News Round-Up: February 13, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Donald Trump may think having a dog could make him look 'phony,' but InstaHunk Naor Yazdan says he's already found his Valentine's date, and this looks like true love to me.

• Out actor/singer Jussie Smollett will give his first interview since he was attacked in Chicago last month to Robin Roberts on GMA Thursday morning.

• Netflix's upcoming 'Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City’ is set to debut at the San Francisco International Film Festival at the Castro Theater on April 10. The series will arrive on Netflix this summer.

• Donald Trump said today that his proposed border wall will be harder to climb than Mount Everest.

• After Ellen Page called out movie star Chris Pratt for promoting his church, virulently anti-LGBTQ Hillsong Church, Pratt finally took to social media to defend the church saying it "opens its doors to absolutely everyone." Let's just say it didn't go over well with the Twitter people.

• Season 3 of Netflix's Emmy Award winning 'make better' series, Queer Eye, is set for release on March 15, and the streaming giant shared the news with a Valentines-themed video clip accompanied by a new track from pop star Carly Rae Jespen, "Now That I Found You."

After two seasons in Atlanta, the series is changing locations to help our folks in the Kansas City area. Hit play below for the upbeat vid.

View this post on Instagram

WE'RE BAAACK HENNYS! Get ready to 💗 L<3VE YOURSELF! 💗 Queer Eye 3 launches March 15. HUGE thanks to @carlyraejepsen for this exclusive preview of her *NEW BOP*, "Now That I Found You.” 😘

A post shared by Queer Eye (@queereye) on Feb 13, 2019 at 7:55am PST

News Round-Up: February 12, 2019

Nyle DiMarco

Some news items you might have missed:

• America's Next Top Model & Dancing with the Stars champ Nyle DiMarco is asking Instagram "wyd (what you doing) on Valentines?" #MeMePickMe

• Will & Grace star Sean Hayes is set to receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 28. The Stephen F. Kolzak prize "is presented to a LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting LGBTQ acceptance."

• State lawmakers in Tennessee may be targeting the LGBTQ community with discriminatory legislation, but the mayor of Nashville just signed an executive order intended to help LGBTQ-owned businesses.

• Movie star Chris Pratt got called out for attending an anti-gay church. So, of course, Ellen DeGeneres couldn't wait to invite him on her show tweeting, "Whatever @PrattPrattPratt is selling, I'm buying!"

• Donald Trump, the first president in modern times to not have a dog, says he would feel "a little phony" having a dog. With all the lies he tells on a daily basis, having a DOG would make him phony? I've always felt if someone doesn't like dogs, I probably wouldn't like them.

• Lots of folks come to together to make dance/pop bop, "So Close," a lively, infectious track.

With Swedish producers NOTD, German DJ Felix Jaehn and vocalist Georgia Ku onboard, plus California remixers Captain Cuts, the resulting collaboration makes for upbeat ear candy. That chorus definitely has some melodic, catchy DNA.

I like the music video, although the camera work gets a bit kinetic for me. Check it out.

News Round-Up: April 17, 2018

Christian Olivo

Some news items you might have missed:

• Actor, model and man-in-motion Christian Olivo (above) already had my "abs-olute" attention but then sealed the deal with an 80s caption - “Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?" Photography by David Wagner

• A gay music teacher in Burlington, Illinois, was reprimanded after his husband sent him flowers on Valentine's Day. Now, if it had been his wife, do you think anyone would have said anything?

• Last of a dying breed, moderate Republican Congressman Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania surprised many today with his announcement that he will retire in a matter of weeks. Back in December, Dent had shared he planned to leave office after the November mid-terms this fall. I'm not sure what happened that led him to depart early.

After discussions with my family & careful reflection, I have decided to leave Congress in the coming weeks. Serving the people of #PA15 has been a tremendous responsibility & the privilege of a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/p8mik6s8ix

— Rep. Charlie Dent (@RepCharlieDent) April 17, 2018

• JoeMyGod notes that not one anti-LGBT bill has passed in state legislatures this year. But Joe rightfully points out the looming SCOTUS ruling on the anti-gay Masterpiece Bakery ruling which could have a huge impact on LGBT rights.

• A new video series, “No Longer Alone,” highlights queer voices from the Middle East and North Africa.

• A 23-year-old man in the UK says the painkiller Lyrica turned him gay.

