"Brothers & Sisters" may have ended its second season on Sunday night but it left viewers with enough cliffhangers to mull over all summer long. One of the most intriguing involves the potential romance of Justin (Dave Annable) and Rebecca (Emily VanCamp), who he thought was his half-sister.

I gotta wonder if the writers of the show decided to make Rebecca not blood-related to the Walker clan after noticing the obvious on-screen chemistry between the two enormously attractive co-stars. They met in the middle of the show's first season when Rebecca was revealed to be the love child of the late family partriarch.

"We were both certainly aware that there was (chemistry)," Emily told me recently. "Because we were two people who had just met as well, just like these characters. It's not far-fetched that this might happen."

The two temporary siblngs had bonded from the start and you have to wonder if the writers changed the direction of Rebecca's storyline to allow for a romance.

"It's not incestious, we do find out she wasn't a Walker," Dave said, a bit defensively. "But just because she's not doesn't mean they're going to be romantically involved. Our show revolves around the family dealing with these bigger issues and obviously this is a big issue. Whichever way it goes, I think it's gonna be a lot of drama to be had."

I suggest to Emily that one way for Rebecca to become a Walker again is to marry Justin. She's already thought of that: "I know, I hope so! I want to be a Walker again so they better marry us, I'm telling you."

Dave's character could use a happy ending. He has been through drug problems, being seruously wounded in the Iraq War then getting hooked on prescription drugs while recovering from his leg injury. But in the season's later episodes, Justin is surfing again and showing far more flashes of his trademark humor.

"I was given some well-written stuff and I did the best I could and I hope that in the future there's more good stuff," Dave said. "But yeah, it's sort of nice to (have Justin) having some fun and hanging out and get a crush on your half sister."

The actor's character still lives at home with his mom, Nora (Sally Field): "Eventually I'd like Justin to get a job and move out of Nora's house but you know what, I get to work with Sally Field more so you can't really complain about that. It kinda of rocks, I gotta be honest. It's kind of amazing as an actor to look across at Sally every day. I wouldn't change anything, it's fantastic."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The images of Kevin and Scotty on "Brothers & Sisters" exchanging vows on "Brothers & Sisters" Sunday were powerful ones. Two young men, in love, being united on prime time television and becoming a family. I loved it.

But there was so much more that went on that had me feeling all kinds of emotions.

In the first alone scene between Scotty (Luke Macfarlane) and Kevin's mom Nora (Sally Field), he thanks her for helping with the ceremony and she said: "I should be thanking you for making Kevin so happy - and, I get another son."

Contrasting Nora are Scotty's parents who decline to attend. He tells Kevin (Matthew Rhys): "I'm tired of banging my head against that particular wall - there's nothing I can do about it." Kevin and his brothers road trip it to Arizona in a last ditch effort to get the parents to reconsider. The mom says she loves Scotty but "don't expect us to sit there and rub our noses in this present wedding."

Scotty's dad won't dare go against his wife but as Kevin leaves, he does something that showed exactly where his heart is: he handed Kevin a box with a pair of cuff links inside. He wore them when he got married and promised Scotty he could wear them on his wedding day. It's a beautiful moment when Kevin hands Scotty the box which we learn he had made for his dad in 7th grade shop class.

Kevin had wanted a no-frills ceremony but Nora went ahead and gussied things up anyway and there were flowers EVERYWHERE. When Kevin protests, his mother tells him: "You and Scotty deserve this night to be as romantic and memorable as anyone else's." Kevin softens and hugs his mom.

Here are some scenes from the show. The ceremony is in the second clip...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Talk about uncomfortable interviews. My "chat" with Ron Rifkin at the GLAAD Awards last month was a prickly affair for some reason. I could not engage the man who plays uncle Saul on "Brothers & Sisters" during our brief chat but will share with you what was said. I wouldn't bother with it at all but the character came out to the entire Walker clan last night after Scotty and Kevin's wedding leading Justin (Dave Annable) to say: "This is the gayest week of my life!"

Here is our very strange chat:

Q.Good to see you, I;'ve seen you a few times now.
A. Yes.
Q. I've seen some photos of the commitment ceremony between Scotty and Kevin. People are really touched that that's gonna happen. Since we're at the GLAAD Awards here, what are your thoughts about it?
A. Well, yes. How can we not be moved by it? It's time.
Q. And what about your character...
A. What about my character?
Q. What's happening with him?
A. Well, I think he comes out.
Q. Is he gonna come out?
A. Yes, I think he does.
Q. This is a man of a different generation. How do you feel it's been portrayed?
A. "I think it's wonderful that on network television, we have a man of a certain age who's conflicted about his sexuality, who comes from a generation that hid things like that. And we're able to watch television at 10 o'clock on Sunday night in our houses and see this guy struggle with this and hopefully come out on the right end."
Q. How is it for you as an actor? Are you enjoying it creatively?
A. I'm thrilled to be here.
Q. And how about being at the GLAAD Awards?
A. How great is that? Yeah, we're thrilled to be here.

Gee, coulda fooled me.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tonight's the night! ABC, 10 p.m., Kevin and Scotty commit to each other before their families (except Scotty's parents) and friends. To get you up to speed on this great TV romance, here are some of my favorite scenes between two of my favorite TV characters - ever:

The early days (Scotty was far more flamboyant then, and just as cute!)

Making up and making out in the kitchen...

Post lobster dinner kiss...

Making up...and making out in the car...

and finally...the proposal...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Can you stand the wait? I can't! Kevin and Scotty are getting hitched on Sunday night's episode of "Brothers & Sisters." I'm got my box of tissue ready and am gonna throw rice at the TV or something silly like that.

Here is a video of some moments from their romance leading up to the big day...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The last 20 minutes of "Brothers & Sisters" were the gayest yet for this wonderful series. Uncle Saul (Ron Rifkin), after this agonizingly slow coming out this season, finally told all to his nephew, Kevin (Matthew Rhys), who bails him out of jail after he hit a tree while driving drunk. The things Saul said to Kevin were so heartbreaking, how he doesn't know how to be gay at his age (the character is 60 or so) and mourns the lost years he spent not being true to himself. The scene was very well done and moving...

...but it was just a warm up for a really beautiful scene where Kevin Walker, at last, has just the right words for the love of his life, Scotty. He comes home after one of the most trying days ever for his family (family business about to be bankrupt, brother in love with who he thinks is his half-sister, uncle hits tree) and there is Scotty (Luke MacFarlane), a man who he feels comfortable enough to be himself with, who feels like family. He tells Scotty that he is very much in love with him (at this point I'm wiping away a tear), gets down on one knee and asks Scotty to marry him. Scotty does not hesitate: the answer is a heart-felt "Yes!" and they give each other a passionate kiss that woulda freaked out every sponsor on the air 10-15 years ago.
Here is a clip of a scene we will long remember:

The previews for next week's episode (the season finale) show the commitment ceremony between the two men. It should be a keeper.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The season finale of "Brothers & Sisters" features an emotional commitment ceremony between Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke MacFarlane). I asked some of the actors who play Kevin's siblings on the show what they think of this rare television event:

Balthazar Getty (Tommy) : "We think it;s great. I wish it was a wedding, I wish it were allowed everywhere. We think it's great to have an opportunity to show that, to show mainstream America what's going on out there. It's telling great stories. It's not a show for gay people or straight people, it;s just a story for people, a story for families. Some people happen to be gay, some people happen to have addictions, some people happen to be straight. It's not some marginalized thing when our gay brother gets to get married, or have a ceremony. He's our brother and he's in love and he's having a ceremony and we love and we support him."
Rachel Griffiths (Sarah): "I'm very, very proud to be on a network show where very un-controversially where two people who happen to be the same gender are ready to declare their love, I think it's fanastic. Ten years ago it would have been unimaginable that it would happen without us having eggs thrown at us. It's wonderful. I wish it was recognized on a legal level in a jurisdictions all over the world. ...
What I love about our show is when we deal with politics, we do it through the personal, we don't kind of deal with the political then leave you to make the personal connection. We make you, hopefully, have great actors and great characters that you fall in love with and then through them we expose people through political ideas. You realize you can't reject that person you've grown so fond of. The combination of (Kevin and Scotty) and uncle Saul (Ron Rifkin) coming out I just think is a very real reflection of people's lives out there and hopefully will encourage some people to re-consider fixed ideas that are not really based on anything."

Dave Annable (Justin) "I can't wait for it. I, as a viewer, love the Kevin and Scotty storyline. Every time they're there on screen I love it. They have great chemistry and Luke MacFarlane who plays Scotty is outstanding and he's such a welcome addition to us. We're lucky to have him."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

He had them at mango salsa.

When Luke MacFarlane's endearing character of Scotty sat down to dinner for the first time with the Walker clan on "Brothers & Sisters," it was a big outdoor party scene where Sally Field's Nora had just humiliated her late husband's mistress Holly (Patricia Wettig). The tension was incredibly high until Scotty piped up and asked, "Is this salsa mango?"

Scotty Wandell and Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) had instant chemistry from the minute the financially struggling waiter-turned-chef walked into his law office on a legal matter. He cut through Kevin's veneer with quirky humor and charm and you knew he had Kevin's heart when he bit into a red velvet cupcake and smiled at the end of one of their early episodes..

"My whole experience on the show started off as just a few episodes and it's just become more and more and more and I'm so grateful for that," Luke told me Monday night when we chatted before the start of the "A Conversation With Brothers & Sisters" event at the Television Academy in North Hollywood.

Luke, 28, was among the 12 cast members who participated as he was recently promoted from recurring character to full-fledged series regular: "They are making a regular for season three. It's very, very nice. We all know in television it's hard to get a gig that lasts for a long time so when the agent calls up and says, 'You're guaranteed these number of episodes you feel very, very lucky."

Luke, who studied drama at Julliard, was previously best-known for his role as Pvt. Frank "Dim" Dumphy in the series "Over There." The Canadian actor had never given any interviews about his personal life until discussing his sexuality for the first time in an interview with the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail a few weeks ago 2008. He decided to share that not only is he playing a gay man on TV, but he is a gay man in life.

""It's been relatively simple for me," he said of the increased spotlight. "I'll say that I decided to do that interview, I decided to answer those questions in an effort to make my life simpler and that's going to contunue to be my motto. So, I'll have to say, it hasn't been that hot a light on me at all."

Even though through much of show's first season the writers had Kevin struggling with commitment issues and go on to have relationships with a closeted soap actor (Jason Lewis) and a minister (Eric Winter), Scotty had been a fan favorite from his first scene and audiences wanted to see he and Kevin together.

Said Luke: "Well, I do know that the fans had a lot to do with Scotty staying around as long as he has so I'm grateful for them."

I mention to him that now that Scotty is getting more airtime, the fans now want to get to know Luke himself a little better. He laughed a bit nervously and said, "In time."

We look forward to it.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 8:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Don't you just love all the drama of that "exclusive" headline? Well, I guess I'm feeling a little over-the-top after chatting-up both Kevin AND Scotty within moments of each other at a Television Academy event in North Hollywood last night. Oh wait! Kevin and Scotty are just TV characters - gay TV characters - played by actors Matthew Rhys and Luke MacFarlane.

I wanted to get their thoughts on this wonderful plot development that has Scotty and Kevin - an on-and-off-again couple since the beginning of the show - tying the knot in a commitment ceremony in the second season finale in a few weeks.

On the commitment ceremony:
Matthew: "It was great, perfectly put together. We didn't get there easily, there's no wasn't an easy road there up to the last few second, just like the turbulent path that we've had. There's a lot of drama before getting there but then you know, it's all resolved. And about time I think."
Luke: "It means that the audience is ready because, you know, in television we make sure people are ready before we foist anything upon them by sort of testing it and stuff. It means that the world is ready and it also means that the characters in their lives are ready too. It's a beautiful thing that's happening but also a very appropriate thing."

On working together:
Luke: Matthew's a wonderful actor, he just oozes charm. From day one it's always been super simple with him.

Matthew: "We do have (chemistry). It's a real joy to work with him, a pleasure. As much as (Kevin and Scotty's) drama came from their turbulence and the conflict in their relationship, being now in this (committed) relationship opens up a world of drama for them to play out. So, it's all exciting times.
"What's great is they really have picked two very diverse characters, the two of us compliment us very well as characters. Kevin can be a little bit uptight at times whereas Scotty, is a little bit too much of a free-spirit. So when the two meet, it makes for humorous times.

On Kevin's growth as a character:
Matthew: "It's been great to over two seasons have this arc, this sort of turbulent arc, and somewhere that he's reached which is what you want. You don't want to be ping-ponging back between old stories. So I'm glad the character's evolving."

On a lighter note, one of the pre-strike episodes had Kevin and Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) joining Scotty and his friends at a karaoke bar. Kevin, tired of being known as uptight, gets real drunk and begins singing to Scotty from the stage. Did Matthew have fun filming such a silly scene?

"It was fun. For me, as a Welshman, to desecrate a Tom Jones song like that, it was I found painful. And then to do the same to a Willie Nelson song, it was painful to be that bad! It came very naturally, of course. What I did was pretty unforgiveable."

