The Week in Gay TV: "Shameless" returns, a Gaga "Glee" and Barney's double

Welcome to another edition of Week in Gay TV helping you sort through the shows that will be battling for your attention as the networks shift into the summer season, including the return of Shameless, a Lady Gaga-inspired Glee along with the finales of How I Met Your Mother and The Good Wife.

It’s only been two months since we last saw the residents of Chatsworth Estate, and the Sundance Channel is kindly giving us Shameless fans a very short break between Season Five and Six. Shameless does an amazing job juggling a large ensemble cast, and has showcased several gay and bisexual characters during its run. And Season Six sounds like an important season for the series’ gays, including some major events coming for the hapless gangster, Mickey Maguire and a major change for Ian Gallagher in the premiere.

Mickey Maguire, a gangster with flamboyant and terrible taste. At least it isn't a neon green zebra pattern.

Shameless strikes a delicate balance, managing to mine humor out of sensitive subjects like alcoholism, mental illness and corruption. Few of Shameless’ characters are admirable and the series’ gays are no exception. Ian once got his family out of a jam thanks to a gift he received at a bathroom glory hole while Mickey is a short-tempered and violent dim bulb.

Still, as dysfunctional as Shameless’ characters are, there’s a sweetness to the series, as we see that even a ruthless gangster like Paddy Maguire can put aside his grudges when his family needs him. 

Shameless isn’t Friday’s only show to come from the UK on Friday as Merlin helps Arthur as he faces a challenge made by a mysterious seer, a challenge that ends up leading to discovery of a secret about the royal family. Meanwhile, the newest Gavin & Stacey,sees Stacey go back on the job search — that is if her confidence isn’t totally destroyed by Uncle Bryn.

Friday also offers the season finale of Private Chefs of Beverly Hills. I’m of mixed feelings as to whether I want this show to return for another season. On paper, the idea of creative professionals dealing with unusual challenges sounds promising — at least it didn’t turn out to be The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Yell at Personal Chefs.

On the other hand, I could have done with less fake reality drama. Who hires a personal chef and doesn’t bother to discuss all the issues of the job? We’ve seen one client surprise the chefs by telling them they would be working in a kitchen without electricity, another client discover that her guests would be served different dishes than what she initially requested, while another job involved a crash course in kosher cooking. I know it would be boring to show every step of the preparation, but the clients look like fools for not making sure the people they’re hiring can do the job. 

Out Private Chef Jesse Brune

Finally, Friday brings a new episode of Party Down, which sees the crew work a birthday party for Steve Guttenberg, who ends up turning the party into a script writing workshop.