News Round-Up: December 8, 2018

Hubby Michael (C) turns 50! Whoohoo!

Some news items you might have missed:

• My apologies, dear readers, for the light posting of late. Currently in Mexico celebrating my hubby's 50th birthday :)

• A new study shows young black men are 16 times more likely to contract HIV than their young white gay peers.

• Woofy luger Chris Mazdzer's 'ice underwear tease' is totally worth the clicking over to kenneth-in-the-212 for.

Olympic luger Chris Mazdzer

• Choreographer Justin Peck worked with A-list actors like Julia Roberts to create a series of short dance films that turn everyday experience into moments of musical magic.

• Chief of staff John Kelly is expected to step down in the coming days, according to two administration officials says Politico.

• First trailer for Avengers: Endgame is here. "Part of the journey is the end."

Over 42 million views in a day.

• Meanwhile, back at Mantamar Beach Club in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and my hubby's 50th celebration - it's a virtual gay soup.

View this post on Instagram

Life is good - hubby’s bday @mantamarbc @mikecaprio

A post shared by Randy Slovacek (@randyslovacek) on Dec 6, 2018 at 2:18pm PST

The cast of HBO's "The Normal Heart" on Michael Sam's "draft kiss"

The cast of HBO's "The Normal Heart" stopped by HuffPost Live to talk about the upcoming debut of the film on May 25th.

During the chat, the question came up regarding how far the LGBT community has come in 30 years, including the NFL draft of Michael Sam and his televised celebratory kiss with his boyfriend Vito. Check out their comments in the video above.

The full interview is posted below the short clip.

Julia Roberts talks to Ellen about making THE NORMAL HEART

Julia Roberts talks to Ellen about the emotional journey of HBO's The Normal Heart during the early years of the AIDS epidemic.

The groundbreaking film debuts May 25th on HBO.

HBO's The Normal Heart covers Entertainment Weekly

This week's cover of Entertainment Weekly focuses on the developmental journey of The Normal Heart, from Broadway to HBO feature film.

Despite involvement from names like Barbra Streisand, who owned the rights for 10 years, The Normal Heart appeared to be destined for only theater until Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy acquired the rights in 2009 with his own money.

“I really believed in it,” explains Murphy, who first read the play in college and directed the film version. “Larry set a very high price. I gulped and said, ‘Okay,’ and bought it. I think he wanted to see, ‘Is this kid serious?’ And I was.”

Kramer, who’s HIV-positive and currently recovering from unrelated medical complications, was unable to speak to EW but emailed that Heart made it to the screen “because of Ryan Murphy caring passionately about getting it made, abetted by [exec producer] Dante Di Loreto."

The Normal Heart starring Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Julia Roberts and Jim Parsons debuts on HBO on May 25th. Watch the trailer below:

Sally Field vs Julia Roberts in a Celebrity Curse-Off

Jimmy Kimmel hosted both Sally Field and Julia Roberts on his show last night.

It was an opportunity to find out which of these incredibly talented women had the foulest mouth as the two of them competed in Jimmy's first ever #CelebrityCurseOff.

The former "Flying Nun" is in "take no prisoners" mode.

"The Normal Heart" - Full Trailer

The HBO original film, The Normal Heart, premieres Sunday, May 25th at 9PM/8C, only on HBO.

Starring Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer and Taylor Kitsch.

New trailer for HBO's "The Normal Heart"

HBO has released a new trailer for the upcoming screen adaptation of Larry Kramer's award-winning play "The Normal Heart."

"The Normal Heart," directed by Ryan Murphy, chronicles the rise of AIDS in the 1980s during the earliest years of the epidemic.

The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons and Jonathan Groff.

Debuts on HBO on May 25.

Trailer: HBO's "The Normal Heart"

The HBO original film, The Normal Heart, premieres Sunday, May 25th at 9PM/8C, on HBO.

Starring Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and Julia Roberts.

Ellen's "Oscar selfie" LIVE

Click pic to enlarge

Taken live during the Oscar telecast, host Ellen DeGeneres took and tweeted this "selfie" with a few friends.

(those friend would include Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Channing Tatun, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep and Lupita Nyong'o)

Update:  Poor Liza (in the blue), it just wasn't her night....

HBO "End of Year Promo" includes first view of footage from THE NORMAL HEART

Mark Ruffalo and Matt Bomer in HBO's THE NORMAL HEART

This past weekend HBO released it's "End of the Year" promo which included the first footage the public has had a chance to glimpse of the upcoming THE NORMAL HEART.

One of the most anticipated gay media moments of 2014 is the film adaptation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart, which features a star-studded cast including Mark Ruffalo, Jim Parsons, Taylor Kitsch, Matt Bomer, and Julia Roberts.

Julia Roberts in HBO's THE NORMAL HEART

Jim Parsons in HBO's THE NORMAL HEART

(via Towleroad)

New Trailer - "August: Osage County"

For the upcoming Meryl Streep/Julia Roberts flick. The play was huge on Broadway; this will be huge at the box office.

Watch.

Trailer - "August: Osage County"

A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.

Starring Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, Dermot Mulroney, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper and Sam Shepard.

Favorite line: "Thank god we can't tell the future. We'd never get out of bed."

Release date: November 8, 2013

Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts to star together in "August: Osage County"

Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts

Osage County is about to welcome two new high-profile residents: Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.

The Weinstein Company confirmed today that, after being in talks with the Oscar-winning actresses for over a year, Streep and Roberts will appear on-screen together for the first time for the adaptation of Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer and Tony-winning play "August: Osage County."

Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts will play mother and daughter in the film, taking on the roles of pill-popping matriarch Violet and complicated, headstrong daughter Barbara, respectively. “After seeing Meryl Streep’s mesmerizing portrayal as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, it has me even more excited and proud to co-star with her,” Roberts said in a statement.

When the three-act "August: Osage County" opened on Broadway in 2007, the Midwestern family drama was heralded as a one of the greatest American plays thanks to its crackling dialogue and tour de force performances (Deanna Dunagan won a Tony as Violet and Amy Morton was nominated as Barbara).

(source)

Brad Pitt Will Produce 'The Normal Heart' movie

The long-gestating film adaptation of 'The Normal Heart,' Larry Kramer’s blistering autobiographical play about the early years of the AIDS epidemic, is now closer to becoming a reality with superstar producer Brad Pitt on board, reports Variety. 

Pitt’s Plan B production company will coproduce the film with Ryan Murphy, who will also direct.

The film is expected to star Mark Ruffalo as Ned Weeks, the character author Larry Kramer based on himself, and Julia Roberts as Dr. Emma Brookner. No start date has been announced.