Explain yourself: Best Hunk

Last day of voting! In the top category this year, I cast my vote not for the one that's my conventional favorite of the pack (Mark Collier), but instead the guy who acted the part of soap hunk the best in 2005. Always shirtless on B&B, not to mention also hunking it up on VH-1's "But Can They Sing?" and the indie flick "Testosterone," my vote went to Antonio Sabato, Jr., who made a most-welcomed return to daytime this year.

More soap hunk casting news

Y&R's Scott, Blair Redford, has been axed for the soap. The role will not be recast.

Two roles that have been recast, though (presumably by hunks), are PASSIONS' Fox Crane and Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald. The new actors' names have yet to be released. The current Fox, Justin Hartley, exits in January, while ex-Miguel Jesse Metcalfe left in 2004 to co-star in "Desperate Housewives."

Breaking news! Mark Collier out at ATWT

Relax, it's temporary. Reigning Adonis 2005 Mark Collier will be exiting Oakdale this March and won't return until later in 2006 (his exact return date is unknown).

The actor is still under contract; he re-signed earlier this year.

Explain yourself: Hunkiest Soap

This category, which has been won six out of six times by NBC, may be due for a shakeup. And if my vote carries the day, it will. No soap was hunkier in 2005 than ABC's All My Children. Between James Scott, Aiden Turner, Cameron Mathison, Justin Bruening, Jacob Young, Colin Egglesfield, Scott Kinworthy, Alec Musser, Jeff Branson, and Thorsten Kaye, it was hard to catch your breath in Pine Valley.

Explain yourself: Best Older Hunk

Well, duh.

Explain yourself: Most Missed Soap Hunk

I know he won't win just because he's up against more famous names, but there is no one I would rather have back on daytime than the hunkalicious Matt Cedeno. On DAYS, Cedeno had charisma, presence, and of course a kick-ass body. The DAYS writers abruptly (and stupidly story-wise) dropped him earlier this spring, but they made a huge mistake. Matt Cedeno may just be my second favorite soap hunk ever, right behind Don Diamont.

Explain yourself: Hunkiest Newcomer

Let's face it: no matter who wins this category, he'll be following in some big-time footsteps. Previous winners John-Paul Lavoisier, Eric Winter, Justin Hartley, and Brody Hutzler have gone on to rank among the greatest soap hunks ever, each having been a Best Hunk nominee at one time or another in these awards. And to me, this year's most worthy freshman follow-up to this quartet would be AMC's "I Wanna Be a Soap Star 2" winner Alec Musser. Hubba hubba!

Explain yourself: Who Should Get Naked More Often

This category really has a double meaning for me. First, it's about guys we just don't see enough. And then when we do see them, we don't see enough of them! For me, that meant this category had to go to the man I personally consider to be the most underrated hunk on daytime: the hugely unappreciated but totally gorgeous Rhassan Orange of DAYS.

Explain yourself: Best Chest

I went back and forth on Best Chest, the biggest of the "body categories," and finally settled on last year's winner, ATWT's Mark Collier. That man has a treasure chest! (Very close second for Antonio Sabato, Jr.)

Explain yourself: Best Pecs

Now hear this! There has never been, nor will there ever be, a man on daytime soaps with a better set of pecs than DAYS' Austin Peck. Easily got my vote. It's his last name for God's sakes!

Currently Internet-challenged

I've got a big update ready to do for the site, but unfortunately my broadband connection is out until Monday at my house where I run the site from. So you guys will have to wait until then. New video clips will be included when I do get to update, though! :)

Explain yourself: Best Abs

This is one of those categories that to me almost isn't up for debate. If you were to line up these five nominees side by side and look just at their abs, I want someone to explain to me how AMC's Alec Musser doesn't have the best of the bunch. I love them all, but Alec easily got my vote here.

Explain yourself: Best Butt

I was close to voting for almost everyone here, but in the (ahem) end, I went with Adonis 2004 winner Justin Bruening from AMC. I'd love to watch him walk away from me. :)

Explain yourself: Best Arms

Generally, my vote here might go to DAYS' Austin Peck and his big biceps, but is there any soap hunk who has gone from teenaged cutie to manly musclehunk the way that GH's Tyler Christopher has? He may be suffering from a broken arm right now, but broken or not I'll let them be wrapped around me any day!

Explain yourself: Best Hair

Hair we go...for my money, daytime's main mane man is All My Children's James Scott, the dapper Brit who just exudes charm and charisma. I'd pay money to get to run my hands through his gorgeous hair.

Explain yourself: Best Smile

I defy anyone to watch As the World Turns and not fall in love with Jesse Soffer. As Will Munson (one half of the year's best soap couple), Jesse's smile and substantial acting talent will make you melt. He EASILY got my vote here.

Explain yourself: Best Eyes

Jeepers creepers! Where'd they get those peepers? In this year's Best Eyes category, I was thisclose to voting for the amazing eyes of Brody Hutzler, but I must admit that at times his Windex-ed eyes can creep you out. So, I ended up using this category as sort of a consolation vote for nominations leader Thad Luckinbill, whom I didn't vote for anywhere else.

Who got your vote? Add a comment below and let us know.

'Passions' in syndication

Cable's Sci-Fi Channel reportedly has acquired the repeat rights to the daytime soap, about the deceptively picturesque New England town of Harmony. Episodes are expected to run Monday-Friday at 9:00 a.m. ET beginning February 6.

Now we get to see Jesse Metcalfe bloom into a mega-hunk all over again!

Explain yourself: Best Face

As December goes by, I thought it would be interesting for everyone to share whom they voted for in a particular category and why. Every day or so, I'll be posting a new "Explain Yourself" blog entry, and I'd love you to post a comment and tell the world why you voted the way you voted in that category. I'll also reveal who I personally picked in each this year, starting now:

For Best Face, I went with DAYS' dearly-departed Eric Winter. I could just stare at him all day, and the face category is the place for his props. He's won this category the past two years, and I hope he makes it three in a row!

Sharing your ballot comments

As you know, there is a section on the 7th Soaphunks.net Awards voting ballot where you can add your comments & suggestions. Thanks to all of you who fill this part out; I love reading what you are thinking. Some people either asked questions and left me no e-mail address with which to contact them, or they made comments I'd just like to respond to anyway. I thought the new blog would be a good place for it, so here goes:

• Why were there almost no GH hunks?
  Huh? GH has seven nominations this year (including Greg Vaughan for Best Hunk), so I hardly left them out. It is interesting to note than in seven years, I have given GH a total of 60 nominations out of which it has converted only two to wins.
  
• Love your site! Just one suggestion from someone who loves soap hunks, but doesn't watch soaps. Instead of just head shots for the thumbnails, how about pictures that show what's being voted on, shirtless shots for pecs, chest and abs; shots of the arms for that category, etc.
  I agree, and I started to try that this year. But I'll tell you what would have happened: people would complain if they perceived me selecting a "great picture" of candidate A while using a "blurry bad picture" for candidate B and so on. Besides that, it would have taken forever. I suggest everyone look around the site and get familiar with the guys before voting. Try keeping the ballot open in one window and surfing the pictures in another.
  
• I was forced to vote for people I never heard of because it didn't just let me vote for the ones I like only. I don't like to give my vote to someone I never even heard of from soaps I don't even watch.
  ARRRGGHHH!! The whole point is to pick the most deserving guys in each category. This is not a contest where you always pick the nominee from the one show you watch. Besides that, every category is optional except for Best Hunk. If you don't like any of the five nominees in a category, just leave it blank.
  
• You should have added Steve Burton to your categories. He'd take them all.
  Steve Burton's track record in seven years of these awards: 13 nominations, 1 win.
  
• Ummmmmm...WHERE IS THORSTEN KAYE???!!!
  See next question. ;)
  
• THANK YOU for not nominating Thorsten Kaye!! I'm serious! I give you mad props for that!
  See previous question. ;)
  
• Stop calling guys 40+ "older." Hey, I was carded in the last year. We're not ancient!
  I always hated that name too. Maybe next year I'll change it to Best Hunk Over 40. Remember, my favorite soap hunk is an "older" hunk!

Anyways, that's it for now. Most of you have been very complimentary about the awards and the site, so thanks for that. And for the few who were just downright nasty, pick a finger! Why can't everyone just be nice?