Viacom To Launch Gay Network

Logo, the new television network aimed at gays and lesbians, is working with Cher, Alan Cumming and Margaret Cho on new shows and plans two wedding programs.

A Viacom network that plans a Feb. 17, 2005 launch, Logo detailed its programming strategy for the first time on Friday. Brian Graden, MTV/VH1 Entertainment president who's also working on Logo, said the outpouring of support has been thrilling.

Cher and her daughter, Chastity Bono, are working on "Family Outing," a series telling the stories of celebrities who came out as gay and lesbians.

Cumming has signed on for a musical cabaret series and Cho is expected to star in her own series, for which few details were available.

Kathy Griffin will be cruise director for "Fantastic Voyage," a real-life "Love Boat" played out on an ocean liner in the Caribbean.

The two wedding-themed series play off a newsmaking topic. "My Fabulous Gay Wedding," with actor Scott Thompson as host, follows about-to-be-married gay couples as they plan their wedding. "Do I?" brings gay and lesbian couples contemplating marriage before a relationship expert.

Graden will also bring a familiar MTV Networks idea to Logo with "The Big Gay 100," a countdown show of the greatest people, places and things in gay culture.

Logo has also acquired more than 150 documentaries and movies popular with gay audiences, including "Mommie Dearest," "Philadelphia" and "Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story."

Logo, MTV, VHI and CBSNews.com are owned by Viacom.