Read The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV Online
Authors: Stephen Tropiano
| “A Private Life,” David confronts his self-hatred about being gay (8/19/01) | |
| SNOOPS (ABC, Detective Drama, 1999) | “Constitution,” Man suspected of being gay is a gay basher (11/21/99) |
| SOAP (ABC, Comedy, 1977-1981) | Reg : Jodie Dallas (Billy Crystal); Dennis Phillips (Bob Seagren) (1978); Alice (Randee Heller) (1979) |
| SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS (ABC, Comedy, 2001) | Reg : Warren Fairbanks (Jason Bateman); Vern Limoso (Alec Mappa) |
| SON OF A BEACH (FX, Comedy, 2000-) | Rec : Kody C. Massengil (Jason Hopkins), the mayor’s gay son |
| “B.J. Blue Hawaii,” Mayor comes on to Chip, who pretends he’s gay (3/13/01) | |
| “Grand Prix,” B.J. and Jamaica prevent a lesbian bar from closing (7/3/01) | |
| SOUL FOOD (Showtime, Drama, 2000- ) | “Little Girl Blue,” Kenny objects to son’s friendship with gay man (1/17/01) |
| SOUTH PARK (COMEDY CENTRAL, Animation, 1997- ) | Reg: Mr. Garrison (voice of Trey Parker), ambiguously gay teacher; Big Gay Al (voice of Matthew Stone) |
| “Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ride,” Stan wants his dog to go straight (9/3/97) | |
| “Tom’s Rhinoplasty,” Mr. Garrison gets a nose job; Chef thinks the substitute teacher is a lesbian, (2/11/98) | |
| “Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub,” Kyle and Stan’s dads masturbate together (7/21/99) | |
| ”Cartman Joins NAMBLA,” NAMBLA recruits Eric as their poster child (6/21/00) | |
| SPIN CITY (ABC, Comedy, 1996-) | Reg : Carter (Michael Boatman), Director of Minority Affairs |
| “Pilot,” Mayor makes offensive remark about gay people (9/17/96) | |
| “Pride and Prejudice,” Carter pushes a needle exchange program (10/8/96) | |
| “Grand Illusion,” Carter challenges Mayor on same-sex marriage issue (10/29/96) | |
| “Starting Over” Carter and Stuart wake up in bed together (1/14/97) | |
| “In the Heat of the Day,” Police mistake Carter for a mugger (10/22/97) | |
| SPIN CITY | “The Thirty Year Itch,” Mayor’s nephew pretends he’s gay (11/5/97) |
| “My Life is a Soap Opera,” Stuart pretends he’s gay to date women (11/12/97) | |
| “Single White Male,” Stuart moves in with Carter (5/6/98) | |
| “Carter & Stuart & Bennett & Deidre,” Guys befriend the other’s exes (4/13/99) | |
| “These Shoes Were Made for Cheatin’,” Stuart joins gay gym (10/12/99) | |
| “The Marry Caitlin Moore Show,” Stuart convinces James he’s gay (2/9/00) | |
| ST. ELSEWHERE (NBC, Medical Drama, 1982- 1988) | Rec: Brett Johnston (Kyle Secor); Kevin O‘Casey (John Scott Clough) |
| “Release,” Dr. Craig’s friend checks in for a sex change (2/1/83) | |
| “AIDS and Comfort,” Closeted married city councilman with AIDS (12/21/83) | |
| “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” Lesbian doctor visits hospital (11/28/84) | |
| “Family Feud,” Dr. Caldwell is diagnosed with AIDS (1/29/86) | |
| “Cheek to Cheek,” Dr. Morrison is raped in prison (3/12/86) | |
| “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” Westphal proposes AIDS clinic (9/30/87) | |
