Michael's Monday Musings

Don't Bother Me, I'm Basking
Michael Shinafelt

Today, rather than devote space to one thing I decided to give it up to many things. My impressions of this past week. Are you ready? Fasten your seat belts, because it's going to come hard and fast!

Congratulations to RuPaul on winning his first Emmy as reality TV show host. Much deserved, he is so good at what he does.

People who whistle in public places need to be silenced. It's really annoying.

My condolences to the Arquette family. I have encountered Alexis over the years he was a sweet soul. I am sorry for your loss.

I am loving the Real House Wives of New York reunion shows. Especially Bethenny Frankel for bringing bitchy back! So glad Jules Wainstein is not returning, I couldn't believe how much vagina she brought to the table.

Living in Southern California is the best! The weather of late has been so amazing.

Pretty Little Liars summer finale has only been little over a week ago and damn I miss that show already. Hurry up April 2017!

American Horror Story Season 6 premieres this Wednesday. That will fill the "Liars" void.

Nothing is better than a great spin class, luckily I have found two instructors at Gold's Gym Hollywood that fit the bill. Cheers Michelle and Jessica you are the best!

People yelling "Beat It Creep" at me when I am walking down the street wearing the T-Shirt Traci Lords gave me from her clothing line with the saying on it is always good fun.

I'm ready for the election to be over, seriously it feels like it's been going as long as I've been alive!

Follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt

Double Vision: Shay Mitchell

Seeing Double
Shay Mitchell

It's no secret that I am a big fan of Freeform's Pretty Little Liars. Can you believe that summer finale?! When Noel Kahn got beheaded it was shocking and funny all at once, "yes" I laughed, really hard!

What I can't believe is they are going to make us what until Spring for the final ten episodes of the series. April to be exact. I cry foul, the show usually returns in January. Oh, well what is one going to do? Keep up with the "Liars" on social media naturally. 

It seems like only yesterday I was Tweeting, in fact it was when this fun image of Shay Mitchell came through on my feed with the caption: "Never Stop Smiling" which, yeah, made me smile : )

Shay for those of you who aren't aware plays Emily Fields on PLL. Speaking of Emily, I was intrigued that she and Alison DiLaurentis poartrayed by Sasha Pieterse on the show seem to be coupling.

Personally I would love this! Also there is a fan theory out there that actually makes sense. In one of the episodes Emily decides to donate her eggs to make money. They end up stolen, Alison reveals to Emily she is pregnant in the summer finale. The theory is somehow the egg in Ali's womb belongs to Emily thus her unborn child is... Well you get the idea. This is one fan theory I think is going to prove true.

Keep Smiling!

Shay on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/shaymitch  

Puppy Love, Lucy Hale

When Lucy Met Elvis

Pretty Little Liars Lucy Hale recently introduced her 14 Million Instagram followers to her little white fur baby, Elvis. Posting several photos with captions like:

'I realize I'm becoming the annoying dog girl but seriously ?! He's so cuddly and fluffy and sweeeet'

She also made a fashion statement by accessorizing Elvis with a pair of overalls pictured above saying:

'Taking overalls to a whole new level with Elvis.' 

Being a huge Pretty Little Liars fan and having a soft spot for adorable little dogs I just had to post this

It's the dog days of summer after all...Happy Saturday!

No word on whether or not Lucy plans to train Elvis to do the Jailhouse Rock as of yet.

Lucy on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lucyhale/?hl=en

Pretty Little Liars: #SaveHanna

By now most of you should know that Pretty Little Liars is one of my favorite shows. Despite all of it's implausibilities it is sharply written, well acted and with engaging story lines and characters.

At the end of season six big liar Hanna went missing, kidnap to be exact and perhaps...dead?

OMG! I hope not I love Hanna as does my niece Shauna Waters. We would both be truly upset at her demise. 

Suspiciously Hanna portrayed by Ashley Benson, is absent from the smoking hot teaser art for season seven, as is one of Alison's, played by actress Sasha Pieterse, legs. 

OK, I can get the Hanna tease, but WTF? with Ally's leg? When did she become an amputee? Foreshadowing or bad photo shop? Other than Hanna's fate that so far is the biggest mystery of the upcoming season. 

The season seven premiere bears the title: " Tick-Tock Bitches," how rude! It kicks of with those lying women frantically trying to turn back time to a day when Hanna was still around and Uber "A" was not inside their heads.  

Join the "Liars" and my inner dork on June 21st at 8 pm on Freeform. 

So many lies, so little time at:
https://www.facebook.com/prettylittleliars

Unhappy Ending With Lucy Hale

Do I Look Happy?!
Lucy Hale

Pretty Little Liars is back, five years after the torture "A" aka Charlotte DiLaurentis and guess who turned up D-E-A-D in Rosewood? "A" got out of the nut house and someone killed her ass!

Obviously this will be the central mystery (with a lot of sub plots happening) for the seventh and rumor has it, final season of the show. 

What did I think you ask? I loved the five year forward jump. It added much needed new life to the show. While I would never abandon my "Liars" the switching things up move proved to be awesome! Kudos to the astute writing.

How will it all end? Out of the mouth of Lucy Hale aka Aria Montgomery comes this bold statement:

"I used to say, oh I want the girls to end up happy and live an A-free life, but I kind of want it to end really tragically," Hale shares. "I want people to be really upset, like they've lost something when the show ends, because I know that my favorite shows have ended that way, so a tragic ending. I'll just leave it at that." 

Bingo! I have to get with Lucy on this comment. Cheers to an unhappy series finale!

Keep up with the Lying at:

https://www.facebook.com/prettylittleliars

Got A Secret..?

Pretty Little Liars
Hits Paleyfest

With the Pretty Little Liars winter premiere set in the not too distant future, but distant enough for those of us (ahem, me!) who are fans of the show, January 12, 2016. The "Liars" recently took to a panel discussion of the show in NYC for Paleyfest, which takes place at the Paley Center for Media and bills itself as "the ultimate TV fan festival."

It not only hosts the stars of the show, but the creators as well. Everyone who works hard to give you an evening of entertainment on your favorite shows all in one place, yes!

Joining in the chat about what's to come on PLL, as the kids call it these days, this season were: Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, Sasha Pieterse, Joe Dougherty, Oliver Goldstick, I Marlene King and moderator Andy Swift.

The fan boy in me wishes I could have been there! But I am sure we will get teased with tantalizing bits of information plenty between now and January 12. 

Buckle up PLL fans it's going to be a bumpy 2016!

Remember the greatest story ever told started with a lie.

Keep track of the deceit at: 

https://www.facebook.com/prettylittleliars   

Go Pink Flamingo With Shay Mitchell!

Shay Mitchell Sunning Pink Flamingo Style

What would we do without Instagram? We would never find photos of celebrities enjoying summertime, naturally.

So here I am checking out pages and what to my computer strained eyes did appear? Why Pretty Little Liars Shay Mitchell and one inflatable Pink Flamingo hanging in the sun!

What?! Why do I follow Shay on the internet? Because those who know me know what a huge Pretty Little Liars fan I am - and Shay is terrific as Emily Fields on the show!

Not to mention she looks amazing in this shot, but that goes without saying, I mean seriously the word "Pretty" in the title of the show says it all.

The mind does wonder what draws Shay to flamingos, is she a John Waters fan perhaps?

Hmmmmmmmmm....

Follow Shay on Instagram, because I said so at:

https://instagram.com/shaym/

TBT - Pretty Little Liars "Taking This One To The Grave"

Watch Your Back Mona! Ooooops! Too Late!

Let's revisit the Pretty Little Liars episode that was the catalyst for sending all of the girls to the pokey this past week. Look it's Mona Vanderwaal moments before she is murdered, fresh as a daisy and ripe for the picking off.

So my weekly check in with my niece Shauna Waters yielded nothing but confusion. I mean seriously everyone is a suspect at this point the way things are being portrayed. Heck I even had suspicions about Aria's Mom Ella this past week.

The most obvious suspect at this point is Andrew Campbell, but as we know in the land of "The Liars" nothing is that obvious, or perhaps it is...

According to Marlene King the "Big A" is someone who has been around since the first episode and it is someone we care about.

