Michael's Musings

Turn & Face The Strange
Michael Shinafelt

Hello lovely beings! This week it's time we turn to face the strange. In both ways literally, strange is good when it is inclusive, but when it is exclusive, well you know how that goes, right "President" Trump.

Yeah, I wanted to use a few more choice words, but I chose to take the high road.

OK, enough of my preaching, here we go!!!

Anyone watching Taboo on FX? I am, I like it! It also doesn't hurt that Tom Hardy is 
H-O-T!

Immigration Ban? Where the fuck did you come from Dumpster????

I want whatever meds Winona Ryder is on,

Try not to be a Twatsicle 

Eat Cheeseburgers & Make Love

I saw LeAnn Rimes this past weekend with Ken Phillips, amazing! She closed with a cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, I still hear it in my head. 

Sometimes you have to GROI! Get Rid Of It.

Margaret Cho & Myself
Fashion Police
Photo: Ken Phillips

Hung with Margaret Cho on the set of Fashion Police this past week. Yeah, I know how to have a good time.

Come hither I like to lick, a lot!

"Beauty and femininity are ageless" - Marilyn Monroe 

What kind of a world do we live in when auto-correct tries to change something you wrote into Blake Lively???

I'm eating healthier and working out, aren't you happy?

Yeah, that is enough. Done.

Come to me, I am here at:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Monday, Monday....Stranger Things

"Monday, Monday, So good to me, Monday morning, It was all I hoped it would be" - The Mamas & The Papas

It's the Monday after the Screen Actors Guild Awards and there were some amazing speeches last nice in case you missed them.

Well since I have been super busy this weekend and am headed to a 6:30 am taping of Fashion Police this morning, let me leave you with one of them. 

The cast of Stranger Things won for best ensemble in a drama series. The gang gave the mic over to star David Harbour better known as Chief Jim Hopper and boy was it amazing!

Thus I leave you with it to kick your week off on a positive note. I need to motor Margaret Cho and Melissa Rivers are waiting.

PS - be sure to check out Winona Ryder's facial expressions too, they are the best!

Get ready for a spoonful of truth!

See some "Stranger Things" on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/StrangerThingsTV/

Michael's Musings

I'm Not Bad, I'm Just Photographed That Way
Michael Shinafelt

So 2017 is picking up a little steam this week, and IMHOP not in a good way. 

It's that time of the week again, yep, I have a weekly, for my take on everything. Here we go, here we go now, get busy!


My best advice to everyone this year? Be your own fucking star!!!!

Honestly I really don't care about Donald Trump's fixation on golden showers, so what? What bothers me is him being a sociopath.

In case you give a crack, I got a bicycle this week, Yay me!

Bicycle, Bicycle!

There will always be overrated rim job queens

My producer friend Shani Bayne accidentally included me on her production group text conversation. Girl I now know when you are sleeping and I know when you are awake.

Maresa Wickham you rock! Literally. Like me!

Good things happen when you smile, or you are naked

Meryl Streep, Meryl Streep, Meryl Streep

Quote of the Week: "I love pussy, but hate this dress" Margaret Cho commenting on Carrie Underwood's vagina dress @ The Golden Globe's on Fashion Police

Fox News said Casey Anthony won Best Actor for Manchester By The Sea at The Golden Globe's. Ummmmm, it was Casey Affleck. But Casey Anthony wins best liar who was set free for killing her baby. Her and OJ Simpson have a lot they could talk about. 

Have you ever seen Kellyanne Conway and the Gollum in the same place? Just Saying.

So long, farewell, I'm going to really miss Barack & Michelle Obama. Your legacy will never be forgotten for the correct reasons. 

Engage with me here or at:
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/  

Slow & Steady Wins The Grammy...Margaret Cho!

It's that time of the year again, awards season and as you may, or perhaps not know one Ms. Margaret Cho is nominated for a Best Comedy Album Grammy for her effort American Myth.

Margaret has had an amaze balls 20 plus year career that has always been steadfast and true. This is also her 5th nomination so all you Cho Ho's out there who have a Grammy ballot, you'd better cast your vote for her because isn't it about time the woman won?!?! Hell yes it is!!!

Of note Margaret and the Fashion Police return on January 9th and she will be on Access Hollywood Live on January 5th.

Remember this is the year white people are supposed to get their comeuppance during award season and what better way to do that than cast your Grammy ballot for Margaret in the Best Comedy Album category. 

All kidding aside, just do it!

