Logo’s ‘Prince Charming’ Gets Bored By Perfection [RECAP]

Another week, another hour of watching Robert Sepulveda Jr. shuffle through potential mates like they’re manila envelopes full of Creatine and facial moisturizer. We’re at the point now where I at least feel like I know everyone’s name, but we’re still early enough in this courtship for the dates to crackle with all the passion and romance of the greeting card aisle at CVS.

With much less drama going on at the house, all the focus is back on our titular Prince, who is unfortunately the least interesting part of this show.

Is anyone closer to stealing his heart? Who will have to turn in their tie? And has anyone caught that pesky canary yet? Find out in our Finding Prince Charming recap, below.

Surprise! Robert’s here for a morning blitz. How many times can Robert or Lance “surprise” the guys at the house in the morning? They’re always aghast that they’ve still got their curlers in or whatever. At this point, shouldn’t they just assume that, I don’t know, if the cameras are there, they should be dressed, coiffed and lubed up, just in case?

The guys manage to put themselves together enough to cook breakfast with the Prince. I keep trying to get a handle on what they’re cooking, but the only finished dishes I spot are maybe a plate of eggs, some cantaloupes stuffed with cottage cheese and a bowl of sliced cucumbers. Someone was chopping peppers at one point, and someone made bacon, but I assure you there was not a carb in sight.

Robert pulls Paul away to reconnect, and Robby wonders what the Robert sees in him. I can’t say I disagree. I would say Paul is human Ambien, but I think that underestimates how fun Ambien can be in the right context.

Chad also wants to sneak in some alone time with Robert, so he wrangles him into one of those hanging rattan sex swings that are all over the patio. They start to kiss, and I feel like it’s the most successful, human adult kiss we’ve seen yet. You still catch glimpses of Robert’s tongue flopping onto Chad’s mouth like the midpoint of a drive-through carwash against a windshield, but I guess that’s just his signature move.

One more one-on-one chat, this time with Dillon, clears up any lingering tension following last week’s dust-up. With all that drama settled, it’s time for Lance Bass to appear and introduce the latest convoluted set-up to another round of sloppy kissing.

This week, Robert will go on a “three-course date” — one guy for the appetizer course, one for the main and one for dessert. Lance tries to explain this as seductively as possible, but it actually just kind of makes it sound like Robert is going to cannibalize them.

To keep things interesting (relatively speaking), Robert awards the dates to the three guys with whom he’s had the least one-on-one time so far. He chooses to have Robby for an appetizer (and Robby reacts as only RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Alaska as Mae West could). He’ll share a main course with Eric and then dessert with Brandon.

Robert keeps describing Robby as “ … fun” throughout the whole episode, complete with that little hesitation each time. He’s saying “… fun,” but what he means is theatrical, dramatic, feminine, light in the loafers, swishy. It’s what makes Robby so endearing and such a welcome presence among these bores, but it also seems like something that makes Robert a little uncomfortable.

On their date, Robert presses Robby to see if his humor is actually a coping mechanism to hide something dark and sinister within him. Robby, bless him, assures him that no, he just has a personality. In this crew, I can see how that warrants explanation. The two share a kiss, but it’s very brief and Robert keeps his tongue contained to his own mouth, which I think means he’s not very into it. You guys, I get the sneaking suspicion that Robert is just a terrible kisser.

Eric’s date with Robert is more successful, I guess. It gets interesting for a moment when Eric tells Robert he’s not into open relationships, even though they’re so prevalent in the gay community. It almost seems like this show is going to dive in and explore something interesting about the gay community, but nope! They both just immediately agree that it’s monogamy or bust and then start talking about whose parents hug each other more, or something. It’s very sexy dinner convo.

