Two Weird Things Online

Weird Thing No. 1: I found it really kind off weird that on the home page of Yahoo! today, five days after the formal announcement of Cher's Vegas adventures, the seventh headline under "In The News as of 3:50 pm PST" was, uh, "Cher To Headline At Caesars Palace in Las Vegas."


Weird Thing No. 2: I appeared today on KNPR's State of Nevada to discuss my Vegas paparazzi piece from The New York Times. Most of the hour was taken up by a discussion among concerned parties about some controversial development in the northern part of the valley. But on the KNPR website, the description of their show makes it sound like I believe that celebrities are finding safe haven in the Upper Las Vegas Wash, doesn't it?


Oh, and if you want to hear my part, I just put the file into our podcast feed. You can click here to hear it or right-click here to save it. It's about 8 minutes long.

Scenes from the Impersonators Convention

This is one of those times when pictures tell the story better than words. If you want words, you can read my New York Times piece on the celeb-impersonators convention and the Reel Awards. I'll just clarify for you that these are NOT drag queens. I'm pretty sure all of these imitators were the same sex as their subject matter. And most were really, really convincing.

Minnie Pearl chats with Marilyn Monroe with President Bush in the background.

Two Marilyns. One good, one not so much, huh?

George Burns and Donald Trump, with Tom Cruise and Jay Leno in the background.

WHHSH Vindication!

Jeff Candido, co-author of the "What Happens Here Stays Here" campaign, was on "The Strip" tonight. He since left R&R Partners in Vegas for Arnold International, a large Boston-based ad firm. Asked about Mayor Oscar Goodman's comment that the LVCVA ought to stop trying to legally fight the misuse of WHHSH, which it has spent more than $720,000 battling over, Candido answered:

"I sort of have to agree (with Goodman). Why stop people from saying something that you were dying to get them to say five years ago. Why sue them to stop? As much as it sort of irks me to know there are plenty of people out there making money as evidenced by my eBay search this afternoon off the phrase, it's hard to defend spending people's tax money to attack it. I'd say let it go. Let it do what it's doing because it's working."

He also agreed it makes his skin crawl how incorrectly so many comics, hacks and other entrepreneurs apply the catch-phrase.

Also on the show, Las Vegas Hilton headliner Joe Piscopo who was surprisingly funny, energetic and honest. Hear it by clicking here or right-clicking here or subscribe to it in iTunes or in Yahoo.

Jennifer Aniston: Gay Icon?!?

I like Jennifer Aniston. A lot. She was terrific in "Friends," she's made a list of lousy rom-coms more palatable and she's proceeded mostly with class and dignity in the face of her crumbled marriage.

But.

A gay icon? Worthy of being in the same breath with Liza Minnelli or Liz Taylor? Really?

She's getting the Vanguard Award next week from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) or, as friends of mine used to refer to them, Gays and Lesbians Addicted to Accuracy in Diversions. It's something they give to important straight allies of the GLBT cause.

Huh? The press releases sayeth:

"Jennifer Aniston is, without a doubt, one of the most charismatic, talented, and celebrated actresses in the world today. It is all the more refreshing then, that she hasn't shied away from roles that playfully or dramatically explore the boundaries of human sexuality and relationships. For ten seasons, Jennifer Aniston played Rachel Green on Friends, a show that included, from its very first season, a portrayal of a lesbian family. In addition to her role on Friends, Aniston starred in The Object of My Affection with Paul Rudd, again telling a story of an alternative family. With her gay-friendly roles in other projects, such as the film Rockstar, the FX drama Dirt, and a music video for Melissa Etheridge, Jennifer Aniston has proven herself a strong ally of the LGBT community."

Wow. Doesn't take much anymore, does it? Get cast as a no-name in a well-written TV show, appear in a Melissa Etheridge video and stunt-cast on your BFF's uneven dramedy and you too can be Queen For A Day of Queerville. Oh, and be available to come to our awards ceremony.
What's odder still about all this is that it's her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, who has done something truly revolutionary as straight celebs go:
He refuses to get married until gays can. A superstar male actor in the prime of his career forsaking locking in Angelina for life, or however long the straights think marriage ought to last these days. Now, given, Angelina is forcing his hand. So, then, give the Vanguard thingie to her. That is, if she's not too busy trick-or-treating for orphans.

That would be an interesting stance, Angie: Don't adopt from countries who refuse to allow gays and lesbians to adopt from there. But, seeing how that would eliminate Africa, most of Asia and Central America, that might unduly handicap you in your quest to outdo Mia Farrow, hmm?