“The A List: New York” Renewed for a 2nd Season

Logo’s reality series The A-List: New York will be back with second seasons episodes this fall, the cable channel has announced.

Production is slated to begin shortly on 11 new, 1-hour episodes of the series which currently ranks as the second most-watched series in Logo’s history.

The second season welcomes the return of the original cast of The A-List: New York: The Amazing Race winner actor/model Reichen Lehmkuhl, his Brazilian model boyfriend Rodiney Santiago, renowned celebrity photographer and RuPaul’s Drag Race and America’s Next Top Model staple Mike Ruiz, international model Austin Armacost, modeling agent Derek Lloyd Saathoff, and ultra-high-end salon owner Ryan Nickulas and his always quotable sidekick, TJ Kelly.

Additionally, there will be some fresh faces in the crowd as new storylines and cast members are introduced throughout the season which will pick up where the volatile first season left off, following provocative storylines like Reichen and Rodiney’s relationship, Austin’s attempts to stir the pot and Ryan and his partner’s struggle to adopt a child.

“The cast of ‘The A-List: New York’ burst onto the reality scene and grabbed everyone’s attention,” said Dave Mace, Senior Vice-President of Original Programming, Logo. ”The series topped many ‘guilty pleasure’ lists and we’re glad to bring the boys back for their fans.”

Logo Adds Shows to Its Schedule Line-Up

MTV’s Logo channel geared toward an LGBT audience and their families and friends, has announced three series that will be joining its line-up this year: Be Good Johnny Weir, Pretty Hurts and Setup Squad.

The announcement came at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena.

The Johnny Weir series, which explore the life of one of America’s most outspoken and colorful sports figures, had originally premiered on the Sundance Channel. Logo has acquired the first season’s episodes and will produce new episodes for a second season.

“Johnny Weir’s talent is as big as his irreverent personality,” says Dave Mace, Logo’s senior vice president of programming.

Also new: The workplace docu-soap Pretty Hurts which follows the staff and clients of a high-end Beverly Hills medical office that specializes in “liquid face lifts” and Setup Squad which focuses on a Manhattan-based matchmaking service that pairs up professional “wing people” with those who are unlucky in love.

Logo has also acquired episodes of Nip/Tuck which began airing this month and episodes of Will & Grace which will not air until 2013.

Meet Bravo’s New Gay Househusbands

New York media had a field day on Friday after The New York Daily News broke the news that Bravo’s executive vice-president of production, Andy Cohen, was developing a gay version of his “Real Housewives” franchise to compete with Logo’s “The A-List.” However, with regards to the reportedly aptly-named “From The Bottom To The Top” – the main question at hand is, ‘How did Logo ever possibly beat Bravo to the punch in this genre?’

Following the news, everyone seemed to have an opinion about the new show – after all, what’s juicier than the idea of a gay male reality show rivalry?

Access Hollywood has multiple sources that confirm that the show is indeed in the initial stages of pre-production. According to our sources, here’s what true — and not-so-true — about the inevitable pinnacle of Bravo’s programming evolution:

FACT: Six cast members have been signed to participate in what, for now, we’ll refer to as “FTBTTT” – they are: book industry publicist Kenneth Gillett, who came to NYC via LA (via Wisconsin); Factory PR founder and fashion event publicist Mark Silver; designer Jordan Carlyle (who also used to live in LA, via Mississippi) whose art is sold through retailer CB2; model Christopher Fawcett (aka: Jordan’s boyfriend… not initially mentioned in Friday’s media cacophony); style showroom owner Joey Giuntoli and British designer Kristopher Haigh, who currently works for Penguin and is a gay party promoter along with Gillett. They’ve all signed contracts that prohibit them from talking about anything… which is standard in the lifestyle reality show genre.

FICTION: The show’s been green lit already. Nope, it hasn’t. In fact, it hasn’t even begun shooting footage for the pilot. Shooting “should” commence in early 2011, but even that’s not for sure yet.

