Remakes, Shemmakes

Horror is going a slump right now. There's not a lot of good stuff being made and the ideas are just broke (Creepshow III, I'll Always Know what you did Last Summer, 1001 Maniacs).

But for the past couple of years, we been hit with troubling remakes of our horror classics. In a week we'll see the remake of Prom Night and later, Friday the 13th, My Bloody Valentine, A Nightmare on Elm Street.

But my question is do we need remakes or better writers? If the studios are that afraid to take risks with new ideas, then it's time to try new studios. I know there are great ideas out there; so what's going on? And do we need to retell the same stories?

No, but I think there are new stories to play on. Like in Friday the 13th, tell us about the "death curse" and how Jason returns. What is in the lake and is there a bigger picture about Camp Crystal Lake? With Halloween, elaborate on Michael's need to kill the Myers family and meaning of the "Thorn" stuff. I feel like these series-type movies have left a messy trail that most studios believe a remake is in order. But I think if a writer or studio clean up the messy story lines , a good movie can surface.

So stop with the remakes...make up something new

My 2 cents on Wright

The more I think about it, the more I’m fascinated with the foolishness of Rev. Wright’s perception. I feel like we are going down the same road as the Dixie Chicks. People totally got their words wrong and went on this mad frenzy of hanging the Dixies. And now, history is repeating itself.

Rev. Wright said some interesting things, but nothing short of what we have said at home, in bars, or at work. He’s not plotting to destroy a nation or bankrupt thousands of people. Wright was trying to challenge people, get them to think outside the box…to some degree. While some of his views are far-fetched, there are not threatening, or blatant lies. And speaking of lies, lets look at some our great TV spirituals leaders who have told us nothing but lies.

Osteen, and Falwell, Dollar, and Robertson, anyone?

Another thing about Rev. Wright is he's not a stupid man. Here are some of the things he has accomplished

Wright went to Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he received a bachelor's degree in 1968 and a master’s degree in English in 1969. He also earned a master's degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School. Wright holds a Doctor of Ministry degree (1990) from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where he studied under Samuel DeWitt Proctor.

Wright has been a professor at Chicago Theological Seminary, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and other educational institutions. He has served on the Board of Trustees of Virginia Union University, Chicago Theological Seminary and City Colleges of Chicago. He has also served on the Board Directors of Evangelical Health Systems, the Black Theology Project, The Center for New Horizons and the Malcom X School of Nursing, and on boards and committees of many other religious and civic organizations.

Wright has received a Rockefeller Fellowship and seven honorary doctorate degrees, including from Colgate University, Valparaiso University, United Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary. Wright has also received three presidential commendations from President Lyndon B. Johnson and was named one of Ebony magazine's top fifteen preachers.

This isn't some freak off the street, this is educated man with strong views and opinions. We share our views with people everyday, sometimes to many people at once. I don't think he's doing anything wrong. He's just talking. And let me say while I defend his right to speak, I don't agree with most of his views. Still, he should be able execute his rights.

But the fact that the media is running after Wright is ridiculous, they should focus on the crooks that are breaking our middle class into pieces, or how the worth of our dollar is dropping. In other words, focus on major issues that are hurting our society…and Britney Spears.

The best X-Men story ever

This is the comic that completely introduce me to Ororo. I thought this was her best solo story and a great introduction to her soul and demeanor. If you are a comic fan, please read this book. If not, try to find it and read it.

I don't want to spoil it, but she learns that she is never powerless.

Educator, Divo, Fashioneek...Horror Writer?

I've been thinking about writing horror movies. My love for them are beyond explanation. However, my background and career is deeply in Student Affairs. But the funny thing about that is, I work at USC (University of Southern California), home the best cinema school in the nation. It would be great to get back into the school thing.

However (part 2), I want to get my Doctorate in Education. I keep going back and forth about the subjects, but I'm leaning more towards the Horror. I just thought of a few concepts and I really feeling it. Now the hard part begins...

preparing for the GRE

Frankie is my Daddy

Frank-n-Furter changed my life. I rented this movie in 1990 and I was just amazed by Tim Curry's performance. Frankie was aggressive, dangerous, sexy, and pure diva. And his singing voice was so alluring and unique, that I almost took singing lessons. It was something in his character that spoke to me. I don't know if it was his make-up or his Hellfire Club get-up that brought me in.

