#2008 sexiest man alive

[candiehearts]

Hello! I was wondering if you could do a mini-series with Hugh Jackman? The idea I'm thinking of is Hugh and the reader have been having sex for a while and Hugh decides to post a picture on Instagram on just their legs (like on a beach or in bed) to show he's taken and him and the reader decide to have fun with it by leaving hockey's on each other but not saying they're together, just yet.

It’s A Secret. -> M.List

Paring: Hugh Jackman X F!Reader

Summary: You and Hugh had one date, you didn’t mean for more to happen but that’s exactly what did happen. What was supposed to be work turned into something more.

Longing stares, jealous sex, passionate kisses, casual dates. It’s only so long you guys can go without showing more of yourselves.

- Mini-Series, Hugh Jackman M.List, Navigation

Warnings: Sexual Scenes, Public Sexual Tension, ETC.

Taglist: @pickuptruck01 @pear-1206 @stark-ironman @appetencyfortacos @shiawaseorii @ilariyalavorowrites @wittyjasontodd @reidsworld @corvusmorte Just ask to be added.

Notes: For right now I’ve hit a writers block, but when I overcome it I can and will tag you in the first chapter!

Chapters

Chapter 01.

Going out on a date with Hugh Jackman makes you realize just how taken you are with the man. After a fun night of drinks, and laugh you wake up in his bed the next morning — only to fall back into it the next night.

Others

+ Mood Board

[captainmaxatx]

I feel like we are all sleeping on the fan fiction potential given to us from Deadpool and Wolverine using their bodies to make a circuit with matter and anti-matter

Who knows what that could do to a person, you could write a fic where that caused anything your heart could think up.

[kjupchurch-xx]

💋 Sexiest Man Alive 💋

November 19th, 2008

                    New York City, New York

              

✨ Author's Note: In this one shot, for story purposes, Hugh is not married. We'll say he divorced from Deb recently to keep the flow of the story.

I double checked my appearance in the mirror before heading out. Today is the day I will be interviewing Hugh Jackman for his People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive crowning. The interview will be filmed and broadcasted live on national television. I decided to go business casual, wearing black capri slacks, a white and pink flowered cami tank top with black 6-inch heels. My dark brown hair was shoulder length and wavy. My makeup was flawless. To say nervous would be an understatement whenever you're interviewing someone that's been named the sexiest man alive.

Everything seemed perfect, so I rushed out to my 2008 Ford Mustang and sped off to our studio in downtown NYC. Traffic was hectic, but I managed to get there with 25 minutes to spare to go over the interview questions before our guest of honor arrives. One question in particular stood out to me, it was a question pertaining to his sexuality due to circulating rumors that he's gay. I'm normally shameless, but this would be an awkward thing to ask him.

"You ready?" My co-worker/camera man Justin asked, stepping in front of me.

I nodded, "As I'll ever be! Just going over some of the questions. 'How do you feel about the circulating rumors of you being gay?', 'What turns the sexiest man alive on?', Justin, what the hell are these questions?" I asked with a humorous horrified look spreading across my face.

He failed to contain his laughter, "I didn't write 'em, I just control the cameras."

I shuffled the cards, "This is going to be the weirdest interview. This dude is probably going to leave the set mid interview." I laughed.

Justin shook his head, "Hugh is a pretty good sport. He should take it in a humorous way. You should be good. He'll be here any minute, so get ready."

I nodded, "Alright."

I stood to double check the set and make sure the props were in their correct location, making sure the set was clean and presentable before sitting back down in my chair. I stood back up, hearing an Australian accent coming from the hallway, that must be Mr. Jackman.

"Glad to be here, mate. Thanks for havin' me." He said, shaking hands with our producer Mack, while walking into my view.

Mack smiled and pointed in my direction while walking Hugh up to me, "Mr. Jackman, this is Kaitlyn. She'll be doing your interview."

I smiled, extending my hand out to Hugh, "Hi, nice to meet you. I'm a huge fan and honored to be doing your interview today, Mr. Jackman."

He gave me a smile, shaking my hand, "Call me Hugh. Nice to meet ya, Sweetheart."

I can see why he was voted sexiest man alive now. No photoshop or CGI needed. This man was cut. He had the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen and did not look a day over 28 despite just turning 40 last month. He was wearing dark colored blue jeans with a white t-shirt adorned with a black blazer that made his biceps pop. I could swear the temperature in the room went up at least 20 degrees since he'd walked in.

As we sat down, I noticed him smiling at me and looking me up and down as if he were checking me out. I smiled back while grabbing the cue cards with the questions for the interview and looked towards Justin, who gave me a slight nod to let me know we were rolling,

I smiled from ear to ear as the camera zoomed in on only me, "Good afternoon, New York! Today's guest was just crowned People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive of the year. You can purchase his edition today in stores. Please allow me to welcome Mr. Hugh Jackman!"

The camera zoomed out showing Hugh and I both sitting in the chairs at the small table separating us. I looked over smiling in his direction, allowing him to speak.

He gave a huge smile towards the camera and then towards me, "Thank you for having me! How're you doing today?" He asked.

I smiled, "I'm great. How are you? How have things been since being named People's Sexiest Man Alive?"

"They've been quite interesting. I was told Brad Pitt wasn't available this year." He said with a cheeky laugh.

I failed to contain my laughter, "I believe a lot of people feel that you've earned the title, especially given your portrayal of Wolverine in Marvel's X-Men."

I could see him blushing, "Honestly, things have been great. I just finished up a movie with Nicole Kidman called Australia, which comes out next week. We're pretty pumped for that."

I shifted in my seat, "How was filming that with Nicole?"

