Showbiz History: Madonna at the Grammys, Judy at the Globes, Tilda at the Oscars

7 random things that happened on this day, February 24th, in showbiz history...

Judy and Marlon seated together at the Globes; They both won that night.

1955 The 12th annual Golden Globes are held honoring 1954 cinema. On the Waterfront (Drama) and Carmen Jones (Comedy/Musical) took the Best Picture prizes. Both James Mason and Judy Garland (neither of whom ever won a competitive Oscar) of A Star is Born won Globes for their leading work in the Comedy/Musical fields but the fact that the picture lost (when it's a hundred times the film Carmen Jones is) was an ill omen of what would happen later at the Oscars... 

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Showbiz History: The Warriors, Like a Virgin, and Berlinale Winners

9 random things that happened on this day, February 9th, in showbiz history...

1964 It's the first appearance of The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. 73 million people were watching.

1971 Supposedly All in the Family's fifth episode "Judging Books by Covers", airing on this night, is the first on American TV dealing with homosexuality. Archie Bunker mistakenly assumes a guy he meets is gay and then later learns that one of his best friends actually is.

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Showbiz History: Eddie Izzard, Blazing Saddles, and Berlinale Prizes

10 random things that happened on this day, February 7th, in showbiz history

1914 Charlie Chaplin's world famous film character "The Tramp" debuts in Kid Auto Races at Venice

1940 Pinnocchio, Walt Disney's second full length animated feature premieres...

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Gay Best Friend: Robert in "The Next Best Thing"

A series by Christopher James investigating the 'Gay Best Friend' trope

Both Madonna and Rupert Everett made some key mistakes in "The Next Best Thing."Gay men love their one named divas, and with good reason. Madonna is in the upper echelon of gay icons. Her outspoken nature, incredible discography, ever-evolving persona and culture-defining fashion have given her a remarkably enduring legacy that should be lauded. Still, every gay icon has a few flops in their closet. 

The Next Best Thing has been virtually wiped from the world. Unavailable from all streaming platforms (including transactional video on demand services), in order to gaze upon this Sodom and Gomorrah of filmmaking I had to order a used DVD from an Amazon seller. The Next Best Thing both did and did not disappoint. It's an epically misguided trainwreck not just in scope (the film takes place over a 7 year period) but in the colossal ways it fails its characters, stars, director and the media of filmmaking itself. Adding insult to injury, it also is an early digital film, making it look like part home movie and part snuff film. Move over The Room, The Next Best Thing is a midnight trash-terpiece...

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Showbiz History: Doris in Peril, Daniel Craig as 007, and the Goldblum/ Davis Split

8 random things that happened on this day, October 14th, in showbiz history

1930 The Gershwin musical Girl Crazy opens on Broadway, introducing the standards "Embraceable You" "But Not For Me" and "I Got Rhythm" into the American songbook. Future movie star Ginger Rogers was in the original cast! It was adapted to film twice, first in 1932 and then with Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland in 1943.

1960 Did you know that Doris Day didn't only make comedies? A thriller called Midnight Lace, was new in theaters that weekend with Doris in danger!

Rex Harrison, John Gavin, Myrna Loy, and Roddy McDowall co-starred and Doris Day was nominated for Best Actress, Drama at the Golden Globes. How about that? If you've seen it do tell...

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