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.

• Our Hamlet 2 obsession grows: there is indeed a gay character in the central cast (Rand Posin) and he's played by Skylar Astin, best known as Georg in Broadway's smash hit Spring Awakening. He's the one in pink (natch!) in front of Sexy Jesus in the above pic.

• Professional disaster Pete Burns couldn't make his same-sex marriage work ... and neither should you.

• You know, I really don't need a reason to stop watching Ugly Betty ... but thanks, Lindsay.

• Tiim Gunn hobnobbing with the newly-sworn-in governor of New York? That can't be a bad thing.

• What with Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Michael Urie and a host of other gays and gay-faves (Spice Girls! Sylar!), the Upright Cabaret series looks like about the most fabulous thing ever.

• Cheyenne Jackson has joined the Encores! cast of Damn Yankees, joining Will & Grace's Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, and Ana Gasteyer.

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

This week the Emmy committee announced that a new award would be given out at the next ceremony: Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program.

Now, while the idea of debating if Jeff Probst or Tom Bergeron adds more to their show sounds like a worthwhile discussion, I initially filed that bit of news aside since I couldn't quickly think of many openly gay men hosting reality shows.

But what about the gay men who do regularly appear on reality shows ... namely, the mentors and sidekicks? Are Heidi Klum's contributions to Project Runway greater than Tim Gunn's? Similarly, we're seeing more of Step It Up & Dance's mentor Jerry Mitchell than host Elizabeth Berkeley in the show's early episodes. Aren't they a major part of why we enjoy a show?

I guess you could make an argument that these mentors could be seen as co-hosts since they perform many host-like duties (like when they take charge of a challenge), but would the Emmy committee see things that way? If not, the awards would risk missing out on a major part of what makes these shows so praiseworthy.

Then again we're talking about the Emmys. Don't they usually miss out on the most praiseworthy parts of television?

Chris Marchmallow? One of the Peeps Show II finalists

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.

• Recently out Aussie entertainer Tim Campbell has been picked as the new host of their Wheel of Fortune. An out gay man hosting a major long-running game show ... one created by Merv Griffin, no less? Crazytalk.

• Victor Garber (Alias) and Douglas Smith (Big Love) will play assassinated SF mayor George Moscone and activist Paul Hogarth, respectively, in Gus Van Sant's Milk. This site offers up some pics of each, revealing some pretty savvy casting.

• Joe.My.God. braved NYC's Union Square to celebrate National Pillow Fight Day. (Disclaimer: No pillows were bitten in the making of this video)

• The Times magazine ran a fascinating (and lengthy!) piece on openly gay Mixed Martial Arts fighter Shad Smith, who lives with his boyfriend, parents and brother, had 46 counts of juvenile assault on his record, and is exceedingly good at Scrabble. (via Towleroad)

• The scamps as Good As You had some fun with Focus on the Family's new customizable website.

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

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.

• The Queerty fellas read Star (so we don't have to!) and noticed that the rag did a piece on T.R. Knight's new fella, Mark Cornelsen. A mainstream tab covering a gay love interest just like they would a straight one? Awesome! (Except for you, Mark. Kiss your private life goodbye.)

• A recent episode of MTV's True Life focused on gay-for-pay porn star Aaron James, and Kenneth has all his vital stats. (He also has some commenters that suggest that James might be lighter on the "-for-pay" part than he suggests.)

• Us Weekly makes a point of acknowledging their GLAAD Media Award nomination.

• Gawker asks, "Hipster or Homo?" Really, if they all dress like that, we're good.

• Don't forget that we're liveblogging the Project Runway finale tonite at 10PM EST. And to prepare, check out this hilarious megamix of Christian's greatest moments (Courtesy of our fierce PR recapper, Christie Keith!)

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

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.

• Defamer thinks they espied some homoerotic subtext in Daniel Day Lewis' There Will Be Blood. I haven't seen the flick myself (it would take more than a little homoertocism to get me in the theater for this one), but most Defamer readers think someone's glasses are tinted a little too pink.

• The SXSW Film Festival announced their line-up and a quick persual shows a few items of gay interest including Sex Positive about the life of Richard Berkowitz, a hustler turned AIDS activist back in the 80s who helped invent safe sex, but has since been forgotten. Also showing is Neil Patrick Harris' Harold & Kumar: Guantanomo Bay. Okay, he's not exactly headlining it, but still!

• Out journalist Keith Boykin launches The Daily Voice, a news blog for "Black America".

• Tim Gunn dropped by The Daily Show. Need we say more? Check it out:

• The AAA organization in Florida won't extend discounts to gay couples. They say it's because Florida state law defines marriage as between a man and a man which is also known as the Disney Defense. With any luck, they'll follow Disney's footsteps and change their discriminatory policy.

• Out director Stephen Kijak is up for a BAFTA Award Sunday for his documentary Scott Walker: 30 Century Man.

• Can't get enough John Barrowman? Buy a poster of him here!