Tomorrow: The Walker siblings talk about Kevin and Scotty. I get reaction from Rachel Griffiths, Calista Flockhart, Dave Annable and Balthazar Getty.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ran into Eric Winter last night at a Television Academy event in North Hollywood which he accompanied his beautiful girlfriend, Roselyn Sanchez of "Without a Trace" to. Eric could not have been nicer but he is sad about the quick cancellation of his CBS series "Viva Laughlin" after just two episodes but will be returning to "Brothers & Sisters" as the brother of Rob Lowe's character and the boyfriend of Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys).
"I'm gonna go back for a little while," Eric says. "I don't know what's going on storyline-wise. I'm sure they have something fun cooked up. But I will be bringing my face back there, yeah."
I wondered if Eric was aware of how many "Brothers & Sisters" fans want him back on the show - so much so that more than a few were rooting for the demise of "Viva Laughlin."
"I know. [Laughs]. 'Brothers & Sisters' is a class act of a show. Those creators are phenomenal and I loved going to work with those people every day. And the actors, you can't say more about the talent. It's amazing. So, I get it completely why the support is there. I loved "Viva Laughlin." I loved my experience with CBS and my cast on "Viva" so I was very heartbroken. We put a lot of effort into singing and the acting on the show so it was hard. But you know, all you can do is move on and be thankful that there's other opportunities."
Fortunately for Eric, the storyline on "Brothers & Sisters" has his preacher character gone overseas to do missionary work with Kevin remaining committed to the relationship - for now. It makes his return not only easy, but potentially quite dramatic since Kevin is getting closer to his ex-boyfriend Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) in Jason's absence.
"They have been so great to me over there," he says. "Coming off of "Viva" has been rough in the beginning and now I'm coming into my own with other stuff."
In all, seven episodes of "Viva" had been completed but only two aired before CBS yanked the series off the air because of low ratings. He hopes the remaining shows somehow see the light of day.
"I don't know what's going to happen with them, Maybe something will be put together. I'd love to see some of the stuff that we shot. The great thing, and the sad thing, is that the episodes were getting better and better, storylines getting so much more interesting. The songs were so great. I have a really cool scene in episode six where I'm singing "I Need You Tonight" from INXS and I was so much looking forward to seeing the sequence put together...You know what's gonna happen, they're gonna put these on YouTube and we're gonna develop this huge fan base and they're gonna want us back! (laughs)."
Back to "Brothers & Sisters." So, what's it like to play Rob Lowe's younger brother?
"You can't go wrong there. When I first read, they said, 'You're gonna play Rob Lowe's younger brother 'and I thought, 'Who doesn't want to be Rob Lowe's younger brother?' That guy's an icon with the things he's done in his career. Nicest guy on the planet too so I've had so much fun working with him."
And finally, what about Matthew Rhys as a boyfriend?
"Such a cool guy. Talented. Immediately, because a lot of my stuff was with him, immediately made me feel welcome on set. That's quite an intimidating cast because everyone's so major and you walk into that. But everyone there was so welcoming and he was a big part of that, making me feel at home."
And what about that kiss at the end of last season in the pantry when they practically knock each other over?
"It was my first time because it was my first time playing a gay role. They make you feel right at home like they would any other acting piece. As actors, you welcome anything you're gonna do no matter what and you just enjoy doing it in the sense of putting on a good performance with whatever character you're playing. You want people to support it and be all about it. And so far, the fans have been very supportive of our characters."
With Kevin's boyfriend back, what's gionna happen with Scotty who is also popular with audiences?
"People are talking about that, what's gonna happen. Is there gonna be a break-up? an arguement? Am I gonna walk in on sometning? I don't know. It's gonna be really interesting."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I didn't write my thoughts about Sunday's episode of "Brothers & Sisters" yet so want to do that now. The focus was split between Kitty's pregancy and Sarah's custody battle with a little adulterous Tommy and pill-popping Justin peppered in.
But what I kept noticing, and feeling, was the strength Sally Field as Nora brought to the episode. I'm one of six children. There are five Walker children. Moms of broods that big just have a certain way about them and this is why Sally, as Nora, reminds me of my mom.
When Sarah's estranged husband, creepy Joe, comes to pick up the kids after Sarah loses primary custody, Nora shows up - unannounced - for the transfer of the kids. She was just there and didn't have to say much - her face said it all. And when Kitty was getting morning sickness, Nora just knew she was pregnant and even before it was confirmed, had her nose deep in a book of baby names.
Sally's performance is pitch-perfect. It's the best work of her career. It's no wonder she won the Emmy and that Rachel Griffith was nominated. These two women are the cream of the crop in what is an excellent ensemble.
AfterElton.com is doing some terrific recaps of each episode. It's a must-read for any fan.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Matthew Rhys (Kevin on "Brothers & Sisters" not only turns in a realistic and appealing performance on the shoiw each week, but he's a straight actor who doesn't have any kind of issues with kissing other men - on-screen.
That doesn't mean it doesn't take some getting used to.
"I remember the first time I kissed a guy onstage in rehearsals for a play, feeling like near-electric shock. I was like, What's that?It was because he had a beard. Also, when you kiss a girl, you slightly take control, you know-you assert a role," he says in an interview with The Advocate.
Rhys says with men, he finds himself sort of jockeying for control.
"Some people say kissing's more intimate than sex, and I sort of agree. It's like the ultimate intimate thing."

Tomorrow: Sally Field on Rhys and his on-screen siblings.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I think Kevin and Scotty are one of television's great couples. The chemistry between the actors (Matthew Rhys and Luke MacFarlane) who play these characters on "Brothers & Sisters" is certainly equal to that of Calista Flockhart and Rob Lowe if not better.

So last we saw Scotty, he had slept with Kevin on Valentine's Day when Kevin was trying to make Chad (Jason Lewis) jealous. I wondered how Scotty would re-enter Kevin's life in a believable way. The writers had him come to Kevin for legal assistance (pro bono) after he got a DUI from a homophobic officer and wants to fight it.
Before I go on, I must remark: Luke MacFarlane is absolutely beautiful and radiate such a sweetness as this character. I am so glad to see him back on this show. The fact that this character has struck such a chord with the fans is all credit to the actor, I think.

So Kevin gets Scotty off the hook and he is paid back by Scotty cooking dinner for him at the fancy dinner he interns at as part of chef's school which he now attends. After, when Scotty moves in to kiss Kevin, he is stopped when Kevin explains: "I'm in a relationship."
Kev suggests this insread: "We were never friends...maybe we can try that."
Meanwhile, Sally Field spent the entire episode playing the concerned mother as Justin fights severe pain and resists taking meds because of his addict past. Dave Annable and Field are so good in these scenes - sp believable and real. I believe Field as Nora every moment she is on screen and think she may need room on the shelf for yet another Emmy.

But my favorite line of the episode was uttered by Saul and, while golfing with Tommy and his insufferable father-in-law, finds the experience so revolting he says, "I'd rather spend an entire dinner party sitting next to Britney Spears."
Ouch!!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Brothers & Sisters" has its second-season premiere this Sunday night and I can tell you that Saul, played by Ron Rifkin, gets a visit from Milo Peterman (Michael Nouri), a man from his past who - I'm just guessing here - was once his lover. I say let them make out already! But seriously, this is a storyline that is probably going to take some time since Saul does not seem even remotely as accepting of his own sexuality as his gay nephew, Kevin (Matthew Rhys), is.
AfterElton.com has posted what seems to be to be the most extensive interview with Rifkin yet on the direction of his character. I'll give you a few nibbles then you can go feast on the whole thing by clicking HERE.

On Saul being revealed to be gay at the end of last season: "I was very excited about the possibility of playing an older guy whose life had been a certain way and had lived in a certain time, and even though his family was obviously very close, and very intense, and very passionate, and loved and supported each other, he just had a secret."

On what happened between he and Milo in te past: "There's a scene in the third or fourth episode where we meet again and we do have some communication with each other, but I think it's a struggle for Saul. He's a very loving guy. All he has is his family. He loves those kids. I think he's confronting issues that have plagued him and, hopefully, he'll handle it with grace. And hopefully the world around him, that is to say his family, will embrace him for it."

Will Saul will turn to Kevin for advice?: "Oh, I think there will be something between them. I think if I were a young man having come out to my family then find out I have an uncle who might be gay, I'd have issues with that. I'd either be excited about the possibility, if I were Kevin, or angry that he hadn't [come out]. As far as Saul is concerned, it feels like it might be problematic because he kept it a secret for so long."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've already seen the season premiere of "Brothers & Sisters" and it has Kevin (Matthew Rhys) in domestic bliss with the senator's brother who he was seen kissing in the pantry in the season finale. I don't want to give it all away but I think it's safe to say that things change for the couple at some point. Perhaps this is where the adorable Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) comes in. We love Scotty! And he is back on the show starting with the Sunday, Oct. episode. I don't have any specifics but here are some photos from the episode that I snagged from AfterElton.com which I do hope will continue with its delicious weekly recaps when the season debuts.
Here are more pics of Kevin, Scotty, Kevin and Scotty etc.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's the thing about being a print/online reporter at a red carpet event. You are usually placed near the end of the press line and don't get the stars until they have been thoroughly worn out by a slew of questions from the likes of "Entertainment Tonight," "Access Hollywood" etc.
I tell you this because at the DVD party for "Brothers & Sisters," I was dead last on the red carpet. It didn't really matter for the most part because the cast members I interviewed were all gracious with their time and answered every question as if I was their first interview.
Ron Rifkin, on the other hand, seemed spent. So I got just a little from him which was a disappointment because his character of Uncle Saul appears to be a closeted gay man who had previously been involved with a character portrayed in the season finale by Michael Nouri.
Rifkin is quite happy to see his character take a dramatic turn and have this mysterious past. But it's not clear how or if Saul will come out of the closet: "So far we don't know. Saul is being very elusive about it. He's very private. But Milo (Michael Nouri) has been on the show so I suspect this will role out over the year."
We did have a good laugh when I asked him if he gets recognized a lot for the episode of "Sex and the City" that he did where he is an editor at Vogue who mentors Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) then pulls his pants down to show her his underwear.
Says Rifkin: "It's so crazy. I'll be on the siubway in New York and I'll get: 'I saw your underpants!' It's embarrassing."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 9:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Here's the thing about being a print/online reporter at a red carpet event. You are usually placed near the end of the press line and don't get the stars until they have been thoroughly worn out by a slew of questions from the likes of "Entertainment Tonight," "Access Hollywood" etc.
I tell you this because at the DVD party for "Brothers & Sisters," I was dead last on the red carpet. It didn't really matter for the most part because the cast members I interviewed were all gracious with their time and answered every question as if I was their first interview.
Ron Rifkin, on the other hand, seemed spent. So I got just a little from him which was a disappointment because his character of Uncle Saul appears to be a closeted gay man who had previously been involved with a character portrayed in the season finale by Michael Nouri.
Rifkin is quite happy to see his character take a dramatic turn and have this mysterious past. But it's not clear how or if Saul will come out of the closet: "So far we don't know. Saul is being very elusive about it. He's very private. But Milo (Michael Nouri) has been on the show so I suspect this will role out over the year."
We did have a good laugh when I asked him if he gets recognized a lot for the episode of "Sex and the City" that he did where he is an editor at Vogue who mentors Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) then pulls his pants down to show her his underwear.
Says Rifkin: "It's so crazy. I'll be on the siubway in New York and I'll get: 'I saw your underpants!' It's embarrassing."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 9:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

When I saw Jon Robin Baitz at the ABC party last night, he gave me a warm greeting. Then I laid into him a bit: "Why did I have to read somewhere else that Scotty was gonna be back for seven episodes?" I had seen the "Brothers & Sisters" creator over the weekend at the Outfest event and asked him for some plot developments. He gave me some crumbs then I read on AfterElton.com a few days later about Scotty's return.
Baitz seemed moritfied and was apologetic: "I would have tol,d you that!" He told me the cast is shooting the first episode and that things are going "fantastic" and it was clear that viewers wanted Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) back on the show: "People really responded to his sweetness and his integrity, his intelligence and his comedy and his relationship with Kevin."
At this point, Kevin himself (Matthew Rhys) joins us. To see him three times in a week is quite a treat! We have a quick word:
Greg: I didn't know about Scotty coming back until I read it elsewhere. How do you feel about Scotty coming back?
Matthew: I'm very happy for many. many different reasons. Luke MacFarlane as an actor is fantastic and we got on well. The two characters, because of their differences, there was a lot of chemistry between them and sort of that enjoyable conflict that came from two sort of different people meeting."
Greg: Is this going to lead to Kevin going to places that are exciting for you as an actor?
Matthew: I hope so. Scotty always pushed boundaries a little bit and I think for Kevin that's a good thing.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Jon Robin Baitz was not very forthcoming on Saturday when I tried to get some info about next season's plotlines in regards to Kevin his potential love interests. But Michael Jensen of AfterElton.com succeeded in getting a lot of scoop during a visit to the set on Monday and shares it on his blog:
Luke MacFarlane, who played Kevin's love interest, Scotty, in the first season will return for SEVEN episodes! Hooray!!
"I think having him back is such a delight," Baitz said. Where we find him when we come back is a man trying to pull his life together and I take really special care with those characters -- Kevin and Scotty."
Baitz further blabbed abvout Scotty's character to Michael so read all about it on AfterElton.com because you certainly have not read it here! And Michael promises more on Friday so I'll relay that too...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last saw Jon Robin Baitz in April at the GLAAD Awards and it was nice to corner him once again at Outfest to try and get some "Brothers & Sisters" information outa him about the gay characters of Kevin [Matthew Rgys] and Uncle Saul [Ron Rifkin]. He was pretty cagey but I did my best.
Greg: I asked Matthew the other day about his character's love life next season and he said something like, 'I only know when they tell me.' Since you already know, what can you tell us? Will Kevin continue to evolve?
Baitz: Yes. He's trying to find a way to be more patient with romance.
Greg: And he starts up with the senator's brother again?
Baitz: [long pause] Maybe.

Greg: OK, what about uncle Saul? Anything you can tell us about your approach to his character this coming season?
Baitz: "Confusion, agony, angst, recognition, torture, fear, love, strength. Those are his operative words.
Greg: Sounds like he's going to go through quite a process.
Baitz: Exactly.

Sorry folks, that's all I got outa him...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Who better to invite to the "Brothers & Sisters" panel at Outfest over the weekend than my pal Trevor Daley. We love this show and he was one of the only people I could talk to after each episode as if we were talking about people we know. "Well, I just don't think Kevin is really into him" or "Can you believe Nora got STONED?" So it was such a blast on Saturday for us to chat with both Nora (sally Field) and Kevin "Matthew Rhys" at the post-panel reception at the DGA Theatre. Trevor and Matthew look so cute together (below).

Trevor tried to hog all of Matthew's attention but I made him share...