He got serious for a moment, "It was great. She's a good friend of my ex wife's, so it was a bit awkward at first, but overall a great experience. Shooting the film back home in Australia was exciting."

I nodded, "We'll be sure to check that out next week once it premiers." I felt a slight smirk appear on my lips, "Okay, now for the good stuff you all have been waiting for. Juicy questions for the sexiest man alive. Are you ready for this, Hugh?" I asked with as much confidence as I could possibly muster.

He giggled, "Baby, I'm always ready. Let's go."

I took a dramatic deep breath for dramatic effect, "Alright, so given you're now the sexiest man alive, what are some of your turn-ons? What's something you find sexy in a woman?"

He chuckled, giving me a smirk, "Oh, getting a bit cheeky, are we? You waste no time." He noticed me trying to keep a straight face and continued, "What turns me on? I'd have to say confidence, a strong woman that can sometimes put me in my place. I also love a woman in summer clothing. I'm from Australia, I love the outdoors, I love the water. I feel like a woman comfortable in her own skin, enjoying herself on the beach is very attractive to me."

I smiled with a nod, shuffling the cards in my hands, "Good answer."

He smirked at me, shifting in his seat, "I have a question for you. When are we heading to the beach?"

I looked a bit flustered, "I didn't know we were! But I'm happy to go with you any time!" I said with a small laugh.

He chuckled, "Dually noted." He tapped his forehead as if he were retaining the information.

This man was gorgeous. I'm sure he's just being funny for the camera, but I'm still enjoying this.

Attempting to stop chuckling, I went with the next question, "So Hugh, what do you make of the circulating rumors of your sexuality?"

He shrugged, "I think they're funny. They don't really bother me."

I nodded, "What did your friends and family say after you broke the news of being the sexiest man of 2008?"

He laughed, "My mates found it funny. My kids think it's funny but also gross their father is being called sexy. My family also, but they were proud of the accomplishment."

"Given your recent divorce, the ladies would like to know, is Hugh Jackman on the market?" I asked curiously, with a slight giggle.

He looked at the camera, "Hugh Jackman is on the market, ladies." He turned to me, "Is my interviewer also on the market?"

I failed to hide the red blush appearing on my cheeks, "Is Hugh Jackman hitting on me?" I said to the camera acting as if I were in shock with a tilt of my head.

He laughed, "You didn't answer my question."

I smirked, "I'm the interviewer. I ask the questions."

He shook his head, "Feisty, are we?"

I chuckled, "Mr. Jackman, do you have a secret talent?"

He smiled, "I'm very well trained. Not toilet trained, but I'm trained in other things. Barbara Walters told me I give phenomenal lap dances."

I laughed, "Did she? Barb is a great judge, so I trust her judgment."

He immediately stepped up from his chair, looking towards Justin, "Do we have music? I'm going to demonstrate." Looking back towards me he continued, "I have to showcase my talent for you."

This has definitely been the most interesting interview of my two year career.

I looked at Justin as music began playing, "Oh? I'm getting a lap dance too?" I asked playfully throwing the cue cards across the room. "Forget the script."

Justin failing miserably to contain his laughter watched on as Hugh began swaying his hips, removing his blazer and stepping to me. I sat not knowing how to react or if this was some odd dream I was having. He was in front of me with both of my legs between his, while still swaying his hips in a seductive motion.

His voice now seductive shook me from the thought, "How're you feeling, love? Isn't this your best interview yet? C'mon, look at me, baby." His finger grasping my chin pulling it upwards to look at him with the cheekiest, sexiest smile on his face.

I nervously laughed, blushing, "Oh my god." Was all I could manage to say. His other hand gripping my shoulder as he moved closer, almost putting his crotch 2 feet from my face.

He immediately began dying laughing as he sank to the floor, placing both hands on my knees. "How was that?" He asked.

I shook my head with a smile, "That was... I mean, I've never had an interview leave me speechless."

I could hear the film crew failing to contain their laughter as Hugh reached up and hugged me, straddling my lap. This must be every woman's wet dream. His laughter piercing my ears as he hugged me.

"Job well done then." He said cockily. "Turn off those cameras. We're headed backstage." He managed to say through his laughter.

I squealed, dying of laughter, "And that concludes our interview with Mr. Hugh Jackman, ladies and gentlemen! Go pick up your issue of People's magazine's Sexiest Man Alive-" I struggled to grab the magazine but finally reaching it, holding it up towards the camera, "Today!"

The cameras immediately cut and Hugh hopped off of me, laughing at the crew's reaction as their laughter grew louder now that they didn't have to worry about the rolling cameras.

"Best interview of your life?" Hugh asked me with a knowing smile.

I laughed, shaking my head, "Definitely. I was not expecting my day at work to end with a lap dance from Wolverine."

He pulled me in for another hug, "Next interview I'll be giving you another lap dance."

I playfully rolled my eyes, hugging him back, "I'll be sure to remind you."

He got serious for a moment, "Would you like to grab lunch with me? I've got a bit before my next press."

I nodded, "Sure. I'd love to."

He gave me a smile, "Seriously though, are you on the market and when are we gonna go to the beach?"

I looked at him nervously, "I am on the market, and I'm available anytime after 3."

He grabbed my hand, leading me towards the hallway. "Great. All I needed to know. I'm looking forward to that next lap dance, beautiful."  He said with a smirk.

