This week’s Ask Billy question comes from Frank in Philadelphia: “I just saw a commercial for Lacoste underwear with a really hot guy in the shower.  He looks so familiar, but I can’t place him.  Help!”

That would be the lovely and talented Taylor Zakhar Perez, who you know primarily from Red, White & Royal Blue.  The commercial begins in a shower, which certainly puts Taylor and his taut torso in the best light.  Then the undies go on.  A source told me that there was much concern on the set which required Taylor to “flatten himself out” – whatever that means!   There’s a good amount of ass shaking and hair flipping while Perez dances around blasting music through his headphones.  And yet he somehow manages to hear someone clear his throat in the distance.  So much for plot development!  You can check out every dripping millimeter on BillyMasters.com.

When underwear models are being asked to “flatten out”, it’s definitely time to end another column.  In other bits of madness, I have four countries and three continents left on my endless excursion.  But no matter my locale, I still deliver the unfiltered dish on www.BillyMasters.com – the site that never makes an exception.  If you have a question, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and and I promise to get back to you before we find out which royal will be arrested on my next birthday!  So, until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

Hollywood was a-buzz last week when hundreds of hopefuls descended on FOX Studios to try and snag a role in the reboot of Baywatch.  Most people auditioned for what were described as the “gender-neutral roles” of Robin or Jordan (think Alexandra Paul).  The actors, probably weak from hunger, were instructed to make an acting choice and tell the director which part they were auditioning for (in costume…or lack thereof).  A couple of people didn’t have to go through these paces.  A late addition to the original series, David Chokachi, was invited to join this new venture reprising his role of Cody Madison.  Another familiar face is hunky Stephen Amell (the former Arrow), who has been cast as Hobie Buchannon, most notably played by Jeremy Jackson.

The Heated Rivalry boys are finding ways to keep busy before filming season two.  Connor Storrie is in talks to join Peaked, a big-screen comedy – because I’m sure he’s a laugh riot (we’ll find out when he hosts SNL on February 28^th).  Not to be outdone, Hudson Williams has already signed with Crave (the network that produced HR) to appear in a half-hour drama series about the myth of Baba Yaga.  You had me…then you confused me.

You’ve probably heard that El Presidente’s minions removed the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument.  Why?  According to the Department of the Interior, one is not allowed to display “non-agency” flags at National Park System locations.  However, that guidance provides for “limited exceptions” – which apparently this isn’t.  Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal vows to return the flag to its pole.  “The mean-spiritedness of the Trump administration seems to know no bounds.  But we as a community are not going to take it standing by idly as our history, and by extension our human rights, are attempted to be erased.”  He was supported by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.  “I am outraged by the removal of the Rainbow Pride Flag from Stonewall National Monument.  New York is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, and no act of erasure will ever change, or silence, that history.  Our city has a duty not just to honor this legacy, but to live up to it.  I will always fight for a New York City that invests in our LGBTQ+ community, defends their dignity, and protects every one of our neighbors – without exceptions.”  With great hoopla, the NYC officials reinstated the flag on February 12^th.  And there it remains…for now.

In his quest for continued relevance, Colton Underwood made a curious revelation with even more curious grammar: “After my Netflix show came out, there was two active players in the NFL that reached out to confide in me and asked for advice and help and one has a family…I think there was the complication of me all of a sudden being poster boy for ‘out athlete’ when that Netflix show dropped.  I was not ready to be anybody’s mentor.  I was still very much coming out to myself.  All of a sudden now I have people I feel responsible for, like, advice.  I really, it’s like, I’m the last.”  So, let me get this straight – he was ready to have a network following him around, but he wasn’t ready to help others?  What if they wanted help on camera?  I bet he’d have been ready for that! 

We hear that the complimentary condoms placed in the Olympic Village ran out in record time.  The entire Village was condom-free after only three days – and that was before Gus Kenworthy even got there!  People are placing the blame on the organizers.  A local paper reported, “In Paris, the athletes received 300,000 condoms – two per day each – but the number for these Winter Games were significantly lower.”  Well, there are some differences.  First, that was the summer – which naturally lends itself to rampant sexual activity.  Secondly…you know, Paris! 

When Jonathan Groff announced he was leaving Just In Time, I mused that the list of “names” who could helm a show about Bobby Darin were few and far between.  Rumors abounded that Hugh Jackman was approached, but I felt the ideal person was Matthew Morrison.  Of course, I always think the ideal person is Matthew Morrison.  Jeremy Jordan got the gig, and I am sure he’ll be great.  But there is something of a hiatus between when Groff leaves (March 29^th) and when Jordan can start (April 21^st).  What to do, what to do?  Enter the magnificent Matty, who will play the role for three weeks.  I expect a surge at the box office.  I’m surging just thinking about it.

A provocative event is headed off-Broadway.  Jesse Tyler Ferguson is returning to the stage in a revival of Jay Presson Allen’s Tru – playing bon vivant Truman Capote.  Most people identify this show with Robert Morse, who helmed the 1989 Broadway production.  While smaller in concept, we are certain that Capote would approve of this new venture since it will be staged in the former home of the great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt.  That venue is currently known as the Library of the House of the Redeemer – which sure sounds like a metaphor for something.  The run starts on March 6^th and ends April 12^th, but I suspect that will change.

People, please leave John Lithgow alone.  He was cast in HBO’s Harry Potter series and immediately started getting harassing messages on social media about author J.K. Rowling’s perceived transphobia.  “I take the subject extremely seriously.  She has created this amazing canon for young people, and it has jumped into the consciousness of the society.  It’s about good versus evil, kindness versus cruelty.  I find her views ironic and inexplicable.  I’ve never met her, she’s not really involved in this production at all…It upsets me when people are opposed to me having anything to do with this.  But in Potter canon, you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity.  She’s written this mediation of kindness and acceptance.  And Dumbledore is a beautiful role.”  So there!

Here’s something even I didn’t see coming – Rowling is in the Epstein files!  To be fair, lots of people are in there for non-nefarious reasons.  Apparently, Epstein was invited to the 2018 Broadway premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.  Amusingly enough, it seems that while he did show up, he was turned away at the door.

Jinkx Monsoon is preparing to take London by storm.  She’ll be appearing in a revival of Peter Quilter’s play, End of the Rainbow, portraying the legend that is Judy Garland.  The play focuses on the last months of Garland’s life.  This is a strictly limited run that will open on May 15^th at the Soho Theatre Walthamstow.

“I do have more socially liberal views. 
Some of my best friends are gay.” 
– Savannah Chrisley on the Behind the Table podcast
(an offshoot of The View).  Doesn’t she also have a
family member who is gay?  Someone very close to her?

How was your birthday, Billy?  Thank you for asking.  It was one of the best birthdays ever.  It was even more brilliant after hearing how the artist formerly known as Prince Andrew spent his birthday – in the pokey!  Admittedly, I might have enjoyed a birthday in a British prison more than most.  But something tells me it wasn’t the type of celebration Andrew anticipated.  The icing on the cake was when his brother, King Charles III, refused to intervene.  “The law must take its course.”  Happy bday, sir.  And so say all of us.

It also wasn’t a good week for Shia LaBeouf – a name one rarely mentions anymore.  He was in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and, according to reports, he attacked one Jeffrey Damnit and screamed, “You’re a fucking faggot”.  Damnit, it should be noted, had on mascara, eye shadow and lipstick.  But it was Mardi Gras in New Orleans, for fuck’s sake!  Another queer man, Nathan Thomas Reed, was a witness: “I want it to be known that he was calling people ‘faggot.’”  A newspaper quoted LaBeouf saying, “These faggots put me in jail – I’m a Catholic.”   And yet, this utterance was omitted from the “sworn probable cause statement” filed in court.

For our Olympic moment, a story from the cutthroat world of competitive curling.  That’s a sport where two teams attempt to manipulate a granite stone on the ice by swirling some kind of mop.  Picture bringing your Swiffer to the local ice rink.  The incident in question took place during a nail-biter between Canada and Sweden.  One reporter captured the drama this way: “The Swedes believed one of the Canadians was repeatedly double-touching some of his stones.”  And you thought Heated Rivalry was intense!  Marc Kennedy from the Canadian team wasn’t taking the Swedish accusations lightly.  “I don’t like being accused of cheating after 25 years on tour and four Olympic Games.  So I told him where to stick it.” 

Our Ask Billy question came from Mark in Boston: “During Bad Bunny’s halftime show at about the four-minute mark, you see two guys grinding up against each other behind the open door of a white pickup truck.  I thought maybe they might be famous (or semi-famous).  Maybe models or porn stars.  Do you know who they are?”

Mark wasn’t the only one who picked up on this.  Moments after the camera panned past these two men dancing inside an open truck door, the clip went viral.  I think the first person to post the meme was Louisa Jacobson from The Gilded Age, who captioned it “Important!”  One of the men is Dan Santiago, a 30-year-old dancer from NYC who previously performed with Bad Bunny on Saturday Night Live.  “There were a lot of intentionally fluid pairings in the show reflecting the sense of unity the show was trying to convey,” says Dan.  He added that both he and his dancing partner, Igor Farina, are straight, but they “feel honored to represent the LGBTQ community.”  “To me, being part of this moment wasn’t about performing queerness; it was about freedom and representing a community that deserves to be seen.”  And see it you will on BillyMasters.com.

When I’m trying to squeeze my Balzac into Ashton’s pink Speedo, it’s time to end another column.  If you wanna check out the latest gossip, sit right down on Juliette Lewis and head on over to www.BillyMasters.com – the site that never leaves a stone unturned.  If you’ve got a question, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and and I promise to get back to you before Dan or Igor turn up on Dancing with the Stars.  Until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

Two daytime talkers are hanging it up after this year.  Kelly Clarkson is ending her talk show after seven years to concentrate more on family and music.  And Sherri Shepherd’s show will end after her fourth season.  The timing is perfect, since Sherri is in the middle of a comedy tour.  Check out her dates on SherriShepherd.com.

There are two things we can count on in February: the groundhog looking for his shadow, and Customs and Border Protection Agents looking for passengers possessing drugs on a gay cruise.  This year was no different – the groundhog did indeed see his shadow, and nine passengers attempting to board an Atlantis Events cruise out of Fort Lauderdale were arrested on drug charges.  Why, oh why, can’t these guys just bring a few pills hidden in their Balzac?  But, no, they bring enough drugs to “distribute” to other revelers – and that’s when problems occur.  While the mainstream press has named them all, I’m going to single out one person because he’s kinda a public figure. That would be Joshua Eddy of West Hollywood, who did gay porn for Sean Cody under the name Eddie Burke.  He is currently a popular content provider for OnlyFans under the name “Beefy ginger bro next door”.  And he’s also an attorney – talk about versatility!  He faces felony charges of trafficking 19.3 grams of MDMA, 3.4 grams of ketamine, 7.55 grams of methamphetamine, and 80 grams of GBL – you know, just to take the edge off!  He’s scheduled to be arraigned in Miami-Dade Court on April 2^nd – should you need a fix around then.

These days, there’s a convention for everything.  It of course started with the granddaddy of them all – ComicCon.  And our people love to go to BravoCon.  Then we got ChristmasCon for devotees of Hallmark Channel movies.  Since this is not an officially sanctioned event, it takes place in Edison, New Jersey (oh, the indignity).  But it attracts quite a number of Hallmark regulars like Tyler Hynes, Lacey Chabert, Jonathan Bennett, Ryan Pavey, and even Rachel Boston – who isn’t from Boston.  Given that success, Hallmark has started an official event.  Hallmark Christmas Experience takes place in Kansas City, within spitting distance of Hallmark headquarters.  And it’s not a one weekend event – it’s every weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Not to be outdone, Dancing with the Stars has a con of their own – aside from the liberal use of the word “stars”.  Fans can meet some of their favorites at DWTS Con July 31^st through August 2^nd in Palm Springs at the Acrisure Arena.  Some of the “stars” scheduled to attend will be Hannah Brown, Danielle Fishel, Xochitl Gomez, Joey Graziadei, Elaine Hendrix, Rashad Jennings, Amanda Kloots, Whitney Leavitt, Phaedra Parks, Jojo Siwa, Johnny Weir, Rumer Willis, Kristi Yamaguchi and Ginger Zee.  The pros on the leaderboard include Brandon Armstrong, Lindsay Arnold, Rylee Arnold, Alan Bersten, Hailey Bills, Sharna Burgess, Witney Carson, Val Chmerkovskiy, Sasha Farber, Jenna Johnson, Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Jan Ravnik, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, Ezra Sosa, and Britt Stewart.  As if that weren’t enough, we’re told Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba will represent the judges.  Throw in Tom Bergeron, and you could film a season!

