Gay TV on a Thursday Night: Dolly Parton, Cheyenne Jackson

The weekend is almost here, and pretty soon there will be holiday celebrations and obligations galore, so it is your pop-culture duty to soak up as much entertainment as possible before then. While some of us are still swooning over the musical male members of the Glee club -- and ladies like Lea Michele, no? -- Thursday has arrived, and with it new and exciting gay characters, actors, and favorites popping up all over prime time. Project Runway airs part 1 of the season’s finale, gorgeous and talented gay actor Cheyenne Jackson debuts on 30 Rock, and the divine Dolly Parton is on the late-night schedule. Best gay night of TV ever? Watch and let us know!

Start out the night with some FlashForward on ABC at 8. Aside from the cute cast of Joseph Fiennes, John Cho, and hot hobbit Dominic Monaghan, FF boasts the only lesbian on prime-time broadcast TV other than Grey's Anatomy's Doc Zona. ABC Thursday night is literally representing. Tonight Mark (Fiennes) has to cut out on his romantic getaway with Lost's luscious Sonya Walger when he has a chance to nab the mysterious tattooed assassin from his flash. Hopefully we see our favorite FBI broad, Janis Hawk (Christine Woods) tonight too.

By request, we are back on the fang-fan beat! In The Vampire Diaries, also on at 8, on the CW, things get tense in Mystic Falls tonight. The mysterious new history teacher Mr. Saltzman (Matt Davis) fraternizes with student Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) and his Aunt Jenna (Sara Canning). The girls get all uppity over the medallion, and badass Damon (Ian Somerhalder) lets Stefan (Paul Wesley) know exactly why he's back in town.

Gay TV on a Wednesday Night: CMAs & 'Glee's Back

We refuse to refer to the midway point of the week as "hump day," but it is certainly the hottest night of gay TV all week long. With Glee finally back after a painful two-week absence it seemed all was right in the Wednesday world of prime time, but sadly, tonight we'll have to go without a new episode of Modern Family. With the Country Music Association Awards airing tonight on ABC, cute country boys will have to suffice as a passable substitute. We've got the prime-time picks not to be missed on tonight's tube.

At 8 p.m. on CBS, the lovable Canadian half of Will & Grace, Eric McCormack, pops up again on tonight's The New Adventures of Old Christine. McCormack tries to teach the flaky Christine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) how to be tough and stick it out when things get rough rather than reveling in quitting.

Kicking off at 8, the 43rd Annual CMA Awards on ABC honor excellence in country music. With big-name performers including Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Sugarland, and Taylor Swift, the show should be packed with powerhouse performances. Cuties Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley host the three-hour award ceremony.

Adam Lambert's Back on the Market

Adam Lambert has split with his boyfriend, Drake LaBry, but good friend and fellow American Idol alum Kris Allen assured E! online the out rock star is "doing good... He's obviously not completely happy about it, but I think it was just something that needed to happen."

Lambert was ultimately runner-up to Allen when the two competed, but Allen insists they maintain a close friendship. “We see each other every once in a while and we text all the time," Allen said.

Though he maintains their competitive days are long behind them, the two will at least be competing on the charts with their respective debuts: Allen's self-titled album will be released November 17, just one week ahead of Lambert's anticipated debut, For Your Entertainment, on November 23.

Recent rumors say the creative Lambert also has acting ambitions, with Entertainment Weekly suggesting he'd be an inspired addition to Burlesque, starring Christina Aguilera and Cher.

Gay TV on a Tuesday Night: Shakira, Amerie on Late Night

Hello, Tuesday television lineup. While you're not packed to the brim with LGBT characters and gay-favorite celebrities, you still have a few things going for you, dear Tues, not the least of which is the brand-new sci-fi series V, starring Lost and Gia beauty Elizabeth Mitchell. Coupled with the new season of Tabatha's Salon Takeover with Tabatha Coffey, Tuesday could become known as the babes-in-charge night. It's also a hot night for music favorites, with Shakira, Amerie, and Marc Anthony (Mr. J-Lo) all popping up to perform on late-night talk shows. See, Tuesday? You're more than just the night in between Gossip Girl and Glee; you've got charming characters of your own. Set the DVR, and let Planet Out know what you liked and loathed later.

If V hooked you last week with its premiere, tonight's episode will draw you further into the mysterious visitors and their mission objectives here on Earth, at 8 p.m. on ABC. They've arrived and they're hot, or at least their rep, Anna (Morena Baccarin) is. But what do they want? Erica (Elizabeth Mitchell) has reason to be suspicious when it turns out a visitor is tracking her and Father Jack (Joel Gretsch).

