Kevin Williamson, the openly gay writer and producer who made serial killers talk about movie trivia and teens talk like philosophy professors, is now making something of a comeback with Hidden Palms, which begins airing on the CW on May 30.

It’s worth remembering that Williamson, in addition to Scream and Dawson’s Creek, was also the man behind such duds as Glory Days and Cursed, so set your expectation level accordingly. I’ve screened the original pilot, and if the retooled episode that actually airs sticks closely to it, I have to tell you I’m still not certain whether Palms is good watchable, bad watchable, or outright unwatchable.

In a recent New York Times profile, Williamson said the show is inspired by his experiences in the rich Palm Springs community where he lives part-time with his boyfriend of four years. “Palm Springs isn’t real,” he said. “You lift up the green grass and what’s underneath? A bunch of scorpions and rocks.” While Williamson’s comments indicate he’s envisioning a Twin Peaks-like exploration of a small town’s seedy underbelly, the show most closely resembles The O.C. with a campy hint of Desperate Housewives.

It basically follows Johnny, a troubled teen haunted by a family tragedy, as he moves into a ritzy new community where the privileged kids act out their angst to a funky pop soundtrack, while the grown-ups trade barbs and beds. There’s a hint of mystery, as well, as Johnny learns the teen who previously occupied his house has died, and the other kids in town know something but aren’t talking.

Considering that Williamson has also been responsible for queering up TV in welcome ways – Dawson’s Creek, after all, did feature TV’s first boy on boy romantic kiss – there’s also indication that Hidden Palms might make the summer a much gayer one for all.

For one thing, it stars two cute boy refugees from The O.C. Taylor Handley, who as the despised Oliver nearly single-handedly torpedoed the first season of The O.C., is barely recognizable here as the buff and blonde Johnny. And Michael Cassidy – The O.C.’s friendly-as-a-puppy Zach on Season 2 – now appears in a more sinister role, as a privileged thug around whom no puppy should feel safe. The O.C. practically invented the ho-yay moment, and I can tell you there’s ho-yay aplenty in them there Palms.

There have also been online rumors that one of the central teen characters will be outed in a future episode, although GLAAD removed this listing from its roster of GLBT characters. Nevertheless, you can watch the first episode and speculate about which, if any, characters just might be surfing AfterElton after school. (My money's on the one who sports a jaunty pink oxford, a common TV code for "gay" and/or "evil preppie.")

Palms also features a recurring gay character played by Leslie Jordan, who won an Emmy for his guest role on Will & Grace, was recently seen as a Capote-like reporter on Ugly Betty, and here plays a kindly drag queen who takes a shine to Johnny – a fairy godfather, if you will.

And it brings back two wonderful TV divas who, oddly enough, both served time on NYPD Blue – Gail O’Grady and Sharon Lawrence, in a deliciously loopy role that outcamps her happy housewife hooker stint on Desperate Housewives.

Finally, it features a shocker of a bedroom scene that took me by such surprise that, if it actually airs uncut, I’ll keep watching the show just to see if there are more juicy jolts like this one in store. If there are -- and if more things gay this way come -- then Hidden Palms just might turn out to be a wicked guilty pleasure for the summer.

Here’s a clip of the 2 O.C. boys to get you psyched: