Lifetime: Television For Gay Men

The most beautiful man alive, Eddie Cibrian, who is thankfully never bashful to remove his shirt... A television event, indeed.

Gorgeous

Honest, to god, the most beautiful magazine cover I've seen in years...

Why Are Men Gay?

Cause there are so many beautiful guys out there, well, it just seems silly not to be, right?
Please click on the tag below for HOT MEN to see many more reasons that gay is good.

It's been a little serious here lately...I figured the time was right for a little eye candy...Well then...I feel better already.

Super-Size Sunday

Ayhan and I met Tim and Bob at midnight at Jake's Saloon in Chelsea to celebrate Bobby's 46th birthday.Then at noon, I went to Michael Paoletta's apartment in Chelsea for a festive brunch with, from left, meese, Susan Butler, Mary Kim, (her boyfriend Collin, who took the pic), Katy Kroll and Michael.And then at 5, Turkish superstar Sertab and her manager/producer/husband Damir came to our apartment in Brooklyn Heights, including a nice walk along the Promenade, to hear Ayhan's music and discuss a potential collaboration...It's 6:40 p.m. and I'm ready to go to bed! Zzzzzz...

Anthony Fedorov In Da House

Season four "American Idol" finalist Anthony Fedorov was in the house today, writing with Ayhan Sahin and our buddy/songwriter/producer Vinny Vero. What a nice, talented guy.And here's Vinny and meese.

Diary Of A Layoff/Post Four

Either I’m an idiot savant or one calm cookie about this whole layoff ordeal. My sentence came down Feb. 25 and I am employed fulltime through March 25, followed by three months severance. As I’ve noted previously, fellow co-workers have almost seemed afraid to approach me for fear that it’s a contagious condition—but my positive attitude and ability to smile with sincerity seem to be putting those around me at ease. I’m still working my behind off and in fact, editor P is out of town next M/T/W, so I am actually responsible for full production of R&R… of course, after taking vacation in San Juan, returning to fulltime duties feels a bit absurd. On Wednesday, I delivered a 1,000-word story and still have another feature due before I’m done. I’m ready to turn the page, but the deal I made is that I continue to deliver so that the severance is honored. So be it.

P took me to lunch today and, as I've stated, I feel for him. I have been his right hand for the past four years—he’s my direct supervisor and yet he has always treated me like an equal, respecting my abilities—and now, thanks to the decisions made by the West Coast hierarchy, he is faced with doing his job and most of mine. Thank god I will never again face the woman who made the decision about who would ultimately be laid off—particularly since I edit her column every week, and am one of few who knows how weak her journalism skills are. Oops, was that snarky?

But back to me, please. At this point, the common question I get is, “What are your plans?” My answer: “I’m going to paint the living room, clean out closets and explore Brooklyn.” Again, as I’ve said, I have been a working man for 25 years. I look forward to taking a full month with pay to process the transition, make peace with this mind-fuck, then box it up and be done with it. And then, explore the next chapter in life.

I’ve had great conversations with allies in HR and corporate recruitment—and Mark, Alice, Michael M. and Valerie—have all assured me that my mind-set is healthy, not naïve. So as spring blossoms in New York, I look forward to long walks with my camera, fun blog entries… and sometime soon enough, seeing where my reputation and talent will lead.

Life is good. I live in the greatest city I can imagine, I am so fortunate to be madly in love, my finances are in check, I am pretty healthy and—as important as the above—I have a collection of crazy, eclectic, ultimately loving allies that I count on. A chosen family. The greatest gift of all, truly. I’m going to be fine.

Billboard, March 21, 2009... The Finale

After 10 years, this marks my final issue as Single Reviews Editor at Billboard magazine. It has been a signature for me for a good long time. I surrender with humility, but will certainly miss the role.

