"I Just Don't Think You Have The Full Package"

Brilliant!

Tonight's Shirtlessness

#MusicMonday Bonus: Michael Bolton, "Murder My Heart"

Trust me on this one! Lady GaGa and Michael Bolton are teaming up! Seriously. This Michael Bolton song was written by Lady GaGa. And coming in September... A DUET! Take a listen.

At Least Take Your Hat Off!

I've previously complained about people on national television not giving a damn about their appearance. It happened again on Friday morning's Today Show on NBC. The young man sitting on the left end (our left) of the sofa dug his own grave... err, hole... at the beach this summer and had to be rescued. This hole was rather large; big enough to be over his head in sand! Bystanders saved his life. He then goes on TV in a logo'ed T-shirt and a backwards camo hat! And look at his younger brother! Come on!

Mmmm, Cupcakes!

How good do these red velvet cupcakes look!?!? They're from Batter Bakery in San Francisco! Yum! If you work near their new kiosk in downtown San Fran, you should pick some up for your coworkers as your way of saying "Happy Monday!"Also, if you're in Boston, Kickass Cupcakes is giving away free cocktail-inspired cupcakes tonight! From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. tonight, get your free Lemon Drops, Peach Daiquiris, and Mud Slides (cupcake flavors, that is)! More information here.

#MusicMonday: The Script, "Breakeven"

Tonight's Shirtlessness

New Music Now: The Bravery, "Believe"

Alt-rockers The Bravery are about to hit the road again. The band just finished recording their third studio album, which will be released in November. Band members will launch a 33-city tour - beginning in Las Vegas - on September 18th.

Naked Photographer Caught

As a follow-up to the previous story about Zach Hyman's photography of nude models around New York City, he's now been arrested with his model KC Neil. Here's the CNN story.

'The Birdcage' And Mojitos!

For my South Florida friends, Miami Beach's Gansevoort South is hosting a pool party tonight! This isn't just any pool party, though. Plunge, the resort's rooftop pool lounge, hosting a free movie night. They'll be showing The Birdcage, which you'll be able to watch from the pool!

Oh, and the best part... The drink of choice at this "dive-in" theater is MOJITOS!

Gansevoort South is in the 23-hundred block of Collins Avenue on South Beach. The screening begins at 9 p.m.

New Music Now: Jason Mraz, "Make It Mine"

At his concert last weekend in Chicago.

Dear Madonna: I Love You

Tonight's Shirtlessness

Tonight's Bonus Shirtlessness

From the set of NBC's Today, comes tonight's bonus shirtlessness! I really have no idea what the story was, but does it really matter? The picture is from Today producer Sara Haines' Twitter feed.

Happy Birthday, Michael Jackson

Today would have been Michael Jackson's 51st birthday. What a day it would have been would the family have gone forward with his burial, which they wanted to hold today. The plans for the burial were changed prior to Ted Kennedy's death, but the news networks would have had quite the day with two major burials.

Google got into the King of Pop's birthday, too:

Ted Kennedy: The Funeral

Senator Edward M. Kennedy was laid to rest today following a lengthy, touching funeral in Boston. The service was attended by a who's who of Washington, DC, including Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

New Music Now: James Morrison, "You Make It Real"

Love James Morrison. Love this song!

I Could Go For A Good, Old-Fashioned Water Balloon Fight!

And that's exactly what you'll find this afternoon in Central Park's Sheep Meadow! It's billed as New York City's Largest Water Fight and it starts at 1 p.m. today!

Two rules stood out to me:

• 8) DON'T GET THE ARMED POLICE DEPLOYED BY BRINGING WATER PISTOLS THAT LOOK LIKE REAL GUNS!!!!!!!!!
• 10) No one get naked - you'll be arrested

Where's the fun!? You can read more about it here.

Tonight's Shirtlessness

Linda Ronstadt Makes Unforeseen Gay Ally

In an interview with PlanetOut, Linda Ronstadt - of all celebrities - makes her gay-friendly case for moving to San Francisco.

I had moved back to Tucson with my kids because I just thought it was quieter, and my family was there. But Tucson has turned out to be a very conservative place, and I didn’t want my kids coming home from school saying things like ‘That’s so gay.’ So we moved back to San Francisco, and I sent my kids to a school that actively taught that homophobic remarks are just… not OK, and my kids’ attitudes have changed as a result of it.

Look, my kids are going to be able to form their own ideas, but at least I wanted them to be able to question things. My son is super pro-gay rights, and even though he has a girlfriend, I wanted him to know that as he emerged sexually, he’d be able to do whatever he wanted to do. You know, that it’s not something you have a choice over.

Read the full interview at PlanetOut.com.

New Music Now: Bon Jovi, "We Weren't Born To Follow"

Hootie Frontman Headlines Country Tour

If you don't pay attention to country music - most of you reading this blog fit this category, I'm sure - you wouldn't know Darius Rucker is making a name for him in said genre. He's currently on the road with Rascal Flatts and in the middle of his own headlining tour supporting his debut album Learn To Live.

The tour takes Rucker to Pennsylvania Friday and Saturday, and continues through December 6th. You can see the full tour schedule here.

Tonight's Shirtlessness

Saving Abel Plans A Nightclub Tour

Even before they wrap up their summer tour with Hinder, Saving Abel is announcing a fall nightclub tour. Saving Abel plans to hit nightclubs in 20 cities beginning October 27th in San Antonio.

New Crush: Kevin Rose

Kevin Rose is the co-founder of Digg and Revision3, and is the co-host of the Diggnation podcast with Alex Albrecht, who isn't so bad himself!

New Music Now: Keith Urban, "Kiss A Girl"

Keith Urban makes another crossover hit with his latest single "Kiss A Girl." The song is the most added song of last week at Adult Contemporary stations nationwide.

It's Okay To Say "No Thanks" On Facebook

To my former Facebook friend, I tried, but you just weren't there for me. You never gave me the time of day. And when you unfollowed me on Twitter - at some point in the last month or so - it was the last straw. Now, Facebook tells me it's okay to unfriend you because you will never know about it!

Here's the language from the Facebook blog post earlier today:

You can always remove people as friends by scrolling down to the bottom left side of their Facebook profiles. Select the link "Remove from Friends." Your former friends will not be notified, but they will be removed from your Friend List and you will be reciprocally removed from their list.

It's just Facebook's way of saying, "life isn't a popularity contest!"

The Loss Of An "Elder Statesman"

When Senator Edward Kennedy passed away nearly 24 hours ago, he left behind a 47-year career in the U.S. Senate that no one will likely ever repeat. One year ago, Ted Kennedy passed the political torch to Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention

Kennedy was the youngest of nine children, including President John F. Kennedy and presidential candidate and Senator Robert Kennedy. Ted Kennedy will be buried alongside both brothers at Arlington National Cemetery in Alexandria following a funeral service on Saturday. At the service, Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy.

As mentioned earlier in the RIP post, Kennedy was a huge voice in the gay and civil rights movements, and championed equal rights. He has a long list of HIV/AIDS achievements, including co-sponsoring the Ryan White CARE Act and fighting to oppose a 1990 movement to remove those with HIV/AIDS from the Americans with Disabilities Act. This year, he co-sponsored the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act and supported repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. And he was a tireless supporter of marriage equality for all Americans, including his opposition to DOMA.

Earlier this year, Kennedy expressed his support for the Matthew Shepard Act:
basically welcoming him into the Kennedy family - a family steeped in political history, but wrought with personal hardships.

No member of the LGBT community should be terrified to walk down the street for fear of hateful violence. Hate crimes perpetrators must not be allowed to place our communities in fear.

This is just a brief look at Ted Kennedy's support of the GLBTQ community, but for a more detailed layout of all his support, head over to Wicked Gay Blog (here).

When news broke overnight of Kennedy's passing, networks and cable news outlets were prepared. We've known for 15 months of his serious battle with a cancerous brain tumor, which gave news outlets time to prepare obituary stories. Archival footage had been pulled and the graphics had been prepared ahead of time. Most morning news programs devoted the heaviest portion of their time to remembering the Senate's "Liberal Lion." The only exception was Fox News, which - as expected - carried the story as just another story.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, more affectionately known as "Teddy," was 77.

Tonight's Shirtlessness

Well, That Was Awkward

Anna Wintour appeared on Letterman Monday and my what a time they had.

National Equality March: Great Company

As previously announced here, B4A is planning to march in the National Equality March. With just under two months until the March (October 10-11), the list of confirmed participants is growing. Sirius|XM host and blogger Michelangelo Signorile is marching and writes about it in The Advocate. You can read his post about it here.

Also confirming attendance at the event are the 80 member organizations in Florida's Organizations United Together. OUT is a federation of LGBTQ organizations throughout Florida. See the entire list on Pam's House Blend.

GLAAD and the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches will be participating and marching for equality, too.

For more information on the march and how you can participate (even if you can't make the march in person), log onto NationalEqualityMarch.org.

RIP: Senator Ted Kennedy

The passing of Ted Kennedy is a sad way to start what was going to be an idle Wednesday. Kennedy was a great voice for the GLBT community for most of his career. He was a fighter for equal rights, but not just for the gays - for civil rights in general.

We'll have more later, but as I sit here at work I'm remembering a great leader, a family and Senatorial patriarch and, as Barack Obama said in his statement, a "tower of strength."

Rest in peace Edward Kennedy.

Tonight's Shirtlessness

Naked Boys Dancing To "Kung Fu Fighting"

The title of this post is all you really need to know... Thanks to Brian for pointing out this great video!

New 'Grey's Anatomy' Promo

Grey's Anatomy returns with the season six premiere September 24th.

New Music Now: The Fray, "Heartless"

The FRAY - Heartless from IE HAGY on Vimeo.

Who's Flying Me To LA To Eat At The Den??

I have GOT to try this place!! The Den of Hollywood opened this month and I'm jealous I'm not in LA! First of all, I never thought I'd be hungry for a TV dinner on the Sunset Strip!

Here are my picks off their menu:

• Angry Mac - four cheeses and chorizo. WHO COULD ASK FOR A BETTER MAC & CHEESE!?!?
• TV Dinner - salisbury steak, mushroom sauce, buttermilk potatoes, peas and carrots, and a cookie. SERIOUSLY?! It's your standard TV Dinner, but I'm sure it's not from a microwave!
• 7 Deadly Sins of Chocolate.

Can we go now? Here's their web-site, where you can pick your favorites.

B4A On The Road: National Equality March

Next up: Washington, DC! The National Equality March is coming up the weekend of October 10th and 11th. We'll march to the Capital Building on Sunday. The plan for B4A to attend is now confirmed! If you're planning on going, please comment and we can connect.

Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Mika Together?

A new musical is in the works featuring Hugh Jackman as PT Barnum, the creator of the first ever three-ring circus. He'll reportedly play opposite Anne Hathaway as his love interest. And, the best part, Mika - according to this report - has been signed on to write the music for the film!

This is going to be the gayest show on Earth!! We used to think Cher's concerts were the gayest shows on Earth, but this is going to give her a run for her money! What makes it more gay? The minds behind Sex and the City and Dreamgirls are getting behind this one!!

The Greatest Showman On Earth is slated for a 2012 box office release.

Tonight's Shirtlessness

'Skins' Is Coming To America

Following in the footsteps of Queer as Folk and The Office, BBC's Skins will be remade as an American television series. The Brit-version of the show is currently airing on BBC America, but now MTV has won rights to make an American version of the hit show.

Bryan Elsley, who co-created the British version, will executive produce for MTV's adaptation of Skins. The show is known for hiring unknown teenage actors to play the characters, a trait that will be picked up with this version. MTV's Skins will be set in Baltimore.

Following is the series trailer from BBC America.

#MusicMonday: Keith Urban & Sugarland, "Seven Bridges Road"

From Friday night's show in Cleveland, here's Keith Urban performing "Seven Bridges Road" with Sugarland. Again, apologies for the Sugarland video, but it's worth it!

Of Course You're Going To Get Arrested, If You Take Your Clothes Off

Tonight's Shirtlessness

Norah Jones Gearing Up To Release New Album

It's been two years since we've heard new music from Norah Jones, but the wait for new material is almost over! We discovered this week Ms. Jones would have a new album ready by November for wide release. Though we shouldn't expect a genre change, she is going to change things slightly by bringing in Kings of Leon and Tom Waits producer and engineer Jacquire King. She also solicited the help of singer-songwriter Ryan Adams for some song writing help on the new album.

Not only is she changing producers and engineers, and bringing in a song writer, she's also going to be playing with different musicians on this album.

I knew I wanted to try some different things on this album. I’d been playing with the same musicians for a long time. We’re all still friendly and I hope we play together again, but it felt like a good time to work with new people and experiment with different sounds.

Some of the musicians hired for this project include Beck and R.E.M. drummer Joey Waronker and keyboardist James Poyser, who has played with Erykah Badu. And Jones herself is picking up the guitar for this album instead of just playing the piano.

No name has been announced yet for this album, her fourth studio album.

Nightclub + All-Night Diner = Genius!

Honestly, I can't believe more places don't do this. Hollywood's Playhouse nightclub has soft-opened an all-night diner! Sweet Love Hangover - facing Hollywood Boulevard - is just what the doctor ordered after a late night of drinking and partying.

Order The Hangover - chicken tenders, gravy, eggs and Tobasco - and a Bloody Mary. Or bacon-wrapped hot dogs!!

Sweet Love Hangover is at the intersection of Hollywood and Wilcox.

Tonight's Shirtlessness

New Music Now: Mika, "We Are Golden"

Tonight's Shirtlessness

Tonight's Shirtlessness

Here Comes A Box Set From Dolly

Dolly Parton is finally releasing a box set spanning her entire career. Dolly will be a four-disc set featuring her biggest hits and "rare never-before-heard tracks and demos."

This ultimate box set features 99 songs spanning multiple labels, including Dolly’s early first recordings at the Louisiana-based Goldband label at age 11, rare recordings from Mercury when she was 16, the Monument recordings from 1965-67, her successful RCA recordings from 1967 to 1985, all the way up to her Columbia releases from 1985 until the mid-90’s.

On the set will be a previously unreleased track produced by Ray Stevens, two songs intended for her My Tennessee Mountain Home album that were dropped before release and "Comin' For To Carry Me Home" - Dolly's arrangement of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

You'll be able to purchase the box set October 27th, but Legacy Recordings will offer an exclusive bonus album if you download it from them directly.

Tonight's Shirtlessness: Celebrity Edition

Daughtry Setting Out On Another Leg Of Tour

Daughtry wraps up their summer tour this week, but you haven't missed your chance just yet. The band, lead by Chris Daughtry, has announced another 36-city tour this fall. Supporting Leave This Town, Daughtry will kick off two months from tonight in Topeka, Kansas, and continue through the Evansville, Indiana, stop on December 20th.

Full tour dates available at the band's web-site. Supporting act for the fall tour is Theory of a Deadman.

In other Daughtry news, the band appears on tonight's America's Got Talent to perform "No Surprise." It airs at 9 p.m. Eastern on NBC.

Cronkite To Get MJ Treatment

Walter Cronkite will be remembered with a star-packed memorial service next month. The details are trickling out and yesterday came confirmation that President Barack Obama will speak at the event. Others already in the line-up include former President Bill Clinton, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric and former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw.

Jimmy Buffett and Wynton Marsalis have been confirmed musical acts at the public memorial service.

Walter Cronkite's public memorial service will be held at Lincoln Center on September 9th.

Sandra Oh On Set At 'Grey's'

This picture was snapped Monday on the set of Grey's Anatomy. The show returns to the line-up on ABC Thursday, September 24th at 9 p.m.

Tonight's Shirtlessness