Get social with Margaret at:

https://twitter.com/margaretcho
https://www.facebook.com/officialmargaretcho/
https://www.instagram.com/margaret_cho/?hl=en   

Michael's Musings

The Rock Star & The Nerd
Starring:
Taylor Momsen & Michael Shinafelt

This past week I had the pleasure of seeing a live show by The Pretty Reckless, courtesy of my friend and awesome publicist Ken Phillips at The Mayan in Los Angeles.

What word would I use to describe the performance? WOW! Front woman Taylor Momsen (former star of Gossip Girl) will make you forget she started out as an actress. She was born to rock!

Enough of the hyperbole, let's kick it!

Has anyone out there ever had a lawsuit over frozen embryos other than Sofia Vergara?

I had a colonoscopy in Los Angeles. You should have one too if you live anywhere else and are due. Don't put it off. PS - I passed with flying colors and gas.

Confession. The Pretty Reckless show is the first time I had Jack Daniels & Diet Coke as a complimentary drink in a long time. I chose it because the show was late and I knew it would keep me awake.

Addendum to the above confession. After I got home from the awesome show and wound down, I had a dream I was doing drugs with Miley Cyrus. See how long it's been since I drank "liquid crack" which is my pet name for it.

Ken Phillips gave me a really groovy Margaret Cho hoodie for my Birthday. It's December 18th mark your calendars.

I have the biggest crush on someone.

A shout out to fellow writer Selena Fragassi who I met at the TPR show. Welcome to Los Angeles! 

The Pretty Reckless
Photo: Michael Shinafelt

Quote of the Week: "Kinda how actors study & train & devote their lives to their craft only to be replaced by reality stars must be how career politicians feel" - Tara Strong Voice Over Artist 

Check out the funny as f@#k parody - by my friend E.G. Daily & her partner in crime Melinda Hill Melanoma & Bulimia, Melania Trump's cousins here :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH6VmZudQ4w

Looks like Boy George is going to be a presence on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills this season. You thought Lisa Vanderpump was a sniper from the side, just you wait!

I asked a security guard to fasten my wristband on me for The Pretty Reckless show instead of doing it myself. I told him I was mentally challenged, he laughed.(glad there are people out there who still have a sense of humor)

Can we all just be honest BTW. Unless a miracle happens, we are going to make history, "yes" for the first time ever we are going to have a sex worker as first lady. While I have nothing against sex workers, I do have a thing against hypocrisy.

Time to motor, catch me at the links below:

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/ 

Grammy Nominee: Margaret Cho!!!

Winning!
Margaret Cho
Photo: Dusti Cunningham


This weeks Birthday Girl is on a roll with her fourth Grammy Nomination. Will number four be the charm? Even if Margaret doesn't strike gold, she's still winning! Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Emmy nominated comedian Margaret Cho has been nominated for her fourth career Grammy nomination in the Best Comedy Album category today for her latest studio album, American Myth.   American Myth  is the follow-up to her 2010 Grammy nominated debut album Cho Dependent and is Margaret’s first new music in over 6 years via her Clownery Records label.  To order click here: http://margaretcho.com/shop/american-myth/ .  

I'm thrilled to receive this nomination and I share this honor with Garrison Starr and Roger Rocha and all the other artists who contributed to this album. Also it's going to be a blast to be on the red carpet reporting on all the fashions first hand as an undercover (sort of) officer for Fashion Police! – Margaret Cho

You can view all four videos off the album below; “Anna Nicole,” “Ron’s Got a DUI,” “Fat Pussy” and the controversial “(I Want To) Kill My Rapist.”   

“Anna Nicole” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-acvUDqEEE

“Ron’s Got a DUI” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIrvFK955KY

“Fat Pussy” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zHNwJoGwlA

“(I Want To) Kill My Rapist” -   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TXCmkhr-nE

 “I am extremely proud to release American Myth. This is an album of anthems and showcases my first efforts as a composer. I made it with my longtime collaborator Garrison Starr and an incredible and inspiring crew of artists. It is my glamorous and glittering tribute to family, comedy, anger, fame, gayness, grief, fat pride, love and hate. “ – Margaret Cho

Margaret returns to tv as special co-host on “Fashion Police” on E! Monday, January 9 at 8 p ET/PT with coverage of the Golden Globe Awards and and will also continue to tour with her ever evolving stand-up comedy show throughout 2016 and 2017.  She will continue to tackle difficult subjects with sensitivity and razor sharp insight. A pioneer amongst women in comedy, Margaret doesn’t take anything for granted. 