Even though I’m abroad, I still tuned in for the Super Bowl.  Well, parts of the Super Bowl.  I actually remembered it was Super Bowl Sunday when I saw a post on Twitter/X for Duolingo (I’m in the middle of a 3+ year streak).  Something about a guy painted green, wearing tight CK hip briefs, and a Duo head seemed vaguely familiar.  Then I remembered – last year, a USC student won West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval by dressing up as the Duolingo mascot.  The Duo dude in question was fitness fanatic Dima, known online as @dima.is.fit (fit people get right to the point).  His “costume” caught the attention of someone in corporate, and the rest is history.

Speaking of good costumes, Apple TV+ has been shooting their limited series Wild Things, based on the ambiguously gay “magicians”, Siegfried and Roy.  Jude Law plays Siegfried, and Andrew Garfield plays Mantecore’s appetizer.  Andy won’t have to worry – the folks at Apple will only be employing CGI tigers.  Where’s the fun in that?  The boys look great in their costumes, as you’ll see from the photos on our website.

Sandra Bernhard has been cast in season four of The White Lotus.  The destination will be Saint-Tropez, and one can only hope Miss Sandi plays some rich bitch in custom couture instead of one of the scullery maids (although that might be fun, too).  Others in the cast include Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Coogan, Caleb Jonte Edwards, Marissa Long, Alexander Ludwig, Chris Messina and AJ Michalka.  Stay tuned.

Isaac Mizrahi knows a thing or two about clothing.  But he may be losing it.  He recently discussed dressing Gwyneth Paltrow in the ‘90s (the first thing people with dementia do is talk about the past).  “She would leave after things, and I’d say that girl has the most fabulous ass I’ve ever seen.  She has the best ass in show business, I mean that.”  It’s sad when you see it happening.  Isaac may soon be ready for Jell-O and mahjong.

Luke Evans will have some nifty friends joining him in the Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show.  Most inspiring is the casting of Rachel Dratch as the Narrator.  And, while one rarely hears of Juliette Lewis these days, I bet she’ll be a kooky Magenta.  Andrew Durand should make a tasty Brad.

By the by, I just read about By Design, a movie starring Juliette Lewis.  Here’s the plot: “A woman swaps bodies with a chair.”  And, I kid you not, people are saying she’s great.  “The role Juliette Lewis was born to play” – says Billy Masters.  Put that on the side of a bus!

“I got an exclusive campaign for Gucci when Tom Ford
was running it.  I flew to Italy for the runway show.  He puts
me in a pink Speedo.  I know exactly how much I weighed:
178 pounds.  He was like, ‘He’s too fat,’ and I got fired.” 
– Ashton Kutcher.  As luck would have it, I’m in Europe, roughly 170 pounds
and about to put on my pink Speedo!

It’s a small world after all, as the song says.  This was driven home during my endless overseas excursions.  Last week, I was in a remote area of Bulgaria – a country made up of nothing but remote areas.  Being the capitalist pig I am, I ordered dinner to be delivered (I can only struggle to pronounce letters shaped like the number “3” for so long).  I got a call that my food was downstairs.  The delivery guy explained that he realized my phone number was from the United States because he had been there.  “Where?” I asked.  Massachusetts.  I tell him I’m from Massachusetts.  Turns out he spent the summer in Provincetown – working in places like Bayside Betsy’s and the Governor Bradford Inn.  “By working there for three months, I could pay for a year of college and living expenses here.”  Big Daddy Masters used to tell me how he’d work all summer to pay for a year at Boston University.  It’s nice to know the American Dream is still alive…as long as you don’t live in America!

Our Ask Billy question came from Stan in Detroit: “Are you watching The Beauty?  Who is the hot guy that Ben Platt became?  Is he gay?”

Life isn’t always fair.  You win a Tony for Dear Evan Hansen, you star in the questionable movie version, sell hit records, play “residencies”, and get a call from Ryan Murphy to be in his series The Beauty.  And what is your role?  The star of an episode called “Beautiful Chimp Face”.  If we’ve learned nothing from El Presidente, nobody likes being portrayed as any type of simian.  Oh, sure, the fact that Platt turns into Isaac Powell is small consolation.  He also probably got to see him naked…and that’s gotta be worth a considerable amount.  By the by, anyone who comes up with a medication to turn Ben Platt into Isaac Powell should win the Nobel Prize!  Since Stan asked, yes, Isaac Powell is gay.  He was previously engaged to the wildly talented Wesley Taylor and is currently dating Tate Justus.  But what he likely spends most of his time on is his derriere, which is displayed on BillyMasters.com.

When Ben Platt can only dream of having Isaac’s ass, it’s definitely time to end another column.  I, too, recently dreamt of Isaac’s ass.  It was so good I put it up on www.BillyMasters.com – the site that can make all your dreams come true.  If you’ve got another question for me, send it in to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Ty Pennington helps with those Kennedy Center renovations.  Until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

Noel Coward’s Fallen Angels is getting a revival on Broadway, courtesy of the Roundabout Theatre.  It kicks off performances on March 27^th with Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara playing best friends, both married to boring husbands, reminiscing about the hot Frenchman they both had affairs with when they were single.  Didya know that Joan Collins starred alongside Susannah York in a 1974 television adaptation of the play?  So, once again, I have to turn my column over to Dame Joan Collins to explain: “It was, I thought, extremely important to the plot that if Susannah and I spent three quarters of the play extolling the virtues of this divine Frenchman, with whom we were both still secretly in love, by the time the audience sees him, he better be a knockout.”  Well, the Roundabout has secured the services of such a knockout – who also happens to be somewhat of a name.  Making his Broadway debut, the role will be filled to a T by Mark Consuelos.  Yes, Mr. Ripa will be moonlighting as Maurice.

It’s official – Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande will star in a revival of Sunday in the Park With George in London’s Barbican Theatre.  It will be directed by Marianne Elliott, who directed and conceived the gender-bending revival of Company, which also starred Bailey.  However, there has been a change – the show won’t take place until the summer of 2027.  If you like to plan a year in advance, tickets go on sale in May 2026.

Liza Minnelli will be doing a smattering of events to promote her upcoming autobiography, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!.  On March 17^th, she’ll be in conversation at Downtown LA’s Million Dollar Theater.  Moderating will be, you guessed it, Michael Feinstein – and I’m told you’ll never see his lips move!  Tickets start at $90 and include a pre-signed copy of the book.  You don’t expect Liza to sit through a meet-and-greet line, do you?

Not to be counted out, we have news on Liza’s sister.  We often talk about singers doing “residencies” which are not really residencies.  Well, Lorna Luft is actually doing one that counts.  On January 28^th, she began a six-month series of concerts at the Laurie Beechman Theater in NYC.  Admittedly, she’s only doing one concert a month in a venue that seats 80 people, but it still counts.  Upcoming will be February 18^th, March 27^th, April 25^th, May 21^st and June 20^th.  At this rate, Lorna is the most-employed member of the Luft-Minnelli-Garland–Gumm family!

Cyndi Lauper seems to be busier than ever since her retirement from touring.  Next up for the singer is a Vegas run at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.  She’ll be there April 24^th, 25^th, 29^th, and May 1^st and 2^nd. 

One can always count on the polarizing Patti LuPone to speak her mind.  And speak it she did during her Carnegie Hall concert last week.  After referring to El Presidente as “the buffoon”, she took umbrage at news that the Kennedy Center will close for a two-year “makeover”.  “I think all of you are clearly people that appreciate the arts and our culture, perhaps you are in it.  It’s time for us, it’s time for us, it’s OVER time for us to rise up and speak.  Get on social media or however you can get the message out that he cannot, cannot, cannot touch the Kennedy Center.  I’m sorry, but I’m so mad.  This actually strikes close to home because art is the soul of the nation.  And think about it – when was the last time you heard the words ‘art’ and ‘culture’ in conversation in this country?  And we have to speak up again.  We have to elevate it, and one of the ways we’re going to elevate it is to keep the buildings standing.  That’s it.  That’s all I’m going to say about it.”  Brava.

Patti ain’t alone.  Members of the Kennedy family are considering various actions.  While Caroline has said very little, her son Jack and cousin Maria Shriver have indicated they will not stand by idly.  There is talk of requesting the return of various Kennedy family artifacts, withdrawing funding, and even rescinding use of the JFK name.

At the time of this writing, Savannah Guthrie’s mom is still missing.  Hopefully this will be resolved by the time you read this, although the deadline keeps changing.  I know precious little about the Guthrie family, except you’d think Arlo would chip in to make the reward a little higher.  Here’s the part I don’t understand – if Nancy is unsteady on her feet, has health issues and has a dire need for daily medication, what is she doing living alone in a giant house out in the middle of nowhere with only packs of wolves as neighbors?  And has a pool!  Has anybody considered A Place for Nancy?  Contact O’Dell – she’s got pamphlets.

“Happy birthday to the bestest boy.” 
– Antoni Porowski sends birthday wishes to Zacharias Niedzwiecki. 
Maybe it’s me, but someone referring to their beau as “boy” grates on me…
almost as much as when Ronald Reagan called Nancy “Mommy”.

I was winging my way across the Atlantic, so I didn’t see the Grammys.  Then I heard Cher announce Album of the Year going to… Luther Vandross??  The same Luther Vandross who died in 2005?  I think Cher actually said “Luther Gandrosz”, like her dentures were slipping.  But she looked good, and that’s gotta count for something.

When I landed in Europe, my first stop was one of those countries where, until recently, they didn’t believe in Jesus – or circumcision.  During my investigations of the latter, I learned that Grindr is disabling its location feature inside the Olympic Village.  People can still hook up, but locations will be vague.  Why?  Because being gay is still a crime in many countries – over 60, in fact (perhaps even where I am).  Since many of the athletes are not openly gay, Grindr is helping them protect their anonymity.  Grindr is also providing all Olympic athletes free access to primary features like unsending messages and screenshot blocking.  They’re all hard…er, heart!

There’s a war of words going on between Don Lemon and Nicki Minaj.  It started when the “singer” posted about Lemon covering that church protest in Minnesota (her post was all in CAPS, but I’ll save your eyes): “Don ‘Cock Suckin’ Lemon is disgusting.  How dare you?  I want that thug in jail!!!!!  He would never do that to any other religion.  Lock him up!!!!!”  Lemon probably giggled at being called a “thug”.  He said the following: “I have a lot of gay friends who love Nicki Minaj.  Why are you supporting this homophobic, bigoted, ignorant woman?  You should not be supporting her.  She is clearly out of her depth and doesn’t understand politics.  I’m not surprised that she is weighing in on something beyond her capacity.  Nicki Minaj is a ‘pick me’.  She will do anything that is expedient for her politically.  And, again, she’s ignorant.  She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.  She’s always weighing in on things that she doesn’t know about.  Nicki Minaj should just sit the fuck down.”

Nicki responded: “I purposely wrote that way b/c I knew that would be the only way to get cock suckas to post about it.  They would’ve all collectively ignored the despicable behavior displayed by Lemon head.  I’m glad they’re angry.  They’re about to get angrier.”  Then Minaj explained politics to us: “The LGBT has also started seeing through the veil & it has them pissed off.  Why are they getting the gay vote by default?!?!!!  They’ve moved on from the gay vote to flying in ppl to vote for them.  No loyalty to ANYONE.  The Gay community should be able to choose every 4 years like everyone else after the demoncrats [note: yes, that’s how she spelled it] CAMPAIGN to WIN your vote!  They should not just GET your vote!  WAKE UP.”  This time, it was Billy Porter who responded: “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.  Fuuuuuuck herrrrr.”

Every day, performers have little triumphs in changing the world’s perception of marginalized people.  Last week, Bob the Drag Queen made a splash when he joined the cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical! as Harold Zidler.  Of course, not a total revolution as Bob and Harold are both males.  It’s worth noting that while the role was originally played by Danny Burstein, it was eventually portrayed by Tituss Burgess – as much a drag queen as Bob.  But why quibble?  I’m told Bob got a great reception on his entrance, and received a standing ovation at his curtain call.  The producers even added a little of his “Purse First” for the finale megamix.  Congrats.

Things are not coming up roses in Japan.  An upcoming production of Gypsy in Tokyo will be retitled Rose.  Why?  “The original title, Gypsy, is a discriminatory term given to the Roma and Sinti people…The Japanese title has been changed to Rose out of consideration for this term.”  Here’s a better idea – don’t do the show.  Nobody calls her “Gypsy” because she’s banging a tambourine and reading people’s palms.  She adopted that as her name.  This is a work of art – either you do it as written or not at all.   Even the last Broadway revival was faithful to that.  How will that scene in the Chinese restaurant go over in Japan?  Or the notorious eggroll for Mr. Goldstone?  Or the Salute to Uncle Sam?  Aren’t those problematic?  I can’t believe the estates of Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents are allowing this to happen.  Dim the lights on Broadway – theatre is officially dead.

This week’s Ask Billy question from Oscar in Florida: “Who is the hot papi in Beauty in Black?  The one who plays the stripper?”

That would be fitness model Rodrigo Aburto – who is probably better known as the spouse of Matteo Lane.  You’ll be happy to know that he’ll be back for season three.  “It’s been very cool.  I was really excited to use my dancing skills in the show.  I’m a stripper on the show, and they decided to grow my character.”  I think parts of you will grow when you check him out on BillyMasters.com.

When I’m boycotting the Tokyo “Rose”, it’s definitely time to end another column.  Should you be interested, you can even hear this leading lady sing.  Just head on over to www.BillyMasters.com – the site that has never said no to a foreign tongue.  Should I be able to give you a hand with anything else, feel free to drop a note to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before I tell you about my night with two Corinthians in the back of a Chrysler Cordoba!  So, until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

Chris Noth is going public about his relationship with Sarah Jessica Parker.  The former Mister Big was killed off And Just Like That… in the premiere episode – which was always the plan.  Then three women from his past came forward with claims of sexual assault.  It should be noted that no charges were ever filed and no investigation ever happened.  Noth had already wrapped AJLT by the time Parker and co-stars released this statement: “We are deeply saddened to hear the allegations against Chris Noth.  We support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences.  We know it must be a very difficult thing to do and we commend them for it.”  Noth says, “The statement that they put out – which was nothing more than brand management, really – I don’t know, it was sad, it was disappointing, it was surprising.  Because you need to call me and hear my side of this.  You’ve known me for many years, and we’ve worked for many years…And that didn’t happen, and that was too bad.”  Asked where things stand with Parker now, Chris replied, “We’re not friends, I think that’s pretty obvious.”

To add fuel to the fire, both Kristin Davis and Mario Cantone believe the sequel series ended too soon – and certainly not in a tasteful fashion.  Mario was a guest on Davis’ podcast and said, “I just wanted one more season.”  Kristin responded, “I agree, I absolutely wanted one more season too.”  Mario added, “I don’t care what anybody says.  That was not a series finale.  It was a season finale, but that wasn’t a series finale.”  Frankly, I think an overflowing toilet was the perfect visual metaphor for this ill-advised venture.

Last week, we discussed Hudson Williams walking the runway of Milan’s Fashion Week for Dsquared2.  Turns out, he wasn’t the only one – he was just first.  Connor Storrie did the same for Saint Laurent.  And then Vogue UK did something I didn’t expect.  After talking about Storrie’s modeling debut, they said, “with a leather-trenched François Arnaud never straying too far from his side.  The co-stars, who are believed to be dating, but could, of course, be best friends, or flatmates, were also seen leaving Hotel Costes together earlier that evening with the casual intimacy of two people who have shared each other’s bodies (on screen, I mean, with the viewing public).”  Except they are not connected at all on Heated Rivalry.  They ended the piece with this tantalizing quip: “And what does every great leading man in Hollywood have?  A rumoured boyfriend.”  Throw the words “Could it be” at the beginning, and you might as well be reading a Billy Masters item.  Surely I don’t mean to imply Vogue UK isn’t any more reputable than whatever publication you are reading this in.  Progress?  Perhaps.  The jury’s out.

I don’t watch Traitors.  There, I said it.  Not that I don’t like it – I’ve never seen it.  I’m absolutely convinced I’d love it if I bothered to turn it on.  That said, I have been following this Colton Underwood situation, and I know a thing or two about him.  What you have to understand is that most reality contestants are driven by one thing – the desire to be famous.  Colton is driven by this.  Not a criticism – in fact, something I admire.  But when you go on THREE seasons of Bachelor shows without interest in women (whatever degree of “questioning” he may have had), there is one thing for certain – he knows how to keep a secret.  Yes, many people will argue that he had issues, he had questions, he needed therapy.  Absolutely.  But what he needed even more was to be on TV.  So, stop the bashing of Michael Rapaport, who simply said of Colton that he’s “better at holding a secret than anyone I know.”

Then there’s the situation with Lisa Rinna – who I also have enormous affection for.  She claims she playfully called Colton a “stalker”.  Then she found out he actually had been accused of stalking Cassie Randolph, one of his many Bachelor exes (oh, those silly questioning boys).  Cassie even got a restraining order against him.  That’s why Rinna took back her accusation.  “It’s come to my attention that my post that I responded to in my ‘housewife mode’ is taking on a life of its own and it’s causing real problems for Colton.  I do not want this because Colton and I are great.  He was a great and is a great nemesis for me on the show and in the game…The fact that the backlash is happening, I feel horrible about because I don’t want to hurt anybody.  I’m here to play the game and have fun.  We had so much fun.  I’ve only always had a great time with him.  So, please guys be gentle.  It’s a game, it’s a TV show.  We’re all doing the best we can.  Don’t send death threats or do anything to jeopardize somebody’s family.”

“I know how to handle a stick.” 
– Gus Kenworthy campaigns for a role in season two of Heated Rivalry. 
But he’s got other fish to fry.  The ever-ambitious athlete secured
a spot on Team GB for the upcoming Olympics.

Sometimes you’ve just got to be patient.  An event 50 years in the making was just announced – a reunion of Charlie’s Angels.  Obviously since the death of Farrah Fawcett (Majors), it isn’t a reunion of the original cast.  But it’s the next best thing.  On April 6, 2026, Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd will attend a 50^th anniversary celebration at the PaleyFest LA.  You’d think the fact that they got Kate to show up (likely in a face mask) would be cause to celebrate, but there’s a fly in the ointment.  I never thought I’d say these words, but people are clamoring for Shelley Hack.  The least popular Angel in captivity is also the only living Angel not invited.  Of course, she still could show up.  Nobody’s saying she can’t buy a ticket.

Vying for second place in hot stories is this: “Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards.”  That’s the statement from Lemon’s lawyer.  This stems from Lemon’s interviews of protesters and the pastor at an anti-ICE rally at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 18^th.  El Presidente took umbrage at the coverage, and the Department of Justice twice attempted to get an arrest warrant.  A Minnesota Federal District Court judge denied both requests.  Lemon and four others were charged with “Conspiracy Against Right of Religious Freedom at Place of Worship” and “Injure, Intimidate, and Interfere with Exercise of Right of Religious Freedom at a Place of Worship”.  That’s a whole lotta religious mumbo jumbo from someone who previously quoted Two Corinthians!

Jonathan Groff is proving to be Broadway’s MVP.  During his vacation last week, grosses for Just in Time plummeted by over 60%!  With his final show scheduled for March 29^th, producers were frantically negotiating with several big names.  After several declined, director Alex Timbers revealed their choice: “I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome Jeremy Jordan to Just in Time – his talent, charisma, and emotional fearlessness make him the perfect artist to step into the role of Bobby Darin.  We’re excited to tailor the show to Jeremy’s many gifts and make a version of the show unique to him.  Watching Jeremy bring Bobby’s swagger, vulnerability, and musical brilliance to life on Broadway is going to be electric, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it.”

A casting change for Broadway musical Six is less smooth.  Starting on February 16^th, Dylan Mulvaney is taking on the role of Anne Boleyn.  As was the case with the historical queen in question, the reaction to Dylan’s casting has been decidedly mixed.  While many are applauding the hiring of a transgender actress, many others are attacking Dylan and the show.  As a result, the producers made their Twitter account private, and issued the following statement: “While we welcome passionate engagement with the show, aggressive, threatening or abusive behaviour is never acceptable.  As a production, we unequivocally condemn bullying in all its forms and remain committed to fostering a respectful, supportive environment for everyone involved.”

Since we’re talking Broadway, let’s go to this week’s Ask Billy question.  Victor in New Jersey asks,  “What ever happened to Magic Mike Live?  I saw it in Vegas and loved the reality show.  Is it ever coming to New York?”

Can I be honest with you, dear readers?  Victor’s question didn’t just come in – it hit my mailbox three months ago.  Back then, I didn’t have any details.  So, I dangled him along, as I’ve done to so many men before him.  I’m now happy to provide an answer.  Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike Live is poised to hit Times Square next fall in a new venue called Greenlight, located on 47^th and 8^th Avenue.  Those of you who know the area will recognize it as the last home of the infamous Copacabana (yes, of Lola the showgirl, when they used to have a show).  Magic Mike Live is described as “a 360-degree dance and acrobatic spectacular, with jaw-dropping dance moves, hilarious moments, and bold, immersive production design.  Ninety minutes of unforgettable entertainment, equal parts empowering and exhilarating.”  I notice the lack of the word nudity.  You had me, then you lost me.

When Channing’s boys can leave their clothes on, it’s definitely time to end another column.  Yes, I realize I didn’t mention anything about the Oscars.  What can I say – I’m a bit nonplussed.  But maybe it’s because every time I hear the name Ryan Coogler, I expect someone to come out with puppets.  If you get that, you’re just old enough to enjoy www.BillyMasters.com – the site that caters kids of all ages.  As always, you can send your questions along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Antoni is cast as Lola in Magic Mike Live (with a dress cut down to there).  Until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

Liza Minnelli has released her first new material in 13 years, and it was created by AI.  That may sound like a big deal, but hasn’t Cher been doing it for decades?  Liza’s track is called “Kids Wait Till You Hear This”, which is also the title of her upcoming autobiography – because good titles are hard to find.  So are photos, since the cover art appears to be Liza circa 1970s.  Not so, says Minnelli.  “And the photograph?  Not retro.  Au Courant.”  What did they do, airbrush out the walker?  ‘Cause Liza cannot stand without assistance.  I’d more readily accept it as a lost Scavullo!  Anyway, Minnelli announced the venture with her typical exuberance: “Hi Kids, I’m happy as a clam, laughing like hell and losing my mind.  It’s all goin’ on at the time.”  I’ll have whatever she’s having – but make mine a single.  Liza is adamant that AI did not create her vocals.  “A few trolls didn’t bother to read the truth, check with me or my partners.  The shout outs are all mine.”  I can confirm that – it’s definitely her.  But I don’t think anyone was ever in a studio.  To me, it sounds like a voicemail she left for Michael Feinstein around 4AM.  The only thing missing is “Chanel, Dior, Lagerfeld, Givenchy, Gaultier, darling.  Names, names, names!”  Liza sums it up by saying, “Go listen, enjoy, and shake your pretty buns to the music, as we glide down the runway to send my book into the world and your very own hot hands.”  Did I mention that she only has the one track on the album, which also includes works from Art Garfunkel and, you guessed it, Michael Feinstein!  That tracks.  Speaking of which, you can hear the track on BillyMasters.com.

It’s hard to keep a good man down, but God knows I’ve tried.  With the cancellation of Boots, sexy Max Parker found himself suddenly on the market – professionally speaking, naturally.  As happens so often with hot guys, he bounced back relatively quickly.  He’s been cast on Prime Video’s God of War, which is based on the PlayStation game.  He’ll be playing Heimdall, the Watchman of Asgard.  I have no idea what any of those words mean.  My only hope is that his wardrobe will be as skimpy as my knowledge of all things Asgardian.

Speaking of Amazon, we’ve been waiting over two years for a sequel to Red, White & Royal Blue.  Well, the wait is over.  Last week, filming began on Red, White & Royal Wedding.  Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine were front and center with some clarification.  “I did want to say, we are here for Bea’s wedding,” said Taylor.  Wake me when they film Red, White & Royal Blue Ball.

Why the delay?  The lads have been mighty busy with other projects.  I don’t think anyone will complain when one of those features Galitzine as He-Man in Masters of the Universe.  That flick doesn’t drop until June 5^th, but the trailer and some photos of him in his flesh-exposing costume can be found on BillyMasters.com.

While in Milan for Fashion Week, Ricky Martin found himself thisclose with Hudson Williams.  The two were seated next to each other at the Armani show, which prompted Ricky to post a photo which he captioned, “Good food, better conversations, excellent seat neighbour”.  Even more interesting was one of the responses.  “I’d watch this show,” posted Ricky’s ex, Jwan Yosef.  The Heated Rivalry star was not just in Milan to hit some shows – he starred in one.  He was the first model at the Dsquared2 fashion show and entered down a snow-covered staircase. The whole show paid homage to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan.  And that’s fitting because Hudson and Connor Storrie were two of the Olympic torchbearers this past weekend.  They joined the relay in Feltre, Italy, and were cheered on by the crowds, as you can see on our website.

“Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin – a pair of useful
idiots that have no talent and very poorly rated TV show.” 
– Donald Trump comments on calls by The View co-hosts for him
to be removed via the 25^th Amendment.  If he thinks they are idiots,
I’m curious what he thinks they are “useful” for.

