Atlanta as gay
comedy mecca?

Instead of being set in New York or Los Angeles, a new gay sketch comedy pilot titled Laugh Out will be setting up shop among the peach trees of Atlanta.

Laugh Out will be shot in and around Atlanta and showcase local talent from the growing gay mecca. The pilot, partially completed, will be hosted by Will & Grace's Leslie Jordan and feature drag guest stars Lady Bunny and Shirley Q. Liquor as well as an appearance from Baton Bob, an Atlanta street performer.

Once the show is completed, Laugh Out's creators, the Atlanta-based production company Creaxion, will shop it to networks.

"Television and broadband channels are starving for original programming--especially comedy-related content," said Creaxion executive Mark Pettit in a statement. "We think we've got a great concept, and, hopefully, someone will agree and pick up the show."

In April, LGBT network Logo announced the creation of The Big Gay Show, a sketch comedy show to be executive-produced by Rosie O'Donnell that will begin airing in 2007. (The Advocate)