The Year in Queer TV: Eleven Highs and Lows From 2006

5. Yes, there really are gay adolescents.

Network television has had a few gay teens and youngsters over the years. Desperate Housewives' Andrew Van de Kamp and the short-lived series Oliver Beene come to mind. But this year added several more including Justin (Marc Indelicato) on Ugly Betty and two on the daytime soaps. Of course, one of those roles, General Hospital's Lucas, turned out to have less staying power than a Rob Schneider movie. But until recently, As the World Turns' Luke (Van Hansis) was front and center (he has also gone missing of late) and gave many gay teens a character they could identify with.

For a while, it looked like Heroes was doing the same thing, but in a disappointing and unexpected U-turn, Heroes' Zach was transformed from gay to straight in a way that only Jerry Falwell could love. Speaking of which …

6. Where have all the fundies gone?

Earlier this year, certain Christian fundamentalists brayed (you know, like jackasses do) in triumph after NBC's The Book of Daniel crashed and burned like the Hindenburg or Alicia Silverstone's career. And part of their glee — and initial anger — stemmed from the fact that Daniel had featured Christian Campbell as the openly gay son of an Episcopal priest who had the audacity to accept him. For a scary moment, it seemed like those conservatives might come after every TV show with a gay character, but instead, they seem to have retreated like Swiss alpine glaciers (you know, global warming).

ABC's Brothers & Sisters arrived with an openly gay character who actually kissed another man with nary a peep from Focus on the Family. On Nip/Tuck, Christian fantasized about Sean (plus Mario Lopez got naked), and two cops on Cold Case fell in love passionately. We're not sure what's keeping the socially conservative Christian right busy — looking for the next Ted Haggard? Plucking the mote from their own eye? But we're glad something other than bashing gays on TV is keeping them occupied.

7. Gay episodes that are actually good .

Earlier this fall, when NBC aired an episode of The Office titled “Gay Witch Hunt,” gay people rejoiced because they weren't the ones made the butt of the joke. That job fell to Steve Carell's character, Office boss Michael Scott, who was actually dumb enough to believe there was such a thing as “gaydar.” (And in a not-soon-to-be-forgotten moment, actually tried to buy one online.) Indeed, homophobia got smacked up one side and down the other in this episode, leaving gay character Oscar (Oscar Nunez) the only one with his dignity intact.

The Office wasn't the only show with gay-friendly episodes this year. CBS also aired an episode of Cold Case called “Forever Blue” that earned favorable comparisons to Brokeback Mountain and raves from gay viewers. How I Met Your Mother and ER also contributed to the gay tally on television.

8. Character arcs that are actually good.

Fans of The Sopranos had little idea of what they were in store for when Vito Spatafore (Joseph Gannascoli) was spotted in a gay bar by his compatriots. What ensued was a story arc rarely allowed for gay characters: It was complicated, touching and ended as it must for that character.

New drama Brothers & Sisters introduced gay recurring character Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys), who learned that he wasn't quite as accepting of his sexuality as he thought when he fell in love with Scotty (Luke MacFarlane). Their romance wasn't meant to be, but gay viewers actually got to explore gay issues other than coming-out, hustling and gay bashing. Even Rex Lee as Lloyd on Entourage actually got to grow and become more than a one-note joke.