A Brothers and Sisters Gay Union Preview

That's one fine looking couple.

[[WARNING: SPOILERS]]

USA Today visited the set of the big Brothers and Sisters commitment ceremony and collected quotes from some of the regulars.

Matthew Rhys, on the wedding cake topper: "Is it a man and a woman? Oh, it's two men. Fantastic. There were jokes made that they wouldn't be able to find two men, so they'd have to doctor the woman by adding a moustache. It's all very progressive, evolved and about time."

Rhys on the ceremony and wardrobe: "Luke and I were rehearsing who was to stand where, which would put one of us in the woman's position, and a few comments were made. And neither of us was going to wear a white suit while the other wore black."

Calista Flockhart: "It's a milestone, and I was really quite pleased that I got to be a part of it."

Rob Lowe: "It's pretty romantic in there."

Chad Lowe, who was visiting the set: "I'm here to witness history."

Balthazar Getty on Dave Annable's character being best man: "Dave's been locked in his dressing room, crying."

Annable: "Balthazar couldn't handle not being best man."

And here are some additional SPOILERS: "the liberal-leaning show does attempt to recognize those who oppose gay marriage by introducing Scotty's disapproving parents, who skip the ceremony. That volatile relationship is expected to be explored in Season 3. Another possibility: children.

Luke Macfarlane: "Kitty makes a speech about Scotty and Kevin building a family, which hopefully is foreshadowing."

Executive producer Monica Breen: "They will be a family. Kevin deserves a stable relationship in the same way that Kitty, Sarah and all the others deserve it. He will be facing many questions in his life — but now he has someone to share that with."

And if you missed it, last week's proposal, AFTER THE JUMP...

Top this: A gay ceremony on ABC's 'Brothers & Sisters' [usa today]

Sphere: Related Content

Grey's Anatomy Features Gay Soldier Story, Kiss

Last night's Grey's Anatomy featured the gay soldier romance I posted about in mid-April. I've clipped the opening scene of the story for those who are interested after the jump. It doesn't give away how the episode ends (and I won't either) but this clip should get your heart racing a bit.

The soldiers were played by Benny Ciaramello (Friday Night Lights' Santiago) and MTV Road Rules grad David Giuntoli. Well done, boys.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Previously
Grey's Anatomy to Feature Hot Gay Soldier Kiss [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Gossip Girl Guy: I'm Gay

So last night's Gossip Girl episode featured the big coming out for one of the boys, who was caught making out with newbie Asher Hornsby (above). As a courtesy to those of you who haven't engaged your DVRs yet, the key reveals are AFTER THE JUMP...

Eric's coming out, and his mother's acceptance.

Flashback
Penn Badgley and His Great Gay Hope for Gossip Girl [tr]
Gossip Girl About to Get a Gay? [tr]
Gossip Girl Guys Engage in Well-Dressed Three-way for Out [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Big Gay Moment on Brothers and Sisters

One of two big gay moments from last night's Brothers and Sisters (SPOILER warning), AFTER THE JUMP...

Screw Pete Burns.

Sphere: Related Content

Depilation and Time Travel: The Great Mysteries of Lost

Apologies to those of you who don't watch Lost...

As I watched last night's episode, I wondered the same thing that Defamer does — where oh where has Jack's body hair gone? Like the black smoke, the giant foot, or, hell, just about everything in the show, count it as just another of Lost's great mysteries to be answered in future episodes.

One more note [and possible SPOILER], AFTER THE JUMP...

Jack's hair has apparently vanished even before he gets off the island. Here, Juliet shaves an abdomen with no hair on it.

Sphere: Related Content

Mario Lopez is a Lean, Mean, Promotin' Machine

Mario Lopez, star of Broadway and TowleroadTV, and his abs made an appearance on Extra last night. One more shot, AFTER THE JUMP...

Sphere: Related Content

Little Britain in America: A 'Laaady' Arrested in New York!

I mentioned that HBO was adapting Little Britain for American audiences back in 2006 but I hadn't heard much until now.

