Recently, Wanda Sykes guested on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and suggested to the beloved host that since his time at CBS would be ending soon, his final episode should involve him “burn(ing) it down.” And if the polite Colbert doesn’t end his tenure as furiously as Sykes would like, she’ll have ample opportunity on her own to tell us what she thinks about the world with her third Netflix stand-up special, “Legacy.” The Emmy-winner recorded the set — directed by acclaimed “Daughters of The Dust” filmmaker Julie Dash — at Hampton University, her alma mater, and we can’t think of a better informal start to Pride season than that. The hour-long special drops on May 19, just a few days before Colbert’s May 21 final show. Ideal scenario: Sykes show up again on Colbert’s set, promotes the special and helps him, in her own words, “go the hell off.”
Queer Casting Call: Sean Hayes, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Renee Rapp
Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“King Richard”) has a new gig lined up. The queer character actor just landed a regular role on the CBS dramatic series, “Einstein.” The show, which stars Matthew Gray Gubler and Melissa Fumero, launches in the 2026-2027 TV season and will feature Ellis-Taylor as a veteran police officer who has to work with Gubler in the title role as Albert Einstein’s great grandson. Meanwhile, over at the in-progress Apple TV series “The Morning Show,” two new additions will significantly increase the queer quotient. “Will & Grace” alum Sean Hayes will take a major recurring role as brother and manager to the character “Bro” (Boyd Holdbrook), and charismatic young lesbian singer-actor Renee Rapp (“Mean Girls”) is also hopping on board to play — what else — an ambitious up-and-comer climbing the network news ladder. You’ll see them when the fifth season drops in 2027, so you’ve got time to catch up.
“Bridgerton,” season five? Lesbians take the spotlight!
“Bridgerton” has always been a wonderful reimagining of the British period costume drama. Its combination of characters, plotlines, casting, music — all of it, really — makes for a delicious romantic confection that asks “what if?” and “why not?” with abandon. So now, in the upcoming fifth season for Netflix, a main-stage lesbian romance is promised. The characters of Francesca (Hannah Dodd) — a properly reserved countess — and Michaela (Masali Baduza) — more of an extrovert but still unsure of what she wants — will find themselves connecting in ways neither young woman had thought possible. There are queer characters on the show already, but each season has focused on one main heterosexual coupling. This storyline will push the straights aside for a bit to let queer love bloom and, as always, it’s about time. Look for the episodes, currently in production, sometime in 2027.
Alan Cumming goes dark with ‘Tip Toe’
If you saw the 2019 Russell T. Davies future-shock drama series “Years and Years” and found it upsetting, only to see the real-life years of 2020 to the present moment lap the tragedies contained in that fictional narrative, perhaps you’ll want to settle in for his next cozily confrontational trip to the dark heart of humanity, “Tip Toe.” In the works right now, the series stars Alan Cumming (“The Traitors”) as the owner of a gay bar, and David Morrissey (“The Walking Dead”) as a homophobic construction worker, whose relationship begins professionally and turns bitter as Cumming befriends Morrissey’s gay son. According to Davies, the story will “explore contemporary threats facing the LGBTQ+ community” and not shy away from the ugly realities of aggrieved conservatives turning on queer people, not to mention the gasoline on the fire that often accompanies it in the form of social media. Davies also refuses to guarantee a happy ending, but we’ll see how that goes when it all drops. The series began filming in late 2025 in Manchester for an as-yet-undisclosed start date. Stay tuned.
Romeo San Vicente never tip toes when he can stomp and barge.