Atlantic City will host a massive influx of gay and gay-friendly entertainment for Halloween when Harrah’s Entertainment presents “Out in AC,” a weekend full of LGBT parties and events Oct. 29-31.
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton will host one of his “One Night In” parties 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at the House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, featuring performances from La Roux and Kelis, as well as surprise guests. A powerhouse lineup of comedy featuring Margaret Cho, Sandra Bernhard and Whitney Cummings takes the stage at 8 p.m. Oct. 30 at Caesars Circus Maximus Theater, 2100 Pacific Ave. There will also be no shortage of dance-oriented events, after-parties and morning-after brunches to fill out the weekend and make absolutely sure no one leaves the city well rested.
Both Cho, fresh off her all-too-brief stint on “Dancing with the Stars” and the release of new album “Cho Dependent,” and Hilton, fresh off verbally sparring with rapper 50 Cent in the press, took a few moments to answer some questions about Halloweens past and present.
PGN: For your current tour, are you focusing on the music, comedy or both? MARGARET CHO: It’s mostly comedy and some comedy songs. But I am always and forever a standup comic.
PGN: Your new album, “Cho Dependent,” is amazing. There, we said it. Anyway … Does being known for comedy make it easier or harder to get people to take musical projects seriously? MC: Thank you! I think it does make it harder when you are known for standup comedy to do something else, but then again, my album is still a comedy album, but just in music form. And I wanted it to sound beautiful, which it does!
PGN: Did Eddie Murphy fuck it up for any comedian who wants to launch a music project? MC: I love “My Girl Likes to Party All the Time”!
PGN: Which guest artist on your album were you most excited to work with? MC: Jon Brion. He taught me so much. I wanted to do the album because of him. He is my favorite and he lifted me up to his level as a musician. I am forever grateful.
PGN: Is there another musical album in the future for you and, if so, what musicians/performers are on your wish list to work with? MC: Yes! I would love to do something with Linda Perry, Nile Rodgers and David Bowie. That’s my dream!
PGN: Seeing as both you and Sandra Bernhard have put out music albums recently, is there any chance the two of you will bust out a duet at your upcoming show in Atlantic City? MC: That would be amazing. Sandra is my idol and has a killer voice and is so hilarious. I am honored to do a show with her and would love, love, love to sing with her!
PGN: In your opinion, now that the news media is more focused than ever on the issue of antigay bullying, what needs to be done in order to get the schools and the parents to take the issue more seriously? MC: We need to talk about it. The gay community also needs to reach out to our youth. We need to have more discussion about it, to protect our kids and prevent it from happening again.
PGN: What was your best and/or worst Halloween costume ever? MC: The best was Brigitte Lin from “Chungking Express” and Bjork from “Dancer in the Dark.” Worst was me not even trying to be anything.
PGN: As a kid — or even now — what candy did you hate to see land in your bag when trick-or-treating? MC: Bit-o-Honey! But I kind of like that kind of nougat now. It’s really adult candy.
PGN: Besides your show, will you be attending any other events in Atlantic City for Out in AC? MC: I will be all out and about!
PGN: If you were to take over the DJ booth at the after-party for an hour, what songs would you play? MC: Lots of Gaga, lots of Madonna, lots of MIA, maybe some Janet in there. And, of course, Tegan and Sara.
PGN: Besides the next season of “Drop Dead Diva,” do you have any other TV or film projects on the horizon? MC: Not right now. Just back to standup and making music.
PGN: If money and availability were not an issue and you could get anyone you wanted to perform at one of your events, who would you get? PEREZ HILTON:If I could get anyone to perform, I would get Madonna and Lady Gaga to perform at the same event. Gaga has actually performed at one of my parties in 2008 but Madonna has never performed for me. Although she did make me a video once which was very, very cool. In my dream world, to be able to have a joint concert between Madonna and Gaga would be out of this world.
PGN: What can people attending your party expect? PH: People can expect a lot of divas and a super-fun time. Plus, it’s free! I can’t think of a better way to kick off Halloween weekend.
PGN: What is the wildest party you have ever thrown? PH: The wildest party I’ve ever thrown was my birthday party this year. I had Leona Lewis perform. I had Eve perform. I had Liza Minnelli perform and I had Katy Perry arrive on top of an elephant and sing me “Happy Birthday.” It was epic.
PGN: Usually rappers beef with other rappers. Why is 50 Cent feuding with you? PH: 50 Cent is feuding with me because he’s homophobic and desperate for attention. And, unfortunately, his ploy for publicity seems to have worked.
PGN: In your opinion, now that the news media is more focused than ever on the issue of antigay bullying, what needs to be done in order to get the schools and the parents to take the issue more seriously? PH: I think what needs to be done to really address the recent suicides is to talk about it — to talk about suicide, depression, not being welcome in school and being made to feel like an outsider. It’s important for the adults to initiate these conversations: the parents, the teachers, the guidance counselors, the neighbors. Anyone who thinks a young child is going through a difficult time should reach out to them because kids just want to know that someone is there for them, that someone is listening and that they are not alone.
PGN: What was your best and/or worst Halloween costume ever? PH: My best costume ever was last year. I went dressed as Lady Gaga and I had the people that make her outfits make mine as well, so it was very authentic. This Halloween, I’m looking forward to bringing two costumes to Atlantic City, so it’s going to be doubly exciting.
PGN: As a kid — or even now — what candy did you hate to see land in your bag when trick-or-treating? PH: I’ve never been much into Sour Patches or sour-type candies. I like anything with chocolate.
PGN: Besides your party, will you be attending any other events in Atlantic City for Out in AC? PH: I definitely am. You can expect to see me all over the place. It seems like such a fun weekend.
PGN: If you were to take over the DJ booth at the after-party for an hour, what songs would you play? PH: Right now I’m obsessed with Willow Smith’s “Whip It” and Cee-Lo’s “Fuck You.” Both those songs are on heavy rotation in my iTunes.
For more information about Margaret Cho or Perez Hilton, visit www.margaretcho.com or www.perezhilton.com. For more information and a detailed schedule for “Out in AC,” visit www.harrahs.com/getoutinac.
Larry Nichols can be reached at [email protected].