Whine & Cheese

Apolo and Helio Naked (Kinda Sorta)

First off, apologies for the potential/probable NSFW-ness of this post.  But in some cases, nudity (without really showing anything) is artistic and I think this post qualifies... but just in case, if you are wary... don't scroll down much further!

The 3rd Annual ESPN "Body Issue" is out this week and, as always, it always causes a stir.  Soccer goalie, and current DWTS contestant, Hope Solo seems to be getting most of the press this year.  But, needless to say, not sharing any of the ladies' photos here!  And truthfully, I wasn't going to share... but then I noticed a lot of hits to W&C today (let's say the hits are not as they were in the blogging hey-days!), and saw that most of them were looking for some form of "Apolo Anton Ohno Naked"... which I am guessing is leading folks to this post (which wasn't all that much).

Anyhow, here are a couple more pictures of Apolo in the buff ....

And just for good measure, also including another DWTS champion... Helio Castroneves.  I remember at the time of his tenure on the dancing show that folk were clamoring for pix of him showing some skin, so here you go!  Kind of like this one too as it does capture all the "fun" that seems to be Helio.

 

While You're Waiting...

More Rafa in his undies!!

I've kind of lost my momentum/mojo on a lot of things of late... work, reading, posting book reviews... umm, life!  Haha... so until I get going again, here's some filler material... the latest shot from Rafael Nadal's Aramani jeans and underwear modeling gig!  Given how modest he seems, I am still shocked... but quite pleasantly so... with these photos.

Best Thing About "Weeds"

You have to go waaay back to July for my last "eye candy" post, so long overdue (again)... but was highly amused this morning by this entry Entertainment Weekly's "Summer Hotties Awards" feature.

Despite my love for Mary Louise Parker, I think Showtime's Weeds is at least 2 or 3 seasons past it's expiration date. I keep threatening to stop watching (even mid-season!), but we keep on watching.  Why?  Well, have to agree with EW on this one:

Hunter Parrish winning the "We're ONLY watching this show for you" award!

 

Dolce Vita: Francois Arnaud

I've been meaning to do this post for a long time now, especially since It's been awhile since I've done an "eye candy" post. 

Since our last Italy trip and in preparation for our return later this year, we have been immersing ourselves in all things Italy... and thus we tuned in for the first season of The Borgias on Showtime.  Didn't know much going in other than Jeremy Irons was the lead as Rodrigo Borgia, better known as Pope Alexander VI, and the notorious reputation of the Borgia clan and even there I only had some cursory awareness of Rodrigo's daughter, Lucrezia Borgia.

Anyhow, it wasn't long before all that didn't much matter and we had a "And who do we have here?" moment in Cesare (pronounced Chez-er-ray) Borgia...

What really motivated me to finally do this post, was that I was going to add the actor who plays Cesare to my "birthday stud" roster and saw that I just missed his birthday ... July 5, 1985 (doing the math, newly 26 as I type)... so anyhow, meet French Canadian actor, Francois Arnaud!

I am not sure if these pix do him justice... but he has the whole hair thing going on (which is a "thing" for me)... but beyond that there is a real palpable sexual energy to him, and that's all counteracted with the whole forbidden priest/cardinal thing (when Rodrigo ascends - well manipulates his way - to the papacy, Cesare works his way into becoming a cardinal)... and believe me he doesn't abstain from much of anything, definitely a naughty boy... which again, only increases the attraction.

Though okay, this picture ... along with the sexual tension with his little sister Lucrezia might just be a a tad creepy...

... or not, it's all acting after all... right!?!

Anyhow, if you are wondering what he looks like when he's not in priest/cardinal mode here's a shot I found for the press tour for the show...

Still pretty darn cute, huh?   In all the non-Borgias pix that I have stumbled across for him, he seems to have that toussled, just-out-of-bed kind of thing going on.

Rafa Davis Cup Changeover

Am working on my next book post (so far, so good in keeping up-to-date with them in 2011)... and waiting for more Rafael Nadal shots from his Armani campaign... but in the mean time, Rafawas back on the tennis court for the first time this past weekend since having to withdraw from the Australian Open.

Here's a bit of shirt change action as Rafa easily won both his matches vs. Belgium in the the first round of this year's Davis Cup.  Looks like he still managed to stay in shape during his injury recovery...

James Franco's Tighty Whities

This morning I am seeing that Anne Hathaway and James Franco are pretty much getting trashed for their hosting duties for last night's Oscar telecast.

That led me to joke that the only thing that James Franco seemed to impress folks with last night was his ass in tights.  Agree?

I agree it wasn't a stellar hosting job.  Hathaway seemed a bit too giddy/gushy and Franco seemed distracted and/or "deer in the headlights" (and/or stoned)... but regardless, I still found them both adorable, but alas don't see a repeat performance anytime in the near future.