EMRE
Only Yesterday (2:43)
Producer: Ayhan Sahin
Writers: R. Dean, A. Sahin, E. Yilmaz
Publisher: Young Pals, BMI
Young Pals Music
Emre Yilmaz discovered his musical muse as a guitarist at age 10, relocating from his native Turkey to study in the United States as a teen at Michigan's prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy, then graduating from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. Today, the New Yorker is a master of musical largess, as a singer, songwriter, classical guitarist and sought-after live performer, including regular flamenco jazz fusion gigs with noted Blue Note guitarist Spiros Exaras. His solo "Only Yesterday" is a perfectly timed, consummate graduation day anthem, co-written and arranged with producer and fellow Turk Ayhan Sahin. Emre sings: "Seems like only yesterday, we met each other, found our way/Life it happens, we all change/A new day has come, turn the page." He not only serenades the masses entering a new phase of life but showcases acoustic guitars, with electric guitars courtesy of Billy Joel bandmate Dennis DelGaudio. Emre's international catalog is well-established; now this suave, handsome talent has the ultimate showcase to become one of the year's most auspicious breakouts. For info: oemreyilmaz@gmail.com.—CT

R&B/HIP-HOPJENNIFER HUDSON FEATURING LUDACRIS
Pocketbook (3:19)
Producers: Timbaland, Jim Beanz
Writers: various
Arista
Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson proved a consummate vocalist with the hit singles "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from "Dreamgirls" and "Spotlight." Talk about a 360-degree turn: "Pocketbook" subs knack for novelty. Ludacris' opening rap is just plain juvenile, while Hudson threatens to smack suitors with her pocketbook. Co-producer Timbaland relegates Hudson into a curiously supplemental role in her own song. We're all for the singer stretching herself stylistically, but not at the expense of her sophistication. Let's make a deal: Let the next Hudson single be the stunning Robin Thicke composition "Giving Myself" and all will be forgiven.—CT

CHRISTIAN
MERCYME
Finally Home (3:11)
Producer: Brown Bannister
Writers: MercyMe
INO/Columbia
Christian mainstay MercyMe has scored eight No. 1s, in addition to a Grammy Award nod and seven Dove Awards. But the sextet also extended its success to country and AC, with "I Can Only Imagine." "Finally Home," from the group's decade retrospective CD/DVD "10," is a midtempo guitar-driven ode to meeting the maker. Christian AC has already offered its approval and though thematically it's genre-specific, lead singer Bart Millard's beautiful harmonies accompanying a singalong chorus and country radio's wholesome persona open the doors to acceptance there. Overall, a fine contender to further this established band's brand.—CT

LUNACY at Lunasa, March 13, 2009... And More

With special guest Altan Sahin, Ayhan's brother, visiting from Turkey. He's just below Ayhan... And onward to Eastern Bloc, a gay bar in the East Village.Grand graffiti in the East Village.Onward to Boom for dinner in Soho to see Emre perform live. Here: Emre, Donna, Altan and Ayhan.Donya and Ayhan... they look good sharing a "y," yes?Sangria, anyone?Emre performs with famed Blue Note guitarist Spiros Exaras at Boom.Celebrating Emre's Spotlight review in this week's Billboard magazine, written before I knew this would be my final page as Single Reviews Editor after 10 years. What a joyous finale.All told...And finally, the requisite extend-the-arm-self-portrait pic.

Simple: Drink Gin

And no harm will come your way. That's certainly my intention.

The Way Jeans Should NOT Fit

Countering my popular "The Way Jeans Are Supposed To Fit" posts (by the way, that's "popular" according to me), here's the way jeans should never fit. Doesn't Jewel's rodeo husband Ty Murray know that the sock is supposed to have definition? Ew.

In other Web news, New York's mayor Michael Bloomberg continues to have little in common with the struggles of average city dwellers. While the city's unemployment rate has reached 7.3%, AM New York reports that closet queen billionaire is the only among Forbes' just-released top of the world's richest people who has gotten wealthier since last year, with a net worth of $16 billion. And for the first time, he’s the richest person in the city. The mayor spent $150 million of his own money on his two elections, and is, of course, intending to buy a third term.

And meanwhile, 41-year-old Julia Roberts looks stunning at the Paris premiere for "Duplicity" with Clive Owen. See how sweet I can be?

The Wasilla Hillbillies

How delicious is the story that Bristol Palin, the strumpet offspring of dim-witted Sarah Palin—who is 18 and has yet to graduate from high school—has split with the eternal love of her life, Levi Johnston, because he's too "white trash" to raise their bastard baby Tripp? Wheee! Methinks the Calphalon is calling the Farberware black. The Wasilla Hillbillies are certainly elevating the Republican party to a lofty position of elegance (okay, okay, no Jimmy Carter jokes necessary). This is truly more fun than bobbing for razor blade-laden apples at Halloween.

