“I learned about poppers…that was pretty new.”
– Jean Smart, when asked “What’s the most impactful lesson, phrase or insight
you’ve gained from the queer community?”  I think our work here is done.

I’m not saying I wish anyone ill.  But am I the only person who was let down by the drama-free jaunt into innerspace by Gayle King, Lauren Sanchez, Katy Perry, et al?  I mean, it was completely uneventful – until Gayle started talking.  “Please don’t call it a ‘ride’.  We duplicated the same trajectory that Alan Shepard did back in the day, pretty much…There was nothing frivolous about what we did.”  Time for a reality check – Alan Shepard trained for years and even underwent surgery before his mission.  Gayle bought a ticket (or someone paid).  Yes, I’d say Shepard hitting the golf ball on the moon was a little bit “frivolous” – but he did so without hair and makeup!

Someone who looks damn good in hair and makeup is Laverne Cox.  Alas, the phrase, “all gussied up and nowhere to go” seems to apply to the suddenly unemployed Cox.  Norman Lear’s final sitcom, Clean Slate, was just cancelled after its eight-episode first season.  The show, co-starring George Wallace, was initially conceived as an updated classic to be called Sanford & Daughter.  The concept was tweaked and resulted in a fun, perhaps slightly heavy-handed, original sitcom of an estranged son returning home…as a daughter!  One must commend Lear, who fully committed to learning as much as he could about the trans community.  He delved so deeply into Cox’s journey, she eventually snapped, “That information is between me and my doctor and my boyfriend.”  He thought that was a priceless response, and put it into the script verbatim.  Rest in peace, Norman and Clean Slate.

Last week, our dear Sheryl Lee Ralph got her long-awaited star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Sheryl credited the LA Fire Department for accommodating the overwhelming number of fans and friends who attended the ceremony.  Her Dreamgirls co-star, Loretta Devine, shared some anecdotes from their early days, while Quinta Brunson spoke about the Ralph of Abbott Elementary.  And, of course, Jenifer Lewis was on hand to ensure Sheryl showed enough leg when lying on the sidewalk next to her star.  Congrats, Diva!