Gabe Kapler

Gabriel Stefan ("Gabe") Kapler (born August 31, 1975, Hollywood, California) is an Americanoutfielder in Major League Baseball. Kapler used to be a body builder and was on the cover of several magazines.

Ryan Carnes

Ryan Carnes (born December 6, 1982 in Pittsfield, Illinois) is an American actor. He attended Duke University. Carnes was the ninth actor to portray Lucas Jones on the ABC soap opera General Hospital from July 2004 until September 2005. After he left General Hospital, he was replaced by Ben Hogestyn. Since 2005, he has had a recurring role on Desperate Housewives as Justin, the boyfriend of Andrew Van De Kamp (Shawn Pyfrom). Carnes has also starred in the 2004 film Eating Out, and is currently filming a movie called Surf School due out in 2006. He stars in the video for the song Mistake by Australian actress/singer Stephanie McIntosh.

Jensen Ackles

After modeling off and on as a young child, Ackles began to concentrate on an acting career in 1996. He appeared in several guest roles before joining the cast of the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives as Eric Brady in 1997, for which he won a 1998 Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Male Newcomer. After leaving Days of Our Lives in 2000, Ackles appeared in the mini-series Blonde about the life of Marilyn Monroe and tried out for the part of Clark Kent on Smallville. After failing to land the part, he went to Vancouver to join the cast of the James Cameron television series Dark Angel. His first appearance on the show was in 2001 as Max's (played by Jessica Alba) disturbed brother Ben/X5-493. After Ben died, Ackles returned to the series in the second season as Ben's clone, Alec/X5-494, who became a series regular until the show's cancellation in 2002.
In 2003, he made several guest appearances as C.J. on the hit WB show, Dawson's Creek. In 2004, Ackles returned to Vancouver to become a regular on Smallville, though not as Clark Kent. His character, Jason Teague, was an assistant coach for the high school football team and a love interest of Kent's ex-girlfriend, Lana Lang, played by Kristin Kreuk. Ackles returned to television in 2005 in the new WB horror series Supernatural as Dean Winchester, who teams with his brother Sam (Jared Padalecki) to road-trip across the country investigating the paranormal. The second season will air on The CW in 2006.

Jesse Metcalfe

Metcalfe moved to Los Angeles and attended an open casting call, successfully auditioning for the NBC soap opera Passions. He played Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald, one of three siblings, from the show's debut in July 1999 until July 2004. He left Passions because he felt that he "wasn’t really going to get anything more out of it". In late 2003 and early 2004, Metcalfe made two guest appearances on the WB Network TV series Smallville as vindictive "meteor freak hunter" Van McNulty. Metcalfe returned to television as the teenage gardener John Rowland on the popular ABC TV drama Desperate Housewives, where his character had a secret relationship with housewife Gabrielle Solis played by Eva Longoria, since the series' debut in October 2004. Metcalfe has only made a few appearances on the second season of Desperate Housewives. In October 2005, rumors started to circulate that Metcalfe wanted to exit Desperate Housewives in order to return to Passions as Miguel. However, Metcalfe had made it clear that he is "looking forward," and fans should not hold out hope for his return to the NBC soap. Metcalfe is the fifth victim and the fifth star to appear on Punk'd more than once, after Ben McKenzie, Wilmer Valderrama, Omarion, and Jesse McCartney. His first appearance was when Metcalfe and Ashton Kutcher punk'd Eva Longoria for stealing thousands of dollars and fraud (false identity). His second is when Metcalfe was punk'd by Ashton Kutcher's crew members during the Spider-Man 3 audition. Metcalfe's first film role is in John Tucker Must Die, in which he plays a wealthy and insincere teenaged playboy high school basketball player. The film opened on July 28, 2006.

Eric Balfour

Eric Balfour (born April 24, 1977) is an American actor. Balfour was born in Los Angeles, California and is of Russian, French, and Native American ancestry. Balfour had roles in many films and television shows, and was one of the original actors on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, playing the part of Jesse McNally, the best friend of Xander Harris. Eric Balfour has also starred opposite Jessica Biel in the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He has also appeared in several episodes of The O.C. as Eddie, Theresa's fiancee, in the series 24 as Milo, and in Six Feet Under as Claire's boyfriend Gabriel Dimas. Earlier in his career he played on the hit kids television show Kids Incorporated for one season in 1991. He appeared in two TV shows that were both canceled within a year of each other. NBC's Hawaii was canceled after seven episodes in 2004, and UPN's Sex, Love & Secrets was canceled after four episodes in 2005. In 2005, Balfour starred in the controversial sexually explicit film Lie With Me where he acted nude. Balfour is one of three actors to have appeared both in The O.C. and The West Wing. In March 2006, Eric debuted as Assistant District Attorney Brian Peluso on Dick Wolf's (Law & Order fame) short-lived crime drama, Conviction. In a guest appearance Late Night with Conan O'Brien in March 2006, the actor admitted to the practice of going commando, saying he has never owned underwear. In August 2006 it was announced that Balfour has signed on to the 24 series to reprise his Season 1 role as independent CTU contractor Milo Pressman. Balfour will be credited as a series regular. Eric Balfour is the lead singer of the band Fredalba.