Hello, Walmart, I'd like to order a case of Lyrica to be delivered to Chris Pratt...

A post shared by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) on Aug 16, 2016 at 9:36am PDT

Shirtless Chris Pratt Appears In New Michelob Ultra Super Bowl Spot

Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt has a new Michelob Ultra commercial set to air during the Super Bowl and Pratt is super-stoked about it.

In the spot, the action hero is shown doing bicep curls with a beer bottle while thinking up a character name (“Michelob Picklestein? Michelob. My name is Tommy Ultra. Tommy Ultra?”).

But it's not quite the role Pratt imagined when he arrives on set.

In any case, it's a good excuse to see the hunky hero shirtless :)

Watch below.

These days, I’m trying to stay in top shape for work. So when I see a beer I can’t help but squint my eyes and imagine a treadmill- Specifically how long I’ll have to be on that treadmill to burn off the beer. Michelob ULTRA has only 95 calories and 2.6 grams of carbs SO... I can run that off very easily. Probably in like 10 seconds? (I run 85 mph) Which really makes you wonder why I’m not playing in the Super Bowl instead of just doing a commercial that will air during the Super Bowl. So anyways, Michelob ULTRA doesn’t throw off my workout routine. And it tastes great. So... That’s what I call a win win. Check it out before it airs on Sunday: http://bit.ly/2nnSlgO #LiveULTRA @MichelobULTRA #spon

A post shared by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) on Jan 29, 2018 at 8:38am PST

Trailer: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team's adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage.

The flick hits theaters May 5, 2017.

Trailer: Chris Pratt & Jennifer Lawrence "Passengers"

Current Hollywood box office heavy weights Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence star in this big-budget sci-fi flick slated for Christmas Day release.

Synopsis: Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt are two passengers onboard a spaceship transporting them to a new life on another planet.

The trip takes a deadly turn when their hibernation pods mysteriously wake them 90 years before they reach their destination. As Jim and Aurora try to unravel the mystery behind the malfunction, they begin to fall for each other, unable to deny their intense attraction... only to be threatened by the imminent collapse of the ship and the discovery of the truth behind why they woke up.

Trailer: "The Magnificent Seven" Starring Denzel Washington & Chris Pratt

I love that Chris Pratt brings his trademark enthusiasm along for the ride.

Clip description:

Director Antoine Fuqua brings his modern vision to a classic story in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ and Columbia Pictures’ The Magnificent Seven.

With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns – Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), Jack Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio), Billy Rocks (Byung-Hun Lee), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier).

As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.

(h/t JMG)

PSA: Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, Sally Field & More Support Our Veterans

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day, so the timing couldn't be better for this new PSA starring Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Sally Field and more.

Got Your 6 works to bridge the military-civilian divide by empowering veterans as leaders in the community upon their return home.

Veterans return to our communities as trained leaders, team builders and problem solvers with a desire to continue serving here at home.

Head over to GotYour6.org for more info.

And support our veterans.

Mid-Day Brain Break - Chris Pratt

"Jurassic World" star Chris Pratt dances in a barn.

And, why not?

Chris Pratt Gets Down In A Barn

Chris Pratt looks like he's having a private little hoe (or "ho?") down, doesn't it?

Who cares why LOL

News Round-Up: June 19, 2015

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Chris Pratt, star of the biggest movie in the world (Jurassic World) says he's ok if women want to "objectify" him. It's cool with me, too :)

• For seven minutes in 2000 President Clinton considered publicly supporting marriage equality.

• The ironically named National Organization for Marriage asks all GOP presidential candidates to sign a pledge to promising to support a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

• After Indiana's "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" debacle only 32% of voters support his re-election.

• Did you hear the one about a Texas oil exec that stopped his car so he could punch out a gay couple? Sadly, it really happened.

Jurassic World Breaks Box-Office Records In Opening Weekend

“Jurassic World” opened to a staggering $511.8 million worldwide; the first time a film has ever grossed more than $500 million in a single weekend.

The dinosaur thriller is the top-ranking film from sea to shining sea, after opening in first place in North America and across all 66 international territories where it debuted.

Domestically, “Jurassic World” scored the second-biggest debut in history with $204.8 million, nipping at the heels of “Marvel’s The Avengers'” $207.4 million bow. Its international weekend estimate also takes runner-up position on the all-time charts. The $307.2 million “Jurassic World” generated trails the $314 million racked up by “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.”