The Daily Mail posts some photos of Lady Emily Howard being arrested on the streets of the Big Apple and reports on the show's progress:

"David's cross-dressing character - famous for her 'I'm a laydee' catchphrase - is manhandled by his sidekick Matt Lucas, and a hunky US cop for shoplifting in new pictures from the US version of the show. The award-winning comedy duo are introducing a number of new characters in addition to keeping the old favourites. Walliams also unleashed a new middle-aged Barbara Woodhouse-style dog trainer character. Last week the pair revealed Lucas' American schoolgirl Ellie Grace and Walliams as her mother. While other new characters have yet to be revealed, die-hard fans of the past three series will not be disappointed by the latest. They can expect to see the return of Dafydd "only gay in the village" Thomas, camp Prime Minister's aide Sebastian Love and Asbo teen Vicky Pollard. Walliams and Lucas started filming in North Carolina last month and are apparently looking for an American film star to play the role of a comedy US president. Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney is rumoured to be their first choice."

AFTER THE JUMP, an Emily Howard clip featuring Robbie Williams for those of you unfamiliar with the show...

Sphere: Related Content

Flashback: Jesse Metcalfe's Passionate Run on the Beach

I came across these old screenshots of Jesse Metcalfe from the late 90's when he used to appear on Passions. Since I'm not a Passions watcher, I have no idea what role the plucked wonder is playing here.

Though you Passions fans can probably fill us in pretty quickly, I have to say it looks pretty lustful to me. More screenshots, AFTER THE JUMP...

Sphere: Related Content

Land of the Lost: Return of the Sleestaks

I was a total sucker for Land of the Lost and its really bad effects when I was a kid (although at the time I thought they were totally amazing), so I'm interested to see what they'll do with the remake. Universal has just released the first image of the Sleestaks from the upcoming film (above).

USA Today writes: "Director Brad Silberling (Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events) says he fought to keep the human shape of the Sleestak from Sid & Marty Krofft's original production (right), and not give into the urge to render them as spindly computerized beings. In the '70s TV show, they were guys in lime-green pajamas — and looked it. The Sleestak are much sleeker now, but the film is largely a comedy, so the guy-in-a-suit look has its charms, Silberling says. 'There is a sense of humor that I loved from the original show that can only come from an actor trying to negotiate the suit. If it became CG, they'd be too perfect. For the Sleestak to remain in people's memories, it tells you that it was about who was in the suit.' One difference: Instead of toting crossbows, the Sleestak draw quills from their spines and fire them like arrows. Marty Krofft says nostalgia is a major part of the movie's appeal: 'I think they'll cheer when they see the Sleestaks.'

AFTER THE JUMP, the TV show's opening credits...

Sphere: Related Content

Carrier: An Interview with Quartermaster Brian Downey

On Friday, I posted an interview with Jeff Dupre, a producer on the PBS special documentary mini-series Carrier. Carrier is a character-driven total immersion in the high-stakes world of a nuclear air craft carrier. A team of 17 filmmakers spent 6 months on the USS Nimitz on a full deployment to the Persian Gulf. The 10-hour documentary began airing last night and continues on through Thursday on PBS from 9-11pm ET (check local listings).

One of the hours tonight is called "Super Secrets" and details some of the more hush-hush goings-on aboard the Nimitz, including several interviews with gay and lesbian servicemembers. While those who are currently serving are pixellated in their interviews, one soldier you'll be able to see quite clearly is Brian Downey, who served as a quartermaster third class petty officer in the navigation department of the Nimitz.

Downey served four years in the Navy and is currently living in San Diego, working at a bar, and enrolling in school to be a medical assistant. Downey grew up on a Navajo reservation in the four corners area where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado come together.

I had the opportunity to ask Downey a few questions about his service and life aboard the Nimitz.

Did you anticipate any particular challenges coming aboard the Nimitz as a gay man?

I never saw anything as a real challenge. We all have our little jokes about our backgrounds just like anybody does. Nothing was ever really an issue. It was never really a struggle or anything. You kind of have to get along. You're gonna work with each other, you're gonna see each other.

Why did you decide to enlist in the Navy?

