“Given that I’m dead, I assume someone will finally decide to honor me. Well, it’s about time,” predicted Joan Rivers in a letter written later in life to her daughter Melissa. And she was correct, because on May 13 NBC will air the celebrity-stacked comedy special “Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute.” Shot in November 2024 – 10 years after the pioneering comic’s death at age 81 – at the New York Comedy Festival at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, the special will feature a who’s who of contemporary comedy: Margaret Cho, Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish, Chelsea Handler, Sarah Silverman, Aubrey Plaza, Jean Smart, Tracy Morgan, Joel McHale, Patton Oswalt and Rachel Brosnahan (who played a 1950s-era Joan-alike on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”). It is indeed about time, and we’re hoping for a balance of reverence and roast (more roast, though, please because think of the honoree’s wishes). Anyway, are you queer? Then you’re watching.
‘Merrily We Roll Along,’ now and much later
You may recall filmmaker Richard Linklater’s announcement that he’d be directing an adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Merrily We Roll Along” starring Beanie Feldstein, Ben Platt and Blake Jenner. After a cast shakeup that saw Jenner replaced by Paul Mescal, it’s rolling again, and will be finished in 20 years – per the show’s timeline that sees old and unhappy friends returning to their younger optimistic selves by final curtain — allowing the actors to age backwards naturally. Can’t wait that long? You’re in luck: Sony Pictures Classics will release a filmed version of the recent Tony Award-winning Broadway revival starring Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez. No word yet on when it hits theaters, but if you enjoyed the stage-musical-in-a-movie-theater hits “Hamilton” and “Come From Away,” here’s your shot at seeing it before 2040something.
Lilly Wachowski presents Cassie Workman
New trans television coming our way, and not a moment too soon. Principle photography wrapped last month on a new series, “Cassie Workman is Witchy AF,” from executive producers Lilly Wachowski, Sarah Marie Flores, Will Battersby and Philip Gelatt. But who is Cassie Workman, you ask? An Australian trans comedian, writer, actor and musician, now lead of the comedy docuseries that will dive into the history of occultism and magic with Workman playing herself running a fictional occult bookstore. It also has practical SFX monster makeup and puppets. See, you weren’t on board with the whole Aleister Crowley of it all until they promised puppets, but now you’re in. Ritual magic, tarot, demons, hexes, monsters: what more could a witchy queer viewer want? No word on when it hits the usual viewing platforms, but good magic is worth the wait. Gather your viewing coven.
Come home to ‘Project Runway’
Admit it, you fell off and stopped watching “Project Runway” after devoting most of your early 2000s viewing life to it. But it never left you, fickle style maven, and season 21 is around the corner, ready to fill your face with fashion and fabric. Heidi Klum waits to welcome you back into the sewing room with a roster of aspiring designers, alongside veteran judge and queen of “Elle” magazine Nina Garcia, queer wunderkind Christian Siriano (who now dresses Michelle Obama, Oprah, Jennifer Coolidge and Lady Gaga), and stylist of the moment Law Roach, whose work with Zendaya helped her become a red carpet slayer. This season has the feeling of a brand refresh for the competition, and it will drop this summer weekly on Freeform, and streaming on Hulu. Time to take another look.
Romeo San Vicente has a different walk for every new runway.
