Read The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV Online
Authors: Stephen Tropiano
| “...Wendell Wore Candy Stripes,” “Lesbian” Katie tails guys to gay bar (1/4/01) | |
| “And Then Jack Found Out,” Jack discovers Katie is pretending to be gay (1/18/01) | |
| WELCOME TO PARA- DOX (Sci-Fi Channel, Science Fiction, 1998) | “Options,” Procedure allows men and women to change gender at will (10/26/98) |
| WESTSIDE HOSPITAL (Medical, ABC, 1977) | “The Mermaid,” East German teen swimmer is a transsexual (7/7/77) |
| WEST WING, THE (Drama, NBC, 1999- ) | “In Excelsis Deo,” Gay high school student is beaten to death (12/15/99) |
| “Take Out the Trash Day,” Father of gay victim is embarrassed by President’s lack of action on hate crime bill (1/26/00) | |
| “The Portland Trip,” Gay congressman opposes same- sex marriage (11/15/00) | |
| “24 Hours in LA,” Studio head discusses ban on gays in military (2/23/00) | |
| WHITE SHADOW, THE (Drama, CBS, 1978-1981) | “One of the Boys,” Transfer student can’t escape gay rumors (1/27/99) |
| WILD, WILD WEST (Western, CBS, 1965-1969) | “Night of the Running Death,” Female impersonator killer (12/15/67) |
| WILL & GRACE (Comedy, NBC, 1998- ) | Reg : Will Truman (Eric McCormack); John “Jack” Phillip McFarland (Sean Hayes) |
| Rec : Larry (Tim Bagley) (2000- ), Will and Grace’s friend; Joe (Jerry Levine) (2000- ), Larry’s lover | |
| “Will Works Out,” Will is embarrassed by Jack (4/22/99) | |
| WINGS (NBC, Comedy, 1990-1997) | “There’s Always Room for Cello,” Roy’s son A.J. comes out (2/14/90) |
| “Honey We Broke the Kid,” Antonio’s TV idol visits the island (1/2/96) | |
| “Sons and Lovers,” A.J. returns home with his lover (1/16/96) | |
| “Escape From New York,” Helen enters drag contest (2/19/97) | |
| WKRP IN CINCINNATI (CBS, Comedy, 1978-1982) | “Les on the Ledge,” Les panics when he’s mistaken for gay (10/2/78) |
| “Hotel Oceanview,” Herb unknowingly romances a transsexual (11/29/80) | |
| WORKING (NBC, Comedy, 1997-1999) | “Rumoring,” Matt’s co-workers tell his boss he’s gay (10/29/97) |
| YOUNG AMERICANS | Reg: Jacqueline/Jake Pratt (Katherine Moenning) |
| (WB, Teen Drama, 2000) | “Pilot,” Hamilton questions if he’s gay after kissing “Jake” (7/12/00) |
| “Our Town,” Hamilton finds himself attracted to “Jake” (7/19/00) | |
| “Cinderbella,” Jake reveals her true identity to Hamilton (8/2/00) | |
| YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS, Soap Opera, 1973-) | Reg: Kay Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) (1973- ); Joann Curtis (Key Heberle) (1975-1978) |
| MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES, MINI-SERIES, AND SPECIALS | |
| ALEXANDER: THE OTHER SIDE OF DAWN (NBC, 5/16/77) | ANY MOTHER’S SON (Lifetime, 8/11/97) |
| Bi hustler straightens out his life | TV-movie of sailor Allen Schindler’s murder |
| ANATOMY OF A HATE CRIME (MTV, 1/20/01) | APPLAUSE (CBS, 3/15/73) |
| TV film about Matthew Shepherd murder and trial | TV version of Broadway musical, includes gay nightclub scene |
| ANDRE’S MOTHER (PBS, 3/7/90)* | AS IS (Showtime, 7/27/86)* |
| Gay man and his late lover’s mother reconcile | TV adaptation of William Hoffman’s AIDS play |
| AND THE BAND PLAYED ON (HBO, 9/11/93)* | BARE ESSENCE (NBC, 10/4- 10/5/1982) |
| AIDS crisis and search for HIV virus | Mini-series set in perfume industry |
| * available on video and/or DVD | |
| BASTARD OUT OF CAROLINA | CONSENTING ADULT (ABC, 2/4/85)* . |
| (Showtime, 12/15/96)* | College student comes out to homophobic parents |
| Young girl abused by her stepfather | |
| BLIND FAITH (Showtime, 1998)* | DAWN: PORTRAIT OF A TEEN |
| Gay black man accused of murder | RUNAWAY (NBC, 8/27/76) |
| Dawn loves bisexual hustler Alex | |
| BORN INNOCENT (NBC, 9/10/74) | |
| Teenage Linda Blair in juvenile detention | DIRTY PICTURES (Showtime, 5/27/00)* |
| Cincinnati museum director charged with obscenity | |