I wanted to enlist for one, to serve my country. I knew I would have to put a lot of things aside. I understood that I had to make a sacrifice and I feel like more of an enriched person because of it. I wanted to get out there, I wanted to learn what people were like. Everybody wants to see the world, you know, but I feel like being in this country and to have the freedoms that we have...I wanted to feel like I worked at least for what I have, or at least understood the reasons why I have it. Why do we do what we do? What's the price for freedom? It wasnt anything else. In all honesty I think it would be a great thing for a lot of people to do. I'm not an advocate of [telling people] 'hey you should be in the military,' or for the draft, or anything like that. [But the military] helps you understand more who we are as a people. That's the reason I did it.

What were your duties aboard the ship and did you know what you wanted to do before you enlisted?

The first day when I sat down and took a test, all these jobs came up. One thing that really caught my attention was 'aviation anti-submarine warfare systems operator (AW)'.'What they do are search and rescue missions. There's also an acoustic version of the job using radar. I just knew I wanted to get into search and rescue. It was very dynamic job. I ended up being part of one of the smallest departments on the ship but we had the huge responsibility of [ensuring the] overall safe navigation of the ship, making sure it goes where it needs to go and gets there safely. We're the primary assistants in the pilot house. That was my overall responsibility. I was also the logistics supplier for my department. For a brief time I was involved with charts but that's a huge responsibility that takes up all of your time.

Would you do it again?

I was in all four years. Did my duty. In all honesty it wouldn't bother me to go back if I ever got called back to serve as part of a war. But right now I'm enjoying my civilian life.

One of your other jobs, as we see in Carrier, was the raising and lowering of the flag?

Every day it comes down at sunset and goes up at sunrise. While we're in ports you put it up and there's a ceremony for it. And you treat it with respect while you're doing it. In ports, you're seen more often. It doesn't matter where you are, you treat it with respect. It was one part of my duties.

How was it serving under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'?

Interview continued, AFTER THE JUMP...

How was it serving under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'?

It wasn't really much of an issue for anybody. I can't speak for everybody, but for me it wasn't an issue. At the time I didn't have a problem with it. Before, when I said I had to make sacrifices, [I meant that] quite honestly there were far more things bigger than myself. I'm [not] there to make a statement, I'm there to do my job.

Did anybody who found out about your sexuality give you a hard time?

Nobody really. It's not like I said 'hey this, hey that, blah blah blah.' It's not like I advertised it. I wasn't a big queen running down the passageways and stuff. There were people that knew. And if they knew, they knew. If they didnt they didnt, big deal.

Did you feel like there was homophobia aboard the ship and how did you deal with it?

You always feel like you want to change somebody's mind. You can't do that for somebody but you can definitely help turn their mind in a different direction. You always want to help somebody try to understand better. In a lot of people's minds I'm gonna walk around with a limp wrist, and have a switch in my walk, and I'm gonna lisp up and down all day, you know?

I had a friend on the ship - he was an awesome guy, masculine as they come - we used to be workout buddies. He'd always spot me, I'd always spot him. I never thought of anything really and when he found out he was like 'dude we work out together' and [I said to him] 'I'm not gonna invade your privacy and your space and on top of that you're not my type anyway, so why would I?' And he's like, 'Why not? I don't think I'm a bad looking guy.' I said, 'No you're not. You're a good looking guy but I'm just not gonna go there.' And it really made him understand a little more that people out there who are gay [can be] very mellow and kick back, and just normal.

People would joke with me because they noticed I took care of myself in a way that most of the guys didn't. I made sure I was clean shaven. I made sure my hair was regulation but still stylish (laughs) but not too much. I got along with a lot of guys there. One guy would call me 'Princess' every now and then because I spent more time getting ready. I was always ironing my uniform. You could always wear your coveralls as long as they were clean and pressed. I was always in my utilities, I always kind of presented myself very well, and he was like, 'Why do you always wear that?' And I said, 'Because I take pride in what I'm doing.' Once he found out (I was gay) he was just kind of like 'Oh my god, I'm so sorry, I hope you werent offended.' He was always ragging on me for being who I was.

There were people that I'm sure felt uneasy but it's not like I bothered them or wanted to be close buddies or anything. There were a lot of guys I knew who had mixed feelings about it. When I first came in somebody wanted to fight me because they thought I was a certain some way or another and then one night he came back on the ship drunk off his ass one night and I kind of put him in his place about it.

How do you feel about the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy in general?

