August 15, 2007

From Metro news: For those who were hoping Gale Harold might reprise his role as Wyatt Earp in one or both of the two Deadwood movies that David Milch and HBO hinted at creating after the series was cancelled, it looks like the project is unlikely to happen due to a number of obstacles, including the fact that all of the principal actors were released from their contracts (which leads one to wonder why something wasn't arranged with the cast post-third season in anticipation of the movies). Milch is apparently working on a new project with HBO, inspired by Bill Clark, NYPD Blue executive producer. It's a cop show set in the 70s, featuring a Vietnam vet who's offered a fast track promotion as a detective in the NYPD if he goes undercover in the anti-war movement. [read more]

Tim Plant of Metro Weekly (Washington, DC) gives "Falling for Grace" a very favorable review, calling parts of the film involving Gale's character, Andrew Barrington, "comedic magic" and praising the work as a "cinematic tapestry of romance and laughter".

BGay.com has a short write-up of the new comedy Ping Pong Playa, which features Scott Lowell and Peter Paige as partners in the game of table-tennis, and is expected to be released later this year.

You may remember Tre Smith, who appeared in episode 105 of QAF as one of Brian's potential tricks, and was also up for the role of Brian when the show was being cast. Back in 2001, SoGayTV interviewed Tre about his role. Tre told Mathieu Chantelois, "I did a part on Queer As Folk because I was asked to; I was originally up for the lead role of Brian, and I went through a few stages of the audition process, and I made the short list, but it just came to a point where personally, between me and the casting director Ross Clydesdale, where he sensed hesitation, and he said ‘you've got to be sure about this'..." (read more of Tre's interview here). These days, the actor is on a slightly different career path, employed as an animal cruelty officer for The Human Society (THS) in Toronto. Recently, Tre was suspended for handcuffing the owner of a Rottweiler to his vehicle after that owner left the dog trapped inside the SUV in sweltering heat. Since Tre’s suspension was announced last week, words of support from all over the city, country and world have been flooding into the THS - as well as numerous media outlets carrying the story. Read more here, and view a Photo of Cyrus the dog with Tre Smith.

Queer As Folk is just one of many television series that will be offered as super-set "complete series" TV-on-DVD collections this coming holiday season. Others include I Love Lucy, Full House, Everybody Loves Raymond, Gilmore Girls, The O.C., Twin Peaks, Miami Vice, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Angel, MacGyver, Stargate SG-1, Chappelle's Show, Benny Hill, and even The Addams Family. You can pre-order the Complete Series of QAF for $144.99 at Amazon.com.

USA Network has ordered up thirteen new episodes of Burn Notice. The early second-season renewal is due to record ratings, according to Variety. "Burn" has blazed new trails for USA on Thursday nights, winning its timeslot among basic cable nets every week since its June 28 premiere. Ratings for last week's episode were the highest ever, with 4.4 million viewers (2.3 million among adults 25-54, USA's target demo). Author Adam Finley of TV Squad writes, "USA's motivation in picking new shows has been to focus on strong characters, and that's exactly what keeps Burn Notice from being just another crime/detective/mystery series." In The News & Observer, Danny Hooley writes, "Sharon Gless is charming as the chain-smoking, well-meaning nag whose main sin is denial. She tolerated her late husband's abusive behavior toward Michael, and it's still an issue between mother and son as they try awkwardly to reconcile." The official website has been updated with lots of new clips and photos. Check out the page for Sharon Gless' character, Madeline Westen, by clicking on her photo.

The scary and sexy horror anthology Trapped Ashes, starring Scott Lowell, will headline Fangoria’s next Monster Mondays screening September 10 at the Two Boots Pioneer Theater (155 East 3rd Street and Avenue A). For more information, visit fangoria.com.

From roadrunnerrecords.com: The first album from Hal Sparks' band, Zero 1, was produced by King's X frontman Doug Pinnick (http://www.myspace.com/dugpinnickpoundhound). Coming full circle, Sparks has produced Pinnick's new solo record "Poundhound"; it should hit the label in the next 2 to 3 weeks. dUg (aka Doug) is heading to Los Angeles to film a video for the record, which will also be produced by Sparks.

Peter Paige has updated the "Connection" page of his site with a new message for fans. It looks like Michelle Clunie (Melanie on QAF) will be acting in the film "Leaving Barstow," which Peter is directing. The script is by Kevin Sheridan and according to Peter they have an extraordinary cast. If you didn't already notice it on the video of the reunion lunch, check out Peter's bald head! ;)

Tony Award-winner Gary Beach will headline a fundraising gala for Heritage Pointe, a non-profit, Jewish-traditional senior living community in Mission Viejo, CA. Beach will debut a one-man musical show about his life and roles in theater and on the big screen. "We are thrilled at this opportunity," said Michael Halpern, President & CEO of Heritage Pointe. "Gary’s team of writers, director and production crew are working on the creation of this show. Our Gala attendees will be treated to the beginning of a new production that I suspect will end up on a national or international tour." Beach has had notable performances on Broadway over the past few decades, including Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, and as Roger DeBris in The Producers, for which he won a Tony Award in 2001. He returned to Broadway in La Cage aux Folles (playing the role played by Nathan Lane in the film The Birdcage). Recently, he reprised his role as Roger De Bris on stage in The Producers at the same time the film version was released. He became the first in history to play the same role on Broadway and on film at the same time. His television credits include the 2003 Kennedy Center Honors, "Recording the Producers" (a documentary for PBS), Queer as Folk (he played drag queen Danny Devore, Michael's biological father), Murder, She Wrote, Cheers, Sisters, Arli$$, and Saved by the Bell. The Heritage Pointe Gala, themed "From Beach to Broadway", will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, CA on November 18, 2007. For advanced dinner, dancing and performance information or donor and underwriting opportunities, please call Pamela or Jackie at (949) 364-0010. For more information regarding Heritage Pointe, visit www.heritagepointe.org.