[wwolvie]

hugh jackman was obviously gorgeous in 2008 but looking at him now i have to wonder if they crowned him sexiest man alive a few years too early because he's just been getting hotter 🫣

[mariacallous]

The two columns on the far right:

Sexiest Man Alive by midterm election:

Mark Harmon - 1986 Tom Cruise - 1990 Keanu Reeves - 1994 Harrison Ford - 1998 Ben Affleck - 2002 George Clooney - 2006 Ryan Reynolds - 2010 Chris Hemsworth - 2014 Idris Elba - 2018

If we look at the year before the year of the midterms:

Mel Gibson - 1985 Sean Connery - 1989 Richard Gere - 1993 George Clooney - 1997 Pierce Brosnan - 2001 Matthew McConaughey - 2005 J*hnny D*pp - 2009 Adam Levine - 2013 Blake Shelton - 2017

If we look at the year of presidential elections:

JFK Jr - 1988 Nick Nolte - 1992 Denzel Washington - 1996 Brad Pitt - 2000 Jude Law - 2004 Hugh Jackman - 2008 Channing Tatum - 2012 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - 2016 Michael B. Jordan - 2020

[urlocalqueer]

the only times i've agreed with the sexiest man alive polls is in 2008 when they voted hugh jackman and in 2018 when they voted idris elba. those men .are just so. wow

[heavenboy09]

Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 To You

1 Of The Most Funniest & Popular American Actor & Comedian/ Superhero 🐜 & Now Ghostbuster👻 In Hollywood Today

Paul Stephen Rudd was born on April 6, 1969, in Passaic, New Jersey, to English-born Jewish parents. His father, Michael Rudd (1943–2008), was a historical tour guide and former vice-president of TWA. His mother, Gloria Irene Granville, was a sales manager at television station KSMO-TV in Kansas City, Missouri.

He is an American actor and comedian. He studied theater at the University of Kansas and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before making his acting debut in 1991. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in July 2015, and was included on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2019. In 2021, he was named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive".

His films include Clueless (1995), Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995), Romeo + Juliet (1996), Wet Hot American Summer (2001), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Knocked Up (2007), I Love You, Man (2009), This Is 40 (2012), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024). Most famously, he has played Ant-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with Ant-Man (2015) and most recently in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).

Rudd has also appeared in numerous television shows, including the sitcom Friends as Mike Hannigan, guest roles on Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, Reno 911! and Parks and Recreation, and as guest host of Saturday Night Live multiple times. He had a dual role in the comedy series Living with Yourself, which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy. He starred in the miniseries The Shrink Next Door (2021).

Please Wish This Hilariously & Popular American Actor & Comedian & Superhero/ Ghostbuster Of Hollywood's Biggest Films 🎥 Today

A Very Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊

YOU KNOW HIM

YOU SEEN HIM ON THE BIG SCREEN

& YOU CANT HELP BUT LAUGH AT EVERYTHING HE SAYS THATS FUNNY 🤣

THE 1

& THE ONLY

MR. PAUL STEPHEN RUDD AKA ANT 🐜 MAN OF THE MCU & GARY GROOBERSON OF GHOSTBUSTERS 👻

HAPPY 55TH BIRTHDAY 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 TO YOU MR. RUDD🐜👻 & HERE'S TO MANY MORE YEARS TO COME

#PaulRudd #AntMan  #GhostbustersAfterlife #GhostBustersFrozenEmpire #ScottLang #GaryGrooberson

[rebeleden]

Patrick Dempsey Trolled for Earning 'Sexiest Man Alive' Title: 'Maybe in 2008'

????????

[only-johnny-deppp]

TBT: Johnny Depp, through the lens of Matthew Rolston, 14 years ago, sometime in January 2008. 

One month later, one of the photos became the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine released on January 24, 2008 along a lengthy interview of Johnny talking about his musician life, now and in the past, the filming of “Sweeney Todd” and the then upcoming “Public Enemies”. One more month later, on March 2008, the Rolling Stone Magazine had its Japanese Edition released

[pascalslittlebrat]

P!!!!!!1!!!! P!!!1!!!

look at this LOOK AT THIS I swear the algorithm is spying on us LMAO because WOW!!!

PROFESSIONAL MODEL!DAVE YORK!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S HIM!!!!!

OMG!!!1!!11 baby yess!!! How did it know?!!!

Warning: this is fun bullshit okay.

Like imagine being front row at NYFW completely bored at the Gucci show cause the torn shirts?? So 2008, it’s lame and you definitely just finished posting what a bore it was on your Insta story. You’ll have to have your dad buy your a new Range Rover to make up for how much you’re suffering.

Then he comes out and holy fuck it’s Dave Fucking York strutting down the cat walk and you make sure to sit straight and push your boobs up a bit because you’ve always dreamed of catching this man’s attention. He’s like GQ’s sexiest man alive and single and why wouldn’t you try? After all, you’ve heard older men can do it better and you definitely would let Dave York.

He makes his way down the runway and his eyes land on you. A smirk comes across his face as he makes his way towards your end in his Gucci flip flops. He winks at you as he stops in front of you to pose, his eyes take over you body and you feel the heat pulling in between your thighs. He gives you another appreciative glance before strutting away the slapping of his Gucci sandals following him.

It doesn’t take long after he disappears that a security guard comes telling you to follow him backstage that a certain Mr. York had asked for your presence. You smirk at the other girls around you flipping your hair as you follow behind the man.

You walk into Dave’s dressing room finding him dressed in a robe, Gucci sandals still on and propped on his vanity, as he swats a stylist’s hand away from his hair. “I swear I’ll murder you if you touch my hair again,” he growls out and you see the ladies face turn pale. He turns and see you and immediately smile, “I’m joking I wouldn’t,” he turned to the woman face turning serious as he whispers threateningly, “Seriously watch it.”

