Feast Of Fun : Gay Talk Show

If comedy is born out of tragedy, then parody songwriters have a lot to work with in these trying times.Today comedian and parody song enthusiast Amanda Cohen joins us to look at some fabulous parody songs stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.Amanda regularly hosts Flapper’s Comedy Clubs Speakeasy Comedy Showcase and moderates as a judge on I’m With Stupid – A contest between comedy songwriters Carla Ulbrich & Steve Goodie.AMANDA COHEN: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.cohen.355Listen as we take a look at:➤ Chicago Black Drag Council, an open group of black entertainers and activists host a virtual town hall meeting with several harmful entertainers and management of Chicago’s gay bar scene, resulting in the termination of one of the local scenes most visible drag queens T Rex.➤ Nobody shows up at Trump’s rally in Tulsa.➤ The theatrical release of Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights film musical has been delayed till 2021.➤ Farewell to filmmaker Joel Schumacher, best known for his campy films Car Wash, t

We always think of Canada, our neighbor to the north, as an idyllic place where fountains flow with maple syrup, moose roam freely and everyone is happy riding toboggans to work.But, just like the folks in the US of A, Canada has its own problems with race and police brutality.Joining us today is comedian Brandon Ash Mohamed, one of the few out gay black comedians in Canada, to talk about his new comedy album, Capricornication, where he talks about growing up black and gay in the Great White North.Listen as Brandon chats with us about his Trinidadian roots, the Black Lives Matter protests at the Gay Pride Parade and Brandon’s connection to Toronto’s gay serial killer.BRANDON ASH-MOHAMED: https://www.facebook.com/BrandonAshMohammedPlus--➤ How Liberace fell in love with the sounds of the steel drums of Trindad.➤ Trayvon Martin’s mom, Sybrina Fulton, announced that she’s running for political office.➤ Sandy Allen the world’s tallest woman.FEATURED MUSIC:

In a landmark decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights law of 1964 does indeed protect LGBTQ people from workplace discrimination on the basis of sex.The ruling comes as a welcome victory in the midst of Coronavirus Pandemic and the fight against police violence with the Black Lives Matter protest.Are we finally overcoming centuries of oppression or will there be a backlash. Is this a rainbow breaking through grey clouds, or are we just in the eye of the storm?Today we take a look at the momentous Supreme Court Ruling extending employment protections to all LGBTQ people, and Chicago’s Drag March for Change, where thousands gathered to protest systemic racism in the gay neighborhood of Boystown.Plus–➤ Barbra Streisand makes George Floyd’s daughter a Disney shareholder.➤ Ongina quits All-Stars, tells Miz Cracker not to kick drag queens when they are down.➤ A statue of Dolly Parton may replace a KKK leader monument at the Tennessee capitol in Nashville.➤ Chicago’s Pride

In the comedy world, not everything is a laughing matter, especially when it comes to allegations of racism and sexual misconduct at one of the world’s most prestigious comedy institutions- Chicago’s Second City.Nineteen Second City black alumni including “Saturday Night Live” writer and performer Chris Redd, “Veep” actor Sam Richardson, “Late Night with Seth Meyers” writer Amber Ruffin and former Feast of Fun guest Collette Gregory have come forward in an open letter calling out Second City for its institutionalized racist practices and how it can do better.RACHEL HALL: https://www.facebook.com/RachelHallisFunny/Today comedian Rachel Hall who’s worked with Second City joins us to take a look at Chicago’s comedy scene and how Vogue Magazine's Anna Wintour says perhaps she’s been too hurtful and intolerant and pledges to hire more black creatives and journalists.Plus--➤ HBO MAX temporarily shelves Gone with the Wind.➤ Conservatives get into a screaming match with Sesame Street’s Elmo over the CNN town hall “ex

All types of men go to bathhouses for all types of reasons but mainly they go for sex.Ironically, for a closeted person, even though everyone is practically running around naked, a gay bathhouse becomes a very private sanctuary.Today, writer Terrill Aaron Closs puts everyone on blast as he takes us into the belly of the beast and shares with us his stories of working in a gay bathhouse in Atlanta.Terrill has a series of books available- THE BEAST: A Dirty Bathhouse Soap Opera that chronicles the lives and loves of the many characters who frequent the gay cruising spot known as the Beast.[Originally posted as "FOF #2429 - As the Bathhouse Turns - 12.12.16"]Featured Book:Terrill Aaron Closs - THE BEAST: A Dirty Bathhouse Soap Opera: Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MKGKRFA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00MKGKRFA&linkCode=as2&tag=feastoffools-20&linkId=fce2f540a58d8e2e678d3267ef304dd1

