For Adam Lambert, much more than a kiss

Adam Lambert is not being targeted because he is a gay male [“Clash Over ‘Idol’s’ Kiss,” by Maria Elena Fernandez, Dec. 4]. What parents -- liberal or conservative, gay or straight -- wanted their kids to see that performance?

My objections to his performance are about aggressive sexuality, not homosexuality. After having been a huge fan of Lambert since I first saw him perform, I was completely disappointed in how he decided to spend his big moment, and I was so happy I had not kept my 7- and 10-year-old kids up to see the end of the American Music Awards show.

Caroline Cicero

Malibu

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Does anyone still recall the shock and dismay of the conservative family values folks when Petula Clark touched the arm of Harry Belafonte on her 1968 NBC-TV special? One of the show’s sponsors, Chrysler, almost edited it out because it would be considered offensive.

Somehow the country lived through that “inappropriate” behavior. Somehow we will survive this one too.

Ted Tudisco

Rancho Mirage

From Seattle, love for L.A.

I am writing to clarify and provide context for my remarks in a recent New York Times article which were referred to by Charles McNulty in his recent article [“Drop the Curtain on L.A.’s Bashers,” Nov. 27]. I had no intention of comparing one place to another, nor do I think there is any value in pitting theater towns against one another.

My comments were intended purely to point out two great aspects of the theater scene in Seattle. Namely that there is a very large and frankly astonishing amount of theater in Seattle given the size of the population, and that there are some nice aspects to the fact that the theater scene is very compact geographically. Comparison to Los Angeles theater in any meaningful or qualitative way was unintended, as I do not believe such comparisons are appropriate.

I certainly apologize to any of my former colleagues who may have taken offense at the notion that I was trying to elevate Seattle over Los Angeles. I did not mean to say in any way that I came here because it is a better place for theater. Having worked in Los Angeles for more than a decade, I am very aware of the sensitivity about Los Angeles not getting the recognition it deserves. I think Los Angeles is one of the most exciting places in the world, and of course I think the same of Seattle. I count myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in both places.

Brian Colburn

Seattle

Colburn is managing director of the Intiman Theatre.

Where disaster is set to ring tones

Thank you, Berkeley Breathed, for that wonderful editorial on the state of the movies -- and moviegoing [“Blown Out,” Nov. 27]. I stopped buying tickets almost four years ago because I was tired of being annoyed by other moviegoers. If there is an inconsiderate person with a cellphone, loud eating habits or diarrhea of the mouth, they will find me in a theater.

And the over-the-top special effects are not only getting old hat, they are sometimes incredibly disturbing as well. I’m not sure I want to see the end of the world in 2012. The trailer alone on my computer screen left me disturbed for weeks.

Moviemaking has lost its way, and along with it, its fans.

Linda Navroth

Culver City

‘Blind Side’ scores with audiences

Hollywood certainly got “blindsided” by the success of Sandra Bullock’s latest [“A New Playbook,” by John Horn and Ben Fritz, Dec. 1]. For decades now, whenever a Christian is portrayed on TV or the movies, they’re shown as either corny “squares” or homicidal maniacs (see: this season’s “Dexter”). Well, I’m a Christian and I’m neither.

When will the studios learn? Christians buy tickets.

Stan Evans

Valley Village

Boyle description deserves an F

Re “Boyle ‘Dreamed’ a Hit,” Dec. 3: Todd Martens’ reference to Susan Boyle as a “failed contestant on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ ” is enormously misleading, lending presumed support to his assertion that she “has become one of the biggest and most surprising music stories of the year.”

Though the latter statement is true, the former is not. She didn’t win the British contest, but she came in second, hardly synonymous with “failed,” a word which suggests that she achieved all this miraculous success out of nowhere after possibly not even making any of the cuts leading into the finals.

By the way, while they were quite good, has anyone heard anything about the winning group, Diversity, lately?

Michael Russnow

West Hollywood

Seagal, Ventura: a comedy pairing

Thank you for two great articles in the Times Wednesday. Between Steven Seagal and Jesse Ventura, I was busting up [“Seagal’s Badge of Shame,” by Scott Glover; “At Least It’s No Secret He’s Amusing,” by Robert Lloyd, Dec. 2].

I had wondered about both shows after seeing a TV promo on Seagal’s reality show and hearing a radio interview with the “Governor” Ventura.

Both articles were wonderfully crafted uses of humor. I have worried about that Seagal guy for years. And Ventura -- I loved the “monsters under the bed” comparison. Thanks for the therapy.

Dave McKissick

Glendora