Zachary Quinto, Bryan Fuller

Out writer/producer Bryan Fuller has given his first interview since rejoining the struggling NBC series Heroes.

Join us after the break for the details, and learn which acclaimed gay actor (and second-time TV supervillain father) will be joining the cast!

Out writer/producer Bryan Fuller isn't letting the imminent demise of Pushing Daisies slow him down, as he's close to inking a deal with Universal Media Studios. The two-year deal will allow him to develop his own series, while also bringing him back to help resuscitate the carcass of NBC's Heroes:

Fuller, who is wrapping postproduction on the final episodes of "Daisies" 13-episode second-season order, is expected to officially come on board "Heroes" starting with Episode 20.

His exact role on the sci-fi drama has not been determined, but he is expected to play a key role in the writers room alongside "Heroes" creator/executive producer/showrunner Tim Kring.

If Heroes survives another season, Bryan may stay with it, or move on to another Universal show, but will still be allowed to develop his own series.

I just hope he doesn't let the ratings failure of Pushing Daisies, as well as the short-lived Dead Like Me and Wonderfalls snuff out the Bryan Fuller "quirk" factor that we've come to know and love.

Bad news for three shows from gay creators: ABC has passed on ordering additional episodes past the original 13 for Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, and Dirty Sexy Money.

The ratings for all three sophomore dramas had been flagging seriously since their return in September, so this isn't too big of a surprise, but it's a bummer and a half to see the shows reach the end of their lines. Greg Berlanti's Dirty Sexy Money introduced a groundbreaking character in Carmelita, a transgender woman played by a transgender actress, Candis Cayne, who was actually treated as a human being and not as a punchline.

Stone brought gay pop star George Michael back to American televisions, and Daisies had a planned gay character before the strike pretty much nixed the development of the latter half of the first season. The only upside to this news is that this might mean that Bryan Fuller will return to pull the bloody body of Heroes out of the wreckage of Season 3 and breathe life back into it, as he has hinted he might.

Eonline has some exclusive quotes from Fuller and Kristin Chenoweth about Daisies' cancellation. 

So which of the shows (if any) will you miss most? Let us know in our poll after the break! 

This week:

• Will a gay writer save NBC's Heroes?
• Catch up on 30 days of good LGBT comics this November.
• Is YAOI publisher DramaQueen making a comeback?
• Which Legion character is making a surprise appearance?
• Are True Blood's vampires a bad analogy?

This week:

• What's gay at this weekend's Alternative Press Expo?
• The Transgender Day of Remembrance is seeking webcomic submissions.
• Fallout 3 finally hits the store shelves. Can a game with such a strong following live up to fans' expectations?
• Fable 2 just may be even gayer than its predesessor.
• Could we give up Pushing Daisies if we got a Bryan Fuller-led Star Trek?

Check it all out after the break!

The quirky Pushing Daisies (you're required to use "quirky") and nighttime soap Dirty Sexy Money begin their second seasons tonight on ABC, and both gay faves (Pushing Dirty Sexy Daisies) are hoping to avoid the dreaded sophomore jinx.

Pushing Daisies is the creation of the out Bryan Fuller, and continued his string of quirky eccentric shows like Dead Like Me and the gone-too-soon Wonderfalls (curse you, FOX!).

It debuted to fantastic reviews and great ratings, but by the season finale had lost half of its audience. Most critics blame the erratic second half of the season for the loss in viewership, but the writer's strike didn't help, shortening the season to just nine episodes.

If you haven't seen it, and want to give it a look, here's a sampling of some characters to watch for (and if you have seen it, it's a refresher, since the last original episode was last December!).

(L-R) Swoosie Kurtz, Ellen Greene, Lee Pace, Anna Friels, Kristin Chenoweth, Chi McBride

Ned (Lee Pace) is a pie shop owner who can touch a dead person and bring them back to life. There's a catch, though. If he touches that person again, they die for keeps. Oh, and if he does bring someone back to life, someone else has to die instead ... unless he touches that same person again within sixty seconds. Um ... got that?

That makes things difficult for his love interest, Charlotte aka "Chuck" (Anna Friels). They were childhood friends, but when they meet again, it's under deadly circumstances. She's dead. She was murdered, but he brought her back to life. Alas, this means they can never touch (until the final episode or a season cliffhanger).

Emerson (Chi McBride) is a former P.I. who finds out about Ned's ability and offers to keep his secret, for a price. Ned must bring murder victims back to life, find out what happened to them, then let them die again. Then he and Emerson will split the reward money.

Vivian (Ellen Greene) and Lily (Swoosie Kurtz) are Chuck's aunts, and total loons. Lily lost an eye from a tragic kitty litter accident, and her big secret is revealed when she confesses to Olive to actually being Chuck's mother.

As played by Kristin Chenoweth, Olive is a waitress at the Pie Hole, who has the hots for Ned. She's also a former jockey who won't hesitate to break out an Olivia Newton-John musical number.

Oh ... and be sure and keep an eye on the Coroner played by Sy Richardson, who should have some interesting scenes this season.

