Jerry O'Connell's Secret Identity

During the late 1980s, the conservative political atmosphere resurrected the old "I've Got a Secret" sitcom genre of the 1960s (Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Mr. Ed, My Favorite Martian).  Nuclear families were harboring a child-robot (Small Wonder, 1985-1989), wisecracking aliens (Alf, 1986-1990), and a Bigfoot (Harry and the Hendersons, 1991-1993).  Kids were aliens (Out of this World, 1987-1991), superheroes (My Secret Identity, 1988-91), and spies (The New Adventures of Beans Baxter, 1987-88).  Not surprisingly, many of them featured gay subtexts.

My Secret Identity starred Jerry O'Connell, aged 14 to 16, no longer the chubby, buzzcut kid of Stand by Me (1986), but getting noticeably taller and more muscular before our eyes.

Until by the final season, he had become a teen hunk,  ready for shirtless roles in Calendar Girl (1993) and Sliders (1995-2000).

One episode even involves him becoming a media sensation after he is photographed in his underwear.

His character, Andrew Clement, was accidentally zapped with a photon beam in the lab of his scientist friend, Dr. Benjamin Jeffcoate (Derek McGrath), giving him an unknown number of unpredictable superpowers.  Plots involved learning to use and misuse his powers, plus the standard evil teachers, bratty little sister, bullies, sports teams, and dating -- but not a lot of dating.  Only 7 episodes out of 72 involve Andrew being in love with some girl.

Instead, in the second season, Kirk (Christopher Bolton) comes to town, and the two display an instant, stammering, tongue-lolling attraction (so as to not make it obvious that they have fallen in love at first sight, the script makes them old friends who are reuniting).

They are inseparable for the remainder of the series, taking jobs together, working on sports and hobbies, breaking up and reconciling.  And more than once, Kirk requires rescue, leading to a "my hero" moment.

Top 10 Hunks of "Supergirl"

Supergirl (2015-) is a tv series on Netflix based on the DC comics character: Kara Zor-El, the cousin of Kal-El (Superman), arrives on Earth somewhat later and goes into the superhero business for herself in National City (Los Angeles).

Cousin Kal-El is rarely mentioned by name. Kara (Melissa Benoist) fights villains on her own, notably her Aunt Astra from Krypton, who wants to take over the world.

Meanwhile she butt heads with her two bosses, the media mogul Cat Grant (Calista Flockheart) and Hank Henshaw (David Harewood), head of the alien-hunting DEO.

And negotiates a relationship with her older, non-superpowered sister (Chyler Leigh), who also works for the DEO.

And ruminates endlessly over romantic relationships.

It's very complicated, deliberately silly, and entirely gay-free.  Fortunately, the beefcake is endless.  Here are the top 10 hunks of the first season.

1. Jeremy Jordan as Winn Schott, Kara's quirky bff and computer-hacking Scooby.  Jordan wanted his character to be gay, but the producers nixed that idea, instead giving him an unrequited crush on Kara.




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2. Mehcad Brooks as a beefed-up Jimmy Olson, here "James," a Pulitzer-prize winning photographer who has on-off relationships with both Kara and Lucy Lane (Lois's younger sister).

3. Peter Facinelli as Maxwell Lord, a hunky, fast-talking super-scientist who heads a multi-billion dollar tech firm, has an on-off relationship with Kara's sister, and alternates between villain and ally.

4. Robert Gant as Zor-El, Kara's father back on Krypton, in flashbacks and holo-scenes.  He hasn't taken off his shirt yet, but one can home.

5. Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, aka the Flash, guest-starring from his own series.  His bulge enters a room three seconds before the rest of him.
















More after the break.