Whoopi will trade her Christian Siriano gown for a toga when she joins the cast of Xanadu

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.

• Goodbye, Yellow Brickle Road: How upset am I that when Ben & Jerry create an ice cream flavor based on my favorite Elton John song that I would actually totally like to taste (chocolate and peanut brittle?!), it's only available in Vermont? Damn hippies!!

• We dug the pilot for Alan Ball's upcoming HBO vampire drama True Blood, and we're digging the viral marketing campaigns even more. Check out this fake vampire-inclusive dating site, Lovebitten. I particularly love the spoof of the "Rejected by eHarmony" ads and the "have you come out of the coffin" question on the registration page. (t/y Kaiser for the tip!)

• ABC News has a story about how gay and transgender youth are coming out at an earlier age, despite the fact that their schools are doing little to support and protect them from bullying.

• Here's a sweet interview (check out the accompanying video above) of out actor Leslie Jordan from The Today Show, in which he discussed his new book about being gay in Hollywood and his new series, Sordid Lives (on Logo).

• Whoopi Goldberg is joining the cast of Xanadu for a few months, taking the role of one of the evil muse sisters (Jackie Hoffman is taking a few months off). She's been a vocal supporter of the Gayest Little Musical That Could for months, and it would be awesome to see her in the production. Miss Celie on skates!!

• And some Wicked good news for you theatre-lovers: The Wizard of Oz-based musical may be coming to the big screen, via Universal.

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

If the words "Shoot her Wardell! Shoot her in the head!" mean something to you, I've got some very good news. First, the brand new (double-wide) trailer for Sordid Lives: The Series is up and running, and from the looks of things, the inspired insanity of the movie has transferred intact to the TV show. And second, LOGO (who owns this site, by the by) has announced that the soap will premiere on July 23rd.

Most of the original cast has returned, including Olivia Newton-John, Leslie Jordan, and Bonnie Bedelia. There are a couple of notable changes, though. Delta Burke was unable to reprise her role, so the character of Noleta is now being played by Caroline Rhea. Jason Dottley is now playing the character of Ty, the struggling gay actor, and in a genius casting decision, the character of the family matriach, Peggy (who was a corpse in the movie), is somehow alive and being played by Rue McClanahan. Guest stars in the first season include Margaret Cho, Carson Kressley, and Candis Cayne, which means this has the potential to rock a 10.0 on the gaymeter.

If you want to know more, visit LOGOonline for further details about the show.

Give me liberty or give me Nuke (photo: George de Sota/JPI Studios)

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.

• Feast your eyes on that gorgeous, exclusive pic of Luke (Van Hansis) and Noah (Jake Silbermann) from As the World Turns, which is from the shoot that will appear on next week's show. (Luke did pop up on today's show to give Lady Drumstick a pep talk, but no Noah. If ever there were a person to cheer up with ice cream, it would have been her!)

• Reader nightfish91 tipped us off to this great video of highlights from the Broadway Backwards show (which we covered in a delightfully humpy photo essay earlier this week). Okay, I'm officially hot for Malcolm Gets. Curse you, rhythm!

• Today would have been James Dean's birthday, and he would have turned 76.

• These folks posted what they say is a pic of High School Musical's Lucas Grabeel on the set of Milk, where he plays an employee at Harvey Milk's camera shop. Yes, he's wearing a dress. And yes, this is looking even gayer than his character from HSM.

• Greg Hernandez ran into gay actor Leslie Jordan who assured him that his Sordid Lives co-star Delta Burke is doing very well with her depression treatment.

• Don't forget to catch up on all the queer stuff that matters in Michael's oven-fresh Best.Week.Ever. column, and have a great weekend!

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

Here's some great news: At long last, the in-development series based on Del Shores' fan-fave play and movie Sordid Lives is making its way to Logo in the summer fall of 2008. 

Official word is out that the series (currently filming in Louisiana) is screenbound and will star Bonnie Bedelia, Rue McClanahan, Olivia Newton-John, Caroline Rhea, and Beth Grant (OMG don't tell me that's the Sparkle Motion lady from Donnie Darko...). Out, Emmy-winning actor Leslie Jordan (pictured above) will reprise his film role as the institutionalized, Tammy-Wynette-channeling "Brother Boy", and Margaret Cho, Carson Kressley, Candis Cayne and Georgette Jones are also set to cameo amidst the 12-episode run.

