Awards Watch: Nominations for the 2010 Dorian Awards

The Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (of which yours truly and my fellow Movie Dearest Men on Film Chris Carpenter and Neil Cohen are members) has announced its nominations for the group's second annual Dorian Awards, celebrating the best in film and television for 2010.

In 17 categories, including new ones this year for documentaries and "unsung" movies, GALECA has nominated a wide variety of films and TV programs, both with and without GLBT themes. Titles with multiple nominations include such big screen hits as Black Swan, The Kids Are All Right and The Social Network, while The Big Bang Theory, Glee and Modern Family represent the small screen.

See the comments section below for the complete list of nominations. Winners will be announced January 18 in Los Angeles.

Dearie Awards 2010: Television Show of the Year - TRUE BLOOD

A vampire king and his male lover. A vampire queen and her female lover. Homoerotic dreams starring two straight, hunky heroes. A burgeoning romance between the flamboyant fry cook and his mother's male nurse. An often shirtless resident himbo. An often naked pack of werewolves. And, oh yeah, the revelation that the lead character is a fairy (OK, not that kind of fairy, but still... )

No doubt about it, the third season of HBO's horror series True Blood was the gayest thing on TV in 2010. It has also been one of the sexiest, goriest and most addictive television programs in recent years. Created by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Alan Ball and starring Oscar winner Anna Paquin, True Blood is a blood good time. And that's the truth.

Honorable Mentions:
ABC's hit, multi-Emmy Award winning Modern Family continues its hot streak in its second season. The clever comedy even silenced its critics when gay couple Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron (Emmy winner Eric Stonestreet) finally had an on-air kiss.

On the reality TV front, Logo's RuPaul's Drag Race became a pop culture phenomenon with its sophomore leg. A high camp, low stakes hybrid of America's Next Top Model and Project Runway (complete with hostess RuPaul in Tim Gunn mentor drag), this show really works it, girl.

Dearie Awards 2010: New Star of the Year - DARREN CRISS

Sparks flew on Glee when Chris Colfer's Kurt Hummel first met Darren Criss' Blaine, leader of rival singing group the Dalton Academy Warblers. Those sparks turned into a bonfire when the dreamy Blaine launched into an a capella rendition of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream". Just like Kurt, we the audience knew it: we were in love. And a new star was born.

Thanks to Criss' smooth vocals and undeniable charm, "Teenage Dream" soon turned into the hottest Glee track to date. His other performances on the show — "Hey, Soul Sister" and the playfully romantic Blaine/Kurt (Blurt?) duet "Baby, It's Cold Outside" — also became "Gleek" faves. It's no wonder then that multi-talented actor/singer (known previously for his magical, musical turn as Harry Potter in a popular viral video) was quickly signed on as Glee regular. We eagerly await Criss' — and Blaine's —return when the show resumes its second season next month.

Honorable Mentions:
In a show that already serves up more than its fair share of beefcake, it must be hard for the new hunk on the block to stand out. But when Joe Manganiello, as heroic wolf man Alcide Herveaux, first stepped on to True Blood (and out of his clothes... Google it), we definitely took notice; his sexy shape shifter leaves us howling at the moon.

As for the big screen, no other actress had as great a breakout year in 2010 than Mia Wasikowska. Her first major starring role was as the title character in the worldwide smash Alice in Wonderland (and its endless franchise potential). Later in the year, she proved she has the acting chops playing daughter to moms Annette Bening and Julianne Moore in the indie hit The Kids Are All Right.

MD Poll: Bloody Good Costumes

When it comes to Halloween costumes for 2010, MD Poll-takers prefer theirs' with a little teeth... and a lot of blood... True Blood, that is. Of course, well all know that the vampires, werewolves, et al from that hit show spend most of their time in their birthday suits... which should make for some fun trick or treating this year.

Johnny Depp's take on the Mad Hatter came in a close second, while Glee's Sue Sylvester rounded on the top three Halloween costume ideas. See the comments section below for the complete stats.

MD Poll: Trick or Treat, 2010 Style

Halloween is just around the corner, which brings up the annual question, "What am I going to wear?" Well, we here at Movie Dearest have you covered with ten of the hottest pop culture inspired costume ideas for 2010 ... and not one of them is Lady Gaga.

Take your pick for your favorite 2010 Halloween costume idea in the MD Poll located in the right hand sidebar, and tune back Saturday October 30 (Halloween Eve) for the final results.

UPDATE: This poll is now closed; click here for the results, and click here to vote in the latest MD Poll.

Awards Watch: GLAAD Tidings 2009

GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), the nation’s GLBT media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, has announced the nominees for its 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

As expected, A Single Man and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire led the nominees for Outstanding Film - Wide Release, where they are joined by Everybody's Fine, I Love You, Man and Taking Woodstock. Meanwhile, Casi Divas, The Country Teacher, Little Ashes, Phoebe in Wonderland and The Secrets fill out the Limited Release category

Nominations for television include three-time winner Brothers & Sisters in the drama race and freshman series Glee and Modern Family in comedy, plus One Life to Live for daily drama.  Pedro and Prayers for Bobby are among the TV movie nominees.  Plus, Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon will be honored with the Vito Russo Award, presented to "an openly GLBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community".

See the comments section below for a quick look at all the English-language nominees.  The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York on March 13, in Los Angeles on April 17 and in San Francisco on June 5.

UPDATE:  Video salute to the 2009 film and TV nominees.

Dearie Awards 2009: Television Show of the Year - GLEE

The title of Glee is most fitting, for that is exactly what we are filled with each time we watch it. Creator Ryan Murphy's musical dramedy — think Election meets High School Musical by way of American Idol — defied all the odds to become a pop culture sensation in 2009. And, if the continuing string of hit iTunes singles, four Golden Globe nominations (more than any other TV program this year) and a growing fan base of dearly devoted "Gleeks" everywhere are any indication, it is only just beginning.

Glee's deft mixture of relentless optimism and biting cynicism helped it overcome any false notes along the way (most infamously: that credibility-straining fake pregnancy storyline). It has also made instant stars of its multi-talented, Screen Actors Guild nominated cast, including Broadway faves Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele, break out hunks Cory Monteith and Mark Salling, newbie Chris Colfer, and ace scene stealer Jane Lynch. To borrow the title of its most famous song: don't stop believing in Glee!

Honorable Mentions:
Forget all those wimpy Twilight vamps with their sparkly skins; for a real blood suckin' good time, true vampire fans tuned in to True Blood, Alan Ball's sexy and smart American gothic. And the year's best made for television movie was the Emmy Award winning, dramatized remake of the cult classic documentary Grey Gardens, starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore as our beloved Beales.

Awards Watch: SAG Nominations 2009

Nominations for the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were revealed this morning and, just as they always do at this point in award season, things are starting to look awfully familiar. All the usual suspects (Bridges, Clooney, Streep, Mo’Nique) make their usual appearances, with the only real surprise being a supporting nod for Inglourious Basterds' resident femme fatale Diane Kruger.

Her film joins An Education, The Hurt Locker, Nine and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire in the Ensemble Cast category, leaving no room for front-runner Up in the Air, which should give Oscar bloggers plenty to obsess about over the holiday lull. (For a quick look at all the film nominees, see the comments section below.)

As for the TV nominations, cast honors went to Glee, Modern Family and True Blood, while both Big and Little Edie (Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore) were recognized for HBO's Grey Gardens. They'll compete against Sigourney Weaver from Prayers for Bobby.

The SAG Awards will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on January 23. In addition to the annual awards, the Guild will present their Life Achievement Award to our beloved Betty White.

Awards Watch: Golden Globe Nominations 2009

Nominations for the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards were announced by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association this morning, with Up in the Air leading the way with six nods. In addition to Best Picture - Drama, writer/director Jason Reitman and stars George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick were also recognized.

Joining Up in the Air in the drama race is Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, while (500) Days of Summer, The Hangover, It's Complicated, Julie & Julia and Nine compete for the Best Picture - Musical or Comedy prize. (See the comments section below for a quick look at all the film nominations.)

Several actors found themselves nominated twice, including Meryl Streep in the same category (Best Actress - Musical or Comedy for It's Complicated and Julie & Julia). Other double nominees include Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side and The Proposal), Matt Damon (The Informant! and Invictus) and Anna Paquin (True Blood and the TV movie The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler). As previously announced, Martin Scorsese will be honored with the HFPA's Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.


On the television side, Glee was tops with four nominations. In addition to a nod for Best TV Series - Musical or Comedy, cast members Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele and Jane Lynch were singled out as well. Other Movie Dearest TV faves that are up for Globes include Lost, Modern Family and the TV movies Grey Gardens and Prayers for Bobby.

In other TV award news, the Writers Guild of America has also revealed their television nominations, with more nods going to Glee, Grey Gardens, Lost, Modern Family and True Blood, plus One Life to Live and Pedro by Dustin Lance Black. Winners will be announced February 20.

The Golden Globes will be broadcast live on NBC January 17 in a ceremony hosted by Ricky Gervais. And be sure to check back with us this Saturday for the start of our annual Golden Globe-themed MD Polls.

Awards Watch: Coast to Coast

The 2009 movie awards season kicked into high gear the past two days with the announcements from four major kudos groups of the results of their annual cinematic honors.

In a rare instance of solidarity, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the New York Film Critics Circle both chose Kathryn Bigelow's gritty war drama The Hurt Locker for Best Picture and Best Director.

They also agreed on the supporting acting races, bestowing honors on Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) and Mo'Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire). In the lead categories, LA went for Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) and Yolande Moreau (Séraphine), while their Gotham counterparts chose George Clooney (for both Up in the Air and his vocal turn in Fantastic Mr. Fox) and Meryl Streep (for Julie & Julia but not It's Complicated).


The Hurt Locker also placed strongly in the nominations for the Broadcast Film Critics Association's Critics' Choice Awards with eight nods. But it was Inglourious Basterds and Nine that lead the pack with ten nominations apiece. Joining these three in the Best Picture race is Avatar, An Education, Invictus, Precious, A Serious Man, Up and Up in the Air. Winners will be announced on January 15 in a live ceremony scheduled to be broadcast on VH1 with Kristin Chenoweth hosting.

Meanwhile, the American Film Institute has revealed their own top ten for '09. The AFI Awards for film go to Coraline, The Hangover, The Hurt Locker, The Messenger, Precious, A Serious Man, A Single Man, Sugar, Up and Up in the Air. On the TV side, such Movie Dearest faves as The Big Bang Theory, Glee, Modern Family and True Blood were recognized. Click here for a special video tribute to all the AFI Award winners.

For a quick look at all the winners/nominees, see the comments section below. And the gold derby will continue to race on later this week with the nominations for the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.

Awards Watch: Grammy Nominations 2009

As far as movie music goes, the Grammys seem to like vampires, slumdogs and Michael Giacchino. The composer was nominated four times for his work on Star Trek and Up, including competing against himself for Best Score Soundtrack Album.

Below is the complete list of Grammy nominations in the categories covering film, television and stage recordings, with links to purchase the albums at Amazon.com:

Best Musical Show Album:
- Ain't Misbehavin'(30th Anniversary Cast Recording)
- Hair(New Broadway Cast)
- 9 to 5: The Musical(Original Broadway Cast)
- Shrek: The Musical(Original Broadway Cast)
- West Side Story(New Broadway Cast)

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media:
- Cadillac Records
- Inglourious Basterds
- Slumdog Millionaire
- True Blood
- Twilight

Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media:
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Milk
- Star Trek
- Up

Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media:
- "The Climb" from Hannah Montana: The Movie
- "Decode" from Twilight
- "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire
- "Once in a Lifetime" from Cadillac Records
- "The Wrestler" from The Wrestler

MD News Desk: 3 More Days 'Til Halloween ... Halloween ... Halloween ...

Keep up to date with all the latest from the entertainment world with the MD News Desk:

Videodrone:
- Blast from the Past: the "Silver Shamrock" song from Halloween III: The Season of the Witch.

True Blood:
- Creator Alan Ball hints at what's to come in season 3 ...
- While Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello has the scoop on a whole batch of new characters.
- And just in time for Halloween: make your own True Blood jack o' lanterns!


Coming Soon:
- High School Musical director Kenny Ortega bails on the new Footloose.
- Sequel Watch: More Paranormal Activity and the return of Mad Max.
- Matt Damon and Josh Brolin are in discussions with Joel and Ethan Coen to join Jeff Bridges in their True Grit remake.
- Brolin is also a part of Woody Allen's latest, titled You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger; cast also includes Naomi Watts, Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas and Slumdog Millionaire's Freida Pinto.

