More pilot news: Viva Laughlin and Swingtown

As we noted in last week's article on pilot season, we're very interested in seeing what projects make it to screens this fall and how gay or gay-friendly they are. After this morning's report of some pretty gay-friendly stuff getting picked up by ABC, we're thrilled to learn that CBS has ordered both the musical Viva Laughlin (produced by Hugh Jackman) and 70's sexy-time drama Swingtown.

Laughlin is based on the Brit show Blackpool (aka Viva Blackpool), which featured working-class folks bursting into elaborately choreographed dance numbers based around beloved pop songs. The U.S. version follows a similar premise, but no word yet as to whether the gay supporting character from the original series will survive the transition. While it'll be great (and camp as a row of tents) to have a musical on the air, it's a double-edged sword for us, as Eric Winter (best known as the new potential love interest for Kevin Walker on Brothers & Sisters) is one of Laughlin's leads. So we have to say goodbye to him before anything really got started.

Swingtown focuses on -- well, a town full of swingers. As out Six Feet Under producer Alan Poul is behind this, it does still sound like a promising forum for gay stories and characters. And fans of Miriam Shor (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) will be happy to see her here, assuming she stays with the project.

We'll be back with more when we have it!