Gay cable network Logo is premiering a new show on April 24 produced by none other than Rosie O’Donnell. It’s called “The Big Gay Sketch Show,” and the name says it all. It stars eight young gay and lesbian comics, including performer Jonny McGovern and comic Julie Goldman. Amanda Bearse, who played Marcy D’Arcy on Fox’s “Married with Children,” directs.

Bearse has been directing television for 16 years, and yet she said this was one of the most fun sets she’s been on and hopes the show is a success and gets picked up for additional episodes.

“Of course, they need to get the [rating results] before they decide whether or not to pick the show up and order more episodes,” Bearse said. “We’re all very hopeful because the experience was tremendous. We all had a great time. The network was thrilled; I think they were very happy with the final product.”

The show has been given a late-night time slot that should suit the adult audience they’re trying to appeal to.

“We’re going to launch on Tuesday, April 24. It’s on at 10 p.m. and it’s edgy, so 10 p.m. is probably appropriate,” Bearse said. “We hope that the nation responds.”

In addition to being immensely fun for the cast to produce, Bearse said the show has cross-sexuality appeal and should attract straight and gay viewers alike.

“This is, like it or not, a crossover show,” she said. “We didn’t create it to be that way because we didn’t have to. But, again, I’ve said it once, I’ll say it 500 more times, ‘Funny is funny.’ It doesn’t matter whether you’re gay or straight or white or black or red or yellow or green or Hindu or Buddhist. You will respond to this show for its sheer entertainment value.”

Reacting to Jonny McGovern calling the show a “faggoty MADtv,” Bearse said, “It’s beyond that because it’s a ‘lezzie-faggoty MADtv, and it’s also just funny, and funny is funny whether you’re gay or straight.”

Ultimately, the success or failure of the show will rest with the viewers and the network. If viewers tune in, the network will order more shows. If it doesn’t, then the sixth may be the final episode aired. However things turn out, the cast and crew have had nothing but good things to say about the network.

“We’re proud to be on the first really truly gay network,” Bearse said. “It’s all about putting out a product you’re proud of, and this young cast of eight people, four men and four women, came together in such an incredible, professional, kick-ass way.“

The appeal of the show will mainly be the cast members, all of whom are comedians in their own rights. The cast will include Erica Ash, Dion Flynn, Stephen Gruarino, Kate McKinnon, and Nicol Paone.

Also joining the cast is Michael Serrato. Serrato is a member of the Groundlings comic theater troupe and has starred in such films as Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds.

Lesbian stand-up comic and singer Julie Goldman is one of the more recognizable faces amongst the Big Gay Sketch Show cast members. Goldman, has been doing stand-up comedy since she was 15 years old, so the format of this new show will be an easy fit for her. Furthermore, the show will feature a variety of musical parodies as well as more traditional skits. Goldman is well suited to help with the musical numbers and has done some songs of her own including “Monogamous Slut.”

McGovern is probably the best known out of all the stars of “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” A club event promoter and comedian, his most well-known character is the Gay Pimp, but the Gay Pimp won’t be making an appearance on the show.

“I’m not going to be playing the Gay Pimp. I’m playing a bunch of different characters,” McGovern said. “They specifically wanted me to branch out and do other stuff.”

However, even without his Gay Pimp persona, like Goldman, he will be an asset when it comes to the show’s musical parodies. His experience in both producing and performing music, both in and out of Gay Pimp costume, has always been done for laughs, making him an invaluable asset to the show.

His Gay Pimp experience may come in handy as well as The Gay Pimp has produced three music videos. McGovern’s Gay Pimp music videos are all done tongue in cheek and that experience will come in handy when doing the show’s musical parodies.

If the show takes off like everyone hopes it will, the next question is when will we see more episodes?

McGovern agrees with Bearse that the success of the show now will hinge on getting people to watch and to hope that the show is as much fun for the audience as it was for the cast to make.

“We shot six episodes, and Logo is talking to us about doing another one,” McGovern says. “Hopefully a billion gays will watch the show and demand another 100 new episodes. I had a blast doing the show. It was really gay every day, and the cast was way cool.”