But I don't think it was the hosts or the pacing (which was thankfully free from drag it out tributes other than an "In Memorium" with no applause... what fun is that?!), it's that the Oscars have become anti-climactic.  There are too many awards that lead up to the big one.  I am not sure if all they all always existed... or if, thanks to the Internet, that we know more about them (or that there are just more people chiming in re: predictions)... but is there any good reason why awards doled out by the Director's or Screen Actor's Guild would be any different when those very same (or very similar) individuals vote on the Oscars as well?!  I am not sure what can be done about it, but I am guessing surprise Oscar winners will continue to be a rarity.

More Glee Eye Candy

Back-to-back posts with GLEE eye-candy on back-to-back days... what's going on here? 

Despite what it may seem, I am not the biggest GLEE fan in the world.  I find it to be a wonderful guilty pleasure, but pretty inconsistent quality-wise (and IMHO, acting-wise... other than Jane Lynch) -- for instance, after a pretty darn good Valentine's Day episode I thought last night's "Comeback"-themed show was pretty weak. 

But alas, I am not here to analyze the show or be a Gleek wet blanket... just have a few more pictures to share.  My buddy Mo left me on comment on yesterday's post with Darren Criss' sweater pull-off shot... with a link to a version of the picture that was  not as tightly cropped (pardon the pun, as you shall see) on the lower part of the pic... and while I say it's still a bit odd shot, this one certainly has bit more... ahem!...  artistic merit.

I was also amused by the other comment left on that post, while I appreciate "Dr" dropping by and leaving a comment I was befuddled by the accusation that "There's no rumours about Blaine having a "romance" with anyone other than Kurt"... all you need to do is Google "Blaine bisexual" and you will see there were plenty of rumors, whether it is ultimately inaccurate/false and/or clarified later by Ryan Murphy doesn't stop it from being a rumor... and what fun would it be if all rumors had to turn out to be true, ha?!  But just to defend myself, here is just one line from one article:

After rumors started to swirl all over the internet via TVLine that a certain gay character on a major television show would turn out to be bisexual, some sources started to claim that this character in question was actually going to be Darren Criss' Blaine from "Glee" -- some even took it a step further and said that he would have some sort of fling with Rachel.

It appears we will get (or start to get) our answer next week as the previews show the first person that we'll see Blaine ever kissing on the show is a girl!  Given the gay powers behind this show, I have no doubt that Blaine will remain gay, but am interested to see how this all plays out.  I'm guessing "Dr" is not as old enough to remember gay TV characters turning bi along the way (Dynasty and even the groundbreaking Soap - I think - come to mind)

And while I am here, one of the highlights of last night's show was when Lauren made her GLEE club debut and to help her nerves, pictured everyone in their underwear. 

So here are the "if you blinked, you may have missed it" screen-caps of Sam (Chord Overstreet, in his W&C debut I believe) and W&C favorite Mike/Harry Shum.

Again, I am gleeful that all of the above men are very much of legal age... though still acknowledge the creepiness factor of them playing high school students. 

If you are wanting more... browse through the relatively new W&C Glee category.

Darren Criss - Chest Peek-A-Boo

I told you I would be back if there were any breaking news in the eye candy department.

The latest are some shots of heterosexual Darren Criss, GLEE's Blaine, for an upcoming issue Out Magazine.  Darren/Blaine I think is one of those characters that make both the girls and guys swoon, and he certainly does that in our household.  I think the sweater pull-up shot is a bit strange, though nothing wrong with open shirt shot on the right...  just wish we had some eye contact or even a smile here... and alas, I sadly can not add this to my Shirtless category, but close!

Rumor has it that Blaine will soon find some romance on GLEE, but not what you'd expect... and certainly something I'm not too happy about, but we'll see how the show handles it.

In the mean time, Darren/Blaine can keep on being my teenage dream (btw, he's 24 -- born February 5, 1987... oy, that makes me feel old!)

After I put the above post/pix together, I stumbled upon some more shots from this particular shoot ... got the "eye contact" I was looking for, even if the trade-off is they are of a more clothed variety (tho the right one in the shorts is interesting).

 

More Rafa in Armani: His Humps

Here's another shot of Rafael Nadal from his new modeling gig with Armani. 

Ummm... not complaining at all, but is this supposed to be selling underwear?  Is he wearing any?

Needless to say my eyes were immediately drawn to a certain spot and, for some odd reason, The Black Eyed Peas "My Humps" popped into my head:

What you gon' do with all that ass?
All that ass inside them jeans?
I'm a make, make, make, make you scream
Make you scream, make you scream.

I have to admit I prefer the first two shots from the campaign that hit the 'net... the hair is a bit too Kenickie from Grease... a definitely more (over)-coiffed vs how Rafa normally goes through life, either on or off the court.

As always, you can get of the Spaniard by browsing my Rafael Nadal category.

UPDATE:  I just read the campaign in addition to underwear is for Armani jeans... so that explains it!

Rafael Nadal for Armani

I was thinking I needed to go/find/post some shirt change pictures of Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open to get back to showing some beefcake... but just stumbled upon the first pictures of Rafa as the latest model for Armani underwear, and well... hot damn!

Speechless.