Kate Winslet Knows Gay Male Actors Afraid To Come Out Because Of Their Careers

One of the more refreshingly honest portrayals of a gay love affair in 2020 happened in Harley Quinn

Here we are in 2021 and discrimination based on sexual orientation is still happening in Hollywood? According to Kate Winslet, at least mostly for men, it is.

“It’s bad news,” she added, “Hollywood has to drop that dated crap of, ‘Can he play straight because, apparently, he’s gay?’ ” “That should be almost illegal,” she said. “You would not believe how widespread it is. And it can’t just be distilled to the question about gay actors playing gay parts. Because actors, in some cases, are choosing not to come out for personal reasons. And it’s nobody’s business. Perhaps privacy. Perhaps conditioning and shame.”

Kate Winslet Says She Knows ‘at Least 4’ Actors ‘Hiding Their Sexuality’ Due to ‘Homophobia’ in Hollywood

Kate is partially wrong, discrimination in the workplace is illegal. An actor should be chosen based on his/her suitability for the part, never on his/her sexual orientation. I do understand if it’s for a gay part, that the actor should be able to convincingly be comfortable with same sex contact and affection. If s/he is not, then that’s a legitimate reason to give the part to another actor. I don’t buy for a second, however, that only gay men and women can play gay parts and they can’t play straight roles. Look at actors like Raymond Burr? He brilliantly played a straight part as Perry Mason. George Takei (Sulu on Star Trek) came out, but not until much later in his career. Heck, the rebooted Star Trek even showed his character as gay.

I can see this being an issue in the past, but in 2021 we should have moved past this type of discriminatory casting, yes/no?

It’s not only gay actors either. Look what’s happened on the Simpsons with voice actors (see: Kevin Michael Richardson to voice Dr. Hibbert instead of Harry Shearer on The Simpsons and Hank Azaria No Longer Voice of Apu on The Simpsons possibly being replaced by Indian Actor = Insanity)

Say that again: voice actors.

Hollywood is a strange, strange place.

This might be one small area where men are discriminated against more than women. Gay men in Hollywood. Male actors seem to get work into their senior ages more than aging female actresses. At least I’ve read that complaint over the years.

No More John Landis Directed Eddie Murphy Movies?

Despite multiple movie success together, including the iconic Coming To America ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½, Eddie Murphy and director John Landis don’t like each other. This was news to us, but maybe you’d heard about their rift before?

This sense of control makes Coming To America seem more like a Murphy flex than a Landis film. Landis has characterized Murphy as arrogant and alienating during the film’s production, while Murphy characterized Landis as spending the shoot fuming impotently over perceived disloyalty. Yet it still makes a bizarre kind of sense that their partnership worked with this particular movie; its mix of absurd extravagance and cornball charm stands out from Murphy’s other ’80s vehicles, fractious production or not. On screen, at least, Murphy and Landis experienced a brief connection—like two ships passing, threatening each other with bodily harm, and angrily renouncing each other in the night.

Eddie Murphy and John Landis clashed their way through three big, unwieldy comic vehicles

Unless both men put their differences aside, it sure sounds like we won’t be seeing Landis directing any more Eddie Murphy movies. The article linked above covers Landis’ well publicized troubles surrounding the making of The Twilight Zone movie when Vic Morrow died along with a couple illegally employed child actors.

After consulting Landis’ filmography on Wikipedia, we see he hasn’t done many films since Murphy and him last collaborated on Beverly Hills Cop III in 1994. Just four films directed by Landis including Blues Brothers 2000 which had nothing to do with Murphy or the late, great John Belushi, but hey it had Dan Akroyd at least.

Would you like to see an R rated Eddie Murphy and John Landis collaboration again? Even though Beverly Hills Cop III wasn’t that great, nor Coming 2 America, it sure begs the question if Landis and Murphy and an R rating would have made the film better. I liked what director Craig Brewer did with Dolemite Is My Name? so staying with the premise that the PG-13 and a script which didn’t feature Murphy as the main actor, nor America in a movie with the country in the title, were the biggest issues.

