Farewell to South of Nowhere

Three years ago The N Network premiered a new show about a family of five that moved from Ohio to Los Angeles and fans of all ages were immediately drawn to its stars - Gabrielle Christian, Mandy Musgrave, and Matt Cohen – who played the show’s leads, “Spencer,” “Ashley,” and “Aiden,” respectively. Lesbian viewers had heard that this new show, South of Nowhere, was going to focus on the romantic relationship between the two girls. Straight audiences didn’t know what to expect but quickly became interested in the potential love triangle that was created between all three characters in the first few episodes. Surprisingly, and wonderfully, the show didn’t disappoint anyone who tuned in each week and actually gave us – over the course of three solid seasons – a television show that not only featured lesbians as its main characters but documented their relationship and the drama, heartache, confusion, and love that went along with it. South of Nowhere has been a groundbreaking and entertaining show that has served as a valuable asset to our community… and now, sadly, it’s over.

The final episode aired last week and thankfully gave viewers the happy goodbye and more than acceptable closure that we had all been hoping for. Throughout the seasons we have watched Spencer and Ashley fall more and more in love and in the last moments of the show, and the additional “Five Years Later” webisode, we learn that the two really have overcome all of their issues and will be together forever. But sending our Spencer and Ashley off happily (and marrying and impregnating them in just five short years!) isn’t the thing we are most grateful to the SON writers for. Sure, every loyal fan is always appreciative when a beloved series ends exactly how we dreamed it would. Wondering if Spencer and Ashley would last or actually seeing them break up and go their separate ways would have been terrible. But the show’s real contribution goes much deeper than just a sweet ending. South of Nowhere told teens - gay and straight - and anyone else that watched the show even just once, that it is okay to be gay. This was an important show.

It didn’t take long in season one of the show for Spencer to begin questioning her sexuality, after meeting Ashley. So, right away, viewers were given both a confident lesbian character and a relatable teen coming to terms with the fact that she might be gay. Both girls were smart, funny, beautiful, and examples of the fact that there is no stereotypical lesbian – that any type of girl can be gay. There was an immediate attraction between the two and the episodes chronicled that – young love and teenage drama included. The relationship – in most ways – was treated just as a straight one would have been and it was refreshing to have it done that way. In seasons two and three, however, we saw Spencer begin to embrace being gay. She dated women exclusively, came out to her parents, attended a gay pride festival, and even made lesbian friends – recognizing that she related to them more than her peers at school. She did all of this bravely and happily. She was excited about discovering who she was and became confident and secure. Spencer became the best example of a lesbian teenager ever to be seen on television. Her story told every single teen that watched that being gay was normal and acceptable and served as a much needed positive example of how the coming out process should be.

So, in looking back over the three seasons of South of Nowhere we are sad that the characters that we love so much are gone but we are happy that never once did the show conform or change in order to gain a broader appeal or placate opponents. Sure, Ashley ended up dating Aiden for a little while and we were subjected to occasional plotlines about Spencer’s brothers (one of which reportedly asked off the show because of its gay focus and was only missed fictionally). But overall the series was always about the love story of Spencer and Ashley and – more than anything - it was a tremendous and valuable contribution to the gay and lesbian community that will never be forgotten.

Our First Shots at “A Double Shot At Love”

Well, we certainly never thought this day would come but unfortunately it has – we officially miss Tila Tequila. Thank you, Ikki Twins.

After two seasons of watching Tequila pretend to date the male and female contestants on MTV’s “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila,” we really did think we had hit the bottom of the reality TV dating show barrel. Entertaining as it was to tune in each week and witness just how low she would go in her attempts to exploit the straight men and lesbian women competing for her “heart,” it was aggravating and frustrating to know that the show was in no legitimate way the long awaited lesbian dating show that so many of us had been hoping for. It doesn’t matter if the star was really bisexual or not – what mattered is that she did the show to advance her career and nothing else. But, at least with the “A Shot at Love” shows, lesbian viewers could enjoy following along as several real lesbian women got to go on dates and make out with a sexy, somewhat famous, celebrity. That all ended when the Ikki Twins showed up.

“A Double Shot At Love” stars Rikki and Vikki, who are twins. They aren’t famous musicians like Brett Michaels or Flavor Flav. They aren’t successful singles like the men who appear on ABC’s “The Bachelor.” And again, as much as we hate to admit it, they aren’t even self-made internet sensations who set records with their millions of online fans – like Tila Tequila. So the question arises then, why do they have a dating show? Why would straight men and lesbian women line up by the thousands for the chance to date them?

Hopefully the contestants on “A Double Shot At Love” weren’t told that they were meeting a famous, successful, powerful, or intelligent bisexual woman – because the Ikki twins are none of these things. Well, maybe they’re bisexual. Maybe. Regardless, what the participants of MTV’s latest effort are competing for - and faking love connections with - are two very hot women… so we watch. Ultimately though, the entire structure of the show is confusing and annoying. Dating shows were originally developed with the premise that these individuals have such high levels of fame and fortune that it has become impossible for them to sort through the fakes and the users to find a true love who wants them for who they really are. Well, the Ikki Twins simply are what they appear to be – hot twins. It would seem then, thinking logically, that these two women – who claim on their website to have made a pact to find true love after years of heartbreak from both men and women – would have far better luck finding what they are looking for if they avoided doing it on national television. In real life we highly doubt potential suitors would be after them for their money, or their connections, or their time in the spotlight… BECAUSE THE IKKI TWINS ARE NOT FAMOUS. Now, however, the girls are providing those they date with all those things that these shows are supposed to help their stars avoid.

So that brings us to the pool of daters. So far, after one episode, one girl has already revealed that she is not actually gay. Why then would she choose to appear on a show that puts her in a romantic situation with a woman? Obviously for the chance to be on TV. And as for the guys – in just one week we saw muscular contestant Matt featured on “Paris Hilton’s My New Best Friend,” “The Bad Girls Club,” and “A Double Shot At Love.” Oh yes, true love is in the air.

Regardless, we will continue to watch this show each week and we will continue to hope that one day, on some network, there will actually be a dating show for lesbians that features a lesbian bachelorette worthy of being the object of desire for numerous gay and bisexual women while also truly being worthy of being called a lesbian. And if one of those twins is really a lesbian (and our vote is on Nikki) and any of those girls are honestly interested in falling in love with her – we wish them luck. But let’s face it – that’s just not what the show is all about.

L Word Killing

Some of you may have already heard the news - through Showtime’s latest L Word promo for Season 6 - about a main character being killed off in the premiere episode on January 18, 2009. What many may not know, however, is who that character is. Well, the Associated Press is reporting on the identity of that character and IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW WHO IT IS STOP READING!!!! SPOILER ALERT – STOP READING NOW IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW WHO DIES IN THE PREMIERE EPISODE OF THE L WORD!!!! The victim is Jenny Schecter and Showtime has announced that this will be revealed in the first 2 minutes of the season opener.

Ugly Betty is Voting “No” on Prop 8

America Ferrera, star of the hit show Ugly Betty, and her costars Tony Plana and Ana Ortiz, are urging the Latino community to vote “No” on Prop 8. All are featured in a Spanish language television ad voicing their opposition to the proposed ban on gay marriage in California.

To view the ad and for more information about it visit http://www.noonprop8.com/headlines/america-ferrera-tony-plana-ana-ortiz-speak-out-against-prop-8/.

South of Nowhere Final Episodes Begin

If you somehow still haven’t heard the bad news, the popular teen drama about young lesbians in love that airs on The N network, has been canceled. After two enjoyable seasons of watching Spencer and Ashley, their family, and friends live and love in Los Angeles, South of Nowhere will premiere the first of its final eight episodes of season three this Friday, October 10th, at 9pm.

While we are very excited to see new episodes of the show, it is with great disappointment that we accept that the end is near. South of Nowhere was created by Thomas W. Lynch and first aired on November 4, 2005 as one of six original series on The N. The show follows the lives of the members of the Carlin family as they adjust to moving from Ohio to Los Angeles - but since the very first episode the focus has been on the relationship between Spencer Carlin (Gabrielle Christian) and her out and proud friend, Ashley Davies (Mandy Musgrave).

The close friendship between the girls eventually led Spencer to question her own sexuality, a subject which created some controversy before the show’s airdate. It was the first television show ever to have gay teenagers as the top-billed characters. The writers, producers, show’s stars, and the network, however, did not ever attempt to back away from the lesbian storyline and instead continued with the creation of strong plots, well-developed characters, and realistic and relevant portrayals of the issues that affect gay teens – and all teens in general.

