Italian Male Shirtlessness

While I am fond of posting pictures of shirtless stars every week, I do try to tie it all back to the mission of IMS which is to promote good male shirtlessness everywhere. To this end, I present the sexy and talented, Marco Calvani, a wonderful writer-director-actor that I met this summer in Italy, practicing good shirtlessness in his work. If only the directors that I've worked with would work in such a manner! Granted, this picture is of Marco working in Bali where I suspect shirtlessness is required, but I'm sure I would have better creative experiences in this type of environment. I'm working on how to get myself to Bali! In any case, since I know Marco, I can also say that in addition to holding to the 2 Point Standard, he is also a great human being which makes his good shirtlessness all the more appealing.

On the TV front, there was no new shirtlessness last night on GA, although it looks like Dr. Karev will be shirtless next week. Frankly, now that Gilles Marini is on B&S, I feel much more calm about meeting my shirtlessness quota every week. Sunday nights just got better. I can even handle Tommy coming back to the show and all of the whining that is sure to follow. On Sundays, I can handle almost anything! Until the next time, I am...

Yours in shirtlessnes,
Nandita
President
IMS

Guaranteed Good Shirtlessness

I know I have to stop posting the official IMS Poster Boy of 2009, but when he's on television and so delicious, I just can't help myself. I literally was close to tears when he came out of the pool on B&S last night. The fact that the cancer patient, the bridezilla, and the gay couple were all hovering on the edge of the pool waiting for him to emerge made me laugh like crazy until he actually stepped out. Then I was silent. And then a tear fell. Sometimes, television makes me so happy.

What actually took B&S to the next level was that after all his yummy swimming, Gilles got out of the pool to dance. My mom even watched the show because she loves ballroom. She loved Gilles on Dancing with the Stars last season and has declared that this season is no good since he isn't on. After the show, we had a little debrief in which she raved about his dancing while I raved about his shirtlessness. It was a nice mother/daughter moment.

And then of course the real crying happened whenever he spoke and said something nice. He is the ultimate in good male shirtlessness - 1) very fit, 2) definitely seen the sun though wearing sunscreen, and 3) kind personality. B&S is featuring the ultimate female fantasy, and I for one hope he becomes a series regular. ABC, please show him shirtless vacuuming next week. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

New Shirtlessness

I have suddenly been catching an awful lot of ads for a new series on TNT called "White Collar," and although I am one of those sad New Yorkers who pays for cable and yet only has 4 channels, I can tell you that the publicity makes me want to upgrade. The above pictured Matthew Bomer plays a con artist released from prison in order to help the FBI catch other con artists. I would say it is the television version of "Catch Me If You Can." I liked that movie, and I think that Mr. Bomer shows promise of some good shirtlessness. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, I am not upset that there was no shirtlessness on GA last night and very little McDreamy because I know that amazing shirtlessness is coming on Sunday. Sunday! I will suffer through stories of ill-behaved interns and the doctors who can't manage them because Gilles Marini will be shirtless and wet on Sunday. Sunday! I would have even tolerated another breathy and annoying monologue by Izzy knowing that good shirtlessness was on its way. Thankfully we are spared from that while Ms. Heigl spends time with her new adopted child. I'm so happy to see Gilles. It looks like he may even dance. And he'll definitely speak with that incredible French accent. Sunday night is going to be good. Sunday!

Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Hey Everybody! Hey!

Although I have lost my patience with B&S in the past, I have to hand it to them last night for giving me what I wanted and promising me more. Not only did last night's episode begin with a very long shirtless scene of Rob Lowe (who did give some unexpectedly good shirtlessness with anatomically accurate scar make-up), but then Sarah's trip to France produced the much anticipated romance of the season. Here's a picture of IMS Poster Boy 2009, Gilles Marini, as he will appear next week with one of the Walker women saying "Don't give him a towel." Next week may be the best episode of anything ever.

