Just a quick aside...

When I came across these pics on a blog the other day, I had one thought*:

"Wonder Twin powers, ACTIVATE!"

Seriously, do these two have the same stylist? Birth parents? Someone get them fitted for their Justice League costumes. "Form of ... the prettiest pony to ever take the tween set by storm!" "Shape of ... American Idol's most fabulous castoff! Made of ice!" 

* Okay, I also noticed the improper use of "whose".

There are some folks that no matter how much Dramamine they take find the thought of a Rosie O'Donnell video blog post nauseating; well stock up kiddies because to top it all off, her latest vlog is set on the high seas and has some camera work that puts Cloverfield and Blair Witch to shame.

Thankfully a newly out and proud young man is onboard to settle our stomachs! It looks like American Idol castoff Danny Noriega was thrown a life vest and that Rosie delivered on her video blog promise of taking the Tainted Loverboy along.

For some reason I can't stop wondering if young Danny will be forced to sketch Rosie with nothing but The Heart of the Ocean necklace on while pounding his chest and belting out "My Heart Will Go On" over and over again.

Good for Danny Noriega! I'm glad he took Rosie up on her offer and that he's getting the chance to broaden his horizons and be exposed to a loving, supporting (if not captive) audience. Plus, he's sailing with AfterElton Vlogger and Comedian Ant and Ross "The Intern" Mathews!

Top Chef judge Ted Allen (photo by Jason Smith)

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 radio personality named Dan Watson has launched the first gay commerclal radio show in Melbourne, called "The Stick Shift". I'm guessing the automotive metaphors stop there.

• As though Tom Cruise didn't hate us enough already: The American Psychoanalytic Association officially supports same-sex marriage.

• Gay Top Chef judge (and AfterElton.com fave) Ted Allen on Hillary Clinton's rumored love of hot peppers: "We don't need Hillary having to run to the can every 20 minutes ... I'd go easy on the Scotch bonnets if I were her."

• Voice gossip Michael Musto chatted up John Waters at the preview of the new Cry-Baby musical, and Waters revealed that his last Daily Show appearance prompted a call from ice-show producers who took his "Hairspray on Ice" joke seriously.

• A reader directed us to this interesting clip that shows what happened when a radio host asked American Idol's Danny Noriega if he is gay: Apparently, the AI people cut off the call. (Warning, the host uses some very NSFW language to make his point) (t/y Outrageous Orator!)

• "I'm lovin' it in a way that dare not speak its name": An officer from McDonald's Corporation joins the Board of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

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

Yesterday, we gave you a heads-up that Ellen DeGeneres would have on American Idol cast-off Danny Noriega, as well as gay-friendly comedian Wanda Sykes, but we didn't realize what a gay hour of television the show would be.

It started early in the show, when Ellen brought up Oklahoma state Representative Sally Kern's anti-gay tirade where Kerns declared that "I honestly think (homosexuality is) the biggest threat, even more than terrorism." As Ellen played the audio of Kerns speaking, the cameras cut to images of the studio audience looking stunned and uncomfortable to hear such words. Definitely adding to the discomfort was a clear understanding that when Kern talked about the threat of homosexuality, she's talking about people like Ellen.

This is one of those moments that has me really appreciating the power Ellen has with her show. Bigotry is much easier to voice when you're railing against some anonymous mass, but Kern's words become ridiculous when you try to associate them with real people, like Ellen. By being open about who she is, she has the power to make clear how hurtful and hateful words like Kern's really are.

"I feel like there's some misinformation going on here," Ellen responded, "and I think I need to call her." As she listened to the phone ring, Ellen added, "I'm trying to figure out which societies have disappeared that we don't know about." Unfortunately, all Ellen got was a full voice mailbox, so Ellen tried to leave a message via the airwaves. "Give me call, I'm here usually and also later on I'll be at the Dinah Shore Golf Tournament, of course, that's if it doesn't conflict with the women's basketball games I go to."

Following that, Ellen brought on Wanda Sykes who immediately dropped a joke at Kerns' expense: "I would like for her to move up in government because if she thinks homosexuality is a bigger threat then terrorism maybe she'll get our troops out of Iraq and maybe invade West Hollywood ... anything to get our troops home." Wanda continued by calling Kerns outdated, saying, "She's like bell bottoms." Ouch, talk about things that don't look good even as retro kitch.

It's interesting to note that Sykes' sexuality has been discussed widely in the press as well, including in the "Glass Closet" article that Michael Musto wrote last year that essentially outed stars like David Hyde Pierce, Jodie Foster, and Anderson Cooper. And while she didn't address her own sexuality here, her mention that she spent her birthday skiing with her "girlfriend" does lead one to wonder if she means more than just "friend who is a girl".

Following that, Skyes gave her take on the Democratic Presidential campaign, where she hilariously mocked how the media has tried to simplify the race a simply matter of race vs. gender. There's really nothing I can say to add to her words, the outspoken comedian says it all so well.

American Idol's Danny Noriega may have spent the better part of the weekend crying in a hotel room after his undeserving elimination but he could spend the better part of next week on the high seas if Rosie O'Donnell has anything to do with it!

In her latest video blog, the Queen of Mean has professed her love for the boy whose name she can't pronounce ("Norega" is close but come on ... she also thinks Little David Archuleta's last name is "Archella") and wants him to join her, Queer as Folk's Sharon Gless and True Colors' Cyndi Lauper on her next R Family Cruise.

If he makes it onto that cruise, I wouldn't be surprised if he's a special guest on the True Colors tour this summer (if he's not an alternate on the mega Idol tour) which is TMTH!

It was eighties week on American Idol so Idol Chat hosts Jim Verraros and Penny Frulla pulled out their polo shirts, shoulder pads and rhinestones to critique the top sixteen performances. They also discuss...

• Why exotic dancing in a gay strip club doesn't necessarily mean you're gay.
• Whether Danny Noriega deserved to be voted off this week.
• Why David Archuleta may be sitting in the Princess Diana seat with no lap belt.
• How Jim nearly beat pancreatic cancer... in this week's top Yahoo searches.

Check out their video blog after the break!

Last night's American Idol proved that a little gay bar lapdancing isn't fatal to one's prospects on the FOX talent show, and David Hernandez sailed into the top twelve. Is it just me, or does that just make him more interesting?

Unfortunately, it was the end of the road for Danny Noriega who had a received a lot of press for his "out there" attitude and sassy talking back to Simon Cowell. Love him or hate him, there's no denying the boy stood out in a crowd, and I for one am sad he didn't make the cut into the top 12.

You can check out Danny delivering a fierce rendition of "Chain of Fools" in the clip below. He should've sung that for sixties week.

For more in depth coverage of American Idol check back Monday for our new weekly video blog, Idol Chat with Jim & Penny. No doubt Jim Verraros and pal Penny Frulla will have some thoughts on Noriega's fate and Hernandez's prospects.

Over the years we've discussed at length the curious relationship that Planet-Eating Karaoke Voltron American Idol has with its gay contestants and gay fans. For one, there has yet to be an out gay contestant on a show that is essentially a televised cabaret act. For another, the gay-baiting between Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest is utterly nauseating. Is Idol stuffing its contestants in the closet, or are the gay contestants intimidated by the unwelcoming environment?

This year two contestants in particular have raised this discussion to a new level of coverage in mainstream media. First, David Hernandez was revealed to have a past working as a stripper at a gay club. Now, I personally have issues with mainstream press calling this a "gay scandal". Was he caught having sex with a man? No. Was he photographed at an ACT UP! rally? No. Let's face it, people get into the entertainment industry to make money, and a lot of straight guys have no problem taking it off for gay men (thankfully).

His proximity to gay men and willingness to accept their cash does not make him gay, and it does not qualify as a legit "gay scandal". What, is anyone who works for a gay man at risk of being splashed all over the tabloids? I think we need a more specific term for people who are revealed to have pasts that included working with or for gay men without implicating their sexualities in the process.

How about "gay-adjacent"? I'm more comfortable saying that Hernandez was revealed to have a "gay-adjacent" past than that he was caught in a "gay scandal".

And then there's Danny Noriega. Do we know if Noriega is gay? No, we don't (unless you want to take his in-character rapping at face value). But his flamboyance and lack of concern for putting across a traditionally masculine image are certainly admirable on a show that regularly denounces male contestants for being "girly", and many gays have embraced him as a Sister Suffrigette for gay visibility. So maybe he's "gay-adjacent" too ... and no, I'm not saying that because he's standing next to Seacrest.

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But is he being laughed at, and not with (like Sanjaya Malakar, who became a gay punchline - despite not being gay, or openly so - and a laughingstock for breaking the mold)? And will the voters (whoever the heck they are) opt to keep these gay-adjacent fellas in the ring? Last night Cowell made a crack about Hernandez "stripping it down" and Noriega gave seacrest a "mm-hmm" that would put Christian from Project Runway to shame.

Only time will tell ... in the meantime, our resident Idol expert Jim Verraros (an out former finalist, so, uh, he'd know!) will keep everyone up-to-date on our Idol Chat weekly vlog.