He greets you, pulling you into his lap and letting you know he’s been thinking of you since he saw you on the runway. Some bullshit about love at first sight. You didn’t care, you let him nuzzle your neck and watched him yell at more people and make his assistant cry before firing him for putting pecans in his oatmeal. The horror.

You end up at his penthouse. You both had practically fucked in the back of his limo, your lipstick smeared and dress disheveled. He’s showing you his great view of the city on his balcony because he had to brag before fucking you. All you can think about is cock so you end up getting on your knees and giving him the sloppiest head in your life that had him cumming down your throat in no time. Next thing you know he has you bent over the balcony fucking you with your dress shoved on your hips as you call him daddy.

Fuck were they right about older men doing you better and Dave was definitely still in his prime with the amount of times he made you scream his name. You knew you’d see that stupid smirk and dumb Gucci sandals in your mind for days.

You wake up the next day to him telling you “Baby you’re famous” as he shows you an article with pictures of your shenanigans all over the news. You feel the heat burn in your cheeks as you see the images of you on your knees, bent over the balcony, the different looks of pleasure.

You then look at Dave and smirk at him, “We should frame it, I look fantastic sucking you off. Remember that now that I’m famous.”

“I’m definitely your number one fan,” Dave grins, “Now why don’t we see that news breaking mouth be used again.”

[pop-pop-pop-popculture]

This'll be hard but who, in your honest opinion, all really did deserved the SEXIEST MAN ALIVE title??

Since 1985?!?!

Patrick Swayze: 1991 (not the best image for the cover, but I still agree nonetheless)

Denzel Washington: 1996

Ben Affleck: 2002 (I’m not a fan of him, but damn, he was hot in the 2000s!)

Hugh Jackman: 2008 🥵 (That cover photo and photoshoot were perfect, first of all, and this entire photoshoot + the man himself made my fourteen year-old self feel things I never felt before.)

Ryan Reynolds: 2010 🥵 (that cover photo and photoshoot were also perfect)

Bradley Cooper: 2011 (I don’t know how to explain it, but I love how the cover image isn’t sensual.)

Adam Levine: 2013

Chris Hemsworth: 2014

Michael B. Jordan: 2020 (I personally don’t find him sexy, but he is handsome)

Paul Rudd: 2021 (I personally don't find him sexy, but he is handsome)

Side Comments

I nominate James McAvoy, Regé-Jean Page, and Taron Egerton for 2022. 

How did Christian Bale not "win" in the 2000s, especially after the release of American Psycho, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight? I agree, however, with Hugh’s “win” in 2008, so he should have “won” in 2000 (Brad Pitt) or 2009 (Johnny Depp). Ugh, the audacity of the company. 

Actually, you know what? Bale should have “won” in 2008 and Jackman should have “won” in 2009. There we go.

I bought the ones with Jackman and Reynolds, and I have no shame admitting that.

Both of Brad Pritt's cover images were terrible. I definitely agree with him earning the title, because he was quite attractive in the 2000s, but the cover images were unflattering in my opinion. I forgot which award show, but I had a picture of him at an award ceremony as my lockscreen in 2009. I have no shame admitting this. Girls my age were thirsting over Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner while I was crushing on men in their late 30s to 40s, and at one point Brad Pitt.

Speaking of Pitt, he didn't need it a second time.

Jude Law isn’t sexy, but he also isn’t ugly.

I understand why George Clooney "won” it, and I do think he's good-looking, but two times? Nah. 2006 should have gone to someone else. I don't know who, but definitely not him. Maybe Patrick Dempsey since every woman was thirsting over him in the 2000s during his Grey’s Anatomy days?  Okay, I’ll go with him. 

Leonardo DiCaprio never graced the title and still has not. 🤣🤣

Matt Damon isn’t sexy, but he also isn’t ugly.

Channing Tatum ain't that sexy, ladies.

I honestly don't find Idris Elba sexy. He is handsome, though!

John Legend ain’t sexy either - he’s far from it, actually. So, instead of him earning the title in 2019, Bill Skarsgård should have got it.

How has Ryan Gosling not "won” yet? This really surprises me, especially considering how much women thirsted over him after the release of The Notebook and Crazy; Stupid; Love.

I find Dan Stevens to be sexier than Blake Shelton, so 2017 should have gone to Dan. He was fine as hell during the press junket for Beauty and the Beast and is just handsome overall. Just...look...at...him (these are from 2017, by the way).

[themosleyreview]

The Mosley Review: Free Guy

There are so many films about being in a video game, befriending a character in a video game or being friends with a character that's from a different game. If that sentence makes since to you, then you can definitely list off the films I just described. The common denominator from all of those films is the amount of fun they are and how they keep the balance between just comedy, fun action and sometimes dramatic self discovery. Some of those films tend to fall apart somewhere in the middle after all the nostalgia is gone and the story decides to get serious. This film takes all of the best things about all of those past films and consistently keeps the heartwarming storytelling fun across the entire film. There are gaming references, quips about the real world and a very strong love story that instantly engaging. This film was truly hilarious, magical and just makes you feel so good by the end. Its so much fun and led by a perfect cast that kept you enthralled in the story.