Chemistry – either you’ve got it, or you ain’t.  We’ve got it – my readers and me.  But it seems to be lacking with the outgoing cast of Queer Eye.  Sure, they turn it on for the cameras.  But how do you maintain that for ten years?  Bobby Berk showed you can’t.  And now it’s Karamo’s turn.  Last week, the cast made the rounds to promote the final season, but Karamo decided to sit this one out.  And he didn’t tell anyone until an hour in advance.  Have we learned nothing from Mo’Nique?  Getting hired is great.  Doing the work is a joy.  But promotion is part of the job.

First stop was CBS Mornings.  Gayle King devoted a good chunk of the interview to the elephant not in the room.  She read a statement from Karamo which said, in part, that he hoped he taught people to “focus on and to protect their mental health/peace from people or a world who seek to destroy it; which is why I can’t be there today.”  His assistant added that “he’s worried about being bullied”.  NBC’s Today with Jenna and Sheinelle was next, and Karamo actually sent a video to them.  He thanked every single person who worked on the show from the janitor to the brass – pointedly leaving out his co-hosts.  Karamo’s assistant said that “he has felt mentally and emotionally abused for years”, and that his therapist advised him to skip the interviews “to protect himself and his peace.”

The cast, being good little soldiers, stood by Karamo in absentia with smiles through gritted teeth.  Well, I think they were gritted teeth – I was distracted by Antoni sporting side-areola betwixt his unbuttoned shirt.  He said, “Families are complicated, and we’re definitely not excluded from that.”  Jeremiah was sobbing like a little girl, probably because his highlights were growing out.  Tan was very Zen about it.  And Jonathan…well, he said little.  But rumor has it, that’s not how he was on the set.  We hear that Karamo brought his mother to work one day.  She was in the control booth while they were taping.  During a break, Karamo left the room and “someone” in the cast (possibly in a frock) was trashing him on a hot mike – for Mom and everyone else to hear!  And of course there was that Rolling Stone piece a few years ago stating Van Ness was abusive and has “rage issues”.  Bottom line?  Karamo has his own show (for now), Antoni is the other breakout star due to his looks more than any specific talent…and the rest.

Our Ask Billy question comes from Walt in San Francisco.  “Did you see The Housemaid?  Who is that stud playing the husband?”

Not only did I see The Housemaid, I went to a cinema and PAID!  Here’s the kicker – I had a screener of it at home.  What can I say?  Bad movies work better in a crowd.  And I was right and wrong – it was bad.  But there was no crowd for a film starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney.  Thank God for Brandon Sklenar – a guy who is indeed gay porn star hot.  If you look for info about him online, here is the first thing you’ll read: “Brandon Tyler Feakins, known professionally as Brandon Sklenar, is an American actor known for his versatility and dedication to his craft.”  I dunno about all that – but he definitely has a dedication to his body.  In fact, I am ready to kneel before the altar of that body…and perhaps on top of it!  You can check out most of it (including an ass that won’t quit) on BillyMasters.com.

When someone is changing their name from Feakins to Sklenar, we’ve definitely come to the end of yet another column.  I mean, neither really roll off the tongue.  But upon further research, I learned Sklenar is his mother’s maiden name.  See?  Who else digs this deep?  Just part of the riches to be found on www.BillyMasters.com – the site that always goes deeper.  If you need me to go more in depth, just send a note to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Gus straddles anything else.  So, until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

From a new show to one celebrating its 50^th anniversary.  On January 14, 1976, The Bionic Woman premiered.  Fun fact – Lindsay Wagner almost didn’t take the initial guest starring role on The Six Million Dollar Man.  However, it was her sister Randi’s favorite series, so she took it.  And the rest is history.

On the day this column drops, Dolly Parton will turn 80!  A number of her colleagues planned a celebration at the Grand Ole Opry over the weekend.  But Dolly cancelled.  “I just wanted to say how much it means to me that you’re all coming together again this year to celebrate my big ol’ birthday with some of my songs.  Some of my favorite memories happened right here onstage at the Grand Ole Opry, and I wish I could be there in person, but I’ll be sending you all my love, for sure.  So, you have the best night ever.”  Does anyone have Dolly in their 2026 pool?

Didya know Joel Kim Booster rang out the old year by getting married?  On December 30^th, Booster tied the knot with John Michael Sudsina at the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco.  Reports indicate that there were 167 guests, including Booster’s pals Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers.  Photos can be found on our website.

Luke Evans will helm a Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show starting March 26.  When asked about getting cast as Frank-n-Furter, he said, “I always wanted to do Broadway, I just didn’t think I would be in stilettos and fishnets.”  Funny, that’s how I always picture him.  He’s excited for the challenge and said his take would be “different and unique”.  The show’s director will be Sam Pinkleton, who won the Tony for directing Oh, Mary!

Speaking of Oh, Mary!, someone new is slipping into Mary’s crinoline – perhaps the oldest Mary of all.  Starting on February 3^rd, John Cameron Mitchell will play the First Lady for a 12-week run.  Can the creator of Hedwig bring a little “je ne sais quoi” to the role?  My money’s on him.

Another off-Broadway sensation is headed to the Great White Way.  Titanique made a splash when it opened in 2020.  Now the show is headed to the Main Stem, and it’s kept some of its kooky, original cast, including Frankie Grande, who will reprise his role as Victor Garber.  He’ll be joined by Jim Parsons as Rose’s mother and dynamic diva Deborah Cox as the Unsinkable Molly Brown.  The show begins previews on March 26^th at the St. James Theatre for a strictly 12-week run.

The hit of Provincetown last summer was Golden Mean Girls – a mashup of Golden Girls and Mean Girls from Jamie Morris, the mastermind behind Mommie Queerest.  Now it’s hitting the road.  First stop – Boston’s Club Café for one night only, on February 7^th.  Not only will Jamie return as Blanche, but he’ll be joined by the entire original cast.  Grab your tickets at ClubCafe.com.  Tell ‘em Billy sent you.

François Arnaud has had a heady few weeks.  While promoting Heated Rivalry, he was surprised to meet a superfan backstage at CBS Mornings – Oprah Winfrey!  “Are you enjoying all the heat?” asked O.  “I’m riding the wave.”  Oprah smiled and said, “That’s exactly what I was going to say – ride the wave and stay completely present in all of it.  Just ride it.  It’s fantastic.  I’m so happy for you.  And the fact that it’s coming at a time in your life when you’re really able to accept it.”  François agreed, saying, “Totally.  I think if it happened to me at 25, I’d be dead now.  But now I can handle it.  I know who I am.”  “You know who you are.  ‘Cause if you don’t know who you are, you fall off.”  Arnaud assured her, “I won’t fall off.”  PHEW!

On CBS Mornings, François said that prior to going into production with Crave in Canada, Heated Rivalry had a deal with a “big streamer” in the US.  But they had a list of notes for Jacob Tierney, the series creator – including “no kissing until episode five”.  Jacob’s response?  “Well, that’s not what we’re doing.”  After they showed a clip of Scott and Kip in a locked embrace, Arnaud made the following observation: “I think Kip needs to stop working out, ‘cause he’s a smoothie boy.  He shouldn’t have that body and shouldn’t look better than the hockey players.”  You can see the entire interview on BillyMasters.com.

While in NYC, Arnaud was spotted on several occasions with co-star Connor Storrie, adding credence to rumors that the two are dating.  They were even photographed together at JFK where they caught a flight to LAX.

The Heated Rivalry effect keeps gaining momentum.  Everyone is talking about last week’s Saturday Night Live parody (yes, we’ll post it).  Even the NHL has weighed in on the series.  Commissioner Gary Bettman says that he binged it in one night.  “It’s a wonderful story.  The content – particularly for young people – may be a little spicy, so you have to balance that out.”  I suspect young people are the ones least taken aback by the “spice”.  While no NHL player has yet come out, it’s in the air.  In 2021, Canadian Luke Prokop was under contract with an NHL team, although he ended up with an AHL team (I say as if I know the difference).  Perhaps that was all for the best – the NHL team was the Nashville Predators!  And while much was made of Jesse Kortuem coming out due to the series, he too never played with an NHL team.  Just a matter of time.

“I’m Norwegian.  We give a Nobel Prize to somebody who
deserves it.  And suddenly that Nobel Prize is going to
somebody else…That’s why I’m happy specifically now that
we have laws that say that if you misuse the Nobel Prize,
we take it away from you.  Somebody in power in the United
States may be disappointed.  He will lose it…I am happy.” 
– Liv Ullmann during her acceptance speech for Lifetime Achievement at
the European Film Awards.  Great – now we’re gonna invade Norway, too!

You may recognize model Christian Hogue as the face (and body) of Davidoff Cool Water. But he sure wasn’t showing model behavior back in August at a Nashville dog park.  According to witnesses, he grabbed a guy from behind – something that has happened to me in parks on numerous occasions.  Hogue claims he retaliated after the other guy punched his dog.  However, that guy says he simply grabbed Hogue’s dog by the collar to stop it from attacking his dog.  While no witnesses confirm either scenario, they all saw Hogue put the other guy in a headlock.  The “victim” claims that Christian restricted his breathing – which I believe is the whole point of a headlock.  But it’s the model’s mugshot causing a stir.  Know your angles, I always say.  He’s due back in court this week.

By the by, Christian was arrested again just days before Christmas.  Why?  He was driving while using his cell phone.  Hasn’t he ever heard of bluetooth?  As Judge Judy would say, this guy sounds like a real winner!

Speaking of hot guys, Gus Kenworthy is hoping to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.  Since we in the gay community always talk about him, we forget that he’s an underdog on the world stage.  After an acceptable showing at the US Grand Prix in Aspen (he finished 8^th), he is in contention to compete for Team Great Britain.  Because of dual citizenship, he has also competed for the US and won a silver medal in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.  In addition to straddling two countries, here’s something else you may not know – his legal name is Augustus!

This week’s Ask Billy question comes from Walter in Chicago.  “Did you see Marty Supreme?  Was that really Timothée Chalamet’s ass?”

I would think a reader of this column is quite knowledgeable about Timothée’s assets.  But for those who haven’t seen the film, let me explain that Timmy’s character is getting spanked with a ping pong paddle.  The one with the paddle is Shark Tank regular Kevin O’Leary (I believe he does the same thing to Barbara Corcoran).  Kevin was given a fake paddle and he walked onto the set to find a stranger standing in as Chalamet’s “ass double”.  When Timmy found out there was a double, he hit the roof and got himself onto the set pronto.  “He didn’t want any other ass immortalized,” says O’Leary.  On the first take, the fake paddle broke.  So they had to use a real one.  I’m told it required 40 takes, and Timothée never once complained.  In fact, it kinda looked like he enjoyed it.  Decide for yourself by checking out the clip on BillyMasters.com.

When Timothée’s getting into same-sex paddling, we’ve definitely come to the end of yet another column.  I may have canceled plans for that trip to Ibiza, but next month I’m going someplace hotter – the Canary Islands.  Hotter as in about 20 degrees, which is a good place to start.  Where I end up is anyone’s guess.  Regardless of your locale, you’ll always find the hottest gossip on www.BillyMasters.com – the site that gives you something to spank about.  If you have a question, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before we find out what Latifah was hiding under that cape!  Until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

One relationship ends; another begins.  General Hospital star Adrian Anchondo revealed over the holidays that he is dating Colton Little, who has a recurring role on Days of Our Lives.  The couple spent the holidays in Florida and Puerto Rico and showed off healthy tans and a good amount of skin, which you can see on BillyMasters.com.

After some flirty banter with host Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live, Matt Rogers felt compelled to address the situation on his podcast, Las Culturistas.  “By the way, just to make this explicitly clear, I have never had sex with Andy Cohen.  I will never have sex with Andy Cohen.  At one point, I kind of wanted to in the very, very beginning.  But if we were going to have fucked, it would have happened by now…probably many times.”  I’m sorry, I blacked out after he said, “I kind of wanted to…”

By the by, Rogers and his podcast co-host Bowen Yang stepped in it with thoughts about donating to Jasmine Crockett’s campaign.  However, Matt walked back his comments after they went viral, and apologized.  “I hear the response and I am taking every bit of it to heart, I promise.  Transparency and candor matter to me, especially on the podcast.  I’m a very progressive person who cares deeply about winning these elections, but my phrasing was not right.  I will be more thoughtful!  I really do promise.  I have great respect and admiration for Rep. Crockett, and I regret that my words suggested otherwise.  I just want us to win and I will be better at finding ways to help.”

Mickey Rourke doesn’t work often these days, which probably contributed to his financial troubles.  In December, he was evicted by his landlord for not paying back rent in the neighborhood of $60K.  Allegedly, his landlord raised the monthly rent from $5,200 to $7,000.  Since his eviction, he’s been staying at a hotel in West Hollywood with rates of $550/night – so much for downsizing.  Enter Kimberly Hines, Rourke’s manager for the past decade.  She had her assistant set up a GoFundMe campaign to try and raise $100K to help get Mickey on his feet.  While she says she ran it by Rourke, he was outraged.  “I wouldn’t ask for no fucking charity.  I’d rather stick a gun up my ass and pull the trigger.  So whoever did this, I don’t know if they did it – why they did it.  I don’t understand.”

He won’t even be able to do that.  Someone from Mickey’s team called the LA Sheriff’s Department saying Rourke wanted to turn in a firearm.  He had a shotgun which was legally registered.  He told the cop he’d be leaving the area and no longer wanted it.  The Sheriff took possession of the firearm.  Rourke has a year to claim it, or it will be destroyed.  And speaking of destroying, as Mickey’s GoFundMe campaign hit $92K, it was “paused”.  It’s not all bad news.  Someone offered him $1K to appear in a low-budget flick.  Take it – it will cover two nights in the hotel!

It should also be mentioned that this was not Rourke’s first eviction of the year.  In April of 2025, he was dramatically thrown out of the Celebrity Big Brother house after producers felt he used “unacceptable language and behavior” toward fellow housemate, JoJo Siwa.  Isn’t that why he was cast in the first place?

Kevin Spacey is also homeless.  After years of trying to hold on to his Baltimore abode (which he bought when he was gainfully employed in the area), he lost it in a foreclosure auction due to the financial strain of the combined lack of work and legal fees.  But that Kevin – he’s a glass-half-full kinda guy.  He’s looking at his lack of roots as an opportunity.  “I’m living in hotels.  I’m living in AirBnBs, I’m going where the work is.”  And as exciting as that all sounds, may I ask one little question?  What work??  Well, occasionally he works as a lounge singer in Cyprus – which was one of my other potential vacation destinations.  Maybe it’s a destination I should reconsider.

I’m not sure if he qualifies as homeless, but Eric McCormack’s long-gestating divorce has been finalized.  He and Janet Leigh Holden met in 1994, married in 1997, and filed for divorce in 2023.  That sounds like a success story to me.  The delay was in finalizing the financial settlement.  Assets were cut down the middle, Janet will receive half of the income Eric makes from any jobs he had during their marriage (which includes half the residuals to Will and Grace), and she’ll also get spousal support of $10K per month which cannot be modified for 10 years.  Should you be interested, Janet is the one who filed for divorce, citing that old chestnut “irreconcilable differences”.  Hmm.

“I’m very proud to call him a friend. 
I’m also proud to call him a colleague. 
When I grow up, I want to be Noah Wyle” 
– George Clooney extols the virtues of Wyle at
the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards.

I was recently invited on a holiday to Ibiza – a place I’ve never been.  A friend asked, “Don’t you think you’re a bit too old for Ibiza?”  What am I?  A hundred?  But I started feeling self-conscious and declined.  Imagine my surprise when I heard that esteemed chef Mary Berry revealed that she had recently been to Ibiza.  Not only Ibiza, but she went to Pacha – the exclusive club where all sorts of debauchery takes place.  Dame Mary clocks in at 90 years old – smack-dab between me and Dame Joan Collins!  It should be noted that Berry went to Pacha well before midnight.  Nobody told her it doesn’t get going till about 3AM!

Speaking of Dame Joan, she has not one but TWO films coming out (I say that as if they’ll play in cinemas).   Of course, we all know her latest bid for cinematic immortality is playing the Duchess of Windsor in The Bitter End opposite Isabella Rossellini as her conniving lawyer.  We also have an Agatha Christie-esque whodunit entitled A Murder Between Friends directed by former soap stud, Jacob Young.  It also features another daytime vet, Nadia Bjorlin.  Fun fact – when I first met Nadia at a Hollywood event, I mistook her for a car-show model!  An understandable mistake.  The flick drops this week on Apple TV, Vudu, Fandango, and pretty much anywhere you can watch Video on Demand fare.  You can check out the trailer on our website.

The Golden Globes kicked off awards season.  Nikki Glazer was back to host, and didn’t she look fabulous?  Especially that dress where she had the goods in the window – and the window was wide open!  Of course, she did a great job, but may I give one bit of unsolicited advice?   You can’t love everyone SO much.  And do you really think Sean Penn is turning into a sexy leather handbag?  I personally don’t find him all that sexy.  I do have a tiny suggestion to whoever is hiring people for this show – dump the guy escorting winners off the stage.  Yes, they need to be guided, but it can be done less aggressively.  It looked like he yanked poor Teyana Taylor’s arm right out of its socket.  Speaking of Teyana, I too enjoy a party in the back.  And like Jean Smart, I’m a greedy bitch.

You know who won’t complain if you touch him inappropriately?  A lifesize, anatomically correct Henry Cavill doll.  This is the creation of Steven Davies, who builds and sells such “life-size figures”.  He described it this way: “The Man of Steel is Complete.  Life size Silicone Tribute Figure – Hand rooted head and body hair – glass eye.”  So far, it sounds like a Sammy Davis Jr. doll!  Davies added, “It is an honor to be able to create this art piece inspired by his image.  Our largest and most detailed figure to date with over 350 man hours spent to create this art piece.”  Davies probably expected his “art piece” to end up in a museum, or greeting customers at some kitschy shop.  Instead, it was purchased by James Robertson-Reavis of Texas – and he made a few “modifications”.  What modifications?  “He is anatomically correct but not a sex doll,” says James.  “I have added additional silicone ‘pieces’.”  To say nothing of a few batteries, I’m sure.  You can check out the doll on our website.

I never thought I’d see the day when women were enjoying watching guys having sex as much as straight guys enjoy watching women.  But Heated Rivalry has broken that barrier.  Even lesbians are into it.  Brandi Carlile told AC2, “It’s all I can think about.  I can’t even sleep at night without thinking about it.”  Four hot leads probably helped.  The six-part HBO/Crave series came to such a perfect ending, I almost wish they weren’t doing more.

This brings us to the first Ask Billy question of 2026.  And it actually came in on New Year’s Day.  Roger in Burbank writes, “Which of the Heated Rivalry guys are gay or straight?”

Both Hudson Williams (Shane) and Connor Storrie (Ilya) have been handsy and flirty in interviews.  But both have been mum about their personal lives.  Hudson has talked about the importance of “queer people telling queer stories”, but he still comes off straight to me.  When asked about his childhood, Connor says, “I was this artist, sissy boy in West Texas that didn’t want to play football.”  I’m voting gay.  Far more important to me is the second couple.  Kip is played by Robbie Graham-Kuntz (or Robbie GK).  In real life, he is obsessed with musical theatre, although he also played competitive football and still plays rugby.  On the show, he makes smoothies for a living, has the body of a Greek god, and doesn’t consider himself a catch.  Think Christian Campbell in trick.  And just as gay, I’m afraid.  Thank God for Scott, François Arnaud, a towering (next to the diminutive Robbie), rippling hulk of muscular perfection with a crinkly smile.  He’s already come out as bisexual.  For the past three years, he was involved with actor Marc Bendavid.  Since then, there have been rumors of a liaison with Connor.  Yes, Scott and Ilya have been spotted around Los Angeles engaging in major PDA – as you can see on BillyMasters.com.

When I rang in the New Year with a body count, we’ve definitely come to the end of yet another column.  Here’s a fun fact – didya know that Robbie (Kip) originally auditioned to play Scott?  Oh, we’ve got more where that came from.  Check out www.BillyMasters.com – the site that always has your back…and front.  If you have a question, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you after I finish playing with my puppet!  So, until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

I dunno what Tyler Perry was hoping to find under his Christmas tree, but what he got was a second person coming forward with claims of sexual abuse.  Needless to say, the accuser is a guy.  Mario Rodriguez (who allegedly had an OnlyFans presence – photos and vids on our website) filed a $77 million lawsuit against Perry, claiming he used his influence for sexual favors in exchange for career opportunities.  Mario has a bit part in Boo!  A Madea Halloween.  He says Perry spied him working out at Equinox in LA and had a trainer ask for his number to discuss “an acting role”.  Tyler told him, “You know Mario, I’m not a bad person to know and have in your corner.”  After Mario got the part, Perry invited him to his house to celebrate by watching a movie in his theater room.  Allegedly Perry “put his hands on Mr. Rodriguez’s legs and began rubbing his inner thigh right next to his penis.”  He also told Rodriguez, “Man, if you would just come, I would take care of you for the rest of your life and you wouldn’t have to worry about anything.”  After filming was completed, Perry invited Mario to his home again – and, again, Mario went.  He says Perry again grabbed his leg and his penis, and he left.

Then in 2018, Perry invited him to dinner at Mastro’s Steakhouse.  After dinner, they once more went back to Perry’s house, where Tyler “tightly hugged” Rodriguez.  Somehow, Tyler unbuckled Mario’s belt, reached into his pants, and grabbed his penis while “making sexual moaning noises”.  Mario extricated himself, Perry apologized and gave him $5,000.  Then in 2019, Tyler allegedly grabbed Mario’s hand, put it on his penis, and again promised to take care of him.  Mario pulled away, and Perry gave him another $5,000.  Rodriguez claims that after he heard about Derek Dixon’s experience with Perry, he had to come forward.  “Mr. Rodriguez realized that Mr. Perry was continuing to use his power and influence to sexually assault hopeful actors and, with the voice of others, decided that it was time to tell his story, to obtain justice, and to finally stop Mr. Perry.”  Towards that end, he reached out to Dixon’s attorney, hired him, and filed his own suit.  Clever boy.

Or not.  Recent evidence shows that Rodriguez texted Perry on Thanksgiving 2024: “Just know that I love you and thank you for everything, I appreciate you to the moon.”  Then in August 2025, he wrote, “I know I promised you I would never ask you for anything, but if it is what I think it is, I don’t think I could do it on my own because I barely pay my bills.”  Kids – NEVER text if you plan to sue!

Just before 2025 came to a close, Barry Manilow did five benefit Christmas concerts at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert.  It was after those shows that he revealed his doctor had detected a spot on his lung.  It was diagnosed as stage one lung cancer.  Barry had surgery, the spot was removed, and signs are good the cancer hasn’t spread.  He hopes to be back onstage at the Westgate Las Vegas in time for Valentine’s Day weekend.

Dick Van Dyke turned 100 in December and let it be known that he still has professional aspirations.  He’d like to play Ebenezer Scrooge.  He even posted a photo as the lead in A Christmas Carol.  While I would love to see Dick in one more project, I suspect insurance would be an issue, as it always has been for actors of a certain age.

“Oh, I did sleep with Mick once or twice back in the day. 
But not in a way that you’d get pregnant” 
– Joanna Lumley’s character on the UK Amandaland Christmas special. 
This also was a reunion for Lumley and Jennifer Saunders,
who played her sister.  It’s a hoot!

Tradition dictates that I should open this column recounting how I spent my New Year’s Eve.  Longtime readers know I always spend it with two of my dearest lifelong friends watching selections from Lindsay Wagner’s extensive oeuvre.  This year, we decided to watch her two-part stint on the pilot of The Rockford Files.  However, just before the holiday, one of my friends did something unexpected.  Something she’d never done before.  She died!  The lengths people will go to in order to avoid watching Lindsay Wagner.  Rest in peace, GLH.

If there’s something else I didn’t expect on New Year’s Eve, it was Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen playing with puppets…of themselves!  These puppets look strikingly like Statler and Waldorf from The Muppet Show – if they didn’t live such healthy lives.  Anderson’s, in particular, looked like he had suffered an aneurysm – although if Andy’s hand were that far up me, I’d probably have a stroke, too!  As to the boys’ puppetry skills, I don’t think anyone at Avenue Q has anything to worry about.  Nor, I suspect, do the boys from Puppetry of the Penis!  A “refreshed” Cohen going off on Mayor Eric Adams?  Coop’s dramatic reading of the lyrics to Taylor Swift’s “Wood”?  And CNN lifting their ban on alcohol?  It’s everything you’d want in a New Year’s Eve show.

Just because Don Lemon is no longer on any network doesn’t mean he wasn’t broadcasting – even if it meant livestreaming himself!  I don’t care what else happens in 2026, a toasted Lemon talking into the wrong end of a microphone will be pretty hard to beat.  Eventually, it was pointed out to him he was holding it upside down.

