This fall TV season, it seems that gays have been relegated behind the scenes. Of the shows debuting, only two have GLBT characters, and these are secondary characters. Seriously…that’s it!

Whatever became of the halcyon days when it seemed that every other show had some sort of gay character on it? Was it really only a few years ago when shows like “Will & Grace” and “Queer As Folk,” upped the quotient of gay visibility with lead gay characters?

When I bemoaned this fact to a friend, he brought up the fact that GLBTs comprise only 10 percent of the population – doesn’t that mean we should only receive that same amount of screen time? While his point gave me food for thought, it still made me long for those add-a-gay salad days of yore. Gays have now become television’s second fiddles.

Still, there are bound to be a few shows infused with a gay sense and sensibility, as we have new vehicles to look forward to from “Sex & The City’s” Darren Star (“Cashmere Mafia”) out and proud “Brothers & Sisters” producer Greg Berlanti (“Dirty Sexy Money”) and Bryan Fuller (an openly gay producer who has been involved with “Heroes” and “Wonderfalls”) is the brains behind “Pushing Daisies.”

There’s always a chance that a show with gay involvement behind-the-scenes may lead to the incorporating of gay storylines on said shows – you never can tell where gay may crop up on the small screen. Besides, there are returning shows that have already established their gay friendliness, such as “Ugly Betty,” “Brothers & Sisters” and “Desperate Housewives,” which will continue for the 2007-2008 season.

And, if scripted fare isn’t your bag, there are always reality shows – long one of the best venues to spot “our kind.”

CBS’ “Big Brother 8” had two gay contestants (ousted Joe with the salami-sized nipples and his ex, Dustin, who was recently voted out) on this season. Bravo’s “Flipping Out” has gay OCD real estate investor Jeff Lewis flipping houses Tuesdays at 9 p.m. The boys of “Queer Eye” will begin their final season on Nov. 1, while “Project Runway’s” Tim Gunn goes solo with “Tim Gunn’s Guide To Style” on September 6. Is there some way to have Bravo declared a national gay treasure?

The tricky prospect of any encroaching fall season is knowing which TV show to glom onto, which can be as difficult a decision as picking a successful rehab for Lindsay Lohan. You know that’s no small order!

It just boils down to personal taste, really. Hopefully, by reviewing the upcoming shows, you, the viewer, can make an informed decision about the pap being served up as culture – I mean the wonderful bounty of viewing pleasures that await you this fall. Shoot, can you tell I am less than ecstatic about this year’s bumper crop? I have seen some of the pilots, and only a few have stood out.

We will start with ABC, since they seem to have our back content-wise (perhaps they should change their name to GAYBC?), and because, alphabetically, it’s like the law or something.

“Samantha Who” is a 30-year-old woman, the victim of a hit-and-run who becomes amnesiac and must rediscover her life all over again, and it turns out she was kind of a beeyatch before the accident. The show stars Christina Applegate (“Married With Children”) and Jennifer Esposito (“Rescue Me”).

Applegate’s “Samantha Who” character isn’t the only one suffering from an identity crisis; this show was originally titled, “Sam I Am,” and then changed to “Samantha Be Good.” Maybe they should have called it “Samantha Huh” or “Samantha What” or here’s a crazy concept…just “Samantha.”

Queer factor: The show also stars gay favorite Jean Smart (“Designing Women,” “24”), sans the mile-high hair and shoulder pads of her “Designing” days, and the mental instability that goes along with being a First Lady. Just ask Laura Bush! Better yet, ask her husband, he knows a thing or two about that himself.

Queer detractor: Will gay audiences confuse it with the 1987 Madonna cinematic stinker, “Who’s That Girl?” and be either elated or disappointed to find out it is not a television venture for Her Madgesty?

Airs Mondays at 9:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 15.

The much maligned concept behind “Cavemen” actually does try to branch out beyond the Geico commercials from whence they came. But does it succeed? Yes and no. While there are some funny bits to the show, there is also too much made about the discrimination faced by the Cro-Magnon set. And it is supposed to be akin to the discrimination that black people faced, and or still face, which seems to be a disservice for those real life struggles.

Queer factor: The show’s saving grace seems to be former “Grace Under Fire” co-star Julie White’s supporting turn as a boozy prospective mother-in-law of a caveman. She is reminiscent of Megan Mullally’s Karen on “Will & Grace,” and you know how we gravitate toward those boozy broads with their snappy one-liners.

Queer detractor: Almost every scene is introduced with a song that does nothing to set the tone (I lost count after five, and no, it’s not because I don’t know what comes after five), and it feels like some form of musical product placement.

Airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m., beginning Oct. 2.

“Carpoolers” has four decidedly different personas of the male psyche in four men who drive to work together. Dougie (Tim Peper) is a newlywed, Laird (Jerry O’Connell) is recently divorced and playing the field, Gracen (Fred Goss) is of the traditionalist mindset, and Aubrey (Jerry Minor) is the whipped man of the bunch. This male bonding comedy also stars Faith Ford of “Murphy Brown” fame, oh, and that show she did with Kelly Ripa.

Queer factor: Perhaps there will be a “very special episode” where the “Carpoolers” break down on a hot day, and Jerry O’Connell has to strip down to his undies to flag down help? It could happen!

Queer detractor: Guess there wasn’t any room in the car for a gay ’pooler. On second thought, that might be a win for our side.

Airs Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 2.

“Pushing Daisies” is by far the best show I have previewed, as it is a most original crime solving show, has snappy writing, and an artful direction peppered with a visual panache. This is no surprise, since the series is directed by filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld (The Addams Family), and has the producers of Big Fish, and the previously mentioned gay writer/producer Bryan Fuller in its corner, too.

The premise of this fractured fairy tale of a show is that a pie-baking man named Ned (the adorable Lee Pace – I’d sop him up with a lemon merange), can bring dead people back to life with just a touch. So he uses this talent to resurrect the recently murdered, to find out who done it.

Queer factor: Also co-stars Kristin Chenoweth of Wicked fame, as a waitress at Ned’s restaurant, The Pie Hole.

Pace also played the transgender “Soldier’s Girl,” the 2003 Showtime telepic that snagged him a Golden Globe nomination.

Queer detractor: Um, pie has carbs? And carbs are bad! There really isn’t much to complain about here; except for a show with such obvious gay curb appeal could stand to include some of “us” in it. The rumor is that the series will have gay characters popping up later.

Airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m., beginning Oct. 3.

“Grey’s Anatomy” doc Addison Forbes Montgomery (Kate Walsh) leaves Seattle Grace Hospital and doctors McDreamy and McSteamy behind to start life anew by the ocean blue. Hoping to extract herself from the drama that surrounded her tenure at Seattle Grace, the surgeon finds that relocating to a sunny SoCal “Private Practice” has its own set of problems! This spin off also stars Taye Diggs (How Stella Got Her Groove Back), Tim Daly (“Wings”) and Amy Brenneman (“Judging Amy”).

Queer factor: The show could develop a large lesbian following, given that in real life Walsh got engaged three months after her first date with Fox Studios exec. Alex Young. Oh, and Isaiah Washington is not slated for a guest shot.

Queer detractor: Gay audiences may not take kindly to seeing Amy Brenneman back on a regular series, since “Judging Amy’s” demise in 2005. Um, judging people is our thing there, Amy! So step off, Brennerman!

Airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m., beginning Sept. 26.

Hands down, the best titled show this season has to be “Dirty Sexy Money,” a series that is being equated to a modern version of “Dallas” and “Dynasty” (oh, gay people will hate that!) about the powerfully wealthy Darling clan. Peter Krause (“Six Feet Under”) plays lawyer Nick George, an outsider looking in on the privileged family headed up by Donald Sutherland and Jill Clayburgh, who may be involved in some shady dealings.

This new brand of nighttime soap also stars William (“Don’t Call Me Billy”) Baldwin and Blair Underwood.

Queer factor: Not only is this show produced by openly gay “Brothers & Sisters” producer, Greg Berlanti – it also has out director Bryan Singer (Superman Returns) as its executive producer. And, there will be a transgender character introduced into the show, played by real-life transgender actress Candis Cayne.

Queer detractor: “Dynasty” became a staple for gay fans in the ’80s, thanks in part to those infamous feline scuffles between Linda Evans and Joan Collins. I am not so sure Clayburgh can pull that off, she may break a hip!

Airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m., beginning Sept. 26.

“Big Shots” is described on the ABC Web site as “an outrageous drama about four dysfunctional CEOs who will do anything to stay on top.” Color me intrigued! Oh, and then it goes on to mention that they like the ladies…Drat! Foiled again! (It is hard to type and shake your fists at the air at the same time!) There are reports that the pilot episode does feature a transgender character.