| BREAKING THE CODE (PBS, 2/2/97)* | |
| Derek Jacobi as Nazi Code breaker Alan Turing | |
| DOING TIME ON MAPLE DRIVE (Fox, 3/16/92)* | |
| BREAKING THE SURFACE (USA, 3/19/97)* | Gay man comes out to dysfunctional family |
| TV-movie about Olympic diver Greg Louganis | |
| DYNASTY: THE REUNION (ABC, 10/20-22/91) | |
| BRIDESHEAD REVISITED (PBS, 1/18- 3/29/82)* | Finale to long-running series |
| British TV version of Evelyn Waugh’s novel | EARLY FROST, AN (NBC, 11/11/85)* |
| Family copes with gay son with AIDS | |
| BUMP IN THE NIGHT, A (CBS,1/6/91) | ELLIS ISLAND (CBS, 11/11,13,14/83) |
| Christopher Reeve as a gay pedophile | A teenage girl and a lesbian art dealer in love |
| CAGE WITHOUT A KEY (CBS, 3/14/75) | |
| Lesbian predator in girl’s detention center | ENGLISHMAN ABROAD, AN (PBS, 1988) |
| CELEBRITY (NBC, 2/12-2/14/84)* | Coral Brown and Guy Burgess in Moscow |
| Mini-series includes murder of closeted movie star | |
| EXECUTION OF JUSTICE (Showtime, 11/28/99)* | |
| CHANGE OF HEART (Lifetime, 7/20/98) | |
| TV-movie about man who dumps wife for a man | Bio of Dan White, who killed Harvey Milk |
| CHASING THE DRAGON (Lifetime, 6/19/96) | FAMILY BUSINESS (PBS, 2/1/83) |
| Wealthy dying man makes amends to his sons | |
| Housewife heroin addict has a gay pal | |
| CITIZEN COHN (HBO, 8/22/92)* | FIFTH OF JULY (Showtime, 10/14/82)* |
| Biopic of infamous closeted lawyer | TV version of Lanford Wilson play |
| COMMON GROUND (Showtime, 1/29/00)* | FURTHER TALES OF THE CITY (Showtime, /01) |
| Three stories about gays and lesbians in small town | Maupin’s San Francisco chronicles continue |
| FINAL JUSTICE (Lifetime, 6/1/98) | JAMES DEAN (NBC, 2/19/76) |
| Woman kidnaps attorney who defends gay bro’s killer | Dean’s friendship with William Bast |
| JAMES DEAN (TNT, 8/4/01)* | |
| GIA (HBO, 1/31/98)* | Dean’s career and relationship with father |
| Biopic of super model Gia Maria Carangi | |
| JUDGMENT (HBO, 10/13/90)* | |
| GIRL THING, A (Showtime, 1/30/01)* | Cable film about altar boy molested by priest |
| N.Y. therapist’s patients includes lesbian lawyer | |
| LABOR OF LOVE (Lifetime, 5/4/98) | |
| GLASS HOUSE, THE (CBS, 2/4/72) | Gay man fathers single mom’s child |
| Truman Capote co-wrote story of male prison life | |
| LARAMIE PROJECT, THE (HBO, 3/9/02) | |
| GLIMPSE OF HELL, A (F/X, 3/18/01) | Effects of Matthew Shephard’s murder on town |
| Navy tries to blame navy tragedy on gay couple | |
| LIBERACE (ABC, 10/2/88) | |
| GLITTER DOME, THE (HBO, 1/18/84) | Biopic starring Andrew Robinson as Liberace |
| Mystery with Colleen Dewhurst as lesbian film editor | |
| LIBERACE: BEHIND THE MUSIC (CBS, 10/9/88) | |
| HOLIDAY HEART (Showtime, 12/10/00) | |
| Drag queen cares for drug addict and her daughter | Biopic starring Victor Garber |
| LOSING CHASE (Showtime, 11/29/96)* | |
| IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2 (HBO, 3/5/00)* | Troubled woman forms bond with mother’s helper |
| Trilogy looks at lesbian life in three decades | |
| LOST LANGUAGE OF THE CRANES (PBS, 6/24/92)* | |
| INMATES: A LOVE STORY (ABC, 2/13/81) | Young man’s coming out |
| Prison drama with lesbian inmate couple | MARILYN: THE UNTOLD STORY (ABC, 9/28/80) |
| Star’s bond with Natasha Lytess | |
| IN THE GLITTER PLACE (NBC, 2/27/77) | |
| TV movies about lesbians, blackmail, and murder | MATTHEW SHEPHARD STORY, THE (NBC, 3/16/01) |
| TV-film chronicles Shephard’s life | |
| IN THE GLOAMING (HBO, 4/3/97)* | |
| Young man with AIDS comes home to die | MORE TALES OF THE CITY (Showtime, 6/7/98)* |
| IS IT FALL YET? (MTV. 8/27/00)* | Maupin’s look at San Francisco life continues |
| Animated Daria TV-movie set at camp | |
| JACQUELINE SUSANN’S VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (CBS, 10/19-10/21/1981) | MORE THAN FRIENDS: COMING OUT OF HEIDI LEITER (HBO, 1/24/94) |