A perfect segue to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.  I know Dick owns the show, but could we just retire the name and start something new?  Nobody is still talking about Guy Lombardo.  Just as relevant – Miss Ross, who went in and out of singing along with her own track.  You could tell when she was really singing because it sounded…well, “different”.  Most embarrassing was when she came in on the wrong part of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and had to vamp about being grateful and blessed.  I’m grateful she got through the blessed song!  Ryan Seacrest had another take on it: “That performance ranks alongside her unforgettable concert in the rain in Central Park as one of the most iconic performances of all time.”  Yeah, an 81-year-old Diane lip-syncing for six and a half minutes ranks alongside 39-year-old Diane at the peak of her career risking life, limb, and possible electrocution for an hour – and then two more hours the next day!  Bitch, please.

By the by, Dick Clark’s ratings were up 35% from last year.  In contrast, the Kennedy Center Honors had their lowest ratings in recorded history.  I’m not sure of the exact number, but I only had to slide one bead on my abacus.

Didya know Darren Criss is Asian?  No?  Me neither.  Apparently 50% of his ethnicity is a mix of Chinese, Filipino and Spanish.  I suppose that makes him Asian-ish, which may be how he got cast as a Korean robot in Broadway’s Maybe Happy Ending – and if you find me a robot who can provide a happy ending, I don’t care what ethnicity it is!  Criss won the Tony, talked about “acceptance”, and then left the show.  He was replaced by Andrew Barth Feldman, who like Criss is not Korean (nor is he a robot, for that matter).  He is, however, the boyfriend of the leading lady – which may have given him the edge.  People got their robotic panties in a tizzy – how could a non-Korean play the role?  The role previously played by a non-Korean.  Suddenly Criss wasn’t leaving the show – he was just going on vacation.  If the Asians want to get upset about something, perhaps start by going after the non-Korean Criss.  Oh, yeah, he’s a name and got the show produced in the first place!

The Ask Billy question that stuck out was when I was asked about Anthony Boyle’s nude scene in House of Guinness.  Was that really his semi-fluffed phallus?  Anthony answered the question for me.  “It’s not a prosthetic.  It’s my own body”.  Oh, yes, the body is also impressive.  Every inch of it can be found on BillyMasters.com.

When we’re ending with a bang, it’s time to wrap up another year of columns.  I don’t know about you, but I’m eagerly awaiting 2026 – it couldn’t be any worse (famous last words).  But whatever the news, you’ll find a unique perspective on www.BillyMasters.com – the site that can answer the question, “Why did Dame Joan cross the street?”  If you’ve got a question of your own, send a note to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Tyler Perry’s next accuser comes forward (which has already happened – but we’ll tackle that next week).  Until next year, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

Didya know David Geffen got married?  We learned that news when he filed for divorce!  I wasn’t surprised that his estranged spouse was a go-go boy, a former gay porn star, and a hooker.  What DID surprise me was that they didn’t have a prenup!  They apparently met via a website and David paid $10K for the first “date” – the way all great love affairs have commenced since the beginning of time.  Geffen later paid for dental and skin treatments along with some plastic surgery.  Geffen also allegedly supplied “cocaine, molly and cannabis”.  Sign me up!

The coupling of Lukas Gage and Chris Appleton was even briefer.  Appleton publicly took the high road.  “You can love someone and there not be a forever happy ending.  And just because it’s not forever doesn’t mean it didn’t mean something.”  Lukas called getting married after dating for two months, “unhinged”.  “I don’t know literally what went through my head, but we live and we learn.”  He said an NDA stopped him from saying more, but didn’t stop him from writing a memoir – a questionable choice for any 30-year-old.  I Wrote This For Attention was the most honest title of all time.  He claims an ex gave him two STDs.  Who is the ex?  I dunno – I didn’t read the book.

Back in June of 2024, gay porn superstar Austin Wolf’s home was raided by the FBI.  He awaited an arraignment for close to a year.  I don’t care who you are – sometimes you can have too much sex!  After lengthy negotiations, he pled guilty to interstate commerce, enticing a minor to engage in activity in the facility of another individual, and oral sex with an individual younger than 17 years old.

After two years, gay porn legend Brent Corrigan resurfaced.  Turns out he had a massive seizure back in 2023 and was on life support – at one point the hospital said “they weren’t able to register any brain activity”.  Recuperation required learning how to walk, talk, eat, etc.  We’re told he’s doing better every day.

Someone else wasn’t so lucky.  Legendary porn actor Colton Ford died during a hiking accident.  Please, don’t let Colton die in vain.  Learn from this tragedy.  Physical activity will KILL you!

One of the juiciest stories of 2025 was Tyler Perry being sued for $260 million.  The complaint was filed by a hot actor, Derek Dixon… and he had receipts!  Derek made Perry’s acquaintance while cater waitering.  Like virtually all cater waiters, he had a script to pitch.  Perry was intrigued enough to cast Dixon in Ruthless and The Oval.  He even bought Derek a new Jeep!  All was fine until Dixon spent a night in one of Perry’s guest rooms and woke up to find himself the small spoon to Perry’s significantly larger ladle!  Derek enumerated all of the incidents in a sit-down with ABC News Live anchor Linsey Davis.  Not one to take these matters lying down, Perry called the lawsuit “profoundly disappointing, cynical, and – most of all – false”.   His lawyers say that Perry “looks forward to refuting each and every false accusation in court.”

Heidi Klum announced that she negotiated a reunion deal and was returning to Project Runway.  When Tim Gunn called to ask for the details, he got the bad news.  “And as Heidi would say, you’re either in or you’re out.  And I’m out.  So I wasn’t asked to join.”

The long-awaited Mid-Century Modern debuted on Hulu with a body count.  Close to wrapping production, Linda Lavin passed away.  Well, that put a crimp in the whole endeavor.  That, and the fact that someone cast Matt Bomer on a sitcom known as the gay Golden Girls and only had him take off his shirt twice!  Stop the insanity!

Queer Eye v2 has come to an end.  Bobby Berk leaving the penultimate year was kinda like when Jane left The Go-Go’s (look it up).  But he’s having the last laugh.  Berk just announced a deal with HGTV to host Junk or Jackpot, executive produced by John Cena.

Not a great year for Lil Nas X.  First, he was struck with Bell’s palsy.  That led to canceling several performances, including the Outloud Music Festival in Los Angeles.  He seemed to be on the mend until August 21^st.  At 4AM, he was seen walking (well, strutting) down Ventura Boulevard in Studio City clad in only white Speedo-style undies and white cowboy boots.  At 6AM, Nas “charged at officers and was taken into custody”.  He was brought to a hospital to be checked out and then was formally charged with “resisting or obstructing an officer”. 

Billy Porter found himself in a precarious health crisis – the details of which have been disclosed to me after I swore an oath of secrecy.  All I can tell you is that he’s doing better.  Rumor has it that a revival of La Cage with him as Albin is in the air.  Interestingly, the only one not excited about the endeavor is Billy himself.

“What in the faggotry are you talking about?” 
– Gayle King quotes a Matteo Lane joke to his face.  While many people
were outraged by Gayle’s use of the word “faggotry”, Matteo wasn’t
one of them.  He said, “I love you, Gayle King.”

Another year, another Year End Review.  And not just any Year End Review.  This is our 30^th.  Which makes me…well, a little tired.  Days after I celebrated this professional milestone, Big Daddy Masters said farewell.  Well, he didn’t actually say farewell.  I believe his last words to me were, “I’m not sure who you are, but you look like a young Jack Palance.”  Well, at least he said “young”.  Rest in peace, Daddy.

When I started this little column in 1995, the Menendez boys were young men, and the murder of their parents had happened six years earlier.  Here we are, looking at them through the lens of 2025 sensibilities.  Certain evidence has come forward backing up their claims of sexual abuse (just don’t back up).  They qualified for parole, but were denied.  They can try again in three years.  I’ll still be here.

If we’ve learned nothing, we’ve learned that scooters are a death trap.  Despite my many tumbles, I never tumbled as hard as Danny Pintauro – but enough about our sex lives!  Last Thanksgiving, he was riding a scooter in the bike lane when it was suddenly blocked by a cone pylon.  He went to swerve, but a van was there.  Danny was literally stuck between a van and a hard pylon.  He chose the pylon and was able to report, “The pylons hurt!”  His injuries were mostly internal – a tear in his stomach lining, an infection in his bloodstream, and an ICU stay while intubated.  His astronomical medical bills required the assistance of a GoFundMe campaign.

Meanwhile in England, Dame Joan Collins was feeling frisky since finishing her flick about the Duchess of Windsor (coming to a streaming channel near you, I’m sure).  “I’m seeing an invasion of a different sort – the proliferation of rental bikes and powered scooters that litter our pavements.  I’ve recently been almost run over twice by ‘Lime bikes’.  I’ve also tripped over a bunch of discarded cycles on the streets of Belgravia.”  I believe Joanna Lumley starred in The Streets of Belgravia.  Anyway, Joan tried to get to the other side of the street, but there were barricades on the crosswalk.  Take my word for it – there is nothing better than watching a video of Dame Joan Collins trying to cross a street.  See it for yourself on BillyMasters.com.

By the time you read this, Bowen Yang will have left the cast of Saturday Night Live.  I’m of two minds on this topic.  On one hand, congrats to anyone who gets to leave this show on their own – presumably to have a career in television or films.  On the other hand, this means we don’t get to regularly see either their characters or their range and diversity.  While I don’t begrudge Kate McKinnon her success in films, I bemoan her absence from the show.  And, is anyone more missed than Cheri Oteri?  Anyway, good luck, Bowen.  But pop in every now and then.

Next year, something else will be missing from the small screen.  Boots has been cancelled by Netflix.  The show that the Pentagon labeled as “woke garbage” brought us all sorts of hot, fit lads scurrying to and fro.  Here’s a fun fact – Boots was the last project worked on by Norman Lear.  Based on Greg Cope White’s book The Pink Marine, it centered on closeted life in the Marine Corps.  But, let’s face it, it centered on seeing hot guys like Max Parker and Miles Heizer in various forms of undress.  Their hottest moments can be found on BillyMasters.com.

Speaking of fit, undressed lads, many of you have asked about Channing Tatum’s nude scene in Roofman, the real-life story of a guy who lived inside a Toys “R” Us.  Tatum’s main concern was how they would film the 90-second scene of him running through the store fully naked and not showing his “stuff”.  “I was naïve, I guess, and thought that there was a plan to shoot this in a certain way.”  When told there was no plan, he said, “What do you mean you don’t know?  We’re gonna see stuff if you don’t have a plan.”  As it turns out, we don’t really see any stuff – at least not in the movie.  But you can see all his stuff on BillyMasters.com.

Time for our last installment of Billy’s Holiday Gift Giving Suggestions.  If you waited this long, your options are limited.  Still, you could make a big impression by hiring a celebrity to wish your loved ones a happy holiday season.  Famous folk are cashing in on their fame via Cameo.  People like Mario Cantone, Carson Kressley, and Frankie Grande are available (some more available than others).  So are singers Lance Bass, Todrick Hall, Billy Gilman and Sam Harris.  Or former Superman Tom Welling and his WB friend James Van Der Beek (who probably could use some cash at Christmas).   SNL alums Chris Kattan, Jon Lovitz, Laraine Newman, and the aforementioned Cheri Oteri are on the site, as are Housewives Bethenny Frankel and that Countess chick.  Even some of my iconic friends are cashing in – like Fran Drescher, John Barrowman and Miriam Margolyes.  You could even employ the ever-elusive Angelyne!  There’s something for everyone on Cameo.com.

By the time you read this, Bowen Yang will have left the cast of Saturday Night Live.  I’m of two minds on this topic.  On one hand, congrats to anyone who gets to leave this show on their own – presumably to have a career in television or films.  On the other hand, this means we don’t get to regularly see either their characters or their range and diversity.  While I don’t begrudge Kate McKinnon her success in films, I bemoan her absence from the show.  And, is anyone more missed than Cheri Oteri?  Anyway, good luck, Bowen.  But pop in every now and then.

Next year, something else will be missing from the small screen.  Boots has been cancelled by Netflix.  The show that the Pentagon labeled as “woke garbage” brought us all sorts of hot, fit lads scurrying to and fro.  Here’s a fun fact – Boots was the last project worked on by Norman Lear.  Based on Greg Cope White’s book The Pink Marine, it centered on closeted life in the Marine Corps.  But, let’s face it, it centered on seeing hot guys like Max Parker and Miles Heizer in various forms of undress.  Their hottest moments can be found on BillyMasters.com.

Speaking of fit, undressed lads, many of you have asked about Channing Tatum’s nude scene in Roofman, the real-life story of a guy who lived inside a Toys “R” Us.  Tatum’s main concern was how they would film the 90-second scene of him running through the store fully naked and not showing his “stuff”.  “I was naïve, I guess, and thought that there was a plan to shoot this in a certain way.”  When told there was no plan, he said, “What do you mean you don’t know?  We’re gonna see stuff if you don’t have a plan.”  As it turns out, we don’t really see any stuff – at least not in the movie.  But you can see all his stuff on BillyMasters.com.

