Written by:
Malinda Lo
Photographer:
Jim De Yonker
» Order
this Issue of Curve:
15#6
After Buffy ended and Bianca left All My Children, dykes were temporarily scarce on the boob tube. But despite the recent departure of Queer as Folk, it seems that the drought might be over. While lesbians might not always be main characters, primetime TV has gotten a lot more gay-friendly this year. Here’s what’s on our TiVos.
SUNDAYS:
Crossing Jordan (NBC): Boston medical examiner Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh (Jill Hennessey) might not be gay, but she sure is butch. Premieres Sept. 25.
Desperate Housewives (ABC): Marcia Cross probably isn’t gay, but her TV son might be bi. Plus, creator Marc Cherry has said that a lesbian character will be introduced sometime in the future. Premieres Sept. 25.
The Simpsons (FOX) : After much speculation as to which Springfield character was coming out, Marge’s sister Patty declared her love for a butch dyke she met at a golf tournament. When she discovered at their same-sex nuptials that her soon-to-be betrothed was actually a boy in disguise, she kicked him to the curb with a resounding, “I like girls!” Premieres Sept. 11.
MONDAYS:
Arrested Development (FOX): Ellen’s girlfriend Portia de Rossi plays society shopaholic Lindsay Bluthe Fünke in the critically acclaimed comedy. Premieres Sept. 19.
Out of Practice (CBS): This new sitcom about a family of physicians features Paula Marshall as a lesbian ER doctor and also stars Stockard Channing as her mother. Premieres Sept. 19.
Two and a Half Men (CBS): This hit sitcom about two brothers, Charlie and Alan, (Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer) toyed with a Sapphic storyline during its first season, when Alan’s estranged wife Judith (Marin Hinkle) confessed that she liked girls. But once she and Alan split, so did the queer possibilities. Also features Holland Taylor as Charlie and Alan’s mother, and Melanie Lynskey as their possibly crazy neighbor. Premieres Sept. 19.
TUESDAYS:
Law & Order: SVU (NBC): Mariska Hargitay plays the maybe-gay Det. Olivia Benson investigating sex crimes in New York. Premieres Sept. 20.
Nip/Tuck (FX):Roma Maffia plays lesbian anesthesiologist Liz Cruz in the edgy Miami-set soap about plastic surgeons. Premieres Sept. 20.
TransGeneration (Sundance Channel): This eight-part documentary follows four transgendered college students (two MTF, two FTM) during one academic year. Premieres Sept. 20 on Sundance, then moves to Logo in early 2006.
WEDNESDAYS:
America’s Next Top Model (UPN): This gay-friendly reality show has already had two queer female contestants, and this season adds a third: out lesbian cutie Kim. Premieres Sept. 21.
Law & Order (NBC): Unexpectedly lesbian A.D.A. Serena Southerlyn (Elizabeth Rohm) may have departed, but the veteran crime show has often been gay-friendly. Season 16 Premieres Sept. 21.
Lost(ABC): Michelle Rodriguez (Girlfight, Bloodrayne) joins the castaways this fall. Premieres Sept. 21.
One Tree Hill (WB): Daniella Alonso plays newly out bisexual Anna on this angsty teen drama. Premieres Oct. 5.
Still Standing (CBS): Justine Bateman and Julia Campbell are the lesbian neighbors in this suburban family sitcom. Premieres Sept. 21.
THURSDAYS:
CSI (CBS): See she-could-be-gay Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) examining the evidence on TV’s number one show. Premieres Sept. 22.
ER(NBC):
Last season, out lesbian Dr. Kerry Weaver (Laura Innes) won a custody battle with her late partner’s parents; this season maybe she’ll get to go on a date.
Premieres Sept. 22.
The O.C. (FOX): Last season, popular girl Marissa (Mischa Barton) fell for bisexual hottie Alex (Olivia Wilde), but soon decided that she wasn’t ready for a full-time lesbian relationship. Tune in this fall to see if Marissa remembers she’s queer. Premieres Sept. 8.
Survivor: Guatemala (CBS): The reality veteran has featured several gay and lesbian contestants, including Ami and Scout from Season 9. The 11th season Premieres Sept. 15.
Will & Grace(NBC): Watch bisexual comedian Megan Mullally steal the show as rich bitch Karen. The final season Premieres Sept. 29.
Wonderfalls (Logo): Fox canceled this dramedy after only a few episodes, but now you can see the never-before-aired complete season — including lesbian Republican Sharon (Katie Finneran) and her bisexual girlfriend — on gay channel Logo.
FRIDAYS:
Inconceivable (NBC): This medical soap goes behind-the-scenes at a high-end fertility clinic led by Dr. Rachel Lu (Ming Na). There’s the resident hot doctor (Jonathan Cake) and his potential love interest-slash-competitor (Angie Harmon), as well as a neurotic gay couple who just had a baby with a surrogate mother. So far, no lesbians, but can they really keep the dyke drama out of a series about artificial insemination? Unlikely. Premieres Sept. 23.
Twins(WB): From the producers of Will & Grace comes this new comedy starring openly lesbian Sara Gilbert (Roseanne as the brainy half of twin sisters who inherit their parents’ lingerie company. Premieres Sept. 16.
DAYTIME:
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Syndicated): The third season of Ellen’s hit talk show premieres on Sept. 5.
Passions(NBC): This summer, 22-year-old Simone (Cathy Jeneén Doe) fell for a girl and eagerly came out. Tune in weekdays to see if she’s still gay.
DATE TBA:
South of Nowhere (The N): This new half-hour drama from openly gay producer Nancylee Myatt includes 16-year-old Spencer’s (Gabrielle Christian) coming-out story; her love interest will be played by Mandy Musgrave. The series premiere is scheduled for November.
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