Ryan Reynolds was fantastic and so charming as the Non Playable Character Guy. Reynolds is so good at being the loveable and fun dude in the room and just when you thought it has gotten formulaic, he finds a way for to rope you back in. Guy is truly the embodiment of the nicest and warmest NPC you could ever meet in a video game. I loved watching his road to self discovery and the genuine love he has for another player. Lil Rel Howery plays his bestfriend NPC Buddy and he was just as outstanding as Reynolds. He is just a ray of positivity and the best wingman you could ask for. The two of them together shine so bright and I could almost watch a sitcom starring them. Jodie Comer was excellent as Millie/Molotov Girl and in the gaming world of Free City, she kicks some serious ass and I loved her chemistry with Guy. Their connection is so strong and it kicks off the romantic comedy bits of the film with a bang. In the real world, I'm glad that the same consistency was there with her determination to get what is owed to her. I'm glad they didn't do the "make her gorgeous in the game, but make her dirty or ugly in the real world" thing. Joe Keery was perfect and fun as Keys. The scenes between him and Millie were what drove the plot along and I loved there history together. Utkarsh Ambudkar was great as Mouser and he was excellent as the fellow coder of the Free City. He was funny, a little douchey, but you still love him for his irreverent comments. Taika Waititi was perfectly eccentric and despicable as the creator of Free City, Antwan. Taika is at it again with his playful nature, but he nails the really seedy nature of the heads of studios. He may have been funny at times, but he earns the title of villain. Channing Tatum is in the film as a players avatar and I won't spoil who his real world counter part is. I forgot how ridiculously funny and charming this man is. He has a scene that nearly steals the film that is hilariously awkward and based on fact.

The score by the great Christophe Beck was excellent, funny and epic at times. The visual effects in this film were impressive and I loved that they weren’t cartoony because "you're in a video game". The action in film was great, but it was not the center of attention and that's what made this film special. It goes from an action film to a coming of age story to a heist film and finally to a charming romantic comedy and it all works in harmony which was insane! There are alot of cameos in the film and I won't spoil the biggest surprises, but I'll say that the People Magazine's 2008 Sexiest Man Alive has a hidden cameo in the film. Its obvious and yet hidden. This was definitely one of the best feel good films I've seen in a while and its definitely going on the best films of the 2021 list. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

Thoughts on Taskmaster s04e02, written as I (re-)watch it:

- “The series is still young, and so are two of our five contestants.” – Greg Davies

Similar to the way Alex refers to the teams in this season as “the parents” and “the children and Noel”. Good rule to keep in mind when watching British comedy generally: in any given piece of media that was made in any given year, Noel Fielding is about ten years older than you think.

- The thing about Alex owning a cat that was previously owned by Dali (“Two things: I didn’t know you were going to ask me that, and I didn’t know I was going to say that”) is one of my favourite exchanges in the beginning-of-show Greg and Alex banter in all of Taskmaster. Season 4 really was just excellent across the board.

- I fucking love the image of the 2008 magazine Noel brought in for the prize task (showing off the time he won sexiest man of the year for his most boastful item).

There’s so much going on here. The 2008-ness of George W Bush getting villain of the year, with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown just behind him. Also, I don’t know whether Amy Winehouse actually did anything to deserve being listed as a villain of the year, but all I know about her is she was a singer who got into drugs until they killed her and making her a villain of the year for that seems like a generally bad an misogynistic thing to do. I mean the men on that list committed war crimes. But I don’t know, maybe she set fire to a building or some shit and I just don’t know about it.

I also like that Julian Barrett is a runner up to Noel’s sexiest man alive award. Tells you something about the Mighty Boosh’s popularity in 2008, at least among readers of that particular magazine.

And finally, this brings me back to last year, when I watched Taskmaster season 4 without having heard of Noel Fielding. I watched the first two episodes in a row, without looking anything up about any of the people involved. After one episode, I was very confused about what the fuck was going on with that incredibly attractive man who sat on the right and made strange comments in high-heeled boots and very tight jeans and a flamboyant sweater with carefully styled long hair, and no one commented on any of that so clearly all the people who knew about British comedy just understood that that’s this guy’s thing. I’d heard of Eddie Izzard, so I wondered if it might be something like that?

When I got to the second episode’s prize task and paused the video to read that magazine page, I actually had a reaction of, “Oh, that makes sense, he’s just an extremely fashionable man who’s known for being sexy in the eyes of girls and boys alike. He’s one of those types of people.” I will say that once I finished the first couple of episodes and stopped to look those people up, I was surprised to find that while season 4 featured Taskmaster’s first openly LGBT contestant, it wasn’t Noel.

- Again, the first time I watched this season, I was just getting my head around the existence of Noel Fielding and then I had to deal with a middle-aged woman, who was also painfully adorable and just extremely attractive, turning up dressed in a cowboy shirt and bragging about raising guinea pigs.

I... why was she wearing that shirt? Why had I developed a crush so quickly on a woman who was clearly much closer to my parents’ age than to mine? Why did she raise guinea pigs at the age of 45? Why did people keep making comments about cakes and then looking knowingly at the lovely woman in the strange cowboy shirt? And why was she wearing one white shoe and one black shoe?

- Hugh Dennis was the only Taskmaster season 4 contestant whom I’d actually heard of before I watched it, because I’d been listening to him on The Now Show for years. I immediately assumed he’d be good at everything, because I knew him as a very sharp and knowledgeable satirist. Again, I was just left with no idea what to make of the situation when he brought in a souvenir of the time he’d lost a game as his “most boastful item”. What was wrong with this man who wrote and performed such clever material for an intellectual BBC comedy show? How the fuck could such an educated man not have anything more boastful than proof that he’d once cost his team a soccer game? What universe was this?

- I also didn’t know who the Chuckle Brothers were when I first watched this episode (I now... sort of know), but I worked out that they were very important from the way the audience loudly booed when Greg gave Joe Lycett’s prize of a selfie with them only two points. I also started to get a look at one of Joe Lycett’s best comedy expressions: sheer indignation.

