It's that time again--those frenetic months known as pilot season, when shows compete for a slot on network television's fall lineup. A few months ago, the networks began ordering scripts for dozens of potential series, of which only a dozen or so at received pilot orders at each network. Of these, only a handful will be selected in late May for the fall schedule, or as a mid-season replacement.

Characters, storylines, and even the actors can change between when the pilot is made and when the series finally makes it on the air, but here's the rundown of which network pilots and upcoming cable series currently have gay characters.

As the season progresses and there are cast and status changes, or when we learn of new pilots with gay/bi characters, we'll update this page (if you know of a pilot that should be listed here, or have updated information, email editor@afterelton.com).

Twins - WB
Genre: comedy
Premise: fraternal twin sisters have nothing in common
Gay Content: Neil, a flamboyantly gay technician
Cast: Christopher Fitzgerald (Boiler Room) as the gay technician; Sara Gilbert (ER, 24, Roseanne) and Molly Stanton (Passions) as the twins; Melanie Griffith as their mother.
Who's Behind It: Max Mutchnick and David Kohan
Status: picked up for fall schedule

Kitchen Confidential - Fox
Genre: comedy
Premise: a bad-boy, down-on-his-luck chef (Bradley Cooper) takes over at a top New York restaurant and must fight off all the urges of his former lifestyle.
Gay Content: includes openly gay Cameron, a snobby waiter who is attracted to Jack
Cast: Sam Pancake (Will and Grace) as the gay waiter; Bradley Cooper (Jack and Bobby, Alias) as Jack, the star; Nicholas Brendon (Buffy the Vamprie Slayer), John Francis Daley, Jaime King, Bonnie Somerville and Owain Yeoman.
Who's Behind It: Darren Starr, David Hemingson, David Knoller and Jim Rosenthal
Status: picked up for fall schedule

Emily's Reasons Why Not - ABC
Genre: comedy
Premise: Emily (Heather Graham) is a successful single woman searching for love
Gay Content: Emily has a black gay friend, Josh
Cast: Graham; Khary Payton as Josh; Smith Cho, Nadia DaJani
Who's Behind It: Gavin Polone, Vivian Cannon, Robin Schiff
Status: picked up for fall schedule

Crumbs - ABC
Genre: comedy
Premise: two estranged brothers, one gay and one straight, are forced to take over the family business when their parents divorce
Gay Content: see premise
Cast: Fred Savage (Wonder Years) plays the gay brother; Eddie McClintock (The Sweetest Thing) plays the straight one. Jane Curtin (3rd Rock from the Sun) and William Devane (24) have been cast as the parents.
Who's Behind It: Marco Pennette, Brian Robbins, Mike Tollin
Status: picked up for mid-season

The War at Home - Fox
Genre: comedy
Premise: hypocritical parents who have lost control at home try to regain the high ground.
Gay Content: one of the kids has a gay teen friend named Kenny
Cast: Michael Rapaport; Anita Barone; Dean Collins; Kaylee Defer; Kyle Sullivan
Who's Behind It: Michael Hanel, Mindy Schultheis
Status: picked up for fall schedule

Book of Daniel - NBC
Genre: drama
Premise: an Episcopal priest with a prescription drug problem talks to Jesus and struggles with family problems
Gay Content: one of his sons is a gay Republican
Cast: Christian Campbell (All My Children, Trick) as the gay son; Aidan Quinn as the lead; Ellen Burstyn as his wife;
Who's Behind It: Jack Kenny and Flody Suarez
Status: picked up for mid-season schedule

Grown Men - WB
Genre: comedy
Premise: five former frat brothers reunite 13 years later
Gay Content: one of the frat brothers is gay
Cast: Dean Cain (Clubhouse), Dan Cortese (Veronica's Closet), John DiMaggio (Futurama), Mitch Rouse (Lost at Home), John Ducey (Oh Grow Up), and Ion Overman (The L Word).
Who's Behind It: Rob Greenberg
Status: not picked up

Love Monkey - CBS
Genre: drama
Premise: four male friends at different stages of life and love as told from the point of view of a single, thirtysomething record executive
Gay Content: one of the male friends is a gay former Major League Baseball player
Cast: Christopher Wiehl (Playmakers) as the gay man; also stars Tom Cavanagh, Judy Greer, Larenz Tate and Jason Priestley.
Who's Behind It: Michael Rauch, Mark Johnson and John Wirth
Status: not picked up

Don't Ask - Fox
Genre: comedy
Premise: a married father of two teenage sons announces he's gay and in love with his wife's therapist
Gay Content: see premise
Cast: Alan Ruck (Twister, Ferris Bueller's Day Off) as the gay dad; Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock from the Sun) as the mother.
Who's Behind It: Sandy Grushow, Nicky Silver, Paul Shapiro
Status: not picked up