FACT: A seventh cast member may still yet be added. John Paul Fleming — originally from Texas (apparently, he has the tattoo to prove it) — who has worked as an international wholesale director for a variety of high-profile designers — including, most recently, Jil Sander, was asked to be a part of the cast two months ago, but had hang ups with his employer at the time. His situation has changed and now it’s TBD if he’ll be rejoining the six as a seventh official cast member, but he’s close friends with Haigh and worked for Giuntoli for two years (2008 – 2010).

FICTION: The new Bravo cast will be at odds with the cast of “The A-List”… not necessarily. In fact, Ryan, Derek and T.J. from Logo’s show are actually friends with some of the Bravo show’s potential cast members. Fleming has become close friends with T.J. recently. Many of the Bravo boys also know celebrity photographer Mike Ruiz, and were at his birthday party last week for the opening of the new gay bar/lounge “Industry” in midtown Manhattan.

FACT: They’re a tightly knit group. Fawcette also works for Giuntoli (when he’s not on the runway) and was Fleming’s assistant for over a year. Silver runs PR for Giuntoli and Carlyle is Giuntoli’s interior designer – so, as can you see… It’s not as if these guys have been thrown together randomly. They also have quite the list of high-profile acquaintances – amongst them, they are connected to: Nicole Richie, Victoria Beckham, Blake Lively, Kylie Minogue, Kelly Rowland, Fergie, Lady Gaga, Lorenzo Martone, and designers Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Tom Ford, Laurel Berman (who shows her collection, Black Halo, out of Giuntoli’s Chelsea Showroom) and Lynne Hiriak (who recently named a sweater in her collection after Fleming)… the list goes on.

FICTION: The show is going to be called “FTBTTT.” Nope, in fact, this name has never been attached to the show… neither via the production company, nor Bravo… it started as a running joke and stuck amongst the NY gays. On Friday, Cohen Tweeted, “HEY EVERYBODY: Do you really think Bravo is doing a show called “From the Bottom to the Top”?!? We’re not.”

Well, they likely are… it’s just not going to be named that. Rumored alternative names for the show include: “A-Gays,” The Real A-List,” “VIP:GAY:NYC,” “The A-Team,” SocialistOs,” The Real Househusbands of NYC,” “The Gay Gangs of NY” and “The Plastics”… the latter of which leads us to the fact that …

FACT: … This group of friends has a nickname: “The Plastics.” Although having a team nickname is a source of pride in certain NY circles, these boys have embraced it. They’ve even joked that the new project’s theme song should be a DJ Hector Fonseca remix of Keri Hilson’s latest single, “Pretty Girl Rock.”

All of this being said, as with anything in reality television, it’s still much too early to tell if this show will ever even happen at all. It could fall apart… or it could be Bravo’s biggest home run to date. Only time, and the timing of the latest Prada sample sale, will tell. As we learn more, we’ll keep you in the loop.

Access reached out to Bravo and received “no comment” on the show’s existence.

Bravo is a sister company of Access Hollywood at NBC Universal.

Logo Announces 3 New Gay Shows

Logo, the LGBT entertainment network from MTV Networks, has announced three new original series for 2011.

Be Good Johnny Weir explores the life of one of America’s most outspoken and colorful sports figures, three-time U.S. National Figure Skating Champion and World Medalist Johnny Weir.

Pretty Hurts is a comedic reality series that follows the staff and clients of a high-end Beverly Hills medical office that specializes in “liquid face lifts.”

The third series is Setup Squad, a workplace docu-soap focused on a Manhattan-based matchmaking service that pairs up professional “wing people” with those who are unlucky in love. Setup Squad will follow the hard-working angels who make the dating world a better place, whether you’re gay or straight.

Logo also acquired Nip/Tuck, which started airing on Logo this month and Will & Grace, which will begin running in 2013.

Reichen Lehmkuhl Does Ask and Does Tell

To say that Reichen Lehmkuhl is militant when it comes to raising awareness regarding lifting the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, would not be an understatement at all.

In fact, it perfectly encapsulates the 36-year-old’s passion for spreading the word on the political hot potato, which he addressed last month in Las Vegas during his appearance at Deployment Vegas. The annual gathering is for gay military men and those who champion them.

