2014's Sexy Men of Television

2014 is shaping up to be a winner, not only in books, but television and film have some heavy hitters coming soon. Today, we bring you just a few of the very sexy men burning up the TV screens weekly. Please make sure to check your local listings for exact airing dates and times. Enjoy some man-candy on the house! 

Benedict Cumberbatch

Sherlock (BBC) 

A British television crime drama that presents a contemporary adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes detective stories. Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, it stars the sexy and cunning Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman (The Hobbit) as Doctor John Watson. Nine episodes have been produced thus far and I can't wait to see what the next season has in store! 

Karl Urban 

Almost Human (FOX) 

In 2048, the uncontrollable evolution of science and technology has caused crime rates to rise an astounding 400%. To combat this, the overwhelmed police force has implemented a new policy: every human police officer is paired up with a lifelike combat-model android.

John Kennex (Karl Urban), a troubled detective, has a reason to hate these new robot partners. Almost two years previously, Kennex and his squad were raiding the hideout of a violent gang known as the Insyndicate, but ended up being ambushed and outgunned. Kennex tried to save his badly injured partner, but the accompanying android officer abandoned them both because their chances of survival were low. An explosion then took out Kennex's leg and killed his partner. 

Michael Ealy 

Almost Human (FOX)

Plays an older android robot called a "DRN", which was originally destined for the scrap heap. Created to be as close to human as possible, the DRN androids have trouble dealing with some emotional responses, which was the reason they were replaced by the logic-based MX units. Dorian (Michael Ealy), immediately proves himself unique, with a clear dislike of being referred to as a "synthetic". As Each episode goes by Kennex and Dorian's Relationship grows but how long can it last with one being human and one almost human.

Kevin Bacon 

The Following (FOX) 

The Following centers on former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) and his attempts to recapture serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) following the latter's escape from prison. Hardy soon discovers that the charismatic Carroll has surrounded himself with a group of like-minded individuals (whom he met while teaching and while in prison), and turned them into a cult of fanatical killers. When Carroll's son Joey (Kyle Catlett) is abducted by his father's followers, the FBI discovers that it is the first step in a wider plan for Carroll to escape custody, humiliate Hardy, and murder Carroll's ex-wife Claire (Natalie Zea).

Tom Mison 

Sleepy Hallow (FOX)

A supernatural/police drama with a modern-day retelling of the 1820 short story classic. Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane. A former professor of history at Oxford University prior to the American Revolution, he came to America with the British before switching sides and becoming a spy for the Colonials. Having beheaded the Horseman in 1781, he was brought back to life with the Horseman due to their blood mixing when they died. Despite his skeptical knowledge of the supernatural in life, he has been an invaluable resource following his resurrection due to his detailed knowledge of supernatural traditions.

Joe Manganiello 

True Blood (HBO)

I really don't think this man needs any words to go with the image…..just….yeah. *Le sigh*. Alcide Herveaux is a major character in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth season of True Blood. He is played by starring cast member Joe Manganiello. 

Alcide is a loyal, respectful and decent man who came from a poor family that worked hard to have the wealth they achieved. He always cares for his friend's safety and is also quick to take people under his wing.

Alcide was raised in a Were society that highly appreciates and respects women, which made him highly vulnerable to their (mainly Debbie's) manipulation. He has grown through his painful experiences from being a kind of naive man, to be more strong and mature. 

Jensen Ackles 

Supernatural (CW)

I grew up watching Jensen play Eric Brady on NBC's daytime soap opera "Days of our Lives". Now he stars as the sexy Dean Winchester on the CW series Supernatural. Dean is one of two brothers following their father's footsteps as "hunters" fighting evil supernatural beings of many kinds including monsters, demons, and gods that roam the earth.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau 

Game of Thrones (HBO)

Danish actor, producer, and screenwriter currently plays Jamie Lannister on the hit HBO series Game of Thrones. Ser Jaime Lannister is a knight of the Kingsguard, a position he has held for twenty years since he was a teenager, the youngest Kingsguard ever. He was appointed to the position by the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen.

Guest Post Susan Taylor: Why is Jon Snow one of the sexiest men alive?

Erotic PNR and contemporary author Susan D. Taylor (AKA Susan Arden) knows sexy, so we asked her to tell us who she thinks is one of the sexiest men alive. Let her know if you agree and who else you would add to the sexy man list.

GAME OF THRONES

Why is Jon Snow one of the sexiest men alive? 

And so with one of the most popular television programs, I thought well let’s see if we might find our next hero.

Thanks a bunch for letting me hang with you today, sharing my observations of a potential romantic hero. Kit Harington aka Jon Snow

I don’t write from a wide-eyed fan vantage point but rather from a writer who has the odious task of observing men when casting the role of a hero within sweet and spicy romance tales. Life can’t get any tougher. Can it?

Here I am, sneaking around the back lot where Game of Thrones is being shot. Along comes Jon Snow onto the set of Game of Thrones. Silently, I glide close to the production wall and slip unseen next to one of the camera man. He eyes me suspiciously. I smile and show him my fake press pass. He nods obviously impressed. (This is simply my imagination and I’m in charge, so bear with me.)

Sexy man casting begins. I take out my pad, nibbling on the end of my pen. Studying Jon I almost forget my purpose. Okay, here it goes.

The pros:

1. His voice. British accent. BONUS POINTS. Listening to him, oh it’s more than just a voice. There are these super sexy rolls he employs. Yummy.

2. Hair. Definitely something worth addressing. Dark, thick, and messy. Blue-black. Looks like he just…ummm, walked across a windswept forest. Yeah, that’s what it looks like.

3. Jaw. Unshaven. With just the right amount of beard growth to scrape nicely against the check, chin, or neck of the heroine.

4. Leather. Dude is a walking testimony to wearing black animal skin that fits better than a glove. Including the ones he wears.

5. Weapons. His mouth and sword. Both are cutting. Both are driving.

6. Body language. Commanding. He lowers that square jaw of his ever so slightly to the right and many a woman come undone by whatever he’s stating. Maybe he simply utters, “Make me a ham sandwich.” Whatever tumbles out of his mouth is acted upon immediately.

7. Wit and humor. Saturates his being and those about. And this is the key to masculine allure. He says the unexpected and backs it up with a power punch of intellectual prowess. TOO DARN SMEXY.

8. Wounded. His life is far from pretty and from the challenges heaped on, we get to see his defiance, refusal to back down, and I adore his flaring temper.

9. Heart. He’s got one. And it’s big. I bet pounding. This is what counts most in hot-sexy-romance. It’s the organ that gets the girl. Each and every time.

The cons: 

None. Except he’s already on Thrones, discovered, and has umpteen fans. Hold on. This is my party, and I’ll borrow who I want. *Crooking finger* Hey Jon, might I have a word???

MERMAID ADULT FANTASY

Down on South Beach, Marissa's worked her tail off...well, not literally. She arrives at work shocked to learn she's lead broker for Wyatt Herndon. She takes her boss's advice--don't screw this up--to heart.

Her gorgeous client demands she attend to all his needs. In less than convention terms, she agrees to be on Wyatt's beck and call non-stop for two days. There might be a problem. Marissa is a mermaid and tonight is the full moon, which means she must return to the ocean for her midnight swim.

It's also Valentine's Day and this one night is known as the Hunger Moon. A time for mating, Marissa finds she's unstoppably mesmerized by Wyatt. She craves to feel his body do things she's never experienced. Not once.

Wyatt's more than captivated by his broker with her sexy as hell body and inflexible business morals. So much, he's willing to throw away his whole land deal. Now, there's only one thing on his mind, possessing Marissa completely.

Sparks fly over dinner and as their physical chemistry flares, Marissa and Wyatt can't keep their hands off each other. During a night of mind blowing sex, they are put on a collision course with destiny.

Wyatt's convinced he's found the perfect woman until she disappears. Then over the next 24-hours he uncovers her secrets and must decide if he's in too deep to turn away from love.
EXPLICIT CONTENT.

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About the Author:

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"I love the concept of falling in love. The type of romantic journey that is so intense, it's borders on insanity."--Susan D. Taylor

After growing up in Miami, Susan moved to Nashville where she taught biology and special education. No longer a public school teacher, Susan now writes about consuming passion, how attraction plays out, and characters that are either going to incinerate or meld like warm caramel.

Susan lives with her husband, two blue heelers, two crazy cats, a gecko and a snake. An RYT 200 (Yoga Alliance) practicing in vinyasa flow yoga when she's not writing her next hot romance.

Beyond writing, I knit, garden, and work with stained glass. This has been an interesting journey and continues to beguile me into the world of romance and speculative fiction writing.*I look forward to the publication of my first manuscript, Secret Desire, through Etopia Press in 2013.
*My NaNoWriMo manuscript sold to Crimosn Romance. Tempted By Trouble is set for release April 1, 2013.
*Paranormal Shifter Series, Installments 1-3 are set to come out later this 2013. Collared For A Night through Crimson Romance.

Sheep Feature:Top 5 TV Shows We Wish Were Movies!

Top 5 TV Shows We Wish Were Movies

How many times have you wished a particular television show would develop into a movie? This happened with some fan favorites, including "The Simpsons," "The Addams Family," "Sex and the City," and "21 Jump Street." But there are plenty more we would like to see; here are the top five we think should be next on the big screen.

"Game of Thrones"

HBO scored big, again, with its medieval period piece "Game of Thrones." Based on George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Fire and Ice," the fantasy tells the story of warring families in the mythical Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The series follows the murders, betrayals, and backstabbing of the Stark and Baratheon families.

The scope and setting of the series is the perfect fodder for the big screen. Massive sets, impressive wardrobes, and enough scandal to please our baser instincts. It's also an epic tale, which means it could easily be turned into a big-screen trilogy, making fans and investors exceedingly happy.

"Homeland"

Showtime has a long list of successful original programming, some of which would be fantastic as major motion pictures. Their latest, "Homeland," is a high-action international spy thriller that pits a determined CIA agent (Claire Danes) with a loose grip on reality against a U.S. Marine-turned-congressman (Damian Lewis), who was just repatriated after being held captive by radical Muslim extremists for eight years.

The series, now in its second season, offers high-action and high-tension in every episode, and spent a great deal of its budget shooting in Virginia and Washington, D.C. for an authentic government feel, and Tel Aviv, Israel for a notable Middle East flavor.

We expect that the "Homeland" movie would rival similar big-budget espionage films, like "Syriana," "The Bourne Identity," and "Argo."

"Burn Notice"

Several years ago, USA Network made a commitment to delivering quality television entertainment. They scored big hits with shows like "Monk," "White Collar," "In Plain Sight," and "Burn Notice," which is now in its sixth successful season.

While technically an espionage-type program about a spy (Jeffery Donovan) who was outted by his own agency , it includes and lot of family-style warmth and mature humor, as well as high-action and high-tension. The series stars veteran actress Sharon Gless, international model and actress Gabrielle Anwar, and everyone's favorite likeable guy, Bruce Campbell.

The series infinitely benefited through the contributions of Creative Consultant Michael J. Wilson, a 30-year CIA veteran. He adds authenticity to the spy mentality, weaponry, and methods and means.

Already an international hit, airing in more than 60 countries, the series is supported by books, prequels, and a television movie. "Burn Notice" would work exceedingly well on the big screen with a bigger budget and several international filming locales.

"Boardwalk Empire"

There have been a number of films that successfully dealt with the issue of organized criminals and their exploits set in the alcohol prohibition period of the 1920s and '30s. The HBO's series, "Boardwalk Empire," handles the topic extremely well, casting Steve Buscemi as the real-life Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a powerful New Jersey political figure with a dominating control of Atlantic City.

The series strength rests on its historical accuracy with the mixture of manufactured events that feel real. It's the perfect blend of historical fact and fiction and the deft cast, including Gretchen Mol, Bobby Cannavale, Vincent Piazza, and Jack Huston, hit the mark on even the littlest details.

On the big screen, "Boardwalk Empire" would sizzle with style and ambiance and many of the big name stars on the show have film-acting experience. This would help make for an even more legitimate telling of a time in our history when corruption was out in the open and the bad guys didn't really care who knew.

"The Walking Dead"

AMC has a lineup of excellent shows, including "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad," and the network struck gold again with its zombie apocalypse tale, "The Walking Dead."

In the pilot episode, Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) awakes from a coma to find he's now living in a world filled with zombies. The show follows his journey with a group of friends and family in search of sanctuary from the flesh-seekers. The series was developed by Frank Darabont ("The Green Mile" and "The Salton Sea") and it's been consistently good since the opening scene.

There is plenty of graphic blood and violence, but it is tempered by the fact it's a highly accessible program on basic cable television. Sure, there are plenty of zombie movies, but this is one that would benefit from a big-budget and an "R" rating, so it could deal properly with the subject. It would also appeal to horror fans everywhere, as the comic book by the same name has a decent following.

Not everything on television translates to the big screen successfully, but we think these five would have a serious shot at box office success. Which of your favorite television shows would you like to see turned into a movie?

About the Author:  Lisa has been writing about TV for 3 years now, and loves to cuddle up with some popcorn and a good movie.  When she isn’t writing content for Satellitetv.com, she is spending time with her new husband. 

A Game of Thrones: Volume one of A Song of Ice and Fire

So, as you folks probably know HBO started doing a TV adaptation of George R.R. Martin's High Fantasy Epic, A Song of Ice and Fire. The first volume of this series, Game of Thrones got a multi-million dollar budget and has gotten great reviews. So when Katie asked me if I wanted to read the books for the blog, I said, okay sure. Also, for those of you watching at home, word on the intertrons is that HBO's already renewed it so we should be seeing more High Fantasy epic in the future. Well, you will. I'll be reading, but I digress.

Hennyway, so to start with A Song of Ice and Fire is a High Fantasy Epic. Now I'm sure my two readers know what High Fantasy is, but for any of you who stumbled onto this blog post by mistake I'll explain. High Fantasy is a story much in the same vein as Lord of the Rings. We have kingdoms, knights, princesses, castles. Usually the plot of such novels involves a political conflict between multiple nations. Or in the case of Game of Thrones within the same nation. You're not going to be seeing a lot of magic, or as we call it Swords and Sorcery. However, the storytelling is superb and definitely shows promise.

Martin's saga reminds me a lot of books like Dune or Tolkein's writings. Martin works very hard to build up an elaborate backstory explaining the history and culture of the world he has built. Although it can be somewhat tedious to read through the backstory, as a historian I enjoy learning it. Just the sheer amount of work that goes into the world-building is truly impressive.

Although I am loathe to admit it, Martin's a really good storyteller. Bad things happen to characters. Really bad things. I'd tell you, but it ruins the plot of the book and that's just not fair because you will want to read it for yourself. The reason I can say Martin's a good storyteller is because I am outright mad at what happens to some of these characters. I hate characters, I love characters, I want to see characters succeed and fail. I get mad when bad people win and the good guys lose. Generally I don't get emotionally invested in books, stuff happens and I'm like, "Okay, that was bad or disappointing or cool." With Game of Thrones I got so mad I threw the book across the room. I had never done that before, that's how invested I got in these characters. I think it's a testimony to Martin's ability as a storyteller to get me invested in characters so heavily. Game of Thrones is a good first act, sets up the conflict, leaves us with great potential for future stories, and leaves us emotionally invested in heroes we want to succeed and villains we desperately hope fail.

Now, I should warn you the book is 800 pages long, and looking at the sequels they get longer. This is definitely a major investment of time and I could only read about 100 - 150 pages at a time. And I'm a crazy reader. Quite honestly you have to be a fan of High Fantasy and willing to read a doorstopper book. I'll be honest this series is not for everyone and I'm sure plenty of people could get bored and frustrated with the series and I can't blame you. But if you like this sort of story, you'll be well-rewarded.

I want to take a moment to mention the HBO series as well. I've seen some of the episodes, and I thought it was well-done. And from my friends who watch the series, they seem to like it too. The TV series differs in two important respects though. First, as a TV series a lot of stuff gets glossed over. Much like the Lord of the Rings movies, some stuff has got to be cut. And I'm willing to accept that. But from what I've seen of the TV series, I feel like I understand better from reading rather than just watching. I mean you get a fair idea of the plot but I feel there are little things you lose in translation. Secondly the smut. Oh by the Throne, the smut. This is, after all HBO, and we need boobs to keep people paying attention. To be fair, the book has its fair share of smut, but it's about half as much smut as you get in the HBO series. Now if you're someone like Katie who lives for smut, that's all well and fine. For me, I find it distracting more than anything else. I could rant on with my puritanical opinions but that's really besides the issue. If you're not a heavy reader like myself I think you'll enjoy the TV series. What it does, it does well and I can't really quibble over the finer points. I just happened to like the books better, but I'm a stickler like that. For those of you who would like to watch the HBO series it can be found, legally mind you, here on the webs.

Ultimately, as frustrated as I got with this book I want to read more. I'm really pulling for the Starks and Tullys and really hoping the Lannisters fail. Martin's storytelling sets up a complex world with interesting characters that is well worth the read if you're willing to invest it. I'll give it four sheep.

BAK

Adventurer's Rule #6: Never pick up a talking sword. Just don't. It never ends well.