It's gonna be great fun when Ms. Palin makes her bid for President in four years; by then, her other aristocratic chillen will likely have spawned their own little bastards. Are there enough bedrooms in the White House for the whole clan? As if the grumpy Republican party representing all that is upstanding and moral in this nation isn't already wildly out of touch by refusing to offer any support—or ideas—to aid the tanking economy, these days those pesky gays are the least of their worries. My god, when is the Bravo reality series coming?

Warm Wednesday

This afternoon, met high school galfriend Mary, visiting from Virginia, at the Metropolitan Museum. We took a seat in Central Park and loaded 45 minutes with great conversation. After she and her crew packed into a cab headed toward Penn Station, I took advantage of mild temps to enjoy a nice walk through the park... wishing Pook a happy birthday and chatting with the parents... Hoofed it from 82nd & Fifth Avenue to 59th & Broadway at Columbus Circle...Subway home...Then tele catch-ups with workmate Katie Kay (laid off today; it just doesn't end), Alicee and Marky Mark... as Ayhan and Kirby watched "Mamma Mia!"—again. In all, lovely end of day. Aaah...

Terrific Tuesday

Back in the saddle today after five glorious days in P.R.... post-deadline, Ayhan and I had a divine dinner, courtesy of publicist extraordinaire Patti Conte, whom I have known as long as I've been at Billboard. She is repping Sertab and Demir, who are huge hit artists in Turkey, and are now releasing their debut disc in the States. Ayhan and I met Sertab in Ankara, Turkey, in 2002, when she performed at an outdoor concert at his alma mater Ted College. It's a small world, after all.From left, Amanda, meese, Sertab, Ayhan, Demir, Redwood Entertainment prez Janet Castiel and Patti.

Onward to Central Bar for a going away party for another handful of laid-off staffers at Billboard—last day today—where I found out that the axe has fallen yet again for more employees since my cut Feb. 25. Geez, the bloodletting just doesn't end.

Next, uptown to meet with Mary, my senior high school prom date, who's in town with her daughter Katherine, now 17, whom I last saw when she was, uh, 1. We literally spent 15 minutes together at Penn Station before they boarded a train headed for Long Island. Quick and dirty, but precious.Prom 1980! Strange that Mary and I seem to have the same hair-do, though somehow she pulls off southern belle while I conjure nerd boy.

Billboard, March 14, 2009

SPOTLIGHT
MILEY CYRUS
The Climb (3:58)
Producer: John Shanks
Writers: J. Alexander, J. Mabe
Walt Disney/Hollywood
After building an empire on Disney’s “Hannah Montana,” Miley Cyrus is putting kid stuff aside. “The Climb” is her bid for vocal credibility, with a mature ballad (though ironically, the song is featured in the new “Hannah Montana” movie). Produced with grandeur by John Shanks, it features an inspiring lyric about life’s struggles: “Always gonna be another mountain, sometimes I’m gonna lose/Ain’t about how fast I get there/It’s the climb.” The track is also Cyrus’ first push for country acceptance, following the 2008 pop hits “7 Things” and “See You Again”—much like cross-format pal Taylor Swift. Among previous bids to be taken seriously—really, on any front—Cyrus successfully transitions here from lunchbox icon to lauded artist.—CT

SPOTLIGHT
THE SCRIPT
The Man Who Can’t Be Moved (4:00)
Producers: Danny O’Donoghue, Mark Sheehan, Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton
Writers: M. Sheehan, D. O’Donoghue
Epic
U.S. radio is fickle when it comes to other countries’ shining stars: Indulge another paint-by-numbers rapper or chance innovation that requires some sweat to break? Rest easy. First, trio the Script arrives in the States with a sure-fire success story as the best-selling new band of 2008 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, a No. 1 album and a World Music Award. But more so, launch single “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved,” which is already a smash in a dozen nations, possesses an easy, breezy vibe, a driving melody packed with one monster hook after another and a clever lyric about a dude patiently waiting for redemption from his lady: “If you’re missing me, thinking you’ll come back to the place we’d met/Gonna camp in my sleeping bag, I’m not gonna move.” Lead singer Danny O’Donoghue is awfully dapper, destined to charm the pants off of top 40’s female demo. The Script’s self-titled album is due March 17—from the same label that ably broke Adele. Programmers, if you’re not moved by the Script, kindly turn in your FCC license. You’re simply not serving the public interest.—CT

