Mad Mag Cover Round-Up: One Beautiful Lady, Three Hot Guys

Emily VanCamp is just lovely on the cover of Canada's Flair, while a trio of hotties grace W, Latina and Men's Health. Ooh la la. *

CALI RULES PROPOSITION 8 IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

A federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled on Tuesday that California’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional. In a 2-1 ruling, the three-judge panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld now retired Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s 2010 ruling that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment’s due process and equal protection clauses.

The court dismissed Prop 8 proponents’ claims that Vaughn should have recused himself from the case because he was in a long-term relationship with another man.

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, noted: "Proposition 8 does nothing to strengthen or protect any marriage. Instead, it singles out thousands of loving California families for different treatment, simply because they are gay and lesbian couples."

Meanwhile...
* In Washington state, the House of Reps is slated to vote on a bill today that would allow same-sex couples to marry.
* The New Jersey State Senate is scheduled to vote on a measure on Feb. 13 that would allow marriage equality, although Gov. Chris Christie vows to veto.
* Maryland legislators continue to debate a similar bill.
* New Hampshire lawmakers are poised to debate a bill later this month to repeal their state’s marriage equality law.
* North Carolina voters in May will vote on a proposed homophobic constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman.
* Minnesotans are slated to consider a similar ballot measure in November.
* Maine voters will vote on a referendum that would allow same-sex couples to marry.
* And in Virginia, gays can be turned down for adoption. *

Madonna's 'MDNA': Two Editions, Separate Covers

I swear, I haven't written this much about Madonna since she was wearing rubber bracelets and rubbing up against Sean Penn. Her March 26 12th studio album MDNA will be released in two versions: a deluxe with all sorts of crap nobody cares about; and the standard, to the left. The "standard" cover image was just made public Tuesday. I likey! *

Tuesday In New York City: A Giants Parade!

Do you see me, huh, do you? I'm the one watching the parade from the comfort of my TV set at home. The Parade of Champions in celebration of New York's Super Bowl victory was great fun to watch—I just couldn't listen to it... they kept talking about sports, for some reason. *

2012 Shaping Up To Be The Year Of Madonna—Again

Madonna may not have rolled around the Super Bowl XLVI stage in a wedding dress, a la the 1984 MTV Video Awards, but she was still belle of the ball during Sunday’s match between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. Ratings released by NBC Sports reveal that Madonna's performance was the most watched Super Bowl entertainment halftime show in history. It also edged out viewer and ratings averages for the game itself.

In fact, 2012 is shaping up to be the year of Madonna—again—with her upcoming 12th studio album launching in March and a just-announced world tour that will take the seven-time Grammy winner to nearly 90 cities through the beginning of 2013.

Madonna's halftime performance February 5, which aired from 8 to 8:30 p.m., was watched by 114 million viewers, and scored a 47.4 household rating, according to Nielsen, trumping the helmet action, which averaged 111.3 million total viewers and a 47.0 household rating. Among the 18-49 demo, Madge’s extravaganza walloped with a 41.5 rating, versus the game average of 40.5.

Her performance of “Vogue,” “Music,” new single “Give Me All Your Luvin’” and “Like A Prayer,” easily beat last year's awkward halftime exploit by the Black Eyed Peas by nearly four million viewers, also besting Bruce Springsteen’s 2009 Super Bowl appearance by 18.3 million total viewers, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Meanwhile, Madonna’s “Give Me All Your Luvin’” is poised to extend the singer/songwriter’s chart run to 29 years with an amazing 56th hit—a rare feat in the top 40 realm. (Her first appearance was 1983’s top 20 “Holiday.”) One week after release, the track is No. 24 on Billboard's Pop Songs chart, with action on 125 out of 141 reporting CHR radio stations. Mind you, it achieved an unusually stellar launch thanks to Clear Channel's promotion: playing “Luvin’” at the top of every hour from Friday at 9 a.m. until Super Bowl kickoff. (CC stations accounted for 79% of the song's first-week airplay.)

Her 12th studio album MDNA follows March 26, Madonna’s first for Live Nation Entertainment/Interscope after leaving long-time label Warner Bros. following previous 2008 album Hard Candy. As of Tuesday, Feb. 7, MDNA is ranked No. 1 on Amazon, well before its release.

