Is this Cole Escola the new darling of the entertainment zeitgeist?

Was he doing a tribute for Sandra Bernhard's 70th?

Maybe in years he’ll look back at that photo OP and think WTAF? Hope so.

Why hasn't Geri Blank won an E, G, O or T?

You should really see Oh, Mary! before shitting on a successful gay breaking into the mainstream. I know it’s hard not to feel jealous, but the play is very funny.

With DL Fave Lorna

Oh Mary is hilarious. He’s a very talented guy. Or should I say they.

[quote] I’ve seen him on CBS Sunday Mornings

Tell me you're an elder elder gay, without telling me you're an old.

Men like my snaggle tooth as much as they like my snaggle puss.

I wouldn’t call him a gay or an actor. He’ll transition within two years. You know it.

They don’t transition. The mask comes off in the bedroom.

Holy shit r4; triggered much? Maybe Datalounge isn’t for you hon.

I like that he seems to have not done much and landed this hugely popular play, and I hope it’s made him incredibly rich. Those are the types of gay men who make me proud to be gay. But I have no doubt he’ll look back on last night, see how ridiculous he made himself up to be (glamorous gown, weird curly messy wig AND a hairy chest), and he’ll shake his head in mature embarrassment and think “WHAT was I thinking?” It may turn out to have been the greatest night of his life, and yet he decided to costume for it instead of showing how gender bending he COULD be by wearing a tailored Armani suit or tuxedo. We all know he’s a drag queen. Imagine how cute he could have been with a fresh haircut and nice suit. THAT would have scored him the shock and attention he craves so badly. Instead, he showed up as everyone would expect him to, and got thousands of eye rolls behind his back.

Cole's been a very successful comedic performance artist in the downtown NYC scene for years. They live a happy life with tons of friends and respect among those who know them. They're not going to get a "fresh haircut and nice suit" to impress a bunch of elderly, trans-obsessed, gay mary's who are still "butch it up" for validation in public. And no, they're not going to look back years from now and be embarrassed about their creativity, lol. What did your mothers do to you?

And I type this as a vanilla eldergay myself with a closet full of nice suits who still finds it weird to type "they" as a pronoun, but I do it because the world is an interesting place and I'd rather experience it than pointlessly bitch into the winds of time.

He did really well with his 5 Jeopardy questions recently (as Mary, promoting the play).

From Wikipedia:

"In 2022, Escola came out as non-binary.[18]"

And yet, he won in a very binary category.

Shouldn't Cole have competed in the best "they/them" category.

Oh right, there is no such category.

But this is why it matters. Before the gender craze, we most of us would be applauding this cute gay boy who came from absolutely fucking nothing to win a Tony. We would be nothing but happy that young gay boys around the country are seeing his triumph. But instead, young people are seeing this completely nonsensical idea that there is a flux state between male and female. It’s simply not a thing. So instead of having a win for gay visibility, that would make easy sense to the average viewer, we have this anti-science that is a turnoff to turn off to way more people than we might realize.

R13 is one of the few people posting in this thread, or anywhere here for that matter, who actually seems fun and interesting to know in real life

Sometimes some of you can be so freaking exhausting. It was his night; he didn't want to wear a tailored suit. He wore what he wore. He is who he is. If at some point he has regrets for any choices he's made, then they will be his regrets and his alone. His choice of evening wear and presentation has nothing to do with how people see you (which is really what this is all about).

And yes, I know this is Datalounge, but there is difference between pointless bitchery and being an aged twat.

Perhaps you do, r13.

Cole's orthodontics free smile is very brave, at their age, in their profession.

Shoot. I meant r17.

But R28, that’s exactly it. It’s not that he wore a dress. It’s the idea that by wearing a dress, he’s not a man. We used to argue the total opposite in the gay rights. This new idea, that it’s your styling that makes you more or less of a man or a woman, is the retrograde/sexist notion!

OP's pic, worth a million words: This is why Trump won a second term.