I think when I was struggling with my sexuality, Dr. Frankie provided a sense of hope. People adored this character and he was an icon in the cult classic world. So I thought if he's accepted, hopefully I will be too.




Since then there's been copies of the Doctor of Drag, but none will ever be as great as the Sweet Transvestite.

The Truth

Madonna and Justin Suckerlake new song SUCKS! I know my gay people have this unknown connection or addiction to her, but please, this song is POO PUTT!

Nuff Said

The Skrulls are coming!

Check out for Marvel's big event: Secret Invasion coming next Wednesday,

Slap this tramp!

The tramp to slap today is:

Miss Hillary!!!!

If she lied or misspoke about gun fire, what else will she lie about?

Pat Buchanan...the voice of USA

Not only am I going to hell, carrying diseases, but now I'm ungrateful.

Check out Big Bu's words of wisdom

First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known. Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.

Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans... We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude?

Who's scary?

This man isn't scary


















These two are

The Devil's eyes? Child, please...

Michael Myers from Halloween

Is he really Pure Evil or Pure Mess?
I'm not sure if Mikey is pure evil, just a screwed up kid....almost like most of the youth these days.

I've always been enthralled with Mikey. His reason to terrorize is plan and simple, there is no reason. But I don't look at him in fear as I would Jason or Thomas (Leatherface). I see him as lost soul or a kid who didn't get enough attention.

Over the years, he's become more and more ridiculous as a movie character. I'm not feeling the mindless killer thing at all. As they continue to create more Halloween movies, I wish they could give him a reason to exist. Mikey's not fun anymore and until these writers truly bring it, I'll make Easter my official holiday of horror.

Finally, a real female music artist

Miss Leona is hitting our area fast and hard. She has a great voice and an aura that's been missing from the music biz for awhile. I have heard a few songs and I was floored by her talent.

American please get with it! Leave the Britneys, Mariahs, hasbeen Madonnas alone. It's time for real singers to enter the room. I encourage everyone to listen to her!

David from the Lost Boys

When I was 13, this was the man, the dream, the all of my world. For the first time, my notion of the knight in shining armor motif was dead. The bad boy became my thing.

Kiefer played this guy to a T. I was so love with this character. David was a kind of guy I never seen before in Union City, Tennessee (my hometown). He was the ultimate man. Someone that oozed excitement and sexual freedom.

When I saw Kiefer/David, I immediately fell for him. I thought about him every second and when I saw the movie; I was hooked!! I think it was clear that I liked boys. I also had the Lost Boys book and read it about 4 times. I even wrote my own Lost Boys story where David comes to Union City and coax me to runaway with him. But we had to deal with Star.

God, I hated her...she had my man and she was a vampire. So I had to stake her.

This Damn Book

I love, love, love horror, but I still can't look this book.

The Scary Stories book has always been in my life and for 23 years this book still gets me.

The stories were cute, but the pictures!! Those pictures tore me up as a kid. I still can't believe it was available for 2nd graders. However, I still sneek a peek at the book stores when I see it.

Damn you, Stephen Gammell...and thank you for the thrills.

My favorite movie

Carrie was almost a hero to me. I was picked on as a kid and a teen, but I didn't know how to handle it. But when I saw Carrie (and later read the book), I realized my life wasn't so bad.

Carrie was a weird outlet for a lot of things I was feeling, being gay and closeted in a small southern town. I wouldn't have killed anyone, but it would've been neat to have TK abilities to scare folks. I have seen this movie at lease 50 times and read the book twice. However, I didn't see the musical, but I heard it was "interesting".





My favorite scenes were the infamous split screen piece where Carrie cracks and tears sh** up. And when Carrie is dancing with Tommy Ross. It was there, you knew that it was the first and last time she would ever know true happiness.

Also Carrie helped me understand "mind powers" when I start reading X-Men.