Trevor to Sally: "Really Miss Field, I'm not a stalker. I've just loved you ever since I first saw you in 'Gidget.' Can you please call off the restraining order?" Just a joke. Miss Field was charmed by the charming Trevor, calling him "adorable."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It was a fun and relaxed group from "Brothers & Sisters" that took the stage Saturday afternoon at the Directors Guild of America Theatre for a panel discussion moderated by the show's executive producer Ken Olin - a powerhouse behind-the-scenes in network television but forever Michael on "thirtysomething" for so many of us. He peppered cast members Sally Field, Matthew Rhys, Patricia Wettig (Olin's real-life wife) and Ron Rifkin with questions along with the show's creator-writer Robin Baitz, show-runner Marc Perry and writer David Marshall Grant.
Here are some things we learned: Danny Glover will join the cast next season giving it some much-needed racial diversity. He will have something to do with the political world of Rob Lowe's Sen. MacAllister character...Matthew Rhys has played gay character in SEVEN different projects, including the 2007 Outfest selection "Love and Other Disasters." ...Field didn't know her "Flying Nun" co-star Alejandro Rey was gay: ("Carlos was GAY?")... Wettig, married to Olin 25 years, said over the years she has had an equal number of men and women say to her: "On 'thirtysomething, [Ken Olin] was MY guy."...Rikfin's Uncle Saul character will deal with being gay (or bisexual): "He clearly has a secret life and how does the family feel about it?" Rifkin said.
Olin kicked things off by asking each panelist which member of the same sex they would like to sleep with! This wasn't gonna be your ordinary event!
For the record: the out Baitz: Robert Downey Jr. while the out Perry and Grant chose their real-life partners. Field chose Wettig and Wettig chose Field while the straight Rhys, who plays gay Kevin on the show said: "I had to sleep with most of the panel to get the part!" Then he added: "I don't think it's me but Rob Lowe and I are getting along quite well." Rhys also chose David Beckham while Rifkin chose Olin.
OK, on to more meaty matters. In discussing the character of Kevin, Baitz said: "It never occured to me that Kevin would be exclused from the family in any way or fight for his place at the table." He said he has had "zero" interference from ABC in regards to Kevin who has quite a busy lovelife and has had what seems like a dozen on-screen same-sex kisses - including one with Jason Lewis atop Muholland Drive which was shown to the audience.

"Many, many memories from Muholland," Rhys joked. "Dear Jason Lewis. It was his first male kiss and just before...I said to him: "I'm going to tell you what you had for lunch.' THAT relaxed him."
Olin joked of Rhys' gay kissing scenes: "It just gives me such great joy to see Matthew who has to kiss a straight actor for the first time. He's like a black widow spider."
The afternoon ended on a quite touching note when Olin (pictured, right), director of the wonderful "Doing Time on Maple Drive," told the audience why he was eager to participate in Outfest this year: "One of my best friends growing up took his own life at 17, he was the first person I got high with. I think he took his life out of shame. I know he did. We live in a really scary time but we've come so far. There are a lot of people who are really scared - they want to push those people who are different either back scross the border or back in the closet."
COMING TOMORROW: Pictures from the post-panel party, an interview with Baitz and reliving the same-sex kiss on "thirtysomething."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you found it shocking that Uncle Saul is gay on "Brothers & Sisters," you're not the only one. The actor who plays him, Ron Rifkin, had no idea until the show was well into its first season! There's a good reason why Rifkin and others were caught off guard: the sexuality of the character was decided because show creator Jon Robin Baitz and the writers couldn't figure out what to do with the character, Baitz says in the new TV Guide:
“The story lines for Saul [Ron Rifkin] were just starting to run on fumes, and we kept looking for more areas to explore with him — the business and stuff — but none of it seemed as juicy as this," Baitz says. "Next season, Saul’s going to struggle to come to terms with himself and confront his shame — ‘I’m a nice Jewish boy. I can’t be gay.’ But it took me a month to ask Ron. It wasn’t what he had signed on for and I thought, ‘Is this really what he wants to be doing?’ I hadn’t even finished the sentence and he was like, ‘That’s great — why would that be a problem?’ He’s thrilled.”
So are we!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sorry for the delay in getting the "Brothers & Sisters" recap posted and thanks to all of you who emailed me asking "WHERE IS IT?" I zonked out last night as the credits rolled so am now finally getting to writing about the completely satisying season finale that wrapped up some questions (Why Rebecca is a Lolita), gave us new storylines to look forward to (Uncle Sal is gay!!!), gave Sally Field some M'Linn moments as Justin left for Iraq, and...best of all...gave Kevin another cute guy to make out with!
If there are people/critics who don't like this show, I say don't friggen watch it...and don't complain about it. Because for fans like me, it has been an absolute gift and I am grateful to the creators, writers, producers, actors and to the network for giving us this sensational drama with people we care about. A show with gay storylines that are matter-of-fact, big stars (Field, Rob Lowe, Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, and Patricia Wettig) who allow each other and other cast members to shine in television's best ensemble. Between this and "Ugly Betty," ABC can proudly be called the best gay network these days even if Andrew van de Kamp was shamefully put on the back-burner this season on "Desperate Housewives."
So let's talk about Kevin (Matthew Rhys) because I love talking about Kevin. With Nora deciding to throw Kitty an engagement party, Kevin pitches in because as he tells his mother: "You're bogged down in a quagmire of Nora over-commitment" and he ends up being teamed with the senator's gay brother for pre-party prep. They last saw each other during a disastrous set-up. "Looks like both sides sent the gay scouts," Kevin says to Jason as they meet at the party venue that Kevin says looks "like the first 15 minutes of 'Extreme Makeover' before they teare the house down."
I love when Kevin is such a bitch!
Kevin is so rude to the people at the party venue that they cancel the contract and the party has to be held at the Walker house. The sneator's family shows up and they are beyond rambunctious: they are obnoxious. They are drunks, have no social skills, and worst of all, their uncle (Maj. Weiner) is a perv who keeps trying to hit on poor Nora. And worst yet, Weiner is played very loudly and broadly by Garry Marshall who I am already annoyed with for the disaster that is "Georgia Rule."
Other stuff happens: Sarah and Polly have a truce, Kitty and Nora have a blow-up over Kitty moving in with the senator, but the best subplot (almost) is Sal and some handsome older dude named Milo. When Nora mentions that Milo is one the guest list, Saul snaps about "that bitch wife Elaine." At the party, Milo tellls Saul "I'm not pretending anymore. I'm gay. I've always been a late bloomer." Then we see their hands touch and we know they have history...gay history.
"We're too old for excuses," he says to Saul. "Call me."
Speaking of gay: Kevin and Jason spar back and forth and it all comes to a head.
Kevin: "I'm tired of hating you and you hating me."
Jason: "You think we're so beneath us don't you?"
Kevin: ":I think you're all insane...and drunk!"
Jason: "Why are you such an unpleasant person?"
Kevin: "You didn't come in here looking for a band-aid did you? You came in here looking for me."
Jason: "Maybe."
Then total make-out scene! Not a soft, subtle kiss...the kind where one person slams the other against the wall. So romantic...
Then Kevin finds out that Jason is a Methodist minister! (Kevin lies: "Jumping your bones was extremely atypical for me!")
Here's to more atypical behavior from Kevin and the rest of the Walker clan next season!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Not much deliciously witty dialogue on "Brothers & Sisters" last night with such weighty matters as the lives of Tommy and Julia's twins hanging in the balance, Sara and Joe breaking up, Justin visiting wounded soldiers at a veterans hospital as a way to gear up for Iraq, and Sen. MacAllister being blackmailed.
First Tommy (Balthazar Getty) and Julia (Sarah Jane Morris). I had labled them the boring characters and believe I may have suggested they be written off at some point so my Kevin (Matthew Rhys) could have more scenes. Well, I take it all back.
As a new mother whose child is dying, Morris was a revelation and showed us all what a terrific actress she is when given the material. The raw emotion she displayed was far better than anything Calista Flockhart (Kitty) could ever manage and far more real. Getty was also very, very good. Even though one baby dies, the other lives and the episode ended on an optimistic note - it ended with hope for the future. The surviving girl is named Elizabeth and Tommy says to his mother (Sally Field): "She's so strong. She reminds me of you."
Joe finally moved out and he and Sarah told the klds. It was sad. Boo hoo. Kevin was relegated to a subplot over the senator (Rob Lowe) being blackmailed over the truth behnd his "heroism" during Desert Storm. Kitty turns to Kevin for help. The liberal Democrat Kevin cannot bring himself to help a Republican who voted to block gay marriage even if he is his sister's fiancee.
Later, Justin is telling Kevin that MacAllister is a good guy who helped open his eyes by taking him to the Veteran's hospital leading to Kevin admitting: "I might hate his politics but he is a man with perfect skin."
Kevin comes through in te end, blackmailing the blackmailer and was kinda smug about it all. Does Kevin ever lose a big case?
The chemistry between Flockhart and Lowe remains first rate. Just the following deadpan exchange inside the senator's office was pretty funny:
Senator: "Why doesn't the staff say hi to me?"
Kitty: "Because they don't like you."
And they just keep on walking. In the end, MacAllister proposes to Kitty and she says yes around 5-6 times.
Who could blame her? The man really does have perfect skin!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Has Kevin Walker switched teams? Noooooooooooooo!
OK, I'll collect myself. The ACTOR, Matthew Rhys, who plays Kevin on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" is filming the movie "Best Times of Our Lives" with Keira Knightley. They are wearing 1940s outfits as they walk hand-in-hand along New Quay beach in North Wales, UK.
According to JustJared.com, Keira, Matthew, and co-star Sienna Miller will reportedly participate in steamy threesome love scene in the film.
OK, I'm there.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With much of the episode taking place on Tommy and Holly's new vinyard, Walker Landing, I almost expected Angela Channing from "Falcon Crest" to show up and start calling people into her study.
By the way, I apologize for teasing in an earlier post that Kevin and the senator's bro were gonna meet up again - THAT is in a future episode. The senator (Rob Lowe) was barely in this episode after a cute scene with Kitty in the beginning where she is hemming and hawing after proposing to him last week. Is this woman nuts? He's a senator! He's got big bucks! And he looks just like Rob Lowe! Snag him before he realizes what a mess you are.
But hey! I was right about the catfight between Nora (Sally Feild) and Holly (Patricia Wettig). It was a showdown of epic proportions that culminated in a massive food fight. Nora starts it by smashing an entire cake all over Holly's dress. Holly screams: "This dress is couture!" To which Nora replies: "I'm sure it's been STAINED before!" Then it was peas flying and you name it before the women start laughing then Holly starts crying.
So what led to foo flying everywhere?
Holly kissed Nora's date for the weekend, the smarmy professor played by Peter Coyote. "You seem to be obsessed with the men in my life," Nora snarls to Holly, pre-cake smashing.
Holly counters with: "Your family is INSANE!"
Nora then says 'Even your own DAUGHTER would rather sleep at my house....I'd sooner call social services before I'd send her home to you...You are a car wreck!"
It was great stuff and what made it even greater was the skill with which the scene was played by Field and Wettig. When they were saying those and other lines, you really felt like they were the culmination of months and months of resentment (In Holly's case, years of resentment) and that made it all the more satisfying.
The whole Joe kissed Rebecca thing is already boring to me but it served as the catalyst for much of the drama on last night's show which was fun because the entire Walker family was together for a weekend and you had all kinds of those fights with witty dialogue.
Kitty (Calista Flockhart) ends up being AWOL for a big chunk of it because she takes three of Kevn's prescription painkillers mistaking them for asprin as she's drinking some wine. Kevin finds her and can't believe she has gotten herself so drunk so quickly.
Kitty: "I've had sips! Sips! Why do I always have to screw things up, Ken?"
She's calling Kevin, Ken, you know she's screwed up!
In her stupor, she blurts out to Kevin that she's sorta engaged to the senator but makes him promise not to tell anyone. We already know Kevin is a bigger gossip than Hedda Hopper and Loella Parsons combined! Oh, that's dated. OK, make that Liz Smith and Marilyn Beck combined! If that's too dated for ya the just eat your milk and cookies and go to bed!
After a tipsy Kevin but adorable blurts out the news, he tries to change the subject quickly: "Can we have some more pinot?" Then we wonders to himself: "I don't know why I say these things. I think I have Tourette's [syndrome]."
Anyway, in the end, Julia goes into labor - early - and the preview tease that next week is "a very special episode of 'Brothers & Sisters." We can already see that the lives of the twins are hanging in the balance so all the silliness of the vinyard episode will be quickly forgotten.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I love watching TV on Sunday nights! The combination of "Brothers & Sisters" and "Desperate Housewives" just can't be beat. I'll leave "The Sopranos" to other people, thankyouverymuch.
As far as tonight's "Brothers & Sisters,"I know I should be most excited about another appearance by Kevin's future love interest, Jason MacAllister (Eric Winter). While I look forward to seeing the relationship unfold, I REALLY want to see the big brawl between Nora (Sally Field) and Holly (Patricia Wetting). These actresses have five Emmys between them (not to mention Sally's two Oscars) so I look to them to elevate the catfight to a new level - far beyond the standard set my Joan Collins and Linda Evans all those many years ago. I still remember the Krystle Carrington line: "If ya want a rematch, just whistle...If ya can!"
MEOW!
An hour earlier, on "Desperate Housewives," we will be delighted by another guest appearance by the brilliantly funny Alec Mapa as Gaby's pal Vern. Alec just killed 'em at the GLAAD Awards in LA last month and usually steals every scene he's in so this should be fun to see. The absence of Marcia Cross is really felt on this show in recent episodes but it's nice to see Nicollette Sheridan's character developed a little bit more. And will Lynette (Felicity Huffman) have an affair with the handsome chef at her restaurant? Who could blame her? Hubby Tom has become such a DRIP!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last night was the first of four consecutive weeks of original episodes of "Brothers & Sisters" and what I was most excited about was the previews for next week's episode. Patricia Wettig had hinted to me at the GLAAD Awards a few weeks back that her character, Holly, would be having some kind of showdown with Sally Field's Nora. I asked if it would be like an Alexis and Krystal fight on "Dynasty" and she just laughed. It seems that the fight gets physical and that things are thrown! Since Nora has allowed Holly's daughter Rebecca to stay in the Walker house for a few days, I'm sure this will being out all of Holly's maternal fury. I. Can't. Wait.
So why am I writing about an episode I haven't seen yet? Well, let's just say that last night's show was not my favorite of the season. Kevin (Matthew Rhys) wasn't in it very much but Sarah and Joe were and all I have to say to the writers is: Split them up already! They are torturing each other AND the viewers! So Joe kissed his Sarah's half-sister Rebecca. She made the move, yes, but he met her halfway. She's running around like a victim but now we know it's an act so we will have to see what else this gurl has up her sleave. The hussy!
Kitty (Calista Flockhart) and her boyfriend/boss the senator (Rob Lowe) had all kinds of drama with a speechwriter getting killed (and he was hot!) and Kitty proposing! I gotta say, it was one of Flockhart's best scenes so far and Lowe's reactions were priceless. They are so GOOD together.
And now Kevin. He was playing uncle and took care of the kids while Sarah and Joe had a weekend campout to try and reconnect (this is before Holly tells Sarah that her hubby kissed Rebecca!) and he had some sweet scenes with his niece who wanted to know why he wasn't married.
Kevin: "Because gay people can't get married."
Niece: "Is that why you don't have a boyfriend?"
Kevin: "some people aren't relationship types like George Clooney...and me..and George Clooney..."
When Justin comes over later to help out, he puts the kids to bed then lays claim on being the better uncle. Kevin points out that he is the one who watched "Wiggles" with them. He also had his face painted.
They have GOT to give Kevin more to do next week!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Viewers of "Brothers & Sisters" have noticed that Kevin Walker (played so wonderfully by Matthew Rhys) has been getting a little more toned as the season goes on. We can thank actor Jason Lews, who played Kevin's lover for seven episodes, for the change!
"Oh my God. The first time Jason took his top off, I ran to the gym," Rhys says in the new issue of Instinct magazine. "You can bring in your washing and do it on his abdominals. But I come from a British sensibility, where we actually like to make the audience feel better about themselves, so we don't work out very much (laughs)."
But it's not Jason incredible abs gay fans want to talk about most, Rhys says.
"...When gay fans approach me, after they tell me how much they love Kevin, the next question inevitably is about Sally Field and what it's like to work with her and how much they adore her work from 'Steel Magnolias' and 'Soapdish' so I realize the magnitude of Sally's standing as a gay icon."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A lot of us knew that ABC had something special from the very beginning with "Brothers & Sisters." But a lot of critics who slammed the show when it debuted are singing a bit of a different tune these days including People Magazine. In this week's issue, critic Tom Gliatto reconsiders this initial critique and is now giving the show three stars.
"...the show has developed into a solid soap that really catches fire. Special credit goes to two actors who surprise us by mining mature, wry humor from the show's melodrama." He writes that Sally Field faces the messiness of widowhood "with sweetness and steel" while Calista Flockhart's "nibbly, wide-eyed anxiousness plays well off [Rob] Lowe's thin-lipped directness."
Initially, Gliatto had referred to Field and Flockhart as "two fusspot actresses who might be expected to flutter at each other like moths in a mirror."
Personally, I think Field might have fkuttered and fussed herself to a third Emmy Award come this fall.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Someone in this picture is gay! gay gay! besides Kevin! AfterElton.com revealed the identity of the cast member. Jon Robin Baitz told me over the weekend that SOMEONE would be coming out and now we know who.
But oin case you don't want to know, I have posted this person's photo on a jump...