The press release sums up the series thusly:

Sordid Lives’ twelve half-hour episodes are a humorous look at a dysfunctional family and the denizens of Winters, Texas, as well as an institutionalized brother (Jordan) who channels Tammy Wynette (Jones).  The series also chronicles the handsome young son of one of sisters (Bedelia) who is struggling with coming out to his Texas Republican Baptist family while pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles. 

Finally, some good news on the television front ... and even more, easily the most bizarre cast I've ever seen assembled for a television project (most of whom appeared in the 2000 film). This could either be brilliance or an absolute mess, but either way, we'll be watching ... and not just because Logo will make us. (Logo is the parent company of AfterElton.com.)

With the news that Gossip Girl's gay dad will be appearing on the show soon, I've been thinking of other gay dads from TV and films. While there have been quite a few, here are nine that stick in memory:

Carson Ward
From: The OC

Talking about Gossip Girl's gay dad character can't help but bring to mind the gay father from another Josh Schwartz series, The O.C. Twelve episodes into the first season Carson Ward (Brian McNamara) is spotted by his son, Newport Beach bad boy Luke, kissing his business partner. The scandal that arises when he comes out hurts Luke's popularity in Newport Beach circles, setting up for him to move to Portland with his dad at the end of the first season.

Justin
From: Absolutely Fabulous

Justin was the second husband of Absolutely Fabulous's Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) and the father of Saffron, the responsible, long-suffering daughter who had to deal with Edie's foolhardiness. Whenever they'd come around, Edie would trade some pointed barbs with Oliver, Justin's partner who refused to take Edie's self-centered nature gently.

Anthony Belrose
From: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

In the landmark 1994 film, we met Anthony and two other drag performers he traveled across Australia to perform at a casino in Alice Springs. As they reach their destination, we were surprised to learn that Anthony was married and had a young son

I thought Thursday was supposed to be the day when the networks put the DVR into overdrive, not Wednesday? I think I'll still be watching shows I record today when the weekend comes around.

As the World Turns (CBS) 1:00 PM EDT
According to today's show description, "Luke can't suppress his feelings for Noah" and yesterday's preview promised the scene where their hands accidentally touch (like I said, adorably retro.) And it only took them two and a half weeks to get to this point. And remember to vote for the storyline, if you haven't already! Or even if you have.

Screened Out: Gay Images in Film (Turner Classic Movies) starting at 5:00 PM EDT
Comedies are featured tonight, including Doris Roberts in 1931's Manhattan Parade, Katherine Hepburn in 1935's Sylvia Scarlett, Cary Grant and Doris Day in 1962's Touch of Mink, Mel Brooks' 1963 classic The Producers as well as Lauren Bacall's 1957 film, Designing Women.

Screened Out: Gay Images in Film (Turner Classic Movies) starting at 5:00 PM EDT
Tonight's films cover the theme of "The Dark Side: Film Noir and Crime" including Suddenly, Last Summer (the Gore Vidal adaptation of a Tennessee Williams play), Marlon Brando in Reflections in a Golden Eye, Rita Hayworth in Gilda and ending with The Maltese Falcon.

Be sure to check out Queersighted.com, the official online partner, for more information on the month long event.

Hidden Palms (The CW) 8:00 PM EDT
I know there's a lot to dislike about this show but it works for me as light summer entertainment. What can I say, I also watched Windfall last year. So far, Leslie Jordan has been fairly prominent as Johnny's sponsor, Jessie Jo, which helps make Hidden Palms more watchable.

Top Chef (Bravo) 10:00 PM EDT
As someone who loves to cook, I've had a love/hate relationship with this show, but I'm getting excited about tonight's third season premiere. Ted Allen is joining the show as a judge. (Be sure to check out our interview with Allen.) He's judged the occasional Iron Chef America episode and really knows how to talk about a dish in a way that a television audience can almost taste it. Also, last week's reunion challenge had plenty of good cooking action.

If you're looking for someone to cheer for out of the gate, Ted named Dale (pictured to the right) as "someone that our community will come to know and love very well".