Read The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV Online
Authors: Stephen Tropiano
| “New Moon Rising,” Oz discovers Willow is in love with Tara (5/2/00) | |
| “The Body,” Buffy’s mother dies (2/27/01) | |
| “Forever,” Willow and Tara attend Buffy’s mom’s funeral (4/21/01) | |
| “Tabula Rasa,” Tara breaks up with Willow for abusing magic (11/13/01) | |
| CBS EVENING NEWS with WALTER CRONKITE (December 7, 1973) | Posing as a college newspaper reporter, Gay Raider Mark Segal interrupts news broadcast by standing in front of a camera with a sign reading “Gays Protest CBS Prejudice” and shouting “Gay people are protesting CBS’s policies.” |
| C.P.O SHARKEY (NBC, Comedy, 1976-1978) | “Sharkey’s Secret Life,” Sharkey’s men suspect he’s gay (3/16/77) |
| CAGNEY AND LACEY (CBS, Police Drama,1982- 1988) | Rec: Tony Stantinopolis (Barry Sattels) (1986-1987), Cagney’s gay neighbor |
| “Conduct Unbecoming,” Detective’s photo in gay magazine (12/13/82) | |
| “Rights of Passage,” Tony moves in next door to Cagney (12/1/86) | |
| CAN’T HURRY LOVE (CBS, Comedy, 1995-1996) | “Valentine’s Day Massacred,” Roger and Didi spend Valentine’s Day in gay bar (2/12/96) |
| CAROL BURNETT SHOW, THE (CBS, Variety, 1967-1979) | |
| CAROLINE IN THE CITY (NBC, Comedy, 1995- 1999) | “Caroline & the Gay Art Show,” Richard’s show at gay gallery (10/5/95) |
| “Caroline & Victor / Victoria ,” Annie dons male drag (11/19/96) | |
| CAROLINE IN THE CITY | “Caroline & the Dearly Departed,” Richard fakes his death (2/18/97) |
| “Caroline & the Little White Lies,” Charlie and Del pose as gay couple (4/6/98) | |
| CARTER COUNTRY (ABC, Comedy, 1977-1979) | “Out of the Closet,” Chief’s gay friend, a teacher, is fired (9/29/77) |
| CHANNING (ABC, Drama, 1963-1964) | “The Last Testament of Buddy Crown,” Gay(?) student drowns himself (12/18/63) |
| CHARLIE’S ANGELS (ABC, Detective Drama, 1976-1981) | “Angels in Chains,” Angels go undercover in women’s prison-farm (10/20/76) |
| “Angel on the Line,” Angels terrorized by a cross- dressing killer (2/14/81) | |
| CHECK IT OUT (USA, Comedy, 1985-1988) | Reg: Leslie Rappaport (Aaron Schwartz), gay cashier |
| CHEERS (NBC, Comedy, 1982-1993) | “Boys in the Bar,” Sam’s baseball teammate comes out (1/27/83) |
| “Norm, is that You?” Norm pretends he’s a gay decorator (12/8/88) | |
| “Rebecca’s Lover. . .Not,” Rebecca mistakes gay pal for straight (4/23/92) | |
| CHICAGO HOPE (CBS, Medical Drama, 1994- 2000) | Reg: Dr. Dennis Hancock (Vondie Curtis-Hall) (1995-1999) |
| “Food Chains,” Doctors battle over baboon’s heart (9/29/94) | |
| “Freeze Outs,” Grad rejects Hancock’s patient for AIDS study (2/20/95) | |
| “Informed Consent,” Kronk dates a transsexual (3/13/95) | |
| “Full Moon,” Grad and Hancock operate on AIDS patient (5/15/95) | |
| “The Ethics of Hope,” Grad is bitten by HIV infected ape (11/27/95) | |
| “Right to Life,” Kronk treats drag queen with AIDS (1/22/96) | |
| “Women on the Verge,” Kronk helps transsexual ex- girlfriend (2/12/96) | |
| “Sexual Perversity in Chicago,” Shutt is mistaken for gay (3/11/96) | |
| “The Parent Rap,” Intersexual baby (4/29/96) | |
| “Ex Marks the Spot,” Sutton’s ex-wives are lovers (5/13/96) | |
| “Liver Let Die,” Shutt works with gay researcher (10/7/96) | |
| “Sympathy for the Devil,” HIV+ teen won’t take her meds (10/22/97) | |
| CHICAGO HOPE (count.) | “The Lung and the Restless,” Hancock comes out to Shutt (11/5/97) |
| “The Ties That Bind,” Grad helps HIV+ woman have baby (2/4/98) | |
| “Objects Are Closer Than They Appear,” Lesbian fights for dying lover (3/25/98) | |
| “Risky Business,” Teen boy believes he’s a girl (4/29/98) | |
| “Austin Space,” Gay Orthodox Jewish teen with OCD (10/7/98) | |
| “Playing Through,” HIV+ patient kills man who molested him (2/3/99) | |
| “Teacher’s Pet,” Grad discovers she’s HIV negative (3/24/99) | |
| “Boys Will Be Girls,” Teen discovers she was born male (2/3/00) | |
| CHINA BEACH (ABC, War Drama, 1988-1991) | “China Men,” Boonie falls for transvestite (11/22/89) |
| CITY, THE (ABC, Soap Opera, 1995-1997) | Reg: Azure C. Lee/Chen (Carlotta Chang) (1995-1996) |
| CIVIL WARS (ABC, Legal Drama, 1991-1993) | “Oceans White with Phone,” Gay man in palimony suit (1/15/92) |
| “A Bus Named Desire,” Lesbian sues for visitation rights (12/2/92) | |
| CLERKS (ABC, Comedy, 2000) | “Episode 2,” Dante’s daydreams about marrying a man (6/7/00) |
| COACH (ABC, Comedy, 1989-1997) | “A Real Guy’s Guy,” Coach has gay player on team (10/25/91) |
| “A Boy and His Doll,” Timmy gets a doll (1/22/97) | |
| COMMISH, THE (ABC, Police Drama, 1991-1995) | “Do You See What I See?” Gay officer witnesses gay bashing (9/2/95) |
| CONFESSION (WFAA- TV/Dallas, Talk Show, 1957) | Interview with transvestite on local Dallas talk show (12/57) |
| CONFIDENTIAL FILE (KTTV-TV/Los Angeles, Talk Show, 1955) | “Homosexuals & the Problem They Present,” Early tabloid talk show (4/25/54) |
| COP ROCK (ABC, Police Drama/Musical, 1990) | Reg: Ray Rodbart (Jeffrey Allan Chandler), mayor’s assistant (1990) |
| CORNER BAR (ABC, Comedy, Summer 1972/Summer 1973) | Reg: Peter Panama (Vincent Schiavelli) (1972), designer |
| COSBY (CBS, Comedy, 1996-2000) | “Older and Out,” Hilton joins a gay softball team (10/13/97) |
| COURTHOUSE (CBS, Legal Drama, 1995) | Reg: Judge Rosetta Reide (Jenifer Lewis) and Danny Gates (Cree Summer) |
| “Order on the Court,” Judge Reed is in the closet at work (10/10/95) | |
| “Fair-weathered Friends,” Judge Reed’s parents visit (11/8/95) | |
| CRACKER (ABC, Detective Drama, 1997- 1998; A&E, 1999) | “Best Boys,” Troubled teen seeks revenge on foster family (3/5/99) |
| CREW, THE (Fox, Comedy, 1995-1996) | Reg: Paul Steadman (David Burke), airline attendant |
| CUTTERS (CBS, Comedy, 1993) | Reg: Troy King (Julius Carry), hair stylist |
| CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS, Police Drama, 2000- ) | “Identity Crisis,” Serial killer is male-to-female transsexual (1/17/02) |
| CYBILL (CBS, Comedy, 1995-1998) | Rec: Nameless restaurant waiter (Tim Macaulan) |
| “Three Women and a Dummy,” Cybill and waiter go to his ex’s party (5/13/96) | |
| “Whose Wife Am I Anyway?” Cybill poses as waiter’s fiancée (4/7/98) | |
| DADDY’S GIRLS (CBS, Comedy, 1994) | Reg: Dennis Sinclair (Harvey Fierstein), clothing designer |
| DALLAS (CBS, Drama, 1978-1991) | “Call Girl,” J.R. tries to blackmail Pam with lesbian photos (2/23/79) |
| “Royal Marriage,” Lucy gets engaged to Kit Mainwaring (3/9/79) | |
| “The Outsiders,” Kit comes out to Lucy and Bobby (3/16/79) | |
| DAMON (Fox, Comedy, 1998) | “The Designer,” Damon goes undercover as a fashion designer (5/18/98) |
| DAN AUGUST (ABC, Detective Drama, 1970- 1971) | “Dead Witness to a Killing,” Assist. DA’s wife is murdered (1/28/71) |
| DARK ANGEL (Fox, Action Drama, 2000- ) | Reg: Original Cindy (Valarie Rae Miller), Max’s sidekick |
| DATELINE NBC (NBC, News, 1992-) | “Talk on Trial,” Report on murder of Jenny Jones Show guest (10/29/96) |
| “Gender Limbo,” A report on intersexuality (6/17/97) | |
| Katie Couric interviews Matthew Shepard’s parents (2/11/99) | |
| DAWSON’S CREEK (WB, Teen Drama, 1998- ) | Reg: Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith) |
| Rec: Ethan (Adam Kaufman) (2000); Tobey (David Monahan) (2000-2001) | |
| “To Be or Not to Be...” Rumors circulate about Jack’s sexuality (2/10/99) | |
| “...That is the Question,” Jack comes out to his family and Joey (2/17/99) | |
| “Psychic Friends,” Photographer takes interest in Jack (3/10/99) | |
| “None of the Above,” Jack joins football team (10/13/99) | |
| “First Encounters of the Close Kind,” Jack explores Boston’s gay life (12/15/99) | |
| “Barefoot at Capefest,” Jack hits on Ethan (1/12/00) | |
| “Self Reliance,” Jack joins a “Gay-Straight Alliance” (2/20/00) | |
| “The Anti-Prom,” Jack takes Ethan to alternative prom (5/17/00) | |
| “True Love,” Jack plants kiss on Ethan (5/24/00) | |
| DAYS AND NIGHTS MOLLY DODD (NBC, Comedy, 1987-1988; Lifetime, 1989-1991) | Rec: Brice (Drew McVety) (1989-1991) |
| DAYS OF OUR LIVES (NBC, Soap Opera, 1965- ) | Reg : Sharon Duval (Sally Stark) (1976-1977); Harold (Ryan Scott) (2001) |
| DEAN MARTIN SHOW, THE (NBC, Variety, 1965- 1974) | Comedy sketch in which wife can’t resist a sale — even on sex changes (10/5/72) |
| DEAR JOHN (NBC, Comedy, 1988-1992) | “Stand By Your Man,” Man has a crush on John (2/16/89) |
| “Kirk’s Ex-Wife,” Kirk runs into his ex, who is now a lesbian (9/20/91) | |
| DEGRASSI HIGH (PBS, Teen Drama, 1990-1991) | “Bad Blood Pt. 1,” Dwayne learns girl he slept with is HIV+(1991) |
| “Bad Blood Pt. 2,” Dwayne tests HIV+(1991) | |
| “One Last Dance,” Dwayne reveals to his classmates he’s HIV+ (1991) | |
| DEGRASSI JUNIOR HIGH (PBS, Teen Drama, 1987-1989) | “Rumor Has It,” Rumor is Ms. Avery is a lesbian (1987) |
| “He Ain’t Heavy,” Snake learns his brother Glen is gay (1989) | |
| DESIGNING WOMEN (CBS, Comedy, 1986-1993) | “Killing All the Right People,” Designer with AIDS prepares funeral (10/5/87) |
