From a passionate kiss on All My Children to hot sex on The L Word TV has had its fair share of gay smooches. But, did you ever notice that all these lip dockings occur during sweeps weeks?

The networks know that even in Middle America, where finding a queer positive town is a bit like finding a bagel and lox, the fine upstanding citizens who deny us our rights are glued to their TVs for queer makeout scenes.

That’s why "Fastlane" got a ratings bump when Tiffani Thiessen crawled into a hot tub with Jaime Pressly. That’s why Willow’s lesbian love affair on "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" cast a spell on viewers. That’s why Jennifer Aniston helped get Winona Ryder in the news before her shoplifting spree, by planting one on her on "Friends." That’s why Miller Lite is getting so much attention for its "Catfight" commercial, which doesn’t actually have two models smooching, but the implication is that they’ll soon be wrestling under the sheets.

The very idea of two women necking used to get more than just hormones churning. Much was made of the kiss between Amanda Donohoe and Michele Greene on "L.A. Law" in 1992. In January 1997, the American Family Association protested because "Relativity" explored the sexual relationship between two women. Five months later, Ellen DeGeneres landed on the cover of Time when her character came out on "Ellen."

Heather Locklear, Denise Richards, Pamela Anderson, Kylie Minogue, Michelle Williams, Carmen Electra, Alyssa Milano, Neve Campbell, Mia Kirshner and Lisa Kudrow are among the Hollywood stars who have engaged in same-sex liplocks on cable or network TV in recent years — and that’s not even counting the goings-on on Queer As Folk.

"As reality television becomes a bigger phenomenon, scripted shows have to have more ratings ploys and be more salacious," said Scott Seomin, entertainment media director for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against DeFamation. "It’s rarely a warm lesbian relationship. It’s always promoted as hot girl-on-girl action. I call them Penthouse lesbians."

It’s no secret most of the smooching is between the grrrlz. Apart from QAF and Six Feet Under you are hard pressed to find gay makeout scenes.

Dawson’s Creek

"Unless you’re watching premium cable, you’re not going to see it," Seomin said. "To see two men kiss still seems to be that forbidden frontier. Two guys expressing compassion for each other beyond a handshake is very threatening."

The only show to really push the envelope in this area has been "Dawson’s Creek," which has shown two male-on-male makeout scenes, including one prolonged, open-mouthed kiss in May 2001.

"It was about five seconds. I timed it," Seomin said. "What’s great is that this is a show that’s watched by young people who are easily influenced by what they see on TV."

Will & Grace

"Will & Grace," despite featuring two gay characters, has not been as daring. In fact, Grace (Debra Messing) and Karen (Megan Mullally) have kissed each other more passionately than either of the males have with anyone else.

Seomin, who is a fan of the show, recalls an episode in which Will (Eric McCormack) ended a date with a younger man with a goodnight peck on the lips. The producers and the network opted not to promote it.

"I refer to that as the kiss nobody talked about," Seomin said.

Some of TV’s Most Memorable Queer Smooches

• "L.A. Law," 1992: C.J. Lamb (Amanda Donohoe) is a lawyer in love when she surprises Abby Perkins (Michele Greene) with a kiss in the parking lot.

• "Picket Fences," 1993: Kimberly (Holly Marie Combs) does more kissing than slumbering during a sleepover with a girlfriend.

• "Roseanne," 1994: Guest star Mariel Hemingway gives the show’s star her personal best.

• "Relativity," 1997: The necking between Rhonda (Lisa Edelstein) and Suzanne (Kristin Dattilo) is considered to be the first on network TV between two lesbian characters.

• "Ellen," 1997: Months after coming out, Ellen (Ellen DeGeneres) finally gets to kiss — but it’s with her platonic girlfriend, Paige (Joely Fisher).

• "Ally McBeal," 1999: Ally (Calista Flockhart) and Ling (Lucy Liu) learn that when they kiss it’s like, um, fire.

• "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," 1999: Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Tara (Amber Benson) make a bewitching couple.

• "Will & Grace," 2000: Jack (Sean Hayes) and Will (Eric McCormack) make out on the "Today" show to protest the network censoring a gay kiss, leaving even Al Roker speechless.

• "Dawson’s Creek," 2001: Jack (Kerr Smith) and Tobey (David Monahan) get hot ’n’ heavy after the prom. No coincidence that the show’s creator, Kevin Williamson, is openly gay.

• "Dark Angel," 2001: Two black women, Cindy (Valarie Rae Miller) and Diamond (Tangelia Rouse), show that same-sex smacking isn’t just a white thang.

• "24," 2001: A steamy encounter between Bridgit (Kim Murphy) and Mandy (Mia Kirshner) proves that terrorists can be lovers, too.

• "Spin City," 2001: Guest star Denise Richards plants one on Caitlin (Heather Locklear). Charlie Sheen is so turned on, he asks Richards to marry him.

• "ER," 2001: Lisa Vidal breaks some barriers when her character, gets hot with iceberg Dr. Kerry Weaver (Laura Innes), making her the first Latino actress to play a lesbian on network TV.

• "Once and Again," 2002: Jessie (Evan Rachel Wood) comes out of her shell — and out of the closet — to her girlfriend, Katie (Mischa Barton).

• "Fastlane," 2003: Tiffani Thiessen leaves her "Saved by the Bell" image behind once and for all with the help of Jaime Pressly.