Today marks the 20th anniversary of the airing of ellen s coming out episode on her selftitled 90s sitcom, and the emmywinning host made sure her show. How ellen degeneres historic comingout episode changed. The puppy episode turns 20 susan, im gay twenty years ago, degeneres came out on her abc sitcom, a move that nearly cost her career. She is an actress, known for perfect stranger 2007, ice age. As the fourth season of ellen degeneres successful sitcom began production, abc executives were uneasy about her. On the show, ellen morgan thinks shes making this revelation to susan only, but the airports pa system is on. With those words, ellen degeneres had come out as gay on her abc sitcom. The backlash ellen degeneres faced after coming out. Oprah and ellen remember the historychanging coming out. Oprah and ellen remember the historychanging coming out episode. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the iconic fiveword phrase that nearly destroyed and later launched her career, degeneres sat down with oprah winfrey and laura dern both of whom played integral characters to ellens coming out story line on the ellen degeneres show friday to discuss the repercussions of the puppy episode.
Watch ellen reunite with oprah and more for memorable. Ellen coming out as a lesbian to susan in the puppy episode. Ellen degeneres celebrates 20th anniversary of her sitcom s coming out episode. On the 20th anniversary of her comingout episode, newsweek posted the. Did ellens coming out episode really change tv for lgbt. Clea lewis was born on july 19, 1965 in cleveland heights, ohio, usa as eraclea s. Ellen degeneres reflects on comingout episode, 15 years. In recognition of the anniversary, abc is making that and all episodes of the sitcom available to stream on its app.
Laura dern talks about her role on the coming out episode of ellen. Controversial coming out episode of ellen airs history. Ellen 3x09 the movie show part 1 by ellenforpresident24. Heres a reminder of how the world reacted when ellen. Controversial coming out episode of ellen airs on this day in 1997, in a widely publicized episode of the abc sitcom ellen, tv character ellen morgan played by ellen degeneres. Ellen degeneres celebrated the 20year anniversary of her coming out episode on ellen with guest stars oprah winfrey and laura dern and the cast of her abc sitcom. Ellen celebrates the 20th anniversary of her coming out episode duration. Ellen degeneres came out in front of nearly 42 million people. Savel pretaped segments for part 2 of the puppy episode, in which ellen comes. Ellen degeneres celebrates 20th anniversary of her sitcom. Ellen degeneres gets emotional about iconic coming out episode. Watch ellen degeneres coming out episode of ellen free. Ellen has been a champion for the lgbt community for close to two decades now, ever since coming out on the cover of time magazine in april. By the time the landmark episode aired, ellen was a wellestablished sitcom.
Ellen helped open the eyes of america on gay issues, but did not dwell on it or shove it down our throats. On this day in 1997, in a widely publicized episode of the abc sitcom ellen, tv character ellen morgan played by ellen degeneres announces that she is gay. Ellen 2x22 the therapy episode part 1 by ellenforpresident24. A visit from richard, an old boyfriend, and his female boss, susan laura dern, makes ellen gradually realize shes gay. Today we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the coming out episode of my sitcom. It was the 22nd and 23rd episode of the series 4th season. Anyone who has a problem with her coming out on the show, must be insecure with their own.
The tonight show starring jimmy fallon 16,481,280 views. Ellen degeneres reflects on coming out episode, 15 years later the talk show host says she worried that audience wouldnt applaud or like her. Find the best and exclusive show content, user submitted videos, celebrity interviews, games, giveaways, and more. Ellen degeneres reflects on ellen coming out episode and how far weve come the host is celebrating the 20year anniversary of her historic tv moment on fridays the ellen degeneres show. She was star of the abc sitcom ellen, which is best known nowadays for the puppy episode that saw ellen come out as gay.
Twenty years ago, ellen degeneres came out on the cover of time magazine, and then her character on her sitcom ellen came out just afterward. Ellen degeneres looks back at coming out episode e. It was the hardest thing i ever had to do this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. This is a list of episodes of the 1990s sitcom, ellen, which aired on the abc network from march 29, 1994, to july 22, 1998. Ellen morgan, followed suit, coming out as gay in a onehour, twopart episode of her sitcom ellen. The coming out episode of ellen would air later that evening on abc. There has been a lot of writing about the coming out episode, especially among the other commentators. She is such an easy target for ridicule that its amazing that ellen puts up with her. Ellen has famously said that the episode is titled the puppy episode because when she originally pitched the. Ellen degeneres will be remembered as the first person who starred as a gay character on a primetime show, but the decision to come out on screen wasnt easy by stephanie petit. Inside the episode of ellen that changed television forever.
