The "Gay-ngle" on the Fall TV Season

In relation to "our place" in the new crop of Fall TV shows, I will borrow a catchphrase from one Ms. Kathy Griffin and ask,"Where are my gays at?" Two of last year's hopefuls did not survive their freshman seasons. Sean Hayes didn't save the world, and "Super Fun Night"'s lesbian character took one for the ratings axe team. And, this year, there aren't many reasons to stand up and queer, err, cheer.

There is one new show with a central gay character, one in the pipe-line for mid-season and a questionable-at-best bisexual entry. Plus, an established show is adding a gay plotline.

Let's take a look at what we have to work with, which shows may have a certain gay curb appeal and the trend that is happening this season.

Come On Out

"The McCarthys" is the only show this season to train the camera lens on a gay main character Ronny (played by Tyler Ritter, son of the late John Ritter) and is based on show creator Brian Gallivan's real life Irish Catholic family, who share a triple-decker house in Boston. Ronny decides he wants to branch out on his own and vacate the nest, much to the shock of his parents (Laurie Metcalfe and Jack McGee) and siblings (Jimmy Dunn, Kelen Coleman and Joey McIntyre - yes, the New Kids on the Block one).

The show has received early praise for its depiction of the relationship with Ronny and his parents being "more true" and for the fact that the character is already out to his sports-crazed family. I feel like I've heard this premise before, though. Oh wait, it was called watching home movies. Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on CBS.

"Constantine" has that "will-he-or-won't-he" be bisexual, as he has been in the comic book source materials, but not in the film adaptation starring Keanu Reeves. Matt Ryan stars as the hell-raising hero, who is also a sorcerer. Really, is there any other kind? Executive producer Daniel Cerone has said that Constantine's sexuality "isn't part of his character" and "there are no immediate plans" to focus on that element. Ummm, say what? Way to be proud as a peacock there, NBC! Fridays at 10 p.m. on NBC.

"One Big Happy" will be a mid-season replacement and stars the gorgeous Nick Zano and Elisha Cuthbert as straight and gay besties, Luke and Lizzy. They really want to have a baby - or gayby - but then Luke meets Prudence in a bar and proclaims she is the love of his life. Are we sure he's not the lesbian? TBA and hopefully not DOA on NBC.

Another sitcom that has babies and same-sex on its mind is "Two and a Half Men." While they did add Charlie's bisexual daughter, Jenny (Amber Tamblyn) last season, this seems like a somewhat dicey and weird move for the show's final season. You see, Walden (Ashton Kutcher) has some sort of health scare and decides he wants to adopt a child. But seeing as he's single and straight, he enlists Alan (Jon Cryer) by proposing marriage, so they can adopt a child as a gay
couple. Can't they just bring the fat kid back?

Gay Curb Appeal

"Selfie" is loosely based on "My Fair Lady," and we gays love our musicals. Karen Gillan stars as Eliza Dooley with John Cho as Henry Higgs - see what they did there - who takes it upon himself to get her away from status updates and the like. A suggestion though, #changethenameofyourshow. Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

So, to further stereotype, and since our community also adores rom-coms, "A to Z" delves into the world of online dating, so that's gay-relatable. If it was called "Gay to Z," it would be all about adam4adam and Grindr. Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on NBC.

Another show that could have had a gayngle (gay angle) is the sitcom "Marry Me," which stars Casey Wilson ("Happy Endings") and Ken Marino as a newly engaged couple who encounter obstacles in getting to the altar. Yes, it sure has been difficult for straight couples to overcome hurdles where getting married is concerned. Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.

Ever notice that putting "bad" in front of an occupation seems like a standard in comedies nowadays? Just in "Bad Teacher," the central character on "Bad Judge" is an unapologetic sort who doesn't give an eff what society thinks. Kate Walsh is the title character channeling her inner Judge Judy. Thursdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.

"Jane The Virgin" (Gina Rodriguez) finds herself in quite a pickle, without laying her hand on one, when she is accidentally artificially inseminated during
her gynecologist appointment. Ay, dios mio! And even though it's based n a Venezuelan telenovela, this one is a comedy, and one of its co-creators also helped bring "Ugly Betty" to American television. Mondays at 9 p.m. on CW.

"How To Get Away With Murder" stars Viola Davis - girl, isn't it a little early to be "slumming" on TV? She plays a criminal defense professor who helps her underlings, including Liza Weil (Gilmore Girls) and Matt McGorry ("Orange is the New Black"), when they all become embroiled in a murder plot. Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.

Davis' "The Help" co-star Octavia Spencer headlines "Red Band Society," a dramedy that chronicles the lives of patients living in a children's hospital and features former "Brothers & Sisters" actor Dave Annable playing doctor. Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Fox.

Balancing Acts

Tea Leoni is "Madam Secretary," a maverick Secretary of State who has to balance career, home and family. Sundays at 8 p.m. on CBS. As does Katherine Heigl in her much anticipated (?) return to TV in "State of Affairs," playing Charleston Tucker. Her job is to prioritize the country's biggest crises for the President (Alfre Woodward). Mondays at 10 p.m. on NBC.

"Will & Grace"'s Debra Messing - we'll just pretend "Smash" never happened - is also taking a stab at a weekly series again as Laura Diamond in "The Mysteries of Laura." She's a homicide detective who, wait for it, is striving for balance within her professional and personal life. Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Holding Out for a Hero

"The Flash," a.k.a. Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) becomes a superhero during a freak accident and turns into the fastest man in the world. Not to be confused with the little-known '70s comic book hero, "The Flasher," who had the distinction of being the floppiest man alive. Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on CW.

Another kind of superhero show coming to the small screen is "Gotham." But, don't expect a certain Dark Knight to tell TV audiences "I'm Batman," as it's a prequel to all things caped crusader. Look for a young Commissioner Gordon (Ben McKenzie), Catwoman/Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova) and Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) to populate the fictional city. Think of it as Jim Henson's Batman Babies. Mondays at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Down the Road A Piece

These shows will see the light of day after others bite the dust: "The Whispers" will have Aiden from "Revenge" (Barry Sloane), Misty Day from "American Horror Story: Coven" (Lily Rabe) and Peter Patrelli from "Heroes" (Milo Vitameatavegamin [Ventimiglia]) dealing with an alien invasion that has to do with children. ABC.

"Weird Loners" brings "Happy Endings" hottie Zachary Knighton and "Ugly Betty"'s Becki Newton back to comedic TV as 30-something underdogs on Fox.

There is a rumor floating out there in cyberspace that "Walking Dead"'s Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) may come out as gay. Well, that would explain his nicely coiffed hair and sleeveless shirts in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.

Though there won't be a boatload of LGBT diversity happening on the small screen, there are some racially diverse shows happening with two ABC shows, "Black-ish" and "Cristela." So that's something good for equality and for those that want to watch something other than WPP (white people problems).

Of course, there are still the holdover gay characters on shows like "Modern Family," "The Vampire Diaries," "The Originals," "Major Crimes," "Scandal," "Revenge," "Looking," "Orange is the New Black," "Glee," "Vicious," "The Fosters," "Downton Abbey," "The Good Wife," "Grey's Anatomy," "Nashville," "Brooklyn Nine Nine" and pretty much anything on ABC Family.

HAPPY VIEWING!