Just as toy stores have to think about Christmas in July, networks have to think about their fall schedules long before the first maple leaf changes from green to crimson. That's why Hollywood's movers and shakers are busy ordering and filming pilots in search of that most elusive of television creatures: a hit drama or sitcom.

AfterElton has been busy looking over pilot scripts to see what might be on tap for the discriminating gay television viewer this fall. Here's our round-up of some of the potential shows in the works with gay characters—and what we think of them so far (warning: spoilers!).

THE CLASS (Comedy) CBS
The Hollywood Reporter calls this show "the surest bet to join CBS next season on the comedy front" next fall, and it may be the surest bet for gay men, too, since it has already been given a 13-episode commitment. The comedy is about a group of eight twentysomethings who attended the same third-grade class 20 years ago reunite after one of them (Jason Ritter) throws a surprise anniversary party for his girlfriend.

The gay one in the group is Kyle, played by Sean Maguire (Eve), who attends the party specifically to apologize to his former high school girlfriend Holly (Lucy Punch) for hooking up with a guy on their prom night and causing her to have trust issues with men for several years. Holly forgives Kyle, and later introduces him to her "great" husband, Perry--and Kyle immediately suspects, with a sinking feeling, that Perry is also gay.

The pilot script is well-written and laugh-out-loud funny in places. This isn't surprising given the veteran comedy writers behind this series (David Crane from Friends, James Burrows from Will & Grace, and Jeffrey Klarik from Half & Half). The character of Kyle seems nuanced and isn't written as a stereotype, but Perry, alas, is nothing but stereotypical. And as you will see when you read on, Perry is also just the first of many gay men married to women we are likely to see on TV this fall. But Kyle, and The Class overall, seems promising.

HIM AND US (Comedy) ABC
The best-known pilot–and the one with the best shot at being picked up by a network–is no doubt Him and Us, the Elton John-inspired sitcom. Anthony Stewart Head (Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) plays Max Flash, a rock superstar and Kim Cattrall (Samantha on Sex and the City) plays Freddie, his long-suffering manager.

From the ABC press release: “Max is a flamboyant, rhinestone-studded diva who is as outlandish off-stage as on, and Freddie has spent her career protecting the enthusiastic musical genius from the constant parade of people who are trying to get something from Max.”

While Him and Us isn't likely to break any new ground on how gay men are perceived (and it's hard to picture the staid Giles as Max), this is the rare show not only built around a gay character, but one who isn't closeted, powerless or the butt of all the jokes. Given its top notch team of talent–Elton John executive produces along with Cindy Chupack (Sex and the City) and David Edelstein (Desperate Housewives)–it seems the only way Him and Us can fail is if all involved totally botch it. Here's hoping they don't.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS (One Hour Drama) ABC
Another strong contender for the fall schedule is Brothers and Sisters, which appears to offer both more and less opportunity for something positive than Him and Us. Jonathan LaPaglia (brother of Without a Trace's Anthony LaPaglia) plays Bryan March, a gay man who only came out after having an affair while married to a woman.

On the plus side, Bryan is one of the five March siblings that make up the family after which the show is named. On the down side, LaPaglia stars alongside Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal), Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under), Balthazar Getty (Alias), as well as veteran performers Patricia Wettig and Betty Buckley. Given this kind of star wattage, it is questionable how much of the show will be devoted to Bryan's storyline.

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