Matthew McConaughey Wanted Titanic Lead Role, But Was Never Offered It

Titanic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

I can’t see Matthew McConaughey as Jack Dawson in Titanic, can you? Sure, it’s not fair to say that now, because who knows if he had been Jack instead of Leonardo DiCaprio, but I just don’t see it.

There has been a rumor going around that McConaughey turned down the role, but he has squashed it.

“I asked [James] Cameron about this, because the gossip over the years that I heard and would see written about me was that I had the [lead] role in ‘Titanic’ and turned it down,” McConaughey recalled. “Not factual. I did not get offered that role.”

Matthew McConaughey clarifies ‘Titanic’ audition rumors: ‘I did not get offered the role’ | Fox News

He did want the role, which I found interesting, but it wasn’t meant to be.

From Hawking $15,000 Gold Vibrators to $8,600 Hiking Necklaces, Gwyneth Paltrow May Never Return To Acting

We’ve all heard of slut shaming. How about pandemic shaming? Yeah, gear up, this hiking expedition will cost you — plenty.

Most people — regular people like us and most of you, kind readers — are spending our time trying to work and survive the pandemic, hoping and praying life will return to normal. A lot of people, tragically, are out of work and doing what they can to find any sort of work to put food on the table and roof over the head.

And then there’s Hollywood. actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow, an early COVID survivor it seems, who has conquered virus recovery through a vexing series of affiliate-link driven products. No, can’t make this up.

To keep trekking, she endorses a $220 pair of hiking shoes, a $145 hiking tank top, and an $8,600 gold necklace. [Yes, you read that correctly.] Apparently, Paltrow has a thing for wearing necklaces, often several at once. “But for a hike, just this [$8,600] one is perfect,” she writes. When she’s not scaling mountains to combat her COVID fatigue, she focuses her foggy mind on making certain her skin looks good for her many Zoom meetings. She touts four products just for this part of her long-COVID regimen. They are a $500 infrared sauna blanket, a $98 oil, a $125 serum, and $125 overnight acid peel. And after all of that expensive exercising, the skin care regimen, and the video conferences, Paltrow unwinds in a $125 “Goop University” T-shirt and a $32 mocktail served in a $112 glass.

It took a year, but Gwyneth Paltrow figured out how to exploit the pandemic | Ars Technica

LOL to an $8,600 gold hiking necklace. Yeah, I think most people would rather spend those bones on a vehicle to get to and from work or food for a year, but hey, whatever. Who buys all these high end Goop products, anyway?

The $15,000 gold vibrator? Does that give some gold-plated orgasms or something? That’s from a different article, but perhaps equally hilarious. Don’t worry, Paltrow is pitching a more affordable $95 vibrator for us blue collar types.

And the Goop vibrator makes quite the pitch for battling boredom. With a massage ball on one side and a wand on the other — and eight pulsating patterns for each — that means 64 possible combinations (or a different daily sensation for two months of quarantine). At $95, it might even be called affordable, at least in comparison to the $15,000 gold dildo that Ms. Paltrow once recommended in a Goop newsletter.

Gwyneth Paltrow Is Selling Vibrators

This latter article seems hyper-focused on the shock factor of an A-list, or previously A-list actress rather, reduced to selling vibrators, but I don’t see that as the bigger story. Who cares if someone famous is selling vibrators in 2021? The bigger story is how expensive these products are she sells on Goop. Ridiculously expensive. It doesn’t cost $95 for an effective vibrator and on what planet does anybody need a hiking necklace that costs more than many used cars.

I’ve enjoyed some of Paltrow’s work as an actress, but am big time turning my nose up at her shilling activities. She clearly has a controversial personal side (see: LOL – Gwyneth Paltrow admits to having a “dirty sense of humor”) which I’ve admitted liking, but this shilling, especially using the pandemic for cover is horrifically poor-timed marketing. There is likely never a good time to hawk an $8,600 gold necklace under the guise of necessary hiking necessities but it sure staves off the possibility of returning for another MCU movie someday.

