Gay television news: Logo picks up Lance and Gant, renews Sketch

We mentioned this morning that a few gay-friendly pilots had been picked up by the majors in advance of the network up-fronts (we'll keep updating you as we learn more from NYC this week), and we just heard that Logo is chipping in with their pickup and renewal announcements (full disclosure: AfterElton is owned by Logo).

The Big Gay Sketch Show is coming back for a second season (let's hope it keeps improving), which will go into production in the fall for an early 2008 start. And the all-gay channel has also announced two new original shows that are going into development.

The first is a music reality program featuring Lance Bass, the openly gay ex-boybander. Brian Graden, President of Entertainment for MTV Networks Music Group and President of Logo, said: "Lance Bass brings an astute understanding of the music business from a uniquely gay vantage point. We're thrilled to be working with him." I'm just looking forward to seeing the guy outside of the gossip papers and back working in his chosen field.

The second is a downright bizarre-sounding action/comedy from Queer as Folk's Robert Gant (pictured, looking as though they'd named a juice after him -- VeryFine...) tentatively titled Gayonic Man. Yes, it is indeed about a gay bionic man. Let's hope the opening title sequence has him squeezing more than tennis balls!