And in support of the new project, she’ll launch the Madonna 2012 World Tour May 29 in Tel Aviv, Israel, logging close to 90 dates before it wraps in Australia in early 2013. Included are 26 European destinations and 26 North American dates—with a Sept. 6 show at New York's Yankee Stadium, and an Oct. l0 performance at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Madonna’s previous outing, 2008-2009's Sticky & Sweet, grossed $408 million, the highest ever for a solo artist and third-highest of all time. Nearly 30 years later, Madonna is obviously still celebrating a “Holiday.”

(This story also appears on Radio-Info.com)

REVIEW: NBC's 'Smash' Will Leave You Breathless

Man it's been a long time coming: On Monday, February 6 at 10 p.m., NBC’s highly anticipated musical series Smash, which has been teased for more than six months, launched at last.

The stakes are high for NBC, which has been lodged in fourth place among the major TV networks for years: If there were ever a time to promote the hell out of a promising vehicle, here you go. In fact, a video of star Katharine McPhee singing a spine-tingling version of Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" made the rounds on the webbie months ago, while iTunes offered a free download of the entire pilot episode here.

And so... Is Smash a smash? The show boasts a first-class cast, including McPhee, Debra Messing, Angelica Huston and Katharine McPhee. Behind the scenes are executive producers Steven Spielberg, Craig Zadan & Neil Meron (producers of Chicago and Hairspray), with original music from composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray).

The story surrounds the blood, sweat, and tears involved in staging a Broadway musical. McPhee is utterly dazzling as the young ingenue auditioning for her first major gig to play Marilyn Monroe, while standing in her way is the "voice of experience" Megan Hilty, a character you expect to hate, but end up rooting for equally.

There's plenty of conflict in the wings, as the show's director/choreographer and the co-composer have wicked history together—each gunning for the other girl to win the role.

Peripheral characters include McPhee's supportive boyfriend (Brit Raza Jaffrey), a cutie assistant to Messing’s co-writer (Jaime Cepero) and on the fringes, parents of the two hopefuls who don't take their Broadway ambitions seriously. The original musical numbers are first-rate, absolute Broadway quality, and choreographed with the fun & precision of a cinema experience. Glee this is not. Not even in the same ballpark (thankfully... I never was able to get into that one).

This is among few TV shows I've seen in years where I wasn't eyeing the clock. Commercials were thankfully limited for the pilot, but I tell you: The hour flew by, leaving me wanting more, more, more! I can't wait to see where Smash takes us... and I have a feeling it's going to score, given its rock solid writing, beautiful character development and a universal plot of youthful hope. *

Radio And Records: Meet Singer/Songwriter Marion Loguidice

What happens when you mesh a bit of folk, an ooze of blues, a dash of funk and fortify it with the melodic sing-along essence of a universal been-there-lived-it singer/songwriter? Cool cats, meet Marion Loguidice.

Imagine Sarah McLachlan meets Carole King greets Kate Bush with the added heat of rocker Beth Hart and you get a glimpse of the versatility bursting from New York-based Loguidice’s third full-length release Tales from the Topside World on NYC indie label Breaking Records. She notes, "Tales reflects the dark, light and sacred parts of myself. It’s a long river from the heart to the head."

Lead track "Daybreak," written & produced by Loguidice with renowned songwriter and producer Eve Nelson, is the obvious breakthrough track, with a rapid-fire lyric in which she sings amid a deliriously catchy uptempo chug-along melody, "I’ve been looking up and down from Timbuk2 to Chinatown, trying to find some kind of solid ground/To rest my trembling life upon."

Among other highlights: the midtempo lusciously harmonic, thematically lamenting "We Were Flying"; teasing call to arms "Lit By Light" ("You are a safe place, although its getting late/You think I ignore ya, but the truth is I adore ya"); fragile piano-driven ballad "It’s Been Such A Long Time"; and lovesick ballad "Burn With Me Tonight" ("If I kiss you now, is it such a sin/Cause this fire inside is gonna burn me alive, burn with me tonight").

