The Week in Gay TV: The Final Chapters for "Big Love" and "The Dish"

It's time to take a look ahead at The Week in Gay TV, your guide to the shows that will be battling for your attention in the next several days. After a couple of slow weeks, things are picking up with several shows returning with new episodes (including Modern Family and The Good Wife) while new seasons begin for Dancing with the Stars and The Fabulous Beekman Boys.

Teen Nick gets gay on Friday. No, unfortunately that doesn't mean we'll get to see Riley on Degrassi (they're busy telling another Holly J. story this week). Instead it's teen star drama Gigantic that has a gay plot as Piper (Jolene Purdy, who you might remember as lesbian teen Mandella from 10 Things I Hate About You) discovers her dad (Greg Ellis, the voice of Anders in Dragon Age 2) in bed with another man.

I checked Gigantic out when it debuted, but I lost interest after a few episodes. The lives of celebrity children can make an interesting drama, but Gigantic didn't live up to that potential for me, as most of the stories could have been a part of The O.C. I do see a lot of potential in Piper's story, as her father is an action movie star. That's a story that can get into the complicated issues about the lack of openly gay leading men. Unfortunately, I'm expecting a storyline that would work on any other drama about rich teens.

IFC has a new episode of the Onion News Network as Washington enters into negotiations with the residents of Real America. I've got my hopes up for an episode that skewers the narrative that only the viewpoints of conservatives and small town residents count.

Meanwhile, Comedy Central has a new special on Friday, Give It Up for Greg Giraldo. It's a tribute to the comedian who died recently, and will include tributes from some of Giraldo's comedy colleagues, including gay-faves Sarah Silverman, Lewis Black and Jon Stewart.

Finally, anglophiles have a choice between a British crime procedural with a new Law & Order: UK on BBC America while Syfy has a new Merlin.

Saturday sees HBO bring another stage show to television with the debut of The Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway, which takes the classic Saturday morning show and brings it to The Great White Way. I can't wait to see how they recreate the energy of the TV show for a live performance.

Meanwhile, I'm eagerly awaiting this week's episode of The Graham Norton Show since Graham's guest is comedian Jo Brand, who never fails to make me laugh with her brusque delivery. Graham also has Bradley Cooper and Stephen Merchant visiting, but I'll be spending the hour waiting for Graham to get back to talking with Brand.

BBC America also has a new episode of Being Human as George discovers that Herrick is back from the dead. I guess there's a werewolf who will learn to be more thorough with his vampire victims in the future. Then again, eviscerating vampire kings isn't an everyday activity for a nice guy like George.

Finally, out hottie designer John Giddings is back on HGTV as he hosts their Dream Home Giveaway.