Iin this day and age and the way things are changing, if they drop it I don't see that it would be a big deal for anybody. People know each other on the ship. And that's just in the little community itself. If they were to drop the policy I'm sure it wouldn't cause much of a security risk for anybody. It's always been around — there have always been people in the military that have served that are gay. And people that have been in great positions — people that are in very high positions — and if it were dropped I'm sure it wouldn't be a big deal. We're not here to freak you out, we're here to try to do something with you - we need to do our job and do it well. We just happen to be a little different — just like blacks were different, just like women were different. Well before those times there were gays in the military. I think it would be a very big social uplifting, an awakening for people.

The 10-hour documentary series continues tonight through Thursday on PBS from 9-11pm ET (check local listings).

PreviouslyCarrier: Jeff Dupre Talks About Life Aboard the USS Nimitz [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Gay Couple's Kiss Sparks 911 Call in Alabama

If you missed 20/20's "What Would You Do?" segment on "Gay PDA", I've clipped it, AFTER THE JUMP....

Sphere: Related Content

Birmingham Woman Calls 911 Over Two Guys Kissing in Public

Tonight on ABC's 20/20, they're doing another segment of "What Would You Do?"

I love this series. It's an ongoing ethical candid camera segment that reveals how people react in different social situations. Tonights show (at 10pm EST) is about how folks on "Main Street USA" react to the sight of gay PDA. They did the experiment in two locations — Verona, NJ, and Birmingham, AL.

One woman in Birmingham, Alabama apparently called 911 when she saw the two guys kissing:

Operator: "Birmingham Police operator 9283"

Caller: "We have a couple of men sitting out on the bench that have been kissing and drooling all over each other for the past hour or so. It's not against the law, right?"

Operator: "Not to the best of my knowledge it's not."

Caller: "So there's no complaint I could make or have?"

Operator: "I imagine you could complain if you like ma'am. We can always send an officer down there."

According to ABC, "They did. One of Birmingham's finest came to Five-Points and spoke with Kaolin and James. Though city officials and the police department signed off on ABC's social experiment, this officer was somehow not in the loop. The officer told our couple that the police dispatch received a call because the two of them were making out."

AFTER THE JUMP, a segment they did on domestic violence between interracial couples.

Sphere: Related Content

Carrier: Jeff Dupre Talks About Life Aboard the USS Nimitz

Carrier is a character-driven total immersion in the high-stakes world of a nuclear air craft carrier. A team of 17 filmmakers spent 6 months on the USS Nimitz on a full deployment to the Persian Gulf.

The 10-hour documentary series airs this Sunday-Thursday on PBS from 9-11pm ET (check local listings). I highly recommend you set your DVRs because if you have any curiosity about what goes on in the military, the trip you're taken on aboard one of these floating cities is fascinating. The various episodes explore different people and aspects of life on the ship, touching on everything from shore leaves, to relationships aboard the ship, to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.

<My friend and former college-mate Jeff Dupre is one of the producers of the series. He lived and breathed life on the Nimitz for six months, collecting hundreds of hours of footage of military life. I asked him a few questions about his experience.

What was it like to be on an aircraft carrier for 6 months?

It was amazing and also harrowing at times. A real endurance test.

Were there many gays and lesbians on the Nimitz?

On the way to the Gulf, we stopped in Hong Kong. I went to a gay bar there and it was like, 'Hello, shipmates!' The place was packed with sailors. So yeah, from what I observed, there were quite a few. It's kind of an open secret. It's totally apparent, but everyone pretends not to notice. Many of the gay and lesbian sailors and marines I met were out to their friends and co-workers on the ship and it seemed to not be a big deal. But they always have that threat hanging over their heads.

Was it a homophobic environment?

From my vantage point, yes, it was at times. But you know the men and women in I met on the Nimitz did not create the policy, just like they did not make the decision to invade Iraq. The President and Congress make these decisions and the men and women in the military must adhere to them. There were moments when I'd overhear people saying things that made my hair stand on end. Suddenly it was like I was back in high school but I just learned to roll with it. The film was not about me - it was about them. Of course, I was there for just six months. For gay and lesbian sailors, if someone you work with says derogatory things about gays, you don't have any recourse. If you call them on it, you could lose your job.

But having made friends with so many sailors and marines, I have to say that it's a mistake to paint everyone in the military as homophobic. They're not, but DADT sometimes makes it seem like they are. Another reason to get rid of the policy.