Ode to Wonder Woman's sister...Nubia

You may know this, but if you don't, here it is. Wonder Woman has a black sister. And her name is Nubia. I remember seeing her in the SuperFriends comic book (issue 25)


Wonder Woman tries to liberate the oppressed women of the African continent. But Diana is interrupted by, Nubia who is temporarily under the control of the evil Overlord. Nubia tells her to back off and they fight, eventually the Overlord is defeated and they are back as normal.


She's rarely featured again, until Phil Jimenz brought her back, but changed her origin completely. However, I liked the fact that in the 70s Nubia was created to bring black readers to the fold. I liked that she was Wonder Woman's sister. There are so many stories that could've been told through the eyes of the other warrior princess.

Hillary...

Hillary, I like you. When I lived in New York, I was impress with your work. But maybe you should step down from this race. The people want Obama.

Living in South Central

Living in South Central L.A., I am reminded everyday about gangs and violence that harbors around my area. I’m disheartened every time I hear about a child being shot down or someone dying due to some silly gang initiation. Why does this continue to be an issue in South Central or anywhere? What is happening in these homes where killing and stealing are options? I live in South Central, I see different sides to this place on a regular basis. In one side, I see USC, the university I work in. I see the neighborhoods surrounding the campus, and then I see the children and to be honest, it’s hard. I’m not sure if the kids know the way out, or if they are encouraged to get out of strife. I don’t know if the schools are giving them enough to face the world, or enough face the everyday hustle. They don’t always see the possible opportunities that are in front of them. If anything, they see the gangs fighting the community, broken homes, people dying, runaway fathers (or mothers), and their relatives in jail.

If the gangs were smart, they would do more to uplift the community. They could pull together and make better opportunities for the future. They could also take care of the community. Help rebuild homes, and advocate for their neighbors’ rights, educate the children…there’s so much they can do. I never understood why anyone join gangs, or what they really got out of it. But I do understand that in a good way, they can be a great influence to the kids of the community. I wish gangs would stop fighting and start building, supporting, and connecting. Use that energy to build something that will live on effectively and not end as a splash of beer on the ground.

Comic & Cartoon Divas

These women are the bomb! The truly played a part in my creative-crazy madness.

Raven








Wonder Woman









Pauline










Lady Jaye

Baroness

















Jem Storm




Wonder Girl











Scarlett

I wonder...

If witchcraft was real, would more people actually practice it?

There are two types of people in our nation: smart and dumb. Where do you fall into?

Notice how Hillary C. only used her "FEAR" ads in Ohio and Texas?

Was Judas a part of a bigger plan?

Why do gay men spend so much time on M4M, Adam4Adam, gay.com, but don't take the same amount of time to really meet someone?


Is Bill Cosby right?


Is Hip Hop considered dead after "artists" like Flo Rida and Soulja Boy hit the scene?


And who really likes T-Pain?


Do Twinks realize that they all look alike?


And who inspires to be a Twink anyway?


Who is still on the down low?


Why does every Gay ad tends to be hyper-sexual?


If you are rich, do you have to live a rich lifestyle?


Is Madonna really all that?


Who are the readers of MAXIM magazine?


If we start dating guys that makes us laugh, would there be more functional gay relationships?


When will L.A. people wake up and join the real world?


What would the state of America be, if Martin Luther King Jr. was still alive (for a idea, check out The Boondocks)


Of all the lies we've been told as kids, which one do you still hold on to?


Are frat boys the most insecure males ever?

Remember this? 2

I loved Rima!

She was in the Superfriends, usually teamed with Wonder Woman. Rima was Hanna-Barbera's half-assed attempt to bring a cultural and racial composition of the otherwise white Super Friends.

But there was more to Rima. She was a DC heroine who could talk to birds, befriend animals, and plucking poison darts from the air. Like her counterpart, Tarzan, Rima lived in the jungle, swing on vines, and was white.

However, her ethnicity was changed into a Latina once she enter the cartoon world.

Are we invisble? Those of us who are in the middle

Gay black men have given two roles: thug and queen.

And for some reason, we have gladly accepted them. But are there any other roles we can play?

The queen part is something I do understand. Due to many of us being raised by women, but the thug role…I don’t get it. I dislike that fact that there’s a desire for the homo thug by black men as well as white. The word “thug” hold so much power and yet, negativity.