Time for our last installment of Billy’s Holiday Gift Giving Suggestions.  If you waited this long, your options are limited.  Still, you could make a big impression by hiring a celebrity to wish your loved ones a happy holiday season.  Famous folk are cashing in on their fame via Cameo.  People like Mario Cantone, Carson Kressley, and Frankie Grande are available (some more available than others).  So are singers Lance Bass, Todrick Hall, Billy Gilman and Sam Harris.  Or former Superman Tom Welling and his WB friend James Van Der Beek (who probably could use some cash at Christmas).   SNL alums Chris Kattan, Jon Lovitz, Laraine Newman, and the aforementioned Cheri Oteri are on the site, as are Housewives Bethenny Frankel and that Countess chick.  Even some of my iconic friends are cashing in – like Fran Drescher, John Barrowman and Miriam Margolyes.  You could even employ the ever-elusive Angelyne!  There’s something for everyone on Cameo.com.

When I’m promoting another website, we’ve definitely come to the end of yet another column.  And that brings up the best idea of the year.  A great gift for your special someone is a subscription to www.BillyMasters.com – the site that has been delivering for 30 years.  Even during the holiday season, I’m here to stuff your stocking, or slide down your chimney, or deck your halls.  Whatever you’re into…I’m vers.  Reach out to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Travolta’s son Ben takes the last name of Presley!  Until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

Big news was made on Broadway last week.  In the show Stranger Things: The First Shadow (a prequel to the series), the lead is Henry, part of some lab experiment not unlike the Presley/Keough/Travolta situation listed above.  His “essence” is used via blood transfusions to transform numerous children.  We fast-forward at the end of the play to a grown-up Henry meeting the kids.  Usually, Louis McCartney, who plays Henry, is aged with makeup.  The scene begins with him in a chair with his back to the audience.  But on December 19^th, when Henry got up and turned around, he was revealed to be Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Henry on the series.  The audience went crazy and stopped the show for several minutes, as you can see on BillyMasters.com.

We hear that Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey could reunite to do the musical Sunday in the Park with George.  Can’t we let poor Stephen Sondheim rest in peace?  To be completely accurate, they are not talking about doing a film version.  They are considering a revival of the musical in London.  It would likely turn up at the Barbican Theatre, which has seen summer limited runs of musicals.  They are eyeing summer 2027.

Last year, a musical version of Beaches had a sold-out run in Alberta, Canada.  Originally, the producers planned to mount a US national tour and eventually hit Broadway.  Then the Majestic Theatre became available and plans changed.  The musical will now hit Broadway on April 22^nd and is scheduled to run through the summer.

By the by, the current Superman, David Corenswet, is in talks to make his Broadway debut in a revival of Carousel.  In case you’re interested.

Another big story last week was the death of Anthony Geary.  If you checked out my mail sack (my sack gets lots of visitors), most people didn’t know he was gay…or had a husband!  Claudio Gama revealed that they met 30 years ago and have been married for six years.  Throughout his career, Geary would take the summer off and spend it in Amsterdam – leading to speculation about a secret life, a drug problem, or health issues.  In 2023, he said, “I live in the city that I’ve always wanted to live in my whole life and I have somebody who loves me and I have a life now that I didn’t have before.”  Geary died three days after an operation for an undisclosed ailment.

In one of the strangest stories of 2025, it’s been alleged that John Travolta’s youngest child is actually the great-grandson of Elvis and Priscilla Presley.  “How on earth is that possible,” I can hear you cry.  Supposedly Riley Keough, daughter of Lisa Marie Presley, donated an egg to Travolta for him to have his third child, Ben.  That would mean that Kelly Preston was at that point as barren as the day is long.  And I suppose the term “donated” is inaccurate because Keough was paid between $10-20K and also given an old Jaguar in exchange for the egg.  See, Donald?  Eggs ARE expensive!!  This sounds like some wacky Scientology version of Rosemary’s Baby!

“He did have a legendarily large penis. 
It wasn’t the prettiest one I’d ever seen,
but it was the biggest.”
– Armistead Maupin on the late Rock Hudson.  You know what they say –
beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  It sounds like you might
have needed two hands to beholding Rock’s dick!

Last week, the Kennedy Center Honors were given out (the ceremony will air on CBS on December 23^rd).  The first thing I noticed, aside from the dubious assemblage of honorees, was that the iconic rainbow ribbon holding the award since its inception was gone.  Now the medal hangs on a simple blue ribbon – a curious color choice by a Republican.  While many have claimed this is a “war on rainbows”, the rainbow symbol is still being used.  There are rainbow colors around the Kennedy Center on the medallion itself, which was newly designed by Tiffany.

This year’s honorees are Sylvester Stallone, KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, and George Strait (it’s always about straight people).  So once again, Liza got the shaft!  Let me say a word about Michael Crawford, because many have pointed out he isn’t a US citizen.  He’s British and lives in New Zealand and has never had US citizenship.  But you don’t need to be a US citizen to get this award.  The recipient must have made a significant contribution to American culture – and certainly Crawford has.  Previous non-US recipients include opera singers Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, dancer Rudolf Nureyev, and pop stars like Paul McCartney and Sting.

Gloria Gaynor, virtually the epitome of a one-hit wonder, was asked about accepting an award from Trump.  “It’s incredible to get the honor.  I don’t think it matters where it comes from.  So that has nothing to do with the presenter.  It has to do with me and my body of work and my impression that I’ve made on the world and being recognized for that.  And anybody that is looking hopefully, hopefully can see that maybe I deserve it.”  Or maybe it simply means that The Village People were busy!!!

This is likely the last Kennedy Center Honors we’ll see.  El Presidente and the Kennedy Center board (filled by Trump appointees and led by Trump himself) have voted unanimously that the Kennedy Center would soon be rechristened The Trump Kennedy Center.  Tim Shriver, nephew to JFK, brought up an interesting point: “Perhaps the board isn’t aware that the Kennedy Center is THE memorial to the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy.  Would they rename the Lincoln memorial, The Jefferson?”  I can answer that in one word – Yes.

And just like that, time for more of Billy’s Holiday Gift Giving Suggestions.  And what’s a new year without a new calendar?  We used to spotlight those hot Orthodox monks and priests, but that damn vow of celibacy got in the way.  Then it was the lads from the Warwick Rowing Team, who later became Worldwide Roar, and eventually BarefootMen.com.  Then they disappeared.  Enter the always-dependable Mark MacKillop, who has raised record-breaking bucks peddling his wares for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.  The eight-time highest fundraiser for Broadway Bares has released his 2026 calendar which is not only pleasing to the eye but supports a good cause.  And who wouldn’t want to get their stocking stuffed by MacKillop?  Grab him by clicking here.

Recently, I’ve become aware of a talented tyke who is meshing art with nudity – and what’s wrong with that?  The artist in question is Cody Gene, who has the most delightful Instagram feed and seems to be genuinely sweet – although I’ve been wrong before.  He also enjoys showing off his rockin’ bod, so I’m already a fan.  In addition to his paintings, he also has a line of stickers – should you be into that kinda thing.  Each one features one of his delightful doodles along with sayings like “Nothing Moves Without You”, “You Have The Power”, “Be A Hero”, and other positive plaudits.  Check out his talent at CodyGene.com.  As usual, feel free to mention Billy sent you.

When I’m promoting stickers, we’ve definitely come to the end of yet another column.  I must confess, I was never one of those sticker people.  But when the artist looks like Cody, I’m certainly happy to check ‘em out.  You can look at all sorts of things sticking out on www.BillyMasters.com – the site that lives to serve…just not as much as Mr. Grande.  If you have a question for me, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Frankie installs golden arches above his boudoir.  So, until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

Dancing With The Stars always raises one’s profile.  But who would have expected to find Andy Richter at an LA Kings game on the KissCam…with DWTS pro Alan Bernsten!  I should mention that Andy’s dancing pro was Emma Slater, who is romantically linked with Alan.  She was sitting beside them at the game.  Cheering from behind was Richter’s wife, Jennifer Herrera Richter.  She was probably thinking of Alan, “Better him than me!”

You all know that Matt Rogers is currently romantically linked with Fraser Olender.  During BravoCon, Olender was rushed to a Vegas hospital on November 16^th for an undisclosed ailment.  Then on December 5^th, Olender posted this on Instagram: “A few weeks ago I was rushed to hospital due to severe chest pains and difficulties breathing.  Following this, I spent a week in London hospitals seeing specialists to identify the cause and possible damage of the incident.  To keep it simple – I had vape poisoning, (an E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)) and I have never experienced fear or pain like it.  Whatever was in my vape caused me to have a coronary artery vasospasm.  Medically, that means the arteries supplying blood to my heart suddenly clamped down.  That spasm reduced blood flow enough to cause an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), better known as a heart attack.”  I always knew Matt Rogers broke a few hearts, but this is ridiculous.  Fraser accompanied his post with photos of himself in the hospital.  Even on death’s doorstep, he looks better than I have on my best day!

Todrick Hall describes himself as “newly single”.  And he’s posted a handwritten list called Future Man Requirements: “1) Funny – needs a sense of humor, 2) Spontaneous; 3) Someone who can articulate how they feel and what I can do to be a better partner for them; 4) Someone loyal that I can trust to tell me even when they fuck up or when I have; 5) Talented or driven at what they do.  Must be passionate about something; 6) Aligned morally & ethically; 7) Someone who pushes me to try new things and be a better version of myself; 8) Must love musical theatre; 9) Must be empathetic & try to understand the black experience if they’re not black; 10) Self Awareness – nothing is worse than someone who can’t read the room.”  I don’t know about you, but this list rules me OUT!

Frankie Grande is also on the prowl for couplings of diverse duration.  Sporting some wind-blown locks while talking to podcast host Tracy E. Gilchrist, he made a startling statement: “Why are we shaming power bottoms?  You tops need them.  We serve a purpose in the community.  It is in the name.  Power.  Power is in the name.  Power bottom.”  Oh, I have no doubt he serves.  I’m sure he’s served more than McDonald’s!

“Among our friends, we’re rare in that we don’t have an
open relationship.  It’s just something we discussed very
early on, and he’s all I need, and I’m all he needs.  Also,
I think, we’re both…well, I’m jealous, so that wouldn’t work
at all.  He doesn’t like to admit that he is, but I think he is, too.”
– Nate Berkus on his relationship with Jeremiah Brent.  I have SO
many questions…the first of which is, I’d like to meet their friends!

Will America ever be ready for a gay dating show?  Logo tried to coax the masses into watching one back in 2016.  Here’s how I summed it up at the time: “When I look back on my life, I suspect I’ll regret every moment spent watching Logo’s reality dating show Finding Prince Charming.”  What the powers that be somehow missed (or perhaps not) was that their wealthy interior designer suitor was actually a medium-priced hooker.  Robert (said suitor) was also known to send paramours such questionable items in the mail as used condoms, pubic hair, and undergarments of dubious cleanliness.   And then there’s this detail I reported: “Once there are videos of you drinking someone’s semen out of a used condom or shoving a shampoo bottle up your ass, I think you’ve lost the right to the holier-than-thou attitude.”  Those columns (complete with photos and videos) are archived on BillyMasters.com.

Back to Finding Prince Charming – you throw a bunch of hot gay men in a house, you’ve got to expect some hanky and/or panky.  That brings us to Chad Spodick – an unfortunate name for a very sexy man.  He quit the show dramatically in week six after some explosive behavior one might now consider foreshadowing.  He did return for the reunion show, where we learned that he slept with one contestant on his first night in the house, and attempted to sleep with the guy who ended up winning the show – which I think puts him ahead of the suitor.  Well, boys will be boys.  After the taping, he wrote the following on social media:

“Since the word ‘authentic’ was used so many times on the show Finding Prince Charming by that fraud of a bachelor, I think it’s time that someone takes heed to their own advice.  How about being authentic that you’re still hooking?  It’s been proven many times that you are…How about being authentic about the fact that you actively pursued me, Brandon, Eric and Paul right after the show wrapped.  How about being authentic about seeing your Johns just before and AFTER the show finalized shooting.  Oh, and last but definitely not least, how about that time you pursued me a DAY after you were with Eric to try and hook up with me in Chicago during market days after saying you were not with anyone.  Just to be very clear, none of us knew about Roberts past and consequently, his present about being a rent boy.”  It is kind of ironic that, in some ways, Chad was the moral center of a show that was almost completely devoid of any morals.