[quote]It’s the idea that by wearing a dress, he’s not a man. We used to argue the total opposite in the gay rights.

Perhaps, when you weren't paying attention, the argument shifted. That happens sometimes.

He’s not a well woman.

Yes, r23, you're right. Trump won a second term because people were mad about men in dresses and brown people, with whom most of his voters never crossed paths.

That's what happens when life is going too well for most people. They have to really work to create new boogie men to satisfy their mean hearts. A full belly and good job makes people really have to work hard to find new enemies.

Times are about to get legitimately tough again soon enough, and the boogie men will no longer have to be so frivolous.

But if you work really hard and keep focusing all your hate on the little things, maybe you can help him win a third term!

Trump won a second term because Elon rigged it for him.

I like when he dresses ‘feminine’ but keeps his hair short, sending mixed gender signals.

This time he showed his hairy bared chest, yes, but the tribute wig to Bernadette was too much and threw off the whole look. And the gown itself was staid, and he looked like he was trying too hard instead of having fun. Epic fail for me.

Imagine how cute he would have looked in Cynthia Erivo’s “Annie” tribute gown with his usual short hair.

[quote]But I have no doubt he’ll look back on last night, see how ridiculous he made himself up to be (glamorous gown, weird curly messy wig AND a hairy chest), and he’ll shake his head in mature embarrassment and think “WHAT was I thinking?” It may turn out to have been the greatest night of his life, and yet he decided to costume for it instead of showing how gender bending he COULD be by wearing a tailored Armani suit or tuxedo. We all know he’s a drag queen. Imagine how cute he could have been with a fresh haircut and nice suit. THAT would have scored him the shock and attention he craves so badly. Instead, he showed up as everyone would expect him to, and got thousands of eye rolls behind his back.

Among the elderly, perhaps.

You're living in a different world than the one you grew up in, gramps.

I'm with you, r13...and I didn't care for OH, MARY! very much at all except for the last twenty minutes which I thought was quite good and suspenseful...though I could have done without the messy, self-indulgent 'cabaret' act that followed. It did not deserve to win best play. But Cole's definitely paid them dues, and worked for years on the periphery of Broadway - he did a lot of readings - and I'm happy for them's personal success and look forward to what comes next and hope it will be better.

And the outfit was fun and cheeky and a perfect homage to Bernadette, down to the stray curl over the forehead. A perfect, glamorous genderfuck, complete with the hairy chest. Such a difference with the dutiful and joyless drag statements of Billy Porter.

Except Billy Porter is a major egotist and a pain in the ass in general. Give Cole a few more years to catch up before comparing him to that old queen.

Billy Porter is not fun.

r13 = Whomever this thread is about.

R24, “the argument shifted” is not the compelling counterpoint you think it is. Not when it comes to something like biology.

But you’re right: groups like GLAAD fully shifted the messaging. That is why the earliest critics of gender stuff were the radical lesbians. For fifty years, the movement operated under the one idea that makeup and hair and clothes are not what make you a man or a woman. We used to rate against that, the idea that is now the basis of the trans and nonbinary movement.

Yes, “the argument shifted.” The science and the true progressive view did not.

r31: My apologies - I meant to say "contrast" instead of difference.

I'm another grey eldergay who isn't bent out of shape by Cole and the dress. Them wears it well.

The big difference between Cole Escola and a stunt queen like Billy Porter is that Escola has a sense of humor about how he’s presenting himself. I mean, come on — going to the Tonys dressed like Bernadette Peters is fucking funny.

That said, the “they/them” nonsense is still stupid and fake and especially disappointing on someone like him because it actually signals conformity to a woke trend. But I still think he’s hilarious and a very smart satirist.

They’s the next Max Mutchnick

Why does he constantly dress in drag?

It seems like such a schtick and of course contributes to the deeply-held belief that all GAY MEN are drag queens and "trans", which bugs the crap out of me. If "representation" matters so much, why don't we see more non-dysphoric, non-transvestite gays?

One day you’ll be “the elderly” r29 and maybe then you’ll have the grace to remember your ignorant, smug younger self.