The fourth installment would be the most successful of the dino franchise. It comes over a decade after “Jurassic Park III” hit theaters and 22 years after Steven Spielberg’s original “Jurassic Park” launched.

(via Variety)

Movies: Jurassic World Set To Break Box Office Records

Universal's Jurassic World (starring Chris Pratt) looks poised to be huge at the box office this weekend, with estimates for the North American opening at $155 million-plus. That would be the biggest three-day opening ever for the month of June.

From Hollywood Reporter:

The $150 million tentpole, rescuing the dinosaur franchise from near-extinction, is expected to earn $65 million-plus on Friday alone. That includes $18.5 million from Thursday evening previews, the biggest late-night showing ever for Universal after Furious 7 ($15.8 million).

Read More Quentin Tarantino's 'Hateful Eight' Gets Release Date
Overseas, the dinosaurs are also bigger-than-life. On Thursday, the movie grossed another $41.6 million from 37 markets for a two-day total of $65.6 million from 45 markets. It is No. 1 everywhere.

How about you, intrepid readers? You planning to get your "Jurassic" on?

"Jurassic World" Star Chris Pratt Runs In High Heels On The Late Late Show

As his co-star of Jurassic World says, Chris Pratt can do anything.

So, when James Corden of The Late Late Show challenged him to run in high heels, Pratt didn't blink.

I love that Chris Pratt is open to just about anything for a laugh. Good on him.

Chris Pratt Drops A Hysterical Essex Accent On The Graham Norton Show

Chris Pratt Does TOWIE

The only way is Chris Pratt. Watch the Guardian of the Galaxy turn Emperor of Essex with an accent that's like totes amaze.The Graham Norton Show. Fridays. BBC One.

Posted by BBC One on Friday, May 29, 2015

Chris Pratt Gives Acting Lessons While Drunk

Hunky Hollywood "It" man Chris Pratt is currently promoting his upcoming (and soon to be HUGE hit movie) Jurassic World.

During a "behind the scenes" with Pratt for a GQ Magazine photo shoot, someone thought it would be fun to ask the hunkster for acting tips. At issue, however, was the fact that Pratt had a few shots of Fireball whiskey to loosen up for the shoot.

That's ok, Chris. We're good with that. Proceed :)

“The truth is, it’s hot as hell. And I’m drunk,” admitted Chris with a mischievous grin.

Pratt asked for more shots, and talked away, to hilarious results.

"Fireball Whiskey - Ignite the Night"

Trailer: Jurassic World

Hits movie theaters June 12th.

For more info head over to jurassicworldmovie.com

Trailer: Jurassic World

Hunky Chris Pratt stars in the upcoming "Jurassic World"

Here's the first theatrical trailer for Jurassic World, the upcoming 4th “Jurassic Park” starring Chris Pratt.

Celebrities Read "Mean Tweets" About Themselves

In this 8th edition of Jimmy Kimmel's "Mean Tweets," Gwyneth Paltrow, Lena Dunham, Gerard Butler, Ty Burrell, Bob Newhart, Britney Spears, Geena Davis, Chris Pratt, Chloe Grace Moretz, Scott Foley, Michael Chiklis, Ted Danson, John Stamos, Lisa Kudrow and Adam Sandler read mean tweets about themselves.

Are Chris Pratt and Neil Patrick Harris front-runners for "Sexiest Man Alive?"

Shirtless Chris Pratt in "Guardians of the Galaxy"

Could People Magazine celebrate it's first openly gay "Sexiest Man Alive?"

Or will it be a "Guardian of the Galaxy?"

According to NY Daily News, Neil Patrick Harris and Chris Pratt are the front-runners for the title this year.

With his boy-next-door charm, his role on "Parks and Recreation" plus his movie "Guardians of the Galaxy" set to take in over $730 million this year, hunky Chris Pratt is definitely high on my list.

But People also seems intrigued by Harris who starred on Broadway (and won the Tony Award) for "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," was in the film "Gone Girl," and is set to host the Oscars.

After Bradley Cooper, Adam Levine and Channing Tatum of recent years, who do you think should be this year's "Sexiest Man Alive?"

Neil Patrick Harris