“It’s a wonderful thing to be known as a ‘safe haven’ for people who feel disenfranchised. The audience at my shows don’t necessarily consider themselves traditional comedy fans. I seem to be a secure alternative for people who don’t think they’re being represented in society. They come because my point of view satisfies a lot of what needs to be said out there, and that makes me really proud.”

2016 Tour Dates

December –

9    -   Genesee Theatre  -   Waukegan, IL

31 -    Blaisdell Concert Hall  with Bill Maher  -  Honolulu, HI

2017 Tour Dates

January -

1                 -  Maui Arts & Cultural Center with Bill Maher  -  Maui, HI

20  & 21   Tampa Improv  -  Tampa, FL

27   -   Tulalip Resort Casino  -  Marrysville, WA

February –

3 & 4  -  Improv   -  Brea, CA

23 -  Wheeler Opera House/LAFF Festival  -   Aspen, CO

Margaret Cho Official Website http://www.margaretcho.com/

Margaret Cho Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialmargaretcho

Margaret Cho Twitter: https://twitter.com/margaretcho/

Margaret Cho YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/margaretcho

Happy Birthday Margaret Cho!

Look, It's The Doublemint Twins!
Me & Margaret Cho
Voyeurs:
Jackie Kilmer & Rhonda Bernstein

Today is my fellow Sagittarius Margaret Cho's Birthday! As you may or may not have read she recently spent a stint in rehab and is now in recovery. Thus I wanted to give her a shout out on her special day.

Margaret and I have known each other for years now, not only is she one of the funniest damned people on the face of the planet, she also gives back to the world around her through her political activism via her comedy and action. As well as her charitable work, especially on behalf of the homeless in San Francisco with the Be Robin campaign honoring her friend the late brilliant Robin Williams.

So join the rank of Cho Ho and wish this wonderful lady a Happy, Happy at one of the links below, it will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. OK, more like, it will make you remember the fight is real and to take action rather than reaction. Happy now???

Bend it like Margaret.

Happy Birthday Margaret! 
xoxo
Michael

Margaret's Birthday Links:
https://twitter.com/margaretcho
margaretcho.com/
https://www.facebook.com/officialmargaretcho/  

Michael's Musings

Eat Your Heart Out, Madonna
Michael Shinafelt

It's Thursday and I'm back! It's my wrap up of random thoughts and opinions about this past week headed into the weekend.

Brace yourself. This could be offensive depending on your level of political correctness!

Why the F#@k should Simon Cowell have apologized for jokingly saying to openly gay TV host Rylan Clark-Neal  "I thought you liked the back door" on National TV? The only way this would be any sort of an insult is if he was a total top.  

Can you live in only dermatology and water sports?

Accelerate easy, break easy, like making love. That's one way of doing it I suppose.

Tori Spelling apparently wants to give Octomom a run for her money. She is pregnant with baby number five. Six, Seven & Eight, cumming soon!

File This Under TMI - I watch the Real Housewives of New York while sitting on the toilet.

Street Talk: "Hunt the brown worker face." Your guess is as good as mine what that means, especially since a Latin Guy said it. 

"For every pussy a pair of shoes will go to a child in need" - Margaret Cho, Green Tea. This should be Trump's last gasp campaign slogan. 

How about that episode six twist on American Horror Story: My Roanoke Nightmare last night???

Let's Bounce!

Law & Order: SVU still rulz after eighteen seasons.

Time for a little self care, not to be confused with self love. Ciao!

Time to tweet at:
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt    

"Yellow Bitches In The Driver's Seat"

We Got That Bomb Pussy
Awkwafina & Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho. Awkwafina. Green Tea.

Any Questions???

The Rapper and Comedian collaborate for a NSFW anthem Green Tea in celebration of womanhood and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

"I remember watching Margaret Cho with my grandmother on TV. She was my hero, not only because she was funny, but because she showed me that it's okay to be yourself, that it's okay to be a brash yellow girl, and to be a strong and brave woman. To collab with her is a dream come true, but larger than that, there has rarely been two Asian AMERICAN WOMEN being ratchet together, or just being in a music video. This song is a tongue and cheek take on traditional stereotypes, with a strong underlying message for all young women of color to embrace their quirkiness, their sexuality, their inner-child and their creativity with passion. I love Margaret, and I hope some young girl (but not too young) watches this video and it inspires them somehow. Stay angry!" -Awkwafina

"I'm so grateful to work with Awkwafina and this song and video was such fun! It was incredibly natural and easy - as if the song had been already written and we were just channeling it! Awkwafina is the future!" - Margaret Cho

Awkwafina at: 
http://www.awkwafina.com/

Margaret Cho at:
http://margaretcho.com/  

Time For FUN-Raising - It's Red Nose Day!

