Earlier this month, ABC announced a deal with producer Rob Thomas, creator of Veronica Mars, to resurrect his short-lived 1998 series, Cupid. The series followed a man who believed himself to be the god Cupid, banished from Mount Olympus and charged by Zeus to unite 100 couples in love in order to earn his way back.

Sadly, despite the show’s expert balance of comedy, romance and drama, as well as the considerable chemistry between leads Jeremy Piven and Paula Marshall (as Cupid and the psychologist assigned to his case), ABC canceled it after a mere 15 episodes (a travesty that I’m only now beginning to forgive the network for). Over the years, the show has developed a substantial cult following, as evidenced by its number one ranking (take that Bette!) on the poll currently taking place over at Sony Home Entertainment’s website asking visitors to vote on which series they’d most like to see make its way to DVD.

And thus, ABC decided that the current television climate is ready for the show to make a comeback. The new incarnation will feature the same concept, but with new plotlines, new actors, and a new location (with Los Angeles replacing Chicago). Sadly, the humpy Piven will not be reprising his title role.

My question is, with the (slightly) more progressive attitude of major network television producers, ABC’s growing crop of gay-friendly programming (Ugly Betty, Brothers and Sisters, Desperate Housewives, et al.), and Rob Thomas’ history of including gay characters and plotlines on Veronica Mars, will we be seeing the god of love play matchmaker to some same-sex couples? I’d like to think so, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

What say you, AfterElton.com readers? Will ABC continue to be the most gay-inclusive of the major networks? Will Cupid work without the charismatic Piven as lead? Will viewers even sign on for a show that already proved to be a flop once before?

***SPOILERS***

Those watching Sunday night's episode of HBO's Entourage "Dog Day Afternoon" saw that Lloyd (Rex Lee) was truly willing to put the "personal" in personal assistant for his boss Ari (Jeremy Piven). Reeling from the loss of super client Vincent Chase (Adrien Grenier), Ari is desperate to sign a high-flying television writer played by Will Sasso (channeling a parody version of Desperate Housewives' creator Marc Cherry).

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Ari is so desperate to land the client that he persuades Lloyd to show Sasso a very good time. And by good, I mean Heidi Fleiss good. But Ari isn't the utterly soulless, heartless bastard we've been led to believe and before Lloyd can "consummate" the deal, Ari comes to his rescue in a West Hollywood gay bar. Indeed, the episode made it very clear that while there isn't something romantic going on between Lloyd and Ari, there is something more than just an employer/employee relationship.

AfterElton.com recently had the chance to talk with Lee about the unusual relationship between "gaysian" Lloyd and the uber-straight Ari.

Thus endeth another week and the AfterElton crack team of Flying Monkeys is almost as relieved as Don Imus must be. I hope you've got nice weather headed your way, but Brian tells me so much rain is expected in New York that the animals are pairing off and looking for anyone named Noah. Might be a good weekend to stay in and watch Entourage which I explain in this week's BEST.GAY.WEEK.EVER! column is centered around Ari's (Jeremy Piven) out personal assistant Lloyd (Rex Lee). Check back on Monday for our short interview with Rex about what went down--or nearly so--on Sunday night's episode.

Sunday night you also get to meet Kevin's (Matthew Rhys) next love interest on Brothers & Sisters. He's played by Eric Winter and is Senator McCallister's younger brother. No same-sex kisses this episode, but there are fireworks. Oh, and Kevin continues to botch things up romantically. Sigh.