Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (May 9, 2008)

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE!
A shirtless Ashton Kutcher starring in What Happens in Vegas is about as gay as things get at the box office this weekend. On DVD, we've got Bill Duke's Cover, a "down low" thriller which Brian gave high marks to for good intentions, but said was pretty flawed in its execution.

here!'s latest flick, horror guru David DeCoteau's The House of Usher, is straight-to-cable and debuts on the network this Friday night. And if we're talking DeCoteau, naturally we're talking hot boys scantily clad. You say "beefcake", I say "art". Okay, I'm totally kidding about that "art" part.

The meat, er, cast of The House of Usher

I'm really not sure what to say about THoU. I'd say the acting was as wooden as the house where it was filmed, but that seems unduly cruel to the house which did a fine job of portraying a house. The actors, however, while pretty in their underwear, could've been replaced by mannequins and I'm not sure I would've known the difference. In fact, the only actor who seemed to understand she was starring int the equivalent of a very hammy sandwich was Jaimyse Haft so at least she was fun to watch.

I don't mean to be vicious, but I kept praying for an earthquake, terrorist attack, or heart attack to strike me, anything to get out of watching the whole "movie". Since I had to sit through all 45 hours of it (at least it felt that long), it's only fair I get some payback.

If only Princess Leia really had shown up at some point.

Jai Rodriguez's Groomer Has It has a new ep on Saturday night and all three gay groomers are still in the running. Saturday night's The Graham Norton Show promises to be a camp-fest as Stefanie Powers and Robert Wagner of Hart to Hart visit . Lord only knows what Graham will get those two up to. And if you missed it, be sure to check out our brand new interview with Graham himself.

Robert Wagner, Stefanie Powers

Bob and Lee don't show up on Sunday night's Desperate Housewives, thank the heavens. Of course, that only puts off the inevitable: the inevitable being their "commitment ceremony". I do not want to see what "humorous" treatment that is going to get.

But speaking of commitment ceremonies, I literally just finished watching Sunday night's Brothers & Sisters' finale "Prior Commitments". For those of you that love the show, you're going to love it even more. And for those who are either ambivalent or hate it (I mean you Flying Monkey!), I'd suggest you check your cynicism at the door just this once and watch the ep. It's that good.

There are so many things to like about it: Nora (Sally Field) and Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) have a wonderful scene together, there is a great moment when the camera stops on Saul (Ron Rifkin) as Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty exchange their vows, some great Kevin moments with some folks we haven't met before, and, of course, there are plenty of Kevin and Scotty moments including one that is very touching. (There is also some odd business about Kevin and Scotty's rings that marked the episode's only false moment for me.)

Luke MacFarlane (left) & Matthew Rhys

(Photo credit Michael Desmond / ABC)

As a gay man who grew up when the idea of gay marriage was ludicrous, I especially appreciated how the show didn't pretend everything is all hunky-dory now. At one point in "Prior Commitments", Kevin reminds everyone that what they are having isn't a wedding as they can't legally get married. I can't swear it was the writers' intentions, but I thought I detected a whiff of meloncholia coming from Kevin and Nora at several points as they planned a ceremony that wasn't quite the real thing.

We also see more about how William Walker (Tom Skerritt) dealt with his son's sexuality, and it isn't sugar-coated. I appreciate the show doesn't wallow in that late 80s and earlier 90s sensibility of being gay as something that is all angsty, but also doesn't shy away from the fact that homophobia still exists.

Matthew Rhys, Tom Skerritt

(Photo credit courtesy ABC/Michael Desmond)

And, yes, there is some Justin and Rebecca resolution and we do learn more about William Walker, but it really is Kevin and Scotty's chance to shine in a groundbreaking moment of television and shine they do.

We know how eager folks will be to dissect everything about the ep, so we've got Steven Frank on overtime to get the recap finished and up by some time Monday afternoon! To keep you busy until then, be sure to check out interview with Ken Olin and David Marshall Grant who were both involved with thirtysomething and now Brothers & Sisters.