PRIMETIME LIVE {PATRICIA BOWMAN; THE MYSTERY OF HOMOSEXUALITY; BRIAN WILSON FOLLOW-UP} (TV)
Summary
One this news magazine series co-anchored by Diane Sawyer and Sam Donaldson.
The first segment, "Going Public," focuses on the trial and recent acquittal of William Kennedy Smith, nephew of JFK, who was charged with rape. His accuser, who remained anonymous throughout the trial proceedings, sits down with Sawyer, introduces herself as Patricia Bowman and discusses the following topics: her reasons for coming forward publicly on a news program; why she turned down paid opportunities to reveal her identity; allegations from the defense about her mental health; her response to claims that Smith "can't get his name back" after her accusations; the "terrifying" experience of being in a courtroom with her attacker; tabloid reports about her "life in the fast lane," including her decision to have a child out of wedlock; claims that she was dressed provocatively and partying on the night in question; her anger at a New York Times story that contained specific descriptions of her child's bedroom; whether she "over-remembered" her encounter with Smith because of her past experiences with abuse from men; why she chose to stop her recreational drug use months before the attack; Smith and Bowman's dissimilar versions of events, in which Smith claims that she initiated sexual activity on a beach and Bowman states that he ignored her many refusals; why Smith was viewed as more "credible," due to minor inconsistencies in her statements; the defense's claim that she removed her own undergarments and grew angry when Smith called her by another woman's name; other women's claims of past assaults by Smith, which were not heard by the jury; the jury's mere 77-minute discussion before turning in a not-guilty verdict; Bowman's praise for her lawyers and sense of "getting her dignity back" through the trial; her disappointment at several friends' decisions to sell her story to the media; whether she will file a civil suit against Smith; and her plans to work for other survivors' rights.
Next, the reporters provide an update on the story of musician Brian Wilson, formerly of The Beach Boys, and his struggles with mental illness. His longtime psychiatrist Eugene Landy was recently found to have exerted "undue influence" over his patient, leading to an out-of-court settlement, and a conservator, in addition two new psychiatrists, have been appointed to assist Wilson's recovery.
In the next segment, "Born or Bred?", British neuroscientist Simon LeVay discusses his findings regarding homosexuality as a naturally occurring variant, explaining that he looked at 41 cadavers and studied each hypothalamus. He noticed significant differences in the brains of gay and straight men, suggesting that people are born gay and do not "become" so because of later influences. Dr. Anne Fausto-Sterling criticizes his findings as overly simplistic and binary, and LeVay explains that his research was partially inspired by the death from AIDS of his longtime companion. LeVay interviews various patrons at gay bars, who agree that they have "always known" that they were homosexual regardless of environmental factors, though other scientists worry that the idea of a testable "gay brain" could be used as a form of eugenics. LeVay's father David, who has five sons, two of whom are gay and one bisexual, states that he finds homosexuality "abhorrent," but also notes that Simon's love for his partner Richard was deeply profound and meaningful.
The program closes by previewing upcoming stories. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: December 19, 1991 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:51
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:23432
- GENRE: Education/Information
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBTQ+ Collection; News; Education/Information; Kennedy family
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1989-2012
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - DeBeers jewelers
- TV - Commercials - Eden Roc California Champagne
- TV - Commercials - Energizer batteries
- TV - Commercials - Jeep automobiles
- TV - Commercials - K-Mart stores
- TV - Commercials - Medi-Flu cold medicine
- TV - Commercials - Minolta Freedom cameras
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Orville Rederbacher's popcorn
- TV - Commercials - Sears stores
- TV - Commercials - Seiko Quartz watches
- TV - Commercials - Stetson cologne and Lady Stetson perfume
- TV - Commercials - Tribe fragrance
- TV - Commercials - Vaseline Intensive Care lotion
- TV - PSA - America Responds to AIDS (U.S. Centers for Disease Control)
- TV - Promos - "20/20"
- TV - Promos - "Baby Talk"
- TV - Promos - "Family Matters"
- TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
- TV - Promos - "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
- TV - Promos - "Step By Step"
- TV - Promos - "The Commish"
- TV - Promos - "Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John and Bernie Taupin"
- TV - Promos - “Perfect Strangers”
CREDITS
- Richard Kaplan … Executive Producer
- Kim Spencer … Coordinating Producer
- Ira Rosen … Senior Producer
- Betsy West … Senior Broadcast Producer
- Marc Burstein … Producer
- David Doss … Producer
- Neal Shapiro … Producer
- Maryellen Silver … Day-of-Air Producer
- Marie Maclean … Editorial Producer
- John Fider … Operations Producer
- Penelope Fleming … Special Segment Producer
- Roger Goodman … Director
- Ellen Mason … Writer
- Eugene Landy
- Brian Wilson
- For "Going Public":
- Mark Lukasiewicz … Producer
- Lennart Bourin … Producer
- Kelly Sutherland … Associate Producer
- Jack Gallivan … Field Director
- Diane Sawyer … Reporter
- Patricia Bowman … Interviewee
- William Kennedy Smith
- For "Born or Bred?":
- Rudy Bednar … Producer
- Michael Cowan … Associate Producer
- Sam Donaldson … Reporter
- Jay Schadler … Reporter
- Simon LeVay … Interviewee
- Anne Fausto-Sterling … Interviewee
- David LeVay … Interviewee
- For "Coming Up":
- David Kelley … Producer
- Anthony Radziwill … Associate Producer
- Jaclyn Levin … Associate Producer
- Jamie Zahn Liebes … Associate Producer