Unfortunately, the show was still canceled. Maybe it was because it was too gay for The N, maybe it was because viewership was down (not likely), and maybe it was simply because there are a lot of politics involved in television and this cute little show just didn’t make it. Whatever the reason may be, we will miss South of Nowhere and cherish the last few episodes. Episodes that we hope finally bring long-term happiness to Spencer and Ashley.

When we last left the two, things were looking good. Really good. Spencer had decided to finally forgive Ashley for bailing on her when her brother died and dating Aiden (the show’s male lead – who has dated both girls and somehow never become discouraged by their obvious lesbian love) and she showed her forgiveness by visiting Ashley at her apartment wearing nothing but a trench coat. But, as with all teen dramas, things may have changed a lot since then and the girls may once again be going through hard times in their relationship. From the previews that have been airing on The N, it definitely looks like there will be some bumps along the way to what we hope is a happy goodbye for the show. We will certainly be watching every minute of it.

South of Nowhere premieres Friday, October 10th at 9:00 PM on The N.

GLAAD Study Reveals TV is LGBT Friendly in 2008-2009 Season

The overall number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) representations on the broadcast networks will more than double this year after a three-year slump, according to an analysis of the 2008-2009 television season conducted by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

GLAAD’s 13th annual “Where We Are On TV” report shows that LGBT representations will account for 2.6 percent of all scripted series regular characters on the 2008-2009 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.4 percent in 2005, 1.3 percent in 2006, and 1.1 percent in 2007. In contrast, the number of LGBT series regular characters found on scripted programming on mainstream cable networks has decreased since last year’s analysis, from 40 to 32.

For 13 years, GLAAD’s report has analyzed the characters on the networks’ primetime scripted programming. From information provided by the five broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW – GLAAD examined 88 scripted comedies and dramas announced to air this upcoming season, and counted a total of 616 characters, 16 of which are LGBT – more than twice the number of characters, seven, announced at the launch of the 2007-2008 season.

“This dramatic increase shows how far many networks have come in developing complex, multi-layered lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters,” says GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. “Our analysis also shows where there’s still work to be done. This past year, we’ve seen some real progress from Fox towards making their scripted programming more inclusive, which is something we’re hoping to see from other networks like CBS.”

Fox, which featured zero series regular LGBT characters at the launch of last season, has announced five LGBT characters out of 97 total series regular characters for 2008-2009. The network now has the highest percentage of LGBT characters on any network (5 percent). ABC continues to excel as it did last year, with seven LGBT characters out of 166 total series regular characters (4 percent), the highest number of LGBT characters of any network. NBC has three series regular LGBT characters (2 percent) out of a total of 147. On the negative side, CBS has the most disappointing showing, with not a single LGBT series regular character out of 126, and only one recurring character in the entire series lineup. Additionally, The CW’s lack of scripted representation is now merely a close second to CBS, as the network has only one scripted series regular LGBT character. For a complete list of LGBT characters on broadcast television, visit www.glaad.org/eye/ontv/2008/broadcast.php.

The number of non-contract recurring LGBT characters has also risen – from 13 last season to 19 this year. “The growing number of recurring characters is another example of the networks’ progress towards being more inclusive,” says Giuliano. “As the networks gradually add characters from all backgrounds and walks of life to primetime programming, more and more Americans are seeing their LGBT friends and neighbors reflected on the small screen.”

On the mainstream cable networks, the number of announced LGBT series regular characters dropped to 32 from last year’s high of 40. The presence of LGBT-focused cable networks here! and Logo, which program specifically for LGBT viewers, add an additional 39 series regular LGBT characters. For a complete analysis of LGBT characters on cable, visit www.glaad.org/eye/ontv/2008/cable.php.

This marks the fourth year that GLAAD has analyzed the breakdown of the race, gender and ethnicity of all the 616 series regular characters expected to appear on the broadcast networks in the upcoming season. Male characters continue to outweigh female characters 57 percent (354) to 43 percent (262) in overall numbers, while 79 percent (485) of all series regular characters are white, up 2 percent from last year. Latino/a representation remains at 6 percent (34) while black representation has dropped from 12 percent to 11 percent (67). Analysts counted 19 Asian-Pacific Islander characters (3 percent), one more than last season. View a complete analysis of diversity on the broadcast networks at www.glaad.org/eye/ontv/2008/diversity.php.