Make no mistake about it: Stonewall was a riot. Windows were broken, protesters were beaten and the neighborhood was trashed all to let the police and the mob controlled bars know that queer folks weren’t going to take it anymore.The following June, which is 50 years ago this month, those legendary riots were commemorated with LGBT marches that are now known as the Pride Parade.Here in Chicago, many different organizations, including the Black Panthers, got together to plan the first march. Now with a lot of Black Lives Matters protests taking place during the Pride month of June, it’s remarkable how we’re still struggling with police violence.Today, the long time theater editor for the Chicago Reader Albert Williams, joins us to talk about planning and attending the first Pride March in Chicago and how it connects with the Black Lives Matter Protests happening now.Listen as we talk about:➤ How handsome and probably closeted cops entrapped gay men while cruising.➤ Pioneering gay plays that shaped theater in A

One of the most heartwarming reality TV shows on Netflix right now is the competitive floral design series, The Big Flower Fight, where 10 teams of plant enthusiasts are challenged to create larger-than-life plant and flower installations to win the top prize- Best in Bloom.On this reality TV show you’ll see massive beasts made of fruits and nuts, humans modeling flowery haute couture, and interactive sculptures straight out of a woodsy fairy tale - all created by diverse teams that artistically arrange plants and other materials onto giant oversized frames to tell a floral story.The winning team gets the ultimate prize- their own giant creation on display in London’s Kew Gardens.Today Henck Röling and Yan Skates, the wildly creative and costumed contestants from The Big Flower Fight join us to spill the herbal tea on their friendships and shady rivalries between contestants on the show.

Drag: for some girls it’s not just a job, it’s an adventure. A revolution in drag is exploping thanks to the success of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Today we’re talking to three of the fabulous queens from the reality TV competition who all scored high in charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, and if you take the first letter of that list, these ladies give it in abundance!Join us as Mimi Imfurst and India Ferrah, the King Kong and Fay Wray of drag talk about the incident that got Mimi cast as a drag queen super villain, but does she deserve it?Also joining us is Stacy Layne Matthews – whose first time on an airplane was flying from Back Swamp, North Carolina to Los Angeles to be on the show. Stacy also comes forward as being a transgendered woman.Listen as we talk about how life has changed for all these queens now that RuPaul’s got them with her Midas touch? And point on the doll where RuPaul touched you!Plus, MoNique’s drag queen body double, home schooling in drag at age of 12 and how to survive reality TV.[Origi

Part 2 of 2. Can I get an Amen around here? Today is Part Two of our special with the fabulous queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race.One of the most controversial moments on the 3rd season of the reality TV show was the development of the factions created by the self-proclaimed “pretty” queens who called themselves “Heathers” and called the other contestants, who were not up to their standards as- “Booger Queens.” And why not call them “Booger Queens” as up till now, RuPaul could pick any booger as winner. Anyone could win.How did this name calling all go down and why were some queens so unbelievably snotty during the taping of the show?Listen as we find if “Booger Queen” Stacy Layne Matthews really buys “Heathers Queen” Raja apology during the reunion show?Join us as we go inside the secret walled garden of glittery delights as Mimi Imfurst, India Ferrah and Stacy Layne Matthews share with us the behind the scenes secrets of the hit reality TV show.Stick around as we unlock the liquor cabinet and get these girls to

The early 90s was an exciting but difficult time to be a queer person in the United States. The AIDS crisis was still claiming so many lives and after 8 years of President Regan not even mentioning the word AIDS and 4 years of President Bush’s inaction, LGBTQ folks felt invisible, and our visibility was a matter of life and death.In the spirit of making a political statement, and shocking the squares, Joan Jett Blakk, backed by Queer Nation, launched her bid to become President of United States with the catchy slogan “Lick Bush in ’92.”This bold political performance art would had been just a delightful footnote in the history of queer activism until this year when Broadway director Tina Landau and Moonlight Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney presented their new play, “Ms Blakk for President,” now playing at the Steppenwolf Theater.Today Terence Alan Smith, the artist behind the drag personage of Joan Jett Blakk joins us to talk about that amazing time when a black drag queen ran for President of the United S