POP
SHONTELLE FEATURING AKON
Stuck With Each Other (3:20)
Producers: Rodney Jerkins, Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken
Writer: D. Warren
Universal Motown
Shontelle was studying to be an attorney until management allies of pal Rihanna in Barbados convinced her to pursue songs instead of subpoenas. Score, considering her clever, fashion-conscious debut single “T-Shirt,” which reached top 40’s top 15, No. 1 at R&B and No. 2 at dance. The follow-up “Stuck With You” reveals the singer as a formidable talent who’s on top of her innate glamour, as the song walks a neat line between contemporary R&B and pop, written by Diane Warren. Akon accompanies—but oddly sounds more like a nasal, overtly processed Anastacia than himself. Lyrically, the pair acknowledges its enduring alliance: “Nothing I’d rather do than sit with you forever/Can’t think of nothing better than to be stuck with you.” Less gimmicky than “T-Shirt,” the track is a better bid for career longevity. Shontelle should wear well across multiple formats.—CT

ROCK
LIVE
Forever (3:54)
Producer: CJ Eriksson
Writer: E. Kowalczyk
Action Front/Vanguard
Long-lived Live has been missing in action at U.S. radio for the past six years, since “Heaven” soared from the album “Birds of Pray.” Still, it’d be naïve to call the act’s new single “Forever”—from “Live at the Paradiso: Amsterdam”—a return to form, since the quartet never lost its mojo. This package, featuring its first career-spanning live performance DVD and CD and two new tracks (with “Purifier”), is an event amid the band’s 18-year history and includes classics “The Dolphin’s Cry,” “I Alone” and “Lightning Crashes.” “Forever” is vintage Live, with lead singer/songwriter Ed Kowalczyk shouting to the moon and promising, “I’ll stay with you til the end of the storm,” amid a hooky “ooh-ooh,” crunchy guitars and percussion. As ever, an ace.—CT

AC
JIM BRICKMAN FEATURING RUSH OF FOOLS
Never Far Away (3:46)
Producers: Rusty Varekamp, Jason Ingram, David Grow
Writers: K. Hughley, J. Ingram, W. Willis
Time Life
For 15 years, Jim Brickman has been one of AC’s most consistent hitmakers—quietly—because the composer/pianist calls upon a who’s who of vocalists to lead the call, such as Martina McBride, Donny Osmond, Olivia Newton-John, Lady Antebellum and Richie McDonald. But make no mistake: This guy is in charge of the enduring melodies that long ago propelled him past his “new age” persona. “Never Far Away” engages Rush of Fools, whose “Undo” was Christian AC’s most-played song in 2007, and appears on the act’s current CD “Wonder of the World.” This version anchors the career-spanning “Ultimate Love Songs: The Very Best of Jim Brickman,” issued by Time Life, which includes four new tracks. With the maestro on piano, the midtempo pop/rocker lyrically honors the Fools’ wives as lead singer Wes Willis and the band persistently tour. AC needed no convincing to indulge; in two months “Never” is dashing up the playlist. Brickman scores another coup, as his understated fortitude promises another 15 years’ command of the airwaves.—CT

TRIPLE A
CHRIS ISAAK
We Let Her Down (3:21)
Producer: Eric Ivan Rosse
Writer: C. Isaak
Publisher: C. Isaak, ASCAP
Reprise/Warner Bros.
Chris Isaak must be confounded. After a recording career on the verge of 25 years, he has but a single top 40 calling card: 1991’s “Wicked Game.” The persistently photogenic singer/songwriter is now starring in his own Biography Channel series, “The Chris Isaak Hour,” a music interview and performance show branded as “Inside the Actors Studio” for acts, including the likes of Trisha Yearwood, Stevie Nicks, Chicago, Glen Campbell and Michael Bublé. Accompanying “Mr. Lucky,” Isaak’s first studio album since 2002, is “We Let Her Down,” which, melodically and harmonically, is an engaging romp, but lyrically it’s a disturbing story about a woman whose fate is in question: “I told her I’d love her/Now that it’s too late, I see I let her down.” What in the world will it take to convince radio that Isaak is relevant? Oh, that’s right, TV is the new radio. Never mind then, FM.—CT