- First pre-recorded task of the episode, and Joe Lycett stops to kiss the picture of Greg Davies on the wall. Again, as someone who knew none of these people when I first watched this season, the level of quirkiness coming at me all at once from all five contestants (I haven’t commented on Lolly yet just because her prize this episode wasn’t all that remarkable, but she certainly had her share of quirks too) was just overwhelming.

- I’ve somehow never noticed this before in all the times I’ve watched this episode, but they’re calling the treadmill a “running machine”. Do they not have the term “treadmill” in the UK?

- I think the first task of this episode (keep a basketball on a treadmill without touching the ball or the treadmill) worked out exactly the way the production team should hope it always does. Two people - Joe and Noel - do it absolutely terribly so we get to watch it amusingly fail within just a few seconds. Two people - Lolly and Mel - figure out a strategy that works a bit but not particularly well. And in the case of one of those people - Mel - employing that strategy involves a lot more work than the outcome is worth and a bunch of moving around in a not-very-dignified way, so lots of comedy potential there. And finally, one person - Hugh - figures out the lateral thinking trick that lets him completely outfox the task. That’s the balance I’m sure they wish they had every time. I also like the symmetry of how performance at this task is inversely proportional to performance in the season as a whole (with Noel and Joe doing very badly and Hugh doing very well).

- Whenever I re-watch this episode, when I get to the end of Joe’s attempt at this task and he does that thing where he laughs at himself but through his laughter he says, “Fuck off” to Alex... I always go back a few seconds to see that part again because I just love that reaction.

- People make fun of Mel a lot for her silly run, and rightfully so, but I’d like to give some credit to Lolly’s slightly wobbly and overexcited gait that perfectly matches her personality:

- I will never get tired of watching Mel Giedroyc play hockey with a basketball and a shovel.

“Mel kept it on there for nine seconds, and it would have been a lot more if... if she’d been better at it.” - Alex Horne

- Oh, Greg just called it a “treadmill”. I guess they do have that term over there.

- This might be rather niche, because I don’t know how many people have watched Taskmaster season 4 and also Angel season 4. Ten years ago I could have more easily taken it for granted that most people on the internet had seen Buffy and its spinoff Angel. But in case anyone reading this has seen Angel, I’d like you know that every time I watch Hugh do the basketball on a treadmill task and look up at Alex, all I can think about is this dramatic moment from that extremely dark episode of Angel:

- You know what joke never, ever gets old? Variations on: Greg: Obviously no one will do [terrible idea] because these are intelligent people. So who shall we see first? Alex: [person or people who obviously did that exact terrible idea]

- I fucking love watching Lolly accidentally knock over the easel, get annoyed at herself because she has no way to get it back, realize that actually knocking the thing over so she can reach it is the best strategy and she can now paint easily if she just runs around to the other side, get excited about the opportunity to do the task well, and then immediately hear Alex say she only has thirty seconds left. Such a rollercoaster in a short amount of time.

This is a bit tricky, because it did say only the paint and brush may touch the mat, easel, and canvas. But I feel like it’s implied that the mat, easel, and canvas may touch each other. I mean, the easel is touching the mat before the task even starts, so clearly that’s allowed. But it isn’t specifically stated and one could maybe make an argument that knocking the whole easel and canvas onto the mat breaks the rules. No one brings it up, though. Or if they do, it doesn’t make the final edit.

- I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Joe Lycett got screwed in that painting task. Having to smile at the camera every thirty seconds definitely interfered with his ability to paint, he did do twenty smiles even if some of them were also difficult poo faces, and he deserved an extra point for that.

Also, who broke the window that’s just over his shoulder?

- I feel like the first two pre-recorded tasks of this season really show the wild oscillations of Hugh Dennis on Taskmaster. First task: come up with a brilliant lateral workaround and keep the ball on the treadmill for four months when no one else’s lasted for more than sixteen seconds. Second task: come up with what he thinks is a brilliant lateral workaround, execute it proudly, and then immediately be told he blatantly broke a clearly stated rule and is disqualified.

Greg: It’s an out and out disqualification. Mel [in a high-pitched and horrified voice, properly concerned]: What does that mean? Does he have to leave? Me:

- Just a couple of baking-based reality show presenters dressed up to ride some fancy horses.

- I can see arguments either way, but especially given that he had the extra smiling task, I think Joe should have beaten Noel on this one:

- Mel, upon seeing her teammate Hugh on the first team task: Hello, Desky! [hug] Me:

- I’m still annoyed that we never found out why Mel kept all those Taskmaster seals, beyond the fact that she told Hugh, “I’m going to melt them down.”

- Fuck, I love those two together. They have such wildly different approaches to Taskmaster, and it’s so funny to see Hugh explain all his madcap schemes to Mel. And she gets so excited about them, and is just so supportive even when he’s full of shit.

Hugh: [throws several bricks in a row at the target, accomplishing nothing but knocking off the darts that they’d worked so hard to attach to it] Mel: Very good action, Hugh! Hugh: Lost the dart... Mel (whispering in awe): Bloody hell, this is tricky, isn’t it?

- Everything that happens after the children and Noel work out that they should wet the flower and then throw it is so pleasing to watch:

It’s matched only by what happens after Noel says, “Yeah, let’s just throw everything”:

Alex: Time’s up. You can stop throwing things at the table now.

