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News, Reviews & Commentary on Gay and Bisexual Men in Entertainment and the Media

AfterElton Briefs: Oprah Spawns a Gay Spin-off, Levi Takes a Shower, Adam Lambert Reponds, and more

Adam Lambert Band: Lisa on keyboards, Monte on guitar, Tommy on bass, and Longineu on drums

Following this assortment of carefully-selected news items, interested readers can find a refreshing pic of a hot man in underwear. Yes, we're serious.

  • Since we never talk about American Idol at all, above you can see last year's runner up, Adam Lambert, on set for his video for "For Your Entertainment" with his band. Another picture from that shoot is below. And here's a link to ABC News, where Kris Allen, the winner of Idol, appeared on Good Morning America. He performed two songs, but the one we've never featured before, "Can't Stay Away" is my favorite of the two.
Another picture from Adam's video shoot from his Twitter.
  • The New York Times has an interesting piece about the evolution of what you can and cannot say on television, dirty word wise. We've come a long way from George Carlin's "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television" and it seems the new hot word is ... one my editor won't let me use here, even though it's popped up 76 times on network TV this fall. Who says homos don't think about protecting the children?
  • Bits from that obscure artist Adam Lambert's new Rolling Stone article keep surfacing, here we find out he wants a new tattoo. In breaking news, he also desires Cheerios for breakfast tomorrow (Yeah, I made that last bit up, but how do we keep coming up with new things to say about him?)
  • "Faggot" hurling Larry Johnson, who got released from the Kansas City Chiefs for being, well, a "Poopy head" (see, I'm mature) in general, has been signed by the Cincinnati Bengals. Ohio must be so proud.
  • We've had plenty of lesbians on daytime chat shows: Ellen, Rosie, etc. - but we've not had a gay man so far (OK, Jm J. Bullock had the Tammy Faye gig, but I mean solo). All of that looks to be changing in the fall, as Oprah is finalizing plans to give hot homo decorator Nate Berkus his own syndicated gig.

  • Above you can watch as Stephen Colbert backs up, in his own special way, the governor of Rhode Island in his veto of the burial arrangements bill.
  • The mothership, MTV, has acquired broadcast rights to This Is It, the blockbuster rehearsal film by Michael Jackson. If they've got enough money to pay off Michael's bills, how about a raise?
  • The Addams Family Musical is preparing to open in Chicago starring out Nathan Lane as Gomez, and the fabulous, and gay friendly Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia. The website is really fun and interactive, and has a cool pic that Vanity Fair just did of the cast. Oh, and I can find nothing about Zachary James, who plays Lurch, but W00f!
The first pic is kind "meh" - Show me the money shot!
  • Above you can see the teaser pic Playgirl has released of Levi Johnston, which may be as revealing as it gets. Doing Playboy is Neil Patrick Harris, but he keeps his clothes on.
  • Remember me asking you to shop at The Gap, because the fundies wanted to boycott them for not using "Christmas" in their holiday advertising? Well, they have a new ad out that does, along with "solstice" "Kwanzaa" and "Hanukkah" all on a level playing field.
  • Below you can see the latest from FunnyOrDie.com, where they seem to be trying to make a joke about short denim shorts, football, and gay men. I'm not entirely clear. I wasn't born when that joke was last relevant.

And today's Briefs are brought to you by...

 

 

  • Ed Kennedy's blog
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  • Aaron R's picture

    Really?

    I'm curious Michael...

    You won't let Ed use the word "douche"? 

    I would love to hear why. Do you view it as somehow demeaning to women? Demeaning to hygiene? It a tool used for introducing a stream of water into the body. People (especially men) think it's gross. It's like calling someone a dirty bar of soap.

    It's not like the word "bitch", which could certainly be viewed as being demeaning to women because of the etymology and common usage. "Douche" is used by both men and women toward both men and women equally.

    Or do you just want to keep the discourse out of the gutter? I would love to hear your perspective on the issue!

