Kudos to ALL IN THE FAMILY

I wasn't born when All In The Family hit the airwaves 40 years ago today but I certainly realize it was ground breaking television. Thanks to DVD I have been able to watch the entire series, and much of the tv dynasty from it's creator Norman Lear. All In The Family spun off The Jefferson, Maude, Gloria and Archie Bunkers Place. Maude spun off Good Times and The Jeffersons spun off Checking in. Now, time to get more of Maude on DVD!

Kudos to: 'Success being Ageless'

Kudos to Jud Birza (Fabio) for winning Survivor last night. I posted about my love for Judson yesterday (although I think just a wee bit of that love diminished a bit when he cleaned up and spoke on the reunion show) for being the youngest person to ever win Survivor.

Kudos also to Betty White for being name the AP Entertainer of the Year.

Kudos to Glee

Glee accomplished a few things this week that surprised me...





Firstly, as much as she has been awarded with various honors in her close to 20 years in movies and on tv I have never once enjoyed a Gwyneth Paltrow performance. Even in movies I did enjoy like The Talented Mr. Ripley, Gwyneth always got on my nerves. Kudos to Glee for not only giving her a role I liked, but a performance I loved.









Those of us who love Harry Shum Jr didn't need his incredible turn in Make Em Laugh to know he should have been made a series regular long ago. Thankfully the show finally saw he is too good to lose and Harry will be a series regular next season!

Above: Halloween with Chord Overstreet, Matthew Morrison and Harry Shum Jr.


And lastly, Matthew Morrison looking pretty darned fine, photographed by Norman Jean Roy for December's Details! Pick up your copy to see more!

Kudos to Entertainment Weekly

Above: Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward

One of my favorite magazines is Entertainment Weekly. It is really the only weekly I currently buy every week. I buy it for the articles (cough cough) but over the last two issues EW has also been showcasing some pretty hot photos!

I think the first Paul Newman movie I saw was The Color Of Money when I was a kid. I was in my Tom Cruise phase then (which passed painlessly about the time of Cocktail's release ). At that time Newman was 'the old man' to me. The shot above with wife Joanne Woodward cements for me I really must go back and catch up on his earlier films!

I always wondered what was beneath Ron's Hogwarts uniform and Rupert Grint looks pretty adorable getting made up for the next Harry Potter flick.

Below: Rupert Grint


Last but not least is one of the hottest shirtless shots of Chris Evans in awhile. Chris is looking every bit the Captain America role he is playing.

Below: Chris Evans in Captain America

Kudos to Brian Feldman & Hannah Miller

I love this story!

Many in the US working so hard to stop two men or two women from marrying use morality, the bible, having children and family values to keep gay marriage from becoming legal. They want the laws as they now stand to remain so that marriage can continue to be a blessed religious ceremony.

Right?

Kudos to Brian Feldman for throwing that theory on it's ear. If those who are trying to stop gay marriage really cared about the sanctity of marriage why are they not trying to stop murderers, rapists, child abusers and terrorists from marrying and having children? Why...because it is not about morality, it is about homophobia. Kudos to Brian and his 'stranger' bride Hannah Miller for proving in America, anyone, truly ANYONE can marry as long as one is legally a man and one is legally a woman.

Read the full story HERE:

Kudos to Modern Family

Kudos to Modern Family!

The return of ABC's Emmy-winning "Modern Family" set a ratings record, the show returned 19% higher than last fall and easily ranked as the evening's top-rated show. This is the hit comedy's biggest rating ever.
It was also a mighty fine episode, though flawed in parts,  that had me laughing out laugh though out the half hour. Special shout out to Ty Burrell whose portrayal of Phil is unique, intimate and sometimes difficult to watch due to how real Burrell plays it. Anyone else try salt in their chocolate milk yet?

Kudos to Blogger

I do love blogger but have always been annoyed by not being able to block certain spam comments. Almost everyone who has a blog gets spam, especially the nightly spammer from the orient... Well finally blogger has added a spam filter and I, and especially you no longer even see the spam. Thanks Blogger!

Kudos to Scott Herman

You know I love me some Scott Herman but never as much as today! Although there is still a lot of fight ahead, check out Scott's beautiful letter about Prop 8 being overturned

Congratulations California! I just heard the news. Unfortunately I got the news late as I was traveling to Chicago for Market Days. But as you all know I am big advocate for equality and would like to share my thoughts about this amazing achievement.

Prop 8 has been overturned and I am extremely thankful to be a part of the fight for equality. But we all know this is just the beginning. It is still going to be a continuous effort to help educate those who are still against gay equality and it is organizations such as GLAAD that say “Hey, let’s all get along!” that need more supporters and I will continue to do what I can to help GLAAD get the message out there. Yes this is a time for celebration, however I am not the kind of person who celebrates the calm before the storm. Now more than ever the “gay community” needs to work together to merge with the “straight community”. By this I mean for TRUE equality there needs to be one community that accepts everyone. That is when we will have true equality.

