We Got Bruce
Bruce Vilanch Is On The Cover Of Metro Weekly
By Mister D
March 9, 2025

Bruce Vilanch is on the cover of Washington D.C.’s Metro Weekly with a great, long article written by Andre Hereford. Of course, Bruce’s new book, It Seemed Like A Bad Idea At The Time, is discussed along with life stories, and the celebrities he’s worked with. A must read!

The post Bruce Vilanch Is On The Cover Of Metro Weekly first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Instinct Magazine
Instinct Interview With Bruce Vilanch
By Denny Patterson
Feb 19, 2025

Hollywood comedian, actor, and writer Bruce Vilanch sat down with Instinct Magazine’s Denny Patterson to talk about his upcoming memoir, “It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time,” set to release March 4.

Known for working on some of television’s biggest flops including the “Star Wars Holiday Special,” “The Paul Lynde Halloween Special,” and the short-lived “Brady Bunch Variety Hour,” “It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time” dives into Vilanch’s legendary career and hilariously unpacks what went right – and oh so wrong – in the world of showbiz.

Beyond discussing the book and what inspired him to write it, Vilanch also delves into the origins of these “train wreck” shows, his astonishment at their unexpected cult followings, and how the book serves as a poignant exploration of resilience in the face of adversity.

The post Video: Instinct Interview With Bruce Vilanch first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Admit it, at 45 years old, the Advocate looks good. Over those years, the LGBT magazine has seen the same challenges as any other print publication but has forged ahead with its watchdog duties in human rights as well as being a pop culture compass.

The glossy will celebrate the big 4-5 at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday, welcoming a host of celebs and activists, as well as fashion and social types. Not to mention inductees to the Heroes Hall of Fame, a list of notables that includes Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O’Donnell, Cynthia Nixon and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Macy Gray will perform for the crowd, with “Tonight Show” correspondent Ross Mathews as emcee, in a night that boasts “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Drew Droege, Sean Maher and Oscar show writer Bruce Vilanch as well as Dustin Lance Black, Donna Deitch and Pat Rocca.

Founded in 1967 as a vehicle for education at a time when gay and lesbian bars were being raided and unlawful arrests made, the mag’s legacy will be toasted in the Hilton’s International Ballroom, with a DJ set from Beau Dasher.

The Advocate partners with Lexus for the event, also serving as benefit for the Point Foundation, which works to provide academic scholarships to LGBT youth.

—Matt Donnelly

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Sheâ€s an award-winning stand-up comedian whoâ€s successfully made the transition from comedy circuit to television and film. Sheâ€s a talented writer and performer whose trophy cupboard boasts four Emmys and an American Comedy Award. She unintentionally came out at an LGBT rally in Las Vegas in 2008. Laurence Watts interviews the charismatic Wanda Sykes.

Wanda wasnâ€t always a professional comedian. Her first job after university was as a procurement officer for Americaâ€s National Security Agency (NSA), a job that required her to have top-secret security clearance. It was while she was there that she started doing stand-up.

“As I remember, there were several of us who had side jobs,” she says. “Some of the women sold cosmetics and some of the guys were doing stocks and trading. I think quite a few of us were dreamers who wanted to do other things. It wasnâ€t until I said I was leaving to do stand-up full time that everybody told me I was nuts: “Whatâ€s wrong with you? You have a good job, security, health insurance and everything!” That kind of stuff.”

The calculated decision to leave the NSA came five years into her career there. Wanda knew she could make a living out of being funny.

“I was travelling around at weekends playing clubs,” she explains. “4-5 hours away was pretty much how far I could go at weekends and make it back in time for work on Monday. Once Iâ€d made it to feature spots I added up how much I could make, what my budget was to live and I said to myself: you can do this. If I worked clubs full time, Iâ€d be OK. So I headed out and knew that if I was good and worked hard Iâ€d eventually headline.”

Less than five years after leaving the NSA, Wanda got her big break. In 1997 she joined the writing team for The Chris Rock Show. Two years later the team won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special. She also made her first television appearances, featuring in seven of the showâ€s episodes.

Though sheâ€d begun to make inroads into television she continued to excel on the comedy circuit, so much so that in 2001 she won the American Comedy Award for Outstanding Female Stand-Up Comic. Shortly afterwards she was approached to write for The 74th Annual Academy Awards.

“I got a call from Bruce Vilanch who told me Whoopi Goldberg would be hosting the show. She wanted me to come on board and be part of the writing staff. I was like: “The Oscars? Are you kidding me? Hell yeah!” In the end though, I think I was a bit too edgy. Truthfully, I donâ€t know how many of my jokes made it into the show, but I cracked up Whoopi, Bruce and the rest of the room.”

Would she ever want to follow in the steps of Goldberg and other comedians like Bob Hope, Billy Crystal and Steve Martin and host The Oscars herself? Her answer surprises me.

“You know what? Right now, I would say no. I think itâ€s a thankless job. If I was going to do it Iâ€d want to throw rocks at the audience. Thatâ€s what I do. Thatâ€s why I loved what Ricky Gervais did at the Golden Globes. Itâ€s not that Iâ€m disrespectful of the Academy, I think itâ€s great, but right now thatâ€s not a job I would do.”

Increasing popularity and visibility resulted in her own sitcom on Fox, Wanda at Large, which ran for two seasons and attracted audiences as high at 14m. In 2004 Sykes was named one of Entertainment Weeklyâ€s 25 funniest people in America.