Complete results of GLAAD’s “Where We Are On TV” report can be viewed or downloaded at www.glaad.org/eye/ontv.

The 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards will air on Bravo September 29, 2008 at 6:00 PM ET/PT. The Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.

The awards were taped in April and the winners were announced shortly after. If you don’t want to know who won what – STOP READING – otherwise, here is a list of a few of the award recipients:

- Outstanding Film – Wide Release: Stardust
- Outstanding Daily Drama: As the World Turns
- Outstanding Newspaper Overall Coverage: The New York Times
- Outstanding Music Artist: Rufus Wainwright, Release the Stars
- Outstanding Drama Series: Brothers & Sisters
- Outstanding Comedy Series: Ugly Betty
- Outstanding Reality Program: Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
- Vanguard Award: Sharon Stone

Additionally, Illene Chaiken - creator of the groundbreaking hit series The L Word - received the Davidson/Valentini Award, which was presented to her by the show’s star, Jennifer Beals. The Davidson/Valentini Award is named after Craig Davidson, GLAAD’s first executive director, and his partner Michael Valentini. The award is presented to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information about GLAAD visit www.glaad.org.

Featured photo by Steven Damron.

Ten Reality TV Lesbian Villains

From backstabbing maneuvers to win money, physical attacks to win the girl, and just general nastiness to be nasty, these are the lesbian villains of reality television that we love to hate.

10. Ebony, America’s Next Top Model, Cycle One
Despite earning major points when she was openly affectionate with her visiting girlfriend, ignoring the nasty comments and rudeness from her fellow contestants, Ebony may still have been voted most annoying model in the house by the other girls on the show for incidents like the time she put lotion on her hands and proceeded to spread it everywhere she went without worrying what her roommates might think of it, prompting the “Who is going to tell Ebony she’s getting the doorknobs all greasy?” conversation.

9. Ivette, Big Brother 6
One would probably assume that the members of the “Nerd Herd” during Big Brother 6 were the nice guys, but that definitely wasn’t the case and out lesbian contestant Ivette was a big reason for that. She made it to the end of the game but managed to talk behind people’s backs, threaten them, and hate on America’s favorite player, Janelle, along the way. The best part of Ivette’s behavior problem though was that she was the only one who didn’t realize it existed.

8. Rachel and Veronica, Real World Road Rules Challenge
Veronica was on Semester at Sea; Rachel showed up a few years later on Campus Crawl. Separately, they were actually the nice ones on their shows. When they got together a few years later for their many appearances on RWRR Challenges though, they were just plain mean.

7. Jessica, Curl Girls
As if it wasn’t confusing enough that Curl Girls was a show about lesbians who surf that featured a few lesbians who had pretty much never surfed before, even more perplexing was the relationship between Jessica and her super sweet girlfriend Melissa. The show began just after Jessica had cheated on Melissa by kissing another girl and the two went back and forth about their relationship - whereby Jessica never seemed too willing to give Melissa the monogamy she wanted. Her relationship drama aside, however, yelling at and criticizing cute little Gingi because she identified as bisexual was just not okay.

6. Zulema Griffin, Project Runway
The first Project Runway contestant to make the models perform a walk-off for her before trading hers in for a competitor’s just had to make our list. Oh, and who could forget her tolerance for a team member’s stress when she explained “I don’t care if you cry, but you better cry and cut.” Surprisingly though, Zulema’s issue with the editing of the show had little to do with her “villain” status and more to do with the non-acknowledgement of her as a lesbian. A talented fashion designer who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and is proud of her homosexuality actually sounds pretty awesome to us.

5. Coral Smith, Real World 10 and lots of Challenges
Coral (“I don’t wrestle, I knock bitches out!”) Smith almost didn’t make our list – after all, she just recently came out as a lesbian and has only appeared in one Challenge since doing so. Good thing she was just as nasty as ever as she quit the show where people vote each other into a showdown against another player where the loser goes home because she was afraid of losing and then accused everyone on her team for betraying her when all they did was play the same game that she had played hundreds of times before the exact same way. Yeah, apparently it wasn’t her frustration with living in the closet that made her behave so badly.

