Hey Mr. Producer!

Continuing on my rant for why Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman should be shirtless in their upcoming Broadway play, I present an old-school picture of Mr. Jackman. Need I say more? Clearly this man needs to take his shirt off on stage. We all know that his turn as Wolverine was a bit much for me, but in his natural state, I think he looks very much like a cop who would take his shirt off. Just saying...

Apparently IMS Official Poster Boy 2009, Gilles Marini, made an appearance on the Daytime Emmys yesterday, dancing with Vanessa Williams. I did not see it myself, but when it was reported to me, I started to get excited about the coming season of B&S. Who knew that I could anticipate the season opener for that show? They have a lot to make up for from last season by only showing the adolescent Ryan shirtless, and I expect Mr. Marini to take his shirt off in Episode 1. I understand that he has been signed for 8 episodes. I can only hope that means 8 weeks of excellent shirtlessness for us! I'm trying not to get too excited, though, because the season opener is still a month away! Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Broadway Shirtlessness?

I recently met someone who will be working on the upcoming Broadway production of "A Steady Rain" that will star Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman. The play, of course, is a major source of excitement for IMS members in New York, and meeting someone associated with the production almost caused a swoon. However, when I asked whether Mr. Craig and Mr. Jackman would be shirtless in the production, the answer was decidedly uncertain. What?! How can you have not one but TWO IMS posterboys on a Broadway stage and not have them take their shirts off? I am outraged. While admittedly, both Mr. Craig and Mr. Jackman are fine actors, unlike some other IMS posterboys, both seem to find a reason to take their shirts off in all of their recent films. Take a look at the picture posted above; doesn't he look like a shirtless cop in this photo? And if Hugh Jackman can give Barbara Walters a lap dance on national television, he can take his shirt off on Broadway. That's what I have to say. Broadway Producers take note: We want good male shirtlessness, and the boys of "Mamma Mia" do not count!

I also forgot to write in my last post how much I enjoy that in the Calvin Klein ads, Eva Mendes' accessory is a hot shirtless male model. That definitely makes me want to buy Calvin Klein jeans. If only every pair came with a sexy accessory like Jaime Dornan! I will continue to dream. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Designer Shirtlessness

I have to post a little bit early because I am off to Fire Island early tomorrow morning. The life of a gay icon is busy, busy, busy! I'm delighted to get out of the city after being here for little over a week because it is ridiculously hot. The beach will be a welcome get-away from the oppressive humidity. One thing that has been turning up the heat in the subway is this Calvin Klein ad campaign that is everywhere. Eva Mendez and Jamie Dornan look really hot in these ads, both literally and figuratively. As I pass them in the underground hallways of the MTA, I wonder if being hot and sweaty ever looked so good. At IMS, we promote male shirtlessness, not female shirtlessness, but I just couldn't resist the double-shirtless-sexiness of this campaign.

I'm also recovering from a week of watching my new play produced in a hovel on the West Side. An important lesson that I have learned from the experience is that a playwright should not only ask about whether her work will be produced but also about how it will be produced. When the electricity to the light and sound board went out for the closing show, I had to question whether it really counts as a production when there are no light or sound cues for a 6 scene play. Oh well, live and learn!

Off to Fire Island where I know there will be plenty of excellent male shirtlessness, even though none of it will be for me. Until I return, I am quite literally...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Fun Summer Lovin'

The heat is overpowering in New York, and I have to take a moment away from the socially conscious shirtlessness and the conversational accessories to good shirtlessness that have been featured this summer to have a little fun. So I give you this humorous take on a classic summer movie of my childhood, Dirty Dancing, featuring some fine shirtlessness from an IMS favorite, Channing Tatum. His name still perplexes me, but the fact that he can make a spoof like this endears him to me. Good shirtlessness with a sense of humor! What a combination!

Meantime, my one-act play has two more performances this weekend. I've enjoyed seeing my work on stage and just hope the next time it happens, I can have a something besides a boom box that was around when Dirty Dancing came out for my sound system. Baby steps, people. At least no one is putting me in the corner. I'll be posting live from Fire Island on Monday. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Ode to an Italian Pool

I'm back from Italy, relaxed and happy after two weeks in the Umbrian sun. It was a glorious time away from the worries of my New York life, and I already miss it and everyone who was there with me. As the president of IMS, I thought it was my duty to check out the Italian shirtlessness situation, and so I took some time away from my writing workshop to visit a pool in Spoleto. I am nothing if not dedicated to our cause. Some of my fellow shirtlessness-dedicated writers took this photo of me speaking to a local shirtless advocate which I thought I should share with all of you. While there was definitely some not good shirtlessness happening at this pool, overall it received high marks for maintaining the two point standard. Most men were both fit and clearly in view of the sun, and there weren't quite as many speedos as I expected. A very pleasant IMS excursion indeed.

But the above picture does capture an important lesson I learned at the pool. While this gentleman was an excellent example of good male shirtlessness, he and I did not speak the same language which made communicating very difficult. I fault myself for going to Italy without learning Italian. But the experience of trying to speak to a lovely shirtless man entirely in gestures reminded me that good shirtlessness cannot be the sole goal. Good shirtlessness is an excellent cause, but it is nothing without good communication. Always important to remember!

My new play is opening tonight at a tiny theater on the West side of Manhattan. No shirtlessness in this one, but lots of verbal communication. I'm still looking for the balance! Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Under the Umbrian Sun

To prepare all of you and myself for my upcoming trip to Umbria, I decided that I needed to post a hot Italian man today. But I found myself drawing a blank when it came to who that hottie should be. Good thing there is a Vice President of IMS who specializes in excellent Italian shirtlessness! His suggestion of Raoul Bova was dead on, since Mr. Bova plays a hot Italian shirtless man in "Under the Tuscan Sun," the movie that I will be striving to emulate during my two-week writers' retreat. I have never even seen the movie, but I know I want to live it, starting on Thursday.

So here's to some happy days of shirtlessness and creativity in Umbria. I hope I come home with lots of fun stories to share and report of how good shirtlessness is not simply a domestic issue. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Once Desperate, Twice Shirtless

One of the many things that I bemoaned in the second season of DH was that the introduction of Alfre Woodard to Wisteria Lane did not cause the actor playing her son to take his shirt off. He had a brief fling with Danielle which resulted in a scene in which he was not wearing a shirt but was also hiding under the bed. I always thought that it was a waste of perfectly good shirtlessness. But the Vice President of IMS recently alerted me to Mehcad Brooks joining the cast of "True Blood," and a brief internet search revealed that others did not make the same mistake as DH. He seems to have quite a nice shirtless career developing, and I must applaud Mr. Brooks for upholding the 2 point standard. I always knew he had it in him!

I am busy getting ready for my trip to Italy during which I fear I will not be able to post as regularly as usual. I'm hoping that I will substitute posting about shirtlessness with experiencing Italian shirtlessness firsthand. A girl can dream...Aside from the shirtlessness, I'm also hoping for excellent weather, delicious food cooked by someone besides myself, and the inspiration to write a new play. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS