He sees himself dead in ten years, and from the looks of things it could be from smoke inhalation. Oh, and he sleeps with his best friends and cries over tequila too. All this and more as funny lad Darcy Michael is anointed our latest Man of the Hour, taking our TMI Questionnaire:

JUST THE FACTS

I’m: an Aries
I’m: 31
I was born: yes I was
I: get paid to talk about my feelings
My fave colour: too personal
Passion: sex and food
Inspiration: sex and food
My Canadian icon is: Darcy Michael
Fantasy entourage: Oprah, Ellen, Pierre Trudeau and a lot of weed
Fictional best friend: James Franco (only because I sleep with all my best friends)
Turn-ons: my best friends
Irresistible in a mate: a pulse
Phrase I most overuse: these handcuffs are tight
Most people would be surprised to know I: Usually have a better answer to questions like these
Talent I wish I had: singing
The celebrity I most closely resemble is: Kevin Smith
The one word my best friend would use to describe me is: asshole
My parents wanted me to be this when I grew up: happy
When I order a cocktail I ask for: tequila and a tissue for my tears

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: Project Runway
Song: anything John Denver
Greatest extravagance: my terry cloth bathrobe – not expensive for me, but I’m sure it cost the hotel a lot to replace
Candy: Yes I eat it. I don’t discriminate against candy.
Last impulse-purchase: sage
Last regretted purchase: not enough sage

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: anything I can make into shorts
Footwear: Adidas
Underwear: is for pansies
Watch: iphone
Eyewear: Marc Jacobs
Perfume / Cologne: Issey Miyake

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: all natural
Face wash: lavender water
Moisturizer: homemade!
Body Lotion: ditto!
Indulgence: lube

GOTTA GETTA GADGET

Gadget I love: iphone
On my music player now: Jeff Buckley
I always PVR: The Good Wife
Best app ever: Scrabble!

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: Apollo 13
Last movie seen: A Single Man
Last concert: Matt Anderson
Last play: The Gayest Show On Earth
Last song sung in the shower: ‘Amazing Grace’ of course

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: weed
Past obsession: weed
Future obsession: weed

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: protesting
I see myself in this place in ten years: dead

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: Be Free

Darcy Michael performs at Flying Beaver Pubaret Nov 4 & 5

ICON :: I had most of the past weekend to myself, and decided to re-watch a bunch of Oprah episodes from the Farewell Season. And by a bunch, I mean 12. Yes sir, I spent almost an entire six hour period watching Oprah. Alone. The lessons I’ve learned over and over again about self-worth, empowerment, positivity, love, respect, and money have all made me wonder why Oprah isn’t a Saint. How can someone with millions of devoted followers for over 25 years not have their own religion? Although I am a practicing Madonnaologist, I have always found similar correlations between Madonna and Oprah. They are the two, one-name wonders in my life that constantly remind me that I can get through anything if I truly believe I can (Cher and Mom are not too far behind, either).

I woke up today and wondered where I would get the energy to get through the day (there was a lot of drinking involved post-Oprah marathon). Then I went to Starbucks (that answers that), and put my big boy pants on. I’m sure both Oprah and Madonna have had times where they don’t want to get out of bed. But, what if one of those days was where Oprah was interviewing someone whose life would inspire and save others?  Or what if Madonna was too tired to go and record a song that changed the world? Life is too short to sleep. Go do something! You never know what could happen if you just put yourself out there. So, now I sit here at my desk at Shaun Proulx Media with autographed portraits of Madonna and Oprah watching over me, trying to change the world! I’m so glad I got out of bed today…

Philip Tetro is our resident Madonnaologist, bringing you the latest and greatest Madonna news. Stay tuned for a special piece he did when Madonna was in Toronto last week. You won’t want to miss it!

Jake Mossop is a registered nurse, hottie, and panelist on MTV Canada‘s 1 girl 5 gays. As if the pictures weren’t enough, he’s also a whole bunch of fun and cultured to the teets! Check it out for yourself if you don’t believe us!

JUST THE FACTS

I’m a: Capricorn.
I’m: Legal.
I was born: a boy, gay and this way!
I: am a Registered Nurse.
My fave colour: BLUE.
Passion: helping and caring for others – cheesy but true.
Fantasy entourage: Oprah, Beyonce and my Grandma.
Turn-ons: Hairy chest, beards, aggressiveness.
Irresistible in a mate: Sense of humour and nice smile.
Phrase I most overuse: Have you recently been tested for HIV?
Most people would be surprised to know I: speak French.
Fictional best friend: Marshall – United States of Tara.
Talent I wish I had: Drawing/Painting.
When I order a cocktail I ask for: dark-rum and Coke with a lime.

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: Criminal Minds.
Song: Aaliyah – One in a Million.
Greatest extravagance: living in Paris for five months.