“It was an honour to make the list, but for me itâ€s all about the audience,” she explains. “I try not to look at what other comics are doing or whoâ€s selling out what shows. I just focus on what Iâ€m doing. Iâ€m really grateful I can go on stage, tell jokes and have a good life.”

By 2005 Sykes had bagged three more Emmyâ€s, taking her tally to four. Can one ever have too many Emmyâ€s?

“Iâ€m looking at them now and you know, really, I think I could clear a few things off of that space to make room for more!” She starts laughing, “I donâ€t need that picture of my kids up there! Hell, if I won another that could definitely go!”

After 2005 Wanda began appearing in movies with increasing regularity: Monster-in-Law (with Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez); My Super Ex-Girlfriend (with Uma Thurman, Eddie Izzard, Luke Wilson and Anna Faris) and; Evan Almighty (with Steve Carell) to name a few. Wandaâ€s distinctive voice can also be heard in the animated films Over The Hedge and Rio. In 2012 she will play Sid Slothâ€s Grandmother in Ice Age: Continental Drift. Did she ever think sheâ€d be a film star?

“Not at all. I just wanted to be a really funny comic. Thatâ€s still my goal. I think focusing on that means these other things come along. It always surprises me when I get offered a role or Iâ€m asked to audition. Iâ€m like: “Really? Oh, OK!””

On November 15th, 2008, at the age of 44, Wanda came out as a lesbian. She announced her sexuality to the world at a Las Vegas rally to protest the passing of Californiaâ€s Proposition 8. Since she was in town for a gig at Planet Hollywood sheâ€d planned on simply turning up and showing her support. One of the organisers saw her in the crowd and called her up on stage. She was pissed off that Prop 8 had passed and began “running her mouth.” She hadnâ€t intended to make a speech, let alone come out, but she did both. Wanda had privately married her girlfriend 21 days earlier. Does she regret having waited so long to come out?

“You know what, I look at kids now, teenagers, and they already identify with who they are theyâ€re very comfortable. I not only admire that, but Iâ€m a little envious as well,” she tells me. “I lived so much of my life trying to be something I wasnâ€t. On the other hand I believe everything happens for a reason and at the right time. I did it when I was ready, but when I look back of course I wish Iâ€d been open and out.” She laughs before adding, “I mean, think of all that hot ass I could have got before I got married!”

In May 2009 Sykes became the first ever LGBT entertainer at the annual White House Correspondents†Dinner. In attendance were President Obama, the First Lady, the entire White House press corps and many distinguished guests. Wanda brought the house down with jokes about the President, Sarah Palin, conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh and Fox News†Sean Hannity. Did she have to submit a
script beforehand?

“I thought Iâ€d have to, but no. I could have said anything. The only note I got was a couple of hours before I was due to go on. My publicist said the president of the Correspondents†Association had called her to make sure I wouldnâ€t be using the f-word or the n-word. That made me laugh.”

Already a poster child for the LGBT and African American communities Sykes was reluctant to publicly disclose sheâ€d been diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2011. The ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was only discovered when sheâ€d gone into hospital to have a breast reduction. Having lost a couple of friends to cancer and with a history of breast cancer on her motherâ€s side of the family she took the decision to have a bilateral mastectomy rather than wait and see if the cancer developed. She had the surgery on 4th August. She was back on stage doing stand-up on 9th September.

With all the recognition a career in TV and film brings, I ask her if itâ€s easier to make people laugh now that sheâ€s established?

“I think Johnny Carson may have said this, but as a comedian the audience kind of gives you the first 10 minutes,” she answers. “Theyâ€re like: “OK, we know sheâ€s funny, weâ€ll go along with her.” After those first 10 minutes though they now seem to have higher expectations than they used to. So although I now find comedy easier, because Iâ€ve done it so long, I know I have to raise the bar a little every time I go out there.”

The post Bruce Hekprd Pave The Way For Wanda Sykes! first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Like Kevin Bacon, comedians Jane Lynch and Bruce Vilanch have starred in so many movies and theater productions with so many of the Hollywood elite either of them could easily be used as a hub to connect every star in Tinseltown. But unlike Kevin, these two comedians have earned an honor that — due to his crippling heterosexuality — will never be bestowed upon Mr. Bacon: they’re both 2008 Out 100 honorees.

Having written for just about every awards show imaginable, played Hairspray’s Edna Turnblad on Broadway, and appeared as a comic mainstay on the new Hollywood Squares, Bruce Vilanch (above left) out-gayed himself this year by writing Bette Midler’s Las Vegas extravaganza The Showgirl Must Go On, crafting the zingers for the 80th Academy Awards telecast, and costarring in Tru Loved, a sweetly queer coming-out tale that premiered this fall.

Her hilarious turn as the butch lesbian dog trainer in Best in Show was just the tip of the comic iceberg for Jane Lynch (above right), a very busy actress with an astounding 20-plus projects in 2008. Since her recurring role in The L Word and parts in a string of Christopher Guest ensemble comedy films, Lynch has starred in Space Chimps, The Rocker, and Tru Loved. Her upcoming projects include Julie and Julia, Nora Ephron’s biopic on Julia Child (played by Meryl Streep); Role Models with Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd; and The Post Grad Survival Guide with her lifelong idol Carol Burnett.

You can see all the 2008 Out 100 Honorees at Out.com as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes video footage and more!

Read more hot entertainment news and gossip at Out.com’s Popnography Blog.

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