So I enlisted the sleuthing powers of my other niece Lindley Waters who recently viewed said episode and here is what she had to say:

"I have no clue. The problem with the first season is that they are still suspicious of Ian, who dies and,Toby and Jenna. So I dunno. I'm hoping it isn't one of the liars."

There you have it, Shauna, Lindley and Myself are stumped. So the three of us have decided to quit trying to figure it out - we can't wait until this Tuesday!

Appease your inner "Liar" at: https://www.facebook.com/prettylittleliars

TBT: Pretty Little Liars "A is for Answers"

Everybody Run, Hanna Marin Has A Gun!

With only one more episode to go until the Big "A" reveal it's time for another Throwback Thursday Pretty Little Liars post.

This still is from Season 4 Episode 24 bearing the title "A is for Answers." 

I'm really not sure if anything got answered in this one, but I have always wondered why Hanna never shot "A" and how she learned to brandish a gun like that.

Yes, I find Hanna's behavior, especially of late highly suspicious. She has gotten real tough and edgy behind bars and does not seem all that phased by any of it.

My niece Shauna Waters agrees. She doesn't want the big "A" to turn out to be Hanna because she loves the character so much. Me I personally would love it to be her, it would take the show to a whole new level of entertaining.

What's that you say? Oh, yeah Hanna's in jail and they keep showing a shadowy figure at the end of each episode doing sinister things. Well they did introduce a character who goes by the name of Varjack, who is not necessarily "A," perhaps it is them we see, hmmmmmmmm?

Just a thought.

Shauna and myself are probably wrong about Hanna, but honestly isn't her behavior getting less flighty and more calculated? Just sayin'.

Lying is fun! at: https://www.facebook.com/prettylittleliars

TBT - Pretty Little Liars: The Dark Ride

Liars Unite! Spencer, Hanna, Aria & Emily

This one goes out specifically to my fellow Pretty Little Liars fan and niece Ms. Shauna Waters.

Nothing said Halloween quite like the PLL episode The Dark Ride, season 3 episode 13. All the girls were on a train for a celebration of all that is spooky and creepy. Well you of course know who shows up to seal that deal, "A!" 

Since Hanna Marin is my niece Shauna's favorite character on the show, and she was on board the terror train as Marilyn Monroe, another of her faves - this Throwback Thursday is dedicated to you grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl!

With the big "A" reveal merely two episodes away, I have had my theories as to who that is, and one of them has been Hanna. But you never know what's happening with this roller coaster of a show anything is possible.

Shauna has yet to see this weeks PLL, you know when Hanna went to jail? We text every week about each episode, I wonder what her reaction will be to that? Hey, Shauna hurry up and watch!

It's not all "Pretty" at: https://www.facebook.com/prettylittleliars

TBT: "Pretty Little Liars" Pants On Fire!

Like, Duh!

I have decided to honor Throwback Thursday on this blog starting, like, today...

My first TBT post is an image from one of my favorite TV shows Pretty Little Liars season deux episode six.

My niece Shauna Waters and I are obsessed with it. Our thing? We text each other weekly about it and give our theories on who the big "A" is.

That being stated even if it does not turn out to be Ally, she is still not a very nice person. Check out the posted image.

What keeps this show amazing to moi? Keeping it real. Even though a lot of the situations are crazy and out there, they are balanced with a nice blend of real life situations and the characters respond to all the twists and turns as real people would.

Pure entertainment should be believable even when the situation is not.

Hats off to all the great actors, writers & producers on this show!

Me and Shauna will keep obsessing until the very end, but please let us know who the big "A" is ASAP!

PS - I also love the many Alfred Hitchcock references.

Feel "Pretty" at:
https://www.facebook.com/prettylittleliars
https://twitter.com/abcfpll

Have Yourself A "Pretty Little Liars" Christmas

Thought We Were Doing Our Usual Halloween Special In 2014? We Lied, Merry Christmas!

Leaving Halloween specials behind, Pretty Little Liars producers decided to gift us with a Christmas episode instead. That airs, well, tonight!

But if you are expecting visions of sugar plums dancing in your head, you thought wrong.

