And perhaps more importantly: how awful does this show look? 

If you haven't heard, production is underway on Lake Shore, a Toronto knockoff of MTV's wildly popular reality show Jersey Shore. Auditions have been held and producers are looking for "eight vibrant and volatile 20-something Torontonians from different backgrounds, cultures and sexual orientations." Voting is open to all, and you have until Sept 3 to cast your ballot for one of the 25 finalists.

Stylist and designer Salem Moussallam is one of those finalists. Check out his audition video: 

 

If you missed them last week, you can watch both episodes of Degrassi featuring trans character Adam online at muchmusic.com. Check out "My Body is a Cage," part one and part two.

Xtra went on set last month to chat with actress Jordan Todosey, who plays the role of Adam:

More queer Degrassi action coming up tonight: gay jock Riley tries to win Zane back by standing up against homophobes on the football team. The show airs on Much at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT and later online at muchmusic.com.

Now that all 31 Mexican states are recognizing gay marriages performed in Mexico City, US political satirist Stephen Colbert jokes that he fears a "gay drain" to Canada and Mexico. 

He also joked that the US is the "straight meat in a big gay sandwich."

If you're in Canada, click here to watch the clip from last night's Colbert Report on the Comedy Network. If you're in the US, you can watch the clip here on Comedy Central. 

Read more:

• Forget the 'brain drain': It's all about the gay gain
• Canadian immigration's outdated requirements
  
• Why more binational couples are coming to Canada
• Poz couples wins immigration case
• Married lesbian couple moved from LA to Halifax to live and love freely
  

Canadian TV show Degrassi is set to introduce a trans character this season, premiering Monday, July 19 on MuchMusic. 

Producer Stefan Brogren spoke to CP:

Brogren says great effort was made to handle the transgender storyline with care, with writers going so far as to consult with various advocacy groups to make sure the issue was presented accurately.

"It really sort of threw us for a loop because the writers did some amazing research, both networks have been in touch with gay, lesbian, transgender organizations to make sure they like the script. We want to make sure that we're not hurting the subject matter," he says. (read more at ctv.ca)

Adam's storyline is expected to come to a head in the episodes airing August 11 and 12, reports CP. 

Also, this season: will we see more of gay jock Riley and his cute crush Zane?

Degrassi has plenty of time to flesh out these queer characters, as the show shifts to a new format. You can catch four new episodes each week, from Monday to Thursday.  

Xtra's Michael Pihach was on the set of Degrassi last year. Watch his video report, featuring Fritz Helder & the Phantoms and gay Degrassi alum Adamo Ruggiero:

A lineup at Woody's at 1pm on a Monday? Sorta.

The production crew of Being Erica has shut down part of Church Street today to recreate scenes from Toronto Pride.

The crew is scheduled to film outside of Woody's/Sailor from 7am to 11pm. 

Unfortunately, they weren't able to recreate Toronto Pride's hot and sunny weather. As we stepped out to shoot a few photos, it started to rain and most of the crew headed inside.

Check out Xtra's coverage of Toronto Pride:

• Minor tension at Toronto Pride parade over Queers Against Israeli Apartheid
• Toronto Pride 2010 in pictures
• Take Back the Dyke takes over Toronto streets
• Joyful, messy, chaotic: big love for free speech at Toronto Pride