Favorite Reason To Visit The North Pole: Ivan Sergei

I don't think I have ever seen the 2006 tv movie Santa Baby in it's entirety. But...Every time the Jenny McCarthy flick appears on television I do have to stop to enjoy the beauty that is actor Ivan Sergei.



Ivan go his big break in John Woo's 1996 film Once A Thief. Ivan, along with most of the cast returned to join the 1997 tv show based on the film. That show only lasted one season but Ivan was not out of work for long. Ivan has been seen on television in stints on Jack & Jill, Charmed, Gravity, and Crossing Jordan. On the big screen he has had roles in The Break-Up, The Opposite Of Sex and Scorched. The next time Santa Baby airs, I really must sit down and watch the whole thing...



Below: Ivan in Gravity.

Yet Another Reason to see Burlesque

I am not sure If I am looking forward to Burlesque or not. While I am a huge fan of Cher the actress (especially in Silkwood, Come Back to the Five and Dime and Mask)I am not as big a fan of the 'Vegas' Cher. But... I am not sure what more the producers of Burlesque could have done to attract an audience to their movie. If Cher, Christina Aguilera, Cam Gigandet & Eric Dane in the cast are not enough how about 90210's Blair Redford. Although Blair does not have a big role, ever since I saw the caps of him on 90210 I have been thinking about the perfect chest of his!

Justin Hartley as The Green Arrow

Justin Hartley is without a doubt one of televisions hottest actors and Smallville has always known how to showcase it's male talent. I have not watched much of Smallville the last 2 seasons, but this scene (so wonderfully capped by Superherofan) might just drag me back!



Bound, naked, in the dark,vulnerable. I am sure to many a turn on, but to many a frightening thought. Yet...watching it can somehow a turn on.

Now I am not into anything that brings anyone harm, but.... when you have characters like The Green Arrow or James Bond in Casino Royale, who you know are going to be just fine the results can be quite erotic. Not sure where the idea of the 'straight' villain, tying up and stripping the 'straight' hero for information came from but it is a phenomenon which also shows up in comics (Thanks to Just Beautiful Men for the inset photos from Marvel comics: Hawkeye from New Avengers Annual #03 2010 edition)

Got to give it to the WB!








Thanks to Superhero fan, DarkJoey75 and Just Beautiful Men for the post concept!

Boris Kodjoe Uncovered

Every fall tv lets loose pilot after pilot, most not lasting through to the holidays. When I first say the previews for NBC's Undercovers I had little interest. I am not a big fan of tv cop shows generally and figured this is one I would skip.

That was until...



Actors Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw strutted across the stage at the Emmy's a couple of weeks ago. I have long lusted after Boris and am glad he is getting a shot at a network show. On top of that, Undercovers was created by J.J Abrams (Lost, Felicity) so I am counting on there being something different about this show.



Kodjoe was born in Vienna, Austria, the son of Ursula, a German psychologist, and Eric Kodjoe, a Ghanaian physician. Name one of the world sexiest people in 2002, Kodjoe is known to many for his years on Showtimes Soul Food. (see below).
Kodjoe married his Soul Food co-star Nicole Ari Parker in 2005 and they have two children. Their daughter Sophie was born with spina bifida and both Boris and Nicole work at raising money for the cause. Boris, a former school tennis star and former model is also known for his roles in Doing Hard Time, Gospel and Resident Evil: Afterlive.

Undercovers premiers Wednesday, Sept. 22nd on NBC

A Look Back: The Astin Brothers

In the late 80's and early 90's, brothers Sean and Mackenzie Astin's smiling faces were seen all through the teen magazines. Their mother, Patty Duke is a well known actress known for her various tv roles as well as her battles with mental health issues and work with the Screen Actors Guild.

I was in my early teens at the time and remember crushing over MacKenzie when he was on 'The Facts Of Life' and Sean in 'Toy Soldiers'. The Astin brothers had and have two of the most adorable faces, Mackenzie's father is actor John Astin (The Adams Family) and Sean's dad is music promoter and writer Michael Tell although it was once rumored his dad was Desi Arnaz Jr who he most certainly resembles.



Both Mackenzie and Sean have worked steadily since their time as teen idols. Sean most recently appeared on tv's 24 and of course his time in The Lord Of The Rings saga. Mackenzie has been seen the last several years on tv shows such as Lost, House, Psych and My Name is Earl.

Mackenzie in 'Widows Kiss' (1996).






Sean in 'Toy Soldiers' (1991)





More Recent Shots of MacKenzie and Sean

Nice To Meet You Brando Eaton

Above: Brando by Tim Ricks.



With appearances in various tv shows and movies I am sure many of you are familiar with actor Brando Eaton. Not sure how this talented guy got by my radar, but it was not until watching season 4 of Dexter on DVD that I was introduced to Brando.



Dexter's forth season was a mixed bag for me. John Lithgow's Trinity Killer was at times terrifying (when introducing his crimes, with his 10 year old kidnap victim and with his family) and at other times cartoonish and over the top (usually in his scenes with Dexter). I love the exploration of relationships in the tv shows I watch and hate saying this but Dexter sometimes needs more action and terror and a bit less relationship exploration, it is getting a tad repetitive.



The introduction of Arthur Mitchell's family was a highpoint of the season. This complex foursome was difficult to watch yet highly entertaining. Brando Eaton played Arthur's son Jonah who is on the verge on pulling away and turning the tables on his father.

24 year old Eaton has been acting on stage since the age of 5. At 18 he left home and put all his energy into carving out a career in Hollywood. He began on television in shows like Bionic Woman, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Journeyman, The Unit and Zoey 101. His looks and talent quickly led to bigger roles in Nip/Tuck, Secret Life Of The American Teenager and Dexter. Eaton's film work has included; Balls Out and Quarantine.

You can learn more about Brando by checking out Absolutbrando.net, an amazing site dedicated to this talented actor. You can also follow Brando on Twitter HERE:


Three photos above by Connor Courtland.

Below: Brando with John Lithgow in 'Dexter'.



Below: Brando in 'The Secret Life Of The American Teenager' (2009-2010).



Below: Brando in 'Balls Out: The Gary Houseman Story' (2009).