Pepper is rubbing salt in the potted, festering wounds of mankind with these obscenely expensive products. Caveat emptor.

Sylvester Stallone Lists $110M LA Mansion – Moving To Palm Beach, Florida

The list of celebs exiting California grows, with Sylvester Stallone the latest to list his $110,000,000 mansion and looking toward greener pastures.

The “Rocky” star purchased the 3.5-acre spread in the 1990s and build a custom mansion clocking in at 21,000 square feet with a tax bill of more than $125,000, according to Dirt.com. The main home is an eight-bedroom and 12-bath mansion which a massive library/office with a barrel-vaulted ceiling. Stallone has it decked out with a ton of “Rocky” memorabilia, which isn’t likely included with the house. There’s also a “Rocky” statue, with his gloved hands raised in triumph that is guarding an arched window, the site notes.

Sylvester Stallone lists LA mansion for jaw-dropping $130M | Fox Business

Note: the article references $130 million, but an LA Times article quotes $110 million, so this post is going with the lower figure. Don’t know which is accurate.

We are looking to downsize from our home, definitely don’t have an extra $110 mil laying around, nor do we have any desire to relocate to Los Angeles. Still, can’t deny it’s a gorgeous looking home. Even without the Rocky memorabilia it looks appealing.

But the price tag. How many people have $110mil budgeted for their home? This is a home for a tech mogul or some other kind of wealthy individual. And somebody who wants to live in California. No, no, no thanks.

Anybody reading in the market for a home like this? Know anybody that would be interested in buying this and actually has the doe-ray-me? Yo Adrian!!!

Betty White Turns 99, Still Great Example Of How To Live Happy, Long and Well

Man, who doesn’t love Betty White? Happy birthday to her, as she turned double 9’s. Just one year to hit the triple threat 100. Will be shocked if she doesn’t make it. Heck, she might just make it 10+ more years. I hope so.

With a career that spanned over eight decades and counting, including roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls, as well as countless talk show and game show appearances, White has become an example of how to live well and live long. “I am blessed with good health,” she said, “so turning 99 is no different than turning 98.”

Valerie Bertinelli Shares Betty White Bloopers on Her 99th Birthday | PEOPLE.com

Like White’s humor, too. Caught her on a Comedy Central roast recently and she was funny without being profane. She has that Bill Cosby (his comedy, not his persona) type of clean comedy vibe. It’s a lot harder to be funny without being profane and Betty White does that well. She’s old school, and I mean that as a compliment.

Can you think of others that are funny and clean?

Fiery $75 Candle That Smells Like Gwyneth Paltrow’s Vagina Bursts Into Flames in UK Home

Wasn’t aware that Iron Man’s right hand lady, Pepper Potts, er, Gwyneth Paltrow who plays the character sells expensive scented candles … of a very personal nature.

But smells like she does.

“This candle started as a joke between perfumer Douglas Little and GP,” reads the website. “The two were working on a fragrance, and she blurted out, “Uhhh..this smells like a vagina’ — but evolved into a funny, gorgeous, sexy, and beautifully unexpected scent. (That turned out to be perfect as a candle.)”

Gwyneth Paltrow’s ‘vagina’ candle explodes in UK woman’s home: report | Fox Business

One of those candles smells like her (?) vagina — lol, no, this isn’t a gag . Despite the strangeness, this candle apparently had some kind of chemical malfunction and exploded inside a UK homeowner’s living room.

Who buys candles smelling like somebody else’s private parts? Ok, for those of you who love that smell, do you burn that in your house when you invite friends over. “Hey, what’s that smell? Oh, that’s Pepper Potts? Nice!” Over the family dinner do you remark about the smell of vagina?

Yeah, ridiculous. And priced way outside of what any candle should ever cost. $75?!? You can subscribe to Disney+ for an entire year or spend a few hours enveloped by feminine aroma? Let’s see …

This is familiar territory for Paltrow, see: LOL – Gwyneth Paltrow admits to having a “dirty sense of humor”

Not knocking anybody who wants to buy these candles, of course. Spend your money wherever and however you want. You worked hard for it. Us? Hard, hard, hard, hard — pun completely intended — pass.