A Warhol inspired look of Marc Felion, Matt Brown and Fausto Fernós. Photo: Fausto Fernós.Comedian Matt Brown says it’s hard to be in an interracial relationship, with himself. He recently posted that “the black man and white woman that live in my head have been arguing this week” and it’s stressing him out.Part of him wants to visit the beauty salon and the other half wants to see the world burn while he sits on the couch.Today Matt Brown joins us to chat about being a biracial child who couldn’t fully embrace his blackness until he was a young adult.MATT BROWN: https://www.mattbrowncomic.comListen as we talk with the very funny and femmetastique Matt Brown about this and all the hot news--➤ The national football team in Washington celebrates Blackout Tuesday, but still refuses to change their racist name.➤ Grindr kicks off Pride month by ditching its ethnicity filter.➤ Leah Michelle allegedly wanted to shit in co-star Samantha Marie Ware's wig.

A perfect friendship: Francois Clemmons and Fred Rogers’ friendship helped change the course of children’s television. (From left to right: Daniel Tiger, Francois Clemmons, Fred Rogers, Lady Elaine Fairchilde. Photos courtesy of Fred Rogers Center and Francois Scarborough Clemmons.One of the unexpected surprises from “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” the documentary film on Mr. Rogers, was just how fierce and unapologetically gay in real life is Francois Clemmons, the actor who played Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.Francois joined the pioneering children’s TV show as a young man and spent decades playing Officer Clemmons. As one of the first African Americans to have a recurring role on children’s television, Francois was in a unique position to help Fred Rogers open his eyes to the struggles of disenfranchised people. In turn, Francois learned to take in the love that Fred had to give.Today we’re delighted to talk to Officer Clemmons, Francois Diva Man Scarborough Clemmons from his home in Vermont

We've got a special show for you today, blues musician Gaye Adegbalola plays her greatest hits in our studio. She's wrapping up her farewell tour with her band Saffire and getting ready to work on a new solo album. Today Gaye is here to talk about her work in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, what drives her passion in music and why fighting shame is so critical for gay liberation.We first met Gaye back in 2005 at the Out Music Awards where she wowed the crowd with her audacious song "Big Ovaries" looking absolutely stunning wearing a white tuxedo with tails that complimented her silver shock of hair and dark skin. We were charmed by her then and we are so pleased to finally have her in the studio performing such wonderfully outrageous songs such as "Bareback Rider" and "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" which tells the tale of love that just may not be worth it. Gaye's put out six critically acclaimed albums, a live album and thousands of shows with her musical collaborators Ann Rabson and Andra Faye in Saff

After auditioning for nine seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nina West was ready to throw in the make up smeared towel when she finally got that life changing phone call.We all could see it in her eyes on every episode of Drag Race “I can’t believe I’m finally here.” Nina went on to win people’s hearts and became Miss Congeniality.As one of the most generous drag queens on Drag Race, Nina West has raised over two million dollars for local and national charities through her charitable fund The Nina West Foundation.As a drag queen who reads to adults as well as children, Nina’s had to face haters from both sides, with some conservatives accusing her of corrupting children while others say she’s watering down the edgy nature of drag.But one of the most punk thing you can do is treat everyone with kindness and fearlessly be yourself.Today Nina West, from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11 joins us to talk about her adventures after becoming Miss Congeniality. This Friday Nina passes on the torch to this season's winner. W

Considering how important it is to give blood, every donor should be greeted with a pizza party when they give a pint of blood to a complete stranger.Instead, some blood donors still get turned away if they answer yes to being men who have sex with other men.Because the FDA already has a good handle on testing blood for HIV, you’re more likely to win the lottery than catch anything from a pint of gay blood.Today gay rights activist JD Miller joins us to look at why the ban on gay blood donation persists even with its devastating impact on everyone’s health.JD Miller:https://jdmillerphd.comPlus--➤ Wonderfully weird things people do with blood.➤ Marie Cau becomes France’s first openly transgender mayor.➤ Christian Cooper, the black Central Park man who was harassed by a white woman introduced the first gay human character into the Star Trek universe.