Fast forward nine years.  Chad, still as handsome as ever, was making news – with his death.  While his family withheld the manner of death due to the ongoing police investigation, Robert, as douchey as ever, wrote this: “Out of respect for his family, I am not going to speak on the cause of his passing, because it has not been confirmed publicly.  What I do want to talk about is mental health awareness.”  So, gee, what do you think caused Chad’s death?  A pile-up on a highway?  A freak accident involving an escaped animal from a zoo?  Oh, wait – could it have something to do with his mental health?  Robert ends his plea for us to all be better, kinder people by reiterating that he did not really know Chad, didn’t keep up with him, and didn’t sleep with him.  Great – so at least we can now cross “contagious disease” off the list of potential causes of death.  Thanks, Robert.  Buh-Bye!

Of course, it turned out that Chad had taken his own life.  What does this tell us?  That everyone has problems.  The quiet ones, the boisterous ones, the fat ones, the fit ones, the douchey ones, and everything in between.  None of us know what challenges anyone else has.  But we do know one thing – there’s more to everyone than meets the eye.  And I’ll bet you dimes to donuts, the prettier they are to the eye, the less you know about them.  Here’s something we found out – Chad was helping support his mother.  What better tribute than to check out the GoFundMe page set up to raise money for funeral costs and his mom’s support.  We’ll link to it on our website.  I’m sure we all eagerly await news of Robert’s donation.

And like a flare-up of herpes, we’re back with Billy’s Holiday Gift Giving Suggestions.  But, have no fear – the worst injury you’ll receive from these gifts is a paper cut.  Because this week, we’re bringing you books.  The first one comes from Carol Leifer – the legendary scribe who has written for everyone, from Letterman to Seinfeld.  So needless to say, her book How to Write a Funny Speech really delivers.  And it just went into its third printing.  Carol is selling copies of her book in a fascinating way.  If you need to buy a perfect gift for someone under $25, you can buy the book directly from her.  She’ll inscribe it anyway you’d like, she’ll mail it out, and she’ll only charge you $20! DM her on social media or at CarolLeifer.com.  Tell her Billy sent you.

Next up is our pal Judy Gold.  Back in 2019, she wrote Yes I Can Say That – When They Come For The Comedians, We’re All In Trouble.  It’s like she was psychic!  It made our list that year.  And here it is, in another printing due to the timeliness of the issue.  “No one makes me laugh harder than Judy Gold.  If I had to pick one comedian to write a book about free speech, it would be Judy.”  You know who said that?  Amy Schumer.  Who am I to argue with her?  If you know someone who needs a laugh that will also make them think, this is perfect.

When we don’t have room for an Ask Billy question because we had an Ask Jacob question, we’ve definitely come to the end of yet another column.  And let me thank Jacob for not answering the question about the actors playing gay hockey players.  Frankly, I’d rather fantasize about them pucking!  And you can check them out on www.BillyMasters.com – the site that always lets you score.  Should you have a question for me (or Jacob), send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Fraser exclaims, “The British are cumming!”  Until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

It’s just been announced that Nathan Lane will helm a Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman.  He’ll be joined by Laurie Metcalf as his devoted wife Linda.  I guess the real news is that the producing team of this revival will be Barry Diller and Scott Rudin!  The casting of Lane in a quintessentially heterosexual role belies the argument that gays can only play gay.  Note his most recent effort was Hulu’s Mid-Century Modern.  Surely, two roles couldn’t be more different.  But Lane, one of our greatest actors, effortlessly transcends pigeonholing.

This issue came up again with HBO’s new series Heated Rivalry.  Given the subject matter, I’m surprised more of you haven’t written in.  Surely my mentioning it will translate into tens of more viewers and an inevitable ratings spike.  The show centers around two closeted hockey players in their mid-20s.  Since it’s a “rivalry”, you won’t be surprised to learn one of the players is Canadian, while the other is Russian.  And the “heated” part – well, I suppose that’s self-explanatory.  CNN said it best in the headline for their review: “Heated Rivalry is everything you love about rom-coms but with less pants”.  Believe it or not, that didn’t even come from Anderson Cooper!

While nobody has sent in a question, series creator Jacob Tierney was asked about the sexuality of his leads, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.  So I guess this week it’s an Ask Jacob question.  And this is how he answered: “I don’t think there’s any reason to get into that stuff.  I’ll tell you something about the casting of both of these roles.  You can’t ask questions like that when you’re casting, right?  It’s actually against the law.  So what you have to gauge is somebody’s enthusiasm and willingness to do the work.”  Clearly he found two people who did just that – enough so that people are speculating about their sexuality.  “That’s what’s so impressive about both of these guys is they came into this being like, ‘Yeah, we’re here to do this, and we are here to make this story feel authentic and to be as real as possible.’  And they fucking hit it out of the park.”  And isn’t that the point?  I don’t believe Nathan Lane was ever a travelling salesman…or married to a woman!  But if he can make me believe that, then he’s done his job.  If you believe you have a shot with either of these hockey players, they’ve done their job.  And speaking of jobs, there’s quite a few “jobs” the boys perform on each other, which you can see on BillyMasters.com.

Some people believe certain things should remain private.  Obviously some people ain’t me.  Last week, Matt Rogers was on Elle magazine’s Phoning It In.  If, like me, you have no idea what this is, the guest makes prank calls to friends and tries to rile them up with an outrageous lie.  For instance, Matt called Bowen Yang to accuse him of sexting with his “Below Deck” beau, Fraser Olender.  Obviously a lie.  However, things got dicey when Matt called the aforementioned Olender to say he’s been asked to do a full-frontal nude scene in a film.  Fraser’s response?  “Absolutely not.  I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”  Rogers doubled down, saying the film starred Jessica Chastain and had Oscar buzz – clearly only a foreigner would believe that!  Fraser stuck to his guns: “Absolutely not.  I mean, listen, you do you.  I’ll support you 100%.  Some things are not necessarily meant to be televised.  That could be the British in me.”  When Matt got home, perhaps the British was in him!

Last week, something very queer happened only a few miles from West Hollywood.  At 6533 Hollywood Boulevard, Sarah Paulson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Her partner, the formidable Holland Taylor, was by her side, as was Ryan Murphy, who has long considered Paulson one of his creative muses (fun fact – Murphy also has a place in Ptown).  Spotted at the festivities were Niecy Nash and her wife Jessica Betts.  You’ll recall that Niecy recently asked Sarah if she might be up for some wife swapping.  What better way to celebrate the occasion?  If the boulevard is a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’.

What do all the successful film franchises have in common?  Apparently, they all have roles perfect for Scarlett Johansson.  Somehow she is credited with the success of the Jurassic series reboot.  Silly me, I thought it was the dinosaurs.  In the past week, Mrs. Jost’s presence has been requested for two additional staples in the cinema.  She’ll headline the next Exorcist film, and is in talks to appear in the latest Batman.

Our own Andrew Scott (the hot priest from Fleabag) has joined the cast of Lisa Kudrow’s occasional series, The Comeback – which comes around every decade or so.  We don’t know much about his involvement, except he will be playing “a very important character”.  Since the death of Robert Michael Morris (who played Val’s devoted Mickey), she’s definitely in need of an ally…perhaps a gay one.

“If I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent,
then I don’t think I should be president!”
– Donald Trump’s opinion prior to hosting the Kennedy Center Honors. 
Finally, something we agree on.  And I’d like to hold him to that.

For the past three weeks, I’ve been addicted to the UK’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!  I was drawn in by the promise of viewing Ruby Wax braving the Australian jungle.  But these shows have an insidious way of making you care about the most unlikely people – whether it’s a plus-sized soap opera queen, a young tattooed rapper, or Jack Osbourne!  Like Ruby, I also fell under the spell of dashing dandy, Tom Read Wilson.  But for the most part, this season has been devoid of hunky men.  Happily, some previous participants popped up on the wrap-up show – Sam Thompson springs to mind.  Given the dearth of testosterone, I even found myself ogling Kelly Brook.  But that’s because I was picturing her straddling her Italian fitness model husband Jeremy Parisi.

How do you define a tryst?  According to Merriam-Webster (whoever she is), it’s “a private romantic rendezvous between lovers.”  Needless to say, “trysting” is a big part of Provincetown’s charm.  Now it will be happening on a formal basis through Tristan Schukraft – which I know sounds like the name of an extra in Nuremberg.  He is the latest owner of West Hollywood institution The Abbey.  He also owns properties in Fire Island, Puerto Vallarta, and now, Provincetown.  When he purchased The Crown & Anchor, his plans included changing the name of the hotel to The Tryst Provincetown.  “The Crown & Anchor is at the heart of that story; it’s been the stage, the dance floor, and Provincetown’s unofficial town square.  Our goal is to honor that legacy while evolving it for the future, ensuring it remains a vibrant, inclusive home for generations to come.”  While that’s a lovely sentiment, what one sees less and less at The Abbey is gay men.  That’s primarily because West Hollywood has become less and less gay due to the price of real estate.  Ptown is in a similar situation.  But I’m remaining optimistic.

Fans of this column know that it’s time for Billy’s Holiday Gift Giving Suggestions.  For decades, I’ve shared a few of my favorite things that will make your loved one’s holidays merry and bright.  Tradition dictates that our first gift is the annual holiday ornament to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.  The latest addition to the Broadway Legends collection is, ironically, Kristin Chenoweth, bedecked in her Wicked regalia.  Wouldn’t it have been tragic if some misguided designer had her in her Queen of Versailles ensemble?  This Glinda ornament is the 16^th in the collection by Christopher Radko, who is known as the Ornament King.  You can grab it (and limited supplies of some of the previous ones) at the Broadway Cares Online Shop, at Store.BroadwayCares.org.

I’m always partial to books, and there’s a good one out now.  Our very own Miriam Margolyes has written another memoir which delivers devilish dish.  The Little Book of Miriam brings us bon mots of the briefest type.  This makes the book quite perfect for the loo.  Should you be there for a short stay, you can breeze through a quickie.  Should your visit be of a more substantial length, read several.  In terms of editions, you’ve got even more options.  While the hard cover version has only been released in the UK, you can grab it from Blackwells.co.uk and get free immediate shipping to the US.  Should you be someone who spends a good amount of time on the road, you may want the audio book (read by Ms. Margolyes herself, thank you very much).  And if you are part of the jet set, perhaps the Kindle version (available on Amazon) is right for you.  Something for everyone.

When Kate Jackson is in the news, we’ve definitely come to the end of yet another column.  We didn’t have time this week for an Ask Billy question – what with my resurrecting Sabrina from the dead and extolling the virtues of public toilets.  Such diversity can only be found on www.BillyMasters.com – the site that gets right down to the real nitty gritty (with apologies to Miss Knight).  Should you have something you’d like me to delve into, send a note to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before I finish Miriam’s little book in the Rhode Island Airport.  So, until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

One rarely expects there to be a story about Kate Jackson.  Yet, here we are.  Kate was scheduled to appear at the Steel City Con in Pittsburgh.  And then a curious thing happened.  I’ll let her tell you in her own, rambling way (curious capitalization is hers): “TO EVERYONE I EXPECTED TO SEE IN PITTSBURG…I DID NOT CANCEL MY SCHEDULED APPEARANCE IN PITTSBURG DEC 5^th – 7^TH!!  I HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED BY THE SHOW THAT I SUPPOSEDLY ‘Canceled’.  I didn’t.  I didn’t learn about the announcement to the effect until just a few minutes ago (9:30pm PST).  Once again, I DID NOT CANCEL MY APPEARANCE IN PITTSBURG!  I WOULDN’T DO THAT!!  I have no idea what’s going on!  Hopefully someone will tell me.  In the meantime…I’m upset that you were told that I had ‘Canceled’.  It is simply not true.  I did no such thing, in fact, I have no communications with Mr. Stein and I do not know why he made the untrue announcement that I had ‘Canceled’ without even telling me that I had.  Love to all, Kate.”  So there.

If one looks at the career of Stephen Schwartz, one is amazed at the diversity.  For every Pippin, there’s a Magic Show.  For every Prince of Egypt, there’s a Geppetto.  For every Baker’s Wife, there’s a Working.  Well, in that case, neither actually worked – although the current off-Broadway production of The Baker’s Wife hopes to turn that around.  And now, for every Wicked, there’s a Queen of Versailles.  If only the latter were about Marie Antoinette, it may have had a shot.  Alas, this is a Queen without a kingdom, and Kristin Chenoweth will find herself unemployed as of January 4^th.  Many are blaming Kris’ reaction to the killing of Charlie Kirk, while those few others who actually saw the show blame it on the quality of the material itself.  So while Schwartz can celebrate the success of Wicked on the big screen, Broadway has once again said thanks, but no thanks.