The Column of Life

"...And for all the characters he has played, for the assumed egos of television actors, Gaskill is as down-to-earth and honest as it gets. In jeans, a black hoody and motorcycle boots, a shadow of a beard, Gaskill looks like Jersey, like a character in a Springsteen song on the sidewalk in front of the Basie." Go here for more . Come meet and greet Brian at the fundraiser on May 11, 2011 .

In the midst of switching his focus from movies to theater and television, Mr. Granger also made the film he would later say he was most proud of: “Senso” (1954), by the Italian director Luchino Visconti, in which Mr. Granger played an Austrian military officer. “Working with Visconti was a unique thing,” he recalled, “and that was a difficult role.” …But Mr. Granger, who described himself as bisexual, also had relationships with Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents. His longtime partner was Robert Calhoun, whom he met while doing a National Repertory Theater tour of which Mr. Calhoun was production manager. He died in 2008. Asked about his preferences in the 2007 Times interview, Mr. Granger said, “I’ve lived the greater part of my life with a man, so obviously that’s the most satisfying to me.” Go here for his obituary in The New York Times . A truly unique and very beautiful man ...rest in peace, Dear Heart.

Thank you, Annie

One Muscle Matchmaker Blind Vice: Furrowed Frank is such a mainstay in contemporary entertainment, visible everywhere on screens big and small. 'Course, many a pop culture aficionado insists what F2 does is definitely not entertainment, but it is. Indeed, the dude's whole life is as meticulously written as his hair is coiffed. And that ain't just my big-hair Texas exaggeration shootin' off, trust. Here's how F2's love life plays out, for ince. Oh, and need you even guess? Yes, bien sûr, F.F. is a closeted gay man, do they not make any other kind in this biz any more? I swear, I really do think we're regressing since the time of Rock Hudson and that ersatz marriage to his secretary. I mean, get real. Andy Dick and his dubious hangers-on are practically the only friggin' tier of boy-swingin' guys to come clean, save a few souls like T.R. Knight, who was forced outta the closet, anyway. Look, Furrowed had a b-f for a while, all fairly discreet 'n...

We can't say enough good things about Scott Herman Visit: www.scotthermanfitness.com where you can see what Scott does these days. You can also find his training videos on YouTube. There is a lot more to him than fitness. Come say hello to this genuine human being at Love Out Loud VI on May 11, 2011 at Prohibition. Go here to make a donation to our AIDS Walk New York team . Go here to catch up on the event .

Rotini with Lamb and Asparagus Asparagus, thin, ends trimmed, one pound (500 grams) Kosher salt Rotini pasta, one half pound (250 grams) Canola oil, five tablespoons, divided Lamb Tenderloin, sliced on the bias, one and a half pounds, (750 grams) 1/4-inch thick Garlic, five cloves, sliced thin Green Peppercorns, crushed, two tablespoons Scallions, one bunch white and green parts, sliced thin Black pepper, freshly ground Chicken stock, one cup fresh or low-sodium canned chicken broth Soy sauce, two tablespoons 1. Fill a large bowl with water and ice cubes. In a large wok, bring about 2 quarts of salted water to a boil. Cook the asparagus until tender-crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. 2. Transfer the asparagus to the ice water to cool. Cut into 2-inch lengths and set aside. 3. Add more ice cubes to the bowl, if necessary. Bring the water in the wok to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, about 11 minutes. Transfer to the ice water to cool. Drain and set aside. 4. Empty the wok and wipe it dry....

Thank you, Sam Devries. Come say hello to Gregory on May 11th . He and his musical mentor are cooking up something special.

Croque Madames (Challah Grilled Cheese with Smoked Salmon and Preserved Lemon--4 servings) from Eric Ripert 8 thin slices Challah 6 ounces aged Emmentaler, Gruyère, or other Swiss cheese, thinly sliced 6 ounces Smoked Salmon, thinly sliced 1 scallion or few chives, thinly sliced 1 piece preserved lemon, finely chopped, or finely grated zest of 1 lemon Freshly ground black pepper and Kosher salt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature Preheat the oven to 400°. 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil. Lay out the 8 slices of bread in pairs on a flat work surface. 2. Arrange a thin layer of cheese on four slices of bread and a thin layer of smoked salmon on the remaining slices. 3. Sprinkle a few slices of scallion, some preserved lemon, and black pepper on the salmon. 4. Place the cheese halves onto the salmon to form sandwiches and press down to compact. 5. If desired, cut off the crusts to form perfect squares. Butter the tops of the sandwic...

You gotta love a guy who loves the Phillies. OK? The eldest of three siblings, Tom Degnan, who was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania grew up outside of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. A self-proclaimed sports fanatic, he was on the track team in high school and briefly considered trying out his athleticism at the collegiate level while attending Notre Dame, but he ended up majoring in finance, instead. "There was a short window— very, very short window — where I thought about actually walking on to the track team for hurdles," he told Soap Opera Digest . "You realize that all the kids who play varsity sports are bigger, faster, stronger than you so that wasn't going to fly!" It wasn't until Degnan took a theater class—just to fulfill a requirement, no less—that he discovered his passion for the stage. In 2008, Degnan went on to attend Case Western Reserve University, where he received an MFA in Theater. After a couple of small television appearances, Degnan was t...