- Again on the subject of Joe Lycett’s comedy specialty being indignation, we have his reaction to finding out that Noel cheated on behalf of his team during that task:

Joe can be heard saying, “No he didn’t,” during the pre-recorded task, when Alex announced that Noel had pressed pause on the clock. I’m fairly sure Joe believed that Alex was wrong and Noel hadn’t cheated, right up until they got to the studio and showed him video evidence. The camera does show that neither Joe nor Lolly was looking when Noel did it:

- When I think of the known cheaters at Taskmaster (Tim Key, Dave Gorman), I never add Noel Fielding to that list. He’s sort of gotten away with this in the court of Taskmaster fans’ public opinion. And it’s so on brand for Noel to do that exact thing. Cheat in a kind of cheeky and quirky way by going right behind Alex’s back to pause his clock, which is the sort of thing Noel would normally do. But still cheat, which is something that comes from his competitive side that we don’t see from him often.

- #FashionBoys:

- I want to know if all the stuff Joe stole from the tasks is off somewhere with all the seals Mel kept.

- Honestly, seeing Lolly stop to think for a few seconds, realize the obvious choice of the bread would get her a time penalty, come up with the resourceful and intelligent idea of using sticky tack, and then calmly and efficiently apply her system... to use the word Noel brought out during his prize task, that was genuinely sexy.

- I can’t turn Mel’s attempt at this task into a gif. I don’t even think I can describe it with words. It has to be seen in all its glory. The way she touched one thing, realized it was a mistake, immediately forgot about that realization and touched something else, and then just panicked and seemed to think it would help if she touched everything. Realized at the end that she’d fucked it all up, but still finished with the words, “I really enjoyed that, though.”

- Such a great live task, on top of everything else in this episode. Sometimes, you just have to go for the low-hanging fruit of the comedy potential in making people use their hands to mess around underneath a sheet that covers their whole body, while keeping eye contact with another person. And have them manipulate cylindrical objects under there that they then have to take out and show people, because, again, comedy potential.

It’s not the only time Taskmaster has gone for that particular low-hanging fruit:

- Alex’s “I don’t understand it” after pulling out Lolly’s balloon squid: fucking iconic Taskmaster moment.

- I enjoy the way Noel, again, tried to stay on brand while his competitive streak came out. He used his sort of silly voice when arguing that Alex had broken his balloon chain, trying to be quirky and ironic about it, but he was still clearly annoyed that he thought he’d been cheated out of points.

- ...I realize I may have gotten a little carried away in documenting this episode. It’s just so fucking perfect. Everything about Taskmaster season 4 is so fucking perfect. This season specifically is what got me so into British comedy that I decided to dive into more of it and then I spent the whole pandemic doing that.

I’m having such a good time revisiting this season. Anyway, I’m off to listen to this episode be discussed by a man who did not hide an eggplant (I have no idea why British people use the French term for it, and I will not copy that) in his pocket.

[lesbiangummybearmafia]

YUM!!!

©Giorgia Meschini 2008

[elizabethwarrenmemes]

A brief story about that time Elizabeth Warren ran against a Republican nude male model and won.

(Buckle up for the cameo from Susan Collins- it’s a doozy)

When Senator Ted Kennedy died unexpectedly in 2009, attorney & former State Sen Scott Brown won a special election for the U.S. Senate seat representing Massachusetts in an upset

Viewed as a moderate Republican, he received support from some prominent Democrats, became popular in the state of Massachusetts & inspired this SNL skit.

One thing that got a lot of attention was his history as a male model. In college he won Cosmo’s “Sexiest Man Alive” contest & won $1,000 to pose naked.

He went on to do various modeling gigs while juggling school & his legal career.

In an interview with The Boston Herald, his former agent Maggie Trichon said he was “gorgeous” and that he had "excellent hands," with "straight fingers, perfect nails" and ability to "hold things correctly."

You know... talent.

Fast FWD to 2012. For the first time he is up for re-election.

Enter: Elizabeth F*@!ing Warren. Fresh off creating the CFPB & predicting the 2008 financial crash, she runs against him.

Expectations were low- there had never been a female U.S. Senator or Governor elected from the state of MA. He was polling 8 points above her.

She did what she does best. Persist.

She campaigned on the message she still does today: the economy is working better & better for the ultra-rich but leaving working class behind.

This election was the first to include a “People’s Pledge” to limit the use of funds from outside groups.

Supporters of Brown broke the pledge two times, and his campaign agreed to donate money to a charity of Warren’s choice in return. She chose The Autism Consortium.

Elizabeth Warren really crushed it at the debates with Brown- facing off attacks about her ancestry, gender, & alleged “elitism.”

When asked how she paid for college, she replied, “Well, I kept my clothes on.”

Brown was widely criticized for later saying in response “thank God.”

That was when GOP Sens. Susan Collins & Kelly Ayote came to his defense... you know just like male Senators would do for a female candidate if she had a history of nude modeling.

Compare that to the treatment of various female candidates that have run for office & were later slut-shamed for risqué photos: Katie Hill, Krystal Ball (not my favorite pundit but still), or Rachel Hundley.

tOTaLlY fAiR amirite?

Once this election was all said and done Elizabeth Warren won by a sizable margin and she was easily re-elected in 2018.

She proved that she could take on a popular, dare I say sexy?, male Republican incumbent and win.

But as for Scott Brown...

After working as a Fox News contributor and board member at a paper company, he moved to New Hampshire so he could run for U.S. Senate again.

He lost to Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, making him the first man in history to lose Senate races to two different women.

One footnote: I don’t think anyone be they male, female, GNC, or non-binary should be disqualified from a job because of past nudity or sexually oriented work. Just wanted to point out double standards. Plus when he’s propping up a misogynistic system, context is different.

[blackkudos]

Hill Harper

Francis Eugene "Hill" Harper (born May 17, 1966) is an American actor and author. He is known for his roles on CSI: NY, Limitless, and The Good Doctor.