The show stars hunky Dylan McDermott, gorgeous Michael Vartan, handsome Christopher Titus, and Joshua Malina as the regular-looking guy.

Queer factor: Dylan McDermott, Michael Vartan and Christopher Titus.

Queer detractor: Joshua Malina.

Airs Thursdays at 10 p.m., beginning Sept. 27.

Popular mystery writer James Patterson’s “Women’s Murder Club” gets the weekly television treatment with former “Law and Order” vet, Angie Harmon, headlining this crime procedural. Harmon’s detective character enlists help in expediting the solving of crimes from a medical examiner, newspaper reporter and an assistant district attorney, who also happen to be of the X chromosome set.

Queer factor: This San Francisco-based show has numerology going for it…four female leads seem to be a magical combination for gay audiences – do I need to pull “The Golden Girls,” “Designing Women” and “Sex and the City” trump cards as exhibits A, B, and C? The show is actually being described as a cross between “Sex and The City” and “CSI,” so there will be plenty of stiffs given screen time. I mean dead bodies! Geez, get your minds out of the gutter!

Queer detractor: C’mon… San Francisco plus strong-willed women in the leads, and not one of them a lesbian character? Talk about criminal.

Airs Fridays at 9 p.m., beginning Oct. 12.

“Chuck” is just a regular Joe going about his day-to-day affairs as part of “The Nerd Herd” at “Buy More,” which is like being a member of “The Geek Squad” at “Best Buy,” without the threat of copyright infringement.

Anyhoo, all is well and good until Chuck (Zachary Levi, who is cute as a bug…but bugs aren’t really cute! I never looked at a cockroach and said, “Man, what a hottie!”) receives an e-mail from a former college roommate that is encrypted with government secrets. These secrets now reside inside of Chuck’s brain, and make him a target of both the CIA and the NSA in this hybrid action/comedy (or is that comedy/action?) that’s being likened to a combination of “Alias” and “The Office.”

Queer factor: “Chuck” has a great female lead in Yvonne Strzechowski as Sarah, a kick-ass government agent, who really knows how to accessorize and literally dresses to kill, or maim, at the very least.

Queer detractor: There is a surprising-for-NBC bare-butt locker-room scene – alas, it’s more “On Golden Pond” than something produced by Falcon Studios.

Airs Mondays at 8 p.m., beginning Sept. 24.

While on paper, “Journeyman,” about a time traveler with the mission of changing people’s lives, may sound like a sci-fi variation of “Extreme Home Makeover,” it seems to have more in common with the old Scott Bakula vehicle, “Quantum Leap.”

Queer factor: The show’s lead actor, Kevin McKidd, was in two films about music men – 1999’s Topsy Turvy dealt with Gilbert & Sullivan’s musical partnership and De-Lovely chronicled Cole Porter’s life. Hmm, that’s queer.

Queer detractor: Two of the actors on the show have really bad sounding porn names, Reed Diamond and Moon Bloodgood, and that last one just doesn’t have a very good connotation!

Airs Mondays at 10 p.m., beginning Sept. 24.

“Life” is a drama centering on a detective (Damian Lewis), who has been released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Upon returning to the police force, he is faced with scorn and disdain for having been an inside man, and deals with the travails of readjusting to civilian life.

Queer factor: Both HBO’s “Oz” and Fox’s “Prison Break” have been huge hits with gay men.

Queer detractor: Since “Life” is actually set during the character’s rehabilitation period, there won’t be any prisoner-on-prisoner action.

Airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m., beginning Sept. 26.

Everyone seems to be in a tizzy over the remake of “Bionic Woman.” It is a good update but needs to be retooled a bit, like putting “The” back into the title! But the show does have potential.

However, the subplot about Jaime Sommers (no relation to Suzanne Sommers, and played by Michelle Ryan) having to care for her deaf sister slowed down the pace a tad, and it has since been reported that the role of Jaime’s sister, has been recast and she is no longer deaf. Uh, that ain’t right!

Oh, and Ms. Sommers now has a bionic eye, which “The Six Million Dollar Man” was equipped with during his slow run in the ’70s, and since there is no reference to him in this “re-imagineering,” I guess he won’t be needing that anyway.

One cool upgrade from the beloved ’70s series is that there is an evil Bionic Woman (Katee Sackhoff), who is Jaime’s nemesis.

Queer factor: There is a total lesbionic moment between the two Bionic Women, and it looked like the evil Bionic Woman wanted to check under her hood for a parts warranty, if you know what I mean!

