Category: dancing with the stars

PA Judge Fast Ruling for Gay Marriage; Valerie Harper Dancing with Stars

PA Judge Fast Ruling for Gay Marriage

As I posted earlier today, a judge will rule as to whether or not Montgomery County Clerk, D. Bruce Hanes, was acting illegally by issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples.

A judge promised to rule as quickly as possible after hearing arguments Wednesday about whether a suburban Philadelphia court clerk should be forced to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini said a central issue is “how power is allocated in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

“What’s before us today is generally, ‘Who decides?'” Pellegrini told the full courtroom in Harrisburg at the start of oral arguments.

Pennsylvania is the only northeastern state that does not allow gay marriage or civil unions. A 1996 state law says a marriage must be between a man and a woman, and it says same-sex marriages performed elsewhere cannot be recognized in Pennsylvania.

D. Bruce Hanes, the elected register of wills in Montgomery County, defied the ban in late July by issuing licenses to same-sex couples, as part of his duties as the orphan’s court clerk. His action followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to throw out part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, and a statement by state Attorney General Kathleen Kane that the same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional.

I think the important thing to remember here, along with the laws, is who will go down on the right side of history. And it’s moments in time like this that tend to define people in more ways than one.

Valerie Harper Dancing with Stars

When I read and reviewed an autobiography by actress, Valerie Harper, last winter, I posted it, along with other information about a cancer diagnosis that only gave her a few months to live. Since then, Harper has gone into remission, has become a huge inspiration to all of us, and she’s going to be part of next season’s Dancing with the Stars.

“I said, ‘Give me one good reason,’ ” Harper recalled. “He said, ‘You have cancer! Get up there, and show people that you can dance and do — and the doctors said it’s fine to exercise. Encourage people to move, to exercise, to do all the things that will be good for them, and mainly not to sit in the house and glower and worry and feel sorry for yourself because you have this disease and anything else.'”

Exercise is generally encouraged for patients, according to the American Cancer Society.

“At one time, patients with cancer, especially in the advanced stages, were often told by their doctor to rest and limit their exercise,” the organization’s website says. “But newer research has shown that exercise is not only safe and possible during cancer treatment, but that it also can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.”
 
It’s not always easy to exercise. I know how hard it is because I have been doing a three to five mile run early every single morning of my life for the past twenty years. At this point, I don’t know how I would live without that morning run. I can’t even imagine.
 
And if I couldn’t run, I’d walk.
 
Here’s another article with more about Harper.
 
 

CBS Parodies Dancing with the Stars: "Dancing ON the Stars"


I found this amusing, and I’m not talking about the photo of Bristol Palin doing the Wasilla hoochie-coochie.

I’m talking about the rift between ABC and CBS. I don’t know how many others will find it amusing. But even if you don’t find it amusing it is a great example of parody in a snarky way. And like most parody, there is a certain amount of truth to it that hits home.

Evidently, CBS and ABC are at war right now over issues about reality shows, “Big Brother,” and “Glass House.” CBS (Big Brother) is suing ABC (Glass House) because they say ABC allegedly stole their concept. So in order to really piss ABC off, CBS released this fake press release, dissing ABC’s “Dancing WITH the Stars.”

Los Angeles, June 21, 2012 – Subsequent to recent developments in the creative and legal community, CBS Television today felt it was appropriate to reveal the upcoming launch of an exciting, ground-breaking and completely original new reality program for the CBS Television Network.

The dazzling new show, DANCING ON THE STARS, will be broadcast live from the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and will feature moderately famous and sort of well-known people you almost recognize competing for big prizes by dancing on the graves of some of Hollywood’s most iconic and well-beloved stars of stage and screen.

The cemetery, the first in Hollywood, was founded in 1899 and now houses the remains of Andrew “Fatty” Arbuckle, producer Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Paul Muni, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, George Harrison of the Beatles and Dee Dee Ramone of the Ramones, among many other great stars of stage, screen and the music business. The company noted that permission to broadcast from the location is pending, and that if efforts in that regard are unsuccessful, approaches will be made to Westwood Village Memorial Park, where equally scintillating luminaries are interred.