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: Marc by Marc Jacobs.
Footwear: Feiyue.
Watch: Vintage – brown leather strap & gold face.
Eyewear: RayBans.
Casual: Cheap Monday.
Formal: anything Tom Ford has his hands on.
Cologne: YSL Homme.

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: Head and Shoulders.
Face wash: something I bought in China.
Moisturizer: Kiehls.
Body Lotion: Nivea.
Indulgence: Moroccan Hair Oil – this mop gets dry.

GOTTA-GET GADGET

Gadget: Bicycle – it’s a kind of gadet right? I love riding around on a nice bike.
On my music player now: The Whitest Boy Alive – obsessed.
I always PVR: Nothing. I don’t have cable.

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: Stieg Larsson’s: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – mediocre, watch the movie.
Last movie seen: Brides Maids. Hilarious, right?
Last concert: Lykke Li – amazing
Last play: The Laramie Project – awakening!

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: Accessories.
Past obsession: Jackets.
Future obsession: Suits.

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be:  pointing your phone at someone to learn about their sexuality, relationship status etc….

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: Change is inevitable. Learn to adapt.

You can catch Jake on MTV Canada‘s 1 girl 5 gays Fridays at 11PM et/pt, as well as nursing back to health all of the guys whose hearts he’s broken!

She’s a Gemini, in case you didn’t already gather from the cover art. As Prita Chhabra‘s new single ‘Roots’ drops this month in tandem with South Asian Heritage Month in Canada, the recording artist - whose two-faced look was inspired by the late Kevin Aucoin – was inspired to take our TMI Questionnaire and become our Woman of the Hour:

JUST THE FACTS
I’m a: Gemini, but a nice one
I’m: Young.
I was born: May 28th, in Montreal.
I’m a: Singer/songwriter.
My fave colour: I love a nude pink.
Passion: Music, shopping, movies, reading, animals and learning.
Fantasy entourage: All my friends that I’ve had since elementary school. We’ve all grown up and have our own lives and I fantasize that we’re all together again having fun, Sex and the City style.
Turn-ons: Honesty, a sense of humor, eyes and smile. Muscles don’t hurt either.
Irresistible in a mate: Someone who truly loves their life!
Phrase I most overuse: It’s an Indian expression of surprise and shock, it sounds like this “haaaaaw!” I seriously need to stop shouting that everytime I’m shopping and see something I like!
Most people would be surprised to know I: Worked at Disney World in Florida for 6 years!
Fictional best friend: Oprah. She’s more like my fairy God Mother.
Talent I wish I had: I wish I could dance professionally.
When I order a cocktail I ask for: Bellini

GUILTY PLEASURES
TV: Oprah … all the way!
Song: It changes. Right now it’s Britney‘s “Till The world Ends”.
Greatest extravagance: Living in North America – we all have extravagant lives compared to the rest of the world! But if we’re talking in North America only, then, my Louis Vuitton purse

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: Whatever fits!
Footwear: I love my TOMS Shoes, they are super comfy and a great cause!

Watch: I don’t wear a watch. As a musician, we’re always late. It’s in our DNA!
Eyewear: Tiffany and Co. (and I love them!!)
Casual: BENCH.
Formal: The most formal clothes I own are Indian Sarees and they are gorgeous!
Perfume / Cologne: Currently, Flower Bomb.

BEAUTY DUTY
Shampoo: Sunsilk.
Face wash: Dove.
Moisturizer: Hope.
Body Lotion: Bath and Body Works extra moisture in Sweet Pea.
Indulgence: This amazing body powder mixed with gold glitter called Eclat Imperial by Guerlain.

GOTTA GETTA GADGET

Gadgets: iPad, Blackberry Bold phone (yeah, gotta update that), iPod Nano.
On my music player now: Adele “Rolling in the Deep”.
I always PVR: Oprah, Glee, Modern Family and The Voice.

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: I’m currently reading Mini Shopaholic
Last movie seen: Source Code.
Last concert: Mine!
Last play: Its been too long to remember, but I’m seeing The Lion King again next week and can’t wait!

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: TOMS Shoes and dresses by Sherri Hill
Past obsession: MAC Makeup and Sunglasses
Future obsession: I really hope it stops…

CRYSTAL BALL
The next big thing will be: Pop music with lots of Indian elements fused in…by ME!!

AND FINALLY …
Words of wisdom: Always follow your heart and have faith even if you’re not too sure of where it is leading you. Believe in your dreams, it’s always worth it even if it doesn’t work out. You’ll have lived your life, not just survived it and be true to you! God made you this way for a reason, live it up!!!

Get your undies in a bunch! Priape Toronto’s new manager is our Man of the Hour this week! Sexy! Check out Michael Schelt’s TMI Questionnaire!