After the break, take a look at NYC's most dysfunctional brood (No, not the AfterElton.com bloggers ... this is a rich dysfunctional brood)...

This morning gay actor Neil Patrick Harris and gay-fave Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies, Wicked) announced the nominations for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards at the crack of Jesus in Los Angeles.

In a nutshell, Pushing Daisies, the wonderfully loony brainchild of out exec/writer Bryan Fuller, killed it this year with 12 total noms (behind only 30 Rock, which is also awesome, in total noms for a network series), along with cable series John Adams and Mad Men. Gives hope that American audiences aren't as stupid as they think we are.

Among the gay, gay-friendly, and gay-adjacent noms were...

UPDATED: Initially, Zeljko Ivanek (Damages) slipped past me - he played a gay (albeit closeted and kinda evil) character. Also, Oliver Platt and Sharon Gless were nominated for playing gay guest characters on Nip/Tuck.

Outstanding Lead Actor in Comedy Series

Lee Pace as Ned in Pushing Daisies (gay-fave)

Outstanding Lead Actor in Drama Series

Michael C. Hall in Dexter (gay-fave)

Outstanding Lead Actress in Comedy Series

America Ferrera in Ugly Betty (gay-fave)

Tina Fey in 30 Rock (after her shout-out to gays in her acceptance speech last year, I'm calling her a gay-fave) 

Outstanding Lead Actress in Drama Series

Sally Field in Brothers & Sisters (gay-fave) 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Neil Patrick Harris in How I Met Your Mother (out actor)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Kristin Chenoweth in Pushing Daisies (gay-fave) 

Vanessa Williams in Ugly Betty (gay-fave)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Zeljko Ivanek for Damages (gay character) 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Rachel Griffiths in Brothers & Sisters (gay-fave) 

Outstanding Lead Actor in Mini

Ralph Fiennes in Bernard and Doris (gay character) 

Outstanding Lead Actress in Mini 

Susan Sarandon in Bernard and Doris (gay-adjacent) 

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Will Arnett as Devon Banks (gay character) on 30 Rock

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Oliver Platt in Nip/Tuck (gay character)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Sharon Gless in Nip/Tuck (gay-fave) 

Bunches more after the jump...

Recently snicks gave us a list of Our Favorite Action and Fantasy Heroines and that list, combined with a catch-up marathon of Battlestar Galatica, got me thinking of women who are strong and formidable because of their intellects. Strong warrior women have a major presence in the gallery of gay icons, but we also love the women who outsmart the obstacles in their path. Since tonight marks the Battlestar Galatica midseason finale (and the last we'll see of President Roslin until 2009) here are some of sci-fi's smartest and most admirable women.

Mary McDonnell as President Laura Roslin
in Battlestar Galactica

Easily one of the most formidable minds in sci-fi TV is the woman left to keep humanity alive as it faces extinction after 42 people ahead of her for the presidency were killed in the holocaust. Initially she faced an army (almost literally) of skeptics who dismissed her as just a "school teacher" never meant to lead the twelve colonies. However, she quickly proved herself as a woman dangerous to underestimate, especially when she faced down a military insurrection led by Bill Adama. As played by Mary McDonnell, Roslin is someone whose mind is clearly always at work.

Amanda Pays as Theora Jones
in Max Headroom

Max Headroom gave us Theora Jones, who worked as reporter Edison Carter's controller, providing him with information as he questioned subjects and ventured into dangerous territory. Many times, Edison would have been toast if not for Theora's knack for quick research.

Catherine Tate as Donna Noble
in Doctor Who

With smart women like Martha Jones and Sarah Jane Smith, its hard to not make this list heavy on Doctor Who companions. However, Donna stands out for the way her first meeting with The Doctor transformed her. In her first appearance, she came off as intellectually lazy and demanding. However, she's also the first person (since the series was revived, at least) to work with The Doctor and have the insight to find his awesome powers to be something to inspire fear. She also became a stronger person all alone, turning into an investigator in order to reconnect with The Doctor. She's challenged The Doctor and his impulses from her earliest travels with him, contributing to the action instead of deferring to him.

Lisa Hayes
in Robotech (The Macross Saga)

For a lot of gay geeks who grew up in the 80's the animated serial Robotech was our afternoon soap. Not only did Robotech cheesily mix sci-fi and romance (how can you beat a story where aliens invade earth and are literally defeated by a love song?), it gave us plenty of strong women who succeeding by dismissing societal expectations. As the first officer of the SDF-1, Lisa's quick thinking saved the ship on several occasions and her tactical mind helped the ship's fighter pilots turn away various attacks.

Kristen Chenoweth as Olive Snook
in Pushing Daisies

While Ned, Chuck and Emerson go about trying to solve various murders, The Pie Hole's waitress Olive Snook solves the mystery of what those three are up to all on her own, discovers Chuck's family and realizes that she's officially dead. Olive is a sharp interrogator, often forcing Ned and Chuck to change the subject to avoid her questions. As hard as it would be to believe, I wouldn't be surprised if she figures out Ned's secret soon enough.