Dee, Charlie and Nicole smile pretty for the Shear Genius finale

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.

• First and foremost, don't forget to tune in tonight for our liveblog of the Shear Genius finale, starting at 10PM EDT. Livebloginatrix snicks will be talking you through every rinse, snip, and snipe, so be sure to tune in!

• Holy awesomeness: Jay Bakker, Judy Shepard, Atticus Circle and Soulforce are among those behind Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights, a weeklong demonstration in which "straight allies across the nation demand equality for LGBT Americans."

• George Michael's final tour is winding down, with a two-part finale in London and a Final Show this weekend in Copenhagen. (Memo to George: Take it from us Yanks. You can totally do another tour in a few years and no one will mind. See also: Cher, Barbra, etc.)

Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin on their big day

• Our hearts, thoughts, prayers, and whatever else good we still have left in us go out to the family and friends of Del Martin. The gay rights pioneer was 87 years old and had been married twice by the mayor of San Francisco to her long-time lover Phyllis Lyon when she passed away this morning ... with her legal wife at her side. 

• For lovers of musical theater and haters of meth: Pushing Daisies fave Kristen Chenoweth sings a crystal meth intervention to a gay party boy in this hilarious, NSFW, and utterly bizarre short video.

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

A big happy birthday to Tim Gunn!

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.

• Wham! reunion rumors: Might George Michael and the other one Andrew Ridgley Make it Big one last time?

• In a recent interview promoting Pineapple Express, James Franco was asked if he prepared for his stoner role by watching Fast Times at Ridgemont High. His response? "I made out with Spicoli." Because ... well, because he did! Check it out for the reporter's rather hilarious response.

• Here's a cute new Q&A with local favorite Cheyenne Jackson. He notes, "My pants have split many a time on stage for obvious reasons," confirming that he would be a shoo-in for my Hulk! The Musical dream project.

• Above, last night's coverage of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" debate on The Daily Show, in case you missed it. Which you absolutely should not do, under any circumstances.

• Rumors are flying about Marc Jacobs getting married to his crazy-hot boyfriend in Paris. Where gay marriage isn't even legal. Makes sense to me!

• A Ponce De Leon high school principal who was sued by a female student for not allowing her to wear clothing with pro-gay messages has been demoted to teaching American government. There's a joke in there somewhere but I can't seem to find it.

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

Out actor Bryan Batt (Mad Men's Salvatore) at the Season 2 premiere

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.

• Hey Randy Harrison fans! The out Queer as Folk alum is back at the Berkshire Theater Festival this summer, this time doing Beckett's Waiting for Godot. There's a fresh interview with him over here.

• George Michael performed on Good Morning America today and spoke about his history of drug busts and that fateful bathroom visit in Beverly Hills. Says George, "I meant to do that..."

• The good news: Jurassic gossip Liz Smith is reporting on George Takei's upcoming wedding just like she would on any other celebrity's. The bad news: She's doing it on FOX News, and makes a rather odd comment about William Shatner being "too butch" to attend.

• Above, ridiculously cool guest judge Natalie Portman comes out from behind the Project Runway Shadowpuppet Screen of Infamy, causing one designer to "freak out" and another to almost "pee her pants." Smell Watch what happens!

• The Newsweek cover story on the murder of 15-year-old Lawrence King is infuriating and fascinating in the same breath. Is it a coincidence that the victim and his murderer both had parents with histories of drug abuse and arrests, and that both kids themselves were troubled, disruptive, and prone to criminal behavior themselves? And yet the lesbian assistant principal who supported King's self-expression is taking the heat from many of those involved. Insane.

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

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Frederick M. Brown)

Today it was the Greg Berlanti Network, er, ABC's turn to trot out their shows for us journalists who, truth be told, are starting to flag a wee bit. Okay, a lot. We're just over half-way through the Summer 2008 TCA and being adrift in this over air-conditioned hotel is a bit like being trapped in your own world. Frankly, I keep expecting to see survivors from Oceanic Flight 815 wander past looking for a way home. (Of course, things would be vastly improved were Matthew Fox to end up trapped here!)

Even though ABC is not doing a panel for Brothers & Sisters this year (we did a set visit last year), after the Eli Stone panel, I, of course, seized the opportunity to grab Eli executive producer Greg Berlanti (pictured above) for some dish on Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke Macfarlane) for you B&S fans.

Greg was pretty tight-lipped, but was willing to tell me a few things. In regards to the issue of Kevin and Scotty having had a committment ceremony only to have California turn around and legalize gay marriage, Berlanti said, "It's interesting. This is the first time I've talked about it, but a lotof people have asked because of the law that changed after the fact, are we're going to deal with the change in the [California marriage law] and we do address that."

In regards as to what is in store for Kevin, Berlanti offered, "Kevin changes careers. Which no one knows. That will be a big thing that I'll hint at in the next twenty-fourhours. He changes career paths. Something big happened to him at work."

As for Kevin and Scotty's relationship still being featured prominently, "Oh, yeah. Always. That's a big part of the show. Their romance is really firm so it's more about them their buildingtheir lives. For a lot of characters in the show last year, who experienced romantic stuff last year, this year is about building their loves outside of that."

As for Uncle Saul it looks like he'll be taking the backseat for at least a while. When asked about a potential romance, Berlanti said, "Not in the first six or seven episodes, but we would love to touch on that by the end of the year."

Tomorrow night is the ABC party and hopefully at least a few of the cast will present and I'll see what else I can get!

One more Berlanti note, he said that so far there isn't anything gay in the first four so so episodes of Eli Stone, but during the panel he said discussions are underway about having George Michael reprise his role, possibly for a Christmas special. 

