Michael Urie Joining & Zachary Quinto Leaving Revival of 'Angels in America'

Ugly Betty star Michael Urie is taking on the towering lead role of Prior Walter in the ongoing Off Broadway revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Angels in America, according to The New York Times.

Urie will start February 2, 2011, replacing actor Christian Borle when the production launches a new five-week extension through March 27th.

Also leaving the production, which opened in October: Star Trek and Heroes star Zachary Quinto, who will be replaced by theater actor Adam Driver (Mrs. Warren’s Profession) in the role of Prior’s erstwhile boyfriend Louis Ironson.

Actresses Robin Bartlett (Hannah Pitt), Zoe Kazan (Harper Pitt), and Robin Weigert (the Angel) will depart the show as well, but only Bartlett’s role has been re-cast (with theater actress Lynne McCollough).

According to the Times, the departures are all due to schedule conflicts with the unplanned additional five weeks of performances. Tickets for the extension will be $85, a steep hike from the underwritten $20 price for the initial run of the show

Ugly Betty Stars Support AIDS Walk

Former Ugly Betty stars Michael Urie and Mark Indelicato united on Sunday for the annual AIDS walk in New York.

Openly gay Urie made a speech to kick off the event, which aims to raise money for a number of local AIDS service organisations.

In a post on his Twitter.com page, the actor wrote, "AIDS walk supporters, volunteers, and walkers always blow me away. What a gorgeous morning!"

And Indelicato - who took part in the walk with friends - was delighted to reach the finishing line, updating his Twitter page to read: "We finished!!!!! I feel so fulfilled right now."

Cheyenne Jackson and Michael Urie Speak Out Against Newsweek Writer

An article by Newsweek writer Ramin Setoodeh with the point of view that openly gay actors cannot play straight convincingly, has prompted some big showbiz names to speak out publicly.

First Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth took the writer to task in a published rebuttal and now out stars Cheyenne Jackson and Michael Urie have also said their piece. AfterElton.com reports that the actors spoke out at a talkback event Monday night following a performance of Urie’s off-Broadway play The Tempermentals.

“It was very veiled self-loathing. Really upsetting,” Jackson said. “Everytime we go forward, some asshole like this takes us back a bit. I was really glad that Kristin Chenoweth wrote what she did [in defense of her Promises, Promises co-star Sean Hayes and other openly gay actors]. She sent it to me before it went out and about. I was very proud of her. For me to stand up and say, ‘F*ck you,’ that’s what you’d expect. But for someone like Kristin, she stands up for what she believes in and is very committed.”

Added Urie: “Cheyenne was f*cking Elvis in All Shook Up. He was sexy and hot. He’s always playing straight. And people buy tickets to see him. No straight critics accuse Sean Penn of not being able to play Harvey Milk or [criticize] Tom Hanks in Philadelphia.”

Update: Setoodeh is defending himself in a piece called Out of Focus in which he writes in part:

…What all this scrutiny seemed to miss was my essay’s point: if an actor of the stature of George Clooney came out of the closet today, would we still accept him as a heterosexual leading man? It’s hard to say, because no actor like that exists. I meant to open a debate—why is that? And what does it say about our notions about sexuality? For all the talk about progress in the gay community in Hollywood, has enough really changed? The answer seems obvious to me: no, it has not.

I realize this is a complicated subject matter, but the Internet sometimes has a way of oversimplfying things. My article became a straw man for homophobia and hurt in the world. If you were pro-gay, you were anti-NEWSWEEK. Chenoweth’s argument that gay youth need gay role models is true, but that’s not what I was talking about. I was sharing my honest impression about a play that I saw. If you don’t agree with me, I’m more than happy to hear opposing viewpoints. But I was hoping to start a dialogue that would be thoughtful—not to become a target for people who twisted my words. I’m not a conservative writer with an antigay agenda. I don’t hate gay people or myself.

Ugly Betty: Justin Comes Out!

Just last night, I enjoyed a second viewing of this Wednesday's Ugly Betty episode which was highlighted by Justin (Mark Indelicato) coming out to his family by dancing with his boyfriend Austin at his mother’s wedding. It was so, so sweet!

Justin’s family looked on lovingly and allowed the teenager to come out on his own terms. It was in contrast to an earlier scene where the family found out about Austin through Hilda’s fiance, Bobby, who had seen the two boys kissing.