The mystery surrounding the shocking death of Mona, played by the awesome Janel Parrish will be the center of the, Christmas celebration on the episode? So to speak.

"It's a dream sequence episode, but there's also a lot of really important things that happen in the episode," Says Janel. "Mona, actually before she died, leaves clues for Hanna to follow to find out who murdered her. The girls will be trying to figure out what exactly happened to Mona all the while having an amazingly creepy and fun holiday special."

We will also get the gift of whether Spencer might actually be cleared for the murder of Bethany Young.

Suspense and Christmas - My kind of present!

The PLL special airs on ABC Family tonight at 8 pm.

Don't Bother Me Tonight, I'm Lying at: http://prettylittleliars.alloyentertainment.com/

PTX's Scott Hoying Discusses Volume 3, Etc...

Hey, It's Scott Hoying!

For those of you who may not have heard of them, of which I am sure there are few, acappella super group Pentatonix has a new album coming out September 23rd, titled aptly enough PTX Volume 3.

With 6 million subscribers on YouTube and over 525 million views. 1.5 million Facebook followers and another 350 thousand who hang on their every Tweet PTX has taken over the world!

Here to talk all things Pentatonix is one fifth of the gang with the killer vocal abilities Mr. Scott Hoying!

MS: Hey Scott!

SH: Hey Michael how are you?!

MS: Good, how were the Streamy Awards last night?

SH: It was really fun! It was crazy! 

MS: Well you guys won, correct?

SH: We did, we won in one category and lost in another.

MS: You guys have an album coming out on September 23rd.

SH: I can't believe it's already September, it's coming out this month. Everything keeps going and going and going.

MS: Time flies. You have been traveling all over the world. Where is the last place you guys were at?

SH: We were just in South East Asia and Australia. I just woke my roommate up because I was screaming into the phone. (laughs) It was so, so cool to be in those places. 

MS: So how does it feel to be worldwide?

SH: It's really surreal. It's something I've dreamed about my whole life. I've always wanted to go to Australia, my Dad lived there for seven years, and I've always wanted to go to Japan. It's really cool that we've had the opportunity to go there because of something that we love to do. I know it sounds cliche, but it really is a dream come true!

Mitch & Scott: Beyonce Says We''re "Flawless"

MS: People always say that, but it really isn't a cliche. It's a fair comment.

SH: Completely. 

MS: By the way I know someone you know from Texas, Zachary Webber, I did a play with him.

SH: Oh my God, yeah.

MS: Yeah, when we were rehearsing I said something about PTX off hand and he said he went to school with you.

SH: He's great Zach is so talented.

The Gangs All Here: PTX

MS: La La Latch is your latest single/video, I noticed all of the parts are balanced between the five of you in it.

SH: It's so funny when we release a video, like, Mitch has a solo, or I have a solo, people say: when does someone else get to sing? With La La Latch, it's like, everyone is getting an opportunity to sing here. It's always really fun having a balance, the song is more dynamic and exciting when there is multiple people carrying it.

MS: This is probably old news to you, but since I have not asked it, how was it having Beyonce calling Mitch and yourself "Flawless" on your mash-up of her songs?

SH: Oh my gosh! It was really exciting! We were in the studio recording our cover of Happy and Kirstie wrote to Mitch: Did you see that Beyonce put on her Facebook page that you and Scott are "Flawless?" We were just beside ourselves, we were freaking out! We were already hyper in the recording srudio so that just added to it! It's on my Twitter bio since then: Beyonce called me "Flawless." 

MS: I'd put it on there too! So who are some of your favorite divas?

SH: Well, obviously, Beyonce is number one. I am also a really big fan of Ariana Grande. I'm not sure if anyone really considers her a pop queen because she is so young, but I am obsessed with her, I think she is going to be huge. I also love Rhianna anything that's R&B/ Pop is my jones.  

Scott & Shay Mitchell

MS: I saw a photo of you and Shay Mitchell online from one of my favorite TV shows Pretty Little Liars are you a fan?

SH: .I've met her and a couple of the other cast members and they're so so so sweet, but I have only seen bits and pieces of the show; I sadly never watch TV.

MS: You guys are going to be on Good Morning America on September 25th, is this your first time on it?