| “Night of the Living Bed,” Dr. Greenwood is exposed it AIDS (10/28/87) | |
| “Heart On,” Brett and Kevin are gay-bashed (11/18/87) | |
| “Heaven’s Skate,” Dr. Caldwell’s memorial service (1/13/88) | |
| “Requiem for a Heavyweight,” Greenwood offers Brett spiritual advice (5/4/88) | |
| “Split Decision,” Brett dies (5/11/88) | |
| STARSKY AND HUTCH (ABC, Police Drama, 1975-1979) | “Tap Dancing Her Way Right Back Into Your Hearts,” Duo are dancers (11/20/76) |
| “Death in a Different Place,” Closeted gay detective is murdered (10/15/77) | |
| “Dandruff,” Duo go undercover as hairdressers (11/14/78) | |
| STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE (First Run, Syn., Science Fiction, 1992-1999) | “Rejoined,” Forbidden love between Dax and a Trill (10/28/95) |
| STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION (First Run Syn., Science Fiction, 1987-1994) | “The Host,” Dr. Crusher’s forbidden love with a Trill (4/13/91) |
| “The Outcast,” Androgynous Soren has female tendencies (3/16/92) | |
| STEAMBATH (Showtime, Comedy, 1984-1985) | |
| STREET JUSTICE (First Run Syn., Police Drama, 1991-1993) | “Bashing,” Malloy’s gay brother dies from gay-bashing (11/30/91) |
| STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO, THE (ABC, Police Drama, 1972-1977) | “Mask of Death,” Psychotic female impersonator (10/3/74) |
| “A Good Cop, But...” Gay detective is forced to come out (1/20/77) | |
| “Once a Con...” Lesbian kills lover’s best friend (3/3/77) | |
| STRIP MALL (Comedy Central, Comedy, 2000- 2001) | Reg: Fanny Sue Chang (Amy Hill), Chinese restaurant owner; Althea (Loretta Fox), Fanny’s lover; Blair (Bob Koherr), Gay triplet |
| STRONG MEDICINE (Lifetime, Medical Drama, 2000- ) | “Misconceptions,” Closeted lesbian TV host wants to get pregnant (8/6/00) |
| “Second Look,” Transvestite is menopausal (8/13/00) | |
| “Donors,” Peter’s mother thinks he’s gay (8/15/01) | |
| STYLE AND SUBSTANCE (ABC, Comedy 1998) | Reg : Mr. John (Joseph Maher), gay interior designer |
| SUDDENLY SUSAN (NBC, Comedy, 1996- 2000) | Rec : Pete Mulligan Fontaine (Bill Stevenson) (1996-1999) |
| Hank (Fred Stoller) (1997-1999) | |
| “A Boy Like That,” Luis’ brother Carlos comes out (4/24/97) | |
| “Past Tense,” Todd cyberchats in a lesbian chat room (9/29/97) | |
| “Oh How They Danced,” Vicki & Ben and Hank & Pete’s double wedding (5/18/98) | |
| SURVIVOR (CBS, Reality 2000-) | Reg : Richard Hatch (2000-2001); Brandon Quinton (2001); John Carroll (2002) |
| TALK TO ME (ABC, Comedy, 2000) | “About Being Gay,” Janey pretends she’s a lesbian (4/11/00) |
| TAXI (ABC, Comedy, 1978-1983) | “Elaine’s Strange Triangle,” Elaine’s boyfriend likes Tony (12/10/80) |
| “The Unkindest Cut,” Hairstylist gives Elaine bad haircut (2/25/82) | |
| TELETUBBIES (PBS, Children’s, 1997- ) | Reg: Tinky-Winky |
| TEMPORARILY YOURS (ABC, Comedy 1997) | “Temp-tation,” Deb thinks a romance novelist is coming on to her (3/12/97) |
| THAT 70’s SHOW (Fox, Comedy, 1998) | “Eric’s Buddy,” Eric’s new friend makes a pass at him (12/6/98) |
| THAT 80’s SHOW (Fox, Comedy, 2002- ) | Reg: Sophia (Brittany Daniel), Corey’s bisexual ex- girlfriend |
| “That 80’s Pilot” Sophia comes on to Corey’s sister Katie (3/20/02) | |
| THEN CAME YOU (ABC, Comedy 2000) | “Then Came a Wedding,” Cheryl pretends she’s gay (4/5/00) |
| THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN (NBC, comedy, 1996-2001) | “World’s Greatest Dick,” Sally is mistaken for a drag queen (11/10/96) |
| “The Loud Solomon Family: A Dickumentary,” Sally pretends she’s gay (1/11/00) | |
| “Frankie Goes to Rutherford,” Dick thinks Mary’s gay friend is an alien (5/9/00) | |
| THIRD WATCH, THE (NBC, 1999-) | “32 Bullets and a Broken Heart,” Gun man opens fire at gay wedding (2/14/00) |
| thirtysomething (ABC, Drama, 1987-1991) | Rec : Russell (David Marshall Grant); Peter Montefiore (Peter Frechette) |
| “Trust Me,” Melissa meets Russell (1/3/89) | |
| “Strangers,” Russell and Peter go on a date (11/7/89) | |
| “Closing the Circle,” Peter discovers he’s HIV positive (4/16/91) | |
| THIS IS THE LIFE (Syn., Anthology, 1974) | “The Secret,” Teacher at a boy’s school comes out (c. 1974) |
| THREE’S COMPANY (ABC, Comedy, 1977- 1984) | “A Man About the House,” Jack moves in with Janet and Chrissy (3/15/77) |
| “Roper’s Niece,” Roper fixes “gay” Jack up with his niece (3/31/77) | |
| “Strange Bedfellows,” Roper and Jack wake up in bed together, (10/4/77) | |
| TITUS (Fox, Comedy, 2000-) | Rec : Amy (Rachel Roth) (2000- ) |
| “Sex with Pudding,” Erin’s female boss has a crush on her (3/20/00) | |
| “The Test,” Titus and Erin both take an HIV test, (10/10/00) | |
| “Tommy’s Not Gay,” Tommy’s dad comes out, (11/28/01) | |
| TITUS (cont.) | “Err,” Erin’s niece Amy is a lesbian (1/16/02) |
| TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT (ABC, Comedy, | “Shipmates,” Henry’s old navy commander is gay (6/2/84) |
| TOTAL SECURITY (ABC, Detective Drama, 1997) | Reg: George LaSalle (Bill Brochtrup), office manager |
| TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL (CBS, Drama, 1994- ) | “The Violin Lesson,” Angels help a gay man with AIDS (12/22/96) |
| TRACEY TAKES ON (HBO, Comedy, 1996- ) | Rec : Trevor Aryliss (Tracey Ullman), flight attendant; Midge Dexter (Julie Kavner), professional golfer; Chris Warner (Tracey Ullman), Midge’s life companion |
| TRACEY ULLMAN SHOW, THE (HBO, Comedy/Variety, 1987-1990) | Rec : David (Dan Castellaneta), 14-year-old Francesca’s gay dad; William (Sam McMurray), David’s partner and Francesca’s gay dad |
| TRAPPER JOHN, M.D. (CBS, Medical Drama, 1979-1986) | “Straight and Narrow,” San Francisco’s first openly gay cop is shot (1/11/81) |
| “Friends and Lovers,” Nurse Libby’s ex-beau is diagnosed with AIDS (12/22/96) | |
| TRINITY (NBC, Drama, 1998-1999) | “Pilot,” A married friend of Father Kevin’s comes out (10/16/98) |
| TURNING POINT (ABC, News, 1994-1997) | Report on same-sex marriages (11/7/96) |
| 20/20 (ABC, News, 1978- ) | Profile of lesbian teen who was institutionalized in Utah hospital (9/27/96) |
| Profile of expectant parents Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher (11/1/96) | |
| Profile of lesbian writer in committed relationship with man (4/24/98) | |
| Segment on surrogacy and parenting for same-sex couples (3/5/99) | |
| Segment on the brutal murder of Billy Jack Gaither (3/9/99) | |
| “True, Blue, and Unwanted,” Segment on gay and lesbian police officers (4/20/99) | |
| “Throwaway Teens,” Story of homeless gay and lesbian teenagers (9/99) | |
| “Desperate to Change” Controversy surrounding reparative therapy (4/31/00) | |
| “Act I: Her Secret Life,” Profile of Brandon Teena (2/00) | |
| 21 JUMP STREET (Fox, Police drama, 1987-1990; first-run syn. 1990-1991) | “Honor Bound,” Homophobia in military school (11/8/87) |
| “A Big Disease with a Little Name,” High school student with AIDS (2/7/88) | |
| “Change of Heart,” Lesbian teacher is murdered (1/15/90) | |
| THE TWILIGHT ZONE (1985-1986, 1987, 1987-1988) | “Dead Run,” Gay man is among the undesirables transported to hell (2/21/86) |
| TWIN PEAKS (1990-1991) | Reg : D.E.A. Agent Dennis/Denise Bryson (David Duchovny) |
| 2GETHER (MTV, Comedy, 2000-2001) | Rec : Tom Lawless (Dave R. McGowan) |
| “Waxed” Jerry is jealous Mickey has gay fan base (10/30/00) | |
| UNDRESSED (MTV, Comedy, 1999-2001) | “The Porn that Went Bump in the Night,” Andy (Nicholas Gonzalez) finds Joe’s (Eyal Podell) straight porn and has an intervention with friends Paul (Brandon Karrar) and Jonathan (Phillip Rhys). (1999-2000) |
| “He Ain’t Gay, He’s My Brother,” Andy and Joe pretend their straight when Joe’s brother and navy pal come to visit (1999-2000) | |
| “Bi-gones,” Jonathan and lesbian friend take their green card marriage seriously (1999-2000) | |
| UNHAPPILY EVER AFTER (UPN, Comedy, 1995-1999) | Rec: Barry Wallenstein (Ant) (1995-1999) |
| UNION SQUARE (NBC, Comedy, 1997-1998) | “Michael’s First Stand,” Gabriella makes date with crossdresser (10/30/97) |
| UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS (PBS, Drama, 1974) | “A Suitable Marriage,” Richard discovers Baron von Rimmer is gay (U.K. 1971) |
| “Rose’s Pigeon,” Bellamy’s ex-footman murders his ex- lover (12/1/74) | |
| VEGA$ (ABC, Detective, 1978-1981) | “The Man Who Was Twice,” Female impersonator is being stalked (3/12/80) |
| VERONICA’S CLOSET (NBC, Comedy, 1997- 2000) | Reg : Josh (Wallace Langham), Veronica’s assistant |
| Rec: Brian (Alan F. Smith) (2000), Josh’s lover | |
| “Veronica’s Christmas Song,” Bryce befriends Josh (12/18/97) | |
| “Veronica’s Got a Secret,” Leo crashes at Josh’s apartment (1/8/98) | |
| “Veronica’s Great Model Search,” Josh’s friend comes out (10/8/98) | |
| VERONICA’S CLOSET (cont.) | “Veronica’s Girls’ Night Out,” Josh makes out with his best man (6/13/00) |
| “Veronica Helps Josh Out,” On his wedding day, Josh comes out (6/20/00) | |
| WASTELAND (ABC, Drama, 1999/Showtime, 2001) | Reg : Russell Baskind (Dan Montgomery, Jr.) |
| Rec : Steve (Michael Diet); Cliff (Frank Grillo) | |
| WATCH YOUR MOUTH (PBS/WNET-TV (NY), Drama, 1978) | [Title Unknown] Episode involving a gay teacher (9/10/78) |
| WEBER SHOW, THE (a.k.a. CURSED) (Comedy, NBC, 2000- 2001) | “And then Larry brought Charlton Heston Home,” Jack meets Katie (12/14/00) |