With all the Rona Pandemic doom and gloom, Lady Bunny’s latest comedy special could place her in the category of essential worker for her fans even if others are asking, “haven’t we suffered enough?”With all the gloom and doom surrounding the Rona, Lady Bunny’s twisted humor makes her an essential worker. But then again, haven’t we suffered enough?Today, the deranged and demented Lady Bunny gives us a sneak peek into CUNTAGIOIUS, her half hour comedy special with guest star Christeene. In what may be your last good laugh before the apocalypse, Bunny parodies songs by Lizzo, Justin Bieber, Madonna and even Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s Despacito.Even RuPaul is not spared by Bunny’s fracking show in her parody of “Sissy That Walk” called “Sissy That Cough.” Listen as Bunny weighs in on all the people flipping their lids over wearing masks in public, her sex scene with RuPaul in Starrbooty and how she’s keeping her wits about her during these difficult times. Plus– ➤ Enterprising drag queens in Canada are now se

Matt Alber’s music career exploded in 2009 after the video for his song “End of the World” got well over half a million hits. Since then, he’s gone the independent route, touring the country as a solo artist and sometimes as the featured singer with gay choirs.Today we are happy to present a live music session with with Grammy Award winner Matt Alber– playing music from his latest album Constant Crows. Listen as Matt plays his songs and talks about growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, his unique singing style and falling in love.Plus–➤ A Catholic bishop does an exorcism to fight Marriage Equality in Illinois.➤ People celebrate Marriage Equality at Sidetrack in Chicago, and get a free exorcism. So that’s what that tingle on my neck was all about. ➤ Fake cop, no donuts.➤ JPMorgan’s Twitter session goes horribly wrong, with thousands of people tweeting their new Vice Chairman questions like “Does the sleaze wash off with a regular shower, or do you have to use something special like babies tears?”_______________

Mike Ruiz is a world renowned celebrity and fashion photographer who's worked with the world’s top brands and entertainers, but we’ll always know him best as the director of one of our favorite cult films, Starrbooty.A few years before Drag Race became a hit, Rupaul wrote and starred in Starrbooty, a sequel to the low-budget videos she made with her friends in the mid 80s that were sold out of shopping carts at gay bars in Atlanta, Georgia.This over the top film can’t be found anywhere. It includes RuPaul doing her best Diahann Carol impersonation, gratuitous full frontal nudity and a sex scene between Lady Bunny and Ru.MIKE RUIZ: http://www.mikeruiz.com/Today Mike Ruiz joins us to take a look back at directing RuPaul’s outrageous cult film Starrbooty which gave us the notorious filter for season one of Drag Race and being the April/May cover stud for Out Magazine.Listen as Mike shares with us stories of being a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race for six seasons, shooting Kathy Griffin and Puppies and Pecs- a

Tick tock, you’ve been clocked… by a shark! If you thought Drag Race All-Stars was a treacherous tornado, wait until you catch Alaska Thunderfuck in The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time. Sharknado is the only sci fi film that dares to ask: what if killer sharks could fly around in a tornado?In the latest and quite possibly final installment of the series, The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time, one of our favorite drag queens, Alaska Thunderfuck, death drops for her life in hopes of surviving this tornado of murderous sharks, now with the ability to travel through time.The film has it all: sharks, more sharks, Alaska Thunderfuck and so many celebrity cameos it could sink the Love Boat.Today Alaska Thunderfuck joins us to take a bite out of The Last Sharknado film and to talk about playing the daughter of Star Trek’s Marina Sirtis in the movie.Love the podcast? Support Feast of Fun, get your very own HUNTY t-shirt, hand printed with shimmering blue ink. Order yours today:https://store.feastoffun.com/products/hunty

One of our favorite tv shows from the late 70s was NBC’s Real People, a celebration of everyday people doing extraordinary things like a guy who ate soil, a one-legged man who ran across Canada and a couple who owned a roadside store that offered a million dollar pencil for sale.And a couple who tried to sell at their roadside store a million dollar pencil.Real People was by an ensemble that included the recently departed comedian Fred Willard, the show put a spotlight on people’s triumphs and helped introduce eccentric goofballs like Richard Simmons into the zeitgeist.CHECK OUT: https://www.betterhelp.com/funToday Brian Sweeney breaks his silence to take a look at the life of comedy legend Fred Willard, from his parody of late night talk shows, to celebrating everyday oddballs on Real People to being a key player in Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries like Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show.BRIAN SWEENEY: https://www.facebook.com/BriansDongPlus--➤ Entertainment Weekly puts a brick along a menagerie of crude