Deep Inside Hollywood

BY ROMEO SAN VICENTE

The RuPaul Universe expands with “Queen of the Universe”

RuPaul has a new ViacomCBS show called “Queen of the Universe.” Yes, it’s drag-based, because of course it is. But there’ll be no lip-syncing for one’s life. The queens in competition will have to use their mouths for something more than reading each other to filth and throwing shade, because like “American Idol” and “The Voice,” this is a singing contest. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” production company, World of Wonder, is behind the show, where queens from all over the world will compete to see who gets their own Kelly Clarkson “Moment Like This” moment. Obviously, they’ll have to serve sickening looks while doing so, but musical chops will matter more. One catch: you’ll have to sign up to Paramount’s new streaming service, Paramount+, to decide who can really sing and who should just keep moving their lips to Whitney Houston’s greatest hits. Get ready to borrow a friend’s password, Children.

Gillian Anderson steps into Eleanor Roosevelt’s shoes

Eleanor Roosevelt was First Lady from 1933 to 1945, during her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt’s long tenure as President of the United States, and she was an outspoken advocate for civil rights in a time when that was considered controversial (ok, it still is). History also points to her as being bisexual, as she had an intimate relationship with journalist Lorena Hickock, their surviving love letters stating it as plainly as possible. So it’s appropriate that bisexual icon Gillian Anderson will play this important American citizen in an anthology series for Showtime with the working title “The First Lady.” Created by Aaron Cooley and directed by Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier (“Bird Box”), the project is executive produced by Viola Davis – who’ll also work in front of the camera playing Michelle Obama – and will co-star Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford. Projected air date for this one is later in 2021, and after the knockout “Mrs. America” treated us to historically important women played by some of our favorite actresses, we’ll be happily devouring this one, too. In fact, bring back Rose Byrne from “Mrs. America.” She can be Melania.

Amazon sets Pete Buttigieg documentary.

In 2012, a Republican named Fred Karger was the first openly gay Presidential candidate. He didn’t get far then, but he did help set the stage for Democrat Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who launched a more viable candidacy in 2016. That historical run for the nomination led to a high profile career as the current U.S. Transportation Secretary, and will now be the subject of “Mayor Pete,” a documentary for Amazon, from filmmaker Jesse Moss. Moss co-directed (along with Amanda McBaine, who’s co-producing here) the acclaimed doc “Boys State.” The film will focus on Buttigieg’s rise from mayor into the ranks of the Democratic Party, his campaign successes and losses, and a look into his home life with husband Chasten. It’s another step forward, for sure, one of the ways political history gets built, and we’ll be looking forward not only to the film but to a Harris/Buttigieg ticket one day soon.

Laverne Cox gets a “Clean Slate”

Legendary TV creator Norman Lear, who’ll be 99 years old this July, has a new project in the works with Amazon’s IMDbTV, a new premium free streaming service. The comedy is called “Clean Slate” and it’ll star Laverne Cox and veteran comedian George Wallace. Created by Cox, Wallace, and screenwriter Dan Ewen (“Playing with Fire”), it’s the story of a car wash owner (Wallace) with an estranged relationship with his adult transgender daughter (Cox). As the family members reunite after 17 years apart, Dad has to learn how to be the ally his daughter needs. Not only will we be watching, but we’re excited to see Lear, after decades of groundbreaking progressive television, working with Cox, who’ll be the next person in what we hope is a long line of transgender artists creating a new generation of TV.

Niecy Nash makes ‘The Perfect Find’

Niecy Nash, star of “Claws,” “Reno 911” and “Mrs. America,” has signed on to a new romcom for Netflix. It’s called “The Perfect Find,” it’s based on the 2016 novel by Tia Williams, and it stars Gabrielle Union (also producing) as a beauty journalist who falls for a co-worker – played by Keith Powers (“Straight Outta Compton”) – who also happens to be the boss’s son. That boss? Nash. Now, from watching the perfect and hilarious Nash on “Claws” as well as the perfect and hilarious Union in 2003’s underrated “Deliver Us from Eva,” we know there’ll be sparks flying as these two powerhouses do battle, and this is already in our imaginary Netflix queue. Not sure when it’ll drop on the streaming service, but if you need a little Niecy before then, she’ll also be hosting the 32nd annual GLAAD Media Awards, streaming on both Hulu and YouTube April 8.

Alec Mapa, Alec Baldwin and Kelsey Grammer: The Odd Throuple?

Based on what the public has come to know about the sometimes difficult reputations of actors Alec Baldwin and Kelsey Grammer, it seems like a great time to cast them as roommates with combative egos. And that’s what’s coming this fall when “Modern Family” writer/producers Chris Lloyd and Vali Chandrasekaran’s new untitled sitcom arrives. Untitled for now, the veteran actors, alongside queer comic Alec Mapa, will play three friends who’ve known each other for decades, and whose past as bickering roommates collides with their present – as bickering roommates. No other details are known at this point, but reports are that Mapa’s character will be the empathy-driven gay peacemaker. Of course, we’ve seen enough of Mapa’s delightful comic work to know that at some point his peacekeeping will turn into gay truth telling. In other words we want to see him domestically dominate some straight men. That would be justice, we think. Keep an eye out for whatever it is they finally decide to call this one.

Annette Bening dives into Diana Nyad biopic

Four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening (that’s right, she’s never won, because the world is chaotic and broken) invariably makes cool career choices, lending her recent projects an air of thoughtfulness that signals more than the usual Needed A Job vibe. So it’s wonderful news that she has signed on to star in a biopic based on lesbian long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad’s autobiography, “Find a Way.” Don’t know Nyad? She’s the woman who, at age 64, swam from Cuba to Florida without any protective barrier in a stretch of water known for sharks and deadly jellyfish. She’s basically AquaWoman and deserves all respect for a lifetime of long-distance swimming accomplishments. The script, from Ann Biderman (“Ray Donovan”) and Julia Cox, will adapt Nyad’s book, and the film will be directed by Oscar winners Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (the nail-biting mountain climbing documentary “Free Solo”), making their narrative feature debut. And if you’ve seen “Free Solo,” you know these filmmakers have an affinity for people putting their bodies on the line for the historical glory of it all, and the talent to create unbearable cinematic tension in the process. It’s a match made in extreme sports heaven.

Romeo San Vicente’s political aspirations mostly involve binge-watching “Madam Secretary.”