SH: It will be our first time. We always get nervous when we are going to perform on live TV. 

MS: The audience you guys attract is a very wide demographic.

SH: Yeah, we really attract a wide demographic of people, we attract older people who love the we are acapella. We have younger people who love our social media personalities. We also have choir nerds & music nerds who want to see something different. It's really cool and it's really fun!

MS: I am a fan of your original song Run To You, anymore coming up?

SH: There are a few, we do have one on the Christmas album.

MS: What's it about, specifically, besides Christmas? (laughs)

SH: It's about Santa and the song is really classic sounding. We all sing it together there is not really a soloist on it. It has a nostalgic feeling, from the time of my childhood. It's so cute.

MS: Any parting words?

SH: I am obsessed with our fans for always supporting us and I hope that they enjoy our new albums coming out this year. 

Go PTX at:

www.ptx-official.com
www.youtube.com/ptxofficial
www.facebook.com/pentatonix
www.twitter.com/ptxofficial 

"Pretty Little Liars" Is The "Choice" For Tuesday

They Won!

Hey Everyone - it's Pretty Little Liars Tuesday, Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Since PLL won some of the biggest honors of the evening at the recent Teen Choice Awards, I thought to myself there was no better way to show my own personal love of the show than to announce these awards on it's official day of the week, Tuesday, or as my fellow fans know it PLL Tuesday!

Of course the "Liars" won the top honor of any teen award show race: Choice TV Show: Drama -

So let's get to it enough of my hyperbole, to my fellow fans have an awesome PLL Tuesday!

Look how many awards "The Liars" won!

Choice TV Show Drama, Pretty Little Liars 

Of Course

Choice TV Actress Drama, Lucy Hale 

I actually got Aria on a which PLL character are you quiz online

Choice TV Female Breakout Star, Sasha Pieterse

Yep, I've met her and she is so sweet  

Choice Summer TV Star Male, Tyler Blackburn 

Hey, it's Caleb

It's Tuesday, Time To Lie: http://prettylittleliars.alloyentertainment.com/

I Feel Pretty, Oh So "Pretty Little Liars"

The "Liars" In GQ

Tomorrow nights, the night, everything is going to be pretty...That's right the girls from the "PLL" down in the PA of Rosewood are back!

I can't wait! Wonder if we will find out who "A" is finally this season? I hope so, because I think at this point now that we all know Allison has not expired, because no one thought enough of her to renew her, that outing "A" will only forward the story.

No one will be calling the Police if they find out "A"'s true Identity because of how omniscient and powerful the "A" hand is when it is laid down.

Yep, I'm A Fan: Me & Sasha Pieterse aka "Ali"

It will be a battle of wills between the "Liars" and whoever this "A" is. I suspect that "A" is a woman, I was thinking Ali's crazy ass Mom, but, don't you think that would be too obvious?

And WTF with Ezra?! How could he not remotely be in with the "A" gang, I think, despite how they tried to make him a good guy to an extent at the end of last season, obviously he knows who the mysterious "A" is and he really is not all that and a bag of chips anyway.

OK, with that stated even with what I suspect will be the season they out the "A"-Hole there are still plenty of odd things going down in Rosewood, PA to keep this show happening.

Whatever your theory, fans of the show, of which I am a HUGE one get ready for your "PLL" addiction to be fed again!

Tune into ABC Family tomorrow night, if you dare...

It's time to lie again at: http://prettylittleliars.alloyentertainment.com/

"The Day The Light Went Out" The Strange Familiar, Returns

The Strange Familiar

The Pop/Rock Band The Strange Familiar are back! After the success of their album "Chasing Shadows" the group took some down time for various reasons. That down time went on to shape their new, and in my opinion best effort yet, "The Day The Light Went Out."

I caught up with the band front woman, Kira Leyden Andrea to get the 411 on their latest, and the things that life throws at you...

MS: Hi Kira, I was watching a "Pretty Little Liars" rerun before you called I remembered when songs  from TSF's "Chasing Shadows" were featured prominently on a previous season. What about songs from the new CD? Do you think they will be heard on the show?

