Out "Night Shift" head writer Sri Rao to bring a new gay-inclusive teen series to The N

I know, I know. I'm bummed, too, that tonight's General Hospital: Night Shift means that one of my favorite shows is going away. But TV Guide Canada recently talked with the show's head writer, Sri Rao, who in discussing the origins of his Night Shift gig revealed that he's got another project in the works:

"I did an independent pilot, which was seen by The N, and they later ordered a series that I created titled What Goes On, about five teenagers growing up in a suburban neighborhood. It hasn’t aired yet, but after ABC saw the series, they approached me to head-write Night Shift."

From what little I've been able to Google, What Goes On follows five teens who live on the same Philadelphia street, including one gay kid. Rao says it'll have "the same tone and gravitas" as Six Feet Under, except with teens. Obviously, he's trying to our expectations low. Not.

Find out more about Rao after the break!

Rao also mentions that he's a huge fan of Degrassi: The Next Generation (which led him to pitch What Goes On to The N) as well as My So Called Life. Suddenly, my Night Shift love is bleeding over to Rao's new series ... too bad The N doesn't seem to be promoting it yet.

Marco and Dylan, one of Degrassi: The Next Generation's gay teen couples.

Unfortunately, if you're frustrated with the "Original Gangster" General Hospital and was hoping Rao would add daytime television to his resume, that doesn't sound likely:

"I don’t think I can do the pace of daytime. Night Shift is a daytime hybrid. Night Shift aired one day a week. I look at what they do over at GH and I’m just in awe of it. No hiatus after five episodes a week a year. It’s insane! I don’t know how they do it."

Still for those of you who like your men smart, creative and able to look good in a pinstriped suit, Rao mentioned he's single "and very looking," with his perfect man being Eric Whitlow, Chad Allen's role on Night Shift.