and only choice to host the show. “She has incredible comedic timing, and is a charismatic, talented actress whose energy leaps off the screen and stage. I am thrilled and excited to have her as our host,” he added.

Lynch is the third woman to host the Emmys alone, following in the footsteps of Angela Lansbury in 1993 and Ellen DeGeneres in 2005.

This definitely promises to be a much more fun affair with Jane onboard. Whoo-hoo!