“This very creative enterprise will bring a new sense of energy and fun that’s totally unlike anything anywhere else, honest,” said a CBS spokesperson, who also revealed that the Company has been working with a secret team for several months on the creation of the series, which was completely developed by the people at CBS independent of any other programming on the air. “Given the current creative and legal environment in the reality programming business, we’re sure nobody will have any problem with this title or our upcoming half-hour comedy for primetime, POSTMODERN FAMILY.”

“After all,” the spokesperson added, “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”

Good For Cher: Chaz Bono on Dancing with the Stars



I probably should have left up my new release post for the weekend. But I saw this about Cher and Chaz Bono and couldn’t help posting about it right now.

When I made my last post, about Chaz doing the reality show, I was a little surprised at some of the negative reactions I received. And from gay and straight people, too. Well, anyone who knows me knows I don’t buckle when it comes to things like this. I kept the post up and I’m posting about it again. This is what the T in GLBT is all about, and I’ll fight to my death for tolerance.

Good for Cher for coming to his defense!!

As for Chaz, you may not like it, you may not understand it. You may not even want to like it or understand it. But the point is that Chaz Bono is doing something most people wouldn’t have the guts to do. And I find that amazing…on so many levels I could fill this entire blog with examples. And I don’t even like dancing myself…can’t do it….won’t even try. But I’ll be watching this show.

….Cher takes to Twitter to defend Chaz Bono on DWTS

By Sandy Cohen | AP – Thu, Sep 1, 2011 9:08 AM PDT

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..LOS ANGELES – Cher is taking to Twitter to defend her son Chaz Bono.

The superstar posted several tweets Wednesday defending his participation on the upcoming season of “Dancing With the Stars.” Bono is the first transgender competitor on the hit ABC show.

Cher says her son, who was born female and underwent surgery to become a man, is being “viciously attacked” on blogs and message boards since the new cast was announced Monday.

“This is Still America right? It took guts 2 do it,” Cher wrote, adding that she supports him no matter what he chooses to do.

“Mothers don’t stop Getting angry with stupid bigots who (mess) with their children!” the 65-year-old singer wrote.

Bono, 42, is paired with pro dancer Lacey Schwimmer on the reality show, where celebrities and their professional partners perform various ballroom dances for judges’ scores and viewer votes.

“Dancing” fans have posted both angry and supportive comments on the show’s message boards. One called the casting choice “disgusting” and said “ABC should be ashamed of theirselves for harassing mainstream Americans and Christains.”

Another wrote: “I never and mean NEVER watch DWTS but will this season to support/vote for (Chaz).”

On his own Twitter page, Bono described himself as “the luckiest guy around” and thanked his fans for their support. He also thanked Cher.

“Thanks for all your support mom,” he wrote. “The haters are just motivating me to work harder and stay on DWTS as long as I possibly can.”

The 13th season of “Dancing With the Stars” is set to premiere Sept. 19.

Chaz Bono on Dancing with the Stars…



I’m obviously still here and Hurricane Irene didn’t do me in. In fact, as far as storms go, I’ve seen much worse. We’re used to nor’easters up here, with wind gusts up to 90 mph. The highest wind gusts we had here, and I’m only two hours away from Atlantic City where the eye was, were about 50 mph. But no complaints from me. It could have been much worse and I’m glad it wasn’t.

I just read here that Chaz Bono is going to be on Dancing with the Stars. Even though I can’t stand to dance myself, I do love to watch the dancers on that show. Jerry Springer amazed me. My heart sank when Kirsti Alley tripped and fell on her partner’s leg.

You have to give Chaz credit. And I’m not talking about the transgender thing. I’m talking about his having the guts to go on that show and dance in front of the world. I couldn’t do it. I’m not that brave. From what I’ve seen, it’s intense at best. And unless you’ve had formal training as a dancer, there’s no way it can be easy.