Continue reading "SHOCKER: Someone ELSE is gay on "Brothers & Sisters"" »

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

"Brothers & Sisters" won a well-deserved GLAAD Award over the weekend for outstanding drama series. How could it not? In Kevin Walker, it has one of the most complex and authentic gay characters ever to appear on prime-time network television.
The show's creator, Jon Robin Baitz, accepted the award along with Matthew Rhys who plays Kevin. They were joined on the stage at the Kodak Theatre by fellow cast members Patricia Wettig, Dave Annable, Rachel Griffiths, and Ron Rifkin, among others.
I caught up with Baitz earlier that day in West Hollywood where he appeared on a panel at the Q-MeCon Queer Media and Entertainment Conference.
During a panel discussion at the conference, Baitz admitted that 'I'm a narcisist and [Kevin] is sort of me a little bit. We were really lucky with Matthew Rhys. He's just completely comfortable and and very smart. He's not a pretty boy and I think that helps in a way. It was a role that was hard to cast. We did the pilot with someone else [Jonathan LaPaglia] who was straight and he said, 'Am I going to have to kiss boys?' He seemd riddled with terror that someone was going to jump out and kiss him. And he's a really nice guy!"
As far as the also straight Rhys' attitude about kissing boys, Baitz said: "He's got this boozy, Welsh freedom about him and loves kissing anybody. Can't get enough of it."
Baitz said the from the beginning, there was never any static from ABC about Kevin kissing boys: "Nobody said no or anything, there was never a word about any of it."
Then here is something very intriguing. Baitz said that Kevin is "not the only gay person in the family."
THAT got me real curious so I cornered Baitz after the panel.
What did you mean? Please elaborate? Are you talking about Sen. MacAllister's [Rob Lowe] gay brother?
Baitz: "There are other things to look forward to in addition to Rob Lowe's brother. I think by the season finale, you'll understand that, where it's going."
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
"I looked at myself and all the mistakes I made and the fight for wanting and craving intimacy and at times not being able to cope with it, pushing away the person you love and being on the other side of that and wanting to explore it - and also a certain element of gay homophobia that exists in the culture and within Kevin. I think it's great to have a character who has a lot to learn. That's somebody that audiences are interested in watching. Learning is so fundamental to human experience."
So I remark that it wouldn't have been very interesting then to have had Kevin and Scotty live happily ever after from the start.
Baitz. "No. But, you haven't seen the last of Scotty."
Is Baitz surprised at the loyal (and perhaps rabid on the part of people like me) following "Brothers & Sisters" has?
Baitz: "No, I'm not surprised. I knew that there would be. I knw that they would relate to these people because they love each other so much and they're so commited to this idea of a family and people are really hungry for that."
I ask him how bringing Lowe onto the show mid-season came about: "I wanted to broaden it romantically a little bit and Rob and I were friends and I knew that he would be a great addition to it - and so did he, from the beginning."
And what about the casting of Sally Field, who replaced Betty Buckley as Nora Walker after the pilot was shot with Buckley and LaPaglia.
Baitz: "We had a little Sally Field fan club and I'm really interested in having older characters be interesting and important and not have a show that's entirely reflective of a youth culture. She's fantastic. I love her."

"Brothers & Sisters" airs at 10 p.m. on Sunday nights on ABC...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Until Sarah's creepy husband kissed Rebecca in last night's episode of "Brothers & Sisters," it was pretty much non-stop laughs with the Walker family reviving their rivalry with the perfect Jones family (or the Bizarro Walkers) in a family game night. The Jones also have five children, each about the same age as a Walker child, and were played, in part, by Susan Sullivan, Jenna Elfman and Perry King. The episode gave the entire cast - especially Sally Field and Calista Flockhart - the opportunity to do some really first-rate comic acting. To see Calista in the comedy mode all episode long reminds you of why she became such a big star as "Ally McBeal." And to have Rob Lowe shouting out answers to charades gave us a break from all the senator running for president stuff.
But we really care about Kevin, right?
Kitty sets him up on a blind date with Senator MacAllister's brother Jason over Robert's objections: "Didn't you brother give you the 'Just because I'm gay doesn't mean you can set me up speech'?
The he says: "I heard Kevin was a serial dater....you used the word 'man whore!'"
Of course, Kitty does it anyway and the next scene is Kevin and Jason having coffee and when the conversation leads to Sen. MacAllister, Kevin refers to him as a "weasel" and "a mental midget" and says: "Robert MacAllister and his ilk are kind of what are wrong with this country."
Jason gets up and leaves, blatantly using one of the excuses that he and Kevin had been joking that they use to get out of a bad blind date.
When Kevin finds out that Jason is MacAllister's brother he is furious with Kitty and says to her: "I told you months ago I did not want to meet his stupid gay brother...you're dead to me!"
This confrontation is happening during game night and during charades when they are trying to guess the name of a movie with a word in the titles that rhymes with "Kitty" ["Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang"] Kevin yells out: "Backstabber!" and "The Night Kitty Died!"
It was, hysterical. Later, Kitty says to Kevin: '"Die Kitty Die?" He says that yes, "It's a movie about a meddlesome cat and she gets hit by a bus!"
Still, somehow I think Kevin and Jason will find their way back to each other soon enough.
Stay tuned.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 9:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Let's face it, Jason Lewis' stint on "Brothers & Sisters" as Kevin's closeted soap star boyfriend did not go over nearly as well with viewers as Kevin and Scotty (Luke MacFarlane).
But after finding these pics from Jason's farewell episode on the OhLaLa blog, I think the show miscalculated by not giving us more eye of Jason shirtless. He was so sexy on "Sex & the City" but on "Brothers & Sisters," he always looked unkept and in his bedroom scenes with Kevin, he usually had a T-shirt on. C'mon! We see more skin from Sally Field (a gorgeous 60 year old) than we got of Jason!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At one point during last night's episode of "Brothers & Sisters," a fed-up Kevin Walker tells his closeted soap star boyfriend Chad that the whole drama about when or if he is coming out is boring and that "life is too damned short."
I could not agree more!
And so, by episode's end, Kevin and Chad have broken up and brought an end to an episode arc that was never really popular with fans, like me, who felt that the Kevin and Scotty relationship ended too prematurely. So instead of the wonderful Scotty (Luke MacFarlane), we have had to endure countless scenes of Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Chad (Jason Lewis) waking up together and sharing a chaste kiss before one or the other rushed off.
I must say, it was awfully nice to finally see Chad featured in just a pair of shorts as he watched Kevin sleep. Why hire an actor with a body like Jason Lewis and never show it?
In the end, Chad comes out on his website to his fans, Kevin tells him "it was a brave and honest thing to do" and acknowledges that he had been "pretty harsh" on Chad.
Then Chad says: "I didn't come out of the closet for you or us - I came out of the closet for me...I think I need to go the rest of the distance on my own...I couldn't have gotten to where I am without you."
Kevin realizes it is too late.
They share a couple of emotional goodbye kisses that lacked the tenderness that Kevin's kisses with Scotty always had. I only liked this storyline for maybe two or three episodes...it was kind of fun. But it got old real quick and thankfully, it is over.
As for the rest of last night's show, much of it focused on Senator Robert MacAllister (Rob Lowe) and his plans to run for president. Kitty (Calista Flockhart) and her sister Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) go to his hometown to make a little bio film and it turns out he is from the artichoke capital of the world and they happen to be there during the artichoke festival. Endless artichoke jokes, margaritas are called arti-ritas and on and on.
Here's my thing: Isn't it enough to have Kitty involved with a U.S. senator? Having him running for president just threatens to turn it into a different kind of show. But I will say this, Lowe is turning in a terrific performance week after week and never better than last night when he was confessing to Kitty the truth behind his war hero tale. That scene is some of his finest work - ever.
It's also a hoot to have Margot Kidder making another appearance on the show as Nora's (Sally Field) kooky friend Emily Craft who is a bad influence for sure but reminds me of the terrific Kathy Bates character from "Six Feet Under" who would occasionally surface to loosen up uptight Ruth.
And the blooming romance between Nora and her writing professor (Peter Coyote) is very appealing. When I was watching their picnic lunch scene, I felt like I was watching a scene from a really good movie - kind of like the beach scene between Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson in "As Good As it Gets."
Sometimes, "Brothers & Sisters" can be about as good as television gets...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Let's hope so.
By the end of last night's episode of "Brothers & Sisters," it looked like Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) had pushed his closeted TV star boyfriend Chad (Jason Lewis) too far. And so, if we are lucky, there will only be maybe a short epilogue in a future episode.
At the start of the episode, it's Kevin who is upset with Chad for cancelling their Palm Springs weekend to go to a movie premiere and planning to take an actress friend as a beard.
"I have officially OD'd on secrets," Kevin says. "That's my line in the sand. We're done."
Uh Oh Kevin, be careful what you wish for.
Chad, in an instant change of heart, says "I'm about to go undercover on the show - I'm tired of doing it in real life." And he invites Kevin to the premiere: "It's not like we're going to hold hands or anything. Let them think what they want."
Kevin finds this hot and they both start taking their clothes off.
Later, Kevin is summoned to a sketchy coffee shop by Chad's manager who warns that going public would ruin his boyfriend's career: "I'm not marrying him," Kevin says. "We're going to a movie!"
The manager explains: "Your the first one who's gotten this far...if you walk down that red carpet with him, you might as well be walking down the aisle."
Bingo! That's effective. Kevin realizes if Chad finally comes out, he'll have to face a REAL commitment - something he has successfully run from in the past. He later tells Chad that his plans to publicly come out are "forcing us to go faster than we normally would...Please don't do this for me. I'm not ready to settle down."
Kevin apologizes for giving Chad mised signals to which Chad, now ready to storm out, replies: "Mixed signals? Try multiple personalities."
And out the door he went...
Well Jason, we'll always have you on "Sex & the City" reruns.
Kevin also figured into the rest of the episode which revolved around meeting Rebecca, the illegitimate Walker that Nora (Sally Field) held a dinner for in order for the family to get to know their half-sibling. Kevin is suspicious that Rebecca's mom Holly (Patricia Wettig) might just be saying she's a Walker in order to get her hands on millions. He wants DNA proof and, get this, pulls a hair out of her head during dinner!
Later, he says, "I readily admit it wasn't my finest hour."
Meanwhile, Sally Field had some heavy-duty scenes in this episode and, as always, was a sensation. She tearfully admits to her daughter Sarah her anger toward her late husband who died and left all kinds of secrets and betrayals behind: "It's so hard to tell somebody who's not around anymore to go to hell!"
The episode ends with Nora throwing her wedding ring into the ocean.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I think Rob Lowe should be over turning down the role of Dr. McDreamy on "Grey's Anatomy" now that he has signed to be a full-fledged cast member of a better show: "Brothers & Sisters." Lowe, who plays U.S. Sen. Robert McCallister on the show, began appearing as a guest stae mid-season and was originally signed for just a handful of episodes.
According to Daily Variety, since Lowe joined the Sunday night show, there has been a ratings increase. It also helps that he and co-star Calista Flockhart have terrific chemistry.
Executive Producer Jon Robin Baitz tells Variety: "He brings a unique romantic addition to the show by his combination of wit and charm and his elegance. The great discovery of it is there's such an intrinsic chemistry between him and Calista, which is so rare to find in two actors together. He's been a tremendous boon to to the storyline in terms of storylines and even ratings."
Not to mention his incredible good looks!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since I don't see Luke MacFarlane's character of Scotty getting back together with Kevin on "Brothers & Sisters," I'm not too distressed to learn that MacFarlane has been cast in another show. I mean, the guy's gotta make a living! But this news, as reported first on AfterElton.com, is disappointing to fans of the Scotty-Kevin romance. They are so sweet together. I hope they don't become like Gary and Valene on "Knot's Landing" who took forever to get back together.
Let's face it, Jason Lewis' character of Chad, the closeted soap star, was not as well-received by fans so we are hoping for better chemistry with Kevin's next love interest.
MacFarlane by the way, has been cast in FOX's new court drama "Supreme Courtships." AfterElton reports that Luke will be playing Allan, a conservative character no doubt working for one of the conservative Supreme Court Justices.
Oh man. I'd so much rather be playing Scotty!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I knew it would happen, and yet I still feel so giddy! TVGuide.com has just reported that my favorite show, "Brothers & Sisters" has been renewed by ABC for a second season. By announcing the renewal so early, it is proof that ABC has a lot of faith in the show.
And why not? The ratings are solid against stiff Sunday night compeition and the show is so damned good with a stellar cast highlighted by Matthew Rhys' portrayal of Kevin, the openly gay attorney and a part of the spirited Walker clan. I look forward to following more of his romantic adventures and those of his siblings which include Kitty played by Calista Flockhart who is in a relationship with a U.S. senator played by the still-gorgeous Rob Lowe!

