Countdown commentator Michael Musto helps choose gay pageant winner serious enough to take on 'incredible responsibility' of title

Photos: Mickey Boardman

Last Saturday, longtime Village Voice columnist and sometime Countdown commentator Michael Musto helped choose Eddie Rabbon, from Columbia, South Carolina winner of "US Mr. Gay" in Philadelphia. Rabbon "was slick and dimpled, but we also loved the young and genial Mr. New Brunswick, the strikingly swarthy Mr. Rehoboth Beach, and...oh, heck, we loved them all."

Earlier, Mr. Musto explained his motivation and methodology to Natalie Hope McDonald, of phillymag.com.

What made you decide to judge Mr. Gay USA?

I love judging. I judge for a living. When anyone gives me a chance to give thumbs up or down, I relish it. It’s so wonderful to sit back and not be particularly good looking or witty and force other people to subscribe to those standards. I also think it’s amusing to subvert the idea of a pageant. It’s an ironic twist on a traditional pageant… and what Carrie Prejean would not be able to pull off.

As a judge, what are you looking for in the next Mr. Gay USA?

Somebody with some hometown pride, but who is capable of representing the whole country. I’m not looking for someone generic or your typical run-of-the-mill muscle gay. He should be funny, and serious enough to take on the incredible responsibility that goes along with this title.