With so few recurring lgbt characters on television in the US, "South of Nowhere" has emerged as a pleasant surprise on teen oriented "The N" channel. The Carlin family recently moved from Ohio to Los Angeles, and their three children must adjust to a very different big city high school.

Dad (Rob Moran) is a liberal social worker, while Mom (Maeve Quinlan) works as an emergency room physician. Son Glen (Chris Hunter) is a jock, and adopted son Clay (Chris Hunter) deals with issues of race as an African-American male living in a white family.

At the center of the show are daughter Spencer (Gabrielle Christian, "Young Americans") and her lesbian new best friend Ashley (Mandy Musgrave). Mom wants Spencer to stop seeing Ashley altogether, but that's just not going to happen. Spencer begins questioning her sexuality and figuring out her identity, and the question becomes whether she and Ashley will hook up.

This is definitely a show for teens, centered on high school life, although most adults will also enjoy it. Both Spencer and Ashley are cute and endearing. The coming out angst is handled very realistically for a generation not as concerned about labels.

Nominated for a 2006 GLAAD Media Award. Rose Troche (Go Fish, "The L Word," Fabulous!) also wrote for the show.