Jam Tv Listings

The Benefactor

ABC Mondays, 8 P.M.; premiered September 13

Mark Cuban, billionaire businessman and owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, is "The Benefactor," and he's giving away a million dollars to the one contestant who proves to him that she or he deserves it most. How's that done? Good question. Keep an eye out for Kevin, the gay contestant from Dallas.

Clubhouse

CBS Tuesdays, 9 P.M.; premieres September 28

Sixteen-year-old Pete Young (Jeremy Sumpter) lands a dream job as the batboy for his favorite team, the New York Empires. Coming-of-age struggles ensue. Lesbian actress Cherry Jones has been cast in the recurring role of Sister Marie, principal of the Catholic school Pete attends.

The Complex: Malibu

Fox Fridays, 8 P.M.; premiered August 30

Real-life couples move into a Malibu apartment complex, where they must restore and redecorate one of four units. Rooms are ranked by pros to see which people stay or go. Among the eight couples are the 30-something Brad and Lew from Phoenix, who are nearing 10 years in their relationship.

Drawn Together

Comedy Central Wednesdays, 10:30 P.M.; premieres October 27

In a world where all animated cartoons coexist, eight characters from differing genres are thrown together in a Real World-style house. This hilarious and gay-inclusive series is not to be missed. [See p. 56]

Eyes

ABC premieres midseason, 2005

Harlan Judd (Tim Daly) owns Judd Risk Management, a 21st-century P.I. firm whose job is to make its clients' problems go away quickly and quietly. Rick Worthy (Collateral Damage) plays Chris Didion, a gay detective.

Father of the Pride

NBC Tuesdays, 9 P.M.; premiered August 31

Go behind the scenes of the Siegfried & Roy show to view the CGI-animated antics and suburban life of their performing white lions. Don't expect any coming-out episodes for the former showmen, but there will be an episode dealing with different animal species looking to marry, as well as some queer-themed jokes along the way. The talented voice cast includes John Goodman, Cheryl Hines, Carl Reiner, and Orlando Jones.

Here Family

Here TV premieres November

GLBT parents have their own unique issues, and now they'll have their own show addressing those needs as Here TV joins forces with And Baby magazine. This 12-episode series covers methods for conceiving a child, adoption, vacation destinations for gay parents, custody issues for when gay parents split, and more.

Huff Showtime Sundays, 10 P.M.; premieres November 7

While not exactly a gay series, the story surrounds Dr. Craig Huffstodt (Hank Azaria), a.k.a. "Huff," a successful psychiatrist whose life is thrown into turmoil when a 15-year-old patient has a bad coming-out experience and commits suicide in Huff's office. More queer themes are sure to follow.

Kevin Hill

UPN Wednesdays, 9 P.M.; premieres September 29

Sexy Taye Diggs is Kevin Hill, a self-made, hotshot entertainment lawyer, whose abrupt transition to parenthood is aided by his gay nanny (Patrick Breen). [See p. 59]

Manhunt: The Search for America's Most Gorgeous Male Model

Bravo Wednesdays, 10 P.M.; premieres October 13

Regular guys are plucked off the streets to participate in a series of challenges that will determine which of them has the looks, style, stamina, and charisma to be a male supermodel. Pray for catfights.

The OUTzone

Trio Saturdays; premieres September 18

The Trio channel begins a new weekly gay programming block that includes hit series from overseas, music specials, films, documentaries, and everything else queer media fans love. Highlights include the Oscar-winning film Gods and Monsters, a Dame Edna marathon, and historic Miss America pageants.

Project Runway

Bravo Tuesdays, 9 P.M.; premieres November 30

More queer fun from Bravo, as 12 amateur designers compete for a chance to face off against their peers on the catwalk at New York's Fall Fashion Week in February 2005. Not to further stereotypes or anything, but since this is the fashion industry, there's sure to be a homo (or 10) on hand. Supermodel Heidi Klum heads the panel of judges.

Queer Eye for the Straight Girl

Bravo premieres early 2005

Same deal as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, but instead of the Fab 5 you've got the Gal Pals, a different set of queens in Los Angeles.