Queer detractor: Isaiah Washington is set for a five-episode story arc. All the CGI effects in the world can’t erase happy childhood memories of running in slo-mo as a young homo, to emulate “The Bionic Woman.”

Airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m., beginning Sept. 26.

“The Big Bang Theory” is about two nerds, I mean geniuses, who lust after their new hot neighbor, who isn’t all that bright, ’cause she’s blond and says things like, “I know, right?” Hey! I say that – they make it sound like it’s a bad thing.

The downfall of the show is that the writers seem to think that repeating words equals comedy gold. It doesn’t, it’s just tedious, which is what this laborious exercise is – good thing the laugh track cranked on high so we know when to fake it!

Queer factor: Stars Johnny Galecki, who played David on “Roseanne” and was in the gay flick, The Opposite of Sex.

Queer detractor: The two main characters are the gayest non gays seen on TV since “Frasier” left the air. So why not make them gay and the neighbor their “shopping friend?” And, there is a transsexual joke and a gay panic moment in the first five minutes – what a hoot!

Airs Mondays at 8:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 24.

“Cane” is a drama starring Jimmy Smits set against the “exciting” backdrop of a sugar cane refinery and rum making…really, it is! I’m sorry, did I nod off there? On the upside, it is nice to see a family drama featuring the oft-overlooked Cuban demographic. See, I can be nice.

Queer factor: Latin boi lovers rejoice, as there are two extremely cute members of the family, and lots of papi being bandied about.

Queer detractor: Whereas nighttime soaps of the ’80s glamorized oil-based wheelings and dealings, I’m not really sure that “Cane” is the right vehicle to do the same for sugar cane.

Airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m., beginning Sept. 25.

The reality show “Kid Nation” gives 40 children, 40 days to build a sans-adult world in an abandoned mining town. First assignment for the kids – erect a fence around the town to keep Michael Jackson out!

Queer factor: You know there’s gotta be one gay-in-training who will have all kinds of ideas for giving those shanty shacks a fabulous makeover!

Queer detractor: Um, didn’t Stephen King tackle this concept with Children of the Corn?

Airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m., beginning September 19.

The vampire detective show “Moonlight” has been drawing comparisons to that other vampire detective show, “Angel,” because of its hero and the Los Angeles setting. There are some differences, the vampire Mick St. John (Alex O’Loughlin) sleeps in a freezer and has his blood hand delivered by a dealer who works in a blood bank. Oh, well, la dee dah.

Queer factor: Gay men, things being sucked, you do the math!

Queer detractor: Being promoted as a double shot of the supernatural, along with “The Ghost Whisperer” – will gay audiences be confused that it’s a reference to Jennifer Love Hewitt’s “acting abilities,” I mean her breasts?

Airs Fridays at 9 p.m. starting Sept. 28.

What do you get when you take one part thriller, combine it with dramatic elements and add a dash of rollicking musical and recurring guest star Hugh Jackman (he also is the executive producer) into the mix? “Viva Laughlin” serves up that very concoction each week and is based on the BBC show, “Viva Blackpool.”

The show stars Lloyd Owen, Madchen Amick (“Twin Peaks”) and Melanie Griffith (“Twins”).

Queer factor: Gee, I think I read somewhere that the gays are quite enamored of both musicals and Hugh Jackman.

Queer detractor: Will this hybrid show find its footing with audiences? Anyone remember the ’90s Steven Bochco disaster that was “Cop Rock?” Anyone? Hello, is this thing on?

Airs Sundays at 8 p.m., beginning Oct. 21.

“K-Ville” follows two mismatched cops patrolling the forever changed city of New Orleans, as they “target the most-wanted criminals,” according to the Fox Web site. Good thing it isn’t on Saturday nights at 9 p.m., or audiences might confuse it with “America’s Most Wanted.”

The show stars Cole Hauser and Anthony Anderson.

Queer factor: Other cops on the force have nicknames like “Glue Boy” and “Love Tap,” so that might remind gay audiences of online chat rooms.

Queer detractor: The promos look cheesy, so the show could end up reminding gay audiences they could be in an online chat room instead of watching it.

Airs Mondays at 9 p.m., beginning Sept. 17.

“Back To You” stars two television stalwarts, Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, as news anchors who have great on-air chemistry, but it’s their off-screen chemistry that needs some adjusting.

Queer factor: Also stars Fred Willard, a favorite player in the Christopher Guest movies.

Queer detractor: With Heaton back on a regular series this could mean more of those annoying Albertson’s commercials!

Airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m., beginning Sept. 19.

When you hear the name Gordon Ramsay (“Hell’s Kitchen”), the term “Kitchen Nightmares” comes to mind! But, have you ever wondered if Ramsay is gentle as a kitten under that Ginsu knife exterior? This show is slated to not only display his softer side, but will have his explosive one, too, as Ramsay helps restaurant owners in crisis.

Queer factor: Gay viewers may tune in to see Ramsay crank his rage down a few notches.

Queer detractor: This is Gordon Ramsay we are talking about! So, it will be like watching a nuclear bomb only semi-detonating.

Airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m., beginning Sept. 19.

The new “docu-soap” show, “Nashville” begs the eternal question, “Do you have a dream? Do you have an awesome dream?” Well, there is this one with a vat of whipped cream and all these naked …oh, the producers mean a goal! A cast of youthful dreamers reaches for the stars over that famous city in Tennessee.

Queer factor: Maybe the first lady of country music, Miss Loretta Lynn, will give the hopefuls some pointers?

Queer detractor: WTF is a “docu-soap” – is that a scripted show or a reality show? The Fox Web site is a tad unclear and inqueering minds want to know!

Airs Fridays at 9 p.m., beginning Sept. 14.

The CW has five new shows (“Gossip Girl,” “Reaper,” “CW Now,” “Online Nation” and “Aliens in America”) beginning in September, but all you need to know is “America’s Next Top Model” returns on Sept. 19 at 8 p.m.

A few of the shows that seem to be our possible best bets for gay inclusion won’t be starting until midseason.

“Cashmere Mafia” is a dramedy about four Manhattan women, starring Lucy Liu, which is being likened to both “Sex and The City” and The Devil Wears Prada, and will air on ABC Dec. 4, at 9 p.m. (with a special preview on Nov. 27).

Another “Sex” inspired dramedy (is there any other kind?) is “The Lipstick Jungle,” based on the novel by Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell.

To set itself apart from the popular HBO show, this time the focus is on three career-oriented women, who are at the top of their professional games, and trying to balance career, home and family.

I did see a preview of this one and was underwhelmed.

Maybe it’s because I have never thought that Brooke Shields was a good thespian (here’s a paper bag, Brooke, act your way out!), and the nail in the coffin for me was this show’s “Mr. Big” is Andrew McCarthy – yeah, when I think high-powered tycoon, my mind immediately fixes on the male lead from Mannequin! The show is slated to run in January.

Fox offers up two replacement series that will be of interest in “The Sarah Connor Chronicles” (based on The Terminator movies, and is a strong show) and “The Return of Jezebel Jones” starring Parker Posey and Lauren Ambrose (Claire on “Six Feet Under”) as polar opposite sisters.

The CBS drama “Swingtown” stars Grant Show (“Melrose Place”) as a part of the 1970s key party culture, which is being executive produced by “Six Feet Under” director Alan Poul.

“Ugly Betty” gets a new love interest in “Six Feet Under’s” Freddy Rodriguez. And, it seems as though Marc (Michael Urie) will snatch a special “man friend” himself this season. (Returns Sept. 27)

“Heroes” has tapped “Veronica Mars” herself (Kristen Bell) as a new cast member. And Claire will get a new boyfriend, who is rumored to have super powers. (Returns Sept. 24)

“Brothers & Sisters” will continue to explore the bombshell that Uncle Saul (Ron Rifkin) has a bisexual past. Nora (Sally Field) has a new suitor (Danny Glover) – perhaps that will lead to them discovering Places in the Heart, which was the name of the 1985 film they co-starred in. And look for the return of Kevin’s (Matthew Rhys) former flame Scotty (Luke MacFarlane). (Returns Sept. 30)

Those Wisteria Lane “Desperate Housewives” are primed to have a gay male couple move onto the block as their new neighbors. Tuc Watkins (“One Life To Live”) and Kevin Rahm (“Judging Amy”) will play Bob and Lee, who tangle with Susan (Teri Hatcher). (Returns Sept. 30)

So there are your choices of the shows hoping to pull you into their world on a weekly basis and make you a part of their TV family. And speaking of family… I am not asking the powers that be in Hollywood to make every show gay to the nth degree, but it would be nice to find characters and situations that I could relate to, aside from sharing the all-too real problems that plague the girls on MTV’s “The Hills.” Sigh. Until next time, that’s all of the news that’s fit to print.