    Michael Jensen's picture

    I find it to be sexist. It's a term that the majority of the

    culture associates with something related to women and their bodies and that is somehow disgusting. So I've asked all of our writers not to use it. Frankly, while it doesn't carry the same weight, I find it akin to "That's so gay" (or "you do X like a girl") and I'd rather our female readers not have to come here and read an insult connected to them.
    Average (7 votes):
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    Miz Liz's picture

    Thank you!

    Thank you!

     

    Average (3 votes):
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    Dean's picture

    And that is why this site is awesome

    That's some good logic; I hadn't put much thought into that word before. I'll start refraining from using it.

     

    Ed Kennedy's picture

    Which is the inside joke

    I used the word casually when I first started writing, and Michael explained the issue to me, and changed how/why/if I used it across my life. Which is why I phrased the piece the way I did, and warned Michael the comments would light up when the article went live.

    Beats the devil out of preaching at people, or trying to redefine a word too soon, like, say, South Park. ;)

    deegeezee's picture

    okay,

    i totally agree with your sentiment.  You're absolutely right.  And while i have rarely -- if ever -- used the term in question, i must admit there is a specific quality that i associate with that word.  Basically, i need a noun/adjective with which to replace it in my internal monologue.  Neither "smarmy" nor "unctuous" nor "sleazy" carry the same dictional flavor or connotative shade.    

    Therefore, i must beg help from AE's collective blarney.  Can anyone offer a suitably descriptive synonym that lacks the misogynistic undertone?  Gays are trend-setters, after all.  Didn't Gandhi exhort us to "be the change you wish to see in the world?"  Well, i'd like my contribution to be popularizing a suitable alternative to "D." 

    jilly's picture

    Except that

    Douching is something that has fallen out of common practice so few if any people  under the age of 25 have the connotation of this being unfavorably connected with femaleness.  Additionally given the current understanding of the risks and dangers of douching, I think the use of douche in the perjorative is espeically apt, especially when I applied to people who are dangerous to women and women's causes.  Ergo Tucker Max is a douche and his brand of fratty misogynistic humour are douchy.

     I think it works, but I can understand your discomfort with the word.

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    Nate's picture

    That word

    I admit I have been suprised how often this word is used in television these days. But I view the word as a new way to say "Axxhole" or "Jerk." I don't think it is sexist. I have also heard characters on tv say "Don't be a dick" and have not been offended because I am male. I agree with the professor in the article who says "Vulgar slang has a way of waxing and waning, where we become desensitized to a word’s earlier meanings." I also agree when the professor says "I would bet most kids today couldn't tell you what a douche bag is." I am not so sure culture associates the word "douche" with something related to females and their bodies.

    That being said I fully support Michael's and Afterelton's policy not to use the word. Just because we can get away with saying it doesn't mean we should. But it is an interesting argument.

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    Kinderlissie's picture

    The word Bitch

    I actually find being called a bitch complementary (usually) because it means I’m doing something right. But that’s just highschool.

    Miz Liz's picture

    Nate Berkus

    That's exciting news about Nate Berkus having his own show.  Generally, I make it a rule not to record all the daytime shows I would watch if I weren't working (I'd be spending all my free time watching tv), I may have to make an exception for Nate's show.  Can't wait!

     

    The_Intangible_Fancy's picture

    Maybe I am just in a cranky

    Maybe I am just in a cranky mood, but that picture from Adam Lambert's video shoot really annoys me.  The one woman in the picture is in her underwear while all the men around her are practically covered in clothing (one guy is showing off his arms--how risque!).  It is especially ironic considering this quote from Lambert:

    Quote:
    Male sexuality is frightening to America [but] female sexuality is all over the place.

    Don't complain about a double standard between representations of male and female sexuality and then go on to perpetuate it yourself!  You are the one using female sexuality to sell your album, whether it be this picture or the magazine photo shoot with the naked woman.

    Like I said, I'm in a cranky mood...

