HomoPop

It's time to pause and celebrate this romantic holiday we call Valentine's Day. Did you know that this special holiday has much different, darker origins, but then it eventually culminated into what we know as V-Day (and not VD) thanks to the fine folks Hallmark?

Once you get past that commercialism of Feburary 14th, love is what is important. I know you all have had your heart stomped from time to time by someone who resembled Dakota Rivers, but I am not going to focus on that. In my opinion it's really important to acknowledge the fact that whether you are single or in a 20+ year relationship, we are all loved! My way of celebrating is watching a marathon of films with that special someone—lover, best friend, whomever (or pet.) Here is my selection that I think capture the beauty of love: multi-award winning festival favorite Is It Just Me?, I Love You Phillip Morris starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, and critically acclaimed Eyes Wide Open.

I bet you thought I was going to talk about porn, didn't you?

We all love this guy... his charming good looks, his sweet, easy-going nature on screen and in interviews, he made out with Sean Penn and plays Allen Ginsberg in Howl! But then I heard about him about teaching a college course his own freakin' life, and I can't help but continually mimic the SNL skit in my head "Really!?!" However, the Oscar®-nominated actor is pretty much box office gold, so why not be apart of educating film students who think they are going to get him to star in their latest art house project?

This thought leads me to a random and pretty ridiculous film that I came across a couple of years ago that was written, directed and starred Mr. Franco called The Ape. The premise is that his character pretty much loses his shit and becomes best friends with a gorilla. All I can say is that you have to see it to believe it (which you can right here.) Hopefully this little gem will make it into the documentary that is being made along side of the class he is teaching.

But you really don't need to read our opinion about the award show because that's not what we do here. (However, I did love SNL's Black Swan spoof with Jim Carrey.) Instead I want to give out some accolades for some things that I have enjoyed this past year.

1.) I recently watched The Wakefield Poole Collection again. This disc is one classic that should be in everyone's collection whether you like gay porno or not! There's sex on the beach, in a sauna, a theater, solos, and I have to tell you, the gang bang is fucking spectacular. The highlights are... well the whole fucking disc is highlight! From the beautiful Casey Donavan (one of the best bottoms ever to get a mouthful of cum) starring in Boys in the Sand and Boys in the Sand II, the jerk off scene with Roger and his anaconda-size dick, Wakefield Poole's short film that he made for Andy Warhol or the beautifully restored transfer of Bijou.

2.) Recovery Album from Eminem. What can I say? I like badass and white trash guys from the projects... and he's a damn good rapper too!

3.) Aiden James. This sentiment is nothing new that I adores this handsome homo, but I wanted to share his new video for the song "Best Shot" with you. This stallion is working on a new album that you can help be apart of this creative endeavor, and we will certainly keep you abreast of it's release this Spring!

Like a good gay son, I gave my mom a ring last night. My parents live in the snowy plains of Northern Pennsylvania so there generally isn't much to talk about except the weather and the price of gas. Well, last night mom was just a Chatty Cathy. My brother and I got her a e-book reader for Christmas and she couldn't shut up about it! I just couldn't believe that this avid reader adapted so quickly to using an electronic device and she even enjoys flipping the pages now more than ever! Usually when something electronic malfunctions or my dad screws up the cable box, she give me a call to try and fix it over the phone. The kicker though is that she doesn't generally order online, but she's already purchased a couple of books just waiting to be read. I was floored andy my mother must be on to something! So I turned to TLAGay.com editor and occasional Homopop contributor Scott Cranin to get his intake on this growing market since TLA just started selling this content about a month ago. Here's what he had to say:

HP: How does it work?
SC: Customers just come to the site (here) and choose a book from our numerous titles and buy it! Then they just download it to their device: Kindle, nook, iPad etc.

HP: The holiday season proved fruitful for these devices. Can people download from your site to a kindle or nook? And what are the different files?
SC: Absolutely. Mobi files are for the kindle, epub for the nook, and PDF files for the iPad.

HPWhat are the genres’ that gay readers can find in you selection?
SC: We've got the best selection in erotica and romance. That's where the industry is strongest right now.