[quote]...and I'm happy for them's personal success...

Did you even read that before posting?

I'm convinced the clearest explanation of gender is - Male- Female-Extra Extra Special.

We’ll probably never hear from s/he again. I’m glad s/he beat George Clooney and I enjoy clips of him/her in drag as Amy Sedaris neighbor on one of her streaming shows. But I don’t think s/he will ever match this success.

His future will definitely be limited to Broadway - the non-binary thing, really really gay, and he doesn’t exactly have the face for film/tv.

My guess is they'll have a career arc much like Charles Busch's or Everett Quinton's--they'll be a cult favorite in the off-off-Broadway theater world of NY, and will get to do one-off movies or TV shows every once in a while.

Being an effeminate gay man doesn’t make you nonbinary and we should resist people trying to use the labeling.

I just hope this hurts Jeffery Self on some level. I loathe Jeffery Self.

R40 obviously you are unable to read and recognise snark. Glass houses.

[quote] Being an effeminate gay man doesn’t make you nonbinary and we should resist people trying to use the labeling.

Resist it? How?

By punishing them if they use it and we don't think they have a right to use it?

Who gets to decide?

R43, I agree and don't forget, that every once-in-a-while, The Times, NY Mag, The New Yorker, will run a profile on Escola... there's a new project they're working on and it requires a big puff piece. Cole will be as pretentious, precious, edgy as ever, the interviewer will think that there's something "oimportant" being shared.

There's actually a whole lot of nothing being shared... Billy Porter is example #1 of this. No one outside of the his theatre/entertainment industry bubble even feigns interest in what he/she/they have to say.

It's seasonal.

Cole, all of them, are the new Cynthia Erivo.

Destined to be remembered fondly.

[quote] Being an effeminate gay man doesn’t make you nonbinary and we should resist people trying to use the labeling.

[quote]Resist it? How? By punishing them if they use it and we don't think they have a right to use it?

You’re on the right track.

[quote]r16 = It’s simply not a thing.

Cole is fun and funny - Billy Porter sucks up all the energy in a room and demands all eyes on him. Very different vibes.

Cole is being Cole - ironic and offbeat and downtown. Billy is putting on a show - and is really only an actor, he hasn't written his own stuff and has pretty much played the same characters.

But yeah - I hope he can afford to fix his teeth.

He has been on television before - playing a female character on Amy Sedaris’ show and as a waiter on Difficult People. It’s not like he appeared out of nowhere.

Hey, r39, *I'm* elderly and frankly, you're the reason why they hate us. I think it's safe to assume you've always been close-minded.

Cole Escola is literally from a trailer trash background: his father chased him, his brother, and his mother out of their mobile home with a gun when he was a child. There's a reason he didn't have good orthodontics.

He could get them fixed now that he's finally made it and can afford it. It will likely mean taking some time off from doing stage work, though--orthodontics can mess up how you talk.

Cole’s teeth are Lena’s fat rolls.

They can both afford to fix the problem, but they choose not to for reasons known only to them.

Teeth are important. Crooked teeth is one of quite a few reasons why I would never be cast for TV.

He's only recently had money enough to do it, r56, and that's only been while he's been very busy mostly performing this show.

"they/them” nonsense... actually signals conformity to a woke trend"

It's the opposite of empowering. It's letting breeders define you as not really a man. And now they get to call us Queers. Gee, thanks.

They haves a Youtube channel.

Who hated this dude winning more, Trump supporters or Dylan Mulvaney?

[Quote] He has been on television before - playing a female character on Amy Sedaris’ show and as a waiter on Difficult People. It’s not like he appeared out of nowhere.

He was also primary antagonist on a season of Search Party. He’s very funny.

[quote]They have to really work to create new boogie men

Oh, dear.

I happy for him. He’s very funny.

r36: I do understand. I don't have any issues with men who do drag whether they be gay or straight. I think gender non-conformity is great. If more little kids were not scolded or punished for liking the "wrong" things there would be fewer kids who would think they were born in the "wrong body" and identify as trans. Leave the feminine boys and tomboy girls alone. If they decide they are trans , let them do the steroids and surgery after they reach legal age.