Lehmkuhl, who served as a Captain in the Air Force prior to his honorable discharge, has since spent his time in the trenches as a spokesperson for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and has a flight-themed jewelry line, Flying Naked, with proceeds benefiting the aforementioned organization.

It has been seven years since Lehmkuhl, and then partner Chip Arndt, won “The Amazing Race”; and he is now in the midst of dipping his toe back into the reality TV pool with his appearance on the upcoming LOGO series, “The A List: New York,” which has been likened to Bravo’s popular “Real Housewives” franchise, and features him and his boyfriend Rodiney Santiago in their day-to-day existence.

Lehmkuhl took time out his very busy schedule, which also includes taping of the new series and his starring role in the off-Broadway production of My Big Gay Italian Wedding, to chat with The Rage Monthly about a number of reality-themed topics; from being affiliated as one of its stars to the realism of there being a lifting of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Seeing as Lehmkuhl has been one of the few LGBT faces to win on a reality competition, we thought we’d get his two cents worth on how these shows represent the community as a whole.

“I think depending on the show, it’s portraying all different sides of the gay community,” he said, “It’s funny, as I get older, I’ve come to learn that there are so many kinds of people who happen to be gay; that you can’t fault any single show for depicting the gay community any single way.

Because who’s to say that straight acting gay people should be more acceptable than feminine acting gay people, or professional gay people should be regarded in a higher esteem than artsy gay people?"

“I’m kind of at the point where I’m non-judgmental about all of the different kinds of gay people that are in the community.”

As far as which of the many reality shows that populate the airwaves, he does have a favorite that he’s partial to, in terms of how the community are showcased on it. “‘The Amazing Race’ has done it the best, because they’ve shown a lot of different kinds of gay people,” he answered.

“They’ve embraced the whole spectrum of the gay community. Our gay watchdog organizations that we have; there’s almost this pressure to show the gay community in a way that might be more acceptable to the straight community,” he explained.

“So that we have a better chance of getting rights, and I’m getting militant in my older age in saying, ‘We should be able to be how we are, and still be respected to have the same rights as everyone else.’ When you’re talking about reality shows, especially ‘The Amazing Race, ‘ I think they applaud that mindset.”

One mindset that may not have Lehmkuhl giving a standing ovation to is the labeling of being a “reality star,” as he has branched out into other avenues of the entertainment field with acting roles, including his turn as Trevor on “Dante’s Cove.”

He explained his connotation of the term. “Ah, reality star,” he said with a laugh. “Someone who has a really hard time getting respect in the legitimate acting world; I think it takes a special kind of person to really stick with it, and try to parlay their reality world fame into things that are more constructive and respected more in the entertainment industry.”

As previously mentioned, he is in the midst of filming “The A List: New York” and is both “totally excited and scared to death” to be swimming back in the waters of reality TV, as this experience is far different than his turn on “The Amazing Race.”

“It’s scary, the cameras are with me all the time,” he stated. “It’s an eight episode series, and we’re shooting for three and a half months; and the show is with me, basically, six days a week and sometimes twelve hours a day."

“And they’re showing everything,” Lehmkuhl exclaimed. “Viewers of the show are going to see my life, like my family and friends probably haven’t even seen it. It’s so intense, this show, and it’s scary to be opened up like that. But at the same time, it’s so much fun and so exciting.”

As far as the series being similar to the Real Housewives brand, Lehmkuhl feels that it will stand on its own merit.

“It’s definitely a unique show, because it will be the only one that’s totally gay and depicting these six guys’ lives,” he professed.

“You’ll be able to relate to it more, and there’s every kind of gay person on the show – name the kind of guy and he’s on there. I think everyone’s going to have a favorite and everyone’s going to have someone they hate.

And, I think the show will be appealing to a lot of people outside of the gay community, because it’s a kind of social experiment.”

Another aspect that he sees as beneficial is that it’s a great cross-promotional tool for the gay rights causes he supports through appearances on the lecture circuit, as well as highlighting his attempts to eek out time to write a tongue-in-cheek follow-up to his 2006 memoir Here’s What We’ll Say, which he plans to title It Will Be Great Exposure.