I get asked daily if I am gay and my answer is.. “Does it matter?” or “Will me being gay or straight impede your ability to lose weight or gain muscle?” We need to eliminate this NEED TO KNOW if someone is gay, straight, bi, or transgendered. Another common question asked is “Did you know Katelynn was transgendered when you met her on the Real World?” and my answer is “No”. I had no idea because I saw her as a person who I was going to be living with and wanted to get to know HER. The show didn’t dig that deep into the bond that Katelynn and I shared; but right off the bat we talked about comic books, fighting movies, and the Ninja Turtles. I saw her as a PERSON first because when you look at someone as a person you don’t care if they are gay or straight. When you look at someone as a person you’re not just trying to get them home to have sex with them; you are making a new friend and I am sure at some point along the way you will find out what that person’s sexual orientation is. If you and your new friend are male and he happens to be gay, AWESOME, maybe you will date. If he happens to be straight, well then you made a new friend and should be happy.

True equality lies in the hearts of those fighting for it and we need to make sure those hearts are in the right place.

We are all put in this world for different reasons and I know that I was put here to give strength and support to those who need it most. I was very introverted and picked on as a kid and when I found fitness it gave me the opportunity to accomplish goals and grow the confidence I needed to be myself. I share this message with as many people as I can because I know I am not just teaching fitness. I am teaching how to live a healthy lifestyle and a big part of that lifestyle is being confident.

I am excited to continue to embark on this journey for true equality and so far have met a lot of amazing people along the way. I may have the costume and shield but I know that I don’t need those things to be an ally to justice and fight for what I know to be right. I hope I never have to hear stories such as the death of Sean Kennedy ever again and I know, and am sure all of you will agree, that I don’t want to live in a world where one day I may have to fear for the lives of my children to be themselves when they leave the house. So yes, August 4th was an amazing day and we all need to mark our calendars with this enormous achievement, but let’s keep the fire burning until we can all put it out together.
- Scott Herman


Scott at GLAAD Manhattan last weekend!

Kudos to Damages and DirecTV

Kudos to DirecTV for saving one of televisions best shows Damages.
It would have been a crime for one of tv's best written, best acted and best conceived shows to leave the air so early. DirecTV renewed Damages for another 2 seasons.

Kudos to Ryan Kwanten & Jason Stackhouse

If you have read any articles about Ryan Kwanten or seen him interviewed you know he is worlds away from Jason Stackhouse. I know many fans of Ryan and True Blood were not thrilled the writers of True Blood spent season 2 focusing on Jason finding himself after the tragedies he went through in season 1. I think the disappointment might have had more to do with a lack of nude scenes, but I loved Ryan in season 2. Ryan is one of the hottest men on tv but he is also one of the most talented. It must be very difficult for an artist who wants to emote when many of his fans want the emoting to always occur pantless.



I say kudos to Ryan Kwanten for creating a unique and lovable yet terribly flawed character in Jason Stackhouse. Some of the other men on the show often get the spotlight but Jason is my favorite character to watch on TB, with our without pants.



Ryan in last weeks True Blood.

Kudos to John Isner

Kudos to John Isner!
11 hours, five minutes and 6'9"
Cute tall with stamina!

Congrats!!!

Kudos to Jonathan Groff and Glee

"Kiss my ass, Josh Groban."
Sue

Kudos to all those responsible for the season finale of Glee! Yes the Shelby adoption of Beth was predictable and yes to me the last song was one song to many but...why quibble when you just watched such an enjoyable hour of television. Kudos!



I have to single out Jonathan Groff and those responsible for the "Bohemian Rhapsody" production. Rhapsody is one of rocks most dramatic anthems and this to me was up there with some of the best stagings of the song. Groff was amazing and it is easy to see why so many were injured during the filming of the song. During this song so much happened from Quinn's baby being born to closure for Jesse and Rachel not to mention ensuring the audience understood why New Directions did not win.




I truly hope Ryan Murphy brings back Groff next season. Groff is already scheduled to be in London on stage in Deathtrap through the late summer and fall, but he is far too talented to let go.




Below: 2 shots from Details.



Some of my favorite Groff shots:

Kudos to Rafael Nadal

Kudos to 24-year-old Spaniard Rafael Nadal who won his fifth French Open title of the past six years. Nadal saved his his best match for the end against Robin Soderling. Nadal, who was worried injuries might end his career earlier this year, was emotional after his victory sitting down on his chair and sobbing uncontrollably into his towel. The Thrill of Victory!

Kudos to Andre Ziehe and 2(x)ist

Well Mens Health and Details (both of whom often have ads verging on soft porn) may have passed on 2(x)ist and Brazilian model Andre Ziehe and their new ads for SLIQ, but the company is getting even more publicity from the magazines turning down the ads. Photos of Andre by Roger Moenks for 2(x)ist.