It’s a wonder they both weren’t crushed by the irony of having this entire conversation about the power of monogamy while on a reality show in which one of them is simultaneously dating a house full of strangers. They seem to enjoy their meal, despite numerous awkward silences between them. Eric is pretty, in a dead-eyed Abercrombie assistant manager sort of way, so I understand Robert’s interest. Still, I think I’d rather be waterboarded with Muscle Milk than have to sit through such a boring date.

Robert’s time with Brandon is the best of the three, and, dare I say, actually sort of charming. Brandon opens up about his recovery from alcohol and cocaine addiction, and the show resists the urge to play it up for drama.

Instead, Brandon is remarkably candid without being overly emotional about his recovery, and Robert says it’s sexy that he’s owning it. For all the ragging on this show I do (and will continue to do), I actually really enjoyed this scene, sincerely.

It would be easy to play up the drama of Brandon’s struggles with addiction, or, even easier for Robert to tell him how “brave” he is (which is so lazy and cliché). But, instead, he said it was sexy. Addiction is a huge problem in this country, particularly in the gay community. I love seeing this show frame recovery as empowering and sexy. Good job!

The next day, the other guys (Chad, Paul, Dillon and Justin) get to go on a group date at some terrible industrial warehouse fitness bootcamp nightmare hellscape.

Despite the fact each of these guys look like Men.com models, they all struggle to do the workout. Paul, who is built like an action figure, really struggles. He’s super uncomfortable, hesitant to even sit his clean white shorts on the floor. He tells the guys that his trainer gives him cold towels during his workouts so he doesn’t sweat, which is an insane thing to say on no less than three levels.

Watching Paul force a pained smile throughout this date is honestly worth sitting through the whole episode. It’s great. He can barely do situps, which honestly makes me wonder WHAT EVEN IS HIS BODY? IS HIS SKIN JUST FULL OF SAND? I’m so confused!

The whole excursion gets spun into Paul’s complex about being a perfectionist, although the impression I got from the footage we saw was that he was just uppity. It was less about being hard on himself and more about not being adaptable to the slightest amount of discomfort. Anyway, once he shows up to the Black Tie Affair wearing a suit that was either made entirely of leather or just obnoxiously shiny (either way, I’m sure it was stupid expensive), I get the sense his days are numbered.

It comes down to Paul and Robby, who might be too “… fun” for Robert. I swear, after losing Sam the loose cannon and Danique the freak, I’m not sure I can get through this show without Robby! In the end, Robert decides to keep Robby (with the warning that he’ll have to show his serious side), and he sends Paul packing.

Paul is disappointed with the outcome, but I can’t tell you everything he says before departing because I fell asleep halfway through his exit interview.

What did you think of this week’s episode of Finding Prince Charming?

The post Logo’s ‘Prince Charming’ Gets Bored By Perfection [RECAP] appeared first on Towleroad.

Logo’s ‘Prince Charming’ Gets Bored By Perfection [RECAP]

Angry Man Goes on iPhone Smashing Rampage in Apple Store: WATCH

A man in France was filmed as he went on a rampage inside an Apple store, smashing dozens of iPhones, iPads, and computers before he was stopped by security and then arrested. The damage was reportedly in the tens of thousands of Euros.

In the video, he is seen going around the display tables as customers back away.

He then yells: “Apple is a company that ‘violated’ European consumers’ rights. They refused to reimburse me, I told them: ‘Give me my money back’. They said no. So you know what’s happening? This is happening!”

Watch:

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Angry Man Goes on iPhone Smashing Rampage in Apple Store: WATCH

The GLAAD Wrap: Jill Soloway's new series picked up, Gaga to perform at Super Bowl and more!

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-wrap-jill-soloways-new-series-picked-gaga-perform-super-bowl-and-more

These May Be Roy Moore's Last Days As Alabama Chief Justice (Video)

www.advocate.com/marriage-equality/2016/9/29/these-may-be-roy-moores-last-days-alabama-chief-justice-video

Ru’s The Boss On A Business-Savvy Episode of ‘Drag Race All Stars’ [RECAP]

Last week’s epic episode not only delivered high drama, but apparently it also served up some seriously high ratings as well. It was such a high-water mark for the series that any follow-up episode was going to feel a little lacking. Last night’s installment turned the work room into more of a boardroom, which is about as much fun as it sounds.

Yes, even drag queens — supposedly our most irreverent artists — are slaves to the marketing machine. Just like bottled water or a bank or Doritos, drag queens also need to worry about their brand. The remaining six queens were tasked with creating a product that represented their personal brand and then filming a commercial.

We’re breaking down the top sellers in our SPOILER-filled recap, and if you order now, we’ll throw in our weekly rankings of the queens at no extra charge. Operators are standing by, below.

I get that RuPaul is very into the importance of branding, and she’s right! Branding is important! And Ru is a great example of someone who truly has built an empire around a very specific and well-developed brand. But! I think it’s a bit of stretch to expect every drag queen to be so savvy. That’s evidenced each time this sort of challenge is presented. Most of these girls have a hard time wrapping their minds around creating this sort of far-flung empire.

It seems like a particularly strange skill to stress, especially when the show has removed most sewing/construction challenges — skills that seem much more relevant and important to a successful drag queen. Whatever. It’s RuPaul’s world, what she says goes and we’re going to roll with it.

Before we get to the meat of the maxi-challenge, we have to confront Phi Phi’s mirror message, I guess. In possibly the most desperate move in a series of really pathetic and desperate moves, she writes one big final mirror message explaining that she avoided hugs, because she was afraid she would cry? Which is strange? Because she hugged everyone else just fine?

In all the absolute garbage reality-TV I’ve mainlined over the years, I don’t know that I’ve ever encountered a character that was at once so hyper-self-aware and lacking all self-awareness all at once. Maybe Honey Boo-Boo? (Like Phi, she did also started as a pageant queen. If I catch Alana doing some kind of 365 Days of Roadkill Instagram series, I’m going to get seriously suspicious.)

Now let’s all agree to never speak of Phi Phi again.

Last night saw the return of the mini-challenge, and boy was it a silly one. Each gal had to whack a ball putt-putt style along a course, through the legs of Pit Crew members and into a hole using only a … well, actually, I don’t know what to call it. It was a sort of pendulum that hung like a super saggy scrotum between their legs.

The resulting game was more croquet than golf (they call it “butt-butt,” but I feel like “crogay” would’ve been better), and it mostly served as an excuse for the gals to rub all up on the Pit Crew. Alaska wins, but it truly does not matter. It just earns her a bunch of designer boy clothes which I am not interested in at all.

About that branding challenge. Ru brings in Marcus Lemonis from CNBC to give overly earnest and serious business advice to these IMAGINARY DRAG QUEEN GAG GIFTS, and all the ladies listen solemnly to his critiques. It’s very strange. I sort of wonder if his appearance was a weird, drag Jedi mind trick.

The queen he tells to scrap her whole idea (Katya) ignores him and ends up in the top, while the one who took his advice (Roxxxy) and the one he liked the most (Tati) were both in the bottom. Go figure! Ru did have to explain how a lace-front wig works to him at one point, so maybe he’s not exactly the most qualified person for this role.

Alaska joins Katya in the top, of course. After a pants (pants, PANTS!) on the runway show, Alaska and Katya serve Joan Jett rock ‘n’ roll lip sync to “Cherry Bomb” with Alaska named the winner. (It was a strange, plodding song to dance to, but Alaska’s final kicks really sold it.) Long live RoLaskaTox, apparently, because she chooses to save Roxxxy, despite this being Ms. Andrews’ fourth time in the bottom. Tatianna is sent packing.

That means there are only five ladies left. Let’s see where they landed in our rankings:

1. I mean, we should just hand the win to Alaska now, right? She is dominating the entire competition, and it doesn’t even seem like she’s breaking a sweat. She even won the nonsensical mini-challenge with ease. Her commercial evidenced a layer of sophistication and vision that no other queen even came close to achieving. I might have wagered her runway look would’ve drawn more criticism than it did, but that American flag reveal was worth the questionable wig.

Considering how much she struggled with choreo during her season, I’m also surprised at how skillfully she’s figured out how to transform her awkward, gangly weaknesses into uniquely entertaining strengths during the lip syncs. She might be unstoppable.

2. The only gal who might pose a threat to Alaska’s assumed victory is Alyssa Edwards. The beloved Texas beauty is adored by the judges (and fans). Now that the majority of acting/comedy challenges are likely behind us, she stands a much stronger chance to outlast her competitors.

3. It was a strong showing from Katya this week, but it didn’t feel as momentous as others’ victories. She wisely ignored the advice of Marcus Lemonis, and her commercial was better for it. She went in with a much more conceptual approach to her ad, but she didn’t stick the landing as well as Alaska.

I love that she incorporated her own struggles with anxiety (very on-brand!), and I enjoyed her spin on a very campy, 1950s sort of commercial for the hopeless housewife. She definitely earned her spot in the top, but I agree she was out ‘synced by Alaska. (That Neve Campbell look was fierce, though.)

4. Was it just me, or was Graham Norton’s criticism of Detox‘s prototype unnecessarily harsh? She’s not an engineer, gurl! It was hokey, but it was cute. I love Detox, and she’s been pretty consistent this whole season. I just haven’t really been blown away yet, and it’s too late now to shake Alaska or Alyssa.

5. Tatianna‘s runway look. Tatianna’s runway look. Tatianna’s! Run. Way. Look! Gagging even doesn’t do it justice. It transported me back in time to when I was a little gay boy spending hours memorizing the entire rap verse to “Waterfalls” instead of going outside to play baseball or whatever. It left me SLAYED (or, one might say, another body laying cold in the gutter). Her commercial was FINE, and she definitely bested Roxxxy on the runway.

I do not understand Alaska’s logic (or should I say choices) here. I see how it was hard to compare apples to apples, since we don’t know how Tati would have performed in the two challenges she missed. But, even if she was in the bottom for both, that still would’ve tied her with Roxxxy for most times in the bottom. Plus, technically Tatianna had one more win than Roxxxy, and her runway was far superior. I am not pleased. Not pleased at all.  Considering how beloved Alaska, Alyssa and Katya already were, I feel like Tati has made the most with her second chance on TV.

6. Ugh, Roxxxy! You were done, I was done, we were all done. It was painful to watch her try to think through her commercial concept, and what was that runway look? She looked like David Beador at the Real Housewives of Orange County ’70s party. No thanks. In the immortal words of NeNe Leakes: “Go home wig. Goodbye wig. Go away. Bye wig.” Unfortunately, next week’s family-themed challenge seems like it might set Roxxxy up for an emotional episode and triumphant victory.

How would you rank the queens this week?

The post Ru’s The Boss On A Business-Savvy Episode of ‘Drag Race All Stars’ [RECAP] appeared first on Towleroad.

Ru’s The Boss On A Business-Savvy Episode of ‘Drag Race All Stars’ [RECAP]

In Two-Hour Twitter Rant at 3 am, Donald Trump Urges Voters to Watch a Sex Tape

Donald Trump has become completely unhinged over Alicia Machado, the former Miss Universe brought up by Hillary Clinton in Monday night’s debate.

Said Clinton in the debate:

And one of the worst things he said was about a woman in a beauty contest. He loves beauty contests, supporting them and hanging around them. And he called this woman “Miss Piggy.” Then he called her “Miss Housekeeping,” because she was Latina. Donald, she has a name…Her name is Alicia Machado….And she has become a U.S. citizen, and you can bet… she’s going to vote this November.

Following the debate, Machado has been used as a surrogate by the Clinton campaign and hit the cable news networks and television shows.