“I’m having a time in my life, where I’m not getting the chance to sit down and write,” he recounted. “I’m actually heading to a store right now to buy a desk, so I can sit down and write more.

The first quarter will be my time as a gay officer in the Air Force and everything I went through living a double life, and then I’ll go into meeting Chip, doing “The Amazing Race,” meeting Lance (Bass) and going through a breakup on the grocery store newsstand tabloids.

“I’ve been through some other really hard stuff that I’m going to reveal and open up about, hopefully to help other people who might have gone through the same things.”

And this is the exact reason why he became involved with Deployment Vegas, as he knows first hand about the types of experience the military men have gone through.

“It’s really important for me and I feel so lucky to have been invited by the organization to speak to them,” Lehmkuhl said. “And I know it’s an organization that relates to me and what I’ve been through, and I relate to them and what they’ve been through."

“I think it will benefit me as much as it will benefit them (the men participating). I’ll love getting together with these guys and having that camaraderie with them, and we can all talk and share stories.

To stand before them and tell my story is cool, but I want to hear their stories, as much as they might want to hear mine. When you’re in the military and you’re gay, you withstand emotional torture leading a double life and it’s very difficult.”

If Lehmkuhl had his druthers, and in a perfect world, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would become a thing of the past. “If I had it my way, I would be best friends with the President and talk him into signing an executive order to stop the discharges immediately,” he proclaimed.

“At two discharges a day, at the rate we’re running, I’d put all those discharges on the shoulders of the President. "We’re really torturing people who are willing to give their lives in their profession; name one other profession where people are willing to give an actual beating heart for that profession,” he stated.

“You’re taking those kinds of honorable people and ripping them from their careers, humiliating them, and everyday we’re doing this to a couple of men and women. It has to stop! In an ideal world, which is not the one we live in, that’s what I would do."

“In the real world, I have high hopes that the Senate will pass this Defense Budget Bill. It’s a lot of work and will take a lot of convincing.”

The A-List: New York will premiere next month on LOGO.

Introducing the Cast of LOGO's "Gay Housewives of New York"

We got wind of the cast of Logo's new "gay housewives" show. And it's filled with just the fame-hungry, attractive, horrible people you could have imagined. They're all models! This is going to be a fantastic mess.

The show, which was initially called Kept, is now tentatively being called The A List and is scheduled to air on Logo sometime this fall after taping in NYC this summer. Just as we told you—and despite his denial at first—D-lister and former reality show contestant Reichen Lehmkuhl has signed up to be a part of the cast along with his boyfriend. That means of the six people cast on the show, five of them work as models, have worked as models, or claim to work as models. Yay, abs and shallowness! Let's meet our gaggle of famewhores, shall we?

Reichen Lehmkuhl
Occupation: Professional arm candy
Stats: The former The Amazing Race winner has left his Air Force past behind and now makes his living as a professional attractive gay with his own beefcake calendars, soft-core television roles, and jewelry line. He wrote a book too. He really wants to be famous. Also, he thinks we're imbeciles and can't spell.
Claim to Fame: Was the boyfriend that helped Lance Bass come out of the closet.
Housewife Equivalent: Gretchen Rossi.

Rodiney Santiago
Occupation: Model
Stats: This Brazilian didn't make it in Miami or Los Angeles so now he and his boyfriend Reichen are moving to New York to take the world by storm.
Claim to Fame: He's dating Reichen.
Housewife Equivalent: Simon van Kempen.

Mike Ruiz
Occupation: Photographer
Stats: A LA-based muscle daddy, Ruiz is like a real actual photographer who has talent and makes a living shooting for Interview and Vanity Fair. He's appeared on shows like America's Next Top Model and RuPaul's Drag Race, so it's obvious he wants to be as famous as the people he shoots.
Claim to Fame: Has photographed Tyra Banks, Dolly Parton, Lindsay Lohan, Kathy Griffin, and a bunch of other celebrities.
Housewife Equivalent: Vicki Gunvalson.

