The Commercial Closet Association has released the Fourth Annual Images In Advertising Awards Nominees. The picture above is called "Tan Lines", and is one of the nominees in the category of "Outstanding Travel Campaign", and there are many other categories, including "Outstanding TV Campaign" and "Outstanding Interactive Ad".

The nominees this year in the biggest category, "Outstanding Commercial - Mainstream Market", include the Chemistry.com ad "Rejected", and commercials for Orbitz, Levis, Dolce & Gabbana, and Wrigley. Let's take a look at some of the print nominees.

BMW, Outstanding Print/Outdoor Ad - Mainstream Market

Paris Tourism, Outstanding International Print/Outdoor - GLBT Market

See more nominated ads after the break, and let us know what you think of the bunch in the comments!

While Heinz was receiving kudos in the gay media for a rather clever ad ending in a same-sex kiss, the usual suspects were getting their knickers in a twist over the ad.

Bill O'Reilly brought it up on his show, where Bill-O yelled "It was obviously a gay thing! I don't know what the message is, other than gay people like mayonnaise..." and prompting guest Bernard Goldberg to call Bill-O "nuts". When both guests failed to see what was worth getting so excited about, the hothead pundit protested, "I didn't say it was terrible... This whole 'gender-blending' thing, it's confusing to me. I just want mayonnaise, I don't want guys kissing." (You can watch the full clip here. I think I'll bookmark that link for the next time Bill-O wonders why San Francisco threw a pink brick at him.)

However, the ad also raised protests in the UK where it aired. Nearly 200 complaints were made to the Advertising Standards Authority and it's likely to be one of the most-complained about ads of the year. As you'd expect, some the complaints are of the 'I had to explain that gay people exist to my children!' variety. (Interestingly, the ads aren't allowed to air during children's programs; not because of the same-sex kiss but because of the nutritional content of the mayo.)

Heinz has pulled the ads, citing the action as part of a policy "to listen to consumers." However, there is now a backlash to the backlash as one gay rights group, Stonewall, is now calling for a boycott of Heinz products in response to the ads being pulled, saying that Heinz had fallen for an "orchestrated campaign of complaints." I tend to think Stonewall is on the right track. I've experienced this kind of hubub from a marketer's perspective and had to take those irate phone calls; sometimes pulling a controversial ad is just a matter of trying to get the phone to stop ringing. Sadly, sometimes the only way to keep the squeaky wheel from getting all the grease is to squeak even louder.

Do you think the boycott threat is one that's warranted? Would you join such a boycott in the UK or even participate from outside the UK? Discuss it in the comments!

Which is far better than putting the "old" in Old Spice, right?

Yes, out actor Neil Patrick Harris has been selected as the new pitchman for tried-and-true Old Spice deodorant. In recent years the musky underarm product (from Procter & Gamble) has been trying to reinvent itself as being more hip and current and less "boat on a bottle" by enlisting comic actors like Will Ferrell and Bruce Campbell as pitchmen, and NPH is the latest.

In the print ad (there are rumors that a TV spot is in the works, too), Harris references his best-known role, Doogie Howser, as he demostrates that his experience playing a doctor on television makes him specially qualified to recommend deodorant.

Given the overall campaign of finding funny men who send up their own image to sell the product, it's not surprising to see the company reach out to Harris. But if you step back and look at the big picture, it's really pretty awesome: this is an openly gay man being hired to sell a product traditionally marketed to families, wives, and kids looking for the perfect Father's Day gift.

I would say that this would be enough to get me to switch to Old Spice, but I actually already use it. My secret's out! (The ad is currently running in Entertainment Weekly's 1000th issue.)

A new ad that began running on British television last night for Heinz mayo features a surprising man-on-man kiss. The new slogan for the deli mayo involves "adding a little New York City" to your sandwich, and the ad replaces a suburban mother with a gruff deli man who makes the kids' lunches and sends them off to school ... and then gets an affectionate smooch from the man of the house.

I was expecting that the men were a gay couple with kids and was a bit thrown off when the kids referred to the sandwich-smith as "mum", but the joke is clear by the end.

You can watch the full commercial over here. Kinda cute, eh?

Brazil is launching a new AIDS awareness campaign targeting young gay men. According to official data, in the past 12 years there has been a significant increase in the percentage of gay males between the ages of 13 and 24 affected with AIDS. The government is hoping to get the message of safe sex out there with a series of provocative ads, including the one above, which is a take-off on the poster for American Beauty.

This isn't the first time that the Brazilian government has raised eyebrows with safe sex campaigns. In 1995, they caused outrage with a commercial of a man having a condom conversation with a certain part of his anatomy. And in 2002, the same thing happened when they aired a commercial of parents having a heart to heart with their gay son. You can see that commercial after the break.

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...

Online dating site Chemistry.com is about to expand its successful "come as you are" ad campaign, which hit print outlets with an attention-grabbing "No Gays on Beach" ad in January.

Last year, the matchmaker directly targeted E-Harmony.com with a series of ads pointing out how much more inclusive they were than their more established rival. We also interviewed the general manager of Chemistry.com, who was quick to point out how overwhelmingly positive the "Rejected by E-Harmony" response has been.

According to Brandweek, the gay-friendly site is ready to go even further with its promise to be a "progressive, non-judgmental brand":

On April 14, the brand is launching a $40-plus million campaign centering around four new TV spots. The ads feature different couples, including one homosexual couple reciting mock wedding vows. The campaign will run primarily on cable stations such as Bravo, Food Network and TNT.

The gay ad (which you can see after the break) features a couple in a deli reciting vows, but not just any vows. Instead of the boring "Love, Honor, Cherish" promises, these are REAL issues, like "I promise not to play the martyr" and "I promise not to tell any of our friends that you occasionally wear bronzer". Now that's a vow!

Check out the ad after the jump... (Note: there is a longer version that's a bit funnier, but it had audio issues and was removed by the user. We'll switch out if it reappears.)

The other night TBS ran one of those "funniest commercials" specials (hosted by Kathy Griffin, no less) and one of the ads caught our eye, as it starred a pre-fame T.R. Knight as a man whose dismay that his girlfriend and her dog are taking over his apartment can be soothed only by the sweet, sweet nectar of Diet Dr. Pepper.

Of course, being the amateur semioticians that we are, we dug for any subtext that we could find in the ad that would hint that the actor would eventually come out as the biggest gay-type-person on television*.

Complete lack of physical contact with his "girlfriend"? 200-yard permastare and overwhelming disinterest in their living arrangement, leading to apparent substance abuse? Frosted tips? Nope, nothing to see here.

Check out the ad after the jump...

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...

David Blue aka Cliff from Ugly Betty

The WGA strike has another casualty, people: faced with no screen time and dwindling episodes in which to celebrate his budding love with Marc St. James, Cliff from Ugly Betty (David Blue) has turned to working at a fast-food restaurant. See what happens when mom and dad fight? Adorably shlubby gay boyfriends get stuck selling value meals!

All kidding aside, it's great to see Blue (whom we interviewed a few months back and who is an absolutel darling) doing anything, anywhere, on our TV screens, be it a commercial for Subway, a QVC hand-modeling gig, or whatever. And hey, remember Amanda's Olive Garden commercial from a while back? Next thing you know Vanessa Williams will be doing ads for Sunny D!

Check out David's Subway ad after the jump!