If you're like us, by now you've about had your fill of "holiday" films, especially since so many of them are terrible. For every Best Christmas Pageant Ever, there's a Christmas With the Kranks or Four Christmases or Surviving Christmas.

Even the "classics" don't hold up anymore. We can't watch A Christmas Story since it became "that movie with that kid who went on to do porn" ... and then of course there's It's A Wonderful Life. We know we're in the minority, but the town of Bedford Falls was a hell of a lot more realistic without George Bailey. Drunks in sleazy bars, bitter old maids, certified crazy kin ... now that's "home for the holidays!"

So we've declared a moratorium on Christmas movies (lest we lose our holiday good cheer) and if you've decided to do the same, join us after the break for a list of films you might want to skip. They may seem perfectly innocent and safe to watch, but you may have forgotten that they all take place during this special time of year.

In other words, they're musts-to-avoid!

Happy Halloween, homos!  Today is a day where cross-dressing is encouraged (if not co-opted by the hetero-set) and walking around with a gaping head wound or an axe is acceptable in the workplace, so enjoy it while you can.  In honor of the day we thought we'd take a look at some of the Horror Hotties of years past that made our blood boil and scared our pants off ... in every way possible. 

There have been a number of gay-themed horror films over the years but guess what guys?  You won't find any of them in my list. Instead I'm going back to the films of my youth (for the most part) and giving you the boys that made me wish they'd take a machete to my skull. Hurts so good!

While I'm a huge horror fan, I'm no bloody Prom Queen like our boy Brian Juergens so don't be all judgy-judge with my choices.  While Jason Voorhees was kinda hot with that burlap sack on his head and Freddy's abs looked toned under that scarred and charred skin of his, they sadly didn't make the list.  So who did?  There's villains, heroes, targets, homos, and even cartoons to behold because that's how I (and heads) roll.

Turn off all the lights, make sure the doors are locked and the windows are shut ... because here's my list of horror hotties.

Happy birthday to out musician Rufus Wainwright (seen here playing in England earlier this month)!

In a continued effort to bring you all that is important in the world of gay entertainment and ensure that you are being spoon-fed images of gorgeous, commoditized manflesh, we present the newly-minted AfterElton Briefs. Following the usual assortment of carefully-selected news items, interested readers can find a refreshing pic of a hot man in underwear after the jump. Yes, we're serious.

• EW's Michael Ausiello (how weird is it to say that after all these years?!) nabbed Ugly Betty's Michael Urie and Becki Newton at the TCA for some video scoopage: Cliff will be back, there will be drama, and ... Wilhelmina wields a sledgehammer in the first ep?

• John Barrowman and hubby Scott Gill may be looking to adopt an Asian baby, and on the other hand they may be opting for a surrogate. Or, you know, they may wait to see if they just stumble across one in the cabbage patch. (We now return you to your regularly scheduled slow news day.)

• Composer Danny Elfman discusses his in-the-works score for Gus Van Sant's Milk, noting that "the performances from Sean Penn and the cast are great. I'm really enjoying myself so far." Elfman also scored Van Sant's Good Will Hunting, and earned an Oscar nod for his work.

• Homophobicadvertisingpaloozagate! Ad Age's Bob Garfield writes an open letter to Omnicom's head calling out his company's track record for homophobic spots, while Nike draws ire for ads that use the fear straight men apparently have of other men jamming their crotches into their faces to sell basketball shoes. 

• So Christian Bale allegedly assaulted his sister and mother at a hotel the night before The Dark Knight premiered in London. Meanwhile, Bale says, "Eh ... not so much." I'll believe the accusations when witnesses report hearing "Hip to Be Square" blaring from his hotel room at the time of the incident.

And today's Briefs are brought to you by...

Ah, summer. It's the time for having friends over in the back yard for some lemonade and barbecue, catching a game at the ballpark and meeting up at the local megaplex to catch the latest blockbuster film. 

Given that today is also the last day to cast your votes for the AfterElton Hot 100, we thought we'd provide you with a handy list of summer's box office hunks for inspiration.

Enjoy! 

Robert Downey Jr.
in Iron Man (In theatres now)

As a Marvel comics reader, I was never a big fan of Tony Stark (except for that issue of The Avengers where The Molecule Man destroyed his power armor and Tony spends the issue wearing only a blazer wrapped around his waist), but Robert Downey Jr. has me reconsidering. He certainly makes Tony Stark look good.

Emile Hirsch and Matthew Fox
in Speed Racer (In theatres now)

When I first heard that the Wachowskis were adapting anime classic Speed Racer for the big screen, my first reaction was my standard "remake shrug". I started paying attention, however, when I heard that Hirsh had been cast as the titular character; there's something about his features that make him perfect for playing a classic anime hero. Speed Racer also stars Matthew Fox (who came in at number 46 in our Hot 100 last year) who, sadly, will be covering his face up as Racer X. Still, you can still easily identify him by his strong jaw.

Ben Barnes
in Prince Caspian (Opens May 16)

When I read the Narnia books as a kid, I always imagined Prince Caspian as looking like one of those stiff and stern-faced guys from the Prince Valliant comics I tried to follow every Sunday. Well, the posters for the new Prince Caspian film certainly changed that. Barnes is a new name to most of us, having been in only a few other films, but I suspect we'll be hearing his name a lot, judging from the way I can't help but stop and stare every time I see a Prince Caspian poster.

Shia LaBoeuf and Harrison Ford
in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Opens May 23)

At some point I blinked and that kid from Holes suddenly became a good-looking young man able to pull a film to the top of the box office (too bad one of those films was Transformers). Now he's getting a shot at the Indiana Jones torch by playing the sidekick in the latest Indy film. Shia's not the only hottie in the film, of course, as Harrison Ford has aged well and is still mighty nice to watch.

David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, Jason Lewis and Chris Noth
in Sex and the City: The Movie (Opens May 30)

When Sex and the City was one of the main reasons to have an HBO subscription, the show was a hot topic among gay men who liked to argue whether they were more like Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte or Samantha. When the series ended, all four of the SatC ladies had found a guy they could love for the long term. Since each guy represents a different type, both physically and in personality, that raises a new question: which boyfrind could you see yourself ending up with? Laid back regular guy Steve (Eigenberg)? Career-minded and emotionally guarded Mr. Big (Noth)? Sweet but sometimes schlubby Harry (Handler)? Hunky and supportive Smith (Lewis)?

• OutZone has a handy-dandy roundup of Zac Efron fansites, including the creepy and gay-baiting ones.
• A mini-profile of Hot 100 vet Christian Bale, in which he reveals that he plays not one, but TWO incarnations of Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes' upcoming headtrip biopic, I'm Not There.



• Dan Kroll at SoapCentral posted a forum on the ATWT "Nuke" kiss (along with a very personal essay on the event and what surrounds it) and the comments are very encouraging. Sure, considering Dan started the site, the visitors are likely a little more reasonable and open to "that kind of thing," but it's still nice to see. (t/y Wayman!)
• What we won't hear reported about Larry Craig
• One of John Barrowman's many busy clones (as there is simply no way that one man can make as many public appearances as he apparently does!) will host a gala tribute to composer Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly!, Mame) in London next month.