But most of all, it's all about Sally Field, the show's anchor and one of the best actresses of our time. As Nora Walker, Sally has the chance to play a complex and interesting woman and come Emmy time, I will be bitterly disappointed if she is not nominated for best actress in a drama series. She already has two Emmys and two Oscars but seeing as she is still at the top of her game, I think a third Emmy is deserved!
In further good news, ABC has also given an early renewal to the great "Ugly Betty," another fabulous gem of a show embraced by gays and straights alike.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of my favorite features in The Advocate each issue is its "Big Gay Following" page where a straight celebrity beloved by gays is interviewed. The March 27 issue features Rachel Griffiths who we first got to know as the bride's best friend in "Muriel's Wedding" then as Brenda in "Six Feet Under" and now as big sister Sarah on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters."
Here is some of what she had to say:
On co-starring in "Ned Kelly" with Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom: "A very good day at work. I got to make out with Orlando and get tied up by Heath. It was fun."
On "Brothers & Sisters" gay character, Kevin, Sarah's younger brother: "I'm proud to be on a family drama that's totally mainstream and can integrate a gay character who's in no way "other" and who's not deprived of any of the joys and difficulties that his straight siblings go through."
On a homophobic fan: "This lady told me she loved 'Brothers & Sisters' then said, 'But I hope you pass this on to the producers, that we could really do without all that gay kissing.' I told her a story my grandmother told me: She went to Paris in 1932 and saw a black man holding the hand of a white woman, and she felt so horrified she almost threw up. My grandmother told me she knew that reaction was wrong, but it was the way she had been brought up. So I told this lady, 'Maybe when you're 98 you'll tell your granddaughter how you saw two men kissing one day, and how you felt, but you know that's wrong, and that was just how you were brought up.' She was shocked. I said, 'So I'm not going to tell the show's creators that. that's for you to work out.'"

Wow. I think Rachel's big gay following just got even bigger!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm still filled with regret over missing the Brothers & Sisters panel Monday night at the Paley Television Festival and provided you all with my lame summary cobbled together and a few pictures. Founds tons more shots on the terrific site A Socialite's Life and picked out the best of the bunch for you. Isn't Sally Field (above) just lovely? Was she really Gidget 42 years ago? I love her! And what about the enormously talented and appealing Matthew Rhys (below) whose Kevin Walker is the most wonderful gay character to come along on network television - ever.

And, of course, you could never have enough pictures of the ageless and oh-so handsome Rob Lowe...

Below (left) is the enormously talented Patrica Wettig of whom I am a big fan...and the terrific Calista Flockhart whose character has come together after an iffy start. She only gets more appealing every week and her chemistry with Lowe is sizzlin!

Finally, two more siblings: David Annabale (yum) and the brilliant Rachel Griffiths:

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was bogged down with work last night and completely forgot that it was "Brothers & Sisters" night at the 24th Annual William S. Paley Television Festival at the Directors Guild of America theater in West Hollywood! But I've searched around and found some pics and some of what was said and have cobbled together a bit of a posting for you. It doesn't have my usual "I was there" flavor because, well, I wasn't!
I'm told basically the entire cast was there and that prior to a panel discussion, the episode "Valentine's Day Massacre" was screened. Jason Lewis, who plays Kevin's closeted lover Chad, was present but sat in the audience and not on the stage.
Each of the cast members were asked why they took the job on the show and here are their responses as reported by LA.com:
Calista Flockhart: "It affords me to be in LA," she said. "I have a kid and he's in school." "I have to admit," she later said, "It hasn't been that challenging. It's all in the writing. I just have to say my lines passionately and fool everybody."
Sally Field: "I wasn't here for the original pilot. [Baitz] said he wanted to make a story about a matriarch, to explore a middle-aged woman aging in this society. I said, 'Whoa. Certainly no one is doing that.' There was no script, just a pilot. It was a leap of faith."
Patricia Wettig: "There was some family pressure." (Her husband Ken Olin is a producer and director on the show, her 23-year-old son Cliff is one of the writers and daughter Roxy has been in a few episodes as Jason Lewis's girlfriend. Wettig says of her character: "Is she good, is she bad? Is she telling the truth? This is not a pigeonholed character."
Sarah Jane Morris: "I was doing the pilot season grind like all the other lunch pail actors in LA. The real draw was having a job. Let's be real."
Balthazar Getty: ""I was excited to play a regular guy, not someone jumping around, shooting." (He was on "Alias" before "Brothers & Sisters").
Matthew Rhys: "I was about to be deported to Wales. "Like so many Brits, we schlep out here year after year to try to steal jobs." Rhys admitted that his accent does slip at times: “Ken Olin was directing the last episode, and [in the middle of a scene] yelled, “Cut. Can you not sound like you’re from Middle Earth?”
Dave Annabelle: "[Playing an Iraq vet is] one of the reasons [he wanted to be on the show], besides getting to meet Harrison Ford."
According to E! Online, several fans called attention to the character of Kevin and how much it means to have a homosexual sibling portrayed as just any other kid. Creator Jon Robin Baitz gave much of the credit to ABC and Touchstone. “They’ve been wildly encouraging. No one ever said 'Less guys kissing.' We’ve come a long way.”

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was out with my friends Michael and Trevor tonight as we gathered to have a "farewell for now" drink at The Abbey. Michael is moving to DC for a great job but had to make it an early night with the movers coming early in the morning. Trevor and I look at each other and realize we can still make it home in time to watch "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers & Sisters." How hooked are WE? We leave a club filled with wall-to-wall guys in order to not miss the happenings within the Walker family and on Wisteria Lane! We need ABC-hab!
"Desperate Housewives" was notable in that it gave gay teen Andrew Van de Kamp (Sean Pyfrom) an entire scene! He had lines and everything! And his very annoying sister is pregnant and hopefully written off the show for the rest of the season. Gabby has a hot silver-haired politician after her and I hope we see more of HIM. Also, I hate to be catty (meow!) but, I think Susan's daughter, Julie, has got to ditch the dyed blonde hair. It. Is. A. Mistake.
OK, "Brothers & Sisters." The gay stuff was on the back-burner pretty much but had a few scenes with Chad (Jason Lewis) freaking out because a Perez Hilton-type blogger posted pics of him and Kevin (Matthew Rhys) lamp shopping and suggested that they were more than FRIENDS. Chad is mortified. Kevin looks at the pics and says: "I told you that lamp was gay...and ugly!" So Chad decides they gotta lay low for awhile to which Kevin responds: "I'm starting to feel like a vampire." Kevin wants to call the blogger and threaten legal action to scare him off the story. Chad nixes that but says: "I've never seen you so...litigious. It's kinda hot." Of course Kevin calls the blogger dude anyway and makes it all worse and at episodes' end, the couple vow to lie even lower.
I say either out Chad or not and wrap this sucker up...it's boring...and have Kevin move on to someone who isn't a closet case.
The bulk of the episode was about the revelation that the Walker family has a half-sister they never knew about and Nora (Sally Field) finds out about it (her dead, cheating husband is the father). I gotta say, Sara (Rachel Griffiths) was a real jerk to tell the poor half-sister about her true parentage but the whole thing gave Sally some great scenes and really reminded us of what a terrific actress Patricia Wettig, as the mother of the half-sister, really is. She won three Emmys for "thirtysomething" in the late 80s and early 90s but since then, she has not had as good a role as Nancy on that classic show. Now she does and she nails it.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

AfterElton.com has a terrific Q&A today with "Brothers & Sisters" executive producer Greg Berlanti that is well worth reading in its entirety. This is my absolute favorite show and much of it has to with the character of Kevin Walker, the best gay character network tellevision has ever had.
Berlanti (pictured, left), an openly gay 34-year-old, directed the wonderful gay indie flick "Broken Hearts Club" and had worked on "Dawson's Creek" as head write and was responsible for the first romantic male kiss on network TV. He also created the WB's "Everwood" and a show I really loved and miss: "Jack & Bobby."
Here is some of the Q&A:
AE: You know it's funny, because on Brothers & Sisters, Kevin seems to lock lips with someone almost every other week.
GB: The world's changed in seven years. It's great!
AE: I know it's probably different at ABC [as opposed to the old WB].
GB: It's also a different time. There are just younger executives these days. At the time — you know, six or seven years ago — there were still a lot of people who had been executives for 10, 15 years that, you know, were just older. It was a generational shift that happened.
The executives are my age now as opposed to 10 or 15 years older than me, and they've grown up in a post-Will & Grace world and a post-Six Feet Under world. I think Six Feet Under as much as anything did so much to move forward what it means to tell a story about a gay man. And you can't live in a post-Six Feet Under world and tell mature, adult story lines without gay characters kissing where everyone else would kiss.
AE: Getting back to Brothers & Sisters, the relationship between Scotty and Kevin really seemed to strike a chord with gay viewers. Were you surprised by that? It almost seems like that relationship is kind of overshadowing his current relationship with Chad [played by actor Jason Lewis].
GB: Yeah, without a doubt. As usual when you get two characters — and two actors — together that have so much chemistry, you wind up with two camps. You get people that really want that, and others that don't want it, you know? My sense is that because we've got a lot of characters that are married on this show, to drive a lot of story in these kinds of shows you need characters to be …
AE: Single and dating?
GB: … yeah, and to have a string of different relationships. You know, if they'd all gotten married the first year on Sex and the City, it would have been a very different show.
AE: Yeah.
GB: I like to think of Scotty as Kevin's Mr. Big.
AE: Interesting. So maybe down the road these two will get back together?
GB: I would hope so. Scotty is someone that will be in Kevin's life, but I don't think that we should be exploring Kevin in a 22 straight episode kind of relationship right now. There's too much fun to be had before that and too much learning for his character to do before he gets to that place.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Oh La La blog posted these wonderful pics of Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Chad (Jason Lewis) kissing Sunday night on "Brothers & Sisters." I wrote yesterday that I think it was their best kiss yet. What do you think?

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Poor Kevin. He's trying to blow off Chad becasue he's tired of being with a closet case soap stud. But at the end of Sunday night's episode of "Brothers & Sisters," Kevin (Matthew Rhys) once again succumbed to the charms of Chad (Jason Lewis) as they sealed things with a kiss. I will say this, Jason Jewis has gotten quite good at kissing a guy. He seems to actually like it now!
But my favorite part of the episode was earlier when Chad kept trying to make up with Kevin who suddenly has the good sense to distance himself from Chad who tells him: "Something's happening. I can't stop thinking about you. I was really happy waking up next to you."
Kevin: "You're an actor, you're acting. They teach you this kind of crap in acting school."
Then later, over dinner, Chad continues to lay it on thick: "Whatever journey I've been on, I think at age 34, I've finally found out what I want to do and where I want to go and who I want to go with."
Responds Kevin: 'This is a great restaurant, isn't it?"
Kevin then gets a call in the middle of the night from Chad's now ex-girlfriend, Michelle, who warns him that Chad "has done this before, it;s his thing. He's going to get real close and then be tortured then hook up with a girl...like me."
That brings us to the final scene at Kevin's apartment where Chad shows up because Kevin has not returned his last five phone calls.
Kevin: "Is this gonna be like 'Fatal Attraction"? How many Michelle's have there been? How many Kevins? You're built to seduce and run."
But Chad works his charms and Kevin lets him in. Before he kisses Chad, he says quietly: "I hate you."
Then they kiss.
Awe...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was among those who was ticked off by Jason Lewis' interview with "Extra" last month which seemed to have him a little greaked out over being "forced" to kiss the gorgeous Matthew Rhys as part of his role as a closeted soap opera star in "Brothers & Sisters." I mean hey, hire Robert Gant for the role. He's just as gorgeous, a better actor than Lewis in my opinion, and he doesn't mind kissing guys because he is open about being gay!
But, we still have most of the gay roles being played by straight men and we'll just have to live with that since gay men (most in the closet) are playing plenty of heterosexual roles in television and film! Wow, where was I going with all of this? Oh yeah, I wanted to write about seeing Lewis on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" this afternoon and he seemed nervous, but he came off better than in the "Extra" interview. He walked to the sound of Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" and was carrying roses for the lovely Ellen. He said to her: "You're like my Valentine now because I'm single." (Lewis and the gorgeous and talented Rosario Dawson broke up last fall).
Ellen showed a clip from last Sunday's "Brothers & Sisters" with Lewis and Rhys just getting out of bed and talking about their secret relationship. Says Rhys' Kevin Walker: "This is giving my ulcer an anxiety attack."

