Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (June 8, 2007)

Earlier in the week, a reader asked me if HBO's new show John From Cincinnati, which debuts Sunday night after The Sopranos finale, had any gay characters. I hadn't heard of any, but a quick check with HBO proved me wrong, and the network overnighted me the first three episodes.

God, how I wished they hadn't. I so want those three hours of my life back.

The gay character is Barry Cunningham (Matt Winston, below) who just won the lottery and is buying a hotel in the seaside community where the show is set. Yes, Barry is suicidal, but I suspect it has more to do with being stuck on this show than being gay. And, yes, another character refers to him as "fruit" a lot, but all the characters talk trash about each other and otherwise act weird and horrible. At least the gay character isn't being singled out here.

The show is a cross between Twin Peaks (offbeat characters, mysticism) and Dirt (really unpleasant people). Ostensibly, it's about a legendary surfing family, but there was also something about a dead parrot named Zippy, and some bizarro guy named John who is more like an alien than a human being, and something happed to Barry in room 24 of the hotel he bought. Frankly, everyone on the show is either "off" or unbelievably unpleasant (pity Rebecca De Mornay who deserves better).

I can't think of a single reason you should tune in unless you're a masochist. Or high.

Ross the Intern is on Sunday night's Celebrity Fit Club. GLAAD's website says Ross is gay, but as we documented earlier, he doesn't have much to say about it himself.

There is a new episode of Life on the D-List that involves Kathy's straight tour manager ending up in sort of drag. BTW, the only time I bother watching The View anymore is when Kathy is on it.

Wednesday is the premiere of the new season of Top Chef featuring out judge Ted Allen and out contestant Dale. Check back on Tuesday for our interview with Ted, but it doesn't sound as if there will be any head shaving this time around.

Also premiering Wednesday night is Rescue Me (subject of quite a bit of chatter on the blog this week!) In Wednesday's AskAusiello, Michael Ausiello answered a question about Probie's (Michael Lombardi) ambiguous sexuality this season. Said Ausiello:

I hear he'll realize he's more bisexual than flat-out gay. It actually looks like a rough season is ahead for Probie. He'll suffer a death in the family, get injured on the job and spiral into a deep depression. Good times!

So FX continues to give us a well-rounded view of gay and bisexual people. Oh, joy. Check back on Wednesday for a more in depth look at FX and Rescue Me.

HEY, YOU! WANNA BE A BLOGGER? SURE, YOU DO!

Surely by now, you've noticed how unbelievably glamorous life is here at AfterElton.com and you probably cry yourself to sleep thinking you'd be happy if only you could be part of the team! Well, now is your chance as we're looking for another blogger--but there is a catch! We need someone on the East coast (Lyle is doing a great job out west for us). So you live east of Indiana, are into pop culture, know how to write fun, insightful commentary, and are certain the world is just dying to see more of your talent, then drop us a line at editor@afterelton.com. Flying Monkeys are standing by to answer your call.

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