You might have heard that Mensa, the organization for people with very high IQs, has assembled a list of the Smartest TV Shows of All Time. Frasier makes the list at number 8 (aided, no doubt, by the performance of David Hyde Pierce as natty Niles) and four shows known for occasionally tackling gay themes - The West Wing, Boston Legal, Mad About You and All in the Family - are also included.

The full list:

1. M*A*S*H
2. Cosmos with Carl Sagan
3. CSI
4. House
5. West Wing
6. Boston Legal
7. All in the Family
8. Frasier
9. Mad About You
10. Jeopardy

As always with a list like this, a number of omissions come to mind, ones that makes the inclusion of Boston Legal and Mad About You seem even odder. Seeing Mensa chairman Jim Wardell explain the choices doesn't help things, since there doesn't seem to be on over-arching rationale; CSI and House are considered smart for the way they use science in their stories while Frasier and M*A*S*H are praised for their characters and dialouge.

While a list of this always inspires people to think of their favorite deserving shows (I always go with Wonderfalls, myself) there are a couple general omissions that I find interesting. All of these ten shows originally aired on broadcast television, so critical darling cable networks like HBO and fx are not represented.

Animated and science fiction series don't make the cut, nor do any gritty, emotionally exhausting dramas like Homicide or Six Feet Under. One could almost say that Mensa picked shows that were intellectually challenging but not too intellectually challenging.

The most glaring omission is probably The Simpsons, a show that playfully challenged its audience's attention to detail almost constantly. Does the fact that Lisa Simpson is a high-ranking member of Mensa Springfield mean nothing?

But there are plenty of other gay-inclusive TV shows that could fit on the list. Earlier, I mentioned Homicide (which gave us an unflinchingly realistic look at police work and characters who developed over time, including Kyle Secor's Det. Bayliss becoming comfortable with his bisexuality), Six Feet Under and Wonderfalls, and would also think Oz and The Wire would be deserviing nominations.

What are your favorite examples of smart, gay television? Which shows do you think challenged audiences' brains the most? Let us know in the comments!

Tom Lenk as Andrew in Buffy

In a continued effort to bring you all that is important in the world of gay entertainment and ensure that you are being spoon-fed images of gorgeous, commoditized manflesh, we present the newly-minted AfterElton Briefs. Following the usual assortment of carefully-selected news items, interested readers can find a refreshing pic of a hot man in underwear after the jump. Yes, we're serious.

• Yet another expose on Scientology that is unable to name any names when claiming that the organization straightens gay celebrities. (Other than John Travolta, and do we need to issue a press release stating once and for all that we really didn't want him in the first place?)

• Our Top 10 Gay and Bisexual Wookies, Tribbles and Thundercats article from earlier in the week sparked some interesting discussion over at a Joss Whedon fansite, including a link to Joss himself weighing in on the whole "is he or isn't he" debate regarding Andrew from Buffy.

• I'd be more optimistic about the results of a recent study showing that gay couples are just as committed as straight ones if it weren't for the subtle implication that gays are doing just fine without the right to marry, see? Or maybe that's just me.

• Hey fans of The Wire's Omar (that includes you, Senator Obama!): Actor Michael K. Williams recently appeared on NPR's Fresh Air and spoke at length about the character ... you can hear the whole interview here. His candor and apparent deep respect for his character and his character's sexuality are very impressive, as is the fact that he improvised Omar's first kiss, which wasn't in the script.

• The L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center and the City of West Hollywood have teamed up to create a web soap to raise HIV awareness called In the Moment.

In a recent interview with The Las Vegas Sun, Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama spoke about what is apparently his favorite TV show: HBO's fascinating The Wire, which meticulously decontructs the urban dystopia of modern-day Baltimore. When asked who his favorite character is on the show, Obama answered:

I gotta say Omar's a great character ... He’s this gay gangster who only robs drug dealers, and then gives back. You know, he’s sort of a Robin Hood. And he’s the toughest, baddest guy on this show, but he’s gay, you know. And it’s really interesting. It’s a fascinating character.

First, it would be hard for anyone to pick a favorite character among the 500 or so that populate the complex universe of the show, currently in its fifth season. And second, with a show so groundbreaking in its diversity and its focus on urban black communities of all stripes, for Obama to pick the lone gay character is encouraging.

Although not altogether surprising: when I attended the premiere screening and party for the new season last week and the cast was introduced individually, the crowd went nuts when actor Michael K. Williams, who plays Omar Little, was introduced. 

Not familiar with The Wire? NetFlix it now from the beginning - I guarantee you won't be disappointed, and when was there a better time than now, when there's nothing new to watch? For more on the groundbreaking gay character that's stealing the hearts of Presidential hopefuls, check out our interview with Michael K. Williams.

The networks are scrambling to fill up their schedules in January now that they’ve nearly burned through what is in the can for regular scripted programming. Some of the shows that we devote a lot of bandwidth to here at AfterElton.com (Ugly Betty, Brothers & Sisters, and yes, maybe even ATWT) are at least temporarily going dark.

So what is going to be on the air for discerning viewers starting in January? It’s a motley assortment.

Here’s a short list of some of the highest profile January premieres:

• Torchwood (BBC America) January 26th
• Dirt (F/X) January 1st
• The Wire (HBO) January 6th
• The L Word (Showtime) January 6th
• American Idol (FOX) January 15th
• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX) January 13th
• Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) January 11th
• One Tree Hill (CW) January 8th
• The Biggest Loser (NBC) January 8th
• The Apprentice: Celebrity Edition (NBC) January 3rd
• Flavor of Love (VH1) January 13th

We’re curious. Any of these float your boat? Or maybe something else not listed here will make it onto your TIVO season pass list?

We thought we’d ask you guys to let us know what upcoming new or returning show(s) you’re most interested in watching so we can devote some extra attention to them come January. Help us out by taking the quick poll!

I remember after I marathoned the first season of Queer as Folk on DVD, I went outside and couldn't understand where all the straight people came from.

And I mean, I live in San Francisco.

There was a time when all a show had to do to get me to watch was have subliminal homosexuality - okay, maybe that's not the only reason I watched Xena, but it helped - or a tangential gay character. We were desperate for queer representation on television shows.