“But I, you know, had to hire a
professional to teach me how to bottom.” 
– Billy Porter admits that in his younger years,
he was a total top (mostly a “fear-based response”). 
“But by 30, I was ready to be versatile.”  And he never looked back!

Last week, people started talking about the Emmys, which begs the question – is it time for the Emmys already?  Nope.  They don’t take place until September 14^th.  But they announced the name of the host – Mariska Hargitay.  Out of left field?  Perhaps.  But she is a bona fide television star.  One might call her an icon (although I wouldn’t be that one).  She just wrapped her limited run in the Broadway production of Every Brilliant Thing, replacing Daniel Radcliffe – talk about range!  Every Brilliant Thing is now starring Tracee Ellis Ross.  I shudder to think…

Back to the Emmys.  Nominations were announced, and one nod took me aback (which I typically like) – Connor Storrie.  Talk about a back!).  Sure, he made a splash on Heated Rivalry, but this nod was for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series stemming from hosting Saturday Night Live.  Again…range.  What about Heated Rivalry?  The show was shut out for good reason – since it was a Canadian production, it didn’t qualify.  I know many of you will ask about other foreign shows that have won Emmys.  But they only qualify if they’re a co-production with a US company.  While HR is on HBO Max, it was made for the Canadian network, Crave.

This leads to an inevitable Hudson Williams story.  He has a tiny cameo in a short film wearing a skimpy costume.  The flick, Human Nature, premiered at the Run N Gun Film Festival – my invite clearly got lost in the mail.  Williams’ appearance in one of those Borat “mankinis” helped the snippet to win the coveted Audience Choice Award.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is that Hudson was removed from a Peloton ad campaign after a photo of him as a teen surfaced where a bunch of symbols and slogans are drawn on his face – including a swastika and the word AIDS.  The underaged Hudson claims he was completely unaware of what his friends had drawn on his face.  “The markings do not and have never reflected Hudson’s beliefs, values or character.”  If we’ve learned nothing, please remember – friends don’t use Sharpies on friends’ faces!

Another of our favorites made a stir in a short film.  Zane Phillips appears in Something Still, which features the hunk in a steamy three-way.  Like I always say – stick with your strengths, Tracee!  Although the short has turned up at a few film festivals, and some footage has appeared on lesser sites, the full flick has found its way to BillyMasters.com.  You’re welcome.