KLA: I hope so, I believe the music supervisor for "Pretty Little Liars" has a copy of the album. I'm hoping they'll use it, I think they are kind of waiting for something super emotional and dramatic to happen, but hopefully they will. (laughs)

MS: "Pretty Little Liars" is always super emotional and dramatic so I am sure it will happen. (laughs) While listening to the album last night all I could think was: "Wow, this is really good."

KLA: Awwwwww, Thank You!

MS: Reading some of the comments you guys made about the album, like how much more personal and deeper it was than your previous efforts, "Well, yeah." Talk about that.

KLA: We did the songs on the album at two different times and somehow they ended up fitting together. The first couple of songs we wrote were "Surrender" & "Painkiller" we had those for a little while, we played them live, sort of "road tested" them you might say, we noticed they were getting a great reaction from fans. The songs were totally a different direction than what we had done on "Chasing Shadows" in the sense they were coming from darker places.

"Painkiller" is asking the question about going through life and living it numb and letting all of these things pass you by. It started with those two songs, then when we went to do the second half we had "Rain" which we didn't even think we were going to end up using. We were really short on songs, honestly (both laugh) we had a few that we liked and we thought were good, and solid, we knew we needed more and it needed to fit with the other stuff. But we didn't know if the producers would go for it, we showed all these songs to them including "Rain" and they said this is definitely going on the album, I thought: "Really?" We really thought of it as just this cute little song, this little lullaby - we kind of went with it. I like the song on the record because it does fit. It talks about being in the desert, and it talks about being in a dark, tough place in your life that someone is bringing you through. It's a cool thing.

We went through a lot of that too, like having the baby and when I was sick for a while...you  know I was in intensive care after I had the baby, and it was scary. I was really, really sick with an abscess and I think that plays into the rest of the record. That's "The Day The Light Went Out" so, yeah.

MS: I remember seeing that on your Facebook page, I believe your husband Jeff posted it, about how ill you were. One can definitely see how it influenced the album, sometimes the best stuff creatively comes out of the most challenging of times.

Kira And TSF's Latest CD

KLA: To me the message of the album is you can experience horrible things and tragedies in your life, but out of those, that's where you really become who you want to be. It's where you become stronger and you grow so much, while you're in it, it's like: "Whoa!" But when you look back at it, you think I wouldn't be who I am today without that, believe it or not it's a good thing actually.

MS: If you actually make it through you do become a different and better person.

KLA: Yeah, I think so.

MS: Me too. What was it like being in the hospital for you?

KLA: Well, you are really going in and out of morphine la la la feelings. (both laugh) In my situation I did not know how big my abscess really was. You can't see it and you feel horrible. One day I remember this one Doctor came in, one I had never seen before and said: "Where changing your antibiotic" and he did to this really super strong one, and I'm like, Okaaaaay. I was freaking out about all these antibiotics, and the Doctor says: "You have to you are in intensive care and you are really sick." That's when it started to sink in that "Dang this is serious." We were scared and it was a really dark time, I just wanted to go home and be with my baby, I feel like I can appreciate things so much more, there are people who are stuck in the Hospital who don't get to leave for months. You can relate and empathize more with them. That's part of what feeds into the album and it's title, "The Day The Light Went Out" a lot of it too does have to do with my faith.

Because I am a Catholic, a Christian, I just like to be honest the song does have to do with that. You don't have to believe anything I believe - to appreciate the message of the song that out of something horrible and dark can come something beautiful.

MS: One of the things I like about you guys is that I get the message you put out there is an inclusive one.

Hey Everyone, It's Us!

KLA: Yeah, it doesn't matter at the end of the day we are all human beings. We are all going to go through suffering, experience loss...we can all relate to each other and that is the message I want to bring to as many people as I can.

MS: It's a good message. All the songs do fit together well, "Surrender" was a particular favorite of mine.

KLA: Very cool, that's actually my favorite. We are going to shoot a video for that one, that is our next big thing, to try and get that video done. (laughs)

MS: "Surrender" is the perfect choice for a video! So let's talk about something a little lighter, (both laugh) how is your daughter Rayne?

KLA: She is great! She is so full of life and so fun, the happiest little child. She is starting to talk and walk now.