As if ABC weren't already the gayes network around, they had to go and steal Scrubs away from NBC. Okay, there aren't regular gay characters on Scrubs but the show not only features the bromance between J.D. and Turk (based on creator Bill Lawrence's own relationship with Randall Winston), but has featured gay storylines and gay humor that isn't homophobic.

More on Scrubs news and Ashton Kutcher after the break!

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.

• Happy birthday to George Michael, who turns the 45 today while on his first US tour in over a decade. Nice way to ring in the late 40's, eh?

• Salon has a cute essay by Sarah Bird titled, "Why can't my son just be gay?" that addresses the heartbreak some mothers experience when they realize that their sons are indeed heterosexual.

• Al Sharpton made a not-so-vague reference to Anderson Cooper's personal life when he defended the anchor's right to sin. Coop's response? "I appreciate your concerns about my afterlife." Translation? "Thanks, but no thanks."

• Save a horse, ride a dozen cowboys: The DC Cowboys bring their "Brokeback meets Broadway" to America's Got Talent, and the judges unanimously vote them through.

• As loath as I am to link to this ... He Who Blogs Behind the Rows somehow got his mitts on the first TV spot from the Neil Patrick Harris Old Spice campaign that we posted yesterday.

• And finally, a fashion show I'd sit through: Rodrigo Rothen strips and showers on the catwalk at a Sao Paolo fashion show after Naomi Campbell no-shows.

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

George Michael

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.

• Above, George Michael kicks off his "25 Live" North American tour in California, bouyed by recent high-profile appearances on Eli Stone and American Idol. It's great to have the out international star back onstage (and not in the tabs!) where he belongs.

• Lou Ferrigno reveals that "Bruce Banner" was changed to "David" for the Hulk TV series because execs thought it sounded "too gayish", adding, "I thought it was the most absurd, ridiculous thing I've ever heard." The part about playing a big green guy with a yak's hair wig, on the other hand? Totally reasonable.

• TIME's ten questions with David Sedaris.

• Be sure to mark your calendars for May 15, 2009: Sacha Baron Cohen's gay Austrian fashionista character, Bruno, will invade American theaters with an oversized man-purse filled with gay panic jokes. 

• According to the London Times Online, Little Britian's Matt Lucas to "divorce" his "husband," whom he "married" 18 months ago. Does anyone find that a bit "condescending?"

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

Out actors Mario Cantone and Cheyenne Jackson at the recent amfAR gala (Photo: Getty)

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.

• Funny, when I think of John Barrowman making the "Music of the Night", it doesn't involve any masks, capes, or roses ... Barrowman rumored as lead in Phantom of the Opera stage sequel.

• I don't know about you, but I'd kill to see a Wham! movie. Heck, I saw Music and Lyrics because I thought it was the closest thing we'd ever get!

• Bad news for Dirt fans: It ain't coming back. Worse news for Dirt fans: You are Dirt fans. (Zing!)

• Does Top Chef daddy judge Tom Colicchio have a gay following? Um, does a bear flambe in the woods?. While we're on the topic, check out the adorable pic above of co-judge Ted Allen and his man, Barry Rice. Anyone else wondering if they play "Judges' Table" at home?

• Indiana Jones and the Insult of Doom: A video of hot young thing Shia LaBeouf — sorry, make that "drunk young thing" — goading a friend to slap him by calling him "faggot" has surfaced. Blech. Is it too late to kick him off the Hot 100?

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

A Jihad for Love, an award-winning film about the lives of gay Muslims, opens in NYC this week

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.

• American Idol roundup: Here's out pop star George Michael's performance of "Praying for Time". Defamer asks what exactly it was that Robert Downey, Jr. did to Jack Black aboard that Midnight Train to Georgia ...

• And this video of Freak Show author James St. James riling up the fans waiting outside last night's American Idol finale is the last thing we'll say about the show today. Because really, someone telling a teenaged girl that she's a "child molester" for having a crush on David Archuleta is pretty much the last word on the matter.

• The UK Fire Minister is launching a program to recruit more gays and lesbians for the fire bridage. One, this is fabulous and not anything I can even imagine happening here in the States. And two, I have your solution: hire Michael Biserta.

• "I've come to wish you an unhappy birthday ..." (Morrissey turns 49 today)

• The NewNowNext boys sat down with Jason Preston (Marc Jacobs's on-again, off-again boyfriend) to set the record straight. (They're off-again.)

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

To herald the arrival of NewNowNext Design, mama Logo's new style and fashion site, we thought we would look back at some of the most dubious fashion trends perpetrated by TV, movies, and music. Now, keep in mind that I'm one of those gays who has absolutely no fashion sense myself, so instead of calling these "bad" fashion trends, let's just call them ... "memorable".

Aerobics chic
As perpetrated by: Flashdance

The 1983 hit Flashdance gave us plenty to squeal about: the classic soundtrack, with Giorgio Moroder at his most 80's, the introduction of future L Word icon Jennifer Beals, and a fashion statement that would soon have millions of women showing up at the aerobics studio in leg warmers and ripped sweatshirts. Even Snoopy was a maniac on the floor, starring in the Peanuts special It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown.

$400 shoes
As perpetrated by: Sex and the City

They're just shoes. They perform the same function as my Payless Clearance Special, but for some reason they cost $400. I'm talking, of course, about Manolo Blahniks, the Holy Grail of Carrie Bradshaw and thousands of other sexy single girls. Who needs things like heat, and food, and shelter when you can spend a week's paycheck on an ugly, uncomfortable piece of plastic?

Men in pastels
As perpetrated by: Miami Vice

Pastels. I still see them in my nightmares. Miami Vice taught us that men can look like "Party Mints" and still be macho and tough! And that rolled up jacket sleeves never lead to permanent wrinkles, and no one ever has sweat stains in South Florida.

See more memorable fashion trends after the break!