I think of that horrible born-again Christian woman (Forgot her name; she was profiled in I think "Good Housekeeping" some years ago) who beat her little son because he didn't like "boy toys" and liked to play with dolls and wear dresses. She was horrified that her son was gay but jumped on the idea that he was trans. The kid - now daughter - and the homophobic mother are considered heroes in the trans community.

R65 - when Cole appears in drag, I feel like we're in on the joke and it's not fully serious.

When other men wear women's clothes, it feels like a statement and 'look at me' and how DARING and forward-thinking I am! They're fucking serious, which you really shouldn't be.

Cole wearing that dress is like when Trey Parker wore the JLo dress to the Oscars. The other performative, attention-seeking 'non-binaries' in women's clothing are just an annoyance. It's not groundbreaking anymore - hasn't been in years.

It's just that men-in-dresses got old so fast. Like instantly.

He’s the new Dylan Mulvany.

R66, he only does they/them pronouns now. It’s not a joke. He came out as non-binary.

[quote] Who hated this dude winning more, Trump supporters

Honey, Americans don’t watch the Tony Awards.

“Trump won a second term because people were mad about men in dresses and brown people”

Or because Democrats lost the plot and hemorrhaged Latino voters and Black men

oh look, another Trump thread

Did Milton Berle receive the same critical attention Cole Escola does?

He is very sharp and quick witted. Asked on the red carpet if what he thought of the patty Lupone article he said.. WHAT? i don't have time to read. The interviewer said "YOU DON'T READ?" and he looked dead pan in the camera and said "I will leave that up to the states.."

They/them is plural. Get another word to describe one person.

Not playing that stupid they/them game.

I do wonder if some people find men in dresses attractive. I love menof all different shapes and sizes and types. I have had sex with so many different type of men. But I have never once been attracted to a man in a dress. For me it’s an instant turn off, but I’m genuinely curious if other gay men find it sexy.

Billy Porter looked amazing when he went to the Oscars - the mix of the tuxedo and skirt worked well for him. He has the confidence to pull it off.

Sam Smith generally looks hideous in whatever he wears, just a big hairy lump of flesh.

The guy from the couple who wrote Six always looks hideous. Apparently he "identifies" as non binary rather than full blown trans but he just looks like a very ugly man in a dress.

A man parading around in a dress.

I did that schtick 45 fucking years ago.

"Or because Democrats lost the plot"

Yes, it's that they don't care about The Common Man. Workin' folks. And our proud Veterans. And crime-ridden cities. And open borders. Right?

[quote] I do wonder if some people find men in dresses attractive. I love men of all different shapes and sizes and types. I have had sex with so many different type of men. But I have never once been attracted to a man in a dress. For me it’s an instant turn off, but I’m genuinely curious if other gay men find it sexy.

Is that even relevant here?

I can imagine many other reasons why this performer wanted to wear a dress last night other than to make themselves sexually attractive.

Their chest hair is rather decorative, it has whorls.

If you are a fully actualized, grown adult gay person, you should have no issue with anyone choosing to express themselves however they see fit. Instead, some of you are those same scared little kids, terrified of getting beaten up and called gay slurs after school, because you did something that was different or a little too gay.

They're irritating.

Self-fantasizing ego trips tend to be irritating.

LOOKIE ME!

"A LITTLE grating"?!?!?

Gurl...

She's a LOT!

I think we’re reading too much into this. Let him have his phase. It’s a free country.

As posted above it’s kinda funny that he showed up to his big night dressed as Bernadette Peters.

I see "The Billy Porter/Cole Escola Summertime Funtime Comedy Revue" coming to CBS as a summer replacement show.

R80: Honey they are many things but sexually attractive is not one of them.

I’m not hearing many people on this thread saying that people shouldn’t express themselves as they wish, R82. I’m hearing people say that this expression does not “make” a man nonbinary or trans or whatever.