Hilda calls Betty and says excitedly: “Betty! Justin’s got a boyfriend!” The family then plans a surprise coming out party: “This one of the most important things that will ever happen to Justin and he needs to know that we accept him.”

Ignacio excitedly shows Betty the “starter kit” with info on PFLAG and GSLEN. (Sometimes I wonder about Ignacio himself, 'cause he's always so "gay" on the show.)

Anyway...Mark (Michael Urie) bursts in and tells them Justin might not be ready and says to the Suarez clan that Justin will come out when he comes out.

The episode also featured the return of Henry (Christopher Gorham) which is always such a treat.

But Henry and Betty both realize that the timing is not right for them to resume their relationship after Henry gets a job and is returning to New York. But they are going to remain friends. It is Daniel who Betty might have a future with at this point as he begins to finally realize that Betty really is his true love.

It was also fun to see Mark set up with a soap actor played by Bryan Batt who may end up being Amanda’s father!

But the final scene with Wilhelmina, Claire and Tyler (Neal Bledsoe) is one cliffhanger which we will never forget. Especially the look on Wilhelmina's face when Tyler pull the trigger to the gun he took from her home.

Who was shot? Well, we will have to watch next week's final episode of Ugly Betty to find out. I think it was Wilhelmina...but she's probably not dead!

Mad Men's Bryan Batt Returns to TV Tonight as Marc’s Wedding Date on “Ugly Betty”

We’ve greatly missed Bryan Batt on television since he was written out of Mad Men last year.

But he turns up on Ugly Betty tonight in the episode The Past Presents the Future. In the episode, Hilda’s wedding day is approaches and the gang is busy setting up their plus-ones for the big day. Amanda is set on fixing up Marc (Michael Urie) with her new client: a soap opera star named Spencer Cannon. And just in case that’s not gay enough for you, Justin (Mark Indelicato) weighs whether he should invite his new love, Austin,

This is the second to the last episode of Ugly Betty, so don't miss it!

Paparazzi!: The Last Song

Ugly Betty stars Mark Indelicato, Michael Urie, Ana Ortiz and America Ferrera bid farewell (in song, of course!) to their ABC series during the show's wrap party at N.Y.C. hotspot Room Service on Thursday.

Ugly Betty Stars Struggle With Final Scenes

Actors Mark Indelicato and Michael Urie are struggling to bid farewell to Ugly Betty as they film their final scenes for the hit TV show.

The pair was left stunned when ABC executives announced in January that the sitcom's current fourth season will be its last. And as they both step on set for the last time this week, the stars admit they're still coming to terms with the sad news.

Indelicato writes on his personal Twitter.com page, "Can't believe that tomorrow is the second to last day of shooting. This rain is saying something about the end of Ub (Ugly Betty).

"Just realised that I don't have a job in 2 days.......okay. Actually, I haven't Just realised this, I just keep realising it over and over again."

Urie adds, "Tomorrow morning is my last Ugly Betty scene evah (ever)! Think if I don't show up, it'll mean they can't cancel us....?"

The finale of Ugly Betty will air on April 14th.

"Ugly Betty" Cast May Not Be Jobless For Long

The news of the cancellation of ABC's "Ugly Betty" had barely hit the Internet on Wednesday when the phones of the representatives of star Eric Mabius started ringing off the hook.

With broadcast casting executives again in the hunt for good-looking thirtysomething leading men for pilots, Mabius' sudden availability made him instantly a hot commodity.

The early cancellation of "Betty" was done mostly to help the show's producers give it a proper ending, but the timing of the announcement also releases into the pilot talent pool a strong cast just as networks are starting to assemble this year's crop of series hopefuls.

"Betty" co-star Becki Newton, also in a sought-after category of beautiful 30-year-old comedic actresses, has additionally been inundated with calls, and Vanessa Williams, Michael Urie and Ana Ortiz also are in demand. It is not clear whether star America Ferrera would be open to another series as she is considering focusing on features full time.

To accommodate the "Betty" cast, which collectively landed two best ensemble SAG nominations, the producers of the show are trying to wrap production before the previously scheduled March 25 date so the actors can do pilots. Broadcast pilots generally film from the beginning of March through the end of April.

The "Betty" cast is among a couple of dozen actors from recently canceled and on-the-fence series that have development executives salivating.

