Manblogging Episode 4. Corncobs!

December 28, 2006

by Dennis Hensley

“They had corncobs so far up their butt they were making popcorn.”

Think of Manblogging as the director's cut of "Manhunt" without a director. (Did the show have a director?) We decided it doesn't matter and wrangled L.A. author, OUTzone blogger, radio host, and all-around funny man Dennis Hensley to give us the couch potato's take on each episode.

This astute assessment was offered by ““Manhunt” ” contestant Hunter after undergoing what the show’s promos call ‘the interview from hell’ (IFH) in episode 4.

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Manblogging Episode 3

December 20, 2006

“Gentlemen, down to your skivvies.”

This line comes pretty early on in episode 3 of “Manhunt”. Of course, it seems like it figures prominently in every episode of “Manhunt”. In fact, I think that was the working title of the show.

The show does so much leering at the aspiring cover boys that I feel I may end up having to testify in a harassment lawsuit just for watching. To me, there’s an undercurrent to the show where it’s about gay producers getting to have power over the hot straight guys who titillated/tormented them in high school.

“Don’t want to wear the corset Hunter? Well, tough shit because I’m calling the shots now…so get down to your skivvies.”

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Episode 2: Go Ahead and Touch Me

December 13, 2006

So what you have are hot guys in fishnet belly-shirts and eye-liner fretting about what their buds in the locker room or the folks back home in Palookaville will think when they see the show, while the cameraman is told to pan down to a crotch shot.

It’s this weird dance that’s going on. At some moments, I think, ‘Get over it, hottie. Just because you wear a kilt doesn’t make you a sodomite,’ and other moments I feel like the poor hunks are being excessively objectified, like I want to say to the production team, ‘How ‘bout you just cop a feel of Hunter’s package and get it over with.’

On “Top Model,” for all of Tyra’s nutty narcissism, there’s a part of her that seems cares about the girls and wants to help them succeed. The “Manhunt” folks just want to get the guys in their undies as soon and as often as possible. Not that I have a problem with that.

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Dirty Laundry

December 12, 2006

One of the best parts of "Manhunt" when it was first on Bravo was the amount of hoopla that surrounded it. We're talking gossip, buzz, and more gossip. Maybe it was the fun(ny?) ads in the subways of shirtless men in underwear and boots... Maybe it was the name "manhunt" which seems, er, very gay.

Who else hunts men, but gay men? Well, casting agents, but who cares about them.

One of our favorite gossip items, which we enjoy reliving now involves Hunter, the homophobic one. Okay, so he's just "uncomfortable" around gay guys, maybe he's not pathological. Anyway: this link on Fleshbot used to go to a toe-sucking video.

THE MANUNT CONTINUES

Anyone still have the link?

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Episode 1: Wedgie Patrol

December 07, 2006

Watching episode 1 of “Manhunt” is an overwhelming experience. Like Thanksgiving at Grandma’s house when the table is overflowing with so many dishes you want to try (or have to try so as not to insult Aunt Betty who spent all night on the six bean casserole). Really, there’s just so much going on, so many contestants, so much stripping down to bad underwear…

Okay, stop.

Yes, “Manhunt” is early reality TV, but didn’t these guys think to wear their best underwear? I mean, really. My mom taught me to wear my best underwear every day when I was about five-years-old and getting my first physical at the pediatrician.

Since then: no bad underwear allowed. Ever.

But onward toward the real, er, meat of “Manhunt Episode 1.” It/they arrive simultaneously as the bad underwear. Host Bruce Hulse reads each guy up-side-down-and-sideways. (Do we love, or hate him? I think love, no? The grizzled gray hair is sexy, no?)

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