Monday, November 30, 2009

Too Late Brothers & Sisters

I start my Italian class today, and in homage of that fact, I am posting a nice shirtless ad for an Italian fragrance. Also, I got nothing last night except for a picture of shirtless Gilles on a computer screen for 3 seconds. Really? We are going to show shirtless pictures of Gilles after he leaves the show? This is terrible. I'm disappointed in B&S, not only for squandering their excellent opportunity to be a leader in good male shirtlessness with Mr. Marini, but also for throwing away any and all opportunities to have in depth discussions of any of the myriad of issues that they raise. Kitty's cancer treatment seemed to consist of one trip to the chemotherapy center. Luc left before we could even see what it would be like for Sarah to be vulnerable. Nora has hot shower sex before we even see her navigate her own issues with having a boyfriend the age of some of her children. And now we are leaping into a wedding and pregnancy which will no doubt be undone in one episode next week without exploring how people navigate unplanned pregnancies in their relationships. Boo, B&S. The only positive things I can say about last night's episode is that I liked the phone call scene and I was grateful that Ryan was not on the show.

I'm just hoping that my Italian teacher is male and shirtless to make up for my disappointment. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Friday, November 27, 2009

Reasons to be Thankful



On the day after Thanksgiving, it is always a good idea to extend the gratefulness inventory for an extra day and reflect on what really matters. I know a certain member of IMS who has seen the Twilight movie three times since its release last Friday, and I can only imagine that she is thankful for the above pictured, Taylor Lautner, who apparently needs to remove his shirt before turning into a werewolf in the film. I'll admit that after having exactly no interest in the films at all, a clip of Mr. Lautner and his friends standing around shirtless in anticipation of becoming werewolves moved this movie into the "Must See" column. These boys exhibit both fitness and seeing the sun (unlike their co-star, Robert Pattinson), and now all I could wish for is that they were born before 1990.

Something that I am truly thankful for is People magazine. Not only has this magazine calmed my nerves on countless bumpy flights all over the world, it has also provided me with a lot of good male shirtlessness. Check out the montage it made for Thanksgiving. What's not to love? I am very grateful to their website for creating such a delightful homage to the cause and to the IMS member who alerted me to its existence. Thank you.

Finally, I am grateful for all the IMS members around the world promoting the cause of good male shirtlessness. It is not an easy road that we have chosen, but I have no doubt that our efforts will eventually be rewarded with a better shirtless world, one torso at a time. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Monday, November 23, 2009

Vacation Shirtlessness



I'm home in upstate New York for the holidays, and I have to admit that Buffalo is not where anyone should look for good shirtlessness in November. That said, I have kept up my tradition of watching lots of reruns and remembered how much I enjoy Julian McMahon while enjoying an episode of "Charmed" this morning. I realize he is not shirtless in this picture, but the arms are working for me. I also like the twine around his neck like a bow, as if he is a nice little present for us all.

I enjoyed my People magazine on the plane yesterday, in spite of the lack of shirtlessness in the issue. Besides, Gilles, the only person shirtless was Jerry O'Connell in an expose about living life in a speedo. He doesn't exactly do it for me, but I appreciated the effort. A picture of him vacuuming in a speedo would have been useful. Note to the editors of People: please do not skimp on the shirtlessness in the "Sexiest Man Alive" issue; it is clear what readers want.

So I'm off to my usual slew of visits and appointments while I'm here. I look forward to Thanksgiving when I will give thanks for more good male shirtlessness in the world. I hope you will too. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Friday, November 20, 2009

Sexiest Shirtlessness Alive



My writers' lab ran too late for me to watch GA, but I have plenty to say on the shirtless front this morning because this week, People magazine announced its "Sexiest Man Alive" winner. And although Mr. Marini was not named #1 (that distinction went to Johnny Depp), he was featured shirtless in the magazine. I ran right out and bought it, though I am saving some of it for my flight home on Sunday.

In any case, I watched the announcement live on the Today show on Wednesday morning which was truly a hilarious experience. Today's Natalie Morales could barely contain her excitement that Mr. Marini was on the show. As soon as he entered, she ignored the woman from People altogether and focused exclusively on Gilles. I can't say that I blame her. Check out his cute film about shooting his Sexiest Man spread. Also he plugged his sexy calendar (see above photo) the proceeds of which go to a charity to help sick children. He is too much - sexy, sensitive, and shirtless! I know what's on my Christmas list! Santa? Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Monday, November 16, 2009

Need New Shirtlessness



Last night I found myself on the phone with the vice president of IMS for most of B&S because I just couldn't make it through the show alone. Granted I was happy that two people had taken their shirts off on DH which has been a shirtless wasteland for a while, but the travesty that followed was quite a blow to me. Honestly, how could any one in their right mind give more air time to Ryan than Luc? What is anyone thinking? I am really distraught that ABC signed a 5 episode deal with Gilles Marini that apparently involved him not speaking or being seen for three of those episodes. After weeks of knowing that he is living with Sarah but never seeing him with her, last night we discovered that she is really mean and foolish and a shrew which is, of course, the most common portrait of women over 40 in the media. I am disgusted.

So after the show, I asked the VP to suggest some new shirtlessness to me since I don't even have the heart to post dear sweet Gilles this week, and he obliged me with Ian Somerhalder who is on "The Vampire Diaries" on the CW and was formerly on "Lost." Obviously this man knows something about shirtlessness and is on a show that allows him to use his skills. Thank you CW.

I am going to have to cry into my tea for the rest of the morning over wasted opportunities for shirtlessness. Then I will find out when "Vampire Diaries" is on and hope that the vampire bit does not prevent the actors from actually seeing the sun. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Friday, November 13, 2009

Almost Forgot the Shirtlessness!



