We’re in the calm before the awards season storm. While an understated Golden Globes happened last week (with plenty to celebrate), it’s a while yet until the Oscar and Grammy seasons kick into high gear.
But that doesn’t mean stuff isn’t happening as we all wait with bated breath to see if the Academy will give KStew her due. Every week in “The Buzz,” we bring you what you missed in queer and trans pop culture. This week, we’re talking Degrassi, Yellowjackets and a new Sue Bird documentary.
Here’s what you missed this week in queer pop culture.
→Degrassi goes there—and this time, the “there” is HBO Max. After a few years off the air, the storied Canadian franchise is returning to TV with a new series on the streaming service. Though various versions of the school-days soap opera have been around since 1979, the show’s last iteration, Degrassi: Next Class, was cancelled by Netflix in 2019.
While details are scarce, the bold font used in the out-of-focus promotional image made some people wonder if the show is going to be an HBO-ified Degrassi, similar to other gritty reboots and teen shows that have been in vogue lately.
And many fans were quick to ask if this means we are going to get the cocaine and glitter of Euphoria meets downtown Toronto for the new series.
But others pointed out that Degrassi was doing the gritty high school thing long before Zendaya was even born.
I mean, Drake got shot. And it’s been inherently queer along the way: from coming-out storylines in earlier series (Xtra contributor Mira Miller wrote about Paige’s journey on Degrassi: The Next Generation) to centring Yael’s exploration of non-binary identity in Degrassi: Next Class, the series has always been hella queer.
Considering what HBO’s done with Euphoria and the Gossip Girl reboot in terms of showing a multitude of queer teens, it’s fair to assume the new iteration of Degrassi will bring a queer-centred perspective. Pair that with the afterschool special nature of the show that led to its long-running success in Canada (and a touch of nostalgia from millennials like me) and you’ve got a recipe for a successful reboot. Whatever it takes!
→The cast of the long-awaited announcement of the “international all-stars” appearing on RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK Versus The World has finally come—though, to be honest, superfans have already (correctly) guessed most of the lineup based on the social media absences of various alumni. So get ready for fan favourites like Canada’s Jimbo and America’s Jujubee to face off in six weeks of EVEN MORE Drag Race.
→The life and career of WNBA icon, Olympic gold medallist and soon-to-be-wife of Megan Rapinoe Sue Bird is the subject of a new documentary.
The doc will include footage from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well as the upcoming 2022 WNBA season, which Bird has confirmed she’ll be back for.
Truly the G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan who?
→Speaking of sports, an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader got a surprise proposal from his fiancé at the final game of the season and the images will make you believe that love is real after all.
→Yellowjackets may have wrapped its first season in thrilling, bloody, queer fashion this Sunday, but the hype train keeps rolling. The official RuPaul’s Drag Race Twitter account confirmed they’re watching and appreciating the glut of Enya content on both their show and Yellowjackets.
Meanwhile, star Melanie Lynskey shared a story about her castmates defending her after she was body shamed on set. Juliette Lewis went as far as to write a letter to production condemning what was said to Lynskey.
What I would give for Lewis to write a stern letter to everyone who has ever wronged me.
→A Vulture deep dive this week looks into all of those allegations of misogyny against Joss Whedon.
→Westside Story star Ariana DeBose teamed up with Kate McKinnon to make Saturday Night Live super gay this week.
A little Sappho goes a long way.
→Reese Witherspoon’s look-alike daughter Ava has opened up about her sexuality, saying “gender is whatever.”
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