Photo:
Michael Shinafelt

"Rudolph with your nose so bright won't you guide my sleigh tonight" - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer 

It's Red Nose Day an event designed to bring people together and do some FUN-raising for kids who need it most. 

The slogan for Red Nose Day is: Laugh. Give. Save A Kid. I have been seeing billboards everywhere for weeks on buses and in subway stations. Like the photo of the one I took above at the one on Hollywood &Vine. 

Oh and there is also a two hour event tonight in honor of it on NBC at 9/8 central.

To find out how you can get involved check out the link below! Happy Red Nose Day!!! 

Get Your "Nose" On!
http://rednoseday.org/     

"The View" According To Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho Is Here To Help
Photo: Dusti Cunningham

Yes, tomorrow if you watch the talk fest The View you will get some Margaret Cho realness mixed in with...like who the heck is even hosting that show anymore?! There has been such a revolving door and so many people filling in for other people who need people, whatever!

All you need to know about tomorrow's broadcast is Margaret will be on addressing the topics du jour.

One thing I am positive will come up will be Ms. Cho's sophomore musical effort American Myth. Can I get an amen and a high five to this?!

So if you are a fan of The View, Thursday is going to have a little extra something, something. If you are a Cho fan, well this is the only day you are mandated to tune in, Tivo and or DVR this show.

Margaret is here for you and your almost Friday rut, yes, really.

Also, be sure to start your week off with Margaret and the Fashion Police squad when they pass judgment  on the outfits from the Billboard Music Awards this coming Monday May 23rd.

When it comes to helping you out with the weekly grind, Margaret has got you covered.

Pencil Margaret in for your week at: 
http://margaretcho.com/    

Margaret Cho Takes On The "American Myth"

Margaret Cho has never been one to shy away from taking on any subject matter in her stand-up shows. Her no holds barred attitude has crossed over into another aspect of her career as well, that being her music.

For those of you who may not be aware Margaret started exploring her hidden talent of expressing herself through song with her freshman CD Cho Dependent released in August of 2010.

Her sophomore effort American Myth drops this Friday, April 29th 2016. On it Margaret is as fearless as ever!

So, without further hyperbole, here to discuss Anna Nicole, Sexual Abuse, Sex Workers, Movie Titles For Your Butt Hole and last but not least, the American Myth is the one and only Margaret Cho!!!

MS: That meme you posted on Facebook the other day about movie titles for your butt hole got a lot of mileage.

MC: I laughed so hard over those! My favorite was "Three Men and a Baby!"

MS: A friends of mine saw that I participated in it and insisted that I post it to her page.

MC: Did you have a favorite?

MS: Other than mine? I thought mine was pretty good.

MC: Which one was yours?

MS: "Something Wicked This Way Comes."

MC: Oh, that's a genius one! That's really genius. I laughed so hard all day at the great responses! "The Color Purple" kept coming up a lot, that one is classic.

                                                                 Anna Nicole
                                    
MS: You have a video for the song about your late friend Anna Nicole Smith, titled "Anna Nicole" off your CD "American Myth."

MC: Yes.

MS: Expand on a statement you made about her: "some people are too good for this world."

MC: That's why my album is called "American Myth." It's the idea that certain people are too beautiful for this world. Whether that's Marilyn Monroe or James Dean. Anybody in the twenty-seven club like Kurt Cobain or Janis Joplin. But it also relates to something that's inside of yourself, sometimes innocent parts of ourselves die off because this world is too terrible and cruel to sustain it. There's different levels, thing like being too precious to survive, only the good die young kind of thing. It's not just people, it's elements of our own beings that can't live, it's too hard.

MS: There was an innocence and sweetness about Anna Nicole.

MC: Yes,and given the circumstances around her death, she had just lost her son. He died in her hospital room. She had just had a baby almost immediately after that, so she had grief and postpartum depression combined. It's a miracle she lived as long as she did through all that incredible suffering.

MS: This is your second CD. How was working on this different than the first?

MC: On this album it was the first time I had input on composing. There's a few songs that I composed entirely. There were some different artists helping me out, for the most part it is an album that I composed which is exciting.

