ABC THEATER: CONSENTING ADULT (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television movie dramatizes a couple's inability to deal with their son's homosexuality. Recent stroke victim Ken Lynd and his wife, Tess, are unaware of what is troubling their son, Jeff, a college student. One afternoon, Jeff informs Tess that he is gay, although he has not acted on his feelings. While she is sympathetic, Tess weeps later on and cannot bear to tell a concerned friend. Distraught, Tess speaks with a psychiatrist who agrees that homosexuality is an illness that he may be able to "cure," and Jeff tentatively seeks the doctor's help. Upon learning the truth about his son, an outraged Ken avoids and isolates him, while Tess accuses her husband of being self-righteous. Jeff accepts a ride from a fellow named Hank, leading to his first sexual experience with a man. But Jeff achieves a tenuous truce with his father, who is worried about AIDS and the end of the family name. When Jeff makes a failed attempt to return the effusive affections of the girl next door, he tells his parents that he will not be "cured" and that he has slept with a man. Jeff is scapegoated not only by his father but also by his college roommate, both of whom savagely kick him out, forcing Jeff onto his sister Margie's couch. Sensing her husband's anger is part of a larger problem, Tess addresses Ken's emotional detachment in their marriage -- just as his blood pressure skyrockets. When Jeff moves in with a supportive boyfriend named Stuart, Tess cannot bear to see the two men hold hands. Although Ken writes a conciliatory letter, he cannot bring himself to send it, but Jeff finally reads the letter under difficult circumstances. Ultimately, Tess confronts her own homophobia and realizes how she can accept her son's lifestyle. Includes commercials, promos, and an "ABC News Brief" with Brit Hume.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Blake Byrne.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 4, 1985 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:58:34
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T86:1601
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBT Collection; Drama; She Made It Collection (Marlo Thomas)
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1972-
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Mrs. Soffel" (feature film)
- TV - Commercials - Alka Seltzer Plus cold medicine
- TV - Commercials - All detergent
- TV - Commercials - Bausch & Lomb NaturalTint contacts
- TV - Commercials - Bayer aspirin
- TV - Commercials - Carnival Cruise Lines
- TV - Commercials - Clairol Nice 'n Easy hair coloring
- TV - Commercials - Coca-Cola soda
- TV - Commercials - Colgate Pump toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Energizer batteries
- TV - Commercials - Finesse shampoo
- TV - Commercials - KZLA 93.9 FM
- TV - Commercials - Kraft Miracle Whip salad dressing
- TV - Commercials - L'Oreal French Formula Riche mascara
- TV - Commercials - Lysol disinfectant spray
- TV - Commercials - Maybelline eye shadow
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's fast food
- TV - Commercials - Miss Clairol Ultress gel colourant
- TV - Commercials - Neo Synephrine nasal spray
- TV - Commercials - Nestle Tollhouse semisweet chocolate chips
- TV - Commercials - Post Fruit & Fibre cereal
- TV - Commercials - Ragu Chunky Gardenstyle spaghetti sauce
- TV - Commercials - Stayfree Silhouettes Bodyshape Maxis tampons
- TV - Commercials - Summer's Eve White Flowers douche
- TV - Commercials - Sun Light dishwashing liquid
- TV - Commercials - TWA airlines
- TV - Commercials - Tylenol pain reliever and sinus medication
- TV - Commercials - Vicks NyQuil cold medicine
- TV - Commercials - Visine eye drops
- TV - Commercials - Wendy's fast food
- TV - Commercials - Wrigley's Spearmint gum
- TV - Promos - "20/20"
- TV - Promos - "Dynasty"
- TV - Promos - "Eye on L.A."
- TV - Promos - "Eyewitness News"
- TV - Promos - "MacGruder and Loud"
- TV - Promos - "Obsessed With a Married Woman"
- TV - Promos - "Surviving"
- TV - Promos - "The Bad Seed"
- TV - Promos - "The Fall Guy"
- TV - Promos - "Three's a Crowd"
- TV - Promos - "Who's the Boss"
CREDITS
- Martin Starger … Executive Producer
- Dennis E. Doty … Supervising Producer
- Ray Aghayan … Producer
- David Lawrence … Producer
- Edward D. Markley … Associate Producer
- Gilbert Cates … Director
- John McGreevey … Writer
- Laura Z. Hobson … Based on the novel by
- Laurence Rosenthal … Music by
- Marlo Thomas … Cast, Tess Lynd
- Martin Sheen … Cast, Ken Lynd
- Barry Tubb … Cast, Jeff Lynd
- Talia Balsam … Cast, Margie Lynd
- Ben Piazza … Cast, Dr. Waldo
- John Terlesky … Cast, Pete
- Corinne Michaels … Cast, Claire
- Matthew Laurance … Cast, Nate
- Joseph Adams … Cast, Stu
- Richard Sargent … Cast, Pat Malone
- Thomas Peacocke … Cast, Dr. Daniels
- Moira Walley … Cast, Sue Wister
- Jeff Irvine … Cast, Hank
- Dave Sayer … Cast, the Counterman
- Rebecca Staples … Cast, Maribel
- Kim Kondrashoff … Cast, Dev
- Roman Podhora … Cast, Ray
- Peter Giaschi … Cast, Mark
- John Ormerod … Cast, Kerry