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Exclusive: ABC Family's "Route 666" Teams Pope, Lambert
By Hurley Shalperin, Hollywood Reporter
Pope Francis is teaming up with glam rocker Adam Lambert in a new ABC Family series entitled "Route 666," the Hollywood Reporter has learned in an exclusive interview with the former Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who got the white smoke treatment at the Roman Catholic conclave back in March. It will be the television debut of the 76-year-old Francis, but the second TV deal of the year for Glambert, fresh off his Emmy-nominated turn on Glee.
"Adam and I will travel the world in a glittery used popemobile, righting wrongs and carrying forth a message of faith, hope, love, charity, and glam," Francis said. "It is The Odd Couple meets Chico and The Man," he added, joking that his cultural references date to the time period before he gave up his TV due to a vow of poverty.
"It all started with a tweet," Francis explained. "Benedict set up the @pontifex account but it wasn't until this month that I was able to get over to his monastery and get the password. Benedict and Nile [legendary funk guitarist Nile Rodgers] already followed each other and of course I've been a fan since forever."
Francis confessed that he fell "down the rabbit hole" after listening to "Lay Me Down," Rodgers' disco collaboration with Swedish DJ Avicii and the golden-throated Lambert. "Psalms tells us, I will lay me down in peace. There is safety in His divine protection. I sent a pm to Nile and next thing I knew he had posted a video on my private Facebook page."
"It was the 7-cam version of Who Wants to Live Forever," the pontiff chuckled. "In the past, when I heard that song, I always said, Me! Ever-lasting life -- IKR? But Adam made me hear the deep pain of those who have been denied love and acceptance. I'm a pretty tough guy but I'm not ashamed to admit I cried."
Francis tweeted Lambert the next day, and in the second week of September the openly gay superstar flew to Vatican City where he and Francis collaborated for several days in secret on their TV concept, which has been picked up by ABC Family as a summer replacement.
"Adam and I will work around our schedules," Francis says. "He has Glee and A3, and I've got Christmas and Easter." Each episode will feature a different exotic location in need of spiritual intervention, a new song by Lambert, and a miracle performed by Francis. Francis would not confirm rumors that the series debut would feature the exorcism of Miley Cyrus, but dished that the finale of Season One would coincide with his first major encyclical. "There will be no more outlaws of love. There's your hint, doll."
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