Just out: a slate of gay-themed programs

LOGO, MTV Networks’ new digital channel aimed at gays and lesbians, revealed its first programming and development slate Friday, with a lineup heavy on variety and unscripted series.

New shows include “Family Outing,” which focuses on true-life coming-out stories and is executive produced by pop diva Cher and her daughter, Chastity Bono, and a cabaret series hosted by actor Alan Cumming. There’s also “Fantastic Voyage,” a reality series about gay-themed cruises, and actor Scott Thompson will host “My Fabulous Gay Wedding,” a wish-fulfillment show with real-life couples.

Comedian Margaret Cho is developing a comedy series, while “Chelsea Boys” is an animated show based on the syndicated comic strip. The channel has also acquired rights to such gay-themed films as “The Birdcage” and “Philadelphia” and will televise the 2005 GLAAD Media Awards.

LOGO is scheduled to launch Feb. 17.

A stream of cable TV programming announcements capped the semiannual Television Critics Assn. gathering, which ended Friday in Century City.

Among the highlights:

* HBO executives announced that the final season of “The Sopranos” won’t air until 2006. Also on deck: the third season of “The Wire” (scheduled for a Sept. 19 premiere), the second season of “Carnivale” (early ‘05) and the second season of “Deadwood” (spring). The pay cable network also renewed its new Hollywood-based series “Entourage” for a second season.

* Bravo, the basic cable network that’s home to “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” is giving women their version of the popular makeover show this fall, President Lauren Zalaznick said. “Queer Eye for the Straight Girl” will star four gay lifestyle coaches who help women improve themselves and their lives.

“Project Runway” is Bravo’s new show in the spirit of UPN’s “America’s Next Top Model.” Model Heidi Klum and designer Michael Kors headline the search for the next great fashion designer. It debuts Nov. 30.

Other Bravo shows include “Manhunt,” about the search for the next great male model, and “Miami Slice,” a reality show about Miami plastic surgeons.

* Finally, for the first time in its history, Nickelodeon will go off the air for three hours on Oct. 2. Nickelodeon, the kids’ programming division of MTV Networks, is billing the planned blackout as a Worldwide Day of Play. At noon in each time zone, the network will go dark and instead will encourage young viewers to go out and play. It’s part of Nickelodeon’s ongoing health-focused “Let’s Just Play” initiative.

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Times staff writer Maria Elena Fernandez contributed to this report.