Blast From The Past

Prisoner
Cell Block H

Often outlandish drama series. Prisoner is a much derided but nevertheless still very popular show (re-runs still being seen in many countries) that told stories of the all female inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre. The show had its roots in the similar UK drama series Within These Walls but this was a much tougher cookie altogether with the women dealing with lesbianism, murder, drugs and the like. Key characters included tough inmate Bea Smith who ruled the roost at Wentworth (Queen Bea as she was known), prison officers Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson and Vera 'Vinegar Tits' Bennett. Other inmates included the elderly Lizzie Birdsworth, lesbian Franky Doyle. Towards the end of the shows run many of the original cast had departed with new prisoners coming and going at a steady rate. Outside of Australia the show is known as Prisoner: Cell Block H because of the Patrick McGoohan prisoner series.

Boxed set with select episodes available from Amazon.com . Also available to rent from Netflix.

Kath & Kim

It began life as a sketch. Just as Jennifer Saunders had put meat on the bones of a piece called 'Mother and Daughter' for the hugely successful and revolutionary Absolutely Fabulous, Gina and Jane honed in on the huge potential of 'Kim's Wedding' (orignially seen in 1994's Big Girl's Blouse) and 'Kim's Baby' (a series of sketches featured in 1998's Something Stupid) and decided to turn sketch into sitcom. Kath and Kim's personalities were simply too loud and too colourful to be confined to a series of sketches - these massive characters demanded more. But Kath and Kim came very close to never being at all. Those early days were fraught with indecision from the execs at ABC. Gina (having relocated to Melbourne from Sydney with her family) and Jane faced cancellation before filming had even begun - 'it was lawyers at 50 paces' recalls Gina. Tensions were high as legal wrangles began. It appears that the ABC were getting cold feet because Kath and Kim was just a bit too different. 'It's just women shouting' lamented one exec, recalling stern criticisms directed at Jennifer Saunders who was told 'drunk women aren't funny'. 'Wait until you see it performed', urged Gina and Jane, whose hard work and diligence was vindicated when, after riding the storm, the show was finally given the green light to go into production and eventually aired in 2002. Kath and Kim was an unprecedented hit upon its ABC premiere on May 16th 2002. It became apparent that there was a real market out there for this once-shelved sitcom, from intelligent audiences sick of the sanitised humour, idyllic nicities and high production values of the US sitcom. Kath and Kim was brash, loud, hip, intelligent, incredibly quotable and offered humour that pulled no punches whatsoever. In short, Gina and Jane were (like Kel with his commenmorative wedding sausage) on to an absolute winner! The beauty of Kath and Kim is in the tone, and the detail. The writing is crucial, often performance determines the reception of a scene. Above all - we think it's the satire and the ever-entertaining mother-daugther premise. There's Kimberley Diane Craig (nee Day), a product of today's hedonistic, materialistic generation that bases its life and its values upon dieting, shopping, beauty treatments and the latest celebrity trends. She's from a world that believes Liz Hurley's lips and Meg Ryan's hair is of utmost importance and in every way relevant to her; a world where celebrity is the new royalty (look at Paris Hilton - she looks 100 bucks!); a world where women aspire to have a bottom like Kylie. As much as we'd like to deny it, who wouldn't pick up a copy of OK! in a dentist's waiting room and ogle at Michael Jackson's latest face or Jordan's latest boobs? We all do it! Kath and Kim is about who we are. As Kath, Jane Turner portrays the classic empty-nester, mother of a grown-up (allegedly) daughter, who fills her empty days with ostentatious recipes, Barbara Cartland, flower arranging (sorry, floral design), TAFE courses and the odd trip to Fountaingate. Neither actress makes any attempt to sugar coat their creations - especially Gina Riley - whose obnoxious, hateful Kim comes out of the actress's firm belief that 'doing nice' would mean the death of comedy. After all, Edina Monsoon, Basil Fawlty, David Brent - all of them awful people, and all of them treasured by audiences. Kath and Kim doesn't patronise its audience, (despite initial press criticism) there is little stereotyping. When you think you know the characters inside out, there will be a proverbial spanner thrown into the works - two of Kath's favourite films are Kundun and Bowling for Columbine; she reads about the Shah of Iran. Yet, in equal measure, she enjoys E! News Live, is thrilled by Ikea and wouldn't mind owning The Bodyguard DVD. Likewise, any criticism that Gina and Jane get their laughs simply by mocking the subruban lower-middle classes can be dismissed thanks to the sharply observed ladies-who-lunch, Trude and Prue. Social aspirations are common to all demographics. There's a pertinent commentary upon contemporary mainstream culture here. It lampoons trends and fads our society holds dear so skillfully, sometimes a dig or a wink of recognition can be missed completely upon first-time viewing. Its treatment of language is inspired - each show an abundance of 'blink-and-you'll-miss-it' moments. Kath and Kim is a joyous feast of wondrous costumes, farcical comedic situations, razor sharp acerbic wit and flawless acting from a terrific ensemble cast. Its camp celebration of the trivial over the profound masks a deeper intent - underneath the glitter and the laughter lies a show written by two very clever and very funny women who really know their society and its truths. We simply adore Kath and Kim - it's ny-ioce, it's different, it's un-ewes-yewl... and so much more!