    Ed Kennedy's picture

    Maybe that's my fault...

    That may be my fault for failing to give it proper context. That's not Lisa from the band (check the hair) The tweet that went with that pic was this:

    Another band shot. Lisa was getting styled and this beautiful extra got in the shot... Look at her abs! JEEZ

    Crawfish Po Boy's picture

    Dancers Outfits

    The woman in the photo is not part of  Adam's band. 

    She is a back up dancers and she wandered over of her on choice to be in the photo while in costume (they are all in costume)

    Here are some of the other dancers (male and female) who were also part of the shoot that day.

    The full band including the female member "Lisa" is pictured below.

    The female member of the band at the far left of this photo has on the same amount of clothing as the guys from the band.

    The woman in the photo Ed posted wandered over from the video shoot into the picture.   She  is one of the dancers. 

    Sometimes dancers don't wear very much clothing, even female dancers.

    The male dancers are all scantily clad as well.

    The_Intangible_Fancy's picture

    OK, I understand now.  I

    OK, I understand now.  I have just been seeing that one picture everywhere!
    Glósóli's picture

    Well

    We get to see A LOT of Adam in those super tight pants he’s wearing.

    YankeeMate's picture

    The Charles Perez Show

    Charles Perez briefly hosted his own daytime talk show in the mid 1990's although his sexuality was covered up.
    jef's picture

    Scott fondling Brett

    Omg! Look at this pic of Scott and Brett at GLAAD OUTaction. Scott is conspicuously grabbing Brett's chest. He's making a move on my man!!!

    http://wireimage.com/SearchResults.aspx?igi=403483&s=claywell&sfld=C&vwmd=e

    Joshua Norton's picture

    What did they do to make Levi

    look so foxy? In most other pix I've seen, he was getting downright pudgy, like the Pillsbury doughboy.Oh well, if nothing else pans out, there's always that exclusive gig with "Randy Blue" for some quick walking around money.

    Joshua Norton
    San Francisco

    bambino italiano's picture

    Is it just me that "Kyle" from OLTL look like a mature version

    of Kris Allen from American Idol?  No wonder he's so popular on this site. Oh and of course it helps that his character is in love with Oliver.
    Vague's picture

    Kris Allen

    Yes I know he's straight! But damn that boy looks good enough to eat. Ok now Im' going to give a listen to his songs and see if there's s'thing I like.
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    ceares's picture

    Go Gap

    the Christmas v Happy Holidays thing was the subject of an argument at my house just a couple of weeks ago, and I'd love a tee or sweat shirt that used the lyrics of that song.

     

     

    mercer74's picture

    Colbert for President!

    Is it just me, or is there anyone else who can simultaneously make you laugh so hard while scaring the *&$! out of you?!?! 

    And really..."douche"?  most people I know that use that word are women describing men (mostly straight men) who act like idiots...oh wait, is idiot a safe word?  Please tell me what to say!!!

    I also find it interesting that calling a-hole guys "tampon" or "maxi-pad" never caught on...huh

    YankeeMate's picture

    Gay talk show hosts

    Oh, also, Rupaul, Graham Norton and - if one wants to go there - Merv Griffin all hosted their own talk shows.
    jms's picture

    Get in Line to Hate the Bengals

    The Bengals don't care if all of gay america hates them for hiring the "faggot" hurling Larry Johnson. Unlike Kansas City folk, Cincinnatians are very good at shoving their thoughts about the Bengal's hiring practices under the rug. A Poopy Head is welcome change from having players being arrested right and left not to mention suspended for substance abuse. And, really, what's a little drunken driving with a .18 alcohol level between friends? LarryJ should feel right at home on this team. The Cincinnati Bengal's arrest record: http://larrybrownsports.com/football/ranking-the-cincinnati-bengals-arrests/612

     

     

    Brian Mills's picture

    No More Levi

    Please do not write anymore stories about Levi.  Please!  The only thing worse than Sarah Palin is Levi Johnson.

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