Ellen spoke primarily about her recent experience in coming out as a lesbian, and about the coming out of her sitcom character ellen morgan on the abc sitcom ellen. When ellen morgan, the character ellen degeneres played on her sitcom ellen, came out as gay on the shows april 30, 1997, episode, it sent. I t was 20 years ago, on the april 14, 1997, cover of time magazine that ellen degeneres, then the star of the sitcom ellen, confirmed something shed been building up to for decades. Ellen degeneres was told coming out could ruin sitcom. David anthony higgins was born on december 9, 1961 in des moines, iowa, usa. How ellen degeneres historic comingout episode changed television biography in the groundbreaking episode, degeneres became the first lead character of. The episode, titled the puppy episode, was taped in front of a live audience. Its 20 years on from the landmark network tv moment that saw ellen degeneres tell 42 million viewers that shes gay, but. April 30 is the 20th anniversary of the puppy episode, when ellen morganand ellen degenerescame out as a lesbian. The puppy episode, the twopart ellen episode in which ellen degeneress character comes out of the closet, aired april 30, 1997twenty. In 1997, ellen made television history when the title character came out as a lesbian in the famous puppy episode degeneres herself came out concurrent with the episode on the oprah winfrey show and in time. Ellen, oprah and laura dern remember comingout episode. Luckily, i havent seen those episodes that followed it, so i will not comment on that. The episode details lead character ellen morgans realization that she is a lesbian and her coming out.
Ellen celebrates the 20th anniversary of the iconic. Laura dern talks about her role on the coming out episode. This historic episode of ellen featured special guests oprah winfrey and laura dern, who perfectly play her therapist and her love interest, respectively. Ellen degeneres reflects on ellen coming out episode and. Ellen s4 episode 22 the puppy episode pt1 video dailymotion. Ellen reunites with oprah winfrey and laura dern, who appeared as special guest stars in the monumental coming out episode of her sitcom, ellen 1994, along with series regulars joely fisher, clea lewis and david anthony higgins. With ellen degeneres, joely fisher, david anthony higgins, clea lewis. When season 5 started, the show s ratings began dropping, and about a year after the puppy episode aired, abc yanked ellen. Actress laura dern is grateful to have been a part of the landmark episode of the sitcom ellen, which featured a gay character as its lead for the first time on tv. Controversial coming out episode of ellen airs on this day in 1997, in a widely publicized episode of the abc sitcom ellen, tv character ellen morgan played by ellen degeneres announces that. Her new talk show is good, but doesnt measure up to the freshness and originality of ellen the sitcom.
Ellen degeneres gets emotional about iconic comingout. Ellen, the puppy episode season four, episodes 2223. The puppy episode, the twopart ellen episode in which ellen degeneress character comes out of the closet, aired april 30, 1997twenty years ago. The three talented women sat down together for the first time since the noteworthy episode of ellen s sitcom aired. Twenty years ago, degeneres came out on her abc sitcom, a move that nearly cost her career. Yet, the episode was boycotted by advertisers like jcpenney. My character, ellen morgan, came out as a lesbian on national television, and i, ellen degeneres, came out. With ellen degeneres, laura dern, joely fisher, david anthony higgins. It took months of planning and prodding abc to get it on the air, but 42 million people tuned in. Even before the coming out episode, the sitcom was struggling. After talking it over with her therapist oprah winfrey she decides to come out to. Tv host celebrates 20th anniversary of her sitcom s coming out episode. On april 30, 1997, ellen degeneres, 59, and her character on her abc sitcom ellen came out as gay. In which what everybody already knows finally gets said, out loud and out proud.
The title was used as a code name for ellens coming out so as to keep the whole episode under wraps. On the anniversary of the puppy episode, its writers remember scripting history. Did ellen s coming out episode really change tv for lgbt characters. What ellen coming out meant to me rants and raves medium. The show became famous because the lead character came out as gay during the fourth season. Back on april 30, 1997, ellen degeneres made history when her popular sitcom character on abcs ellen declared that she was gay on primetime tv.
Oprah winfrey asked ellen degeneres on an episode of her talk show that aired on the afternoon of april 30, 1997. To ensure a memorable moment, the coming out scene was made into a gag where, at an airport, ellen turns and tells laura derns character im gay. The puppy edisode was the highest rated one the show ever aired and won an emmy for writing. Ellen show coming out episode lgbtq history in the u. I remember how hard it was when i told my first airport full of people, susan. Back on april 30, 1997, ellen degeneres made history when her popular sitcom character on abcs ellen declared that she was gay on. In the groundbreaking episode, degeneres became the first lead character of a tv series to announce that she was gay, and the comedian faced backlash as a result. Watch ellens landmark coming out episode for its 20th. This historic episode of ellen featured special guests oprah winfrey and laura dern, who perfectly play. The puppy episode is a twopart episode of the situation comedy television series ellen. Degeneres struggled to find work for the next three years. Sunday is the 20th anniversary of ellens historic the puppy episode, when ellen morgan ellen degeneres came out as a lesbian. Early on, her character, ellen morgan, does what any single sitcom lead was expected to. Ellen was the only guest on the episode, with a quick cameo by her thengirlfriend, actress anne heche.
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