Bette Midler's Leaving Las Vegas

If you haven't caught The Showgirl Must Go On, Bette Midler's Las Vegas review at Caesars Palace, time is running out. The legendary songstress announced she will end her reigning run on January 31.

In a statement, Midler recalled, "What a fabulous two years this has been" since her show debuted in February 2008. "These legs have had such a great run in the desert," she continued, "it may be time to haul them to places with more humidity and fewer slot machines."

Midler plans to return to the studio following the show's end to begin work on a new album.

Tell us: Who's your favorite star to ever hold court in Las Vegas? Along with recent greats Midler, Cher, and Elton, there is a rich history of top stars like Sinatra and Liberace making Vegas entertainment stand apart.

Image courtesy of Getty

Tegan Spills to SheWired

One half of the sublime sister set that is Tegan and Sara spilled all about the band’s new album, Sainthood, reading reviews, and courting commercial success. With 10 years behind them and new material that exceeds loyal fans’ expectations, T&S are in a prime position to become a huge music act, one getting better with each progressive release. Take a look at a snippet of what lead singer Tegan shared with SheWired:

SW: With the first two shows out of the way, do you guys feel a little more confident to play your new material?

Tegan: "Definitely. I’m always nervous for New York and L.A. It’s a big deal. There are a lot of record company people out. Sara and I have spent 99% of our career not worrying about press, journalists, and record companies, but when you play in New York and L.A. you can just abandon all of that—or you have to—because it is super important. I want the label to care. I want them to be behind the record, so I want them to be impressed by the live show. We have such an amazing, wonderful, intensely loving and devoted audience and there are lots of people in the media who are part of that audience.

Gay TV on a Monday Night: ‘Gossip Girl’ Threesome

Lately it seems like the best gay story lines are relegated to daytime TV. Well, if you've never gotten swept up in the soap scene or just prefer your entertainment in a prime-time package, Planet Out makes sure to point out the top choices every night of the week. This Monday brings the funny with hot Neil Patrick Harris packing on the pounds in a new How I Met Your Mother, the men of Million Dollar Listing continuing to compete for high-priced California real estate, and some big guests shaking up late night. Turn on your TV and enjoy all the gay we can squeeze out of tonight's television lineup, then tell us what you loved or hated.

Start the night right in the seasoned hands of NPH on CBS at 8 o’clock. In tonight's episode of How I Met Your Mother, it's more relationship hurdles for relationship newbies Barney (NPH) and Robin (Cobie Smulders). It's a fair question we've all faced in a happy, committed relationship: Are we getting fat? The season of nonstop Canadian jokes continues when Alan Thicke pops up as a fellow-Canadian celeb pal of Robin’s.

‘Up’ on Blu-ray & DVD

The 10th cinematic example of Pixar perfection, Up, is an especially touching "kids’" movie. Even more so than previous films, this story of a cranky old widower and and young adventure scout floating to a land lost in time captures viewers young and old alike. And while Pixar has an impeccable record of promoting tolerance in its stories, the rainbow-feathered, gender-bending mythical bird that instigates the second act, Kevin, resonates as an allegory for the LGBT community even more so than previous films' metaphors (it’s been said Ratatoullie can be seen as a coming-out parable).

While the special features on the Blu-ray don't touch on the possible symbolism of that beautiful bird, they do provide an insightful look at the incredible amount of time and care that go into creating a phenomenal finished film. For a society that often rewards menial efforts with fame and fortune (hello, cast of The Hills), Pixar studios shows that tireless hard work is required to create a superior end result.

Rachel Maddow on Beauty

The highly respected hostess of the nightly news program The Rachel Maddow Show knows what sets her apart from so many female news anchors. All politics aside, Maddow has a very different approach to her appearance as an on-air newscaster.

"The women in American cable news look like a beauty pageant," Maddow said at a seminar recently, as reported by Gatecrasher. "I'm not very pretty. I sorta look like a dude, and I have short hair, and I wear boring gray jackets, and I have a big nose. No one's gonna confuse me with a Fox News anchor. No one's gonna call me the anything-Honey."

Kathy Griffin: 'Let's Dance' on TV

The Emmy award-winning star of My Life on the D-list is getting another television show! Kathy Griffin will host Let's Dance, debuting on ABC November 23. The new show will premiere with a special 90-minute episode immediately following the popular Dancing With the Stars season finale.

Each week contestants will compete by re-creating famous and favorite celebrity routines. ABC has already added five episodes of the show to its schedule.

One things for sure, in a sea of weepy, feel-good reality fodder, Griffin will pack some punch with her comments.