Michael Urie

‘It’s a Perfect Movie for a Night Like This’

Oozing charm and engulfed in sex appeal, Michael Urie, host of Logo’s Sunday night movie celebration “Cocktails and Classics,” moved about the room at the Eventi hotel, greeting guests with a unique animation and warmth. Known for his fabulous role of Mark St. James on the popular television series “Ugly Betty,” Urie was absolutely elated at hosting this movie extravaganza.

So please, tell the world who you are.
Michael Urie, the host of “Cocktails and Classics” and the executive producer.

Can you tell me your favorite part of hosting the show?
It’s the best. My favorite thing is watching movies, and my second favorite thing is forcing people to watch the movies I like. And that’s what the show is.

And your third favorite thing is cocktails?
And my fourth favorite thing is giving interviews.

I’m going to give you free reign to say anything you’d like. What do you think of “Mommie Dearest”?
“Mommie Dearest” should be the standard to what all other camp movies should be like. It is the ultimate in camp, crazed classics. The reason it works so well is it had no intention of being a camp classic. Faye Dunaway thought she was going to be nominated for the Academy Award. She didn’t think she was going to win, but she thought she would be nominated. As Rutanya has told us, she said she thought she would be nominated, but said, “I know I won’t win.” When the movie came out, audiences flocked to it for the camp, for the comedy. And so the studio changed all of the marketing to mirror that, to reflect the idea that this was a funny, enjoyable laugh at Faye Dunaway. She wasn’t too happy about that. Suddenly it became an enormous financial hit. It’s a perfect film for night like this.

Here is a question for you: How did all those wire hangers wind up in that little child’s closet? I mean, it’s not like little Christina went shopping for those hangers.
I blame the maid.

The reception was followed by a movie discussion with audience participation, some stories about the movie presented by the two Michaels and Rutanya, questions and answers and then of course candy and popcorn. At long last, the film was presented, and the audience, including myself, laughed as though we were seeing it for the very first time.

The funniest part of the evening for me was when Michael Musto, decorated in a costume of wire hangers, ran up to the screen during the famous wire hanger scene. The audience roared.