In Memoriam: Suzanne Pleshette, 1937-2008

In a continued effort to bring you all that is important in the world of gay entertainment and ensure that you are being spoon-fed images of gorgeous, commoditized manflesh, we present the newly-minted AfterElton Briefs. Following the usual assortment of carefully-selected news items, interested readers can find a refreshing pic of a hot man in underwear after the jump. Yes, we're serious.

• Cheyenne Jackson, Raul Esparza, Dennis O'Hare, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Mo Rocca and more will be among the sleep-deprived stars performing the 24-Hour Musicals tonight at Joe's Pub. For charity!

• You have to get up pretty early in the morning to beat the Maxim guys at recycling gay jokes from 2004 regarding the sexuality of celebs like Matthew Broderick, Oscar de la Hoya and Hugh Jackman. Damn they're good!

• Here's an interview with Gus van Sant in which he discusses his newest film, Paranoid Park (no mention of Milk, though).

• I Now Pronounce You Razzie-Worthy: Chuck, Larry and company earn Golden Raspberry noms (the low watermark of Hollywood badness) in all major categories except for Worst Actress ... because Kevin James doesn't count.

• Terrence McNally's Corpus Christi, which depicts Jesus as a gay man who gets "Biblical" with Judas and performs a gay marriage, is still causing controversy after nearly a decade (this time in Australia).

In a continued effort to bring you all that is important in the world of gay entertainment and ensure that you are being spoon-fed images of gorgeous, commoditized manflesh, we are upgrading our To Make a Long Story Short ... news roundups to the newly-minted AfterElton Briefs. Following the usual assortment of carefully-selected news items, interested readers can find a refreshing pic of a hot man in underwear after the jump. Yes, we're serious.

• Today in feverdream holiday entertainment: Kathy Griffin and Anderson "Andy" Cooper had a grand time ribbing one another (and themselves, in Coop's case) on CNN on New Year's Eve. Never one to be outdone, Andy actually gay-baits himself before Kathy can get around to it.

• These folks think Torchwood's same-sex dalliances are less than gay-friendly. 

• Out actors Raul Esparza, Dennis O'Hare and Cheyenne Jackson (pictured at top) are among the stars participating in the 24-Hour Musicals project, a benefit in NYC that challenges Broadway's best actors, writers, choreographers and directors to create entire shows in just one day. Rita Wilson, Kerry Butler, Tracie Thoms and more will also join the charitable fun.

• After the break, check out a Motorola ad (I think it might be Australian) that mines gay panic to sell cell-phone enabled sunglasses. The most curious thing about the ad is that it makes the guy using the product out to be a jackass, and the confused gay guy to be rather sympathetic. It's a marketing slam-dunk!

• Sean Hayes is among the comedy actors to participate in Funny or Die's New Year's Resolutions video (as well as someone named Fabrice Fabrice, Will Ferrell, and Fergie). His resolution? "Stop having unprotected sex." Watch the video for the full joke...

• A new book claims that former Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon was gay ... but his wife begs to differ.
  

• Groundbreaking made-for-TV movie That Certain Summer aired 35 years ago today. Star Martin Sheen spoke recently about playing a gay role in 1972.

• Out Tony nominee and recent Pushing Daisies guest-star Raul Esparza (pictured above) may be taking the flashy lead in the new Leap of Faith Broadway musical (based on the 1992 Steve Martin movie).

• Given the potential gay content of Kevin Smith's planned Christian fundamentalist experimental horror movie Red State, it's a shame that the Weinsteins passed on it. Although I have to admit, rereading that description I can't say I can really blame them...

• Wait, have I not mentioned Cheyenne Jackson all week?! Here's an adorable slideshow of the out actor and his Xanadu on Broadway castmates recording the album for the show. Push-ups before singing? Hubba hubba! (Above pic by Leonard Lewis)

• A book about scandals involving the University of Kentucky football team in the sixties is raising disputes for its game-fixing allegations, but not the claims that players had gay sex with Rock Hudson at parties for money. Because, really, what's more All-American than that?