How did Brandon Routh (above right) go from wearing tights for Bryan Singer to having a gay pornstar boyfriend in Zack & Miri Make a Porno?

“I felt it should be a salt-of-the-Earth, middle-American kind of guy. Someone like Superman,” said Porno director Kevin Smith to the Los Angeles Times. “And Seth [Rogen]’s like, ‘Brandon Routh. Let’s call him.’ [Elizabeth] Banks was in the room while I was having this conversation with Seth, and she’s like, ‘Superman? His agent is my agent.’”

Smith envisioned the character as a twofold sort of “straight man” — Routh’s character Bobby Long is not only closeted and repressed but he’s also the foil to the hilarious Justin Long (above left), playing Bobby’s boyfriend, porn star Brandon St. Randy.

Out writer/producer Greg Berlanti looking adorable at a recent Eli Stone event

Following this 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.

• Australian gay mag DNA wrongly outed a straight X Factor contestant, leading Austin Drage to have to come out as heterosexual to his gay fans. At least he was appreciative, and I hope he returned the toaster oven.

• TIME has a rather sobering article on the fight for gay marriage in California ... and beyond!

• Kevin Smith says that when he asked Brandon Routh if his Superman contract wouldn't allow him to play Justin Long's lover in Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Routh apparently replied, "What is this, 1940?" Okay, now I almost wish I didn't hate Superman Returns.

• Since it's the season ... the always-campy Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) will close the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival with drag personality Peaches Christ. For more info, check out the fest's site.

• And if you're in NYC tonite, be sure to stop by SPLASH for Patti Labelle's record release party, where the sould legend and her Labelle ladies (above) will be signing CDs for her gay fans. You go, Miss Patti!

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

• 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?

Echoing his recent comments in print, filmmaker Kevin Smith appeared on David Letterman earlier this week to promote his new book My Boring Ass Life and wound up discussing his appearance on the cover of gay magazine A Bear's Life. Smith explains to David what a "bear" is and how he came to be on the cover of a publication catering to them (um ... they asked him), and concludes by celebrating the fact that anyone would sexualize him in any way.

Smith's casual "hey, I don't care who thinks I'm hot!" attitude is both unsurprising for the famously easygoing filmmaker and a refreshing change from straight male celebs who for some reason feel that being found attractive by another man is the worst thing in the world that could happen.

As a side note, between this, Stephen Colbert's bear fixation (which has extended to the gay variety a number of times for jokes) and BearForce One, are bears having the Best Year Ever?

• Kevin Smith to handle the first episode of Heroes: Origins. Smith says that when he was offered the job, he said, "I would love to write and direct an episode about the two gay heroes…you know, the Japanese dudes. They’re gay, right?!" He also added, "If you can do an autopsy on a cheerleader, you can show a couple of heroes making out."
• Speaking of ... for The Advocate's 40th Anniversary they're doing a reader-driven poll to honor 40 Gay Heroes. Kind of like our Hot 100, but with integrity. (And ... well ... not as hot.)
• How I &$^$*# Your Mother: racier versions of the hit show to appear on the Net, and Wayne Brady will be back this season as Barney's gay brother.
• Ugly Betty season two news from the fabulous Maureen Ryan. I won't spoil any of it, but my favorite bit of news involves Justin and bendy-straws. I can't wait!
• Michel Serrault (perhaps best known here for his role in La Cage Aux Folles) has passed away, as have master filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and irreverent talk show host Tom Snyder.