What amazed me the most about the Navy was the camaraderie. The sailors and marines form these really tight-knit family units on the ship, and they take care of each other. For some of them, it's the only family they've ever known. So for me, the most tragic thing about DADT is that the gay and lesbian sailors on the ship are forced to lie about who they are and as a consequence they're not able to really bond with and be supported by their Navy family in the same way that their straight shipmates can. You know, they probably were not out to their families at home, then they join the Navy to serve their country and are once again denied those family ties that we all need to get by. We honor the men and women who serve because of the sacrifices they make. To me, there's a whole other level of sacrifice that gays and lesbians make when they sign up to serve their country. It's discrimination plain and simple and I hope its days are numbered.

***

On Monday I'll have another short interview with someone you'll see onscreen in Carrier.

The opening of the first episode, AFTER THE JUMP...

.

Here's a half-hour PBS special about the series:

The 10-hour documentary series airs this Sunday-Thursday on PBS from 9-11pm ET (check local listings).

Carriera [official site]

Sphere: Related Content

Ellen Degeneres Chops Neil Patrick Harris' Head Off

Neil Patrick Harris visited Ellen Degeneres yesterday, and after a bit of chatter about the Harold & Kumar sequel and American Idol, she took him to the guillotine and chopped his head off.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

The beheading is in part two.

Sphere: Related Content

Luke and Noah Kiss: Long National Nightmare is Over

As the World Turns' Luke and Noah fans were pleasantly surprised yesterday when their seven-month wait for a kiss between the characters came to an end.

Earlier this month, CBS execs denied their strategy for the characters was homophobic. Said daytime chief Barbara Bloom, "The only thing you're going to get out of me is that the pacing is slower with Luke and Noah than it is with other romances on ATWT. But that's good storytelling. We're in the business of getting people to watch more."

Which makes the lack of promotion for the kiss all the more surprsing. Normally, a scene like this would have been teased relentlessly but producers apparently decided on an ambush this time. Surprise!

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Sphere: Related Content

Who's Gay on Gossip Girl?

Uh oh, somebody spilled the beans... (SPOILER warning)

Sphere: Related Content

Bush: I'm Thrilled to Be Anywhere with High Ratings These Days

A sign of the times...

FDR gave the country The New Deal. George W. Bush gave the country Deal or No Deal.

And I'd say we got a raw deal.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Sphere: Related Content

Chace Crawford Gets Shrieks in Chelsea, Snores on Lower East Side

New York Magazine's Chris Rovzar lured Chace Crawford deep into the heart of Chelsea to dish about the real-life gossip and the new season of Gossip Girl, which returns tonight. According to Rovzar, Crawford is pretty much over all the fawning:

"After some haggling involving mentions of well-lit public places, Chace agreed to meet us for a chaste lunch at Chelsea’s Empire Diner. When he walked in, wearing black Levi’s skinny jeans and a Diesel hoodie that hit his slender wrists just so, the restaurant’s flamboyant waiters shrieked and hugged him. They later said it was because he was a regular, but shrieks and hugs are a natural reaction to someone who looks like him. (We should know: By the end of our own conversation, our voices had gone up at least two octaves. Only Mariah Carey’s dogs could hear us.) 'I like to hang out on the Lower East Side,' he said. Hence the skinny jeans. 'Don’t try to get anywhere too quickly,' we joked shrilly, immediately loathing ourselves. The cool kids down on Rivington are nowhere near as sycophantic as us. 'Most of them don’t even give a shit,' he said."

And if rumors are true, tonight's episode will feature the reveal of Gossip Girl's gay character.

The Genius of Gossip Girl [ny magazine]

Sphere: Related Content

They're Back

Bob and Lee, the gay couple, are coming back to Desperate Housewives on May 4th, the first sweeps episode, and there are a few crazy rumors floating around about how this season may end. If you're interested in potential SPOILERS, I've posted them AFTER THE JUMP...

The first crazy rumor, which could actually bring back an audience to the show and shake it out of its doldrums, is that in the final episode of the season the show will leap forward five years into the future where it will remain, and DH will pick up this thread when it returns next year.