[quote] If you are a fully actualized, grown adult gay person, you should have no issue with anyone choosing to express themselves however they see fit.

I’d wager that most adults do not buy into the “anything goes” belief regarding how one presents oneself in public.

Cole is such a wonderfully silly weirdo. The fact that they've become the toast of Broadway and a genuine star this past year is so sweet to see. Especially because they didn't compromise their queerness, weirdness or darkness to get this. They just kept making work that made them laugh, knowing that if there was an audience for them, they'd respond. I was a freshman in college when they and (what was their friend/comedy partner's name?) Jeffrey...something...? were making their early comedy videos like Sweating to Sondheim. This was back in the very early days of YouTube. To see Cole progress slowly, but surely to more sophisticated online videos, to downtown cabarets and Off-Off-Off-OFF Broadway shows, to eventually joining the writing staff and casts of left-of-center TV shows and now this? This absolute noodle in a hoop dress has paid their dues.

Oh, Mary! felt more like an overly long sketch than a great comedy play to me, but I'm still absolutely tickled for Cole's well deserved success.

Based on the Jeopardy questions segments, Cole came off as very intelligent.

"I see "The Billy Porter/Cole Escola Summertime Funtime Comedy Revue" coming to CBS as a summer replacement show"

I WOULD SO WATCH THIS.

R92 Well, yeah.

It would be the biggest trainwreck ever.

R9 and if he does he will still be a gay man dick, dress , sexy undies, and tasteful shoes or not. I will admit when I first saw their picture on this thread I thought it was a trans or woman,

[quote] [R9] and if he does he will still be a gay man dick, dress , sexy undies, and tasteful shoes or not. I will admit when I first saw their picture on this thread I thought it was a trans or woman,

Horrors!

[quote] I’m hearing people say that this expression does not “make” a man nonbinary or trans or whatever.

What does, then? Does this need to be determined by a panel of experts?

Or are you saying you personally get to make the call for everyone?

I’m glad they didn’t go overboard on Oh, Mary. The show itself is fine but not Best Play material.

Billy Porter lacks self awareness. Cole does not.

Cole was hilarious as Billy Eichner’s demon aging twink nemesis on Difficult People, and as Dory’s obsessed fan in Search Party.

R3, "They" will never be a pronoun. Told a Trans friend to "cut pronoun crap, I'll call you by your name." He said "OK"

R93: "The Billy Porter/Cole Escola Summertime Funtime Comedy Revue would be the biggest trainwreck ever."

FUCK YOU! Fucking asshole. DICK!

101 posts, and not one has mentioned that the pic at R5 was captioned "Lorna LOFT"? Has the world forgotten my poor, molested sister?

For R100. If ancient Miriam can adapt, you can, too, gramps.

Billy Porter is an embarrassment to the Gay Community.

[quote] [R3], "They" will never be a pronoun.

Too late.

It's already used as one around the country, and has been now for years.

Cole Escola and Billy Porter are completely different artists. They could never do a show together. I don’t think BP wears a dress to be funny.

Billy Porter has never looked amazing. Don’t even try it with that shit.

"If ancient Miriam can adapt ...."

I did try to adapt. I was stricken with leprosy. This Cole, would he like some leprosy too?

"The Billy Porter/Cole Escola Summertime Funtime Comedy Revue" - oh honey, this will end in tears, tears I tell you!

And those tears will flow right before the commercial break and right after Mx Escola/Porter duet and try to out sing each other during "Enough is Enough."

R64 where’s the part when we laugh?

R82 is preaching 70s transactional analysis. Oy vey

R96, biology did a pretty good job deciding it for millennia.

I have no problem if a drag queen wears a dress. Obviously, the dress and makeup is the drag.

But a man wearing a dress like Cole Escola, Billy Porter, etc., looks cringy, obnoxious and hideous. Knock it off.

You bitches are slipping.

NO ONE pointed out the glaring error in the article linked at R5 ?

