NOT ANOTHER GAY VILLAIN!
Actually, it’s a gay actor who specializes in playing bad guys. John Glover can currently be seen in Smallville, playing Lionel Luthor, father of the dastardly Lex. But Lionel is only the latest in a long string of bad guys for the Emmy-nominated and Tony Award-winning actor. You can read John’s thoughts about his career in a recent interview with the Windy City Times. In my mind, John's best villain ever may be his portrayal of the "evil" twin in in Love! Valor! Compassion!

AND THE CONTROVERSY IS WHAT EXACTLY?
A recent episode of The View concerning the ex-gay movement has stirred controversy among some gay groups. After reading the transcript, I can’t help but be puzzled over the reaction to the episode. Clearly, Barbara, Joy, Meredith, and even Star Jones do not support the ex-gay movement and are even pro-gay. True, they don’t tar-and-feather Scott Davis, the director of Exodus Youth, and while that would have been fun, it was pretty clear to me the ladies don't approve of Exodus or its methods. In response to the idea that gay people don’t have long-term relationships, Meredith Viera said, “That's not true. I do know people who have long relationships.”

Yes, a more balanced point-of-view would have been nice, but The View speaks to a middle-American audience, and it might do us well to let the ladies of The View get their message across their way. Just a thought, folks.

THAT WOULD BE AWKWARD
In regards to gay characters, cable television continues to show how lacking the big four networks truly are. Of particular note is cable's FX Network. This season on Rescue Me, Chief Jerry Reilly’s (Jack McGhee) estranged gay son is back as a semi-regular character. On this week's episode, Jerry flipped out when he walked in on his son and his boyfriend having sex, and on next week's episode, the Chief awkwardly attends a birthday party for his son's boyfriend. Gee, just what every gay guy wants at his party--his boyfriend's homophobic father.

Now we have word that another FX show--the much-bally-hooed-but-too-gruesome-for-my-taste Nip/Tuck--is adding something as rare on TV as actual journalism: a bisexual man. TV Guide’s spoiler guy reports, “Turns Out, Bruno Campos’ mysterious doc bats for both teams—a little fact Christian (Julian McMahon) discovers during a ménage a trois. Talk about awkward.” Okay, so maybe I can overcome my squeamishness for one episode.

Finally, Kyra Sedgwick’s new TNT show, The Closer, dealt with a supposed hate crime against the gay community this week--no, not last week’s ex-gay episode of The View, but a gay bashing. Look for a longer article on the episode on AfterElton.com next week.

NOT THAT THE NETWORKS AREN’T TRYING
On the heels of NBC’s announcement that Christian Campbell would play gay on The Book of Daniel is news that the Fox Network’s upcoming sitcom, The War at Home, will also have a gay character—sort of. Starring Michael Rappaport (Boston Public) as the Archie Bunker-type patriarch of a suburban family, the show also has a teenage son who “fears” he might be gay. Some gay groups are already upset over the producer’s choice of words in describing the teenagers reaction to his feelings. The Everett Herald quotes the show’s creator, Rob Lotterstein, as saying that if show doesn’t make people uncomfortable, it must not be funny. By that logic, food-poisoning must be a riot. Regarding Mr. Lotterstein’s assertion about what is funny, The Herald (which panned the show) says it is “both discomforting and unfunny.” The War at Home will be Fox’s only non-animated show on their Sunday night line-up. Yes, but it sounds like it might be a cartoon anyway.

YOU WANT SOMETHING TO CRY ABOUT? I’LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO CRY ABOUT
Instead of going after The View, how about we direct our collective anger at the American Family Association (AFA) and their attack on Johnson and Johnson for that company's support of the recently launched gay network, LOGO. This week the AFA activated their Million Mom Network to blitz Johnson and Johnson with emails and phone calls decrying the corporation’s pro-gay stance. Read the AFA’s homophobic diatribe here. This follows recent attacks on Kraft for their support of the upcoming Gay Games in Chicago. Man, these people don’t even want us playing tiddly-winks. So forget about The View and speak up against those really out to hurt us. Email Johnson and Johnson here, or call them at 1-800-962-5357, option 5, or 1-877-895-3665. This is war and the other side is armed for bear. Call now, or soon there won't be any gay programming at all to bitch about!

BURT AND WILLIE A COUPLE? IT SURE BEATS BURT AND LONI
In the upcoming movie version of The Dukes Of Hazard, or, as I call it, The Final Sign of the Apocalypse, Burt Reynolds plays Boss Hogg while Willie Nelson plays Uncle Jesse. Apparently the two got along famously. Really famously. On a recent episode of the Tonight Show, Burt told Jay Leno, “When I worked with Willie Nelson, who is just about the nicest man I’ve ever worked with I thought...if I’d been gay, it would have saved me millions.” Burt also said that had the two hooked up they’d still be “happily together.” Kudos to the uber-macho Mr. Reynolds for not being freaked out by the idea of riding off into the sunset with Mr. Nelson.

SURE HE’S GOOD, BUT HE’S NO BURT REYNOLDS
Bruce Davison has been much lauded for his 1990 portrayal of a gay man tending to his dying partner in Longtime Companion, as well as for many other performances. In the new independent movie, Hate Crime, he’s bringing an entirely different sort of character to life. This time he plays the homophobic Pastor Boyd who does not take kindly to the two gay men who move into his neighborhood. I guess he doesn’t want to see his home value go up. PlanetOut has an interview with the straight but very cool Mr. Davis.

I GUESS THEIR PLATE WASN’T FULL ENOUGH
here!TV must not be worried about competing with MTV’s recently launched gay network Logo as they seem to have time to go into a whole other business. This week they announced the arrival of here!Tunes, a full service music publishing company and virtual record label. The new company will focus on out gay and lesbian musicians and will strive to be especially friendly for artists. here! executive Brian Goldman states: “We have made here!Tunes as artist friendly as possible. By participating in the artist's publishing, we have a vested interest in the artist's success and their careers." Yeah, and the Big Bad Wolf made lots of nice promises, too. Let’s hope this is at least one record label that means what it says. Bands and musicians can make submissions to here!Tunes via heretv.com.

JUST HOW “EXPERIENCED” WAS HE?
A new biography of rock-great Jimi Hendrix uncovered Mr. Hendrix’s discharge records from his time in the military. According to records, Jimi told the base psychiatrist he was in love with a fellow soldier. Jimi told a slightly different version to friends, claiming his discharge came after he broke his ankle during a parachute jump. His military record makes no mention of any such injury. Gosh, I wonder which version is true? Given Jimi’s ensuing womanizing, his claim of gay love was probably just something he borrowed from us to get out of the army. Since he gave us plenty of sizzling guitar licks, why don't we just call the score even?

I’LL TAKE PAUL FOR THE WIN
Comedian Paul Lynde represents an image many gay men aren't entirely comfortable with--namely, that of the stereotypical bitchy, queen. What I didn’t know and what the new biography, Center Square: The Paul Lynde Story, makes clear is that Paul was much more than that. In fact, the comedian was a gay pioneer in entertainment. Authors Steve Wilson and Joe Florenski point out that Paul came along in an era where the only gay people on television either died or were the butt of jokes. Paul showed that a gay man could make the jokes. Even better, he did it while never hid the fact he was gay.

The comedian’s life wasn’t all laughs though. Wilson and Florenski don’t shy away from Paul’s alcoholism, inability to maintain a relationship, or his own poor self esteem. Paul especially struggled with weight issues and once said, “I looked like Kate Smith’s niece.” Rest in peace, Paul. I wish we’d known you better sooner.

Now I’ll shut up so you can have the BEST. GAY. WEEK. EVER.

That's it for this week! Check back next Friday for a new installment of Best. Gay. Week. Ever., or read previous installments here.