Noah’s Arc gave gay black men a face, a voice, and a story…maybe not the best story, but a story. Still, there were options. In college, my friends and I were in the middle. Several of them were art majors, political science majors, club presidents, play writers, and student leaders. We didn’t fall into a specific category, nor follow traditional black male roles. We stood out and challenged the norm. And that’s what I would like our brothers to do. Defy the stereotypical gay roles we’ve been placed in and look for something new.

Also in thinking about the thug mentality, ask yourself: Do I want to be somebody, or act like a nobody. The last time I checked, a thug was at the bottom of a caste system.

So I guess I will be a king (or queen) any day

I want my Black TV!!

So I realized this just the other day. After my favorite show, Girlfriends was removed from TV, there was only a handful of Black TV shows on the air. And I really mean a handful. I think there are about 4 or 5 out there. I know the numbers were always low, but this really bothers me. I think about the time I was growing up. My tube was beset by Cliff & Clare, Whitley & Hillman College, Benson, George and Louise, 227, Living Single, even Homeboys from Outer Space. At that time, I was able to see us in a myriad of roles that were funny and interesting, but it sent a message that we could do anything and be anything.

But these days, I’m not seeing the same messages. From the limited amount exposure we get, I’m reminded that:

1. Black women main two goals in life is to drop it like’s hot and meet Flavor Flav

2. Black men will only be rappers, criminals, or straight-out-of-high school sports stars

3. We don’t have exciting lives unless we’re on Cheaters or Cops

4. We are always in some sense of trouble from the man

Now, I have noticed that black characters are showing up in different shows and in interesting and positive roles. However we are not headlining many TV series. I would love to see more TV shows with a Black people as the main character or more Black-led casts. I think our younger folk need to see those images. Also it’s good for the rest of the nation to Black people beyond Flavor Flav and BET Live.

Girlfriends was a show that showcased the diversity of Black women. And for 8 years, it provided great perspectives in our culture as well as women in general. (you can tell I loved that show) We need more shows that display the diversity of our people. In some ways, I think it can hit a symptom within our racial & ignorance disease.

And speaking of BET… you can do more, you can do better. I will write all about my “love” for BET later.

Remember this?

Jeannie was a fun 30-minute Saturday morning cartoon made by Hanna-Barbera in the 70s on CBS. Based upon the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, the animated series features the genie character with a new master, high school student Corry Anders. What I liked about Jeannie was her power signature. She would use her magical powers by crossing her arms and whipping her hair (How diva is that). She also had a genie-in-training named Babu.

She was great in the New Scooby Doo Mysteries, I wish there were more of her....and yes, I am old.

Things that has to be destroyed

This has passed its shelf life, this isn't cute at all. It's so dumb and overly trendy. I feel like I'm on a Shark planet with Shark people, or Snorks.



If you don't know about Snorks, here's a quick reminder



Please stop the madness, and black men...don't even try it.

Men can be stupid

Think men are in need of spiritual counseling or a hug these days. Gay and straight men alike are just going crazy!! Their need to feel...I don't know, accepted, attractive, or something, has created interesting reactions. I know this isn’t a new thing, but I’m just amazed with the gall of some of men have right now.

Here are some things I’ve noticed:

• Paying girls and boys for sex, while they are in high powered roles
• Demanding a girl or boy to be hot, thin, or fit when they are nowhere near the desired mate
• Walking around Santa Monica Blvd (L.A.) with their shirts off, just to show others their “hard work”
• I was watching the Millionaire Matchmaker and was stun with this one guy who’s a part of the Dolce group here in LA. He wasn’t all that, but he wanted all that. And he wanted the worst female stereotype (blonde, boobs, and young). The other thing about him was his age. He’s 33 and he wanted a girl that was in the age range of 18-22. Really?
• Thinking that a younger person would make them feel younger
• Continuously forcing their wives to stand next to them when they cheat, lie, and steal. As if their wives were as guilty as their poo-putt husbands
• Working out their chest more than their legs
• Wearing AXE cologne or anything else from them
• Sleeping with men, but claim to be straight
• Not taking care of their kids
• Wanting to players
• Wanting drunken sex and having drunken sex
• Pushing the horrible female stereotype
• Pushing the horrible gay male stereotype
• Buying big cars and other items to impress others

I’m sure there’s more, but I wanted to get the point across. Hopefully men will stop being lazy, vain, and down right ridiculous and just be men. But wait, well…a new type of men.

but I don't know about that either. So I guess we just have to wait of the Vulcans to come…sigh.