TOGA TOGA TOGA!!!!

Amy worked it better.

r114, meet r102!

I think Cole Escola or they’s them is crawling all over this thread.

She’s lurking here, absolutely…

I’m glad he won cause maybe there’s a little money for some snaggle correction.

[quote] [R96], biology did a pretty good job deciding it for millennia.

That still doesn't really answer my question--biology is not a person who can decide things. It may be a deciding factor, but really which person makes the decision and based on which biological criteria?

Even if we base it on whether or not on biology, do we then decide whether they have a penis or not? Or, do we check for XX vs. XY chromosomes, like with the Olympics?

Does this have to be done before every awards show to satisfy you? Or do we have to go further, and do it before people go out on the street?

No, R118/R119, it's just all the Broadway show queens and "hip" New York sophisticates who think a guy running around in public in a dress is edgy, trendy and subversive.

They/them is so stupid. Democrats will never win as long as they pander to that mindset. He was nominated for best actor, not best “them.”

[quote]R12 …yet he decided to costume for it instead of showing how gender bending he COULD be by wearing a tailored Armani suit or tuxedo.

You sound like my mom.

Why are you fixated on men wearing trousers? Why do you care?

[quote] No, [R118]/[R119], it's just all the Broadway show queens and "hip" New York sophisticates who think a guy running around in public in a dress is edgy, trendy and subversive.

Actually, many of us are just not raising our eyebrows at all, and are really wondering what the big fuss is about.

It's 2025.

It’s performative. And dull, to boot.

Cole Escola thinks just because they made a little money they can get a new hairdo and some expensive clothes and turn they self into a lady. But they can't, because they'll never be anything but a common non-binary frump whose father lived over a grocery store and whose mother took in washing!

At least he's doing original works, and not the umpteenth revival of a 65-yr. old play about Vaudeville and striptease.

Most of you who don't know Cole's work think that he's wearing this dress because he's non-binary and out there.

No - he's wearing it because he played Mary Todd Lincoln and he wanted to dress up like Bernadette Peters to be funny. There's no agenda here at all. It really is just to be absurd and funny.

You're reading far too much into this. He's not at all like Billy Porter or 'gender fucks' whatever that's supposed to mean.

He doesn't dress like this in real life at all. He dresses as a man. Well - more of a boy with that body - but male nonetheless.

He's really funny. I want to see what he does next, I really do.

[quote] "They" will never be a pronoun

Umm ... hasn't it ALWAYS been a pronoun?

[quote]He doesn't dress like this in real life at all. He dresses as a man.

Nope. I've seen him in dresses and generally women's ensembles all the time.

R75 “You” is also plural, which is why we say “you are,”rather than “you is.” Thee and thou were left behind. Language changes.

“They” and “them” are pronouns! They are originally the pronouns for groups. Good grief, did you pay no attention in elementary school? If English isn’t your first language, I apologize, but come on!

Being gay and posting on Datalounge hardly guarantee minimum functional IQ or literacy. Are you new here?

TBH, the dress wasn't especially funny. Or, daring. Or, clever.

I mean, the South Park guys did it over 25 years ago....when it was pretty funny, daring, and clever. Especially since it annoyed Gwynie.

Billy Porter is over the top but...he has better outfits.

[quote]Those are the types of gay men who make me proud to be gay.

A gay man who denies being a man and, by extension, denies being a gay man is who makes you proud to be gay, r12?

R133, so if language changes along the lines of your example of "you are", then does that mean we are all now they/thems and he/she/it should be dropped altogether?

Misogynistic. Lacked artistry and imagination. Low self-esteem. Hollow and empty.

How important are the Tonys and this particular dress wearing gay men trying to look trans?

There are 337 million Americans. Less than 5 million, still the largest audience in recent history, watched. I have no data how many that watched were themselves singers, dancers, actors or gay men,. We can assume a lot.

It’s clear to me that today DL is , but America is not talking about Tony winner men who try to look like women. A niche issue America hardly knows happened.