| Mini-series remake | Lesbian teenager |
| MY TWO LOVES (ABC, 4/7/86) | QUESTION OF LOVE, A (ABC, 11/26/78)* |
| Bisexual widow falls in love with a woman | |
| Lesbian fights to gain custody of her children | |
| NAKED CIVIL SERVANT (PBS, 6/15/79)* | |
| ROCK HUDSON (ABC, 1/8/80) | |
| The life story of Quentin Crisp | Biopic of closeted movie star’s life |
| NIGHT SINS (CBS, 2/23,25/97) | ROOMMATES (NBC, 5/30/94) |
| Small town mystery includes closeted gay couple | Gay and straight male roommates with AIDS |
| NO EXIT (PBS, 2/27/61) | RYAN WHITE STORY, THE (ABC, 1/16/89) |
| TV version of Jean-Paul Sartre’s play | |
| Inspiring telefilm of youth with AIDS | |
| ORANGES ARE NOT THE ONLY FRUIT (A&E, 1990)* | |
| SCREAM, PRETTY PEGGY (ABC, 11/24/73) | |
| Lesbian teen raised in religious town | |
| Ted Besell as transvestite-killer | |
| OTHER MOTHERS (CBS, 10/12/93) | |
| Afterschool special about teen with two moms | SCRUPLES (CBS, 2/25, 26, 28/80)* |
| Judith Krantz bestseller | |
| OVERKILL: THE AILEEN WUOURNOS STORY (CBS,11/17/92) | SECOND SERVE (5/13/86) |
| Bio of transsexual Dr. Renee Richards | |
| Jean Smart as lesbian killer | |
| SECRETS (CBS, 5/15/68)* | |
| OUR SONS (ABC, 5/19/91) | Woman kills her son, a gay drug addict |
| Gay man with AIDS is reunited with his mother | |
| SERGEANT MATLOVICH vs. U.S. AIR FORCE (NBC, 8/21/78) | |
| PAPER DOLLS (ABC, 5/24/82) | Gay man sues Air Force |
| TV-movie set in fashion model industry | |
| SERVING IN SILENCE: MARGARETHE CAMMERMEYER VS. U.S. ARMY (2/6/95) | |
| PORTRAIT OF A MARRIAGE (PBS, 7/19-26/92,8/2/92) | |
| British drama, gay content cut for U.S. | |
| SHADOW BOX, THE (ABC, 12/28/80)* | |
| PRICE OF LOVE (Fox, 1997) | Dying gay man reunited with ex-wife |
| Homeless teenager turns to hustling for survival | |
| SIDNEY SHORR: A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND (NBC,10/5/81). | |
| PRIME SUSPECT 3: INNER CIRCLES (PBS, 1994) | Gay man befriends single mom |
| Male prostitute is murdered | SINS (CBS, 2/2-2/4/86)* |
| Mini-series with Joan Collins as publishing empire mogul | |
| QUESTION OF ATTRIBUTION (PBS, 10/4/92)* | |
| Sir Anthony Blunt and Burgess spy scandal | SISSY DUCKLING, THE (HBO, 9/21/99) |
| Harvey Fierstein updates children’s story | |
| SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR (ABC, 3/29/92) | TRUTH ABOUT JANE, THE (Lifetime, 8/7/00)* |
| Teen Alison Gertz’s battle with AIDS | High school lesbian comes out |
| STRANGER INSIDE (HBO, 7/23/01) | TWILIGHT OF THE GOLDS (Showtime, 3/7/97) |
| Mother and daughter are reunited in prison | |
| Woman learns her unborn child is gay | |
| STEAMBATH (PBS, 4/30/73) | WAR WIDOW, THE (PBS, 10/28/76) |
| God is a steambath attendant | Woman falls in love with female photographer |
| TALES OF THE CITY (PBS, 1/10- 1/12/94)* | |
| WELCOME HOME, BOBBY (CBS, 2/22/86) | |
| Mini-series of Maupin’s novel | |
| THAT CERTAIN SUMMER (ABC, 11/1/72) | TV movie about sexually confused teen |
| WHAT IF I’M GAY? (CBS, 3/31/87) | |
| Teenager discovers his dad is gay | Afterschool special about coming out of gay jock |
| TIDY ENDINGS (HBO, 1988) | |
| Gay man reconciles with late lover’s wife | WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE (ABC, 3/19/89)* |
| TRACKDOWN: FINDING THE GOODBAR KILLER (CBS, | Mini-series includes black lesbian couple 10/15/83) |
| Gay man who killed females | WOMEN’S ROOM, THE (ABC, 9/14/80) |
| TRU (PBS, 11/23/92) | Marilyn French’s bestseller features |
| Robert Morse as gay writer Truman Capote | lesbian couple |
| TRUTH ABOUT ALEX, THE (HBO, 1986) | |
| Gay high school student athlete comes out | |
| NON-FICTION PROGRAMMING (DOCUMENTARIES & NEWS SPECIALS) | |
| ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE (PBS, 6/18/91) | BEFORE STONEWALL (PBS, 1984)* |
| Documentary profiles 11 who are HIV positive | Documentary about early U.S. gay rights movement |