Get It Twisted: Radio With a Twist co-host Will Wikle probes deep — and hard.
By Brandon Voss
If he were gay, Nick Lachey would go for George Clooney. Bette Midler said she’d flip for Joy Behar in a lesbian prison flick. Rob Thomas admitted that those gay rumors with Tom Cruise did upset him, but only because he was linked with a Scientologist. These are the type of randy revelations listeners have come to expect from Radio With a Twist, a weekly, two-hour LGBT radio show available in major cities and on AOL Radio since its debut in January.
In addition to queer-bent celebrity interviews and entertainment gossip, Twist (launched by Matt Farber, founder of Logo and president of Wilderness Media & Entertainment), features countdowns, dedications, relationship advice, travel spotlights, and more with a trio of hosts: Lez-at-large Melissa Carter, Kathy Griffin’s “main gay” Dennis Hensley, and Big Brother alum Will Wikle, host of Logo’s Round Trip Ticket.
“If I wanted to sound PC, I’d say that we at Twist strive to offer a musical commune where all sexualities can exist in harmony,” Wikle says. “But truthfully, we just want everyone to walk away feeling really gay — as if you just popped a TrimSpa and gave Bea Arthur a nice backrub.”
Selfless ‘mo that he is, Wikle often finds himself doing crazy things just for the sake of a story. “I recently attended the Radical Faerie gay hippie campout in the mountains of Tennessee,” he says, laughing. “For four days the only things in my mouth were jumbo marshmallows and cigarettes.”
It’s also fitting that despite A-list interviews such as Beyoncé, Sarah Jessica Parker, Eric McCormack, Pink, Jennifer Tilly, and Natasha Bedingfield, Wikle’s favorites remain Bruce Vilanch and Leslie Jordan (aka Will & Grace’s Beverley Leslie). So what’s his dream interview scenario? “For the Twist crew to travel up to the penthouse of Star Jones-Reynolds, sit on her Sateen sheets and read passages from her self-help book, Shine, while Al, dressed as a traditional geisha, serves us a traditional tea service,” Wikle says with a mischievous grin. “But we would settle for Madonna or Michael Jackson.”
HX, May 2006.
Sex, Lies & Videotape: Star Will Wikle takes us behind the scenes — and between the sheets! — of Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!
By Brandon Voss
Life once again imitated art during filming of Todd Stephens’ follow-up to the successful 2006 summer spoof Another Gay Movie, Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!, in which four gays seek anal action on Spring Break — and at least one sexy star isn’t afraid to spill off-set secrets!
Joining celebrity costars like RuPaul, Lady Bunny, Brent Corrigan, Lypsinka, Jim Verraros, Colton Ford, Amanda Lepore, Michael Lucas, Perez Hilton and Scott Thompson, openly gay Big Brother 5 contestant and Round Trip Ticket host Will Wikle steams and sasses up the screen as Jasper, the leader of an evil gay clique.
Wikle, a previous HX coverboy in May 2006 for his Radio With a Twist gig, exclusively gave us all the salacious scoop.
HX: How did this role come about for you? Was there a casting couch involved?
Will Wikle: I’d love to say I was discovered in the food court of a local shopping mall, but in reality, I just auditioned like everyone else.
You look amazing in the film — and on our cover — and I hate/love you for it. How did you physically prepare?
One night, I was inspired by something Tyra said to the girls on Top Model. I thought, I don’t have the natural beauty to pull off high fashion, so maybe I should try giving them men’s magazine. I gained 30 pounds, but it mostly went straight to my ass. Sometimes I feel like I should be dropping it in a rap video.
Which characters or real-life bitches inspired your performance as the film’s resident Mean Gurl?
Jasper was most inspired by Johnny, the villain from the first Karate Kid — if Johnny had been a hateful bossy bottom. Of course, there are also homages to the greatest mean girls of all time, Heather Chandler and Regina George.
Speaking of villainesses, Miss RuPaul declined to comment for this article. Was she the biggest diva on set?
She was the only one with her own trailer, but Ru was amazing. I think people would be surprised by how spiritual and zen she is. Bunny wins the diva trophy hands down, but she owns it. If you ever want to know how to properly read a makeup girl, take lessons from Bunny.
You were filming in Ft. Lauderdale for a month. Was there a lot of hooking up off set amongst the cast?
Are you kidding me? The production company should have put webcams in the hotel rooms and made some hard cash. Off set was like Xtube: The Musical.
Did any “straight” actors give in to gay temptation?
The majority of the straight actors were legit, although yes, there was one who took his character research very seriously. I won’t say who, but I’m just sayin’...
Have you ever been involved with a closet case who was straight with his girlfriend — or even in the media — but straight to bed with you?
There was a time that I had a sexual relationship with a married male socialite. Not only was it heavy on my conscience, but he was so bad in bed. Those kind of affairs are bad karma.
Word has it that you had your own fling on the set with costar and porn pup Brent Corrigan. Dish!
The atmosphere on set was very gay summer camp, and a few of us did find our way into each other’s bunks. Yes, I had an innocent little romance with Brent, but it honestly felt more like a storyline on The Hills. It was very Justin Bobby and Audrina. We always knew it would end with the closing credits.
How do things stand with Brent today?
We’re still close, and I do feel very protective of him. I think the audience will really respond to his performance, and I hope to work with him again — even if it’s just making our own private videos. For our Hills spin-off, of course!
Do you currently have a boyfriend?
No. But I totally have the textbook crushes on gym guy, Facebook guy, and Barracuda guy. I’m more boy crazy than Miley Cyrus, but much less slutty.
What’s up next for you? And most importantly, does it involve more skin?
I’m taking a class, and I managed to snag a part in a serious drama opposite Alan Cumming, Cheyenne Jackson, and Erykah Badu, but production is now delayed, so we’ll see. My dream is to do a freaky storyline on Nip/Tuck or work with John Waters. I’d do full frontal for John Waters.
CASTING BLAME: Writer-director Todd Stephens reveals why three original actors didn’t bring sexy back.
Don’t look for Another Gay Movie’s Jonathan Chase, Mitch Morris, or Michael Carbonaro here; Jonah Blechman is now joined by Jake Moser, Aaron Michael Davies, and Jimmy Clabots. “My feeling was all three of the original actors would have loved to do the sequel but were talked out of it by their agents and managers,” says writer-director Todd Stephens. “I was certainly confused and hurt about the boys’ decision at first, but life moves on.” Stephens particularly praises the performance of returning star Blechman, “the only one of the four original boys who is out,” he adds. “Both Jonah and his character celebrate what for me is a big theme of these films — we are who we are, and we are without shame.”
BUNNY’S EARS: Lady Bunny sniffs out off-set drama!
Lady Bunny, who plays Gays Gone Wild contestant co-host Sandy Cove, also kept her eyes, ears, and everything else open during filming. “There was a little friction between Michael Lucas and a cast member who had done barebacking porn while underage,” recalls Bunny, who recorded two songs for the film’s soundtrack. [Ed. note: cough, cough, Brett Corrigan?] “They didn’t have it out, but there were a few tense moments — like when I stupidly asked at the cast party, ‘Who’s the one who did bareback porn while underage’” Bunny also considers an orgy scene with 40 extras a highlight: “Because of a SAG law, some had to wear nude-colored socks over their genitalia. Luckily, not all of them were SAG — and they grow ‘em big down in Florida!”
HX, August 2008.