He can take his pronouns and shove them up his ass. As for all the enablers on here buying into his non-binary shit just remember if they ever dig up his corpse in 100 years it’ll be so easy as it is now to say, oh it’s male. As for being kind - fuck off. This is manipulative control by the terminally dull and desperate.

Couldn't have come at a worse time. And they think Pete Buttigieg has a shot in 2028. The Left has a death wish and MAGA is more than gleeful to fullfill it.

The funny thing is, despite his proclaimed non-binariness, he was happy to agree to being entered for the male category.

R144 so he could have competed in the non binary category and didn’t? Kind of odd for a man wearing a dress to a formal occasion.

Alex Newell (ex Glee, fat black sissy man who wears dresses) and J. Harrison Ghee (black, non binary, pan sexual) both won Tonys in 2023 and became "the first non binary people to win Tonys". Again, they weren't outraged enough at being called Male to give their awards back or decline the nomination.

The funny looking non binary girl from The Last Of Us has complained about gendered categories but accepted that there needed to be a category for women, presumably so she can get nominated.

The Drama Desk awards moved to "best performance" category rather than "best actor" and "best actress" with at least 10 nominees and at least 2 winners in each category. So far the make up of winners has been MF, MFF and FF.

Nicole is a terrible person.

"Umm ... hasn't it ALWAYS been a pronoun?"

yes

The dress was merely a representation of his portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln.

"He can take his pronouns and shove them up his ass. "

Sorry, but there's no room up there. It's full of hot cock now that I won that Tony and am the toast of New York. Suck it, bitch.

The theatre is too niche to have any effect on politics. Theatre people have always been arty and it's been a gay safe space since the beginning. Back in the day actors played all the women's roles in fact. I'm not a fan of the nonbinary pronoun but Cole is a unique artist. Let they do what they want.

If you've followed Cole Escola's career, he's made a career of imitating Bernadette Peters long before he came out as non-binary. he even did a whole series of youtube videos called "My Friend Bernadette" where his friend would call him (in his role as Bernadette) and they'd talk on the phone. So going as Bernadette Peters circa the 1999 Tonys was a shout-out to his longtime fans (and there are such people)--he was being funny.

That’s really boring cosplay….

[quote] It did not deserve to win best play.

It didn't, R30. "Purpose" won Best Play.

[quote]He has been on television before - playing a female character on Amy Sedaris’ show and as a waiter on Difficult People.

And it ruined both. It's way too cringe for me.

[quote]When debating whether the Tonys should change the gendered categories, Escola had a few notes. “They should do it based on where you piss, and that’s what they should call it: Best performance by a person who uses a urinal. I sit down to pee, so I would go in that category, best performance by an actor who sits down to piss. I mean, that’s basically what they are now. Why don’t they call it that?”

In other words, the award he just gushed over winning is actually fairly meaningless. Got it.

Why does he sit down to urinate?

Why would that matter to you, r158?

Let Cole have his five minutes of fame in any way he wants. Since nothing can top his Tony win he is now out of material. Nobody will remember him five years from now.

R143 - I'm not sure I understand that off-the-cuff comment about 4 more years.

But Nicole's religious views are outdated and annoying. Her 'praise God for everything as he has the Power' just reads performative and aggressive. Nobody wants to hear about your religious thoughts. She's fiercely anti-abortion as well.

I find it ironic that this super Christian woman who used her sexuality and dressed provocatively to become famous - finds critical success in a medium that's so heavily dominated by Jews, Liberals and Gays.

I've never liked her - but I do like her voice and she is talented. Her liking that Jesus MAGA hat wasn't some accident. She comes off as try-hard, wanting to be black-adjacent even though she's not, and smugly superior about her religion. Blech.

[quote]The funny thing is, despite his proclaimed non-binariness, he was happy to agree to being entered for the male category.

Same as all the pathetic and *extra special* Democratic Socialists (DSA) running for public office as real Democrats.

"Nobody wants to hear about your religious thoughts."

