Cultural Institution Sir Ian McKellen

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.

• A Conversation with Sir Ian has been nominated for a 2008 Webby Award, under the "Cultural Institutions" category. I don't know that I'd put the man out to pasture just yet with that designation, but I suppose we've all probably been called worse things.

• I don't know if anyone has been catching EW's America's Next Top Doll webseries, but this week's makeover episode is just crazy enough reason to start tuning in. (I particularly like the mermaid's makeover, where they cut off her fins so she can be "where the people are".)

• Is He Who Blogs Behind the Rows really cleaning up his act? We'll believe it when the shocking footage of him rescuing a kitten out of a tree surfaces on TMZ.

• Why is Harvey Fierstein serenading Kathie Lee Gifford? Or is MadTV syndicating sketches to The Today Show now?

• Dan Savage, the outspoken gay writer behind Savage Love (I started reading him way back when it was called "Hey, Faggot") and the brilliant Skipping Towards Gomorrah, has lost his mother. His column today is a heartfelt remembrance of her, and our sympathies are with him and his family.

• Jerry Mitchell (whom we recently interviewed about Step It Up & Dance) is publishing a photo-filled book this summer about his other campfest, Broadway Bares, the strip-show that has raised a heck of a lot of money for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS. The racy cover can be found after the break.

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

We love Broadway Cares -- from Broadway Bares to the upcoming Broadway Barks 9 event, those kids are always brainstorming!

Nine years ago Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS came up with this fabulous idea of Broadway Barks, where celebrities and stars of Broadway all unite for a full-tilt dog and cat-a-thon adoption. Previous years have brought out Harvey Fierstein, Rue McClanahan, Mario Cantone and others. According to BroadwayCares.com, "In 2006, for the first time in New York City's history, the euthanasia rate for dogs and cats in the city's Animal Care & Control shelters fell below 50%. A total of 20,581 animals were placed into homes. 9,313 were adopted; 9,937 were transferred for eventual adoption to local shelters and rescue groups; and 1,331 were returned to their owners."

This year Broadway Barks 9 will he held at Shubert Alley on Saturday, July 14 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The event is hosted by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore and "on paw" will be Angela Lansbury, David Hyde Pierce, Harry Hamlin, Cheyenne Jackson, Michael Cerveris and many more.

AfterElton.com gives a big salute to the relentless work of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and all the Broadway community does in their various fundraising efforts.

Call 212-840-0770 extension 477 or visit BroadwayBarks.com for more information.

Last night Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS held the 17th annual Broadway Bares event in New York City, and it would be a gross understatement to call it an "eyeful". The mythology-themed show ("Myth Behavior" -- wouldn't "Ain't Myth Behavin'" have been fun?) boasted 200 dancers and performers who took the stage dressed (and undressed) as everything from Pan to Icarus to Grecian urns. Allow me to point out that these 200 outshined these 300 in everything from gay-friendliness to washboard abs.

Bebe, David, and Leslie Kritzer

The highlights of the show happened to feature two gay men in the Broadway community: recently-out actor David Hyde Pierce and Harvey Fierstein. Pierce (fresh off his Tony win) took the stage as Zeus, and proceeded to make a pass at hostess Frustratia. When she countered, "I heard you like boys", he replied, "it's all Greek to me". The audience of course loved it and roared their approval (at Pierce's outness, I assume -- not the joke). Moments later, Bebe Neuwirth joined him as Hera -- it was great to see the former Frasier vets together onstage. Was I the only one peeking into the wings to see if Kelsey Grammer was in a toga waiting for his cue?

Harvey and Leslie

Later, Fierstein took the stage in resplendent drag as Pandora, and during the reading of the sponsors at the close pointed out the irony that he was reading the name Hairspray: The Musical while wearing a dress (the role of Edna, which he originated in the stage musical, of course went to John Travolta for the film -- ugh).

The Big Finish

At the end of the show, founder Jerry Mitchell (whom we interviewed just last week for our article on the event's history) announced that they were very close to hitting a $700,000 payday for the fundraising effort (unless I heard something wrong -- it was pretty loud in there!). I wasn't able to stay for the second show, but here's to hoping that those dancers shook their moneymakers and the patrons opened their wallets and stuffed those g-strings to bursting with the cash to put them over the top.

Narcissus

Check out a bunch more sexy pics (courtesy of AfterElton.com guest fabulenser Mark Bradley Miller) after the jump!

• If you haven't seen our article on Broadway Bares, check it out -- as well as the clip below of out actor Christopher Sieber (who once played the Olsen twins' father!) and his partner Kevin Burrows getting down and dirty for a good cause.
• Dreamgirls' "Family" co-opted for shameless 1986 sitcom plug. Awesome. (t/y WOW Report)
• Donna Summer performing at Orlando Gay Days 2007
  
• In case you missed it, the gayest Tonys opening ever.