QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY’s premiere on July 15 was such a success for Bravo that Bravo’s owner NBC has now decided to test the show on the network. On Thursday, July 24, NBC will air a half-hour version of a Bravo QUEER EYE episode at 8:30 p.m., after WILL & GRACE. The July 15 Bravo premiere snared the biggest audience—of any type of show—in Bravo history. The initial episode snared 1.64 million viewers, with the 10-11 p.m. episode finishing as the second-highest-rated show in Bravo history. (By comparison, Bravo’s INSIDE THE ACTOR’S STUDIO peaks at about 1 million viewers). Bravo said the show’s Tuesday debut at 10 p.m. set new records among total viewers, households, audiences aged 18-49, and audiences aged 25-54. The 18-49 demographic is most favored by advertisers as their core audience, while some networks rely on the 25-54 audience as a more mature target group.
QUEER EYE made Bravo the No. 2 ad-supported cable network during the hour, behind only MTV’s The Real World and The Osbournes. Season-to-date, Bravo ranks #38 in the hour. MADONNA GAP ADS BEGIN JULY 28
Madonna’s new Gap ads for gabardine debut July 28. Except for a Pepsi spot several years ago, Madonna has shied away from commercial endorsements. Other Gap celeb reps have included Jakob Dylan, Christina Ricci, Anjelica Huston and Dennis Hopper.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 ALL MY CHILDREN (ABC, noon) Last week, still traumatized by her rape, Bianca nearly ran off the roof of a clinic and then tried to leave Pine Valley. But reunited with her greatly relieved mother, she tried to downplay her attempt to leave town. RENO 911! (COM, 9:30, 11:30 p.m.) Series premiere. Funny spoof of cop reality shows, including a gay Lt. Dangle. Sat., 12:30 a.m. ON THE RECORD WITH BOB COSTAS (HBO, 9 p.m.) Angelina Jolie. CRAIG KILBORN (CBS, 11:35) Javier Bardem.
THURSDAY, JULY 24 BRUCE VILANCH ON REGIS AND KELLY (Ch. 9, 9 a.m.) Bruce gets shaved live, in preparing for his debut as Edna Turnblatt in the national tour of HAIRSPRAY. WAYNE BRADY SHOW (Ch. 6, 10 a.m.) Funny Women: Joan Rivers, Kathy Griffin, Margaret Cho. REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL (HBO, 2:30 p.m.) British soccer star and U.K. gay icon David Beckham. Repeats Fri at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Sun at 8 a.m., Tues at 6 p.m. AMAZING RACE 4 (CBS, 7 p.m.) Chip and Reichen, the gay married couple from Beverly Hills, are still in the race. QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) After the ratings success of QUEER EYE on Bravo, which is owned by NBC, the network has decided to test a special half-hour version of one of the one-hour Bravo episodes. Watch to see if there’s any toning down or de-gaying … ISAAC MIZRAHI (Oxygen, 9:30 p.m.) Juliette Lewis, Lisa Loeb. CONAN O’BRIEN (NBC, 11:35) Scott Thompson. ANGELINA JOLIE ON CARSON DALY (NBC)
SATURDAY, JULY 26 JUST SHOOT ME (NBC, 7 p.m.) Nina (Wendy Malick) gives advice to a female impersonator who does her in drag in a cabaret show. t.A.T.u. ON MAD TV (Fox, 10 p.m.) Repeat.
SUNDAY, JULY 27SEX AND THE CITY (HBO, 8 p.m.) For better or worse, Samantha’s Absolut Hunk Jerry is now known all over town. Carrie and Berger must decide whether their relationship is worth working on. Charlotte is pursued by the yentas at her synagogue. Miranda deals with demands of her job and motherhood.TUESDAY, JULY 29 BOY MEETS BOY (Bravo, 8p.m. and 10 p.m.) The Adventure Begins: ‘Will you accept … this glass of champagne?’QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY (Bravo, 9 p.m.) The Fab Five makes-better another victim. REAL WORLD PARIS (MTV, 9 p.m.) Gay Simon, 18, has still remained mostly in the background.Gay Boy Ric is a comedian and pop singer based in L.A. To receive free GTV E-Mail Alerts: gayboyric@yahoo.com