The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV » (New Edition)

Entertaining and revealing, The Prime Time Closet is a comprehensive study of homosexuality on television from the 1950s to the present day. Through an analysis of over 300 television episodes, made for TV movies, and mini-series, this fascinating account of the evolution of the portrayal of gay men and lesbians offers an in-depth look at how four major television genres medical series, police/detective shows, drama, and situation comedies approached the subject of homosexuality.

The Prime Time Closet reveals how television's treatment of homosexuality has reflected and reinforced society's ignorance and fear of gay men, lesbians, and transgender people. At the same time, it celebrates the programs that broke new ground in their sensitive, enlightened approach to homosexuality and gay-related themes and issues, such as homophobia, gay-bashing, and AIDS.

From 1950s talk shows that tackled the problem of homosexuality to Ellen DeGeneres's historical coming out in 1997 and beyond, The Prime Time Closet takes an insightful and illuminating look at the characters, the plots, and the controversy that opened television's closet door.

About the Author

Stephen Tropiano is the author of the book TV Towns and is a film/TV critic for popmatters.com, a popular culture web site. He is the director of the Ithaca College Communications Program in Los Angeles, where he teaches courses in film and television history and theory.

	Introduction
	Prime Time Closet Chronology
Ch. 1	Diagnosis: Homosexual: Homosexuality and the Prime Time Medical Drama	1
Ch. 2	"Just the Facts, Ma'am" Homosexuality and the Law and Order Drama	55
Ch. 3	Drama Queens Homosexuality and Dramatic Series, Mini-Series, and Movies of the Week	109
Ch. 4	"Not That There's Anything Wrong With It" Homosexuality and Television Comedy	185
	Afterword: Keeping the Closet Door Open	259
App	Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender
App	TV Episode Guide	261
App	Bibliography	312
App	The Best of the Prime Time Closet	313
	Endnotes	318
	Index	333