Austin A.
Occupation: Supposedly a model, but we're not quite sure.
Stats: After doing mysterious work in Los Angeles and London he is returning to New York to create a whole lot of drama on TV.
Claim to Fame: Dated Marc Jacobs for a hot minute.
Housewife Equivalent: Danielle Staub.

Derek Lloyd Saathoff
Occupation: A former model turned modeling agent.
Stats: Derek is a golddigger who already lives in a really nice apartment in Chelsea. He likes to party, is out all the time, and the gay gossips about town are already talking about him being on the show. He should be a big hit.
Claim to Fame: Look at her! What do you think?
Housewife Equivalent: Jill Zarin.

Ryan Nickulas
Occupation: Hair salon owner
Stats: We couldn't find much about Ryan, so the jury is still out. What we do know is that he and his partner are looking to adopt. Aw, cute little gaybies on TV!
Claim to Fame: He once did Madonna's hair. (OK, I made that up.)
Housewife Equivalent: Bethenny Frankel.

"The Gay Housewives of New York" in the Works!

The team behind the Real Housewives of Atlanta are working on an all-gay version of the franchise, reports Gawker.

The reality series is tentatively titled "Kept" and will air on Logo, a channel specifically aimed at gay people.

The show has not been cast yet but will follow an elite group of fabulous Manhattan party boys who love living the high-life.

LOGO's 'Sordid Lives' Canceled

LOGO has chosen not to greenlight the second season of Del Shores' hit comedy series, Sordid Lives.

The series, based on the 1996 hit play and independent film which premiered in 2000, follows the lives of a dysfunctional group of Southerners in a small Texas town. The series starred Beth Grant, Leslie Jordan, Rue McClanahan, Caroline Rhea, Jason Dottley and Bonnie Bedelia.

With the news of the cancellation, the release of the first season DVD is also up in the air.

According to reports, what is even more shocking is that the actors and Shores have not been paid. Payment is reportedly due to Shores' not only for writing duties on Season Two of the series (which Shores completed after a second season of the show was ordered during the second week of the first season's airing) but also for the residuals from subsequent airings of the show which premiered July 23, 2008.

In response to the cancellation, a fan group, "Save Sordid Lives" has already popped up on FaceBook with nearly 1,700 members. For the record, Shores does not own the show and cannot shop it around to rival networks as Once Upon A Time Films, the production company, actually has ownership of the series.

That said the Sordid Lives creator is not daunted, In an email to GayWired.com, Del Shores says he remains positive and is already creating another show. His plan? To use most of the cast of Sordid Lives: The Series -- and, of course, they are all for it. He has already talked to his reps at CAA and the plan is to take the new project out to networks in the next few weeks.

Del Shores released the following extensive statement on his FaceBook page, discussing the cancelation as well as the future of the Sordid Lives and what's next.

"I'm tired of being told to be silent. You all deserve to know the truth about why Sordid Lives: The Series"is not going forward into Season 2.

First of all, I want you all to know that this has been an amazing experience for me, for the cast. We love each other, we love working together. AND WE LOVE OUR FANS.

When the show premiered July 23rd, according to the executives and marketing team at LOGO, "SLTS" was in a league of its own. We were told that it was off the charts for them. That it was 20 times bigger than any show they had ever aired. I brought them stars and beloved characters and they got mainstream press -- TV Guide, People Magazine, Regis & Kelly, Conan, Today Show (3 times), New York Times, Star, LA Times, Associated Press.... RAVE REVIEWS across the board! Whoopi Goldberg even called me personally and told me that she wanted me to write her into Season 2. I did!

Viewers were changing their cable companies (Direct TV, you owe me money!) LOGO was in more households than ever. Not just gay. We had crossed over! We were flying high and destined to many seasons to come! I took a big risk and it paid off.

See, usually, when you bring a network a hit, you are rewarded! And we were. LOGO ordered the 2nd season 2 weeks after we premiered. BUT, LOGO doesn't own the show. Our production company owns the series. In fact, there are three financial partners. LOGO, our production company and IMG International, who is our foreign distributor. LOGO ordered the show CONTINGENT on the other partners also ordering the show. IMG did not. They were still selling the show -- and still are. They seem to be doing very well -- France, Germany, Austria, Israel, Canada, Sweden and more in the wings -- so they could still come in.

But a bigger problem arose. The 12 episodes have now aired 262 times collectively (in America alone). Each time SLTS airs, the writer, director and actors are to receive compensation -- residuals. The production company is the signatory with all the Guilds, meaning they have agreed to pay the residuals. To this date, WE HAVE BEEN PAID NOTHING! I wrote and directed all twelve episodes and am personally owed hundreds of thousands of dollars. I have been paid nothing! I took a huge pay cut to do this show. I made less money in four years working on SLTS than I made in one season on Queer As Folk. The actors, who worked for minimums or slightly above, have also BEEN PAID NOTHING. The Guilds have stepped in, but these claims takes months.

Actors have lost health insurance and okay, now I'm going to really get honest and bare all. I worked exclusively on Sordid Lives: The Series for over four years. I was contractually bound to the show and turned down many opportunities -- because I was doing what I loved -- writing, creating, directing my own show, with amazing creative control (thank you LOGO). It was my choice and my extreme pleasure. But I took a hit. A big hit. It was a gamble. A risk. I thought I had won.

In January, our home went into foreclosure -- and yes, the producers knew about my financial situation -- still refused to pay me my residuals which would have saved the house and a lot of stress. I informed the executives of LOGO, hoping they would at least step in and pay me for the scripts of Season Two (which I had written). No response from the network.

Thank G-d for friends. Thank G-d for C.R., for N.A and R.A, for B.B. For Jason's amazing family, for my kids, my ex-wife -- and for the support of you, my friends and fans. You have no idea how much strength you gave me... make that -- give me.

It was a crazy time. It still is.

But you know, I learned so much. I learned that things are things -- and health, family, friends, and my adoring fans, are important. I am loved and I've had a good ride. I'm lucky and I am BLESSED.

I live daily with gratitude. Jason told me it would be okay and suggest that I start teaching and to get back on stage to tell my stories. I did and it saved me.

Yet, I was still fighting for Sordid Lives: The Series. I even tried to buy the show back from the producer -- knowing, I could put together the money.

But negotiations came to a screeching stop. The price was too high. We reached an impasse -- and now, I have a glimmer of hope -- but yes, it has faded.

And as much as I love my friends at LOGO, it did sting when they picked up a second run (reruns) of The Sarah Silverman Program for (according to trades) more money per episode than they paid for SLTS. That money could have saved our show. And no disrespect to Ms. Silverman. I LOVE her show, but that's not the point. My interpretation -- Sordid Lives: The Series was just simply not that important for LOGO to save.

So, I must move on. I have other stories to tell. I want to see Southern Baptist Sissies on the big screen. I know the effect of the play. The healing. The salvation. {Anybody with a couple of mil want to make a difference, be a movie producer? :-) } I have other plays in me, other TV shows. Caroline Rhea, Leslie Jordan and I will bring our "A-Sordid Affair Comedy Tour" to you very soon. It's all good.

But I do have more Sordid Lives in me... the 2nd season was written before it all went down. I own the stage rights and the publishing -- so someday, someway, you'll know how Noleta fares in the looney bin, where Brother Boy winds up... what happens to Ty and Jacob, to Latrelle, Wilson and Tomeka. You'll know if Sissy gets out of jail. And who set the fire at Bubba's? And how dear LaVonda works her magic on the masses! And how "Juanita" has at least has one clear moment.

I love you all -- and if I get in trouble -- I better have some lawyer fan (hopefully really cute) who will save my ass.

And as my Mama Merck used to say -- "You can't get blood from a turnip."

And yes, as Sissy says, "It'll all turn out..."

And as the Bible says, "The truth will set you free!"

Del Shores, The Storyteller, (Shores' one man show) is currently on tour (this weekend in San Francisco and next week in Atlanta). For upcoming dates and cities, visit his official site at www.delshores.net.