June Entertainment News

As the traditional television season comes to a close it's time for my annual list of Top Ten Hunks on Network TV. In no specific order they are...the man who can get a rise out of the dead - Lee Pace on Pushing Daisies, first having noticed his drool worthiness on those AT&T commercials - Tim Kang from The Mentalist, the smoking hot and sultry Justin Baldoni of Heroes, the always looking young and restless - Shemar Moore of Criminal Minds, proving that scientist are hot under those white coats - T.J. Thyne on Bones, the spy who could keep me out of the cold - Jeffrey Donovan from Burn Notice, the E.M.T. driver who can resuscitate me anytime - Sam Witwer in Smallville, the guy who convinced me that you should eat meat on Fridays - Philip Winchester on Crusoe, that tower of throbbing ectoplasm - Jared Padalecki of Supernatural and vampire blood junkie on True Blood, Mrs. sex on legs - Ryan Kwanten. *** And since we're on the subject of TB - True Blood, that hit HBO series, returns with fresh episodes on June 14th. But more importantly, brings us more fresh flesh from Ryan Kwanten. Joining the cast of regulars are new faces including Evan Rachel Wood as Sophie-Anne, the Vampire Queen of Louisiana. That just might be copyright infringement because that use to be my drag name when I lived in Baton Rouge. Ed Quinn, formerly of the Sci Fi channel series Eureka has also joined the ensemble as Stan, a powerful vampire from - Texas. Which brings to question, George W. Bush sucked and was from Texas, did we ever see him in the daylight???
*** Christopher Street West, those dedicated folks behind the 2009 LA Pride Celebration has chosen E! Entertainment late-night talk show host and comedian, Chelsea Handler and her ethnic version of Ed McMahon, Chuy Bravo as Grand Marshals of this years event. *** In addition to this month's pride celebrations around the world, don't forget our other national Gay holiday on June 7th. It's the 63rd Annual Tony Awards. The live broadcast from Radio City Music Hall will feature Neil Patrick Harris as master of ceremonies. ***
HBO obviously supports the concept of "size matters" with the June 28th premiere of it's latest, head turning series. Titled Hung, the show features Thomas Jane (The Velocity of Gary) as a well endowed, High School basketball coach whose life is crumbling around him. Choosing to climb out of his rut, he decides to prove that he is a really "hard" worker by pursuing a new career with the use of his popular and below-the-belt asset. Though a half hour show, the premiere episode will be, appropriately, "longer," running at 45 minutes. Now if you were expecting me to say "long and uncut" don't hold your breath. So beside the character's appendage, where's the Gay community angle? Well, former Lesbian, Anne Heche plays his estranged wife. Or should we just go for the obvious and use "strange" wife? *** In the wake of Chris Engen walking out of his role on Young and the Restless, just as he was about to film a guy on guy kissing scene has forced CBS to recast his role with former Veronica Mars star Michael Muhney, making his first appearance on June 25. Why anyone, gay or straight, would walk out on the chance to lock lips with the incredibly gorgeous Yani Gellman is beyond comprehension. Press reps for Engen claim the actor left the show because he didn't like the "dark direction" his character was moving toward. That's odd, Yani isn't black. ***
Fans of the tragicly cancelled series, Pushing Daisies, will be treated by casting of Lee Pace in Tom Ford's film, A Single Man. Scheduled for release sometime this year, this film version of Christopher Isherwood's 1964 novel brings the motion picture directorial debut of this fashion icon and former head of Gucci. The cast features Matthew Goode (Brideshead Revisited), Julianne Moore, Colin Firth and Nicholas Hoult (Skins.) Interesting note, Hoult is rumored to be in the upcoming remake of the Ray Harryhausen fantasy classic, Clash of the Titans. But don't count on him to replace the previously seen and scantily clad Harry Hamlin. The remake role of Perseus has gone to Sam Worthington who plays Marcus in Terminator Salvation. Among the actors playing gods are Liam Neeson as Zeus, Danny Huston (Angelica's brother) as Poseiden and Ralph Fiennes as Hades. I know, I know. You were expecting Dick Cheney as Hades, but wouldn't that be blatant type-casting? ***
Almost a year without Project Runway, our next best guilty addiction, Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List returns June 8 and will feature Bette Midler this season. Bette Midler? That D-List seems to be moving upward to vowel category.
*** Nobody (sane) can deny the imensely homoerotic focus of the hit film 300 but since that films release, people have asked, what about equal time. Where's the counter point? When are we getting a lesbo-rotic movie for the double x chromosone crowd. Apparently, Watchmen director Zack Snyder shares those concerns and plans to rectify the situation. Ooops, am I going to be accused of being Sapho insensitive for using the word "RECTify?" Snyder has put together a $100 million original action fantasy called Sucker Punch with an all female cast. The film will follow a young woman who fantasizes about escaping from an insance asylum with her fellow crazies. Being described as Alice in Wonderland with machine guns the current production aims for a 2010 release. The cast includes Jena Malone (Saved,) Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical,) and Jamie Chung (Days of Our Lives.) ***
Heading across the Atlantic to spend time along the Thames this summer? Then don't miss the Gay Icons exhibit at London's National Portrait Gallery July 2 - October 18th. This impressive collection of photographs was a committe which included Sirs Elton John and Ian McKellen and features images of Virginia Woolf and Quentin Crisp. A portrait of George Michael will be hung in the Museums men's room. ***