The second rumor, according to Televisionista, has to do with the gay couple: "Speaking of the gay couple, rumor has it - after the show leaps 5 years into the future following the May 18 fourth season finale - one of the men will be gone from Wisteria Lane and the other one will be living in a relationship with none other than Andrew Van De Kamp..."

Sphere: Related Content

News: Tori Spelling, Paw Paw, NYC Nightlife, ACT UP, Jason Mraz

New York may soon no longer be the city that never sleeps.

Jason Mraz on his new album and why he surrounds himself with gay people: "To me it’s not an issue of gay or straight; it’s just a coincidence that the people I hang out with happened to be … gay folk. And I, as a writer, have always written from a feminine side. I take yoga, and I practice my spirituality, to balance my heaven and earth, to balance my masculine and my feminine, you know? And I think what I find hanging out in the gay community, there’s more of a balance in the masculine and feminine qualities in the lifestyle than in a typical straight relationship or just in a straight person."

Tori Spelling anoints herself a gay icon: "I'm a huge fan of gays. They love me; I love them. They consider me kind of a gay icon, which they've labeled me as."

Justice Department confirms inquiry into whether U.S. Attorney Leslie Hagen was fired because she is a lesbian: "Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie A. Hagen was informed in 2006 that her contract working on Indian affairs in the Justice Department's Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys would not be renewed for a second year — despite receiving the highest possible performance reviews. When NPR first reported Hagen's case earlier this month, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) asked the Inspector General's Office and the Office of Professional Responsibility to confirm that they were looking into Hagen's case."

Jake Gyllenhaal stands underneath an umbrella - ella - ella.

Leslie Jordan, who stars in the upcoming Sordid Lives, headlined a fundraiser on Monday night for NYC's Harvey Milk High School scholarship fund.

Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee seeks donors to help fund cost of unveiling event on May 22, what would have been Milk's 78th birthday. More on the Memorial here.

In other Milk news, what is recognized as the first public tribute to Harvey Milk after his death, a mural painted on the side of the Duboce Park recreation center named in his honor, will soon be painted over. The city plans to paint a different work (also honoring Milk) on the rec center's east-facing wall, and place another memorial inside the building's lobby.

A FIRST LOOK at Project Runway winner Christian Siriano's appearance on Ugly Betty.

Next week, Law & Order: SVU will feature pro football player who is outed when his lover is murdered. This Bailey Chase, the player.

Animated Disney hunks become underwear models

Martha Stewart remembers her Chow, Paw Paw, who died last Saturday.

"Fearless" exhibit of openly gay athletes opens at San Ramon Valley High School in San Francisco's Bay Area.

Robert Downey Jr. sucks a mean thumb.

Jay Blotcher recalls the lessons he learned on the front lines of ACT UP. He'll be appearing tomorrow at NYU with other ACT UP alums at NYU's Cantor Film Center: "This wasn’t some haphazard group—our media committee had members that were publicists at major firms. Michelangelo Signorile, my predecessor as media coordinator, applied showbiz-PR tactics to ACT UP and got us a lot of attention."

Sphere: Related Content

Christian TV Host Azariah Southworth: I'm Gay

Azariah Southworth, host of Christian TV show The Remix, has come out of the closet. According to Tennessee's Out and About newspaper, Southworth has been hosting the show, which reaches 128 million homes worldwide, for a year and a half.

Said Southworth: "This has been a long time coming. I’m in a place where I’m at peace with my faith, friends, family and more importantly myself. I know this will end my career in Christian television, but I must now live my life openly and honestly with everyone. This is my reason for doing this. I know I will be cut off from many within the Christian community, and if so, then they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ. I believe by me living my life honestly and authentically now, I am able to be a better person and a better Christian. We all know there are so many other gay people in the Christian industry; they’re just all scared. I was scared, but now I’m no longer afraid."

Good for Azariah!

See one of his promo clips for The Remix,
AFTER THE JUMP...

Sphere: Related Content

Grey's Anatomy to Feature Hot Gay Soldier Kiss

It looks like Grey's Anatomy, which starts airing again on April 24, is going to be getting some hot gay action. Earlier this month, a casting call went out for two men to play soldiers who were "Caucasian, hot and comfortable sharing a 'very romantic kiss'." According to TV Guide's Michael Ausiello, the actors have been cast: "Benny Ciaramello (Friday Night Lights' Santiago) and Road Rules grad David Giuntoli have been tapped."

