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.

A 'Mad Max' Without Mel Gibson?

Mel Gibson is out, it seems, but Charlize Theron is in, interestingly, for the upcoming Mad Max film series' fourth installment. Director-producer George Miller has announced principal photography will begin in August in Australia for the postapocalyptic action saga.

The previous three installments, Mad Max, The Road Warrior, and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome proved epic successes for both Miller and Gibson, who was catapulted to fame after the first film hit in 1979.

Gay TV All Weekend Long: 'White Collar' is White Hot

It's a fantastic fall weekend to relax and catch up on some quality time with your television. The weather outside may be getting frightful, but the gay-favorite shows are so delightful! Friday to Sunday, we've got your entertainment needs inexpensively covered. You need only flip on the telly to enjoy hot spy action on White Collar, the sublime sounds of the Pixies or Regina Spektor, wacky new late night from fabulously funny out Wanda Sykes, or a Scotty-centric episode of Brothers & Sisters. It's going to be one of the best weekends of gay TV in a while. Even if you've got plans, you may want to consider staying in. At the very least, set those DVR's!

Kick off the weekend with a lil' Ugly Betty love Friday night at 9 on ABC. This week Betty (America Ferrera) is feeling out of place after Daniel hires a new assistant and Matt has his own date to attend to. What happened to the episodes when everyone needed Betty to save the day?

Gyllenhaal Brings Action in 'Prince of Persia'

The summer blockbuster season is already brewing. Disney execs are hoping the first big hit of the summer will be Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The big-budget, video game-inspired action movie won't be out until May, but the trailer has been released, to the delight of fans of the flick and Jake Gyllenhaal's arms alike.