Is it wrong for a gay man to get turned on by a television program targeted at children? No, I’m not talking about my lustful appreciation of Sportacus from Lazytown, or the nerdy, yet oddly hot brothers from Kratts’ Creatures (though I could be). I’m actually thinking of the very short-lived Saturday morning live-action wrestling-themed program, Los Luchadores. It should come as no surprise that in 2001 my alarm clock was set for 7:30 Saturday mornings to see this fantastically tragic, sexy, dorky trainwreck. It was a supercamp, superhero wrestling story. Think Batman/Robin meet the WWF, with a script written by a Power Ranger. The Argentine slab of meat, Maximo Morrone first caught my eye as Lobo Fuerte, a tag-team professional wrestler by day, and a superhero crime fighter the rest of the time.

I was initially uncertain whether I could, with a clear conscience, lust after Lobo Fuerte’s youthful ward and tag team partner, Turbine. Played by Levi James, I believe he was supposed to be an impetuous, overenthusiastic, somewhat clumsy and naive adolescent. I was SO relieved to discover that James was 22 when the series came out, so checking out is hot little bod in wrestling tights seemed okay at the point. When the series ended, I was sorely disappointed, but not surprised. James carried the show as the every-boy, hero-worshipping, superhero in training, over-the-top cheese-factory. But Morrone was all body, no chemistry, and the scripts really were stolen from the most inane Power Ranger’s episodes.

Now, I think I’m connecting the dots correctly, when I say what a fun thrill it was to stumble across Levi James playing bass and managing his rock band, Irreverents, in his hometown of Vancouver, BC. I think he’s about 30 years old now, and my…. oh…. my, he grew up nice. He’s making a go of his band, pimping himself out for modeling jobs, and keeping a toe in the acting world all at the same time. He’s made some guest appearances on a few series, but hasn’t gotten a hold of anything big. But I am officially beginning my campaign to get this man more exposure. Look at the guns on him!

Holy hell. His shirtless pics on stage are insurance that I will ceaselessly track down the Irreverents every time I’m in Vancouver, from now on (oh, yeah, they’ve got a great sound!). Casting directors take note: hire this man now. I will personally make sure that every gay man on the west coast will pay money to see him, preferably shirtless. Perhaps he won’t be doing anymore wrestling. In fact, I suspect if he were ever to make it big, Jay Leno would interview him and play a clip from Los Luchadores to embarrass him (that asshole, Leno). But as for me, I became a hardcore fan of whatever he does from that first moment I saw him in his red tights get whipped into the ring ropes and fly through the air for a crossbody block. Rock on, Levi!