Olympic Shirtlessness

In honor of the most decorated Olympian of the Winter Games, I give you a very cute shirtless picture of Apolo Ohno. His impressive achievement and willingness to take off his shirt, plus his Dancing with the Stars win, makes me really admire this Olympian. I have barely watched any of the Olympics, but every recap that I watch in the morning reduces me to tears as I eat my English muffin. The Canadian skater who skated after her mother passed away literally had me weeping. I've cried more during these Olympics than any others, I think, starting with Opening Ceremonies with the Georgian team entering minus their luge team mate who died during a training run. This morning I have been spared the cry fest by the continuous coverage of the winter storm.

In any case, I'm hoping that more good shirtlessness will come my way this weekend. Now that Gilles is back, my heart is doing a happy dance towards Sunday. I'll be on a plane, flying home from a quick trip upstate to see mygrandmother, and I hope that I will be able to keep my exuberance under wraps while in a public space. Obviously, last week's shouting, clapping, and crying will not be appropriate. Sometimes, it is not easy to be the President of IMS. But I will carry on and continue to be...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

The Return of Gilles

Dear IMS members, this morning I wake up delirious with joy because Gilles has returned to B&S. A better decision could not have been made on this show. I literally was shouting "I love you, Gilles" at the beginning of the episode and then began to cry at the end. Word is that he is a series regular now. Thank you, ABC, thank you. I even had fun during DH last night in spite of the no shirtlessness and stripper storyline because the show got back to its roots with wry satire that is so clever, I suspect it passes right over the heads of most. Delightful! I'm not sure that I buy Katherine Mayfair switching teams this late in the game, but I certainly love pointing out what is smart and sexy about all of these women who are over 40. Hurrah!

So much time has been spent on this blog discussing the proper accessories to good shirtlessness, and recently an IMS member sent me the above video to highlight one accessory that has yet to be highlighted - scent. Indeed a good-smelling shirtless man is something that we all long for, especially in February. Another blogger friend posted this point on her blog and sneakily included shirtlessness even though the blog is actually about shopping. Clever, very clever. And thank you for spreading the shirtless message to new audiences.

Now I am off to do a happy dance to celebrate the return of Gilles before a reading of my Jane Austen play this afternoon. On a day like today, I believe that dreams really can come true. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

A Point of Debate

Last night I went to a dinner party at which we debated whether D'Angelo was giving too much shirtlessness in his "How Does It Feel?" video. Here is a still from the video, and I have to say I wonder how it did feel to shoot this video buck naked for a very long time. The debate split down gender lines, interestingly enough, with the women thinking that it was too much. All three of us found his hip creases overdeveloped and felt uncomfortable looking at them. On the other hand, the men, both straight, thought that it was an amazing example of having a lot of cujones to shoot a video in this fashion. I leave it to you, fellow IMS members, to decide. Is there such a thing as too much good shirtlessness?

I wanted to post some Olympic shirtlessness today, but I have to say that it is very difficult to figure out who is a good IMS contender in winter sports. I asked a friend of mine who works at ESPN for suggestions, but the person he suggested is 19 and truly looks like child. I felt horrible trolling the internet for shirtless pictures of him. So I am open to suggestions. I have some Russian skaters as possibilities, but I'd love to kick off the Winter Olympic series with an American if possible. We'll see what comes up by Monday. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Happy President's Day!

On this Presidents' Day, I think it is important for all of us at IMS to remember that even a President can contribute to the cause. Apparently this picture caused quite a stir when it appeared on the cover of the Washingtonian magazine last May. If a man who is managing two wars, dealing with bankers who think that a $9 million bonus is a sign of restraint, and lives with his mother-in-law can make time for fitness and seeing the sun, well, then, I think we all can. Admittedly the sun issue is more difficult in February, but taking a nice stroll on a snow covered street can do wonders for the skin.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and I had a great day with one of my dear friends and fellow IMS members seeing the ironically named "Valentine's Day" movie and then stuffing ourselves with a great meal chez moi. I say the movie is ironically titled because in spite of the over-size superstar cast, there was almost no chemistry to be found anywhere in the film, and what is romance if not chemistry? Even the two stars who were supposedly dating during filming, the Taylors, did not generate much heat. That said, the movie did contain quite a bit of good shirtlessness, and I'm pleased to say that one thing Gary Marshall did get right was featuring Eric Dane shirtless for most of his storyline. There was even a shot of him coming out of the shower in a small towel. For a few minutes, I did feel that all was right with the world.

Another moment of happiness came later when I turned on the tv for a minute and stumbled upon a commercial for B&S featuring GILLES MARINI!!!! I don't know if anyone at ABC is reading this blog, but if you are, thank you! Now make him a series regular and make him take off his shirt! Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

The Shirtless Boy Next Door

By popular demand, I present John Krasinski giving you some shirtlessness on a winter morning. When I first saw "The Office," I did not think, "Wow, I wish Jim would take off his shirt." I still can't admit to such a hope. But there is something very warm and lovable about Mr. Krasinski, and the fact that he would take off his shirt on a show like "The Office" which truly has no reason to have shirtlessness at all makes me like him even more. That and the fact that he wore women's pajamas in "It's Complicated." A man with no ego about his looks who still looks presentable makes me smile.