Black Gays where are you?

Do we have gay black people on the scene? I mean, we are almost invisible as well as dead. With AIDS running through our community and religion still scaring us "straight", what else do we got?

And the media isn't working in our favor. The black gay show Noah' Arc, is gone and a show about the Down Low is still on the air (I thought we moved on from that). The Thug culture is our only form of sexual expression on any type erotic outlet. And if there's any TV shows with gay characters, we are not featured.There are a few gay black music artists out and touring, but the mainstreamers won't even fathom the fact of coming out.

We need our leaders to be visible as well as active. We need to see more black gay characters on TV, film, books, comics...

Churches need to be supportive instead of hateful and judgemental.

And please let the Down Low thing go...if you're doing a guy, you like guys. There's nothing "Down Low" about it.

Basically, I want to see us with a show like De'quan and Grace. Is that too much to ask?

Spin-Off Wishlist

I'm hearing that a 90210 spin off is in the works. But if they going to invest in that mess, here are some shows they can consider as well:

A Different World Spin-Off: the kids on the original cast are starting college at Hillman. With Dwayne-wayne as a professor and Jalesea as a Dean.

Bewitched Spin-Off: Tabitha's children are grown and dealing with their powers, while a new neighborhood of mythical creatures is on a rise. And Tabitha's brother, Adam is becoming dangerous and demonic.

Willow: Buffy's best friend solving mystical crimes in the modern world.

Good Times: Keith and Thelma gets a divorce and JJ's actor son gets in too deep in the drug crowd in Chicago. Michael comes out and Penny changes her career from a store owner to a teacher.

Facts of Life: Eastland is re-opened by one of the past students, but which one and why? Plus Jo confesses a towering secret to her family. And Blair loses everything!

Punky Brewster: Punky learns the reason why her mother abandoned her and set out to get answers. Along the way, she meets her real family and the man who changed Punky's world.

SeaQuest DSV: A new race of sea people known as, the Ardanousans are attacking several underwater colonies. the new crew led by Captain Bridger's grandson, who has an alcohol problem. Also an Ardanousan has been secretly implanted on deck.

ISIS: the super goddess finds a new vessel in a transsexual male in Cairo.

He-Man: The King is dead and now Adam's the new ruler of Eternia, along with his wife Teela. He-Man is no more. But when She-ra's is left for dead by a new evil being, Adam must step into role that he was never comfortable with. Plus a mysterious deal between Evil-Lyn and the Sorceress is revealed and Greyskull's secrets are in Horak's hands.

Queer as Folk: Everybody dies, but Michael. Now he has to start over by opening a comic book store in the Bronx.

A Small Wonder: United Robotronics has gone rogue. They have upgraded other domestic robots into assassins and murdered Brandon Brindle. Vicki and her "father" Ted is missing. Now her brother, Jamie and Harriet must find Vicki and Ted and figure out the the secret behind United Robotronics 's new mission.

Wow, that was fun. I'll probably do this again soon.

TV Crush

A friend and I was talking about our childhood TV/Movie crushes. Our guys were interesting to say the least, but we realized that these hot boyz set us up for failure in the type of men we looked for.

So here's a few of my Tigerbeat dream beaus





Michael Damian or Danny from The Young and the Restless.




Thundarr... I liked the heroes and he was rougher and tougher than He-Man.





I loved Kiefer in Lost Boys. He was so hot and dangerous in this movie. Till this day I still have a crush on him. But I also think this is where I began my weird DWB (Dirty White Boy) thing started.




Ricky, Ricky, Ricky...I tried to call him back in the day using the fan letter address in Tigerbeat. My Grandmama was not pleased with the phone bill.


So from these guys, I wanted a White, singer, rich guy with a huge chip on his shoulder and a hankering for human blood...no wonder why I was single until I was 26.