Stormy Daniels welcomes OUTtv viewers to a McMansion full of gay singles, and perhaps their latest guilty pleasure, as host of the reality dating series For the Love of DILFS (★★☆☆☆).
Splitting its diverse cast into hot, young Himbos and distinguished Daddies, the show blurs the lines between pursuer and pursued as the two groups circle each other in hopes of finding love, and leaving with a $10,000 prize.
DILFS falls squarely into that FBoy Island subset of reality series that send sex-crazed singles in thongs and bikinis to frolic in tropical locations — in this case, a Ft. Lauderdale waterfront estate dubbed DILF Mansion.
Executive-produced by Artie Shaw and Topher Cusumano, who also directed several episodes of season one, the series doesn’t necessarily innovate or add anything radical to the format.
In fact, the show’s bizarre conceit of having Daniels guided in her matchmaking duties by unseen gay relationship expert “Dr. Dilf,” constitutes a miss. Dr. Dilf delivers directives over the phone, honking like a grownup in a Peanuts cartoon, and Daniels — playful, professional, and looking fabulous, in spite of some unfortunate two-toned hair extensions — can’t help sounding preposterous enacting their one-sided conversations.
The production value of what surrounds her, with the exception of the multi-million dollar mansion, registers as early-season Drag Race, well-considered but rough around the edges.
Where DILFS succeeds in bringing something fresh to the format (in the three episodes available for review) is in how it takes advantage of the ways gay men date differently.
For one thing, these guys, like most guys, are not at all subtle in signaling who really turns them on, or who doesn’t. While more than one seeking single in the mansion talks about having tried every other possible way to meet Mr. Right, and being open to all the romantic possibilities, it’s still physical attraction — inexorably, ruthlessly — that plays the most visible part in how the pairings ebb and flow.
Personalities are the flip side of that coin. Despite the obvious, contrived un-reality, a good share of the cast comes across as being earnestly themselves.
And, though organized by type, the Himbos (“muscular, kind-hearted, ready to party, and maybe a little chaotic”), and Daddies (“distinguished, insightful, nurturing, and maybe too set in their ways”) represent a decent array of bodies, backgrounds, and motivations for being on the show.
Even the Himbo who introduces himself as Tony Cannoli, and appears to be a walking, pompadoured cliché of a Jersey Italian mama’s boy, has moments of sincere longing and connection with his first Daddy date, Alex.
Unapologetic porn performer and sex worker Alex — “I make my entire living fucking people” — brings an interesting dilemma into the house for Tony, or any other Himbo who might be interested in getting serious.
The show finds space to, of course, have fun with the subject of dating a sex worker, but also for serious, brave discussion about living beyond or adverse to societal norms.
Then again, if that’s too heady for you, there’s always self-described “bad bitch” rapper Tokeyo, a Himbo who derives all he needs to know on his first date with Daddy Gordon from Gordon’s response to Tokeyo’s dating dealbreaker: Are you Team Nicki Minaj or Team Cardi B.?
That’s a serious, brave discussion for Tokeyo, who also stirs up drama with his real frenemy from WeHo, Phoenix, who also happens to be cast as a Himbo. Phoenix dates around a bit, as do most of the other guys, which is exactly the messiness you’d expect and want to see on a show like this.
One or two pairs, though, appear destined for more than a Dr. Dilf-prescribed hookup, offering an opportunity to watch the reality show version of true romance blossom, at least until some queen tries to come between a Himbo and his DILF.
Every week a new Himbo or Daddy enters the house, and one of the old ones is kicked to the curb. Episode two adds Andrew Christian underwear model Matt Palmer to the Himbo harem, sparking a feeding frenzy that could cast established couples asunder.
Sex and suspense linger over DILF Mansion like a steamy night in paradise — or like last call at your local dive. Choose your adventure.
Taste the wine, hear the band, and start celebrating. Cabaret is back on Broadway with unbridled decadence and immersive glory. Certain musicals are constructed so well that, even if they are cast with mediocre performances or if the production value is low, they still hold.
Cabaret stands as one of the indestructible.
This might explain why the original sixties production has been revived and reinvented so many times on both sides of the Atlantic. Those lucky enough to see it will likely recall Sam Mendes' stunning revival, first premiering at London's Donmar Warehouse in 1993 and later transferring in 1998 to the New York City landmark which was once the home of Studio 54. Both starred Alan Cumming.
A former Christian school teacher has been arrested and charged with committing several violent crimes against men he met through the gay dating app Grindr.
Antoine Perteet, 33, a former physical education teacher and security guard at Lions Mathematics and Science Christian Academy in Waukegan, is accused of using Grindr to target potential victims and rob them.
The school has since removed him from its faculty directory, according to a report from the Lake McHenry County Scanner.
Perteet, a Waukegan resident who is married and has four children, has been charged with three counts of armed robbery and kidnapping with a firearm, plus one count of carjacking, for his alleged involvement in three separate attacks against men on Chicago's West Side last summer.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy," Hamlet tells his friend after seeing the ghost of his recently deceased father. Fortunately, Eddie Izzard must have had a celestial dream to fully realize a one-person retelling of Shakespeare's best-known tragedy, Hamlet.
She pulls it off with great intelligence and careful precision in a two-and-a-half-hour production that whizzes by faster than a perceived phantom. From the troubled Danish prince to the forlorn Ophelia and even a cockney gravedigger, Izzard tackles 23 characters with sophisticated panache and effortless flair.
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