The Latest on TV:
- Lots of classic tricks and treats this Halloween weekend, beginning with a special episode of CBS' Medium that finds Patricia Arquette in the middle of Night of the Living Dead on Friday.
- Also on Friday, Turner Classic Movies will air 11 Boris Karloff thrillers, followed by more thrills and chills during Saturday's Halloween marathon, including a salute to horrormeister Val Lewton.

RIP:
- Character actor Lou Jacobi, who played Mr. Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank on stage and screen, passed away Friday at the age of 95.

Cinematic Crushes:
- Ewan McGregor on playing Gore Vidal's dad in Amelia and kissing Jim Carrey in I Love You, Phillip Morris.
- While Melrose Place says goodbye to Ashlee Simpson-Wentz (good riddance), it will say hello to Billy Campbell.
- Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig sell the shirts off their backs ... for a good cause.

From Screen to Stage:
- It's Turkey Lurkey Time: Promises, Promises (the musical version of The Apartment) will return to Broadway starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth.
- The Nine soundtrack will hit stores in December.
- Loverly? Keira Knightley officially cast as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady remake; Daniel Craig rumored for Henry Higgins.
- The Full Monty to strut its way back to London.
- Craig Bierko, Dick Latessa and Sherie Rene Scott are in the Little Miss Sunshine family; plus: more on Like Water for Chocolate.
- Tony winner Michele Pawk plays Oscar winner Joan Crawford in …"Flesh and Blood!"
- Potted Potter, a parody of the Harry Potter books, returns to the West End once more for the Christmas season.

Out in Film:
- Photo Call: Cheyenne Jackson in Broadway's Finian's Rainbow.
- Lily Tomlin hits Vegas.
- Author Augusten Burroughs turns to television, including a series adaptation of his best-selling memoir Dry.
- Chaz Bono to tell all to Mary Hart on Entertainment Tonight beginning tomorrow night.
- Alan Cumming chats with Playbill.com's Seth Rudetsky about his new solo album, I Bought a Blue Car Today.

GLBT Entertainment:
- Gay Nazis in love film Brotherhood wins big at the Rome Film Festival.
- I Want My Gay TV: out characters popping up on Trauma, White Collar and 90210.
- Watch This: the first trailer for Bruce LaBruce's Night of the Living Dead Porn Stars flick L.A. Zombie (NSFW).

Awards Watch:
- For the first time in 15 years, the Golden Globes will have a host: Ricky Gervais.

And the List Goes On:
- Forgetaboutit: Out.com takes a look at gay mobsters.

The Latest on DVD:
- Just in time for the holidays, a whole new take on those fireplace DVDs: Jingle Boys! Click here for a video preview.

MD Poll: The Ultimate Vamp Showdown

Narrowly edging out some truly old school vamps, James Marsters as Spike of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel fame was the victor in the last round of our blood-sucking MD "Mega" Poll, earning your votes as the top TV vampire. Coming in a close second (and surprisingly beating out more recent sexy beasts from True Blood, The Vampire Diaries and Being Human) was the most enduring — and least threatening — of the bunch, Sesame Street's Count Von Count, whose been counting 'em down for the kiddies since 1972. Third place went to another retro vamp, Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins of the cult classic gothic soap Dark Shadows. (See the comments section below for the full results for round three.)

So, after three weeks and 115 total votes, pictured above you'll find the finalists for our "Ultimate Vamp Championship". A tie for tenth place left only nine contenders for the final ballot (the complete stats for all three polls are located below in the comments section), and it worked out that three contenders from each poll (favorite Dracula, favorite movie vampire and favorite TV vampire) made the finals.

Vote for your all-time favorite movie or TV vampire in the MD Poll located in the right hand sidebar and be sure to visit us in two weeks (on Halloween day, naturally) when the "Ultimate Vamp Champ" is revealed!

UPDATE: This poll is now closed; click here for the results, and click here to vote in the next MD Poll.

MD Poll: I Want My FangTV

Two weeks down in our MD Poll "Ultimate Vamp Champ" competition and we have another winner, this time for your favorite "non-Dracula" movie vampire: Tom Cruise as Lestat in Interview with a Vampire.

Cruise's co-vamp, Brad Pitt as Louis, came in a close second, while the new kid on the block, Twilight's Edward Cullen himself, Robert Pattinson, placed third. See the comments section below for the full results of round two.