Early life

Harper was born in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Harry D. Harper, II, a psychiatrist, and Marilyn Harper (née Hill), who was one of the first black practicing anesthesiologists in the United States, and, co-authored a book called Wearing Purple. Hill Harper has been acting since the age of 7. Harper graduated from Bella Vista High School in 1984. He then graduated magna cum laude from Brown University in 1988. In 1992, Harper graduated with a JD, cum laude, from Harvard Law School. In addition, he also received his Master of Public Administration degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. During his years at Harvard, he was a full-time member of Boston's Black Folks Theater Company, one of the oldest and most acclaimed black theater troupes in the country. While a student at Harvard, Harper befriended Barack Obama, with whom he played basketball.

Although Harper earned three Ivy League degrees, he decided to pursue acting and moved to Los Angeles. He has received several honorary degrees, including honorary doctorates from both Westfield State College and Howard University. Born Francis Eugene Harper, he adopted the name "Hill" as a tribute to both his maternal and paternal ancestors.

Acting career

Harper's first roles in television began in 1993, in a recurring role on the Fox series Married... with Children, while also making his film debut in the short film Confessions of a Dog. He had his first acting role in a feature film with Spike Lee's Get on the Bus (1996), which cast him as a UCLA film student riding a bus to the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. He went on to further demonstrate his versatility in such films as Christopher Scott Cherot's Hav Plenty (1997) and Lee's He Got Game (1998), the former of which featured him as an egotistical pop-soul singer.

His profile subsequently rose on both the mainstream and independent film circuits, thanks to roles in films ranging from Beloved (1998) to the independent romantic comedy Loving Jezebel (1999) to The Skulls (2000). Harper did some of his most acclaimed work in Jordan Walker-Pearlman's The Visit (2000), an independent drama in which he starred as a prisoner dying of AIDS who tries to put his life back together. He also portrayed Leshem in the 2010 Syfy original movie Stonehenge Apocalypse.

Harper played coroner-turned-crime scene investigator Sheldon Hawkes on the CBS crime drama CSI: NY for nine seasons.

In February 2013, it was announced that CSI: NY would be ending and Harper would be joining the cast of Covert Affairs as a series regular.

From April 21, 2015, to May 10, 2015, Harper starred as "Hard Rock" in the Off-Broadway play ToasT. The play (produced by Lemon Andersen and co-starred Keith David) is set in the Attica Prison around the time of its 1971 prison riot and tells of the lives of its prisoners using poetic prose.

From May 1, 2018, to June 17, 2018, Harper starred as "Rooftop" in the Off-Broadway play Our Lady of 121st Street. This Dark Comedy (written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by Phylicia Rashad) is about former students paying their respects to Sister Rose, only to find that Sister Rose's body has been stolen.

Since 2017, Harper has portrayed Dr. Marcus Andrews on the ABC series The Good Doctor.

Hill Harper's acting career also includes voice-over work (or voice acting) with CSI:NY the Video Game, Breathe Bible, and, a podcast called Legal Wars.

Writing career and political advocacy

Harper is the author of several books: Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny, published in 2006; Letters to a Young Sister: DeFINE Your Destiny, published in 2008; and The Conversation: How (Black) Men and Women Can Build Loving, Trusting Relationships, published in 2010. His books, The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in Its Place and The Wiley Boys were both published in 2011. His book, Letters to an Incarcerated Brother: Encouragement, Hope, and Healing for Inmates and Their Loved Ones was published in 2013.

In January 2008, Harper participated in "Yes We Can", a music video produced by will.i.am supporting presidential candidate Barack Obama. Harper is a member of the Obama for America National Finance Committee.As of October 2009, Hill has made several contributions to political candidates, exclusively to Democrats. Harper endorsed the 10,000 Bookbags back-to-school backpack campaign to help local disadvantaged children with Urban Change Ministries founder Pastor Jay Cameron of the Life Center, and R&B singer Ginuwine.Harper stated that he is a fiscal conservative when he appeared on the political talk show Hannity on September 10, 2009. On February 22, 2016, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law announced that Harper would be their national spokesman.

Harper serves as the Executive Director for New York City personal injury law firm Napoli Shkolnik.

Awards and recognition

In the fall of 2008, Harper was initiated as a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity with his Co-Initiates (called "Line Brothers") Dr. Naim Akbar of Florida State University and former NFL player Leo LeMarcus Newman.

Harper won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for three consecutive years (2008–2010) for his portrayal of Dr. Sheldon Hawkes on CSI: NY. Previously he had been nominated for the award for three consecutive years (2005–2007), for the same character. In 2000, he had also been nominated for the award, for his role in the medical drama City of Angels. On January 9, 2014 his book Letters to an Incarcerated Brother: Encouragement, Hope, and Healing for Inmates and Their Loved Ones was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction.

In 2018, the Audience Development Committee, Inc. (AUDELCO) nominated Hill Harper for a Vivian Robinson Award; Lead Actor in a Play, for his role as Walter "Rooftop" Desmond in the Off-Broadway play: Our Lady of 121st Street.

People magazine named Hill Harper as one of the "Sexiest Men Alive" for 2004, and again for 2014.

Personal life

While writing his book The Wealth Cure: Putting Money In Its Place, Harper was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. After treatment, he was given a clean bill of health.

After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, Harper researched the effects skin care products can have on a person's system. This led to his creating an all-natural personal care line for men and women, called Be The Architect.

In November 2015, Harper received a call to adopt a baby boy from a homeless woman. He agreed, and by May 2017, the adoption of Pierce (named after Pierce Brosnan) Hill Harper was finalized.