THE NEW GAY KID ON THE BLOCK
OLIVER BEENE, Sunday, March 16, Fox, 8:30pm.
The new gay kid on the network TV block is OLIVER BEENE's Michael (Taylor Emerson), 'the most fabulous kid in class' and the best friend of 11-year-old Oliver (Grant Rosenmeyer). Although notable for its inclusion of a young gay character, the series itself only a so-so hybrid of MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, AMERICAN DREAMS and THE WONDER YEARS. Set in 1962 against the backdrop of Rego Park, Queens, the show uses a combination of flashbacks and flash-forwards to follow Oliver and his eccentric family and friends, and is narrated by a wry adult Oliver (voice of comedian David Cross).
In a brief flash-forward on Sunday's episode, we see Michael as an adult adopting an Asian child with his lover. Michael also offers a variety of bon mots and fashion advice, telling Oliver: 'Red is not your color anyway—you're more of an Autumn.' When, in a moment of trouble, friend Joyce (Daveigh Chase) asks Michael why he's tap-dancing an S.O.S. to alert neighbors to call the police rather simply calling them himself, he chastises her, 'You have no flair for the dramatic!'
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12
JAMES DEAN: OUTSIDE THE LINES (A & E, 7 p.m., 11 p.m.) New bio.
THURSDAY, MARCH 13
WILL & GRACE (NBC, 8 p.m) A jealous Will keeps a wary eye on the re-modeled Barry (Dan Futterman) when he spies him disappearing with Jack. Karen switches roles with Rosario and pretends to be a maid in order to court a handsome maintenance worker (Bruno Campos). Grace finds herself hanging out more and more at Will's as she waits for her husband to return from overseas.
E.R. (NBC, 9 p.m.) Lesbian Dr. Kerry Weaver (Laura Innes) finds herself in a deep hole when she bends the rules to treat the syphilitic lover of her powerful new closeted patron—Ald. Bright (Bruce Weitz). But when the patient has an allergic reaction, she desperately tries to cover her tracks and compromises her ethics even further.
t.A.T.u. ON CRAIG KILBORN (CBS, 11:35 p.m.) The Russan teen lesbian duo t.A.T.u. are scheduled to perform their hit 'All The Things She Said.'
t.A.T.u. ON CARSON DALY (NBC, 12:35 a.m)
FRIDAY, MARCH 14
MISTER STERLING (NBC, 7 p.m.) Lesbian Portia de Rossi guests as Sterling's movie star girlfriend.
LAW & ORDER: SVU (NBC, 9 p.m.) Sandra Bernhard guests.
SATURDAY, MARCH 15
E! TRUE ROSIE (E! TV, 9 a.m.)
ROLE REVERSAL (A & E, noon) Two men and two women (ranging in age from 22 to 40) pretend to be the opposite sex and live together for a month.
MAKING OF BOAT TRIP (SHO, 5:30 p.m.) Preview of the comedy that stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Horatio Sanz as best friends who get booked on a cruise for gay men. Repeats Mon at 11:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, MARCH 16
SIX FEET UNDER (HBO, 8 p.m.) Haven't we all been there? Keith and David find the reality of a resort different than advertised.
QUEER AS FOLK (SHO, 9 p.m.) Brian lends his personal expertise to the Center fundraiser and organizes 'Carnivale'. Lindsay and Melanie ask him to lend his sperm for their second child. Deb's nervous about being intimate with Carl, so Ted and Emmett divulge priceless gay blow job secrets. After Ben's ex-boyfriend Paul dies of AIDS, Ben begins to ponder his own mortality.
Gay Boy Ric is a comedian and pop singer based in L.A. To receive free GTV E-Mail Alerts:
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