As you already know, the episode ends with Kevin sleeping with old flame Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) t make Lewis' Chad jealous. It works. Chad dumps Kevin over the phone then Scotty figures it all out andsays goodbye too. So Ellen asked Lewis about playing a gay character. He said his only "trepidation" was about the quality of the role. He says he likes where the writers have taken his storyline: "You've got people with real issues...being in a place where you don;t know yourself" and in the process, end up hurting a lot of people as you figure yourself out.
And what about that kissing a boy stuff?
"It was a new experience," he said. "I get nerves. I get nerves kissing a girl. It's your job."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 4:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

"Brothers & Sisters" is back tonight with an original episode! I hope I'm back from the Grammys in time to watch it live. I do know a few things about the episode which includes the return of adorable Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) who Kevin runs into at a bar when he's with his soap opera star lover and his "girlfriend." Also, apparently Calista Flockhart and Rob Lowe, I mean Kitty and Sen. McAllister, will get romantic (who saw that coming? ha!) and Sally Field, I mean, Nora Walker, is set to get herself into some kind of trouble that I think involves jail. What is Gidget doing in jail for God's sake? Just kidding. I worship Sally Field and think she is doing some of the best work of her career in this gem of a role.

TV critic Robert Bianco of USA TODAY wrote a nice article in Friday's paper about my favorite show which I have loved from the beginning but others are now coming around. He calls is "TVs best family drama...
Few things in life can make you happier, or drive you crazier, than family. Overstuffed and a bit of a mad jumble it may be, but after a stumbling start, this talent-rich hour has coalesced into one of the season's most joyfully endearing and entertaining series."
Here is more of what he wrote:
"You can see the improved results of their combined efforts Sunday in a witty Valentine's Day episode dedicated to the vagaries of love, sex, and '60s nostalgia. As an added treat, it boasts an amusing guest shot by Margot Kidder as a friend who leads Field's Nora Walker down a garden path she quickly comes to regret.
Anyone who hasn't watched Brothers since its earlier outings may be surprised by how well the family gets along these days. The original mystery/tragedy (the death of the Walker patriarch and his pilfering of the family business's pension account) has been dumped, along with much of the angst it provoked.
Equally wise has been the rehabilitative work done on Flockhart's Kitty, who has left her job as a conservative talk-show star to work for a Republican senator (Lowe). It's a much better fit for Flockhart, who never seemed either flamboyant or aggressive enough for talk-show fame, and it has allowed the show to jettison most of its political diatribes. Brothers still explores the family's political divides, but it does so in a way that is far less argumentative and preachy.
Actually, Kitty herself kicks off Sunday's parade of Valentine's Day massacres, waking up in bed with her boss and immediately calling her sister, Sarah (Rachel Griffiths). As the family phone tree spreads, we find out that Kevin (Rhys), the gay brother, and Justin (Dave Annable), the troubled brother, have both made iffy choices. Best of all, Mom has made a choice that landed her in jail."

And while you're watching, note the matter-of-fact equivalency granted to Kevin's relationships. Neither neglected nor highlighted, they're treated with as much seriousness, or lack thereof, as any other."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I don't think there has been an in-depth interview with Matthew Rhys who plays the openly gay attorney Kevin Walker on my favorite show, ABC's "Brothers & Sisters." But AfterElton.com was able to score one and I wanted to provide you with some excerpts:

Does it surprise hom that his character is such a standout on American television? "Um, in a way, yes. Because that particular comment I've heard a couple of times, and it has made me think that in this day and age you would expect a higher degree of exposure for gay characters."
On having two gay executive producers, Jon Robin Baitz and Greg Berlanti: "Robbie [Baitz] says that often he finds it very easy to write for Kevin as opposed to other characters. And Robbie was adamant from the start that he didn't want any whiff of stereotype or anything like that. Not to make [Kevin] any exception to anyone else in any way. Just an absolutely normal part of the family."
On Kevin's problems: "With regards to the commitment issues, I think they were careful with that because they didn't want to give him specifically gay problems. And commitment-phobia, you know is a human and universal flaw. So I was happy about that character trait. There are elements of that aspect of Kevin that I can relate to [laughs]. Especially in your 20s. In your 30s, things do change."

He was surprised at how much Kevin's relationship with Scotty struck a cord with viewers: "The reaction was very big, especially when Scotty and I broke up. We had a lot of reaction to that. I was surprised by how much of a chord it had struck, but I was very happy."

On Kevin's new relationship with a closeted soap star (played by Jason Lewis): "I like the fact that they've gone for another universal theme in that you don't necessarily fall for those people who are right for you, or you don't choose the people you fall for. And with that comes conflict, obviously, then drama, which makes it all the more entertaining to see. … It's like with Scotty. For Kevin, Scotty wasn't what he'd have picked ordinarily, and the same has happened with Chad, and I think that's a part of his makeup. He goes for people who are unavailable or not necessarily the right people for him."

On the public scrutiny for playing a gay role: "I was a little shocked at the reaction of the press at the beginning. A lot of the questions were, you know, "Was it a problem for you to play gay roles?" Or "Were you concerned about getting typecast?" You know, I was a little confused as to why I was getting [questioned]. I thought we'd passed those times, really. So that was a little bit of a shock. "

On kissing another man on screen: "I don't think it's ever really problematic. I just think if you're fortunate enough to be confident and secure in yourself, and you know it's a role you play, I don't see where the problem lies, really. Actually, my first theater job was a gay part with a lot of kissing it in it. So, I wouldn't say it was a hurdle really, but I got over that really early on. You realize there's nothing to it."

On hiding his Welsh accent to play California boy Kevin Walker: "I still have to put the hours in on the accent. It still manages to flip me and throw me. But we get a dialect coach that puts all our words down on a CD for us, so I'm continually working on it. It's the rhythm and the cadence and the intonation rather than the actual sound that is always tripping me up. And the emphasis on all the wrong words that make you stick out sometimes."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 9:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I loved tonight's episode of "Brothers & Sisters," loved it.
It was Nora Walker's 60th birthday on tonight's episode of "Brothers & Sisters." And Nora, of course, is played by 60-year-old Sally Field who really shined tonight as the mother of the Walker clan and as the daugher of her very difficult mother, Ida (guest star Marion Ross). The birthday party was an utter disaster which made it all the more delicious to watch.
Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) who is catering gets the flu, Ida ruins the surprise by arriving early and telling Nora, "I'm here for your birthday party tonight," they have to hide all the booze in the closet because Justin (David Annabelle) is out of rehab for the day for the party, the wrong party package was ordered so there is a ridiculous Medieval theme and the state police are there because Kitty (Calista Flockhart) has invited the gorgeous Sen. McAllister (the gorgeous Rob Lowe). Then there is the sex tape of Sarah and her hubby that accidentally gets edited into Nora's birthday tribute. It happened in a perfectly plausible way. The sibling interactions and other family dynamics were so right on:
"Kitty's not doing anything for this party!" Kevin (Matthew Rhys) shouts into the phone at one point during the planning.

Ida to Kevin at the party: "Why are you still a bachelor? You just haven't found the right girl yet."
Later, Ida to Kevin: "You can't be gay! Justin maybe. But you? No!"
Kevin to siblings about grandma Ida: "She's nice to us but around mom she's Joan Crawford."
Kitty to Kevin: "You put the wine in the closet? Is your little boyfriend in there too?"
Senator McAllister says of the party: 'It was like dinner theater."
Lowe is becoming a nice part of the ensemble and I think what really made him click for me in this episode was that it was his first interaction with the Walker family. Since he's a Republican, the very liberal Nora is prepared to hate him but she ends up charmed by the man. Kevin, assuming the senator is homophobic introduces himself by saying, "I'm Kevin, the gay brother."

It was great. If you missed it, go to ABC.com and see in online for free for gosh sakes.

Oh! The gay moments. almost forgot. Ha! Kevin is still carrying on with closet case soap star Chad (Jason Lewis) and both of their scenes take place in Kevin's bedroom! Calm down, it was kind of a post-sex scene where chad is getting dressed (we see his abs for a sec) and, I believe it's the first time we see Kevin shirtless. It's a nice thing. Kevin looks very good shirtless. And while there is no big makeout scene, there are two nice soft kisses on the lips that were almost convincing. Kevin, after overhearing Chad tell someone who calls him that "I'm just at some friend's house, I'd love to shoot some hoops later." Kevin tells him that HE'S the one who is used to having the intimacy issues and letting people down. He's not so crazy about being on the receiving end of someone with issues.
The next episode of "Brothers & Sisters" doesn't come until Feb. 11 and it marks the return of the adorable Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) who runs into Kevin and Chad and Chad's girlfriend at a club. Here is a sneak peak:

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I know, some of us are put off a bit by actor Jason Lewis saying how scary it was to kiss another boy on "Brothers & Sisters" on Sunday - even if that boy happens to be as cute and wonderful as Matthew Rhys. But hey, let's try and put aside our disappointment and enjoy him for the eye candy that he is amd check out the kiss! Jason doesn't look so scared to me.
And here are some other images from Kevin Walker's budding romance with closet-case Chad Berry on my favorite show...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 6:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

From what I've read around the Internet so far this morning, it doesn't seem that "Brothers & Sisters" fans are too keen on Kevin's new love interest, Chad, because they don't think he's good enough for our Kev! He's a big closet case. But I think most, myself included, are willing to go with the storyline due to the hotness factor of the actors involved: Matthew Rhys as Kevin, and Jason Lewis as Chad.
But then Lewis goes and does something you just can't do anymore when you take on a gay role: he told TV's 'Extra" that he had trepidation about kissing another man on screen. So what does he want, a medal of courage for locking lips with another dude? Get over yourself.
AfterElton.com flagged down the interview and editor Michael Jensen had some harsh words for the actor: “It’s called acting, stupid!�? Gay and lesbian thespians are often called upon to kiss members of the opposite sex onscreen, and you don’t hear them describing the prospect as “scary.�? If you’re trying to turn off gay fans of Brothers & Sisters then you’re off to a great start."
Well said. And just for being such a dunce about it, I think writers should have Chad and Kevin kiss in every episode, just so Jason won't be so "scared" anymore.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OK, I was just as stoked as anyone to see Kevin (Matthew Rhys) kiss the closet case soap star Chad (Jason Lewis) on tonight's episode of my favorite show. Chad, who claims to be straight, takes him up to a makeout spot on Muholland Drive after a Lakers game and Kevin calls him on the mixed signals. He says: "You're either gonna hack me into a million pieces or you're gonna kiss me." Then...they kiss.
Later, Kevin tells his siblings "It was like sleeping with a greek god," I happy for him. But when soap star's girlfriend returns to town and he's a little chilly to Kevin at the gym ("Oh, hi."), my heart sank. Been there, done that. And it sucks!
I want Kevin to date someone like Scotty who knows he's gay, not some closet case! Even if Jason Lewis is a beautiful closet case, his character is still the devil! And with Lewis extended from four to at least seven episodes of "Brothers & Sisters," this is gonna turn into a big soap opera. Maybe it'll be fun but I feel protective of Kevin and I hate to see him go down this road.
That said, I loved the scenes early in the episode when Kevin and Sarah are surfing the Internet trying to find clues as to whether Chad is gay. Kevin: "Too bad Justin's in rehab, he's got great gaydar!" Then he says, "Look! He brought his mom to the daytime Emmys. Oh look! He's got a bog!"
Kevin and Sarah start reading the blog and after seeing that he's got a pug named Lola and his favorite music is "all things Christina," Sarah looks at the hopeful Kevin and says, "You might be right."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oh well, it looks like it's not gonna be Rob Lowe's Sen. Robert McCallister hooking up with Kevin (Matthew Rhys) on "Brothers & Sisters" as I had speculated and hoped for. Drat! I mean, a closeted Repujblican politician wouldn't be so far-fetched, right? But McCallister's character's brother is gay, it was revealed on Sunday night's episode - the first in a month - and I look forward to meeting this brother who the senator described as not only a gay man but "... a cute one too." Since Lowe's real-life brother, Chad Lowe, has snagged a role on "24," we can start speculating about what handsome actor will play the role of his on-screen brother.
Previews for next week's episode show the introduction of the super-sexy Jason Lewis who Kevin meets at the gym. He's a closeted actor who Kevin is likely to hook up with for at least four episodes. Sounds good to me!
Anyway, a solid episode of the show this week with some silly but funny stuff when Holly (Patricia Wettig) insists on having an office at the family business so Nora (Sally Field) insists she have one too. It got a little ridiculous though when Nora sent out an email suggesting everyone bring their dogs to work - and they do.

