TVSquad

It occurred to me recently that there are more gay and lesbian characters on TV right now than ever before. That's pretty cool.

And they run the gamut from The L Word 's edgy Shane (pictured) to Desperate Housewives' funny Bob to Entourage's loyal Lloyd, who takes more verbal abuse from Ari Gold than anyone should ever be allowed to take.

See if you agree with my list of top gay characters on TV right now, and feel free to add your own in the comments. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

10. Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig), The L Word

9. Lee McDermott (Kevin Rahm), Desperate Housewives

8. Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys), Brothers & Sisters

7. Dr. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw), Grey's Anatomy

6. Guy Branum, Chelsea Lately

5. Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nunez), The Office

4. RuPaul, RuPaul's Drag Race

3. Most of the people on the Bravo network

2. Lloyd (Rex Lee), Entourage

1. Much of the cast of The Real World: Brooklyn

Want to see the pictures or leave a comment? Click here.

Recently, MTV has announced that The Real World (and the Challenges) will be going on for at least four more seasons. With the 21st season coming to a close, it brought up the big question: Should The Real World be renewed? After watching The Real World: Brooklyn, I have to say yes.

I started watching during The Real World: Miami. There was grit, passion, and I learned life lessons from the cast. After Philadelphia's season, the show felt like there was nothing left to cover. Everyone was too attractive, and they all wanted to become famous.

MTV, high of off the success of its twentieth season The Real World: Hollywood, has greenlighted yet another season of the hit show to be filmed back in New York. The Real World: Brooklyn will begin shooting this summer and air in early 2009. The network will continue the one-hour format they began with The Real World: Hollywood; they've ordered twelve episodes from Bunim-Murray productions.

MTV is already touting Brooklyn as the return to the "original" Real World (not the version of the show where MTV casts hot-but-less-evolved people). Also, they are playing up the return to New York. But hasn't this been done before? I believe it was season ten and it was actually called The Real World: Back to New York. "The Brooklyn season, like the Hollywood season, will focus on what people loved about The Real World when it launched in 1992 genuine people, meaningful conflict and powerful stories. We're thrilled that MTV is allowing The Real World to turn 21.," says Jon Murray, The Real World Co-Creator and Chairman & President of Bunim-Murray Productions.

What do you think? Are you over The Real World?