No word on when that episode might air.

Sphere: Related Content

Brothers & Sisters Actor Luke MacFarlane: I'm Gay

Though his rumored relationship with T.R. Knight was well documented and other relationships speculated about, Luke MacFarlane was never out publicly until today, in an interview with Canada's Globe & Mail:

"Though no secret to his family and close friends, Macfarlane has, until now, been guarded about his personal life as a gay man. Over lunch in Los Angeles, where he lives, he initially insists that he has no concerns about his public revelation - but a few seconds later he is shifting nervously in his chair, and concedes that he is 'terrified.' ... 'I don't know what will happen professionally ... that is the fear, but I guess I can't really be concerned about what will happen, because it's my truth. There is this desire in L.A. to wonder who you are and what's been blaring for me for the last three years is how can I be most authentic to myself - so this is the first time I am speaking about it in this way.'"

Macfarlane also talks about the big upcoming event [Possible SPOILER] on Brothers & Sisters:

"From a standing outside perspective, and also as someone who is gay, I think that it's a very exciting time. How exciting that we're saying, 'This can be part of the cultural fabric, now,' because it is two series regulars, two people that you invite into your home and you see every week. It's telling of the beginning of more waves and I'm very proud of that...Most importantly, in portraying gay people, the more we realize it's just like portraying anybody else and, gay marriage, it's not about two people being gay, it's about two people who love each other and who have decided to commit to each other for the exact same reasons any other couple would get married. Hopefully, the more that becomes part of the cultural awareness it won't be...(he pauses and says, employing a mock, exaggerated voice of a television announcer)...a spectacular Sunday episode."

Luke MacFarlane of "Brothers & Sisters" comes out publicly as gay [after elton]
A commitment to himself [globe and mail]

Previously
T.R. Knight and Luke MacFarlane: TV's Hottest New Gay Couple? [tr]
Wentworth Miller and Luke MacFarlane Take it to the Streets [tr]
Itemized: Wentworth Miller and Luke McFarlane? [tr]
Luke MacFarlane and Matthew Rhys Heat Up Brothers & Sisters [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Desperate Housewives: There's a New Whore in Town

Some of you looking for a reason to return to Desperate Housewives may find it in Chris Carmack, who we haven't seen much on the TV screen since he was on The OC (although that torso did see some action on the New York stage). Carmack's character ends up in bed with one of the leads, we won't tell you which one, but unfortunately it's not Andrew.

One more shot AFTER THE JUMP...

(image source)

Sphere: Related Content

Neil Patrick Harris Says Britney Spears Not Necessary for Success

Though he praised her professionalism and How I Met Your Mother saw its best ratings ever as a result of her appearance, Neil Patrick Harris warns that "stunt" guest stars like Britney Spears may cause the quality of the show to suffer.

Said Harris: "I'm in the minority that our show does not need stunt casting in order to succeed. I worry that if they start `Will and Grace'-ing us too much, that the show will suffer. And we're all really proud of the content of the show. I mean, viewership is not our game. It's the network and the studio's game, you know. It's the promotion department's game. We wish we weren't opposite an awkward reality dancing competition. But we have no say about that. I just am a real fan of our content. I think we have a great show going, and I hope it's not screwed up by the desire for 700,000 more viewers."

Neil Patrick Harris: Say no to Britney! [ap]

Sphere: Related Content

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #273

ANNIE LENNOX: Her performance of "Many Rivers to Cross" on last night's Idol Gives Back.

VERBOTENE LIEBE: The German version of Luke and Noah, but these guys get to kiss, a lot.

PREVIOUSLY ON LOST: What? Yeah, I wonder the same thing most of the time.

DAFT PUNK BOYS: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

Sphere: Related Content

News: Bats, Clay Aiken, Figure Skating, John Bolton, Dr. Laura

Dan Savage lost his mother on Monday, and today penned a beautiful column about her. We offer our sincerest condolences. May she rest in peace.

David Beckham in trouble with the law.

Open wide: Clay Aiken demonstrates amazing oral technique.