HP: Are more and more authors going this route?
SC: Absolutely, but it's an enormous phenomena for romance writers. They're dashing off stories and selling them for $.99 almost instantly. And for erotica it's been amazing as well. Now folks can read dirty books on the train without the embarrasment of the "cover" that tells all of what they're reading. The only thing that gives it away is the "tenting" affect that a well-written erotic story causes.

HP: Anything else you want to tell us about e-books?
SC: They're here to stay, but I don't think that print books will go away in our lifetimes. We're embracing them here at TLA and we think there is room for both formats.

Check out the entire collection of e-books that TLA has to offer right here!

What a better way to start off the new year than some dirty porn. We decided to forgo doing a yearly homo roundup like every other gay blog in the world and just tell you what's really on our minds.

There is something to be said for secret fantasies and Randy Blue have unleashed 4 of their favorite directors to tell you what's on their minds, and put them all together in Dirty Secrets. Starring hunks like Dallas Evans and his beautiful cock, rock-hard stud Reese Rideout, and the beautiful bottom-feeder Riley Price, Dirty Secrets will surely send your brain to dark places.

The snow is falling and it's cold outside! There is no better way to enjoy the holidays then listening to the smooth voices of Dolly and Kenny!

Here's some more winter cheer for you too...

I watched Ivring Berlin's White Christmas starring crooner Bing Crosby and the effeminate Danny Kaye last night—twice. I am completely obsessed with this film and it doesn't matter that it's Christmas time or not. And last night I had an epiphany: this classic from the Golden Era of cinema is so freakin' gay! Even though the premise is 2 old army buddies turned successful singers—Bing and Danny—run around Vermont chasing the skirts of the Haynes sisters played by the legendary Rosemary Clooney—George's aunt, and the original dancing queen of cinema Vera-Ellen.

Here's why:

1) Watch Crosby and Kaye perform drag while lipsyncing "Sisters". This is one of my favorite songs of the film of course.

2) "Let's just say we're doing it for an old pal in the army."

3) Judy (Ellen) and Phil (Kaye) are hellbent on setting up Bob (Crosby) and Betty (Clooney), but when they have a falling out Judy convinces Phil that it's time for the "last resort" and that is the two announce their engagement. Phil turns white as a ghost and looks like he's going to vomit when he has to kiss Judy.

4) The film is filled with glorious musical numbers in glamourous costumes.

5) Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye swish more in this movie than Ricky Martin and Adam Lambert ever could.

Ok, so maybe you are tired of gay subtext then check out the real thing!

Do you know what today is? Besides being the "day that will live in infamy"; today is also the date that our good buddies over at TLA Releasing are releasing on DVD one of the hottest films to hit the holiday season! Strapped follows a hustler - ok, not this one - (sexy newcomber Ben Bonenfant) who embarks on a sex-filled odessey while being stuck in a San Fransico apartment building. HOMOPOP had a chance to sit down with the director Joseph Graham who gave us some fantastic insight on this indelible film he created. Check it out.

What do you love about Michael Lucas... his uncut cock, perfect physique, or Russian accent? By the way remember when Marcus and Mike reviewed this Lucas Entertainment audition tapes? Personally, I love him for his contrary attitude that is borderline obnoxious. He really is one of the best in the business so who fucking cares how he comes across.

Anyway, this summer Homopop had the distict pleasure of interviewing the famed porno mogul when he was in town for the 2010 Philadelphia Qfest. Check it out.

My buddies over at TLA Releasing got contacted a couple of weeks ago by Ben Widdicombe, a freelance writer, asking for approval to run the cover of one of their films, THE HOLE, in the New York Times. Ben was writing a story about Fredrik Eklund a.k.a. Tag Eriksson in the gay adult biz who is THE real eastate agent to the stars like Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz. TLA was like, "Sure dude, whatever you need." They sent the writer the box art to the softcore edition and then we all got a good laugh out of it.

The irony out of all of this and that the article actually got printed in the NY Times (which you can read here), but sans the box art. I mean what's wrong with a half-naked guy being shown in the article? It's not like it's a shot of Fredrik who was a contract star for Jet Set getting deep throated or Josh Hammer blowing his load on Eklund's ripped body? I guess the stuffy New York types would just be shocked.