Rod 2.0:Beta

Must See TV: Mehcad Brooks Nude and Bare Butt on "True Blood"

A few weeks ago we were cheering Alan Ball's apparent instructions to the writers of True Blood to invent more shirtless scenes for Mehcad Brooks. Why waste time going shirtless? In this week's ep, we were treated to a fully nude Eggs (Brooks) in his sex scene with Tara (Rutina Wesley), incidentally, probably Mehcad's first nude scene and one of the few and far between sex scenes between black characters on television. Thankfully, Mehcad's ample assets and tight muscular butt were prominently featured in the scene. The show knows their audience. Thankfully.

AFTER THE JUMP, much more Mehcad Brooks, shirtless and bare butt, on your HD or VGA display (NSFW). Not sure why Maryann was so fixated on these two getting it on. Oh and Mehcad has the body, but does he have the skillz and the strokes? Survey says ....

Terrell Owens (Thankfully) Nude in August "Essence"

"Reality" meets sporno meets porn. Terrell Owens ups the tease factor in this nude, full-page advert for The T.O. Show—his new reality series—spotted in the August issue of Essence. 

AFTER THE JUMP, via Outsports, is the trailer. If this is "reality" ... sign me up.

Nick Cannon in "Giant"

Abtastic actor and Hollywood "it-boy" Nick Cannon covers the Giant's July "Power Issue". The 28-year-old actor slash comedian slash producer is now a mogul, recently named honorary chair of Nickelodeon’s teen division and a consultant to its TEENick network. The profile by Ben Detrick says Cannon has his fingertips on the pulse of the tweens and Twitter crowd (@NickCannon) and is "perfectly positioned to mold the minds of America's pliable youth."

Cannon makes Number 17 in the magazine's list of "50 Influential People", which is topped by President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce Knowles.

Giant, incidentally, is edited by Emil Wilbekin, the out former editor of the now-shuttered Vibe.

AFTER THE JUMP, the cover and more of the editorial lensed by Atlanta-based fashion photographer Cameron Krone. The photography definitely captures Cannon as a major power player and a subtle  fashionista—such as the Prada suit above, D&G and Tom Ford. It's not as over-the-top homoerotic or fashionable as Nick Cannon's gorgeous editorial for Flaunt a few year ago. Unfortunately.

Oguchi Onyewu Joins A.C. Milan

The major news in sports: Rod 2.0 fave and soccer hotness Oguchi Onyewu, a key member of the U.S. national team that reached the Confederations Cup finals in South Africa, joins super-team AC Milan on a three-year contract.

Steven Goff at the Washington's Post describes this as "an absolutely huge move for Onyewu and really for U.S. soccer." Goff adds Onyewu becomes the only second American ever and "the first in ten years" to join Italy's famed Serie A league.

Onyewu, 27, played with Belgium's Standard Liege from 2004 to 2009.  U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley adds: "It’s very exciting. It’s one of the great clubs in the world. It’s a terrific opportunity for him, and certainly the experience that he’ll get there I think will be really important as we move forward with our national team."

Oguchi anchored the U.S. back when the team upset Spain, the No. 1-ranked team in the world, at the Confederations Cup semifinal.  Here's looking forward to the Gooch's exciting move to Milan and many more shirtless celebrations on the field.

Thansk KASE

"Madea" Actor/Singer Terrell Carter Outed by Ex-Boyfriend

Terrell Carter, the talented singer and actor who starred in a number of Tyler Perry's "Madea" productions, becomes the second black male celebrity outed in the last two weeks. 

Carter starred in Tyler Perry’s Class Reunion and Meet the Browns, as well as the screen adaptation of TP's Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Carter was also in the "What's Done in the Dark" plays. The six foot five, dark and lovely actor with the phenomenal voice also has quite the phenomenal physique, which made him all the more popular among female audiences.

Alex Cortez, the apparent ex-boyfriend seen above and below, posted the pictures across the intenets, starting with the hugely popular Lipstick Alley mesageboard, then moving onto his MySpace and Twitter accounts to blast his ex. Cortez (@Model is Cute) Tweets: "Hell yeah i’m angry!…there are fucked up ppl out there no matter how nice they seem to be & it’s their fault, ppl they harm are bitter!"

The black gossip blogs are in their usual feeding freezy over rumors. MediaTakoeut.com has 450 comments, mostly negative. Popular black celebrity blogger Sandra Rose reported on Carter's rumored sexuality last year, stating the handsome singer was involved with Noah's Arc actor Christian Vincent. "All I can say is there are photos for sale. And I will leave it at that." Rose was also one of the first to break this story and wryly observed what is surely an open secret in black Hollywood: "Just because Terrell once starred in a Tyler Perry film means nothing. Only 99% of the actors in Tyler’s movies are gay. Terrell might be in that tiny 1% minority who isn’t gay."