| “Suzanne Goes Looking for a Friend,” Suzanne’s friend is a lesbian (4/9/90) | |
| “A Toe in the Water,” Ladies wonder if Julia’s beau is gay (9/23/91) | |
| DHARMA AND GREG (ABC, Comedy, 1997- ) | “Invasion of the Buddy Snatchers,” Greg’s buddy has crush on him (5/20/98) |
| DIAGNOSIS MURDER (CBS, Detective Drama, 1992-2001) | “All American Murder,” Transsexual is murdered (12/22/95) |
| DIANA (NBC, Comedy, 1973-1974) | Reg: Marshall Tyler (Robert Moore), window dresser |
| DIVISION, THE (Lifetime, Police Drama, 2001- ) | Rec: Casey Exstead (Allen Cutler) (2001- ), police officer |
| “Don’t Ask,” Exstead’s brother comes out, gay frat brother is murdered (2/25/01) | |
| DOCTOR, DOCTOR (CBS, Comedy, 1989-1991) | Reg: Richard Strattford (Tony Carriero), college professor |
| Rec: Hugh Persons (Brian George), host of Wake Up Providence | |
| “Torch Song Cardiology,” Richard helps Grant write speech (12/18/89) | |
| “Accentuate the Positive,” Hugh discovers he’s HIV positive (1/8/90) | |
| “The Terminator,” Richard dates office’s gay assistant (10/25/90) | |
| “Providence,” Richard is snubbed by his dad (11/1/90) | |
| “Sleeping Sickness,” Richard gets hooked on pills (1/3/91) | |
| DONNY AND MARIE (ABC, Variety, 1976-1979) | |
| DON’T ASK (Original Pilot for NORMAL, OHIO (2000), never aired) | Reg: Rex (John Goodman) |
| DR. KATZ, PROFESSIONAL THERAPIST (COMEDY CENTRAL, Animation, 1995-2000) | “Alderman,” Patient C.K. Louis describes gay dream (9/21/98) |
| DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN (CBS, Western Drama, 1993-1998) | “The Body Electric,” Walt Whitman visits Colorado Springs (4/5/97) |
| DOCTORS’ HOSPITAL (NBC, Medical Drama, 1975-1976) | “Watchman, Who Will Guard Thy Sleep?” Gay orderly cares for homophobic patient (10/29/75) |
| DOOGIE HOWSER (ABC, Comedy-Drama, 1989- 1993) | “Vinnie, Video, Vici,” Artists with AIDS paints a mural in hospital (10/25/89) |
| “Spell it M-A-N,” Vinnie’s new college roommate is gay (1/6/93) | |
| DREAM ON (HBO, Comedy, 1990-1996) | Rec: Mickey Tupper (Paul Dooley) (1992-1994), Martin’s father; Roger (Dion Anderson) (1993-1994), Mickey’s lover |
| “For Peter’s Sake,” Martin helps gay author withAIDS write his memoirs (6/20/92) | |
| “What Women Want,” Martin’s girlfriend’s ex is a woman (8/15/92) | |
| “The Guilty Party,” Martin’s old friend has a crush on him (9/26/92) | |
| “Pop’s Secret,” Martin discovers his father is gay (6/23/93) | |
| “The Homecoming Queen,” Girl from past thinks Martin’s gay (7/27/94) | |
| “Courtship of Martin’s Father,” Mickey breaks up with Roger (8/14/94) | |
| DREW CAREY SHOW, THE (ABC, Comedy, 1995-) | Reg: Steve Carey (John Carroll Lynch), Drew’s transvestite brother |
| “Drew’s the Other Guy,” Gay co-worker has eye on Oswald (11/20/96) | |
| “Man’s Best Same Sex Companion,” Drew pretends he’s gay for insurance (3/5/97) | |
| “Drew’s Brother,” Drew’s bro is a transvestite (11/19/97) |