CHERRY JONES' PRESIDENCY DELAYED, BUT LENA HEADEY TO PINCH HIT; LESBIANS RELIEVED
Yesterday Fox became the first network to revise its 2007-08 season in light of the Writers Guild of America strike, which officially began on Monday and may stretch into 2008. One of the unfortunate results of the strike is Fox's decision to pull the seventh season of 24 from the schedule until the strike ends, so that the entire season can air uninterrupted.

But though this does mean we're going to have to wait awhile longer to see Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor, there is a silver lining: Fox has moved Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, starring Lena Headey, into 24's premiere slot. The Sarah Connor Chronicles will now launch with a two-night premiere on Jan. 13 and 14.

This news comes just days after Jones slipped some inside info to New York magazine about President Taylor. "I find her to be an honorable, courageous, upright kind of gal," she said of the first woman president on 24.

"I think she's very much her own person. And the situations are very much like something we've yet to explore as a nation. The president makes a very bold move, which then sets off the cataclysmic events." Ooh, another nuclear disaster scenario?

I haven't watched 24 for a couple of seasons, but I do have fond memories of being glued to my couch as I watched hour after hour of the first season of 24 on DVD. After that mind-numbing stimulating experience, I vowed to never watch the show again unless I had the entire DVD set available to me along with take-out menus, gallons of water and a clear social calendar for at least, well, 24 straight hours.

Cherry Jones' commentary, though, makes me hope the WGA strike is quickly resolved. Although lesbian/bi representation on TV isn't going to be significantly impacted by the strike (because, duh, we're marginalized, people!), I really do want to see President Jones Taylor.

Also, one of the shows that Fox is slipping into the schedule to counter the lack of scripted programming is a reality show called When Women Rule the World (the press release assures us that's a working title, probably because legal's still mulling over Feminist Smackdown! Bitches Fight Back), due to premiere March 3.

This is how it's described: "Set in a primitive, remote location, this unscripted series explores what happens when a group of strong, educated and independent women, tired of living in a man's world, rule over a group of unsuspecting men used to calling the shots."

Yeah, theoretically it sounds good, but I'm a little scared. It reminds me of a little show that's based on the groundbreaking premise of a bisexual woman choosing her true love from a group of suitors comprised of both men and women, thereby delivering a stereotype-smashing portrayal of sexuality on prime-time television.

We all know how that turned out.

BECAUSE GAY SKETCH COMEDY IS FOR STRAIGHT PEOPLE, TOO
This week our parent company, Logo, sent us a bunch of behind-the-scenes clips of The Big Straight Sketch Show. No, you weren't suddenly inflicted with a vision problem — yes, they are making a special "straight" version of The Big Gay Sketch Show. I think.

Actually, after watching the first four episodes, it seems more like a mockumentary about making a fake sketch comedy show. And it channels just enough of The Office (complete with idiotic, deadpan boss and ridiculous corporate job titles) to be smartly funny. You can watch them all on this page, but if you haven't seen them yet, check out Episode 2 (the funniest one so far) right here:

I've missed you, Julie Goldman!