John Caldera, an aide to San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, will carry the Olympic torch in San Francisco today: "As someone who is openly Gay, Latino and a U.S. Navy Veteran, I have learned to respect the many subsets of our society. At times, I agree to disagree with those who have conflicing ideas ordeals than mine and at times, through respect and discourse, mutual understanding is possible but in the end I always remember the immortal words of the great humanitarian, John Lennon: 'All we are saving is give peace a chance…'" (via outsports)

Elsewhere in SF, gays protest the torch's arrival.

Keanu Reeves wants to sing show tunes.

Charleston's City Paper asks, is Lindsey Graham gay?

Gabriel Rotello at World of Wonder posts a comical reminiscence about an interview he once did with the late Charlton Heston: "Finally, someone sent word that the cameraman was ready and I rose to escort the tottering titan down to the basement. It was then that I discovered what a careless PA had missed. At the top of the stairs hung a huge, poster-sized photo of the queerest of all the queers, Miss RuPaul, in full drag, giving major attitude and practically screaming "I AM GAY, GAY, GAAAAAAY."

Dr. Laura gets weekly segment on FOX News.

Mysterious illness decimating bat populations in Northeast: "This summer, it could affect everything from outdoor barbecuing to farming. In one of nature's most efficient if little-known feats, bats consume as many as 1,200 insects an hour after emerging from their sheltering places every night. This prodigious airborne feeding substantially controls mosquito populations and helps prevent plant-eating insects from damaging crops. The long-term effect of what appears to be a major die-off of bats is not yet known, but the possibilities clearly worry scientists."

Regarding Brandon Davis' "faggot" outburst we posted about earlier. Davis told TMZ: "I would like to apologize for the poor word choice when provoked by the paparazzi on Thursday, April 3rd. They by no means reflect my views and upbringing. I was taunted by the photographers and when they used vulgar sexual remarks against my mother I reacted as any son would."

Query to the National Post: Can figure skating make you gay?

John Bolton, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to speak at Log Cabin Republican convention in San Diego this weekend.

Diane Sawyer takes on Rosie O'Donnell.

Jeff Klausner, San Francisco's director of STD prevention and control, targeting gay cruising sites in effort to promote safe sex: "Over the past few weeks, Klausner has been working with the city attorney, the National Institutes of Health, the California Department of Public Health, and the Department of Public Health in New York, whose large gay community also uses social networking sites for sex, in an effort to track down Adam4Adam's thus-far-anonymous and secretive owners. His aim: To get the site to slap the equivalent of a surgeon general's warning on its hookup forums and at least make users aware of the dangers of the anonymous, multiple-partner unsafe sex that is its stock-in-trade."

Pushing Daisies has a gay character.

Sphere: Related Content

Looks Like Chace Crawford's Nate isn't the Gay on Gossip Girl

Probably not Nate Archibald, unless he's got his face in his beard. We still think it's young, troubled Eric van der Woodsen.

In related news, I came across some video of JC Chasez, defusing that real-life gay gossip. You can watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Sphere: Related Content

Jay Leno on 'Gayest Look' Controversy: That's What Comics Do

Last Friday, Jay Leno spoke with KMXB radio in Las Vegas about the "gayest look" controversy.

Here's the audio.

I've also transcribed it.

Said Leno: "You know, it's really odd how on our show we have plenty of gay guests and plenty of gay guests who you know - 'how's your relationship going, how's your family going' — Melissa Etheridge, with everybody else. To me I never made fun of gay rights or even gay marriage. Do what you want to do. But to me — fashion, lifestyle, hair, you know that kind of stuff — you're a comic. Thats what you do. And what it was was Ryan Phillippe, who grew up in a strict Baptist background, he came to New York as an actor and his first job was playing a single gay teenager or young man. So I said 'what was that like, coming from a Baptist background?' And he said 'well a little tricky with my parents, they didn't quite get it.' And then I said 'ok, so you were a single good-looking guy on a soap opera' and I made the mistake, I guess, of saying alright, 'Give me your gayest look now. Give me that soap opera gayest look. Well, apparently 'gayest look' offended somebody and, you know. But what happens in these things is it then builds to — I would read the blog, 'I didn't see Jay Leno's anti-gay tirade but I heard he went on and on!' So it's one of these things where it jus