JERICHO, New York, NY, April 1, 2002 – The heartthrob – the 20th century male phenomenon who can send millions into near-hysterics with his unspoken promise of sex and romance, has been with us for almost 100 years. From era to era, we have seen him evolve from debonair dandy to the boy-next-door to international cover model, changing all the while, but always maintaining his sexy allure. From Cary Grant to Russell Crowe to Brad Pitt to James Dean, to the male pin-up in all its diversity, these handsome faces have reflected the times and the tastes of millions of men and women. Male beauty and sex appeal have never been so openly on display as it is today. AMC's new one-hour documentary, SHIRTLESS: HOLLYWOOD'S SEXIEST MEN explores a century of Hollywood's most beautiful men and the reasons we love them when it premieres on June 4, 2002 at 10:00 PM (ET).
Movie stars like Tom Cruise in TOP GUN, Russell Crowe in GLADIATOR, George Clooney in OUT OF SIGHT, Richard Gere in AMERICAN GIGOLO or Denzel Washington in DEVIL WITH A BLUE DRESS have driven millions of fans into frenzies and fantasies and even obsessions with the men they admire.
"The matinee idol of the past is now the hunk of the month, as today's actors are presented in a much more brooding and sexually enticing way than before," says Jessica Falcon, Executive Producer for AMC. "Even mentioning the name of an actor like Brad Pitt sends fans swooning. This effect is not new and has been with us for nearly a century. It is obvious that sex or even a hint of sex sells."
SHIRTLESS: HOLLYWOOD'S SEXIEST MEN includes clips of famous leading men including Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Richard Gere, Hugh Jackman, Montgomery Clift, Cary Grant, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson, George Clooney, John Travolta, Marlon Brando, Leonardo Di Caprio, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and other popular actors. Actors Kerr Smith ("Final Destination") and Adam Garcia ("Coyote Ugly") are joined by Los Angeles Times Film Critic Kenneth Turan, People magazine's Leah Rozen, and comedian/actress and host of Talk Soup on E! Aisha Tyler, as they offer their insight into our fascination with these sexy men.
Simon Banner is Executive Producer for Simon Banner Associates, Inc. SHIRTLESS: HOLLYWOOD'S SEXIEST MEN is Written and Directed by Elizabeth Meeker, and Produced by Elizabeth Meeker and Ian Pointe. It is Executive Produced by Jessica Falcon for AMC.
AMC is a premiere 24-hour movie network dedicated to the world of American film. With one of the finest, most comprehensive libraries of popular films, and a diverse blend of original series, documentaries and interstitials, AMC offers an elegant and contemporary entertainment destination. AMC is a fully distributed network reaching over 82,000,000 U.S. homes (as of Jan. 2002) and ranking #16 in size among all 55 networks.
Since its launch in 1984, AMC has been dedicated to deepening the movie experience for its viewers, featuring film-loving celebrity hosts and an increasingly visible, critically-acclaimed slate of original programming. AMC has more than doubled its original programming over the past 3 years and garnered many of the industry's highest honors, including five Emmy awards.
AMC is owned and managed by Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. A subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC) and NBC, Rainbow manages American Movie Classics, WE: Women's Entertainment, Bravo, The Independent Film Channel, MuchMusic USA, Rainbow Sports, News 12 Networks and MetroChannels as well as the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. In addition, Rainbow is a fifty-percent partner in FOX Sports Net. AMC is one of the assets included in a new series of Cablevision common stock — Rainbow Media Group tracking stock (NYSE: RMG) — which began trading on the NYSE on March 30th. MGM (NYSE: MGM) owns a 20 percent stake in four of Rainbow's national networks – AMC, Bravo, IFC and WE: Women's Entertainment.