Loguidice has plentiful lofty kudos. The late, great Arif Mardin said, "A voice like her lyrics: deep, heartfelt and captivating. Marion is beautifully emotional and poetic, a first-rate singer." Likewise, Cyndi Lauper, who contributed vocals to "Mary" from previous CD God’s House, noted, "Her melodies are hauntingly lyrical, her stories street-wise, passionate and truthful."

In addition to performances at Austin's annual SXSW Music Festival, Loguidice regularly sells out New York’s storied Joe’s Pub, and has opened for Loudon Wainwright III.

Next up: She returns to Joe’s Pub May 4, 2012. Count on a reminder from The Smoking Nun. You can bet I’ll be there. And hey: A free download of “We Were Flying” is here. *

One Hit Wonder Cee-Lo Green Thinks Vegas Tourists Give A Flip

Cee-Lo Green's plum-shaped body isn't the only thing that's large about the hip-hop artist. Apparently, he has a big head, too. With only three solo albums to his name—none of them gold selling—the one-hit wonder of 2011's "Fuck You!" believes he has the catalog... and the following... to launch a Las Vegas residency, a la Celine Dion, Elton John, Prince, Barry Manilow or Bette Midler.

Pardon me... Haha hahaha ha haha hahaha hahaha hahaha...

Rolling Stone has confirmed that the former duet partner in one-hit wonder Gnarls Barkley (2006's "Crazy") will launch a "theatrical-style show" called “Loberace,” this year—after reports in The New York Times last December said he was already confirmed at Planet Hollywood, "so he can perform to fans without traveling and aggravating a slipped disc in his back."

Man, I feel sorry for the buffet business in Las Vegas. *

Afterglow: Big Blue Monday!

I cannot believe how good this feels... After being so cynical about the Super Bowl, I'm all aglow with a grand sense of New York pride... Everyone on the street is grinning this morning.

Canada Releases Five Keepsake Quarters | One Honors Gay Marriage

Here's one more reasons to love those Canadians. Noted Toronto gay artist Gary Taxali has designed a series of five whimsical 25-cent coins for the Royal Canadian Mint, including a quarter that celebrates marriage, "regardless of gender."

The Mint’s 2012 “celebration” quarters, unveiled Jan. 17, are meant to be keepsakes, to mark weddings, birthdays, new baby, holidays and even the tooth fairy. Each is sold for $19.95. Ironically, on the back of the gay-friendly marriage coin... is the Queen. *

NYC Artworks: One Mighty Detailed Map Of Manhattan

Michael Albert, a 44-year-old collage artist based in Westchester, created one of the most unique New York City maps we've ever seen. He spent months spelling out a painstakingly detailed map of the city using letters collected from advertisements and commercial packaging. Resembling a gigantic ransom note, it's endlessly fascinating and embedded with little delights, including streets, neighborhoods, museums, stores, bridges and subway stops. Click to see it even larger. *

LIVE BLOG: Sunday Night Super Bowl XLVI... Music & Mayhem

It's Super Bowl time, cool cats! And while I really had no intention of watching, I arrived home after an outing in the city after 6:30 p.m. Sunday, with Tivo recording... This is a New York moment, after all, so what the hell...

It's probably the one time during the year where I stop to watch the commercials, while fast forwarding through the TV program... I'm kinda sorta watching at the game, wondering if any of the ads are going to wow the masses. And, of course, I'm jazzed about seeing what Madonna has in store...

6 p.m.: I'm a fan of country music, but my lord, that opening version of "America the Beautiful" sounded more like "Americer the Real Purty." Couldn't Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton sing without infusing the song with such down-home Southern histrionics? Too much.

Kelly Clarkson, on the other hand, was just marvelous with her 1:35-minute version of the National Anthem. Nice wig, girl! She absolutely nailed it with just the right amount of bravado sans turning it into a would-be gospel anthem, a la 2011's Christina Aguilera. But one question: Why did the camera devote all of a few seconds to Clarkson, whereas the country couple got plenty of face time?

7 p.m.: In the first hour, there have already been nine commercial breaks of varying lengths. My god, this is going to be a long night... The Pepsi spot with Elton John and X Factor winner Melanie Amaro was good stuff... Wonder who that hot guy is in the Hyundai Cheetah ad... Hey, Vanessa Williams is an M&M! Now, Barry Manilow in a post-apocalyptic commercial for Chevy.. that was alarming; really in poor taste... The David Beckham H&M ad (which I've seen online) was nothing but a cheap tease... Pepsi polar bears; what is this, 1980?...