As for last night, I wonder if it is wrong for the president of IMS to find McDreamy most compelling when putting his jacket on rather than taking his shirt off? I did nearly swoon when Patrick Dempsey put on his jacket to go out and face the press because apparently responsibility is like an aphrodisiac to me. That McDreamy with his good hair and pretty eyes doesn't even have to take his shirt off to make me happy. He just has to smile and say things like "You don't have to come to my brunch" to give me a boost on a Thursday night. I even stayed up late to watch him on Jimmy Kimmel.

So Valentine's Day is coming up, and I give a shout out to all the single members of IMS, Beyonce style. Remember that a significant portion of the good male shirtlessness in the world is created in pursuit of us, single people. Buy yourselves some chocolate and check out some good male shirtlessness. I know I certainly will. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Who Dat Shirtless Guy?

Loathe as I am to encourage poor spelling or the misuse of the English language, I can't help but adopt this colloquial usage on the day after the Superbowl won by the Saints. I don't really follow football since being from Buffalo means that football died for me in 1994 when the Bills lost their 4th consecutive Superbowl attempt, but something about the New Orleans Saints winning the game warmed my heart. The Buffalonian in me rejoices in the win of the underdog, and I'm happy that something good is going on in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. In honor of the win, I give you Reggie Bush whose shirtless physique is so strong that he can actually squoosh a football in his right hand as demonstrated in the photo.

I did not actually watch the Superbowl because I was working on an event for Edible Schoolyard, a non-profit organization that promotes better nutrition in public schools by building gardens where children can grown their own food. I can't help but think that if better nutrition were promoted from a young age, there would be much more good shirtlessness all around us. Not to mention the cost of health insurance might be contained since fitness not only supports good shirtlessness but good health. While IMS might seem like a frivolous cause in these dark days of wars and deficits, I assure you we are promoting good shirtlessness for the greater good!

I was surprised that there were no new episodes last night only because I feel like the DH and B&S viewership are not really the target audience of the Superbowl. There were new episodes during the Golden Globes which would ostensibly have more crossover, but alas, nothing should compete with the Superbowl. I did come home and watch a re-run from "Modern Family" which made up for its lack of shirtlessness with wit. I might have to start watching that show, if only to comfort myself that there are more dysfunctional families than my own. In the meantime, I am bracing myself for more freezing cold weather here in the Northeast and the possibility that there will be no new shirtlessness for a long time. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Hints of Shirtlessness

I thought last night's GA was a really good episode in spite of the fact that we only got the tiniest hint of shirtlessness from Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) when he started to take his shirt of in the "vent room." Whether such a room exists in modern hospitals is rather dubious to me, and why any one would take off their clothes in such a place when surrounded by beds also questionable, but I liked seeing a little bit of his tummy before the commercial. It satisfied me. And I was tickled that there were consequences for taking one's clothes off in such a ridiculous location, although I would have preferred that Owen paid the price for his idea rather than Christina. Actually the scene that got me was Christina's monologue at the end. How many times have you ever had a little piece of yourself taken by someone else?

But I digress. Overall a good week for shirtlessness, and I'm glad because once the Olympics start, there will be no new shirtlessness on TV for weeks. I enjoy sport and frankly cry during any medal ceremony, but no one will take their shirt off in sub-zero weather. I'm more of a Summer Olympics gal.

Luckily, my friend just sent me a link to a blog that posts lots of shirtless pictures from a sister organization, the Hot Men Appreciation Society. Perhaps it is more correct to call it a brother organization? In any case, I'm pleased to see that IMS is not alone in the fight for the cause and am sure all of you will be too. February is a dark month for IMS, but we must all carry on together. As we do, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Shirtless Scotty

Last night was an amazingly good one for the cause of good shirtlessness since both shows featured some long awaited shirtlessness. DH at last found a reason for Danny Bolen to take his shirt off which then turned him into a worthwhile character instead of the confused and whiny teenager he has portrayed for the rest of the season, and B&S featured not just one but two shirtless scenes with characters who are normally not shirtless, one of which is the above featured Luke Macfarlane. Sorry that this week's picture is so small, but I had to use it once I found out that his fan website had actually launched a "shirtless Scotty" campaign using this picture. Apparently all the people on the site bombarded the producers with postcards about how Scotty should take his shirt off, and last night revealed the fruit of their hard work. You can check out the link to this campaign here. Note that it took almost 2 years for their goal to be achieved, reminding us at IMS that our work is not always immediately rewarded.

In any case, I had a really great night last night. After taking a terrific Shakespeare workshop over the weekend, I spent a few hours at a benefit for a play that some friends are producing and then returned home just in time to catch DH and B&S. I enjoyed three shirtless scenes as well as some fun plot twists and went to bed thinking, "Sometimes I can live my very best life!" I applaud B&S for not only having Rob Lowe stand around shirtless for absolutely no reason but for continuing to give him a scar for his surgery, proving that there can be shirtlessness even after near death experiences. I also like the continued use of three way calling on that show. Those are always my favorite scenes on B&S, and I wish they would use it in every episode. I only have one brother, but I feel that the way we talk on the phone is a metaphor for our communication style which is why those scenes are so resonant for me.

I am mad, however, that the commercial for B&S featured a flashback of a shirtless Gilles Marini that was not included in the episode. I wonder if we should start a letter writing campaign to bring Luc back. I'm sure he was not a 7.5. Hmmm.... Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS