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...

Billy Elliot: The Musical is one of the most eagerly anticipated Broadway shows of the year, and it's easy to see why. In case you don't remember Billy's story, here's a quote from the musical's site:

BILLY ELLIOT is a funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of one young boy's dream in a gripping tale of triumph over adversity. Based on the enormously popular film, this powerful new musical is the story of a boy who discovers he has a special talent for dance, while the boys all around him are more interested in boxing. An unprecedented smash in the West End, where it has won 9 Best Musical awards, broken UK box office records and continues to sell out nightly, BILLY ELLIOT has been created by the film's director (Stephen Daldry), writer (Lee Hall) and choreographer (Peter Darling), who are joined by music legend Elton John one of the most celebrated pop songwriters of the last 30 years. On October 1, 2008, BILLY ELLIOT lands on Broadway.

Elton has had a mostly successful track record when it comes to Broadway, with one notable exception. His biggest success remains his first, the stage adaption of The Lion King, which debuted in 1997. It won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and is still running over 11 years later. The following year he scored another hit with Aida, which ran for four years and won four Tonys, including Best Original Music Score for Elton and lyricist Tim Rice.

And then there's Lestat. The musical, based on Anne Rice's horny vampire, opened to much fanfare on April 25, 2006 ... and closed on May 28, 2006, after just 39 performances. The reviews were dreadful, with the New York Times calling it a musical sleeping pill. Ouch.

Hopefully, Elton has put the memory of that mini-Carrie behind him, and he can charm us once again with Billy Elliot, which has already been a huge hit all around the world. After the break, you can see a clip from this week's CBS News on Logo where Sir Elton talks about the project and its special resonance for gay audiences.

Straight-but-not-narrow actor Damian T. Raven, star of the just-renewed DL Chronicles

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.

• T.R. Knight has pooch in his trunk! Or bark in his boot! Something!

• The here! series The DL Chronicles, which tells the stories of "downlow" men, will return for a second season. The series was recently nominated for a GLAAD media award and is one of the few projects out there actively discussing gay men of color.

• How appropriate that today's Nuke kiss on As the World Turns (the first in what, seven months?) came on the five-year anniversary of the first same-sex kiss in daytime history, between two women on All My Children. Kismet?

• Director Stephen Daldry and gay pop legend Elton John held a press conference in NY to announce the cast of their new Billy Elliot Broadway musical, based on Daldry's film.

• Madonnarama! John and Colin from NewNowNext posted a special vlog with their take on Madonna's upcoming Hard Candy album and some cute behind-the-scenes outtakes with Madge and boytoy Justin Timberlake.

• James Franco discusses his role as Sean Penn's lover in Milk, and has some very nice things to say about Penn (the best on-screen lover he's ever had), director Gus Van Sant ("soft-spoken"), and the project overall ("comfortable and easy").

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

Elton, Hillary, and that other guy

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.

• I'm with Simon Doonan - those NYC street fairs really need to dial down the aromas a titch or three. There's nothing like going out to Blood Bath & Beyond for vacuum filters and coming home smelling like you just spent the night in a smokehouse.

• Last night our reluctant namesake, Sir Elton John, did what he does best: play music. Meanwhile, the subject of his tribute concert, Hillary Clinton, did what she does best: made bad puns with song titles. (Oh, I keed, I keed ... she's alright.)

• Soccer fans listen up: the folks behind the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) have announced that on May 17th anti-hate events will take place in over 50 countries.

• This gay-inclusive ad for a first aid ointment from Brazil, made my day. And I don't even speak Portuguese. (from MadeInBrazil via Queerty)

• I came across this op-ed by a gay writer for the otherwise straight Falls Church News that did a great job of summing up just why it is the Jay Leno "gayest look" gag rubbed a lot of us the wrong way: On its own, "Gay" just isn't funny anymore.

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

This week on Flaming Politics, Japhy covers headlines about Cuba's proposed gay-inclusive policies, the largest gift ever given to a gay organization, Idaho's gay marriage ban, and of course the continuing question of why HIllary Clinton has so many gay fans, including a certain pop legend whose name has been co-opted for this very site.

Click below for it all!

George Michael fans will be happy to know that his career is experiencing a new life. He recently announced the dates of his upcoming American tour.

June 17 - San Diego/San Diego Sports Arena
June 19 - San Jose, CA/HP Pavilion
June 21 - Las Vegas/MGM Grand
June 22 - Phoenix/US Airways Center
June 25 - Los Angeles/Great Western Forum
July 2 - Seattle/Key Arena
July 4 - Vancouver/General Motors Place
July 7 - St. Paul/Xcel Energy Center
July 9 - Chicago/United Center
July 13 - Dallas/American Airlines Center
July 14 - Houston/Toyota Center
July 17 - Toronto/Air Canada Centre
July 18 - Montreal/Bell Centre
July 21 & 23 - New York/Madison Square Garden
July 26 - Philadelphia/Wachovia Center
July 27 - Boston/TD Banknorth Garden
July 29 - Washington, D.C./Verizon Center
July 31 - Atlanta/Philips Arena
Aug. 2 - Tampa/St. Pete Times Forum
Aug. 3 - Sunrise (Ft. Lauderdale), FL/Bank Atlantic Center

George Michael, the talented and amazing artist, was never in doubt. He created a string of hits first as lead singer of Wham! and later in his solo career. This is a guy who took Elton John’s Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me and made it his own. That’s no small feat.

The real issue was whether his talent would be overshadowed by scandal and drug abuse. Some part of that scandal grew out his sexual orientation, including the infamous park bathroom incident. But, in recent years, most of it grew out of drug abuse.

His resurgence has Michael showing up in unexpected places like ABC’s drama Eli Stone. It was nice to see him there. It’s even nicer to see him get back to his roots as a performer. After the break, another bonus clip of the artist in concert.

The Teenagers

Every Friday our friend Colin over at NewNowNext tips us off to what's hot in popular music. Here's what's cookin' this week...

Video of the Week: The Teenagers - "Love No”

For its new Reality Check video, the adorable French trio is done with Scarlett Johansson and on to … ice cream? But what’s not to love about the ‘stache, the cute spoken-word verses and the suggestive dessert-eating? Check it all out after the break.

Taylor Swift "Picture to Burn" video

Carrie-Underwood-in-training a.k.a. Taylor Swift has a new, girl-power video for "Picture to Burn"

Our namesake shills for Hills

Elton John will perform in support of Hillary Clinton in April at Radio City Music Hall.

omg MICHELLE!

NewNowNext Lesbianpalooza!

First, NewNowNext talks with DJ effort MEN - made up of Le Tigre members Johanna Fateman and JD Samson - about thinking like a manly man and the quirks of NYC. Then, NewNowNext interviews lesbian crunk band omg MICHELLE! http://www.newnownext.com/2008/03/post-11.html

Leona Lewis does Oprah

Leona Lewis, winner of The X-Factor, went on Oprah to sing her amazing track “Bleeding Love” – and she still has ridiculous vocal talent and glowing praise from Simon Cowell.

For the second year, the British edition of GQ magazine has listed Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish on their list of the most powerful men in Britain. The high profile couple are ranked at number 30 on the list and are the only case where two men share an entry. (Last year the couple shared the number 40 spot.)

This year's issue boasts a couple more gay men new to the list. Sir Ian McKellen comes in at number 98, while Spencer Livermore, Pink News' most powerful gay man in British politics, debuts at number 84.

GQ highlights John's annual fundraiser for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (which raised £3.5 million last year) as a contributing factor in his selection, while calling Spencer the Labor Party's "precociously young attack dog". The selection by GQ is less about popularity and prominence than it is a recognition of their accomplishments.

Men like McKellen, John and Furnish are rarities on the list, which largely avoids popular celebrities. Editor Darius Sanai notes that:

"We are becoming more savvy about the cult of empty celebrity. I think five years ago aspiring young gentlemen would have been much more influenced by the sort of celebrities on television. They are now seen as kind of irrelevant and kind of trashy."

Sounds reasonable enough. It takes a special kind of celebrity to demonstrate true power.