4. Jackie Warner, Work Out
First off, we have to say, we love Jackie Warner. She is a smart, talented, driven, successful, and sexy lesbian who absolutely serves as a great representative of gay women everywhere and we admire her greatly. That said, she could maybe be a little bit nicer. When she kissed and cuddled the other woman she was dating right in front of Rebecca…it wasn’t so nice. And when she fired Brian Peeler because he wanted her to apologize for her part in making fun of a client whose cancer caused her boobs to look different…it wasn’t so nice. And when she snooped through her girlfriend’s text messages… it wasn’t so nice. And when she ambushed her mother with a houseful of surprise overnight guests…it wasn’t so nice – but that one was kind of funny since her mom is a bit of a homophobe.

3. Vanessa, A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila
Vanessa was the kind of reality show personality that we really wish wasn’t also a lesbian. Crazy is really a better way to describe her. She looked crazy, talked crazy, and when she freaked out and attacked Brandi during the key ceremony – she just went completely hair-pulling, girl-fight, crazy.

2. Tabitha, Shear Genius
Something tells us that Tabitha wouldn’t mind making this list. After all, it was her shrewd and opinionated attitude on Shear Genius that landed her a show of her own a year later. At least on Tabitha’s Salon Takeover the people deserve it.

1. Lisa Fernandez, Top Chef
When Bethanny from The Real Housewives of New York City – the reality show notorious for unapologetically bitchy women - calls in a question to the reunion of your show asking why you’re so mean and you still don’t crack a smile and laugh it off… you really are a villain. Lisa made it to the final three chefs of her season, so she was in every single episode, and never once did she look anything other than angry. She could argue that it was the way they edited her, or that she just isn’t the kind of person who smiles a lot. She could argue that if she didn’t also fight with almost every single contestant, resort to “throwing people under the bus” by pointing out how they didn’t follow the exact rules set by the judges, and disturb viewers with her scowl during every last judge’s panel. We can’t say for sure because we have never tasted her cooking but we wouldn’t be surprised if she only made it to the final round because Tom and Padma feared her reaction to being cut.

Leisha Hailey to Star in The L Word Spinoff!

The sixth and final season of The L Word will premiere in early 2009 and for months now that news has left a lot of us feeling angry, depressed, and a little bit abandoned. However, after months of rumors and speculation regarding the possibility of a spinoff series, Showtime has announced that there will in fact be a new show coming and it will star out lesbian actress Leisha Hailey as many viewers favorite character, Alice Pieszecki.

Since the day it premiered, The L Word has been providing much needed quality entertainment to the lesbian community. One of Showtime’s longest running series, the show has broken ground and brought story lines and characters to television in ways that no program has before.  Sadly, The L Word will culminate after its final eight episodes, marking the end of an era chronicling the lives of iconic characters who have played a pivotal role in changing cultural perceptions of lesbians and the transgender community on and off screen. With few other scripted programs currently in production that center around the lives of lesbian women, it has been difficult for fans of the show, and the lesbian community overall, to accept that the end of the show about Bette, Tina, Jenny, Alice, and Shane might mean the end to watching fictional representations of their own lives. In a world that seems to have a show for everyone – there would be even fewer depictions of lesbian life on TV.

Thankfully, Showtime seems to know its viewers and has brought back two essential ingredients to helping them get over the loss of their beloved show: Leisha Hailey and Ilene Chaiken, the creator and executive producer of The L Word. For now, all that we know of the new show is that it will star Hailey and that she will continue to play the character of Alice. For many – that information is enough. Since the first episode of the series Alice has stood out as the funniest and often most likeable of the women featured. Her character has gone though many ups and downs – including getting dumped by her girlfriend Dana, the death of Dana to cancer, and dating a closeted woman in the military but with her sense of humor, wit, and warmth continued to endear herself to those watching more and more with each episode.  In the first season of the show, most plot lines revolved around Bette and Tina and their troubled neighbor Jenny. It didn’t take too long though for Hailey to literally steal the show.

With the new show set to begin production in December, Hailey, who recently released her fist full length album with band Uh Huh Her, will be very busy. Maybe Showtime should consider bringing in some strong co-stars to lessen load like, maybe, Katherine Moennig, Jennifer Beals, Mia Kirshner and Laurel Holloman? Either way, Hailey absolutely has what it takes to carry a show on her own and news of the spin off is extremely exciting.

The L Word will begin again in early 2009 on Showtime. For more information about the Leisha Hailey spin-off visit www.sho.com.

Transgender Women of Color Hit Reality Television

BY DAVID MARINER

Transgender Women of Color are rarely seen on reality television, as are LGBT People of Color.  But two African-American transgender women are changing that and breaking barriers on reality television this season.

When America’s Next Top Model starts in September, Isis will be competing along with the other women.  Isis is the first ever transgender contestant on the popular reality show.  And even though the show has yet to begin, Fox News has already started with the inappropriate and ill-informed commentary.

Laverne Cox, however, seems to have slipped by Fox’s radar screen for now.  Laverne is currently competing in the reality show I Want to Work for Diddy.  In this new VH1 reality show contestants compete for the opportunity to be P. Diddy’s personal assistant.

Laverne, who frequently posts at MyVH1Friends.com, tells gay.com: “Mr. Combs is giving me an opportunity that can change the way people see trans people of color. I have a dream and am very ambitious, but if I can change the way people perceive trans people of color in this country, that’s something hugely important to me.”

Article provided by GayLinkContent.com and originally appeared in Temenos (http://www.temenos.net), the progressive lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and intersex community online.

Fall Lineup Highlights For the Grrls

It’s that time of year again. Summer Friday’s have come and gone, school is starting up again, the weather is already reminding you that you own a coat, and no matter what you do for a living, going to work suddenly just got more annoying. But – for those who enjoy a good television show, and have missed their favorite shows and characters, the fall season brings at least one good thing: new things to watch on TV!

The 2008 fall television lineup includes a lot of new shows, new episodes of old shows, the thankful cancellation of bad shows and generally, something for everyone. Usually this means something for everyone except the lesbian viewer but this year we have found quite a few shows that are trying to change that. We’re providing you with a basic rundown of what’s coming soon to a television set near you that either stars, features, or involves a lesbian or bisexual actress or character. It could be better but it could have been, and has definitely already been, worse.

24, Fox
Premiere date: Sunday, November 23, 2008 (two-hour prequel to season premiere in Januray 2009).
24 is presented in real time, with each season depicting a 24-hour period in the life of Jack Bauer, who works with the U.S. government as it fights domestic threats. The past 6 seasons of the show have been popular, exciting, and award winning but Season 7 is sure to be the best yet for two great reasons: 1) there will be a female President portrayed on the show and, 2) the actress that plays her, Cherry Jones, is an out lesbian. We’re feeling patriotic already!

Bones, Fox
Premiere date: Wednesday, September 3rd
Bones centers around the brilliant, but socially inept, forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperence Brennan who works with ex-Army Ranger turned Special Agent, Seeley Booth, to help the Bureau solve crimes by identifying human remains that are too far gone for standard FBI forensic investigations. But the benefits of this show go beyond the smart and powerful female lead. Angela Pearly Gates Montenegro is the Jeffersonian’s resident forensic artist and in Season 4 she will become the reason we watch. Last season audiences learned that Angela was bisexual when a private investigator hinted that she was tipped by a girl named Roxy, who allegedly got her heart broken by Angela.  Throughout the earlier seasons, there were hints about Angela’s bisexuality, but it wasn’t until the end of the third season that it was set in stone.  Despite being engaged to an entomologist, it has been reported that Angela will get tangled up in some lesbian romance. Nice, Roxy sounds hot.

Degrassi: The Next Generation, The N
Premiere date: Friday, October 10th
The Paige and Alex relationship on Degrassi has been one of the strongest and longest lesbian storylines to appear on television. Although the two characters have had their ups and downs, their plotline was always written with the same treatment as the heterosexual relationships on the show. Season 8, however, does not look like it will include much about Paige and Alex – as they decided to go their separate ways at the end of Season 7 and both seem to have aged out of the show’s high school setting. Hopefully each will have guest appearances and you never know… there may be a new batch of young Canadian lesbians entering Degrassi High this fall.

Grey’s Anatomy, ABC
Premiere date: Thursday, September 25th
For four strong seasons Patrick Dempsey has been a totally understandable reason to watch the hour-long drama that centers on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors. He really did age remarkably well! But it wasn’t until the end of the last season that lesbian viewers got a good reason to tune in too – and it came in the form of a passionate kiss between two of the shows female regulars. Dr. Callie Torres and Erica Hahn took their relationship to the next level with the kiss in the season finale and it has been reported that the storyline about the two will continue into Season 5. Additional reports even state that Grey’s consulted with GLAAD to prepare for the lesbian elements of their show. We’re thinking the whole Isaiah Washington “faggot” incident had something to do with the extra efforts for responsible gayness.

House, Fox
Premiere date: Tuesday, September 16th
House centers around the anti-social, pain killer addicted, witty and arrogant medical doctor, Gregory House, who has only half a muscle in his right leg. Also featured in the incredibly smart and medically heavy show is Dr. House’s team of medical doctors who work with him to try to cure very ill, ordinary people who come into their clinic. Among these secondary characters we find Olivia Wilde, who plays Dr. Hadley (a.k.a. Thirteen) and for the second time in recent years also plays bisexual. After tiny hints that the character may be bisexual it was confirmed in a casual and funny scene where she, another character, and House are watching a soap opera and she has the line, “I think I dated that Nurse…(pause)…no.” At the end of last season Thirteen learned that she had the disease Huntington’s chorea so we’re sure hoping the doctor’s found a cure over break.

My Own Worst Enemy, NBC
Premiere date: Monday, October 13th
We’re happy for Christian Slater and all but there is one reason and one reason only that this show made our list: Saffron Burrows. The actress has reportedly dated both men and women so we will consider her bisexual for now but either way, she’s gorgeous, so we’ll be watching her play opposite Slater as Dr. Norah Skinner and be routing for this new show to make it.

South of Nowhere, The N
Premiere date: Friday, October 3rd
The most depressing fall television news we learned that Spencer and Ashley (Spashley) – our favorite South of Nowhere girls - have only half a season more of being the cutest couple on television. It was announced in February that the show had been cancelled and would only return to finish out the third season, leaving many fans very upset and demanding more. The show premiered in 2005 and centered around two teenage girls who fell in love with each other. It was a positive and groundbreaking show in its depiction of a healthy and happy teenage relationship and presentation of gay role models for a young audience. We are looking forward to the new episodes but angry and sad that with each new show… we will be watching one of the last.

Tabitha’s Salon Takeover, Bravo
Premiere date: now airing
The official description of this show states: “Australian native Tabatha Coffey, the straight-talking former contestant from Shear Genius, visits struggling salons in Los Angeles and New York, and whips the desperate stylists and salon owners into shape.” We watch it because it’s an openly lesbian woman with her own show who arrogantly and rudely bosses people around in each episode and yet comes off likeable, smart, and admirable while doing it.

The Big Bang Theory, CBS
Premiere date: Monday, September 22
Last season this new show about “a woman who moves into an apartment next door to two brilliant but socially awkward physicists and shows them how little they know about life outside of the laboratory” was funny, cute, and somewhat original. This season out lesbian and Emmy nominated actress Sara Gilbert joins the cast as a series regular and it becomes a lot more!

The Cho Show, VH1
Premiere date: now airing
When thinking about Margaret Cho in her new reality program, The Cho Show, we wondered: Is she gay? Is she straight? And then we realized… she’s just funny.

The New Adventures of Old Christine
Premiere date: Wednesday, September 24th
Let’s face it – this show had us at Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Then we learned that the name of the show came from the premise in which Christine finds out that her ex-husband and friend is dating a new, younger girlfriend, also named Christine – hence, these were to be the new adventures of the old Christine. Now, EW.com is reporting that Christine will marry her best friend on the show, Barb (Wanda Sykes). Even if it’s totally not about their lesbian love it is a gay wedding on network TV. We can’t wait!

Ugly Betty, ABC
Premiere date: Thursday, September 25th
Ugly Betty is a cute and funny show about Betty Suarez, a smart, sweet and hard working girl who is not thin and beautiful like all her coworkers at a high-fashion magazine but whose hard work and determination earns her the boss’s respect, as she helps him find his way through the shark infested waters of the fashion industry. Having a non-conventional female lead has made this show worthy enough of our respect but this season things really get grrl friendly as Lindsay Lohan reprises her role as one of Betty’s high school classmates.

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