To back track, I have spent the last two weeks at the Theater for the New City in the East Village supporting my fellow writers of the Ma-Yi Writers' Lab and attending performances of the 2nd Asian American Theater Festival, and in all of this theater, no one has taken his shirt off. I didn't even hear a stage direction where someone might have taken his shirt off. And it has turned into winter here in New York which means that no one is walking the streets without a shirt either. So after the final day of performances, I curled up on the couch looking for a little bit of comfort. I'll admit, I was vulnerable, maybe even a little bit needy. And there he was, Mr. Marini asking so charmingly in French to the ever so put upon Sarah, "Puis-je vous aider?" I responded, "Oui! Vous pouvez m'aider!" In a break with my tradition of not talking on the phone during the quiet hours of DH and B&S, I called the vice president of IMS who confirmed that Mr. Marini was so sexy that he didn't even have to take his shirt off. He had us at "Puis-je."

Fast forward to the end of the show when I erupted into spontaneous applause for a scene in which Mr. Marini showed up on the porch wearing a jacket and then almost started to cry during the preview for next week. Suffice it to say that I will be watching and taping next week's episode and not be speaking to anyone from 10 to 11pm. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Shirtlessness for Bailey

I worked on a fundraiser for the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center last night which presented an award to President Bill Clinton, and so I am not really up to date on my shirtlessness. However, when setting my VCR (yes, I still use videotape) I noticed that Bailey, played by the lovely and talented Chandra Wilson, was doing a guest spot on "Private Practice" which involved kissing Taye Diggs. I have lost my patience with PP because of the absurd nature of their medical office and the lack of anyone taking their shirt off, but I did tape last night's episode because I am all for Bailey getting some good male shirtlessness. So the above post is in hopes that a strong career woman with integrity gets some good lovin' because she deserves it!

The good news from last night is that ADARC raised a lot of money for AIDS research. This organization is really an amazing leader in the field, and I was very honored to be part of the event. Unfortunately, I was moving gift bags when President Clinton was speaking and did not get to hear very much of his speech. But he did say hi to me. The bit of his speech that I did hear impressed upon me the need for better health care throughout the world because the majority of people dying from this terrible disease die not because of the expense of the treatment but rather the lack of a system to monitor it. Hanging around with a bunch of scientists who save people's lives put the shirtlessness in perspective. Good male shirtlessness is nice to have around, but creating functioning health care systems for the people of the world is crucial.

So along with advocating for shirtlessness, perhaps we can all take a little time to advocate for health care. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Recovering Shirtlessness

Apparently Gilles Marini is going to make 2010 sexy by being in a calendar by Fred Goudon, the photographer who helped him get his start. This is old news but I give it to you now as hope for better things because sometimes, that's all we need - assurances that something better is coming along. Last night I laid in the fetal position on the couch hoping and praying for Gilles Marini to make an appearance finally on B&S as the antidote to the traumatizing play reading that I had during the day. My prayers were answered nominally in the form of the "Next Week on Brother and Sisters" segment which showed Sarah kissing Mr. Marini in France. Just knowing that it is out there, makes me feel better. And now I want to go to France.

Some of you may wonder why I was so traumatized by a reading after finishing drinking in the above photo. My reading was held in a complex with many theaters, and one of the theater was housing a show that seemed to be very popular with the over-80 crowd. Unfortunately, two people from that show mistakenly came into mine. They were a little old couple who sat in the front row, and the husband repeated every line to his wife who was hard of hearing. What was unfortunate was that he was a little hard of hearing himself and quite loud with his translation. The overall effect was of being in an episode of "Mystery Science Theater" that featured my brand new play. While I was touched that this little old couple still went to the theater and helped each other, I felt awful for my actors who could also hear their lines coming back at them from the audience. The whole thing stressed me out, and I sought solace in my shows. ABC, shirtless Gilles Marini would have helped this girl out a LOT last night.