Quintuplets

Fox Wednesdays, 8:30 P.M.; premiered in June, with episodes running through January

Bob (Andy Richter) and his wife had five kids who were once cute, but now they are 15 and getting into trouble. Awkward and unpopular Penny (April Matson) has a best friend named Matt (Robert James Hoffman III) who's gay. He's been in two episodes so far and is slated for more.

Wife Swap

ABC Wednesdays, 10 P.M.; premieres September 29

No, it's not about swingers in the suburbs. This new reality show takes two moms from two different backgrounds and has them switch places for two weeks. According to a network publicist, a gay couple will be involved in a swap later in the season.

MOVIES MINISERIES AND SPECIALS

Dynasty: Behind the Scenes

ABC early 2005

Following the success of the Three's Company and Charlie's Angels behind-the-scenes movies comes a pass at one of television's late-night classics: Dynasty. No, it's not explicitly gay--wimpy Steven Carrington notwithstanding--but you know you can't wait to watch.

Elton John in Concert

Bravo 8 P.M., November 27

Sir Elton performs his greatest hits at Radio City Music Hall, accompanied by the Royal Academy of Music's Symphony Orchestra and the Juilliard Orchestra.

Melody and Music: 50 Years of the Hollywood Musical

Turner Classic Movies every Tuesday and Wednesday in October; premieres October 5

Musical theater queens rejoice, because Turner Classic Movies is bringing you 93 of the very best movie musicals in October. The series begins with the 1927 classic The Jazz Singer, then continues through the musical's coming-of-age period with Show Boat (1936) and Babes in Arms (1939), plenty of 1940s toe-tappers, the classic MGM productions, and goes all the way up to 1977's New York, New York.

Riding the Bus With My Sister

CBS May

Rosie O'Donnell stars in this film as a mentally challenged woman who spends her days riding the bus. When her father dies, her sister (Andie MacDowell) comes to take care of her and learns some lessons about love and life. A Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation directed by Anjelica Huston.

Suburban Madness

CBS November

Clara Harris discovers her husband is having an affair, so she runs over him with her Mercedes repeatedly. Incidentally, the woman Mr. Harris was seeing was accused by her husband in their divorce case of being bisexual. Based on the front page story.

Too Cool for Christmas

Here TV December

A fashion conscious teen (Brooke Nevin) would rather spend the holidays with her boyfriend than with her two dads (Queer as Folk's Adam Harrington and Barclay Hope). Fortunately, a mall Santa played by George Hamilton is there to show her the true spirit of Christmas. Here TV claims it's the first gay-themed holiday special--but Heat Miser from The Year Without a Santa Claus has been setting off gaydars for decades.

RETURNING SHOWS

American Dreams

NBC Sundays, 8 P.M.; premieres September 26

The family drama set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and American Bandstand returns, as does Donald (Hank Stratton), Helen's (Gall O'Grady) gay coworker. [See sidebar, left]

America's Next Top Model

UPN Wednesdays, 8 P.M.; premieres September 22

Another group of sexy ladies compete for the chance to be America's Next Top Model. And you know what that means--more fun with sassy Janice Dickinson and Tyra Banks.

ER

NBC Thursdays, 10 P.M.; premieres September 23

Chief of staff Dr. Kerry Weaver (Laura Innes) returns as the tough lesbian administrator at County General Hospital. Last season her firefighter partner not only gave birth to their baby boy but also got killed months later while on the job. Now Weaver's in a custody battle with her partner's parents.

Half & Half

UPN Mondays, 8:30 P.M.; premieres September 20

Openly gay actor (and Advocate columnist) Alec Mapa gets bumped up from recurring to regular as Adam Benet, Mona's wisecracking gay assistant at Delicious Records.

In the Life

Check local listings

October's ITL takes a look at antigay fundamentalism in America and is hosted by Alan Cumming. November's episode is hosted by Def Poetry Jam's Staceyann Chin and explores what it means to be queer in today's youth culture. Sixties pop music idol Lesley Gore hosts December's episode, which profiles the unsung heroes of pre-Stonewall gay and lesbian history.