Stunts Gone Wrong: Yes, Courtney Henggeler really slapped Martin Kove in Cobra Kai Season 3

The slap was accidental, but we all wanted it to be real, didn’t we?

Oh, that slap, we need to talk about it.

Cobra Kai fans have probably seen it by now. Maybe some non-fans, so I don’t think this is a super-SPOILER, but if you haven’t seen Amanda Larusso, Daniel’s dealership partner wife in Cobra Kai slap Cobra Kai dojo sensei John Kreese, then it’s one of the must watch moments of Season 3. I’m not going to get into the story reasons why she slapped Kreese. You’ll have to watch the show to learn the context, but it’s a juicy dramatic moment.

There are so many must-watch moments in all three seasons of Cobra Kai, but in this post, we’re just going to focus on stunts gone wrong. It happens.

The slap was absolutely intended to be a stunt. Henggeler — who has one of the most difficult to spell last names in show business — was excited that she got to perform a stunt in Season 3. She worked with a stunt coordinator. She was supposed to miss.

Eventually, Henggeler prepared for the slapping scene with both Kove and a stunt coordinator and said things went just fine until the very last take when she missed her mark. “They say if you do [a stunt] and if you make contact with the person you’re doing the stunt with, just to keep going because if you stop, then not only have you just hurt somebody, but you’ve ruined the shot,” she remembered. So when her hand actually connected to Kove’s face, she tried to play it off. “I hit him in the face, hard — not intentionally, obviously — and I was like, ‘Don’t make a face!’ And I think it’s the take they used,” Henggeler said. 

How good is Ralph Macchio at Karate in real life?

The fact that they used the real slap is a statement on stunts being dangerous. Not that a slap couldn’t injure somebody, but let’s remember that Martin Kove is in his 70s. Bones get more brittle. You don’t recover as easily and speedily from bumps and bruises . Stunts gone wrong can kill people. This stunt would not have killed Kove, most likely, but it’s interesting that the real slap is the stunt they used. It’s the one that looked most realistic … because it was.

This made me wonder about other stunts gone wrong that were used in films. Probably one of the most tragic stunts that comes to mind — and the footage of course was NOT used — is on the set of The Twilight Zone movie (see: SXSW 2020 REVIEW: Cursed Films Season 1 – All 5 Episodes Rated and Reviewed) with John Landis where Vic Morrow and two child actors were killed when a helicopter literally fell on them, rotor blades spinning and chopping. There’s some chilling real footage on YouTube if you poke around, but I’m not going to link or embed it here. Argh, it chills me in a Faces of Death way thinking about that footage.

Jackie Chan does a lot of his own stunts. He’s had plenty of accidents and been hurt. Go watch Rumble in the Bronx and then stay with it as the closing credits roll. You’ll see him break a leg — really — and more.

Sarah Connor in T2, played by Linda Hamilton, is almost permanently deaf in one ear because that weapon she wasn’t wearing hearing protection when she fired that gun inside the elevator.

Not that I want to glamorize actors being hurt in stunts in this post in any way, but we need to remember that for all that actors are paid, and some are paid really well (lead actors, particularly), when they’re doing stuntwork there can be real world danger involved. There are safety protocols in place on sets, but they don’t always get followed like they should, just like any other job.

That slap, though? Viewers wanted, needed it to be real. We can be happy that it was because Martin Kove never got hurt. There’s something kind of cool about that stunt gone wrong.

Do you have a favorite stunt gone wrong that made it into the movie or TV show?

Denzel Washington Refused to Play Miles Dyson in Terminator 2 because “all he does is look scared and sweat”

Terminator 2: Judgment Day ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Some quotes from actors make me laugh. When I read why Denzel Washington passed on a role in T2, it shows that actors can limit themselves based on the character portrayal in a script, even great actors like Denzel.

So, here’s a fast fact I didn’t know: that James Cameron wanted Denzel to play Miles Dyson in T2. Washington passed on the role, saying the followingL

“No offense to Jim Cameron, but when I read the script, I thought, ‘All he does is look scared and sweat,’” Washington told the magazine. “I had to pass. I don’t know if I have room to embarrass myself, or people, through my work. A script comes to you. You make a decision on it.”

‘Terminator 2’: The Real Reason Denzel Washington Refused to Play Miles Dyson

Joe Morton ended up playing Miles Dyson in T2. Come to think of it, he did sweat a lot in the movie, but there was more to the role than sweating. Denzel fixated on that role, but can you imagine if he had played Dyson? I’m thinking about his work in The Equalizer and then imagining him as Miles Dyson. Would he have brought more to the role than Joe Morton? We’ll never know.

I think it’s fascinating that he passed based solely on the script. That he didn’t think he could add more to the role than sweating and fear. Joe Morton surely did, and with all due respect, Morton isn’t half the actor as Denzel Washington.

Actors pass on scripts all the time. I wonder if he regrets not working with James Cameron? It’s easy to say after a film is a great success that you wish you’d been in it and I didn’t see Denzel say that.

Maybe they make a TV show about Miles Dyson? Denzel probably wouldn’t play him, but it would be a chance to do a lot more with this pivotal character in Skynet history than be scared and sweat.

Shia LaBeouf and Charlie Sheen Blacklisted in Hollywood?

Why does this last week reading internet articles seem like seeing a bunch of gossip rag magazine titles near the grocery store checkout stand?

Then again, sometimes even those rags get the riches right.

Have never been much of a Shia LaBeouf fan, sort of believing he was overrated. The Transformer movies, let’s be honest, aren’t exactly actor range-stretching roles, but he surprised me in Peanut Butter Falcon. I liked what he did in that film. I tried (briefly) to get into Honeyboy but it wasn’t really my type of movie. Not saying that was a good or bad film, it just didn’t click with me. No harm, no foul there.

Alas, I’ve come across several recent articles citing some serious problems LaBeouf has had off screen leading to him allegedly being blacklisted in Hollywood. He was also fired from Olivia Wilde’s second movie, Don’t Worry Darling before much filming even began, for being difficult to work with — allegedly. Wilde reportedly has a “no asshole” policy on set.

But this stuff with stray dogs? WTH?!?

I suspect, rightly or not, that audiences are able to eventually forgive racism, violence and domestic abuse – but killing dogs for kicks is another matter altogether. As such, scooper Daniel Richtman is reporting that LaBeouf is now fully blacklisted in Hollywood. He’s been dropped from every part he was cast in, isn’t attached to any upcoming projects and won’t be considered for any further high profile roles. At least, not for a long, long time.

Shia LaBeouf Is Reportedly Fully Blacklisted In Hollywood Now

Animal cruelty, seriously? Got to hope this is all BS and not true.

Then there’s Charlie Sheen, Mr. Tiger Blood himself. Apparently he’s living in a van down by the river, er, he is/was/might be major league behind on child support and went to live with his parents for a time being.

At one point, when he moved out of the famed Mulholland Estates, Sheen, 55, moved in with his parents, the source says — Martin Sheen is 80, and Janet Sheen is 76. “Think how inglorious that is: he’s gone from the highest paid person on television to living in Malibu with his father and mother. He could be the oldest son in Malibu living with his parents!” says the insider.  

From Baller To Squalor: Charlie Sheen Moves Into Modest Malibu Apartment After He Was Forced To Live With Dad, 80, And Mom, 76

Like the title of that post, “From Baller to Squalor” — it just doesn’t make any sense for a guy that was once clearing millions from his TV gig. Clearly a sign that excess can destroy anyone.

Will we ever see Shia LeBeaouf or Charlie Sheen in any significant acting roles again? My guess is yes. They both are too talented to keep out of films, but it sounds like whomever takes a chance on a project involving them is going to be taking on some very high risk.

Are you interested in seeing new movies by either or both of these actors?