There's always next week. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Peaceful Shirtlessness

Continuing with my not-shirtless-but-could-be sequence, I give you Justin Chambers who was shirtless in the opening sequence of GA last night. I did not watch the full episode because I got home late from a reading that I directed and needed some sleep so that I can finish the next draft of my play this morning before going to rehearsal, but I appreciated that GA seems to be going in the right direction by opening with shirtlessness. This is what we have been advocating for here at IMS. Unfortunately, the sequence did remind me that all the good shirtlessness in the world cannot make up for bad character. Dr. Alex Karev has been annoying me this season, and therefore his shirtlessness did not persuade me to watch more. Hopefully McDreamy or McSteamy took their shirts off later in the episode. I'll watch tonight.

I am feeling a little dreamy this morning having woken up to the news of Barack Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. While I understand the confusion over his latest prize from even staunch Obama advocates, I am moved by the recognition of tone as a force in the world. I won't lie, every time the man speaks I start to cry because I am so overwhelmed by his words and the fact that he continues to use full sentences. I am biased. But I am also humbled because to me the Nobel Committee is recognizing the power of words and their profound impact on the world. In today's culture of everyone saying and writing (and blogging) whatever they want without concern for impact or tone, I have to say that I am in awe of the decision. What you say and how you say it matters. As a writer, I feel the profound importance of what I do, even on the smallest level.

My new play is getting a reading this Sunday. It is about women and power, and yes, the power of words. I am looking forward to hearing the brilliant cast bring my words to life, and I am excited that perhaps we can all change the world one word at a time. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Indian Shirtless By Request

Okay, so hot new desi rapper Jay Sean is not shirtless in the picture, but I think his arms let us know what kind of shirtlessness he is giving. If there are any doubts, please check out his latest video for the single, "Down." A friend sent it to me out of excitement for an Indian artist out there crossing over into the mainstream, and the opening sequence of "Down" suggested to me that he be posted immediately. I have received complaints that I don't post enough Indian men, and so for all of those out there who are more interested in the "Indians" than the "shirtlessness" in IMS, here's one for you.

I had a very long day yesterday and only made it though DH last night. I watched the opening sequence of B&S and the combination of Kevin's bad hair and Kitty crying made me think that I would have to save it for another day. Also, I have seen no signs of Gilles Marini. I need him to be on the show next week and shirtless in at least two scenes.

The good news from the day that kept me from my shows was that my new play seems to be coming along. I'm very excited to have a reading of "How to Get Rid of The Wife" at Theater for the New City next week as part of Ma-Yi's LabFest and the larger National Asian American Theater Festival. It's exciting to be part of a large group of artists producing new work, and hopefully lots of people will come out to support some theater created by people other than white men. Not that I don't like white men, but other people have something to say too! Sadly, no shirtlessness in this one, but I am still working on it. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Fall for Shirtlessness

I always forget how good modern dance can be for good male shirtlessness. Thank goodness I went to Fall for Dance at City Center on Wednesday night and partook in some excellent shirtlessness! Both Mark Dendy and Mark Morris presented pieces with lots of muscle-y torsos all over the stage and made me very happy indeed. Dendy's "Afternoon of a Faun," pictured above, was breathtaking. It was a non-stop ode to Diaghilev in which I really believed that the two dancers were animals rather than humans. Even the sweat flying off their bodies looked poetic. Mark Morris' "Grand Duo" was also stunning with its opening image of all the dancers dipping their fingers into a stream of light. Both of these choreographers used shirtlessness to highlight their lush and supple choreography to excellent effect. IMS definitely supports their efforts on behalf of the cause!

"A Steady Rain" opened on Broadway this week, and at the end of the review, it sounded as though Ben Brantley was sitting next to an IMS member. I wish it had been me, but if all goes according to plan, it will be me next month. While I am mad that neither Mr. Craig nor Mr. Jackman has found a way to take off their shirts, I do feel compelled to check out two poster boys in person. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS