Florida’s cold snap is (hopefully) over, but that doesn’t mean cooler temps have left the Sunshine State just yet. Winter is still with us and for television addicts that means a slew of new and returning programming to get us through the remaining few months of non-beach weather.
Staples like Logo and Here! are still providing LGBT entertainment and RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 2 premieres Feb. 1 and promises to be more catty than last year. But other networks executives seem to finally understand that there’s an LGBT audience out there craving story lines for our community.
As we prepare for the onslaught of awards shows in the coming months, we thought we’d look at some of the more anticipated shows with gay or gay-friendly angles that have us wanting to snuggle on the couch for a fun night in.
Glee
Wednesdays on Fox
Finding the “gay angle” of this show is like trying to find a gay bar in Ybor City—simple. The musical/comedy following the lives of a high school glee club has bolstered Fox’s ratings and has us all humming mash-ups of some of our favorite tunes.
When it returns in April, Glee is promising several surprises, special guests and awesome musical numbers. Among them is a duet between Jane Lynch’s villainous Sue Sylvester and Olivia Newton-John. According to a report on Entertainment Tonight, the two will sing Newton-John’s 1980s hit “Physical.” “Sue” will surely steal the show as the track-suit wearing cheerleading coach and we can’t wait to see how “Sue Sees It.”
In a related note, Matthew Morrison, who plays glee club teacher Mr. Schuester, will release a solo album in the fall. He recently signed a deal with Mercury Records and details will undoubtedly be released when the show returns in April.
True Blood
Sundays on HBO
Homo-erotic sex appeal is nothing new on the vampire series True Blood. But for season three, the HBO series is reportedly ramping up the gay story lines.
When the series returns in June, sexy Kevin Alejandro (Southland) joins the cast as an orderly named Jesus, who takes care of Lafayette’s mother. For the first two seasons, the muscular, yet campy Lafayette has been a supporting player with a few same-sex flings. Apparently this season brings Lafayette to the forefront with a steamy relationship with Jesus, and both characters are reportedly slated to appear in every episode.
Not only will the story arc boost the series’ gay appeal even more, the addition of award-winning actress Alfrie Woodard as Lafayette’s mother will surely lure even more fans to the hit show.
American Idol
Tuesdays and Wednesdays on Fox
Okay, we know the popular talent show is already airing on Fox. But right now all we’ve been able to see are the auditions featuring “guest judges” like Kristin Chenoweth, Shania Twain and Mary J. Blige.
The segments were recorded last summer before former judge Paula Abdul announced her departure from the show. While her crazy behavior will no doubt be missed in season 9, her leaving has made way for the addition of Ellen DeGeneres to the judging panel.
The talk show host joins American Idol judges Simon Cowell, Kara Dioguardi and Randy Jackson in February as singing hopefuls compete in Hollywood week.
The “everyman” perspective of DeGeneres should provide some new judging criteria and we just can’t wait to see how the comedian handles bad performances and Cowell’s snarky remarks.
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Fridays on Starz
Hot! That’s the best way to describe the new series coming to Starz beginning Jan. 22. Spartacus: Blood and Sand, tells the tale of gladiator Spartacus (played by hot Australian actor Andy Whitfield) and his struggle in the brutal world of the arena, where blood and death are primetime entertainment. Early reports say that Spartacus has a man-slave that provides some pretty steamy scenes—and muscular men clad in leather harnesses set up the perfect opportunity for plenty of flesh.
Don’t worry ladies; this appears to offer something for you too. Former Xena Lucy Lawless is part of the cast as Lucretia, Spartacus’ nemesis who is described as “sexually voracious.”
Did we mention this sounds hot?