Terrell Carter is the second black male celebrity outed in the last ten days. Reality star Dorion Standberry (BET's College Hill)  was blasted ten days across the internets, also by an ex-boyfriend seeking revenge. Although Rod 2.0 had advance knowledge of both stories, we chose not to report the first one, and, took our time posting the Carter outing. Look at the picture above with the couple kissing and it's obvious Terrell Carter trusted this man. I'm all for gay men, especially black gay men, to come out of the closet. But if you're outed kicking and screaming, or by a jealous or scorned lover, it probably does more harm than good.

WHEN YOU JUMP, via Black Celebrity Men, Terrell Carter seen on Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, partying with the boyz during Pride. If you've got it, flaunt it.

UPDATE: There may be much more to this story. Some damaging personal allegations have been made. Let's not discuss until some confirmation.

Thanks LOWKEY SHAWTY and JEFFERY

Pretty Ricky's "Spectacular" Grinding Pays Off, "Tipsy" is a Hit

The non-stop "grind" pays off for Spectacular, the lead singer (and body) for Pretty Ricky. The R&B boyband was dropped by Atlantic Records in May and now announces they will not pursue another major label deal due to the success of the independently-released single "Tipsy In Dis Club", according to the trades.

Radio Facts reports the single is "Number Two Most Added at R&R" and in heavy rotation at clubs "due to the group’s grassroots marketing approach and the support of their loyal fan base." No doubt, that "grassroots marketing approach" included Spectacular's blockbuster YouTube, where he stripped down to tight salmon briefs and challenged Chris Brown, Bow Wow and other male teen idols to a "grind off."

After denying the video was homoerotic—really?—and insisting the content was "for the ladies only", Spectacular returned to the YouTubes for another strip show, this time in tight boxer briefs. Both videos featured Sexy Spec stripping to "Tipsy" as the song and videos went viral.

AFTER THE JUMP, watch the "grassroots marketing approach" as demonstrated by Sexy Spec (Twitter: IamSpectacular). Both videos are included and the denial. Spec can chart his future as as a gogo boy or an e-marketing hotshot. Or both. Does the song's success mean Spectacular will not be tempted to take that $100,000 to pose nude for Flavamen (nsfw)? We shall see ...

Naked Man on US Airways Flight Forces Pilot to Make Detour

In this morning's "wtf were they thinking?" news: A "mentally disturbed" New York City man strips naked, attempts to take a nap, and fights with the crew on a Los Angeles-bound US Airways jetliner.

The outburst with 50-year-old Keith Wright happened on US Airways Flight 705, which was heading from Charlotte to LA. A flight attendant asked Wright, a Navy vet, to put his clothes back on. "She covered him with a blanket and he took that off" before Wright "punched and kicked the flight attendant", the LA Times reports. Wright was subdued by the passenger who took this picture and an off-duty Los Angeles police officer onboard. The jetliner and its 148 passengers was diverted to Albuquerque, where FBI agents were waiting to arrest the unruly streaker.

Money quote: "Obviously he was not taking his medication," says younger brother Richard Wright.

Henry Watkins Models Abs (and Fashion) for Givenchy S/S 2010

Beefcake is on the lunch menu, boys. Henry Watkins is the new modeling hotness from red hot RED Models NYC. This was Henry's first season at Milan Fashion Week and he was quite the hit at the runway show for Givenchy Spring/Summer 2010. There's nothing like a few well-tailored, revealing pieces of clothing to accessorize wan impressive set of pecs and abs.

WHEN YOU JUMP, more of Henry Watkins' abtastic hotness for Givenchy. There is also an image of image of him walking for the Calvin Klein collection. Props to Givenchy for another spectacular show.  More highlights later.

Dominique Hollington Backstage and on the Runway for Versace

For the second season in a row, Dominique Hollington is the belle of the ball at Milan Fashion Week. And also for the second season in a row, RED Models' dark and lovely new face (and! body!) walks for Versace.

WHEN YOU JUMP, go from behind-the-scenes to the (virtual) front row as Dominique Hollington storms the runway for Versace. Totally loving the French Legion-inspired fashion. But it's all about Dominique's lips, no?

NBA Baller Ben Gordon's Backup Plan: Barney's Creative Director

Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon, one of the standout players in the NBA, goes from making some rather suggestive moves on-the-court to making some moves behind the scenes in the fashion industry. Gordon is well-known for his tasteful fashion aesthetic and gets his fashionista on for ESPN: The Magazine. The baller spends the day and camps it up with Simon Doonan, the Barney's creative director and husband to designer and Bravo personality Jonathan Adler.

"I have a European fashion sense," Gordon tells Doonan. "I love the fine tailoring and the fit."

AFTER THE JUMP, via Rod 2.0 reader FF, watch the video and a few more photos. And despite the many  stereotypes, how freakin' cool is it that a black professional ball player appreciates fashion and can glam and camp it up with fashion's power gays?