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When I saw Precious and that last scene with Monique, I said: “Bitch just won an Oscar!”. I said it with love. I love Mo’Nique and I loved to hate her in Precious. But Mo’Nique didn’t look so sure. Did you see her on Barbara Walter’s last ever Oscar Special? Did you see her on the Red Carpet? She’s had an intensity in her eyes. Like she’s been holding her breath too long and “thinking positively” far too hard. Hell, she probably has Ekhart Tolle’s New Earth on tape in the car AND on her iPhone. But there’s no guarantee. There’s no secret formula for winning an Oscar. Remember Oprah and Whoopie AND The Color Purple? Thank God Whoopie won for Ghost is all I’m saying. But I digress.
It’s the Gay-D-D.
Back to Mo’Nique. Did you see her before they called her name? She looked worried. She looked like if they didn’t call her name she was going to have to cut a bitch. All the other nominees were whiter and thinner and Mo’Nique wasn’t gonna play dat! When they did say her name did you see her reaction? She let out that deep breath and closed her eyes as if to say “You just saved a white bitch’s life tonight.”. See? The Oscars does save lives. Take that Cancer research!

You just never know when or where you are going to receive a golden nugget.  It’s what Oprah calls an “Ah-Ha moment”.  Some call it a revelation.  I just think it is wise and thoughtful.  But who the fuck knew that anything wise or thoughtful could have come out of the remake of the movie Fame?

I’m all for singing and dancing around, hell, I even got hooked on Glee, but this new version of Fame, is lame (see what I did there!)

We’ve seen it all before!  C’mon people, gimme something fresh.

The kids were talented enough in their respective genres, and the director assembled quite an impressive cast for the teachers, but I found myself rolling my eyes once too often as the cheesy situations unfolded.

So, imagine my surprise, as I lay only half awake from boredom, when one of the teachers sits a student down for a tete-a-tete and comes out with this inspired piece of dialogue:

“Everything you’re ashamed of, all the parts of yourself you keep secret, everything you want to change about yourself… it’s who you are.  That’s your power!  Deny it, and you’re nothing!”

WHAT!!!???

Holy shit.  I shot up in my seat and hit the play back button to hear it once more.

Inspired!  Truly inspired!

“If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think.” – Oprah Winfrey

Last night, I treated myself to a pre MLT weekend night out at the movies by myself. Anyone who remembers the episode of Sex and the City where Carrie goes to the movies by herself on movie night can imagine my much gayer and somewhat low rent version of this. Just me and Telus Tuesdays at the Scotiabank Theatre (11.65$ gets you a big thing of popcorn, a pop and an adult ticket). No I wasn’t there to oggle shirtless jailbait werewolves, I was there for one of the year’s most talked about films.

Precious – Based on the novel Push by Saphire, the story of a young woman facing unimaginable odds in 1980s Harlem.  I am not going to go into too many details as that has been rehashed and talked about constantly. I want to talk about Monique. The actress and comedian, plays Precious’s mother Mary. Mary is one of those characters that will break your heart in so many ways. Specifically, the scene between Mary, Precious and Ms. Weiss (played by Mariah Carey), is the kind of thing that make me love film. This is what Faye Dunaway wishes her performance was in Mommy Dearest. While Mary is a monster, she also gives us insight into that monstrosity. How could someone hate their own child so much? How could they let the horrible things happen to their daughter? Her performance sheds light on some of the darkest parts of the human soul.

Another person in this film is Gabourey Sidibe. A young woman who has never done anything beyond a school play, makes the break out performance of a life time. After seeing press for the film, I am blown over by how Gabby is not Precious. She so deftly inhabits the role, that I expect her to speak, walk, and essentially be the same person as we see in the film. I think that should she fall into obscurity it will be one of the greatest tragedies of Hollywood. As an overweight, dark skinned woman of African descent, her roles will surely be limited. But this performance proves you don’t need to be Charlize Theron to undergo an astounding transformation worthy of infinite praise.

In small roles, we also have some really great talent. Mariah Carey is actually amazing in it. Her disdain for Mary is almost palatable. Sherri Shepard sans wig & Lenny Kravitz round some of the more famous faces. Paula Patton plays the teacher working to save a small group of inner city girls from their circumstances. And I really enjoyed that she was a fully realized character. Acting in what would be Precious’ best interest. She even goes so far as to suggest that Precious give her two children up for adoption in order to focus on improving her own circumstances. A truly heartwarming scene occurs between Patton’s character and her female lover as they take Precious in for Christmas. Precious says in a voice over how her mother always said how homos are evil, and sick. But as she points out homos had taken her in for the holidays, fed and clothed her, even bought her presents without really knowing her. Homos had never raped her, beaten her, made her feel shame and disgust with herself.

I can not recommend this film enough. There will be no clean cut happy ending, there will be heart break. But most importantly there will be hope.

Oh sweet baby Hebus! First it’s American Idol. But let’s face it, it’s the worst of the worst that make that show fun.

She Bang! Read the full story