Focus On The Rainbow

With only three sketch comedy troupes currently on television, “The Big Gay Sketch Show” continues to break the rules (and barriers) with laugh-out-loud antics, sassy celebrity impersonations and twisted sketches that will appeal to anyone who’s a little askew.  The irreverent sketch comedy series from Executive Producer Rosie O’Donnell is back for a new season with returning cast members Paolo Andino, Colman Domingo, Julie Goldman, Stephen Guarino, Jonny McGovern, Kate McKinnon and Nicol Paone.  “The Big Gay Sketch Show” premieres Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10/9c.

This season of “The Big Gay Sketch Show” returns with fan favorites “Fitzwilliam,” “Chocolate Puddin’,” and a hilarious spoof of Maya Angelou to name a few.  Also joining the cast this season are guest appearances by Rosie O’Donnell, Sharon Osbourne, Isaac Mizrahi, Andy Cohen (“Watch What Happens Live!”), Bethenny Frankel (“The Real Housewives of New York City”), Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife”), Andre Leon Talley and Rachel Dratch (“Saturday Night Live”).  Season three is comprised of eight, 30 minute episodes.

Go to LogoTV.com to check out bloopers, photos and cast bios from “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” Be sure to catch sneak previews of sketches from this upcoming season now and throughout the season on AfterEllen.com, AfterElton.com, Downelink.com and LogoTV.com’s NewNowNext Blog.

Oh Really? Productions with Rosie O’Donnell, Dan MacDonald and Joe DelHierro along with Christopher Willey and Dave Mace of Logo serve as Executive Producers for “The Big Gay Sketch Show.”  Additional Executive Producers include Scott King along with Michele Armour and Sue Fellows for Marabru Productions.

Source – PR Newswire

LOGO, the entertainment network for gays and their families and friends, from MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, is aggressively setting its original programming course for 2010.  

LOGO, available in 45 million homes, announced today a number of original series greenlights and pick-ups, building off of the momentum of its most successful series launch yet with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and the network’s partnership with sister MTV Networks service Comedy Central on the production of the third season of the “The Sarah Silverman Program.” Based on its widespread popularity and critical acclaim, LOGO has already picked up a second season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” slated for a Monday, February 1, 2010 premiere.

The four greenlit series include “The Robert Verdi Show Starring Robert Verdi” which casts an unblinking eye on the celebrity-filled, super-high-stress lives of “stylist to the stars” Verdi and his creative team; “RuPaul’s Drag U“ where RuPaul and other drag queens apply fairy godmother dust to the looks and lives of people in need of a little assistance;  ”The Arrangement“ an original series that follows the surprisingly intense action in a high-end floral design competition; and “Kept“ the much-buzzed-about project that takes an unflinching look at a handful of gay men in Manhattan who are, or aspire to be “kept” by another man.  

In addition, LOGO has ordered new episodes of some of its most popular original series including “Beautiful People“ the BBC series inspired by the eccentric childhood of style guru Simon Doonan, “Exes & Ohs” which chronicles hapless lesbian heroine Jennifer’s trials and tribulations, the critically acclaimed “Real Momentum” documentary series and “The Big Gay Sketch Show” executive produced by Rosie O’Donnell.

“As we approach our five year anniversary, LOGO is proud to launch our most extensive and widely appealing line-up of original programming yet,” said Dave Mace, Senior Vice President, Programming, LOGO.  ”We’ve had tremendous success since our launch in 2005 connecting with our LGBT viewers and their interests.  With these new projects, we’re deepening that connection while also expanding our voice to include the LGBT community’s families and friends.  

We’re presenting more opportunities for gays and lesbians to watch meaningful and entertaining programming together with their family members, gay or straight.”  

Source – PR Newswire/LOGO (for a breakdown of all the shows ordered click the link)

LOGOonline website.

According to an article written by Doug Ireland at Gay City News, based on a joint appeal in November by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), the Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO) and COC of the Netherlands, 12 young men in Iran are awaiting execution and accused of acts of sodomy, which in Iran is a capital offense charge. The three organizations have called on Western countries with significant economic ties and influence to Iran to cease executions of gay men.

Here’s a portion of Ireland’s article at Gay City News, It is extremely difficult to obtain information about death penalty cases involving homosexuality under today’s repressive theocratic regime in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where the press is heavily censored and journalists, regime critics, and human rights advocates are routinely persecuted and arrested and where the subject of same-sex relations is officially considered a political and religious taboo. Defendants in sodomy cases are denied open trials. Last month, Human Rigths Watch, basing its finding on an Iranian newspaper report, told of the execution of two men for sodomy.

Most of the new information about the 12 defendants now threatened with execution for sodomy was provided by lawyers and activists with the Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHHR) in Iran, according to Hossein Alizadeh, the Middle East and North Africa program coordinator for IGLHRC, while contacts in Iran provided by IRQO yielded additional information, he told Gay City News.

Watch the documentary, “A Jihad For Love” which follows and interviews individuals who out themselves and choose to become refugees in other countries; hide their identity to keep their religion; or are open and persecuted for remaining with their faith at LOGOonline.

MTV Networks, has announced that singer Adam Lambert will host NewNowNext PopLab, the destination for up-and-coming party music in all its forms, on Monday night, December 7 at 7:00 PM*.

Singer Adam Lambert has become a pop culture phenomenon since his appearance on last season’s “American Idol.” Lambert grew in popularity due to his larger-than-life performances and addictive songs including his recent hits “For Your Entertainment” and “Time for Miracles.” His unique sound, powerhouse voice and tremendous stage presence has earned Lambert a huge fan base and legitimacy in the music industry. His new album “For Your Entertainment,” immediately climbed the Billboard music charts by debuting at #3 and continues to gain momentum. Lambert’s album “For Your Entertainment” is currently available in stores.

NewNowNext PopLab is an extension of Logo’s successful NewNowNext brand, which boasts two separate music series: NewNowNext Music and NewNowNext PopLab. What NewNowNext Music is for alternative, under-the-radar music, NewNowNext PopLab is its pop-glossy counterpart. The show infuses hits from established icons such as Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Rihanna and Jennifer Hudson with emerging pop sensations of tomorrow including Mika and Cobra Starship. The series also boasts pop music superstars as hosts including Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Nelly Furtado, Nicole Scherzinger of “The Pussycat Dolls”, Ciara and Keri Hilson.

With NewNowNext Music and NewNowNext PopLab, Logo solidifies its position as the only place for LGBT music lovers to stay up to date on rising LGBT talent and music geared toward the LGBT community. Between weekly airings of the show viewers can go to NewNowNext.com, the gay guide to pop culture, to get the latest on music, fashion, television and celebrity gossip. Viewers can also go to LOGOonline.com to watch NewNowNext PopLab music videos and exclusive interviews, listen to pre-release albums, and discover new LGBT artists.

*All Times ET/PT

Source – PR Newswire/LOGO