Jerry Curl

Dear Funko, I hope you read the following in the spirit of constructive criticism with which it is intended. I've been collecting Funko POPs! since 2011. At that time, my meager little collection included only Disney villains. Since then, things have gotten progressively more diversified. Last year, I jumped on the subscription box bandwagon for the first time. My first box was the Women of DC | Legion of Collectors box. It was a blind buy but I was sure that, with so many amazing heroines to pick from, the selection would be phenomenal. I was not disappointed: The Wonder Woman Invisible Jet, the un-Funkoed heroines tee, the artisty Batgirl patch. I didn't even mind the Harley Quinn pin. And that Hawkgirl POP! remains one of the crowning jewels of my collection.   The next Legion box was to be the Villains of Batman so I stuck around. That too was a terrific box. Euphoric with excitement and never being party to legendary comic rivalries, I quickly su

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old Kimberly Morris, 37 years old Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old Amanda Alvear, 25 years old Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old Joel Ra

My favorite show of all time and I both turn 30 this year, a fact that neither of our vanities take pleasure in commemorating publicly. But a milestone is a milestone. The Golden Girls premiered 30 years ago tonight on NBC, forever changing the television landscape for the better. In fact, it’s a show often and rightfully credited with creating a premise all its own. It’s a premise that has been duplicated over and over again (see: Designing Women , Living Single , Sex and the City , even HBO ’s  Girls ). Much has been said and written about how “ground-breaking” and “revolutionary” of a show it was to display four women living and loving (perhaps over-loving) well into their golden years. And that is all true and inspiring in and of it self. But very little has been written about its massive influence on the gay community both then and now. Back in the mid-80s, The Golden Girls were shedding light on a community beleaguered by stigma and hate. In the context of

I think one of the most important things to master in life is how to say goodbye. Saying it at the right time, in the right place, and sometimes to the right person is a true mark of maturity.  Tonight we said goodbye of another sort. After six seasons and 121 episodes, Glee brought the curtain down for the final time. The following is a reflection on the show, its legacy, and what it taught us about music and ultimately about ourselves. Glee debuted in 2009 after some big football game. It was then that my unrelenting fandom for all things Glee -related began. I watched every episode religiously. I bought the CDs (yes kids, actual CDs) every time they were released. And for a while there, no Christmas was complete without Glee ’s holiday album. In so doing, I kinda felt as though I was an honorary member of their club. I was a Gleek. However, in recent years the show strayed from its original premise of following our high school students. Or rather, it split bet

In many ways, it’s been a fun and transformative year for me.  I think 2014 will go down in the Jerry Book of Life as the year that I grew up.  Here ’s how... Firstly, I took a big bite out of the bucket list of shows this year. After many years of waiting, I finally saw Billy Joel and Tony Bennett (not together). They were both exactly as excellent as I hoped they’d be. As is the case with so many of the acts I watch, the years have only made them better performers. Tony also released an album with Lady Gaga that, in many ways, I feel I contributed to. (See my Tweets about Gaga’s jazzy voice last Christmas). “Cheek to Cheek” is the album Gaga was born to make. Hands down, without question, this was the best album of the year. They’re coming to Chicago in the summer and I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting the day that tickets go on sale.  As second comings go, I saw Cher and Liza Minnelli again! Also not together. Cher’s D2K Tour was absolutely, jaw-droppingly amazing. The materi

Stumbled upon this gem on YouTube today. Bette talks about Beaches , being a new mom, marriage, talent, her stage work, and working with Shelley Long.