MS: My goodness, that went quick!

KLA: She's a total person walking around, she says Mama, Dada, door...(laughs) Also she has to say "Hi" to every person she sees.

MS: It so much fun to be around kids because they see the world so differently.

KLA: Everything is exciting, everything is an adventure and everything you do is fun when you are a kid. (laughs)

Turn and face "The Strange Familiar" on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestrangefamiliar
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tsfmusic
Own The Strange Familiar Here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00199RF86?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=digital-music&field-keywords=The%20Strange%20Familiar

Get Your Very Own "G.B.F." On DVD, Now!

That's right everyone now you can own your very own "G.B.F." on DVD without having to engage in a popularity contest.

"G.B.F." stands for Gay Best Friend and as you all know, it is the must have accessory if you want to be popular - it is now available on DVD and to celebrate "G.B.F." coming out so everyone could get themselves one, there was a party at The Abbey in West Hollywood, CA, and "Yes" I took photos and here they are!!!

Xosha Roquemore, Sasha Pieterse & Taylor Frey Stars of "G.B.F."

You Go Go Grrrrrl

Director, Darren Stein Holds Court In The V.I.P. Area

The "G.B.F." Is Everywhere!

Myself "G.B.F." & "Pretty Little Liars" Star Sasha Pieterse

Get your very own "G.B.F." on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/GBFmovie

Wanna Be Popular? Get It With Darren Stein's "G.B.F."

Look, Caught In A Popularity War, It's The "G.B.F.!" 

Hey? Have you heard about the latest must have have Teen Queen accessory, The G.B.F.? Well in case you have been living under a rock...

"The acronym G.B.F. stands for “Gay Best Friend” which has recently been deemed the 
hottest new fad at North Gateway High School; the Queen Bees need a G.B.F.! But there is 
one big problem: none of the gay guys at their posh suburban high school are out of the 
closet. The vicious lady monarchs of the school, a.k.a. the three lead prom queen 
candidates, are not going to let this minor glitch get in their way; a G.B.F. is just what they 
need to give them that edgy, high-fashion appeal and win over the ultimate prize: the high 
school popularity crown."

Here to tell us more juicy details is the Director of  "G.B.F." and the cult hit "Jawbreaker" Darren Stein!

MS: Hey Darren I really enjoyed "G.B.F." you and writer George Northy are really simpatico.

DS: Yes, it definitely felt like something I could have written. It's not like I'm only out to make "Teen Films" it's about the characters and the story a script tells, and this is a story I wanted to tell.

MS: One of the things I am quite shocked by is "G.B.F." got an "R" rating.

Director, Darren Stein

DS: That was unfortunate. We definitely went out of our way in the writing and the direction to make sure th film had a "PG-13" tone. It was never my intention to make an "R" rated movie, I made one before, and this is not that.

MS: It really wasn't. There was a gay scene on "Scandal" that was more explicit than anything in your movie.

DS: Well I was told that when it comes to ratings the MPAA is really behind TV. I was even told by our MPAA consultant that they are harsher on films with gay content or characters. My opinion on what "hurt" "G.B.F." from the beginning was it was a High School Movie that told it's story from a gay perspective. The fling is still intense, but I think because it is a gay oriented fling it's more taboo.  

MS: Wow! I really like your use of actors making cameos in the film. I'm a teenager of the 80's, like yourself. I  Loved the Jonathan Silverman and Megan Mullally cameos. 

DS: Jonathan brought so much soulfulness to his role he was awesome! I've always been a fan, but when I got to work with him I was truly blown away by his talent. 

MS: I agree, Jonathan's role is such a small one, but you remember it.

DS: Megan was really great too!

MS: Sasha Pieterse was a draw to the film for me as I am a big "Pretty Little Liars" fan.

DS: She is so brilliant. Sasha has this wiseness that is beyond her years, and she is gracious, intelligent and lovely. When she started "Pretty Little Liars" she was really young, I think she is eighteen now. They were looking to potentially cast her as "Hanna" but because of her age they couldn't, I would work with her again in a heartbeat, she brings so much loveliness to the role. 

