
The Prime Time Closet
A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV
Stephen Tropiano(Author)
Applause Theatre Book Publishers
Published on 1. May 2002
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-1-55783-557-4 (ISBN)
Description
Television history was made on April 30, 1997, when comedian Ellen DeGeneres and her sitcom alter-ego Ellen Morgan, "came out" to her close friends and 36 million viewers. This groundbreaking episode represented a significant milestone in Amerian television. For the first time, a TV series centered around a lesbian character who was portrayed by an openly gay actor. The millions of viewers who tuned in that historic night were witnesses to a new era in television. THE PRIME TIME CLOSET offers an entertaining and in-depth glimpse into homosexuality on television from the 1950s through today. Divided into four sections, each devoted to a major television genre, this unique book explores how gay men and lesbians have been depicted in over three hundred television episodes and made-for-TV films. These include medical series, police/detective shows, situation comedies and TV dramas. THE PRIME TIME CLOSET also reveals how television's treatement of homosexuality has reflected and reinforced society's ignorance about and fear of gay men and lesbians. At the same time, it celebrates programs like Ellen and Will & Grace that have broken new ground in their sensitive and enlightened approach to homosexuality and gay-related themes. This book is witty and insightful, accessible and illuminating, a look into what has become an integral part of American media culture.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Hal Leonard Corporation
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
575 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-55783-557-4 (9781557835574)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2002
1st Edition
Applause Theatre Book Publishers
€15.49
Available for download
Person
Stephen Tropiano is a professor of screen studies at Ithaca College in Los Angeles, where he teaches courses in film and television history, theory, and criticism. He is the author of several books, including Saturday Night Live FAQ, The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on Television, and TV Finales FAQ. His latest book is America on Television: Race, Gender, Class, and Sexuality on Television.