Dr. Steve-O (USA)
Premieres: October 1
Airs: Mondays, 11:05 p.m. EST
Steve-O, of Jackass and Wildboyz fame, travels the country in an attempt to "de-wussify" men using his patented brand of bizarre, and often hilarious, dares and stunts. The various "wimps, nerds, and couch potatoes" have been nominated by buddies, girlfriends, wives, coworkers and even themselves. Steve-O, along with cohort Johnny Knoxville, has a history of being gay friendly, but we have no word on whether any of his "patients" will be gay.
Judge David Young (Syndicated)
Premieres: September 10
Airs: Check your local listings
Judge David Young is the latest judge to get his own show. What differentiates this judge (who came to national attention after sentencing two drunken pilots to jail) from the Judge Judys and Joe Browns is that Young is openly gay. While it's great to see a gay man in judicial robes, I'm not sure how I feel about the show's catchphrase: "Justice with a snap." And yes, he really does deliver his verdict with a sassy finger snap. Oh, and he is also prone to bursting into show tunes unprovoked.
New Amsterdam (FOX)
Premieres: September 25
Airs: Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m. EST (UPDATE: Pushed back to mid-season)
John Amsterdam, a New York homicide detective, has a little secret. He's really over 300 years old. In 1642, he saved the life of a young Native American woman by stepping in front of a sword during a massacre of her village. In return, the girl saves his life by weaving a spell that gives him eternal life — with one teensy, tiny minor catch. He'll become mortal again when he meets his soul mate. The first episode reportedly has a minor gay plot.
Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Premieres: October 3
Airs: Wednesdays, 8:00 p.m. EST
Pushing Daisies isn't specifically gay, but coming from out writer/producer Bryan Fuller (Wonderfalls, Dead Like Me), with out producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks, and featuring Broadway stars like Kristin Chenoweth and Swoosie Kurtz, you can be sure it will have a very gay sensibility. The show is about Ned (Lee Pace) who has the strange ability to bring dead things to life briefly — but also kill them again for good with a second touch. He uses his abilities to solve murders, but in the show's central conflict, he can't touch the woman he loves. It's a bit complicated, but entirely charming.
There are currently no out characters on Daisies, but Fuller assures that will change down the road and that there will be episodes with gay themes and characters.
The Search for the Next Elvira (Fox Reality Channel)
Premieres: October 13
Airs: October 13, 20, 31, 9:00 p.m. PT/12:00 a.m. ET
The beloved Mistress of the Dark herself, Elvira (aka Cassandra Peterson) has her own reality show in which she auditions aspiring mistresses looking to take over the crown and push-up bra. Sound bizarre? Well, just wait: Elvira's two co-judges, Patterson Lundquist and Christian Greenia, are two gay men who dress as Elvira during the show. A goth-infused remake of Top Model? This could be camp brilliance in the making.