As Politico notes, “Trump has taken the bait.”

In a series of tweets last night starting at 3:20 am, Trump lashed out about Machado, urging the public to check out a “sex tape” she allegedly made:

“Anytime you see a story about me or my campaign saying “sources said,” DO NOT believe it. There are no sources, they are just made up lies!…Wow, Crooked Hillary was duped and used by my worst Miss U. Hillary floated her as an “angel” without checking her past, which is terrible!…Using Alicia M in the debate as a paragon of virtue just shows that Crooked Hillary suffers from BAD JUDGEMENT! Hillary was set up by a con… Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a U.S. citizen so she could use her in the debate?

Anytime you see a story about me or my campaign saying “sources said,” DO NOT believe it. There are no sources, they are just made up lies!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016

Wow, Crooked Hillary was duped and used by my worst Miss U. Hillary floated her as an “angel” without checking her past, which is terrible!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016

Using Alicia M in the debate as a paragon of virtue just shows that Crooked Hillary suffers from BAD JUDGEMENT! Hillary was set up by a con.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016

Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a U.S. citizen so she could use her in the debate?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016

But there is no sex tape, according to Politico:

The day after Monday’s debate, Trump admitted to Fox News that Clinton’s bringing his history with Machado into the race had gotten under his skin, calling her “the worst we ever had” as a Miss Universe winner because “she gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem.” In the days since, Trump and his surrogates have sought to further discredit her by bringing up a nearly two-decade old attempted murder investigation in which Machado was never charged and accusing her of starring in pornographic films.

While Machado has starred in risqué reality TV programs and posed nude for the Mexican version of Playboy magazine, the Daily Beast and other outlets that investigated the claim found no evidence that she has starred in any pornographic films and that the clips posted online actually feature another woman.

And here are some reactions:

Impulsive attacks on people who criticize him while functioning on very little sleep – not disconcerting at all… t.co/mqYJwlhnH7

— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) September 30, 2016

I am confused. Is Alicia Machado the woman who did that lesbian porn shoot with your wife @MELANIATRUMP, @realDonaldTrump? pic.twitter.com/7fjA3VhjSc

— Scott Wooledge 🌮 (@Clarknt67) September 30, 2016

I’m going to assume this is the first time in American history a major nominee has invited the public to watch a sex tape.

— andrew kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) September 30, 2016

The post In Two-Hour Twitter Rant at 3 am, Donald Trump Urges Voters to Watch a Sex Tape appeared first on Towleroad.

In Two-Hour Twitter Rant at 3 am, Donald Trump Urges Voters to Watch a Sex Tape

#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: September 30, 2016

ACC MOVES CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TO ORLANDO AFTER NC REFUSES TO #REPEALHB2: The ACC announced yesterday it is moving the league’s 2016 football championship game to Orlando, Florida, due to North Carolina’s deeply discriminatory HB2 law. Orlando earned a perfect 100-point score on the most recent HRC Foundation Municipal Equality Index. By moving the game, the ACC is sending a strong message that it stands for equality and the LGBTQ community. “What will it take for Governor McCrory and state legislative leaders to stop holding the people and economy of North Carolina hostage?” said HRC President Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin). “The ACC, based in Greensboro, has now joined the growing list of organizations moving games and other events out of state in order to protect fans, students, and employees from Governor McCrory’s discriminatory HB2 law… The days of attacking LGBTQ people for political gain are over.” More from HRC and WRAL.

AS PRESIDENT, TRUMP WOULD APPOINT JUDGES TO OVERTURN MARRIAGE EQUALITY: At an election stop this week in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton highlighted just one of the ways Donald Trump has vowed to roll back rights for LGBTQ people. She said, “I never thought I’d hear someone running for president — my opponent — who says he wants to appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn marriage equality and turn the clock back on LGBT Americans, overturn a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions and reverse that fundamental right.” More from ABC Manchester.

• Clinton vs. Trump on LGBTQ equality? No contest: Despite today’s New York Times piece on far right evangelical voters being conflicted over Trump, his policy proposals are exactly what many of them desire. To find out where Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump stand on LGBTQ equality, check out HRC’s new series comparing their positions on key issues.
• USA Today agrees: This morning, USA Today’s Editorial Board laid out their reasons why Trump is unfit for the presidency — the first time the Editorial Board has ever taken a position in a presidential election.

Everything is at stake this election. Here’s where @RealDonaldTrump & @HillaryClinton stand on marriage equality t.co/xXa7wRtViL pic.twitter.com/21t4dRcsZK

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) September 28, 2016

INDIANA’S ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS LGBTQ RIGHTS “NOT AN ISSUE”: At a recent campaign stop, Indiana gubernatorial candidate Eric Holcomb bizarrely asserted that LGBTQ equality is “not an issue” this year. This sentiment is particularly tone-deaf in Indiana, where the the anti-LGBTQ “license to discriminate” bill signed by Gov. Mike Pence last year cost the state more than $60 million in lost revenue. As The Herald Bulletin‘s Editorial Board wrote, “… n his recent dismissal of LGBT issues, he is turning his back on Hoosiers who truly want Indiana to “move forward” in the area of civil rights for all.”

NEW REPORT SAYS VOTER ID LAWS DISENFRANCHISE TRANS PEOPLE: A new report by  The Williams Institute reveals that more than 34,000 transgender Americans across eight states could be prevented from voting due to strict voter ID laws. More from The Washington Blade.

HRC ENDORSES AZ REP. KIRKPATRICK FOR THE US SENATE: Yesterday, HRC announced its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick in her race for Arizona’s U.S. Senate seat. Kirkpatrick spoke out this year against Republican leadership in the U.S. House who flipped enough votes to defeat an LGBTQ non-discrimination measure, calling it a “shameful, cowardly day in Congress.” Her opponent, Senator John McCain, has refused to support the Equality Act, comprehensive legislation to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, and opposes marriage equality.

LOL OF THE WEEK: BuzzFeed offers up a new quiz – “Can You Guess Who is Buying the Gay Wedding Cake?” — poking fun at a discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ law being considered by the Australian government. Play here.

SHAME! LOUISIANA AG BLOCKS STATE CONTRACTS PROTECTING LGBTQ WORKERS: The Louisiana Division of Administration has exposed Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry for shamefully blocking multiple state contracts that include language to prevent LGBTQ discrimination. More from The Times-Picayune.

BOSTON COLLEGE STUDENTS SILENTLY PROTEST RESPONSE TO ANTI-LGBTQ SLUR: The Boston Globe reports that about 350 students participated yesterday in a silent march to protest what they characterized as the college’s lack of response to the recent discovery of a campus parking lot sign reordered to spell out an LGBTQ slur. Read more here.

LGBTQ CATHOLICS MARCH IN NYC: This Sunday, LGBTQ Catholics will participate in a “Pilgrimage of Mercy” in New York’s Central Park. Featured speakers include former talk show host Phil Donahue, a 1957 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, as well as Supreme Court marriage equality plaintiffs Greg Bourke and Joe Vitale. More here.

JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS NEW LGBTQ NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY: New policies protecting LGBTQ people in employment and hiring will go into effect October 1st for the Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff’s Office, reports The Florida Times-Union.

READING RAINBOW

OUT Magazine interviews Samantha Aurelia Vicenta Flores García, one of Mexico’s most prominent transgender activists… HRC urges the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide full access to medically necessary care, including gender affirming surgery… Gay Star News meets a marathon runner who’s run more than 10,000 miles for LGBTQ charities… Comicosity sits down with Greg Rucka (@RuckaWriter) of DC Comics who confirms that Wonder Woman is queer…

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to A.M. Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

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