Kath & Kim is broadcast on the Sundance Channel.

Gone Too Soon

Some of My Best Friends
Jason Bateman is a gay Greenwich Villiage writer. His lifestyle isn't suspected initially by the fellow who has responded to his newspaper ad for a new roommate. Though the road is bumpy for them at first, they strive to reach a common understanding.

Encore! Encore!
Joe Pinoni is a world-famous opera singer, but because of an accident while pumping his stomach in Italy, he will never be able to sing again. Having squandered all of his money and lost all of his friends, Joe returns home to his mother, sister and nephew, who run a vineyard.

Bette
Bette premiered on CBS on August 18, 20061, 2000. It's not easy being divine. Bette Midler may perform for sellout crowds and adoring fans, but that doesn't stop her small-screen husband from falling asleep as soon as they get into bed. She may have been nominated for two Academy Awards, but her teenage television daughter is still embarrassed to be seen with her at the mall. And then there's the constant dieting, bingeing and dreaming of plastic surgery. So what's a diva to do? It's a tough life, but Bette loves every minute of it. And if she doesn't don't worry - you'll hear all about it. Join the truly divine Bette Midler as she makes her network television series debut in a show about an incomparable superstar who happens to be none other than Bette Midler.

I'm With Her
On the day that would change his life, delightful young everyman Patrick Owen is drinking his mid-morning latte when he's bitten by love. Literally. The gnashing jaws belong to Monroe, the easily-excited puppy of movie star Alexandra Young. When she tries to apologize and when Patrick recognizes her famous face he's awestruck, dumbstruck, and so very charming. Alex sets her sights on Patrick, but he's unprepared for the add-ons that come with this little flirtation. His anonymity and privacy go up in the flash of a hundred paparazzi cameras. And he's an overnight sensation with his young male students, for reasons that have nothing to do with his brilliant classroom banter. All of which makes him wonder if it's possible to find true love in the hot spotlight of the media.

It's All Relative
So you think Romeo and Juliet had family issues? Listen to this. Bobby (Reid Scott) is a bartender # the only son of gregarious, salt-of-the-earth Irish Catholic parents from Boston. His fiancé, Liz (Maggie Lawson), is a toney Harvard medical student and she's Protestant (no, that's not the problem). Liz has two dads, not one, and they're a worldly pair of well-heeled gay men. The moment Bobby popped the question to Liz, they knew their families would have to meet. And the first time they brought his Mom (Harriet Harris) and Dad (Lenny Clarke) together with her Dad (Christopher Sieber) and Dad (John Benjamin Hickery)... well, things did not go well. Aside from the obvious, there's a culture gap between these in-laws-to-be that makes the Grand Canyon look like a seam in the sidewalk. Liz's parents are devotees of the arts. Bobby's are devotees of the Red Sox. Liz's parents are into St. Laurent. Bobby's parents swear by St. Patrick. Did we mention that Bobby's sister, Maddy, loves throwing gasoline on the fire?

Normal, Ohio
Normal, Ohio premiered on FOX on November 1, 2000. John Goodman returns to network television in this family comedy about two college best friends--now single fathers--who share a suburban house with their teenagers.

DVD Spotlight

Noah's Arc
Follow four African-American gay men in Los Angeles through their relationships, friendships and careers in this original series from the gay TV network Logo. Noah is a starving screenwriter when he meets fellow scribe and love interest Wade; HIV/AIDS counselor Alex attempts to salvage his long-term relationship; clothing store owner Ricky doesn't want his hands tied; and professor Chance works it out in a committed union.

Dante's Cove
A beach town's young denizens become enmeshed in a world of mystery and shifting romances after an insidious secret from the past emerges in this gothic gay soap opera. When Kevin Archer (Gregory Michael) opens a trap door in the Hotel Dante, he gets the surprise of his life -- and unwittingly unleashes evil forces on the community. Charlie David and Tracy Scoggins also star in this trailblazing series, which blends erotica, horror and melodrama.

Third Man Out
Private eye Donald Strachey (Chad Allen) is tasked with safeguarding gay community activist John Rutka (Jack Wetherall) after he receives threats in this made-for-TV thriller. But when Strachey comes to believe Rutka fabricated the report, the gumshoe deserts his post and Rutka ends up dead, leaving behind a long list of foes for Strachey to investigate. This is the first adaptation of Richard Stevenson's series of gay-themed mystery novels.

Lukas Ridgestone & Matt Phillipe

Jason Hawke & Jeremy Jordan