The L Word

Showtime Sundays; premieres February

Your favorite West Hollywood power lesbians are back in production and shooting season 2, which promises the same amount of hot sex, cool outfits, and drama-drama-drama.

Queer as Folk

Showtime Sundays; premieres March or April

Michael, Brian, Justin, and company will return for their fifth-and final?--season in the spring of next year.

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

Bravo Tuesdays, 10 P.M.; premieres 2005

Look for a third season for the Fab 5 in mid 2005.

The Simpsons

Fox Sundays, 8 P.M.; premieres November 14

The longest-running sitcom and prime-time animated series has made many positive social commentaries on queer topics in the past. This coming February the Simpsons' home town of Springfield is legalizing gay marriage, and someone in the cast wants to get married.

Survivor: Vanuatu

CBS Thursdays, 8 P.M.; premieres September 16

It's official: Hell has just frozen over. CBS's ratings giant Survivor has not one but two lesbians this season [see page 26].

Two and a Half Men

CBS Mondays, 9:30 P.M.; premieres September 20

Last season uptight Alan Harper (Jan Cryer) and his 10-year-old son moved in with Alan's swingin' bachelor brother (Charlie Sheen) because Alan's estranged wife. Judith Marin Hinkle was bisexual. Judith returns tins season, and while she's currently with a man. net sexuality is still in question and will be explored.

Will & Grace

NBC Thursdays, 8:30 P.M.; premieres September 16

Last season ended with Karen announcing her divorce while at her wedding reception, Jack leaving to be a backup dancer for J. Lo, Grace breaking up with Leo off-camera Because Debra Messing was off the set having a baby, and Will being left alone, as usual. This season everything changes--Jack becomes an executive for a gay television network, Karen and Grace adjust to single life, and (gasp!) Will has a regular relationship with hottie Bobby Cannavale (The Station Agent).

The Wire

HBO Sundays, 9 P.M.; premieres September 19

Now in its third season, the gritty police drama featuring lesbian narcotics detective Shakima Greggs (Sonja Sohn) is back. She and her partner, Cheryl (Melanie Nicholls-King), now nave a baby, but Greggs isn't ready to be a mother. On the other side of the law, drug dealer Omar (Michael K. Williams) and his lover, Dante (Ernest Waddell), could run into trouble for stealing from the Barksdale crew.

Andreoli also writes for Los Angeles Confidential and Playboy TV.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Liberation Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

Teenage Head of the class (Jam! Showbiz)
Punk rock band Teenage Head were the big winners at the Hamilton Music Awards held this past weekend, taking seven awards.

Motsepe looks for elusive miracle (Mail and Guardian)
Sometimes changing a soccer coach can result in a miraculous change in fortunes. Take, for example, what has happened at Tottenham Hotspur since the affable Harry Redknapp took over.

NBC signs deal with Hilary Duff (Jam! Showbiz)
NEW YORK - Hilary Duff will soon become a fixture on NBC.

Dining review: Miss Pearl's Jam House in Oakland (San Jose Mercury News)
The scenery at the Jack London Square restaurant goes a long way to making up for the service and the spiciness, both of which should be kicked up a notch. Dining forums | Restaurant listings Laurie Daniel on Wine

Six free Apple iPhone downloads you don't want to miss (Macworld)
CIO.com’s Al Sacco picks a half-dozen App Store downloads that will enhance your iPhone without costing you a dime.

Lightfoot mini-tour set for spring (Jam! Showbiz)
Canadian folk legend Gordon Lightfoot has announced a brief cross-country tour for next April.

Top TV programs for week of Oct. 27 (Jam! Showbiz)
TORONTO - Here are the top 10 television programs in Canada, with viewer numbers, for the week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2:

Madonna won't cancel L.A. concert (Jam! Showbiz)
NEW YORK - Madonna isn't going to let lighting and technical issues keep her from performing at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Time-Saving Tips: Get Creative (PC World)
You may enjoy working with photos and editing video, but that doesn't mean you want to spend all your free time in front of...

Time-Saving Tips: Get creative with iLife (Macworld)
Working with photos and editing video can be fun, but that doesn’t mean you want to spend all your free time in front of the computer. Here are 18 simple iLife tricks that'll speed you through the boring parts.