MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: COME OUT LAUGHING: GAY AND LESBIAN CHARACTERS IN SITUATION COMEDIES {GAY AND LESBIAN IMAGES ON TELEVISION, SEMINAR NO. 3} {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. Moderated by Los Angeles Museum vice-president and director Steven A. Bell, this seminar, held in Los Angeles, focuses on the evolution of gay and lesbian characters in sitcoms.
Bell makes some opening remarks, followed by a highlight tape of sitcoms featuring gay characters, including clips from such programs as "All in the Family," "The Bob Newhart Show," "Soap," " Cheers," "Kate & Allie," " The Golden Girls," " Roseanne," "Friends," "Ellen," and "Spin City." Bell then introduces the following panelists: David Crane, co-creator and co-executive producer of "Dream On" and "Friends"; Tim Doyle, executive producer and head writer of "Ellen"; Joan Garry, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation; Maxine Lapiduss, consulting producer of "Ellen" and writer/producer of "Roseanne"; Sylvia Rhue, Ph.D., producer, writer, media consultant, and director of training and distribution for Woman Vision; and Steve Tropiano, Ph.D., director and assistant professor at Ithaca College. The panelists then discuss the following topics, among others: an increase in the acceptance of homosexuality in the U.S. since the 1970s, as reflected in the media; sitcoms that have been ahead of their time in presenting controversial subject matter; whether or not writers and producers have social agendas when creating sitcoms; the impact of progressive producers of the 1970s, such as Norman Lear; the role of early sitcoms in introducing gay images, as opposed to sitcoms' contemporary role in presenting complex gay protagonists with whom audiences identify; parallels between the evolution of Jewish and gay characters in television history; the conservative backlash following "Ellen"; the networks' strict limits on the quantity and quality of gay subject matter allowed per season; and the significance of the gay characters on "Will & Grace." Next, the panelists discuss the following topics in response to questions from the audience: reasons for the networks' conservative self-censorship; the influence of the "religious right" in the media; the question of whether celebrities have a moral responsibility to come out; and the repercussions when celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres have chosen to come out.
This seminar was made possible by Blake Byrne/The Skylark Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: October 22, 1998 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:22:56
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:54685
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steven A. Bell … Host
- David Crane … Panelist
- Tim Doyle … Panelist
- Joan Garry … Panelist
- Maxine Lapiduss … Panelist
- Sylvia Rhue … Panelist
- Steve Tropiano … Panelist
- Ellen DeGeneres
- Norman Lear