Weekend Meme: "Harry Potter" Robs Gringotts Bank, Ben Daniels Disagrees with Rupert Everett, and Eva Longoria is "Without Men"

Because it seems virtually impossible to write about anything this weekend without bringing Harry Potter into it, let's get it over with. The wizard is set to smash nearly every opening weekend record: $43.5 million for midnight screenings, and $92.1 million in the first day. It's put a stake in the heart of that sparkling vampire on those records, and looks to clip the wings of The Dark Knight, which grossed merely $158 million in its opening weekend. Potter is on track to rake in $187 million.

In a truly odd ruling issued minutes after the court closed for the weekend, the Ninth Circuit split the difference on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, reinstating the stay that keeps the law on the books, but barring the military from investigating or separating soldiers under the law. I really can't imagine how much uncertainty this creates for people who just want to serve their country.

But in San Diego, for the first time, a contingent of active duty military marched in Pride. Hundreds of sailors, Marines, and even a few Airmen and soldiers, gay and straight, wore t-shirts denoting their branch and received the lion's share of the applause from the 150,000 people at the parade.

While out actor Ben Daniels of Cutting It has great respect for Rupert Everett as an actor, he disagrees with him telling people to stay in the closet for their careers. “I would never advise anyone to stay in the closet to further their careers – I’m sure it leads to big fat gay ulcers."

Jane Fonda says that conservatives bullied QVC into canceling her appearance on the shopping network to sell her book because of her liberal activism and opposition to the Vietnam War. Wow. They really know how to hold a grudge, don't they?

Justin Timberlake says that, schedule allowing, he will accept a female Marine's invitation to the Marine Corps Ball. In what has to be a targeted effort to make me like him, Timberlake said "I don’t get asked out. Ever. So I was very flattered by that.”

Well, it was one of my favorite sayings on Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

Conservative outrage over the California LGBT and Disabilities Education Act has reached the boiling point, with a petition started to repeal the law via California's ridiculous (I used to live there, I've seen how silly it is) ballot referendum system. Fox news is leading the charge, with Eric "No Terrorist Act 2000-2008" Bolling saying the new law will force schools to teach "George Washington was a homosexual."

I haven't had a chance to catch MTV's True Life: I Want To Be Straight, but I intend to, because I'm disturbed by what I'm reading about it. While I get that the point of the series is to tell the story of the individual profiled, presenting reparative therapy without a counterpoint is dangerous and irresponsible, and seems like MTV would know better. I can think of a whole list of employees they could have checked with…

In a new video interview, Kevin Alejandro talks about True Blood, Lafayette, and just how much skin we're going to see. Well, actually, he dances around spoilers like an old pro, but he's still charming and sexy.

Is God punishing the cities premiering the new Sarah Palin film, The Undefeated? It certainly sounds like he's punishing the theaters, like the one in Orange County where the only movie viewer was a journalist.

In news about the sanctity of marriage being destroyed, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have announced they're divorcing after seven years of marriage. I'm sure the gays caused it.

TNT has canceled Men of a Certain Age. I got nothing to further on that news bite, since I have no idea what the show is about and can only name two of the stars from memory.

Rep. Michele Bachmann has a history of latching onto fringe issues and turning them into electoral gold, be it opposing gay rights or her new fiscal conservative stance. She seems to have a dangerous mix of faith and opportunism. And her husband is not a licensed therapist.

SyFy has picked up the fourth season of Merlin. Maybe that bromance some people see will finally develop.

While guest stars may be out for Glee next season, it seems that Idina Menzel is returning for a huge arc of 10-12 episodes that will likely disrupt Quinn's (Diana Agron) life, and possibly humanize Rachel (Lea Michele). Who knows – maybe we'll even get to meet Rachel's gay dads now that mom is coming home?

And as for the departure of Rachel, Finn, and Kurt, Jane Lynch says of Ryan Murphy, he "rarely makes bad calls." Oh really, Jane? Fellows, let's roll the tape…

Editor's Note: Do you enjoy the Meme but sometimes forget to check for new editions? AfterElton has started a weekly newsletter with links to the week's biggest gay pop culture stories. Check it out! (You can unsubscribe at any time.)
	enter email address