MS: It's nice to see the flip side of her talent, because on "Pretty Little Liars" she is a total bitch.

DS: Her character "Fawcett" is really sweet. It's a twist in the movie that she's a bitch at school, but she makes conditioners and shampoos in her bathroom. She's the science nerd at home, that's so not "R" rated, you know?

Get Yourself One!

MS: Yeah, I agree, the only other reason I can think of that you got slapped with an "R" rating is the content regarding the Mormon Religion, but...

DS: There is the scene where the Mormon character grabs "Tanner's" hand and puts it on his crotch and says "Does this feel straight to you?" Like I said the level of playing and sexual situations are not anymore extreme than other "PG-13" straight films. It's because it takes place between guys, like you said "Scandal" is more provocative with the gay content, but it's also adults, "G.B.F." is teenagers.

MS: "G.B.F." is the kind of movie, as gay men, you or I wished we had when growing up. Younger gay guys today have it a lot different than we did.

DS: Yeah, they live in an all access world. Which is why I think the screenplay is great, because screenwriter George Northy is a whole decade younger than me. To read lines like "I knew how to clear the Internet History when I was twelve" - It's like "I don't know how to clear the Internet History now!" (laughs)

MS: I don't either! (laughs)

DS: One of the great things about "G.B.F." is it presents a typical High School mainstream romance, like "Mean Girls." Yet it's from this gay protagonist and his perspective, I think it's important. I think people are going to look back at it ten years from now and see it was the first film to do that and had a tiny little release. (laughs) 

"G.B.F." Hits select theaters and Video On Demand this Friday January 17th

Love your "G.B.F." at: https://www.facebook.com/GBFmovie

Dancing With The Stars Season 17

Dancing With The Stars Cast Season 17

For the first time ever I watched a full episode of "Dancing With the Stars" while I am still not a converted loyal fan, let's say they actually have a cast with more actual "stars" than usual and two of the actors on the show, no doubt aimed as a get toward the youth market, Amber Riley of "Glee" and Brant Daugherty of "Pretty Little Liars" are actually working currently on their respective shows.

While I'm not sure how past seasons went overall, the dancing talent is very strong this year and should provide for some fierce competition!

Rather than review a show I never really watch, let me give you the reasons I actually did:

1. Elizabeth Berkley - Despite having worked steadily under the radar for years after "Showgirls" it's time to for her to do something big and attention getting...DWTS is the perfect vehicle for her to do that. She, to me is also a star, how many performers out there have to iconic things under their belt that are the fabric of American Culture, with "Saved by the Bell" reruns on daily around the world and the most infamous "Showgirls"...Oh and by the way I want her to win.

2. Leah Remini - She will always be remembered for the long running sitcom "King of Queens" and currently known as Leah Remini, Scientology Refugee. This makes her present currency very intriguing. Leaving Scientology makes her the ultimate Hollywood Bad Ass, she already was one, but now...also of note she was a Guest Star on "Saved by the Bell" an episode which I ironically saw in the middle of the night drunk in a Vegas Hotel room with my friend Karen Castrischer.

Go Elizabeth!

3. Jack Osbourne - This was not the initial reason I tuned in, but his dancing was so surprising and good, that I would like to see how he progresses. Hey he's Ozzy and Sharon's spawn & former contestant Kelly Osbourne's brother.

4. Brant Daugherty - Hey he's hunky and he's Noel Kahn from one of my favorite shows "Pretty Little Liars". Also he and his dance partner, Peta Murgatroyd have sizzling chemistry, I would tune in to see that week after week...I am betting they end up hooking up off the dance floor too.

5. Valarie Harper - I am grudgingly giving her props for appearing on the show as I personally have mixed feelings about it. She was already given an unfair score - a 21 out of 30. She was OK, but should have received an 18 in my opinion and it annoys me she will get preferential treatment because of her condition. However it is inspiring to see her drag her 73 year old booty out there with brain cancer and all...most of all like Elizabeth Berkley she is a cultural icon, "Rhoda" anyone?

So there you have reasons I tuned in to my first full episode of DWTS and why I may continue to check it out week after week, or at least catch the highlights somewhere.

Dance your ass off! At: http://abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars