Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (July 20, 2007)

This week's column? Thoughts on my first Television Critics Association July Press Tour, which I've been attending in LA for two weeks. I'm actually home again for a couple of days before heading back down for another couple of days to attend the ABC presentations which includes a set visit to Brothers & Sisters where we will meet the cast. I suppose I could spare a few moments to chat with Matthew Rhys. If he asks nicely.

While it's a bit of a drag being gone from home for such long stretches, the access to the folks who star in and produce your favorite shows is totally worth it. In covering dramas, comedies, and news programs for the site, I've already chatted with John Barrowman, Anderson Cooper (briefly), CNN's Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour, Tim Gunn, Anthony Stewart Head, Bravo president Lauren Zalaznick, The Soprano's executive producer and now creator of AMC's new drama Mad Men Matt Weiner, just to name drop a few.

There were also a whole slew of folks with whom I'd love to speak with, but, alas, their shows don't include a gay angle -- yet. But I can tell you Holly Hunter (Saving Grace), Glenn Close (Damages), and Mary Louise Parker (Weeds) are funny, eloquent, and it's hard to take your eyes off of them. Close especially is magnetic and has a quality about her that screams there was no way she wasn't going to be a star. (Somehow I just can't picture her hustling dinners at Olive Garden.) And I spoke with Saving Grace creator Nancy Allen after her presentation and she said that one of the characters does have a gay brother that we'll meet in season two (assuming it gets renewed).

David Duchovny (Californication) is smart and funny, Mary-Kate Olsen (Weeds) isn't particularly verbal, and Bear Grylls drinks his own pee (but as the picture of him proves, he washes his hands afterward). That's all I'm going to say about that.

But the best part of the conference is getting to hang out with writers from around the country. TVGuide.com's Michael Ausiello has been very kind introducing me to folks, while Maureen Ryan of The Chicago Tribune is teaching me the ropes, and Susan Young of The Oakland Tribune helped out with some administrative snafus.