***SPOILERS***

It doesn't exactly count as gay character since it appears to be a one episode gig (or a very occasional appearance) but gay fans of Desperate Housewives were treated to a nice performance by Richard Chamberlain on last night's episode.

Chamberlain played Lynette's stepfather Glen Wingfield, a man Lynnette believed to have divorced her mother Stella (Polly Bergen) because she was a drunk who cheated on her. But it turned out that the truth was more complicated than that. In fact, Glen had left because he was gay. Turns out he had a longterm relationship that lasted for more than twenty years until his partner died the previous year.

The show handled the revelation quite nicely with Lynnette being surprised, but not angry. I especially loved how Stella believed she was so unpleasant as to have turned Glen gay, a notion that Lynnette quickly dismisses. And in another nice touch, Glen invites Stella -- who needs a place to live -- to move into his extra bedroom. Yet again we see families come in all different shapes and sizes despite what the Pat Robertsons of the world would have us believe.

Fans of Desperate Housewives' Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom) also had a little reason to cheer last night.

Orson and Bree have been very wrapped up in their new baby and Bree has been especially absorbed in the idea that she not make the same mistakes again that she made with Andrew and Danielle. Several times during the episode Andrew had to listen to Bree make disparaging comments about him and he finally decided to move out.

But rather than do it in a pique of anger, in a touching scene in his new, crappy apartment, he actually tells Bree he appreciates the "tough love" she used to get him on a better path (he also chastises her for not noticing the new him). Fortunately, this does not include his being straight and as I reported earlier, Andrew is going to get another same-sex love interest down the road. While I personally enjoyed "bad" Andrew I have missed seeing him do much of anything good or bad. I hope DH creator Marc Cherry keeps the new Andrew as having him go bad yet again will make him seem schizo.

While I appreciate Chamberlain's appearance and Andrew's turnaround, I really hope the show does something more with Andrew and the gay househusbands Bob and Lee, otherwise this season will be a bit of a disappointment gay-wise.

Televisionista has the scoop that out actor Richard Chamberlain will be appearing on the November 25 episode of Desperate Housewives, playing Lynette's long lost stepfather. Interestingly, this is the second consecutive episode where an out actor is introduced as a member of Lynette's family, as Sarah Paulson will play Lynette's sister on the November 11 episode. (The show will be preempted on November 18.)

Now is there any chance ABC can get Chamberlain can stick around for the next hour so that Kevin Walker can tell him how The Thornbirds made him weak for a man of the cloth? Because that would be gold.

Check out a couple more pictures of Chamberlain with screen-stepdaughter Felicity Huffman and Polly Bergen after the break:

Last night I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry had its star-studded premiere across town from the opening night of Outfest (pics from that event are frustratingly more difficult to find, but I'm on it). Here are some of the folks that made it to the fake-gay firemen's special day...

Lance Bass

Out actor Richard Chamberlain