But what I cared the most about was Kevin's episode-long showdown with Kitty (Calista Flockhart) who is going to accept a job as the senator's communications director. Kevin is against it because this Republican senator voted against gay marriage.
"In 20 years, when I'm finally grown uop enough to sustain a commited relationship, I may want to get married," he tells Kitty and later adds: "There's not one thing that suggests he will do what's best for me...You want to work for someone who wants to strip me of my consistutional rights!""
Later, the senator explains to Kitty that gay marriage is "not an issue" for him but he needed to vote for the constitutional amendment banning it so he could get the support he needed for his education bill.
"I wouldn't do it again," he admits when Kitty points out the hypocricy of his vote. "I don't hate gay people."
I'm glad the issue was brought up and talked about and I have no doubt it will surface again as this show continues to tackle sensitive subjects on a regular basis and, i hope, makes a lot of people think.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Just caught Rob Lowe guesting on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and he was talking about his role as a U.S. senator on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" which returns with a new episode on Sunday night! Gee, what will I watch? The adventures of the Walker clan or the season premiere of the Rosie-hating Donald Trump's "The Apprentice"? Easy decision since I am boycotting anything related to Trump until he apologizes for calling Rosie "a fat slob," among other first-grade taunts. Idiot.
So back to Lowe, who was initially signed on to be on "Brothers & Sisters" for six episodes. He tells Ellen: "I'm gonna stay on the show for the rest of the year."
Hooray!
But here's where it gets mysterious. It seems that Calista Flockhart's Kitty will go to work for Lowe's senator character but will they become a romantic item? Or will the senator be the love interest of Kitty's gay brother Kevin (Matthew Rhys) as has been speculated. Lowe was pretty mum but Ellen only asked if his character would be hooking up with Kitty (That Ellen, only thinking about the beautiful woman!). Rob would only say: "It's going to go some pretty cool places."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hooray! ABC has not only begun making episodes available for free viewing via online screening just made them available for free via online streaming at ABC.com, start ing Jan. 12, the network will air encore showings Friday nights at 9:00pm. New epiisodes of the show will continue to follow "Desperate Housewives" on Sunday nights.There will FINALLY be a new episode of "Brothers & Sisters" this Sunday...at last! I can't wait to see Kevin (Matthew Rhys, pictured) hook up with his next love interest and to find out how Rob Lowe is going to fit into this show.
According to AfterElton.com, in the next several episodes Kevin will have a brief fling with a closeted soap star (played by Jason Lewis, the “Absolut Hunk�? from Sex and the City) and then embark on a much more serious relationship with a recurring character to be played by a high-profile actor. The show has been keeping the name of the actor playing Kevin’s second love interest closely under wraps, so presumably it is big news. My money is on Rob Lowe, but some fansites have mentioned Dan Futterman as a possibility. I like Futterman a lot but since he's already played gay in "Urbania" and several episodes of "Will & Grace," I'd like to see Lowe be gay on-screen and get involved in a few lip-locks with Rhys!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is terrific! With a new episode of "Brothers & Sisters" not airing until Jan.7, anyone who has missed any episodes of my favorite show can now catch up on ABC.com where episodes debuted online just this week. I was talking to my good friend Karen the other day and although she has been reading about the show on my blog, she hasn't seen it yet! OK Karen, time to add ABC.com to your favorites!

Now you can relive, or in Karen's case watch for the first time, the unfolding of the romance between Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) and Kevin (Matthew Rhys) from the flirtation to first kiss to second kiss to..break-up. I miss Scotty! Those two crazy kids are meant for each other! Oh well, maybe next season there will be a reconciliation.
I have a few thoughts about this Sunday night family drama which also has plenty of humor too. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I worship Sally Field. As family matriarch Nora Walker, I think this show has given her one of her best roles in a career that now spans 40-plus years and includes two Oscars ("Norma Rae" and "Places in the Heart") and two Emmys ("Sybil" and "ER").
Rachel Griffiths is also operating on all cylinders as Field's daughter Sarah who is juggling motherhood with running the family business. Griffiths is such an interesting actress and her character here is so much more appealing than Brenda on "Six Feet Under." I think Calista Flockhart is still settling into her role as Kitty Walker. At first I thought she was miscast but now I can't imagine anyone else in the part and her chemistry with Field and with Rhys is excellent and very real. I'm also crazy about Dave Annable as Justin, the troubled son who is fighting his demons and making his mom cry just about every episode.
So, I love the show, absolutely. And the addition of Rob Lowe? Fantastic! But, I think maybe the cast is too big and maybe brother Thomas (Balthazar Getty) should maybe do what older brother Chuck did on "Happy Days" all those years ago: just say he's going out to play basketball and never return. No explanations needed. And his pretty wife Julia (Sarah Jane Morris) might as well go with him since she is given so little to do (Morris had far more to do as Zoey during the final season of "Felicity").
And finally, I don't like Uncle Saul (Ron Rifkin). He needs to be redeemed for deceiving his own sister (Nora) on so many levels. I don't get his character at all. Is he a good guy? A bad guy? And mostly, I don't much care.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So I'm feeling a little under the weather this morning but suddenly, I'm cheered up by these pictures I spotted on AfterEltcom.com's awesome blog Best. Gay. Day. Ever.
We get our first look at the new gay romance on "Brothers & Sisters" between Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and a closeted soap actor named Chad (Jason Lewis) who he meets at the gym.

Lewis, so utterly hot as Samantha's true love Smith Jarrod on the last season of "Sex in the City," is signed on for at least four episodes of my favorite ABC show. The first episode airs in February (just in time for sweeps!) but the show returns wioth new episodes Jan. 7.
So until Jason makes his debut...enjoy these pics and check out more on the AfterElton.com blog.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

John Benjamin Hickey played a by-the-book Army major on last night's "Brothers & Sisters" and in that single episode, made the whole debate over whether an actor can be gay and play straight roles seem ridiculous. Hickey was completely convincing as the Army officer who insists that Justin (David Annable) return to the battlefield despite the character's struggle with drugs and alcohol.
Anyway, nice to see the talented Hickey on such a roll these days. Alternating between roles in theater, television and film, he has always been plenty busy. But this has been a particularly busy time with both Clint Eastwood's "Flags of our Fathers" and the Truman Capote biopic "Infamous" out in recent months.
Hickey can also play gay real well too: he was one-half of a gay couple of the wonderful, but short-lived, comedy "It's All Relative" that aired on ABC three seasons back.
Anyway, back to "Brothers & Sisters." It was a good holiday episode that gave Sally Field lots to do as Nora and featured more of Patricia Wettig as Holly than any previous show. With five Emmys between them, these two actresses are among the best and will no doubt have more scenes together in upcoming episodes.
Kevin (Matthew Rhys), didn't kiss any guys this episode but instead was focused on fighting for Andrew in court so that his brother could go to rehab before returning to the armed forces. At one point, an emotional Andrew says to Kevin, 'I really love you." Kevin jokes: 'You're so gay!"
Not that there's anything WRONG with that.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

And speaking of gay characters on network television, I was reading online somewhere (who can remember where?) some speculation that it is not entirely out of the question that Kevin (now Scotty-less) on "Brothers and Sisters" could end up involved with Rob Lowe's character. I don't know if this is just wishful thinking but we do know that Kevin (the sensational Matthew Rhys) will become involved with someone who he meets through Kitty (Calista Flockhart).
Lowe's character, a Republican senator, recently went through a divorce (we don't know why but the Dec. 3 episode is titled "Affairs of State" and it teases that the Walker family learns of the senator's most painful secret). If he had been a Republican congressman then I would be SURE he would end up being a closet case. So we'll obviously stay tuned on what happens there alothough there will be NO "Brothers and Sisters" episode on Sunday.
"Boston Legal" will air instead which I can take or leave but will stop in my tracks anytime that blond and beautiful Mark Valley is on screen. I gabbed with the star of the short-lived but memorable Fox series "Keen Eddie" at the Screen Actors Guild Awards last year and he could not have been nicer or more handsome. Also, Candice Bergen I'd watch reading the phone book.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So many of us are still mourning the break-up of Kevin and Scotty last week on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters." But not Kevin! Any concerns over his sexuality being put on the back burner (like poor Andrew on "Desperate Housewives") were forgotten about when he and two of his siblings hit a bar in the middle of the desert after their car breaks down. The bar, as luck would have it, was filled with hot Army guys. When one of the hunks sidles up to Kevin at the bar, he asks if Kevin has children. Kevin tells him everything: he's gay, his boyfriend just broke up with him etc."
Army guy says: "So, you're single? I was hoping you'd say that." He asked, and Kevin told!
Later, Kevin's sister (Rachel Griffiths) says incredulously: 'We come to an Army bar and HE gets laid!" Kevin, smiling, says: "Well, I'm workin on it."
In the end, Kevin doesn't get much sleep that night.
But for me to focus on this is a bit shallow given the weight of the rest of the episode. Justin, who last episode overdosed on drugs and booze after he learned he was being called to Iraq by the military, survives after getting his stomach pumped (was there any doubt?) and by episode's end, he's done a complete turnaround and is now resolved not to fight his callback and to go back and serve his country...in Iraq.
The prospect of her son going to Iraq to face such danger gave Sally Field (Nora) some real "Steel Magnolias" when Shelby died moments: "They're gonna take my boy! They're gonna take my boy!" she says, sobbing into the arms of Kitty (Calista Flockhart). "I don't know how I can do this again!" I half expected her to next say, "Shelby's riiiight. My hair does look like a football helmet!" Ya have to have seen "Steel Magnolias" at least a dozen times to even know what I'm talking about!
Meanwhile politically conservative Kitty has changed her mind on the war telling her co-host that she supported the battle "when we knew what we were fighting for...it's so dangerous over there now. My mother, who's so strong, is so heartbroken."
Kitty asks a U.S. Senator (guest star Rob Lowe) if he will intervene when he guests on her show. He refuses and she confesses, on air, to going easy on his interview in the hopes that she will help her brother and "to keep him from fighting in a war that i have defended on this program...I made a mistake of continuing to defend a war that is in desperate need of re-examination."
I gotta say, this was the most cnvincing Flockhart has been all season when discussing her politics. Finally, something seemed to feel authentic to her. Meanwhile, Lowe offers her a job on his staff which I take as a sign that we will see this uncommonly handsome on the air again on a weekly basis (he'll be on at least six episodes this season). The political dialogue just seemed so natural coming out of the mouth of the former star of "The West Wing" who had turned down the plum role of Dr. McDreamy on "Grey's Anatomy" so instead we get him as a dreamy McSenator.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As much as so many of us have enjoyed the rocky but sweet romance between Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke MacFarland) on "Brothers & Sisters" this season, apparently their problems will be too much to overcome, according to the new issue of TV Guide.

Columnist Michael Ausiello reports that the new year "will usher in a big romance" for Kevin with Scotty apparently headed out of the picture. (Tears are falling onto my keyboard and I just wanna yell "Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!")

But, Kitty (Calista Flockhart) has had a few rocky relationships of her own so far and is going to start something up with a new character, a senator, played by Rob Lowe. So even if Scotty leaves, the eye-candy quotient will remain strong. Lowe just gets better looking all the time, dammit.

OK, back to Kevin. The shows' executive producer Greg Berlanti tells Ausiello says Kevin will get a surprising new admirer and "he'll meet the person through Kitty." Hmmmmmmmmm. Maybe Lowe will turn out to be using Kitty to get to Kevin! Imagine, a closet-case politician!

Berlanti says it has been remarkable how little controversy the frank depiction of Kevin's love life has stirred - particularly within ABC. "IIt's a different era," says the exec producer who credits the late great "Six Feet Under" with "setting the standard" when it comes to honest portrayals of gay relationships on the small screen.
Says Berlanti: "You can't go back to creating sexless gay characters on the small screen anymore because it feels too weird."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Didn't think I'd forget about Kevin and Scotty on this week's episode of "Brothers & sisters" did ya? Not a chance. But I did think the Iraq war storyline was more important so gave it a seperate post.
Last week, Scotty stormed out of the family ranch house after Kevin told him to "shut up!" in front of everyone at dinner. Wisely, Scotty stays clear of Kevin until he shows up at Kevin's law firm to accept a reward check for being a whistle blower in a civil case Kevin was handling (this is how they met).

Kevin invites Scott to lunch reasoning that they are now "equals" because Scotty just got a big check.
Scotty: "You think we're equals because I have money? I thought what makes us equals is that we're both human beings! ...I was completely wrong about you. It took me a long time to figure out what I'm worth...It's taken you two months to make me feel worthless. Congratulations!" Scotty storms out, leaving the check behind.

On a related note, I really like the close sibling relationship between Kevin and Kitty (Calista Flockhart) where they tell each other how it is and can do so because they completely trust each other. Kevin calls her a "whore" when it comes to relationships and she calls Kevin a "bitch."
Kitty: "You're the stuck-up bitch...You talked to (Scotty) like he was the hired help!"
Kevin: "Whore."
Kitty: "Bitch."

I gotta say, Kevin is a real bonehead when it comes to this money and status crap. A few weeks back, he actually offered to pay Scotty to be his date at a party Scotty was scheduled to work at as a waiter. But, since Kevin is so smart, being a waiter and all, it's interesting to make his so emotionally clueless.

But, he's learning. At the end of the episode, he calls Scotty and begins to leave a rambling apologetic message on his answering machine saying in part: "I think you're amazing and funny and cute as hell and I just hope that someday...maybe I could be worthy of your respect whether we're together or not."

Scotty, a bit tearful, picks up, and they chat a bit. He asks Kevin to please send him that check.

We'll see how this one goes. I'm rooting for them!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

On a day when three U.S. soldiers were reported killed in Iraq (25 killed this month and 2,843 killed since March 2003) and on a day when 159 Iraqis were killed - including 35 men blown apart while waiting to join Iraq's police force - tonight's episode of ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" really packed an emotional punch in the stomach.

Justin Walker (Dave Annable), who served in Afghanistan, receives a registered letter from the military ordering him to report for duty in two weeks for a tour of duty in Iraq. On the news that day (in the episode) there's a report that 12 soldiers had died in Iraq. Justin calls his brother Kevin in a panic: "I can't watch any more people die! I can't go back!"

The episode had some dramatic flashbacks to Sept. 11 when Kitty (Calista Flockhart) was living only six blocks away from the World Trade Center and the anguish the family went through waiting for word that she was all right. Her ordeal led Justin to enlist in the military and when he did so, he agreed to a clause that, in essence, was a backdoor draft. He threatens to flee to Mexico and even tries to buy a fake passport.

By episode's end, Justin was being rushed to the hospital after injesting too many drugs and booze. He REALLY did not want to go back. And who can blame him? It's a good thing President Bush is open to fresh ideas and strategies after his election day "thumping."

Ironically, this episode of the show was titled: "Mistakes Were Made."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tonight's episode of "Brothers & Sisters" was a wild ride. Titled "Northern Exposure," the family is selling their beloved ranch house and each Walker silbing, as well as mom (Sally Field), each separately plan to take a romantic interest to the house for a farewell fling. Of course, they all show up there, it's raining and they are forced to spend the weekend together.

Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke MacFarland) have a sweet scene eating ice cream together as Kevin talks about losing his virginity inside a tree house at the ranch to a tall good-looking blonde guy named Tucker Booth. What made the scene so funny was that Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) in an earlier scene had told her hubby about losing her virginity in the tree house to...TUCKER BOOTH!
There's some fun moments at the ranch but it turns serious over dinner when an argument ensues over Kevin's refusal to be a sperm donor for sterile brother Tommy and his wife, Julia. "How long would it be before his friends at school find out his biological father is really his gay uncle?" Kevin asks. Everyone takes sides, including Scotty, which leads Kevin to snap: "Scotty, please. This is my family. If you're not going to support me then please SHUT UP!"

Scotty leaves the table and soon heads back to LA and we see that Kevin can be a real ass-hole. But he's also articulate and heartbreaking which was evident when he tells Kitty why he is reluctant to father his brother's child: "I don't talk about what it was like for me growing up gay but it wasn't easy...I was surrounded by you guys, this whole family, but I still felt completely alone. I don't want to bring a kid into this world that would feel different or ashamed. I didn't want him to go through what I do."
In the end, both Matthew and brother Justin both agree to donate sperm and no one will know which one actually fathered the child. "If it's well-dressed and witty, it's mine," Matthew jokes as the three brothers walk out of the sperm bank.

It can be far-fetched but I'm hooked on this delicious morsel of a show and just love seeing Sally Field, 60 years old this month, have the opportunity to do so many different things on screen and do them so well. She's funny, she's maternal, she's strong...she's real.
As for Calista Flockhart's character, Kitty, I'm having some problems with her. It's not because of her politically conservative views (she is a right-wing pundit on a tv talk show) but because she doesn't seem to believe her character's views. This was never more apparent than when she was telling her liberal tv co-host (and romantic interest) why she became a Republican and she tied it to family and America and apple pie etc. I didn't buy it for a second.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm glad that Out in Hollywood isn't the only site that understands the significance of the gay storyline playing out on Sunday night's ABC drama "Brothers & Sisters" between Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke MacFarland). AfterElton.com does a terrific examination of network television's evolution by recalling back in In 1991, when ABC's "thirtysomething" showed two gay male characters in bed together which resulted in a sponsor boycott, costing the network an estimated $1 million in lost ad revenue and more than 400 written complaints from outraged viewers. ABC pulled the show from repeats and the gay characters were quickly written off the show.

Scotty and Kevin have kissed in two different episodes as their romance continues to unfold and no advertisers threatened to pull out and no conservative groups have launched a letter-writing campaign. I think it was wise of the show's producers to not use the kiss to create some buzz for the shows prior to their airings. By treating the kiss as no big deal in both the "Date Night" and "For the Children" episodes, the reaction has been no big deal. That is refreshing and so is the show's willingness to incorporate these appealing gay characters who seem like real people. Much credit also goes to the two actors who have chemistry and play their scenes like they mean it.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I was REAL curious to see where the Kevin and Scotty storyline would go this week on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" after last week's big kiss. I thought, they're gonna chicken out, the network or the producers or the advertisers will not let this relationship advance.
I remembered years past and how the networks had handled similar situation. They'd give us a little romance then pull the plug before things got good.

Steven Carrington was unapologetically gay during the first season of "Dynasty" and his father killed his lover! As the year's went on, he fathered a baby and married two different women! Finally he ends up with Luke (the gorgeous Billy Campbell) only to have Luke killed off in the infamous Moldavia massacre. Then of course there was Matt Fielding on "Melrose Place" who used to routinely hug his boyfriends goodnight (you hug bad dates goodnight, not your boyfriend) and when Matt finally does lick his lips and prepare for a well-publicized smackaroo, FOX got cold feet and rather than show the kiss, cut away to Billy's reaction when Matt kissed his previously-thought-to-be-straight best friend from high school.

Kerr Smith's character of Jack McPhee on "Dawson's Creek" seemed to be allowed only one on-screen kiss per season with plenty of build-up to the big moment. The kisses were always a little G-rated but still somewhat romantic.
Considering such scant gay romance in network television's past, the relationship developing between Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke MacFarland) on "Brothers & Sisters" is nothing short of revolutionary. Not only did these two handsome characters share another sexy kiss Sunday night, but it came pretty much without warning during a gala dinner Scotty was working at (as a waiter) and Kevin was attending with his family. Earlier, attorney Kevin had offered to pay Scotty his salary if he would forgo working and be his guest instead. Insulted, Scotty stormed out of their lunch.

Kevin proceeds to slowly get drunk at the gala and asks various people if what he did was insulting. When they say it was, he sees Scotty's point and tracks him down in the kitchen of the hotel:
Kevin: I never get this way. I never lose control over anybody.
Scotty: I'm supposed to be flattered!
Kevin: YES! Would you please forgive me so I can stop getting drunk? I promise I'll never offer to pay for anything again - not a dinner or a movie, not even a parking ticket.
Scotty: OK! Enough! I forgive you.
Kevin: Really?

Scotty answers with a kiss - a good one. That is until his boss interrupts and promptly fires him. Kevin smoothes it over though and at the end of the episode, when the family is dancing, Kevin and Scotty were doing a slow dance along with the rest.
As it should be.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I wrote enough about that great kiss between Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke MacFarland) on last week's episode of ABC's "Brothers & Sisters." So now CLICK HERE to see it (again and again) on YouTube.
Enjoy!!!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It was the "Date Night" episode on "Brothers & Sisters" tonight. Nora (Sally Field) had her first date since cheating hubby's death and has one too many watermelon martinis. She later tells Kitty (Calista Flockhart): "The whole evening is a haze of alcohol and mortification." This happens the same night that Kitty, jealous that her TV partner who she slept with once, has asked an intern out so dinner so she drags her boyfriend along for a double date. Later, boyfriend does what he should've done for a good when she first confessed: he dumps her!

But here's my favorite date: Kevin (pictured at left w/siblings) and Scotty. A real date with that fun getting-to-know you conversation over dinner. Kevin tells how he confided in Kitty about being gay while in high school (he was involved with her best friend's brother). He swore Kitty to secrecy but "she told the rest of the family by Christmas." Nora was not only accepting, she joined a parents of gay children group and, Kevin tells Scotty, "I became her cause celeb." Between bites of Indian food, Scotty ( Luke MacFarland) asks Kevin: "How did you get so cute?" Kevin's respomse: "I was born this way. What's your excuse?"

It's all going so well. Too well.

Scotty (pictured above), caught up in the moment and suddenly says, "I love this part. When they look at someone and they don't look away." He then leans over and kisses Kevin who almost immediately shuts down. So much for the perfect date. As they walk to the car, Kevin explains that he is not comfortable with public displays of affection while Scotty counters by saying: "You're tangled up in you're own homophobia...I can read you like a comic book, two pages at a time."

At this point I'm thinking, 'Kevin's imtimacy issues are rearing their ugly head and now we are going to have to wait all season to see these two dudes get together. Typical network television.'" But this is not a typical show, thank God, and in a later scene, Scotty shows up at Kevin apartment and apologizes for being so forward and for judging and admits to really liking him. Kevin responds: 'I'm relieved you're not as wildly evolved as you seem."

Then....drum roll............

A full, sexy, man-to-man kiss (In front of the neighbor lady even!) that they both seemed to enjoy. I know i sure enjoyed watching it. Way. To. Go!!!

"Brothers & Sisters," now my favorite show on television, has been picked up for the entire season by ABC which has three of the best shows on TV at the moment with the other two being "Lost" and "The Nine." As for "Desperate Housewives," I'm surprised at how tedious it is right now. I'll stay with it but I don't care about Tom and his pizza parlor or if Bree's daughter is screwing her teacher. I kinda like Susan and Edie fighting over Mike again as he struggles to regain his memory but mostly, i want evil Andrew back. He's being so low-key, no scheming in sight. C'mon Andrew, revert back to your sociopathic ways. At the very least, get a hot boyfriend...it seems to be working for Kevin on "Brothers & Sisters."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, it's official. My favorite Sunday night show is now "Brothers and Sisters" on ABC. I think it is getting so good that it is making "Desperate Housewives" seem kinda silly. Of all the dumb drama going on Wisteria Lane last night (Why is Andrew being so nice to Bree? He better become a sociopath again soon...this Andrew is booooooring), my favorite part of the episode was Lynette bribing the pitcher at her son's baseball game to give an easy pitch to her son. This was Felicity Huffman at her comic best.
But "Brothers and Sisters" is proving itself to be the real deal. The characters are becoming more sharply defined, the actors are really clicking and at times, even remind me of my family. This is good stuff! Calista Flockhart is operating on all cyliders now and Sally Field continues to be a revelation.

I am, of course, watching to see how my favorite character, Kevin (Matthew Rhys) is being developed since he is the only gay sibling in the family. And by golly, he is being developed in an intelligent and realistic way. What a concept for network television!
When he gives up a date with a cute guy to accompany his mom to a golf tournament, they end up going to see a revival of "Two for the Road" after and run into the guy Kevin blew off....and the guy was on a date with someone else! Later, instead of suffering in silence, he later tells his mom that he would've rather been on that date, "not on the town with my friggen mom!"
Any single gay man with a widowed or divorced mother can certainly relate. It's just assumed that the gay son has all the time in the world to squire mom to events. Good for Kevin for calling her on it.

That said, the chemistry between Field and Rhys is wonderful and laced with humor. At the golf course, when they paired with a truly annoying couple, Kevin says under his breath to his mom: "I'd like to roast them on a spit with apples in their yaps!"
In another scene, when the siblings are trying to encourage Kevin to take their mom to the golf tournament where their late father is being honored, they remind him that he is the one who has ever golfed. He replies that he only joined the golf team in high school "because I had a crush on Matt Brown. I joined every club he was in. I even joined Future Farmers of America!"
Compare this to all the families out there, both on and off the screen, where the topic of someone's sexuality remains the pink elephant in the room. The way its handled here is oh-so refreshing.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There are several things I really liked about Sunday night's episode of "Brothers and Sisters," the fast improving drama that follows "Desperate Housewives" on ABC.

Cute gay brother Kevin (Matthew Rhys), a lawyer, is set up, against his will, by his sister (Rachel Griffins) who invites a gay client (same one from episode two) to a party at the family home. As she's leaving his office, Kevin sticks his head out his door and says in a loud whisper: "Bitch!" I love it! When cute client arrives at the party with red velvet cupcakes, Kevin says, "My sister invited you here just to get back at me." (I'm not sure why) Cute client with cupcakes replies: 'For what? Being so cute?" Later, Kevin is showing cupcake guy around the house and pointing out family photos. He points to his dead dad and says that, like him, "I've never been able to master the art of being faithful." Cute cupcake guy replies: "You can't be faithful to anything until you know why you should be." At the very end of the episode, long after the party ends, Kevin can be seen slowly biting into a red velvet cupcake, and smiling.

The show really seems to be finding its footing and the interaction between the siblings rings true at times - especially when none of them can keep a secret from each other. I'm from a family of six siblings, it happens all the time, just travels down the chain at the speed of light. Calista Flockhart is beginning to show signs of life! And who wouldn't after cheating on her handsome boyfriend with her just-as-handsome television partner. When the boyfriend shows up unexpectedly as the same time as the lover calls, she screams and accidentally steps backward into the pool. Great moment.

As for the rest of the show, Sally Field continues to give the kind of performance that gives me reason to think she might win her third Emmy Award to go along with her two Oscars. It's just such a treat to see her on television again and not as Abby's manic depressive mom on "ER." Here, she is a multi-dimensional matriarch who I sense will only get more interesting as the season progresses. And I'm very eager to see where Patricia Wettig's character (the late-patriarch's mistress) will go. How cool it is to have this three-time Emmy winner ("thirtysomething") back on series TV even if her character is a skank!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Watched the second episode of "Brothers & Sisters" tonight and was glad to see Sally Field get some meaty scenes and sink her teeth into them. In contrast, Calista Flockhart seems to be sleepwalking through the first few episodes. Hope she wakes up soon. I'm so glad that the sexuality of the show's gay character, Kevin (Matthew Rhys) , was woven into the episode in small but natural ways: when he and Flockhart's character are fighting over the remote control in a motel room in Oceanside ( during an unexpected family road trip) and he threatens to order gay porn. And more intriguing was when a gay client is in his law office and suddenly says to Kevin, "You're gay!" He says that yes, he is. The client then spots a framed photo and his ex and says, "he's cute!" Small things, yes, but an indication of a rare comfort level on broadcast television when it comes to a gay character. But, the real test will be how they portray Kevin dating or in a relationship. I hope he will continue to get equal time and equal treatment.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday night is my designated night of TV, the night that I'm home and settled in. Tonight, I watched "The Amazing Race" on CBS then "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers & Sisters" on ABC. I enjoyed them all but what I liked best was this: I saw people like ME on the screen...and I wasn't watching cable. No, not Hispanics, smart-asses! Gay people!

Just a few weeks after finishing another season of "Big Brother," I swore off reality TV except for any show that features Mario Lopez dancing. But, checked out "Amazing Race" and it will be required viewing. It is great! And what is really great is that among the teams competing are gay couple Tom and Terry and a dad and his lesbian daughter (I think they're names are Duke and Lauren, not positive). As an added eye candy bonus, there are two handsome straight guys called "the models" also in the mix. They say "dude" a lot.

Then on to "Housewives" which didn't have any gay content but creator Marc Cherry himself (we're likethis) told me last week that gay teen Andrew will return in episode three. So, I'll stay tuned even if they have hatched a murder mystery that seems to resemble the plot from season one and the mother of Tom's illegitimate child is already on my very, very last nerve. Maybe Cherry will write her off soon. May I suggest a hit and run?

Most promising is the character of Kevin, a cute and gay lawyer on "Brothers & Sisters." Portrayed by Matthew Rhys, Andrew may be a workaholic who doesn't have time for a boyfriend, but he is comfortable with who he is and equally close to his liberal mom (Sally Field) and his conversative, Ann Coulterish sister (Calista Flockhart) whose high media profile results in Andrew being repeatdly asked to join the Log Cabin Republicans. I liked this show, despite some tepid reviews. And, as any gay man who has seen "Steel Magnolias" a gazillion times, I'm damned happy to see Sally ("I'm fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!") Field in anything.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)