Queerview television guide for the weekend of July 25

Friday

The Golden Girls Marathon (Lifetime) starting at Noon EDT
In loving memory of the late Estelle Getty, Lifetime is running five hours of gay-fave (and gay-inclusive) sitcom The Golden Girls. I hope you have enough tissues for whenever Sophia declares "Sal, I'm coming to you!"

Degrassi: The Next Generation (The N)
Degrassi returns to The N for the final three episodes of the season as the news that Paige is getting a condo as a gift from her dad leaves her roommates Marco (out actor Adamo Ruggiero) and Ellie trying to figure out where their lives are headed. Looking at one episode guide, this sounds like it could be the big goodbye for these three characters, who've been at the center of most of the series' gay drama. This just might be my goodbye to Degrassi as well, considering how the new characters have really fallen flat for me. Are the Degrassi fans out there planning to stick around for more of Anya?

Marco and his roomies

Larry King Live (CNN) 6:00 PM EDT
She's back! Gay fave comedienne Kathy Griffin is back on Larry King. Considering how much fun her past appearances have been, I certainly have my hopes up.

Doctor Who (SciFi) 9:00 PM EDT
It's a companion-palooza as Russel T. Davies heads into his last season finale (one that tries to top the previous epic finales by Davies), gathering all of the great characters Davies has added to the Who mythos: Donna Noble! Martha Jones! Captain Jack! Rose Tyler! Mickey Smith! Jackie Tyler! (I guess she counts as a companion, now?) Plus Sarah Jane Smith! (Who Davies re-introduced to the franchise.) It's gonna be a total fangasm; and that's before considering that tonight's episode also features the first Who appearance of Ianto Jones.

Squee, I say, squee!

I'm most excited about seeing Captain Jack return to Who. While the second season of Torchwood was greatly improved, there were still episodes where I felt like the Captain Jack who was such magic on Doctor Who was MIA. Watching John Barrowman on Doctor Who is always such a treat, even when he's spending a year tied up while Martha goes hiking around the world.

The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) 11:30 PM EDT
Nathan Lane shows up tonight. His politically-themed play November may have closed recently, but he has more political comedy coming up with the upcoming film Swing Vote.

Saturday

The Graham Norton Show (BBC America) 10:00 PM EDT
Graham wraps up his second season with action movie star Jackie Chan and gay fave comedienne Dawn French. Things are likely to get lively if past chats with Norton and French are any measure.

Sunday

Shameless (Sundance) 9:00 PM EDT
As the third season kicks off (last week's "Liam Day" episode was actually a New Year's special) Ian Gallagher has to deal with the ramifications of a one-night stand with one of his brother's co-workers.

Ian and regrettable one night stand Jack

Design Star (HGTV) 9:00 PM EDT
The final two head to New Orleans to help out two families whose homes haven't recovered from hurricane Katrina. This will be the final showcase for Matt and Jen's talents before viewers are given a chance to pick the winner. VOTE MATT!!

Brooke Knows Best (VH1) 10:00 PM EDT
Brooke meets a hot surfer boy, only to see things go badly when she invites him to a house party to which her ex-boyfriend shows up as well. I'm sure we'll see her gay roommate Glenn trying to help her deal with the relationship drama.