Please forgive the late posting. The drab weather and changed time along with lack of shirtlessness last night caused me to shut down today. I almost completely forgot that I needed to post until my yoga class when one of my fellow yogis took off his shirt in class. While it makes me a little bit nervous to have a shirtless man near me when I am supposed to be emptying my mind of all thought, I have to say it was a welcome addition to this otherwise overcast day.

So GA disappointed again on the shirtless front, although I did enjoy watching Bailey squirm when Odell asked her if she was having an affair with the chief. I am posting Jesse Williams again because even in a shirt, you can tell that he gives good shirtlessness. I'm glad he didn't break Hunt and Yang up, but he should take his shirt off with someone soon. Maybe that Mercy West girl that likes Alex. Also, kudos to Ellen Pompeo for returning to the show so quickly after giving birth. I am amazed that she managed to have a baby without being absent from a single episode. I hope this means that she was surrounded by a supportive writing team who allowed her to film all of her scenes early. I enjoyed all the ways they hid her pregnancy, none more than when they hid her by making Patrick Dempsey take off his shirt. That is what I call a supportive workplace.

I'm off to the Jane Austen exhibit at the Morgan Library this weekend. While I'm sure there won't be any shirtlessness there (nor should there be on account of the paleness factor), I am excited to indulge in my Regency period fantasies for a brief moment. They will probably prepare me for the terrible episode of B&S that lies ahead when dear Gilles will leave the show with his shirt still on. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Monday, November 9, 2009

Grumpy IMS President

I think you all know at least one reason as to why I am grumpy this morning. Gilles Marini was only in one scene on B&S last night, that too a long shot with all his clothes on. Why would anyone waste his talent so? At least give us a little kiss and cuddle on the couch and a chance to hear his sexy accent. There was even a benefit dinner where he could have shown off some of his sexy dance moves. I am totally confused. It looks like Luc and Sarah are breaking up next week, and I am just really disappointed in how the 2009 IMS Poster Boy could be so under-utilized. Grrr...

This disappointing episode came on the heels of sitting through a series of readings which prominently featured lesbian subplots. I'm all for everyone being able to express themselves, but I raise an eyebrow when three of five short plays written by straight men feature lesbian plot lines that involve on stage make-out sessions and long discussions about one's private parts. Something does not seem quite right.

At least I did get some shirtlessness on GA with Alex's bare-chested kangaroo hold plot line. He still really bothers me as a character, but I have to hand it to anyone who can film most of his scenes shirtless. Even McSteamy has not given us that much shirtlessness in one episode. And of course, I loved that Bailey was the one who delivered the IMS mantra "Take your shirt off!" I'm going to hold off on commenting too much on the fact that Callie and Arizona were wearing copious amounts of pink lipstick even when waking up to ringing pagers in the middle of the night (see above); just, I find it weird.

I'm going to hope for the best for next week. Even if Luc does have to leave the show, I hope his exit scene will feature him ripping off his shirt and running out the door. It would only be fitting. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Friday, November 6, 2009

Wishful Thinking

When I came home from my writers' lab last night, I realized that I had not programmed the correct channel on the VCR and instead had an hour of Yankees victory coverage recorded on NY1. This was not what I had planned. So I have no idea of what happened, although I'm sure that there was shirtlessness from the commercial. I hope there was more where that came from and spread out among the fine doctors of Seattle's Grace Hospital. The vice president of IMS and I recently discussed how we wished that the new import from Mercy West, Dr. Jackson Avery, played deliciously by Jesse Williams, should take off his shirt soon. A little bit of internet research revealed that Mr. Williams does have shirtless experience as shown above from a production photo of Edward Albee's "Sandbox" at the Cherry Lane Theater two seasons ago. How I wish I had seen this production! In any case, he is clearly very good at shirtlessness, and I think that his character on GA could benefit from his experience.

I have high hopes that this weekend will prove a better use of Gilles Marini's experience on B&S and that there will be both shirtlessness and dancing on Sunday night. I have come to realize that Gilles plays the ultimate female fantasy on that show, a hot man who does things like listen and make lunch, and after years of sitting through many male fantasies on television and movies, I do not think 5 shirtless episodes of B&S is too much to demand. Really! Tomorrow I have one of my female fantasy plays getting a reading at the Bleecker Street Theater. In it a young man fresh out of college pursues his older and more senior co-worker by observing her, doing things to make her life easier, and threatening to take his shirt off. I'm committed to writing a play with shirtlessness by this time next year in response to the number of man-boy plays with lesbian sex subplots I am continuously subjected to. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Monday, November 2, 2009

Excuse me, ABC!



I know that I said I could tolerate Tommy's return to B&S if Gilles was on the show, but sadly, that is really only possible if Gilles takes his shirt off. Last night was disappointing to say the least because Gilles was barely on at all while Tommy whined and cried at yet another explosive Walker family dinner. Why, ABC, why? Have you suddenly gotten in cahoots with the Broadway producers of "A Steady Rain" and decided on the strategy of using IMS poster boys in your shows but keeping them fully clothed as a marketing ploy? This doesn't make any sense! I'll admit that I did tear up when Luc brought Sarah a homemade lunch to take care of her, but it did not make up for the annoying scene of Tommy and Kitty sitting by the pool talking about parenting. See the above picture for tips on how to make discussions of parenting sexy: take off your shirt and be seen with children. The only saving grace of last night's episode was that it appeared that Tommy is going away again for another long time. Good-bye!

What I learned last night was that we still have a lot to do with IMS. Every time we think we are making headway, we are faced with how much more there is. I sympathize with those pushing for health care reform. The work is just never done. Let me take this moment to acknowledge all of you who are fighting the brave fight for good male shirtlessness and rally you to continue with your work towards making fitness a requirement for both sexes. We are making the world a better place, one torso at a time. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS