Wet Palms Season 1: Episodes 1 - 3 (DVD)

WINNER! Best Screenplay, Best Sex Comedy . . . 2005 GAYVN AWARDS.

A gay porn soap opera? Sounds like something the Bravo TV network cooked up, right? However, the truth is, Jet Set is breaking new ground in gay porn with "Wet Palms." Sexually, it's as explicit and astounding as any of the best porn flicks I've seen in a long time, but what happens around the sex is thrilling, smashing the traditional boundaries of story porn. Filmed with the seriousness of a lavish nighttime soap opera but with the cheeky "I'll never tell -- at least until sweeps" attitude of daytime programming, "Wet Palms" is supremely well acted and amazingly written by Jack Shamama and Michael Stabile ( http://GayPornBlog.com ), perhaps the truest heroes of this ambitious project. Comparing it to specific mainstream soap operas is rather pointless, since "Wet Palms" is perfectly sui generis. Originally broadcast on the Internet, the first season is here on DVD, divided into three mysterious spunky episodes, decked out with deep-pocketed production values and sexual heat that isn't at all forgotten in the midst of the serious soaping going on around it.

Season One: Episode One: "Who Is Lucky Hanson?"

Director: Matthew Moore

C-A-S-T

Rod Barry as Joey Pole
Brad Benton as Tucker Bang
Cody Cash as Tripp Ward
Gabriel Knight as Lucky Hanson
Ethan Marc as Todd Marlowe
Jason Ridge as Peter Dune
Rob Romoni as Chase Walker
Jason Sechrest as Himself
Michael Soldier as Simon Jett
Bret Wolfe as Brady Littleton

Guest Stars:
Paulo Cortez
Chad Donovan
Sharon Kane
Chi Chi LaRue
Ashton Sorenson

Extras:
Andrew Addams
Jonathon Gabriel
Jack London
John Marcus
Raul
Brad Slater
Sandy Sloane
Corey Summers
Lee Walters
Park Wiley

The fictional Wet Palms Inn ( http://GayResort.com -- the San Vicente Inn in real life) is the sort of place where a man looking for someone enters the wrong room to see a drug-induced orgy and is invited in with someone saying at least he looks like his online picture, yet everyone in the orgy is gorgeous and sexually proficient. And that's before the opening credits!

The first episode of "Wet Palms" wastes no time introducing us to some of the main characters. Gazing at his butt with the intent of an accountant under an audit, Jason Ridge, as Peter Dune, is worried about his ass. Boyfriend Brad Benton, as Tucker Bang, assures him that "it's firm, it's round, it's rough and it's in my way" as he dashes off to his job. Jason may be a bit of an egotist, "the most popular bachelor in town," but this couple seems relatively happy. Until Jason gets a mysterious call he can't mention to Brad.

Into the picture sweeps Gabriel Knight, a stunner of a man with perfect hair and a tight body, handsome as handsome can be. He plays the main character, Lucky Hanson, someone with a past who will obviously be revealing it as the plot rolls along. He shows up at the Wet Palms, a gay inn resembling Melrose Place on a very sexy day, where Bret Wolfe, as manager Brady Littleton, is juggling phones. When Brad sees Gabriel, he forgets all of his calls, recognizing him as someone from his past. Gabriel has come looking for a man who can help him figure out his past, his only clue a photo of his mother signed by this man, who happens to be out of the country. Bret decides to let him stay in the guest room, and introduces him to tall blond Cody Cash, as Tripp West, the inn's "aquatic maintenance engineer." Bret and Cody are nervous about Gabriel being there and immediately call the police.

Meanwhile, Gabriel takes his rubber-band-tight body and phenomenal ass into the shower where he lovingly lathers. Note the care taken as this solo scene unravels. Something less careful might throw Gabriel immediately into posing and angling himself for the camera, performing for the viewer, but this isn't standard porn. There is a story here, so Gabriel keeps his wonderfully blank Lucky face going as he simply showers. Granted, his dick gets hard and he isn't afraid to touch it or enjoy the warm soapy water, but he's still Lucky the whole time, no reason to overdo the solo. But, if we stayed with character all the time, we might as well just have the soap opera and not the soapy sex! Gabriel spies Cody outside of his shower, attending to the pool, and the lasciviousness starts. Cody gets hard and teases with the pool cleaner while Gabriel now flashes his eyes and poses for his watcher. Gabriel works himself into a nice solo, with Cody leering happily, and it takes just the right amount of time before Gabriel cums and ends the scene. Gabriel the actor nailed the beautifully directed scene and Lucky the mystery character worked it just as well.

A now-dry Lucky is introduced to Jason Ridge, who treats him haughtily. "Don't give me that 'babe' crap, I'm not from LA," Gabriel snarls in one of the episodes best lines. Jason, you see, has a reason to be so uppity. He's the main model for "Bubble Underwear" and his well-proportioned ass is on billboards all over town. Jason also seems to recognize Gabriel, both by his face and his ass.

Brad calls boyfriend Jason to make sure he is re-upping his contract with Bubble before Brad's nefarious boss Michael Soldier, playing Simon Jett, shows up and makes Brad hastily end the phone call. Michael runs a tabloid and the big news is a former guy-band artist who has come out of the closet. Brad is desperate to interview him, but Michael isn't about to let that happen (he has an apparent dislike for Jason, but we don't know why yet), sending Brad instead to check out socialite Ethan Marc, as the gleefully villainous Todd Marlowe.

Ethan, acting the hell out of his character with the gusto of the best of the soap vixens (owing to Susan Lucci, owing to Joan Collins, and definitely owing to Larry Hagman, just a whole lot cuter), is the mystery man on Jason's phone earlier, a rich nasty gent who pays Jason for sex. "For services rendered," he snidely drips as he drops money into Jason's undies. Jason keeps swearing it's the last time he'll do this as he undresses the threatening Ethan, a wowing brunet with great lips and a magnificently muscled body. The main sex scene of this episode ensues, a jaw-dropper of exquisite filmmaking. Both are angry, and the editing (a wonderful job done by Mr. Pam) shows it. They rip each other's clothes off, they pout and try to pin the other down, edited in nanoseconds rather than moments so it maintains the emotion of the moment rather than pandering to convention (akin to how the solo was put together). This isn't happy sex, and there's no reason to make it seem like happy sex. Finally, Ethan sits on Jason for a blowjob, which Jason delivers expertly, gobbling it up quickly. He's clearly worth whatever Ethan is paying him and Ethan lords it over him, forcing Jason to change positions and continue blowing before demanding a rimjob. Jason rims with gusto before fingering Ethan. At this point in the scene, Jason has lulled Ethan into ecstasy, and he's about to take advantage of him with a fuck. Jason thrusts into him with an angry insertion and then rattles off a savage fuck, full of rabid forceful jabs that have them both sweating in aggression. The unhappy hooker is taking it out on his john, and after both cum, Jason reiterates, "that was the last time," as someone snaps pictures of them outside the window.

At L.A.'s infamous Abbey Bar ( http://AbbeyFoodAndBar.com ), Brad is anxiously waiting for Jason, nervous as each man enters, when in ambles Gabriel for a beer he can't afford. "Another hustler," sniffs the bartender, but Brad offers to get it, noting amiably that "there's nothing worse than being broke at Happy Hour." Gabriel is appreciative that Brad is treating him like a person, and not like the hustler everyone else that day has. Jason finally bounds in, but sees Brad and Gabriel talking and jealously storms out.

Back at Wet Palms, Bret takes the opportunity to root through Gabriel's things as the police call him back. "I'll definitely keep my eye on him," Bret says quizzically as the episode ends.

Yes, there is more plot time than sex in the first episode of "Wet Palms," but to set up something so intricate, we need to meet the characters and understand the situations. The writers and director do that with an effortless teasing, using only three men in sex scenes, but managing to make it seem hardcore at each turn. The solo proves Gabriel a major porn force and the two-way shows Jason and Ethan to be the sexual pros they have always been. The plot is off to a fascinating start (take that major networks!) and before I say anymore, let's move on to episode two!

DVD features: a written summary of the episode; a sneak peak at the next episode; the original webcast trailer; written character profiles; auditions (of folksy fun Brad Benton, a strutting exciting Ethan Marc and an intense Michael Soldier who auditioned beautifully, as well as some recognizable porn stars who understandably didn't make it and others who looked like close seconds); interviews (Cody Cash, frisky and full of fun snarky attitude; Rod Barry, suffering an injury, but gracious and philosophical; Chad Donovan, exceedingly playful; Rob Romoni, discussing food with as much panache as he does his character and his co-stars; and Ethan Marc, adorably sweet and professional); chapter selection that leads right to the sex scenes, no regional coding (playable worldwide); and Macrovision copyright protection.

Season One: Episode Two: "Working Hard for the Money"

Director: Matthew Moore

C-A-S-T:
Rod Barry as Joey Pole
Brad Benton as Tucker Bang
Cody Cash as Tripp Ward
Gabriel Knight as Lucky Hanson
Ethan Marc as Todd Marlowe
Jason Ridge as Peter Dune
Rob Romoni as Chase Walker
Jason Sechrest as Himself
Michael Soldier as Simon Jett
Bret Wolfe as Brady Littleton

Guest Stars:
Paulo Cortez
Chad Donovan
Sharon Kane
Chi Chi LaRue
Ashton Sorenson

Extras:
Andrew Addams
Jonathon Gabriel
Jack London
John Marcus
Raul
Brad Slater
Sandy Sloane
Corey Summers
Lee Walters
Park Wiley

Before the credits, Gabriel Knight and Cody Cash are discussing how lazy and lustful Wet Palms Inn is, sitting at the pool in classic soap fashion. "Ah, 10 a.m., the running of the tricks," they toast as a bunch of guys in towels zoom by. Welcome back to "Wet Palms."

There are a few more characters and a few more plot developments to introduce in the second episode of Wet Palms, not to mention some fantastic sex. Playing himself, the wacky Jason Sechrest has a laugh at Cody and Gabriel, causing Cody to issue a warning about Jason's gossip column and his desire to pry into everyone's business. Meanwhile, Jason Ridge calls boyfriend Brad Benton to complain about Gabriel, thinking he's a shady person from his past, but Brad defends him.

Amorous Bret Wolfe allows suddenly boyfriend-less hunk Paulo Cortez to check into the booked Wet Palms Inn as long as has sex with him. They start to make out, until Bret decides, "you know what? Fuck the foreplay, I'm on the clock!" and they hastily undress and jump into sex. What follows is a frenetic scene where we see Paulo fuck Bret, filmed beautifully with light flooding into the room and Bret a loud heavenly bottom full of harsh begging for more from his solid quiet top. Bret is ravaged, and excited by it, hustling it along with his pleas of harder pounding from Paulo. "Fucking use that hole!" he screams over and over, and he gets it. He gets it damn good. After the big-dicked Bret has cum, his latest trick ends up back with his boyfriend, but the quick fuck was just what Bret needed before returning to work.

Bret asks Gabriel to help around the Inn, putting him on laundry duty and condom and lube restocking. Gabriel also offers to fix the motor in the hot tub, the indispensable cutie! Back at Brad's office, Michael Soldier is looking at the photos of Jason and sugar daddy Ethan Marc, jacking off as he gets a mysterious call telling him of the need to meet for a long family discussion.

Cody explains the Jett family to Gabriel. Remember, back in the first episode, Gabriel had come to Wet Palms looking for Randall Jett, who is the last clue to a snapshot of his mother, but Randall is out of town. Cody mentions three Jett brothers: Randall, Simon (Michael Soldier) and J.D., the one on the phone with Michael in the previous scene. There is a lot to learn about this family, in typical soap fashion. Of course, since it is a soap, I'm sure the family doesn't end with three brothers. There's probably a fourth, fifth, a second cousin, an unknown daughter and an alien tucked away in the attic somewhere.

His publicist stonewalls Brad, still trying to get an interview with a pop star coming out, and Michael connives by handing him roles of film with Jason and Ethan to go develop. Brad retreats to the washroom where he complains that his Columbia journalism education shouldn't have led to grunt work. He then spies a man jacking off in one of the stalls. The amazingly hung man (Chad Donovan, natch, though we never see his face) sticks his cock out of the stall to Brad's major interest. Brad falls to his knees as the man exhorts Brad to suck it, but Brad hesitates throughout a wonderfully long tease session where it's as erotic as hell, but all the man does is stroke himself. Brad wants it, but he doesn't take it, and the salivating routine he does is worth the price of the whole episode. It's that hot. The man cums a whopper on Bread's shirt, much to his dismay.

Ethan shows up at Jason's to bring him drugs. Jason warns Ethan that Brad has changed him from those years of drugging and men (the foreshadowing is intense and the way the plot is chopped up quickly here brilliant). Brad tells straight co-worker Rod Barry about the "Jett Office Wanker," an urban legend come true, acting the hell out of the scene which ends with Brad asking co-worker Rod Barry to develop the film so he can change his shirt.

Gabriel accidentally falls into the hot tub and manly slab of beefcake Rob Romoni pulls him out. Rob is Chase Walker, the president of the Bubble company for which Jason is the top underwear model. Rob gets Gabriel into his room and throws him on the bed, yowling about his ass, that it's "a perfect size 31!" He gives him undies to try on and offers him a modeling contract. Gabriel is spooked a bit and runs out, but in comes dashing Scandinavian hottie Ashton Sorenson who wants to use Rob's TV to watch his favorite program. Rob refuses, but notes, "but if you help me get off, I'll buy you a DVD." Talk about butts, Ashton has one for the books! The two handsome men kiss and jack off until Rob blows Ashton in another scene full of helpful intense editing that shows Rob's eager mouth from every angle. The camera also focuses on Ashton's smooth ass, inches away from Rob's sucking. Ashton then takes on Rob's thick cock, sucking it wet and well, with Rob still focused on Ashton's ass. However, for someone so into butts, it's actually Rob who gets fucked, on all-fours so the Adonis Ashton can fuck him with hip-grinding excitement. Ashton really buries his cock deep in Rob, and thankfully the sounds of sex are left in, causing the scene to unravel with a truer traditional porn feel. That makes absolute sense here. The other sex scene (Bret and Paulo) was a break-time quickie, but since this scene has nothing to do with the plot, why not let it be more conventional? It's a great directorial choice. Rob ends the scene with a fun load and Ashton a gigantic one.

To get to our great cliffhanger, Ethan lords the bag of coke over Jason, using a picture of Jason and Brad to spread out lines of the nose-candy. Jason is nervous that Brad will find out, and of course Brad is on his way up the stairs to their room to change his shirt. Oh, the tension mounts! When Brad enters, Jason and Ethan hasten to the closet, but the damage is done when Brad sees the drugs. He leaves his cum-stained shirt and runs off. However, nefarious Ethan sees the shirt. "Methinks the player hath been played," he crisply notes and gets Jason to do a line. The camera finishes on the photo of Brad and Jason, a happy picture now blurred by the dust of blow.

Sex itself is more prevalent in the second episode of "Wet Palms," though I can't dismiss the truly luscious performance of Brad Benton as a close second in the highlights department. But, now that we're used to the goings-on of the Wet Palms Inn, we can dive into the sex more fully. The sex doesn't disappoint. From a wonderful teasing solo to a standard sex scene that dominates the end of the episode, the perfections of "Wet Palms" simply never end. Now I must rush to third episode to see how the season ends!

DVD features: a written summary of the episode; a disc index; a review of the previous episode as well as a trailer for the next; galleries; hilarious outtakes; a meaty fun-filled documentary on the making of "Wet Palms" (which introduces us to a lot of the behind the scenes oddballs, including the all-important cue card guy, and a note that Jason Ridge is single, not to mention Rod Barry's singing cock and a lunatic trip down the Hollywood Walk of Fame); chapter selection that leads right to the sex scenes; no regional coding (playable worldwide); Macrovision copyright protection.

Season One: Episode Three: "Relationships of Mass Destruction"

Director: Matthew Moore

C-A-S-T

Rod Barry as Joey Pole
Brad Benton as Tucker Bang
Cody Cash as Tripp Ward
Gabriel Knight as Lucky Hanson
Ethan Marc as Todd Marlowe
Jason Ridge as Peter Dune
Rob Romoni as Chase Walker
Jason Sechrest as Himself
Michael Soldier as Simon Jett
Bret Wolfe as Brady Littleton

Guest Stars:
Paulo Cortez
Chad Donovan
Sharon Kane
Chi Chi LaRue
Ashton Sorenson

Extras:
Andrew Addams
Jonathon Gabriel
Jack London
John Marcus
Raul
Brad Slater
Sandy Sloane
Corey Summers
Lee Walters
Park Wiley

Before the credits even roll, Bret Wolfe has found a way to hack into the police database to find Gabriel Knight's rap sheet when French-speaking Sharon Kane arrives with an entourage. The angst-ridden Bret, who tries in vain to explain that Wet Palms accepts men only, turns her away. Brad Benton comes to talk to Bret, hoping that he knows where boyfriend Jason Ridge is, and happens to speak French. "Explain to her, no oysters welcome here!" Bret tells Brad, who then finds out a cute secret of Sharon's that only "Wet Palms" could come up with.

Back in the plot, Michael Soldier yells for Brad to come into his office, assuming he developed the photos that show Jason and Ethan Marc, but the mystery brother calls and Brad is off the hook, until 6:00 that night. Rod Barry says he didn't notice anything strange about the photos, other than that they were typical celeb tabloid fodder.

Meanwhile, a despondent Jason, who has now seen the pictures, is drinking himself into a stupor at The Abbey when Michael summons him to the office at 6:00! Ethan then calls him to tell him the pictures better not go public, with a specific threat with quite an interesting plot twist.

At Wet Palms, Jason Sechrest, ever the Nosy Nellie, confronts Bret about Gabriel. Bret assures him Gabriel is leaving. "He has a record a mile long," Bret notes. "Yes, well so do you. Really, who doesn't around here," Jason wryly notes. But, Bret has other problems. Cody Cash, his assistant, has been fucking around with customers, and he sends him off to clean a room that definitely needs it.

Cody finds in this room a stash of dildos that have the same glow as the briefcase at the end of "Pulp Fiction." In seconds, one of them is jammed up his ass, his blond head thrown back in delight. Ashton Sorenson enters and offers to help Cody personally. They 69 with Cody taking a wowing amount of big Ashton down his throat. It's a slurpy heavenly blowjob that is perhaps the best in the season. The camera stays with him and it isn't disappointed as he pulls off the astonishing sucking. Ashton blows Cody's long cock, doing so with a slower, more sensual style, and then it's back to the 69 so Cody can go at it full force again. Cody face-fucks Ashton so hard the bed rocks, but demure Ashton takes it quite well. Ashton has a great big shot on Cody's face, which he licks off eagerly. Cody is then left alone to come to a frenzied finish, but a bellow from Bret stops him from doing so.

As Brad is worried that Michael is going to fire him, there is drama at Wet Palms. Bret shows Cody Gabriel's rap sheet and throws Gabriel out in a nasty confrontation. However, the suddenly astute Gabriel has a car waiting for him and chauffeur Chi Chi LaRue is ordered to take him to the Bubble Building. Bret finally reaches the still unseen Randall Jett on his trip and finds out some news that has him majorly regretting he tossed Gabriel out.

Brad is defending himself to Michael about not developing the pictures, still clueless as to what they are. Brad tries to quit, but Michael won't let him, announcing the pictures would ruin Jason's career. One suggestion of how Brad can stop him from publishing the pictures involves a dimly lit exercise room Michael has next to his office. There, he makes Brad beg for sex as a very drunken Jason staggers up the elevator and through the darkened office to Michael's desk. There is a bench press in the office and Michael strips down to a leather harness as he forces Brad to lift the incredible weight he's placed on it. Brad is able to handle it and then, panting, is made to beg for Michael's cock. Though he's forced into it, and he never breaks character, he's still Brad Benton and he still gives one of porn's best blowjobs. He gives Michael a really mouthwatering intense oral session and in the middle of the scene his character suddenly gets into the hot action. He rather happily allows Michael to spit into his mouth and bite at his nipples. Michael then tosses Brad's legs in the air and slaps at his perfect asscheeks before thrusting his tongue between them in a superior rimjob that has Brad growling in delight, with further proof of the good time being had by his raging hardon. Michael fucks Brad in an all-out session, the first time we've had a plot-drenched sex session that is allowed close to real-time treatment in the entire season (the other full-out sex scenes were important, but definitely more marginal plot-wise, and thus given a less throbbing treatment, something I can't imagine was done unconsciously). Brad is the perfect bottom and Michael handles the task of nasty mean top with total elan. He slams Brad clear up the weight bench, the two of them in perfect sexual synch for the sexual explosion that is the hallmark of this scene. "Think of Peter (Jason Ridge) all you want, but always know I had you!" Michael roars as he thrashes about in Brad's ass. Brad cums with Michael still going at full-tilt and Michael finishes just as Jason lurches toward the light coming from the anteroom next to Michael's office.

And the season ends with all of this shock. The third episode of "Wet Palms" certainly is a doozie. It nets phenomenal acting performances from Jason, Brad, Michael and Bret in particular, as well as long-awaited sex scenes for Cody and Brad. The magnificent pacing of the plot and extreme use of sex (the final scene is a classic no matter what genre this is) and leaves ole Brent Blue really wanting more.

DVD features: a written summary of the episode; a disc index; a review of the previous episodes as well as a sneak peak at the second season; an Internet tour; gallery; trailers ("The Hole," "American Porn Star," " The Fuk Club," "Dick Day Afternoon," "Carnal Haze" and "Desert Pick-Up 2"); chapter selection that leads right to the sex scenes; no regional coding (playable worldwide); and Macrovision copyright protection.

Well, it's over ... for now. The lavishly detailed "Wet Palms" first season sets the bar very high for not only future seasons, but also for anyone seriously interested in doing this type of plot porn (this takes nothing away from other types of porn, perhaps inventing a new kind completely). I'm not suggesting that everyone run out and do what amounts to a television series with sex, but there isn't a hair out of place in "Wet Palms," so to speak. Everything is constructed perfectly, scenes and plots are intercut inventively to keep the tension high and nothing is extraneous: not a line of dialogue, not a moment of sex. Each sex scene is completely different, springing from the mood of the moment and the needs of the scene. It is a box set worthy of space on your shelf with the others you treasure, be they "Xena: Princess Warrior: Season 1," "I, Claudius," or all of the "Fallen Angel" and "SexPack" discs you've collected.

A DVD Review by Brent Blue ( http://www.ManNet.com )

*** Highly, Highly Recommended ***

Starring Rod Barry, Brad Benton, Cody Cash, Gabriel Knight, Ethan Marc, Jason Ridge, Rob Romoni, Jason Sechrest, Michael Soldier and Bret Wolfe. Guest Starring Paulo Cortez, Chad Donovan, Sharon Kane, Chi Chi LaRue and Ashton Sorenson. With Andrew Addams, Jonathon Gabriel, Jack London, John Marcus, Raul, Brad Slater, Sandy Sloane, Corey Summers, Lee Walters and Park Wiley.

Directed by Matthew Moore.

A Jet Set/Naked Sword XXX Miniseries.