"The networks and casting directors in Hollywood are looking very closely at the casts that have or will become available on shows like 'Dollhouse,' 'Ugly Betty,' 'Nip/Tuck,' 'Three Rivers' and 'Lost' and bubble shows like 'Scrubs' and 'Better Off Ted' to cherry-pick actors," said casting executive Marc Hirschfeld, famed for his work on "Seinfeld."

Networks often cast actors from bubble shows -- those whose future is iffy -- on pilots in second position, betting that those series won't return.

Expected to be in demand in second position are Jay Harrington, Portia de Rossi and Andrea Anders from "Ted," Eliza Coupe from "Scrubs" and Matt Long from "The Deep End."

Meanwhile, Sarah Chalke of the original "Scrubs" cast already is fielding multiple offers, as are three other lead actors from shows that recently wrapped their runs: Michael Chiklis from "The Shield," Christina Applegate from "Samantha Who?" and "Battlestar Galactica" alumna Katee Sackhoff, who is co-starring this season on Fox's "24."

Speaking of "24," the prospect of the real-time drama coming to an end is intriguing to casting execs.

"I'll put Mary Lynn Rajskub in a comedy in a heartbeat," a casting director said of the cult "24" co-star who recently showed off her comedic side on John Oliver's stand-up series on Comedy Central.

Alex O'Loughlin of the now-defunct "Rivers" is already being courted for new shows. But getting actors from ABC's "Lost," which is ending in the spring, could prove problematic. The hit show doesn't wrap production on its final season until April, making actors largely unavailable for pilots to the disappointment of network executives who would love to get Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway or Terry O'Quinn for a project.

Michael Urie: 'I'm Not Gay Or Straight'

Ugly Betty star Michael Urie has opened up about his sexuality, insisting he's never felt comfortable labelling himself "gay" because he's enjoyed relationships with women in the past.

The actor, who plays fashion assistant Marc on the hit sitcom, is currently in a long-term relationship with a man but he refuses to categorise his sexual orientation.

He tells The Advocate magazine, "I've never said I was straight, and I'm not saying I'm gay now. I never lie, and I've never shied away from the topic... I am not a hypocrite - certainly not now.

"I've been in a relationship for a while now, and if you just met the two of us together we'd be 'gay'. But that somehow means anything that happened before (we met) didn't count - and I don't feel that way.

"I know that some people feel that way. They were with women, but it always felt wrong. But it didn't for me. It felt right at the time. It didn't work out, but it also didn't work out with other men - many times. That's why 'gay' never seemed right."

Urie admits he has been guarded about his personal life in the past over fears 'coming out' could hurt his career, adding: "Certainly there was a point where I was like, 'I don't know how long Ugly Betty is going to last and how well it's going to do, and I might want some real anonymity if it ends quickly.' I was also never one to seek out publicity or attention, and I basically didn't want to be labelled...

"But things are different now. I'm much more comfortable, and I'm not as worried about a future for myself."

Star Sighting: Pretty "Ugly" Cast

What a glam bunch! Days before their ABC show returns for its fourth season, the cast of Ugly Betty – Vanessa Williams, America Ferrera, Michael Urie and Becki Newton – band together for a chatty evening at the New York Times TimesTalks series Monday in New York. Ugly Betty returns this Friday, October 16th.

Michael Urie: “I Don’t Think It’s Really Newsworthy If the Gay Guy From ‘Ugly Betty’ is Gay or Not”

Obviously any gay person has the absolute right to come out - or not - whenever they choose. But Ugly Betty star Michael Urie has so far declined to come out as anything despite playing a gay role on TV in Betty, currently playing an early gay activist on stage in The Tempermentalist, and appearing at countless LGBT events.

He was interviewed by New York Magazine about his refusal to discuss his sexuality even though ion his website he describes himself as “a member of the LGBT community.”

“Actors have to be able to do lots of different things, and while I’d say there’s an ongoing theme [to the parts I play], I’m also not interested in having any real publicity about who I am and what my private life is and things like that,” Urie said. “I’m an actor and I don’t want to be a [fill-in-the-] blank actor.”

He was asked if he was tired of interviewers asking him about his sexuality: “They don’t ask about it as much as you might think. Actually, it’s been a long time since anyone asked it. I don’t think it’s really newsworthy if the gay guy from Ugly Betty is gay or not