                                                       I Want To Kill My Rapist


MS: I want to bring up the song "I Want To Kill My Rapist," which was the first video off of "American Myth." You tackling the subject of rape has brought a lot of mixed reaction to say the least. I remember you did make a joke at The Wiltern that made the audience groan. I can't remember it, do you remember what it was?

MC: The one about my uncle who raped me, is the one I think it was. When I said "but I don't want to see him again, because I don't want to fuck him again. Because that's what would happen because we never broke up." That one makes people so upset, but it's me trying to lighten the mood. (laughs) The thing is if we don't make it OK to talk about and joke about sexual abuse it's going to continue happening. Look at fucking Dennis Hastert Speaker of the House, he's allocating fund in order to buy the silence of these young men, who are now grown men, who still have to live with the suffering and the shame of it. Sexual abuse is something that has long been considered a woman's issue, but really it's a global one, for men as well it's something we need to deal with.

MS: Having been molested I tend to be sensitive to the subject. However I think it is important to have an open dialogue and be able to joke about it as well.

MC: It's hard as survivors. We're meant to stay silent about certain things. Breaking the silence and allowing survivors to speak will  help protect the innocents of this generation. Silence and shame are accomplices to a predator. It shouldn't happen like that, that's something that we can control.

Troubadour
Margaret Cho
Photo: Dusti Cunningham

MS: You also have a song titled "Come With Me" about sex workers on the album.

MC: It should be decriminalized it would make it easier for people to work in the sex worker industry to report crimes that are committed against them. People who work in the industry don't have the ability to prosecute because they are afraid of getting arrested themselves. We have to improve the way society thinks about sex work. The song came from when I was recording in El Paso and I saw a lot of young male prostitutes. I wanted to take one to an amusement park. Because they were the age of a son I would have, if I had children. That is totally a legitimate reason to hire a sex worker, you want to have that love experience of being a mother with a son. The video is set, it will be out sometime soon. It is really a way to have people acknowledge that sex workers are also somebody's children. It's not about rescuing them because they are doing something wrong, it's that they are also kids. 

MS: This country is way to uptight about sex. Yet, murderers and criminals become stars and make money. There is something off about that.

MC: I know, I know. 

MS: Isn't it the worst?

MC: It really is! 

Get Mythical With Margaret at:
http://margaretcho.com/
https://twitter.com/margaretcho
https://www.facebook.com/officialmargaretcho 

#Hashtag Monday...#Prince #MargaretCho #JamesDurbin #MichaelShinafelt

Me & Margaret Cho
@ The Wiltern

"It's just another manic Monday, I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my funday, My I don't have to runday" - The Bangles Written by Prince

Wow! What a week it has been all I can think of is Prince, Prince, Prince. I have always loved the Purple One for his art, humanity and balls.

The reality of the impact he had on my life really set in after a few days. Hearing my awesome spin instructor Michelle Siegel play his songs while I toiled away on the stationary bike brought me to how he really influenced my life and person.

This quote from the Internet nails my sentiments perfectly:

"Thinking about how we mourn artists we've never met. We don't cry because we knew them, we cry because they helped us know ourselves"

Me & James Durbin
@ Universal City Walk

I really had to put this out there as Prince meant a lot to me and is a big part of who I am. Things to come this week? Look for my chat Wednesday with Margaret Cho about her CD that drops this Friday, April 29th American Myth.
Also I am attending my buddy James Durbin's free concert at Universal City Walk this Friday coincidentally the 29th as well. So you know I will have some killer exclusive pics.
Have a terrific week!
Follow Me On Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt

Anna Nicole Smith "American Myth"

Guitar Hero
Margaret Cho
Photo: Dusti Cunningham

Today I chatted with Margaret Cho about her CD American Myth which will drop on April 29th, yes you will have to wait another week before you get to eavesdrop on the fun we had, so there!

Margaret released the video for the song Anna Nicole from the upcoming album this week. Cho appeared on Smith's E! series, The Anna Nicole Show, and was friends with the starlet, whom she's praised in the past — as well as on this song — for changing the perception of bigger women in the beauty industry. Here is what she has to say about the late bombshell:

"American Myth is a lyric from the song, 'Anna Nicole,' about the American myth that certain people are too beautiful for this world," Cho told A Plus. "They die young because they are too good for it. That is Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, the 27 Club — this is the same with Anna Nicole. I knew her and her death struck me very hard, and still does."

Jump down to the video.

                                                                      Anna Nicole

In Margaret We Trust at: 

http://margaretcho.com/