For all awards shows: eliminate the acceptance speech entirely, for everyone, for every category. Simply say thank you, then exist the stage. Nobody wants to hear your bullshit, blustery, tear- jerking spiel. It's the 21st century. There's plenty of room on social media for you to bloviate about how God loves you and how your 2nd grade teacher inspired you to greatness.

I watched this year's Academy Awards, (or attempted to). One of the first awards was presented to Kiernan Culkin, and as soon as he started blowing smoke about whether or not he and his wife should have more children, I switched channels.

As a wannabe pretend woman based on these pictures he is actually pretty cute He pulls it off better than many. Bud Light should have been so lucky.

R163 - unfortunately, those not in the spotlight want their names mentioned - producers, agents, publicists, managers, studios, etc. Nobody would ever go for that.

But this speech was just over-the-top and started with God straight away "I give you ALL the glory" - blech.

You know you're talking about your religion and its followers who have made life HELL for 95% of the people in that room honey, right?

I also hate when people thank God/Lord because he clearly picks winners and losers and implies that YOU are the chosen and protected and God does not like the others in your category. It's a massive insult that they do not think about.

It's as if her constant praying and throwing herself down before God gave her special treatment and success, which is just fucking gross and sounds really petty for a God to be spending so much time on a singer from Kentucky.

He's 38. I hope he's not a one-hit wonder. All his characters seem to be similar 'women'.

Cole Escola did something really brave by running through Times Square crying in his underwear in an episode of "Difficult People." Man, that took guts. If they really want to be brave and break the ceiling, why not wear a beautifully tailored tux? That could signal some great gender confusion.

Julie Klauser was responsible for Difficult People, she wrote the whole damn show. That's why Billy Eichner was actually somewhat bearable, he didn't do any writing.

[quote]R158 Why does he sit down to urinate?

Perhaps Cole is tired, being quite busy and accomplished?

[quote]Why does he sit down to urinate?

Nothing to clean up after on the floor.

I honestly don't see him making a foray into film. He'll get consistent theater work as well as the occasional Ryan Murphy tv gig.

Is Cole a top or a bottom? Or does he abstain from anything sexual? I'd hate to put my dick in that mouth. Like putting your hand into a garbage disposal.

Linda Simpson weighs in…

Why won't he just dress the way I want him to? My preferences are more important than his!

[quote]I'd hate to put my dick in that mouth. Like putting your hand into a garbage disposal.

Or into a woman who has vagina dentata.

If I was nominated for an Oscar or Tony, you better believe I'd walk the red carpet in a drop-dead gown. I'd change into a tux after I got inside, but this is a Cinderella moment.

they’s clit is SCRUMPTIOUS!

Why does everyone have to filter everything through the “culture wars” narrative? He’s funny. Relax for fucks sake and just enjoy it.

Is that a man?

I don’t agree with “I got to be me 24/7/365”. There are some times and places when one should act as expected, even if it’s contrary to their usual appearance. Even when you’re the one who receives an award, it’s not all about you.

Honey, get off Broadway- we need you on TV.

More grating than a cheese grater.

As a concerned eldergay cosplaying as a Concerned Teen Mom Concerned about Cole Escola's Concerned Teen Mom shtick, won't anyone think of today's teens!, oblivious to the importance of gender fuck and mucking about in neurodiversity?

[quote]Julie Klauser was responsible for Difficult People, she wrote the whole damn show. That's why Billy Eichner was actually somewhat bearable, he didn't do any writing.

Difficult People was fucking hilarious. And, like Cole, Klausner had been making some very funny, decidedly kooky left-of-center comedy videos online since the early days of YouTube. I was so happy for her (short-lived) success with that show. She deserves an "Oh, Mary!" size hit.

[quote]I just hope this hurts Jeffery Self on some level. I loathe Jeffery Self.

Why, r45?

Um, OP, Broadway is on its last legs. The world doesn’t care about it.

Without the drag (or whatever it's being called) Cole looks a lot like James Barr (best know as one of Piers Morgan's regular punching bags.)