This week the six major TV networks rolled out their Fall 2004 lineups, and there is good news and bad for lesbian and bisexual women.

First the bad: Nikki and Nora, the lesbian private-eye drama pilot developed for UPN, was not picked up. This is disappointing since this show would have been the first drama on network television about lesbians, and because it was only new show in the pipeline definitely known to have lesbians characters.

Which means at this point, the only definite lesbian/bi characters on Network TV next season are ER's newly-widowed Kerry Weaver (Laura Innes recently indicated she would be on the show for at least another season or two), Two and a Half Men's maybe-bisexual ex-wife Judith (Meredith Hinkle), and All My Children's Bianca (Eden Riegel, who just signed a new 2-year contract) and Maggie (Elizabeth Hendrickson).

In short, we're looking at possibly the worst season on Network TV for lesbian/bi characters since the mid-90's. Of course, more lesbian characters may emerge as series as developed, and we may discover in the fall that some of the new series have lesbian characters that haven't been disclosed yet--or some veteran shows may introduce gay characters (like NYPD Blue's maybe-gay new detective).

But the recent demise of Wonderfalls, the departure of Lena from All My Children and the overall way the lesbian storylines on AMC and ER have been handled have left many lesbian and bisexual viewers switching to cable, where at least we have lesbian characters on shows like The Wire, Queer as Folk, Nip/Tuck, and of course, The L Word.

There is good news, however, for lesbian and bisexual actresses: the very funny but ratings-challenged Fox sitcom Arrested Development, co-starring Portia de Rossi, was renewed for another season, and the new sitcom Crazy for You, co-starring Tammy Lynn Michaels in a supporting role, was picked up for a mid-season start by NBC. Ellen's talk show (which won a Best Talk Show emmy this week) has also been renewed and Rosie O'Donnell is making a TV comeback in a CBS TV movie Riding the Bus With My Sister airing sometime next season.

These developments are promising because they indicate that coming out as a lesbian may not always be the career killer it once was for actresses in Hollywood. Michaels' new role is particularly encouraging since she came out so early in her career, and in a very public way by marrying Melissa Etheridge; to see her land this role is a positive sign (and a no-brainer to anyone who saw her fantastic turn in Popular, the first season of which is finally coming out on DVD in September - a must-have for Tammy Lynn fans).

On a sad note, however, Buffy fans will be disappointed to learn that Alyson Hannigan's sitcom Americana was not picked up by NBC. Maybe it's time to revisit that Willow spinoff idea?