7:07p.m.: The New York Giants score a touchdown. Sweet!

8:00p.m.: Halftime, already, and I haven't watched one second of football. This has been painless! Madonna time! "Vogue" opens... (see it on YouTube here). This already looks mammoth! Is it my imagination or does the quality of the broadcast look different, as if this is film? Thank heavens Madonna is lip-syncing, bless her heart. That stage is magnificent, eh? Hey, Black Eyed Peas: This is how it's done.

Second number: "Music." Madge doesn't dance so much, anyone, does she? More like strutting, while the kid dancers do the heavy lifting... Now her new song "Give Me All Your Luvin'." This is a pretty silly ditty, to be honest. Still reminds me of "Mickey," except for the ghastly contributions of Nicky Minaj and M.I.A, which adds a big dollop of horseshit. I'm just not loving it... And now Ceelo Green and a drum corps are tearing this little breakdown into stinky tatters.

Costume change! "Like A Prayer." What a wonderful choice... The scenery is beautiful. Larger than life (especially Ceelo, who looks like an enormous plum as he screams and tries his damndest to ruin Madonna's song)...

Uh, wait... that's it? It's over? Seriously? Whoa... I'm suddenly longing for Lady Gaga. That was pretty and all, but by no means, historic. Last year's Peas was ghastly. This year I feel... non-plussed. Wowsah...

Jon Pareles writes: Madonna the bad girl was forgotten in her Super Bowl halftime extravaganza. A grown-up flanked by younger collaborators, Madonna was not the indefatigable trouper of past decades; her moves were measured, and she let acrobats from Cirque du Soleil offer distractions. This was Madonna as a former party girl turned regent: a gold-crowned queen on her throne, a homecoming queen strutting in the bleachers, a reverently uplifting church singer.

8: 16 p.m.: More ads: Awesome commercial for The Voice with Betty White. The endless woe-is-us ad for Chrysler featuring Clint Eastwood made me want to jump off a bridge; thanks for that... Will Arnett needs to go away forever; a one-trick pony humorist, and the joke ain't funny anymore... Finally, I can stop and fire up some hot dogs & chips and down a liter of Diet Pepsi. Hey, wait a minute, when did New England take the lead, 10 to 9? I missed that...

8:45 p.m.: Patriots: 17; Giants, 12. Come on, New York. If you have to have a dorky looking quarterback with Eli Manning, you could at least win this thing. New England doesn't deserve hot Tom Brady and the trophy.

9:07 p.m.: The heavily hyped Ferris Bueller commercial with Matthew Broderick just aired... brings to mind a whole lot of nothing again... The MetLife spot was adorable with its cartoon icons—but hey, where was Archie?

9:29 p.m.: The droning anti-Apple ad for Samsung cell was among the most asinine I've seen tonight. And BTW, does anyone really think monkeys in commercials is funny anymore?

9:31 p.m.: Four minutes left in the game. Looks like Mayor Bloomberg is going to miss out on his opportunity to hog face time at the fading possibility of a Giant's victory parade... Hey, wait, Eli Manning just made a brilliant interception of New England's ball... or something like that... Even I get that that was cool. There's suspense here now!

9:41 p.m.: Tick, tick, tick...I have no idea what's going on, but this is tight... New York could win if they get to kick a field goal. I think... God, I loathe when sportcasters scream, as if something truly significant has really happened... one of the primary reasons I cannot bear to watch sports... Nothing is so overwhelming that these dudes need to lose their cool like this... 30 seconds remaining... I'm wholly confused. Whoa, at 9:45 p.m., the Giants score. They're in the lead!! Hey, this game is exciting, after all. I'll be damned.

9:53 p.m.: The Giants win!! Yeah! I'm opening the window now to hear if people are yelling outside! I heart New York! I might yell myself. *

Pre-Game Saturday Night

Who says I don't like sports? Saturday eve I met up with Leo at G Lounge, then Paulie at sports bar Boxers—where I ran into Timmy & Bobby. Looks like all the boyz were & and proud. *

It's Super Bowl Sunday... And?