American Horror Story: Apocalypse
Ryan Murphy is back, and he's brought Jessica Lange. This season of the anthology series will include elements of the first edition, Murder House, and the most racially inclusive season, Coven. Lange returns in her most iconic role in the series, Constance, while Sarah Paulson is back as Cordelia Goode, the head witch. One of today's most acclaimed lesbian actresses, Paulson will make her directorial debut with Apocalypse, which is full of queer-centric and queer-beloved talent. Tune in to watch Kathy Bates, Billy Eichner, Evan Peters, Cheyenne Jackson, Emma Roberts, and even Stevie Nicks. Premieres September 12 at 10 p.m. Eastern/Pacific on FX.
Ada Vox, “Because of You”
Ada Vox made history this year when she became the first drag queen to make the Top 8 of American Idol. She may have lost the ABC singing competition, but she won scores of hearts and minds with renditions of songs like "Creep," "Defying Gravity," and "House of the Rising Sun." The San Antonio-based singer, also known as Adam Sanders, has now released her first single, "Because of You." The track was written by Janice Robinson and produced by Bimbo Jones, who has worked with stars like Rihanna and Lady Gaga. Listen to the song below, and don't miss Vox on tour at one of the locations here.
Go: West Hollywood Brunch w/Danny Franzese
This LGBTQ brunch at the iconic comedy store offers an exciting line up of queer comedians. Don't let the event title fool you, it's an evening event. Gay activist and Mean Girls alum Danny Franzese will hit the stage along with out comics Matt Mercer, Pete Zias, Nicky Paris, Justin Sayre, Zach Noe Towers, Thomas Dale, Jared Goldstein, and Arisce Wanzer.
The event starts on Friday, September 14, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Find tickets here.
Susanne Bartsch: On Top
Susanne Bartsch is more than just an event producer. She is a fashion icon, the "mother of all club kids," and a pioneer of New York City's nightlife scene, whose immersive events brought fantasies to life for decades. Along the way, she helped launch the careers of luminaries like RuPaul and Marc Jacobs. Now, documentarians Anthony & Alex have turned their lens on the living legend in a new film, Susanne Bartsch: On Top. The pair combines archival footage with interviews of RuPaul, Amanda Lepore, Michael Musto, and more. Watch the trailer below, and see the film on demand September 11.
Fear by Bob Woodward
In case you need further confirmation that Donald Trump is unfit to be president, here's a book by the journalist who helped expose Watergate and drive Richard Nixon from the Oval Office. Bob Woodward's Fear: Trump in the White House provides "numerous examples of his childishness and cruelty," reports Jill Abramson in The Washington Post, and tells of Trump's impulsiveness, lack of attention span, and impulsive policy-making moves that his aides scramble to block. One of those moves they couldn't block was his ban on military service by transgender people, which he tweeted before meeting with military advisers on the matter, Woodward writes. Oh, he also reportedly said trans people were enlisting just to get "clipped." Fear is out Tuesday; preorder here or visit your local bookstore next week.
The Bad Seed
Since The Bad Seed -- the 1956 film version -- is a camp classic, we're very invested in this Lifetime remake, airing Sunday night. A horror film about a literal girl from hell, the original movie was silly, shocking, and, at times, terrifying. The dynamic between the mother and daughter is at the heart of the movie, so swapping the maternal character for a paternal one (played by executive producer Rob Lowe) is a tad concerning. We'll keep our minds open for Mckenna Grace, the now-12-year-old actress tackling this devilishly rich role. Premieres September 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific on Lifetime.
Sweat
Playwright Lynn Nottage deservedly won the Pulitzer Prize for her 2017 about the decline of the American working class. Set in the factory town of Reading, Penn., Sweat follows a group of friends/colleagues at two junctures. Part of the riveting drama occurs in 2008 during the financial plunge when two of the town's young men have just been released from prison for a crime that will eventually be revealed. Meanwhile, the bulk of Sweat plays out in 2000 at the neighborhood bar where denizens of the town that span age, race, and gender, drink copious amounts (some turn to opioids) to cope with their growing irrelevance at the job they thought they'd have until they retired with a fat pension.
Loaded with thorny questions, the play touches on racial tensions, the privileged class, and the effect of NAFTA.
Sweat runs at Los Angeles's Mark Taper Forum through October 7. Tickets are available here.