For week 3, we are turning our sights on the tube, seeking your votes for your favorite TV bloodsucker. Make your choice and place your vote in the MD Poll located in the right hand sidebar. Tune in next week for the results not only of this particular contest, but also to find out the finalists for the "Ultimate Vamp Championship", the winner of which will be announced on Halloween day.

UPDATE: This poll is now closed; click here for the results, and click here to vote in the next MD Poll.

MD Poll: V for Victory

With nearly 50% of the vote, Viking vamp Eric Northman (played by Alexander Skarsgård) easily slayed the competition for the MD Poll title of sexiest True Blood character. The victory celebration will be held at Fangtasia sometime after sundown tonight.

Coming in a distant second was Bill Compton, Eric's chief romantic rival for the fair Sookie, while her brother, the oft-shirtless Jason, placed third. See the comments section below for the complete body count ... er, statistics.

The penultimate episode of True Blood's roller coaster of a second season will air tomorrow night on HBO, with the season finale scheduled for September 13, after a week off for Labor Day.

MD News Desk: Brad, Blood and Beyond

Keep up to date with all the latest from the entertainment world with the MD News Desk:

True Blood:
- Clip and play: True Blood paper dolls! Includes the fab Lafayette and a bare-assed Sam Merlotte.
- Stephen Moyer (a.k.a. Vampire Bill) has been cast in the upcoming movie Priest (no relation to the controversial 1994 gay drama).
- Ryan Kwanten (a.k.a. Jason "You dirty little monkey" Stackhouse) takes it off for GQ.
- Also: time is running out to vote for the sexiest True Blood character in the latest MD Poll. Make your choice in the right hand sidebar.

Kish:
- One Life to Live's Brett Claywell dishes on “Kish”.

GLBT Entertainment:
- Beatles manager Brian Epstein gets a biopic with A Life in the Day.
- Tom Ford's feature film directorial debut A Single Man (based on the Christopher Isherwood novel) is one of a record 14 films competing for the Queer Lion Award at this year's Venice Film Festival.
- BearCity, billed as a "gay romantic comedy set in New York City’s bear community", is seeking hirsute extras.

Ride the Movies:
- Will the long rumored new Star Tours ride film be announced at Disney's D23 Expo?

The Latest on TV:
- The first season of BBC America's spooky Being Human (starring the sexy Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey and Lenora Crichlow) comes to a close this Saturday.


Coming to TV:
- ABC is planning a pilot based on the novel-turned-recent movie The Time Traveler's Wife.
- Also coming to haunt ABC: Clive Barker's Hotel.
- The sexy camp vamp series The Lair returns for a third season.
- MTV is developing an American version of the BBC teen drama Skins.
- Amanda Woodward returns? Heather Locklear may visit the new Melrose Place after all.
- The Kids in the Hall (including Scott Thompson) will be back on TV with an 8-part comedic murder-mystery series called Death Comes to Town.
- HBO looking to bring Dan Savage's sex advice column Savage Love to TV.
- Will & Grace executive producer Gary Janetti is working on another sitcom about gay-straight friendship for NBC — but this time, the friends are both men.
- Take a look at AfterElton.com's Best Fall Gay TV Guide Ever!

Cinematic Crushes:
- Zac Efron struts his stuff on the set of The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud.
- Will Robert Downey Jr. be the next Lestat?
- John Hamm gets a Sucker Punch.
- Josh Lucas goes for a Little Murder.
- James McAvoy says I'm with Cancer.
- Ryan Reynolds is all by himself in Buried.
- The Advocate chats with Into the Pride's lion man Dave Salmoni.

Potent Quotables:
Brad Pitt on gay marriage: "You have a group of people telling other people how to live their lives, and you can't do that. I just say you have to ... you really have to check what country you're living in because the freedom that allows you to practice religion is the same freedom you're stepping on. That's not right. And I want to add that if there was a nation of gay married couples who were telling you you couldn't practice your religion, I'd be speaking up for you too. So let's stop the nonsense."

MD Poll: Blood Lovers

The second season of HBO's steamy vampire drama True Blood is well underway, so what better time then now for a MD Poll asking you to pick the sexiest character ... whether alive or (un)dead ... from the show.

Place your vote in the poll located in the right hand sidebar and check back at the end of the month (August 29 to be exact) for the results.

And in the meantime, here's a video preview of what's in store in Bon Temps for the rest of the season.

UPDATE: This poll is now closed; click here for the results, and click here to vote in the next MD Poll.