Page 34 - Abc Network News Today

>> it was incredible. just how slowly in the beginning the news spread around this little town that this young, beautiful girl had died and that haunting music was so dark and so beautiful. ♪ >> ive got good news. the gum you like is going to come back in style. >> what on earth is essentially a art film doing in prime time television? >> american network television has long been considered the home of the blands, the cautious, and the predictable. so it was with some trepidation that the abc ...

>> well, its wonderful. >> the machine that was nbc in the 90s for comedy was untouchable. >> youre not from around here, are you? >> it generated so much viewership and money and awards. >> you do not need this. >> its the top of our wedding cake. >> were not -- its not a scrapbook, its a freezer. >> no! >> we were all kind of part of this chapter in television where we realized we were in the right place at the right time. >> lets see how you like this, naughty boy. >> we certainly associate n...

>> ellen coming out was a huge moment for me personally because, you know, i was a closeted gay guy. gay child at that time. and it was the bravest thing i saw. >> that felt great. that felt so great. >> initial reports suggests abc made a bundle on ellens highly publicized outing on national tv last night. the broadcast was accompanied by coming-out parties all around the country, including one in birmingham, alabama, where the local abc station refused to broadcast the show. >> she did a great...

>> so you want to go look at apartments tomorrow? >> great idea! >> ellen degeneres, the comedian, was about to come out. as a lesbian. >> look, on the cover of "time." >> and she does it on "time" magazine. yep, im gay. but they decide that the character ellen plays on tv will also come out. >> it is just reprehensible that abc, now owned by disney of all companies, is going to feature ellen as coming out of the closet. it wont be long before god knows what, you know. bestiality, incest, who kn...

Felt that if we didnt, we were going to kind of get swept out. so i came up with a notion of doing a cop show that was r-rated. when abcs broadcast standards read our script, they went berserk. >> i was sitting with a pad and a pencil drawing pictures of breasts to try to show them what we would show and what we wouldnt show. grown-ups sitting in a room doodling. >> then we started on the language. >> we heard some reporter call it the lowlife with the brains of a flea and the balls of a moth. >...

R-rated. when abcs broadcast standards read our script, they went berserk. >> i was sitting with a pad and a pencil drawing pictures of breasts to try to show them what we would show and what we wouldnt show. grown-ups sitting in a room doodling. >> then we started on the language. >> we heard it with the brains of a flea and the balls of a moth. >> the program premiered with an advertising boycott. >> channel 7, shame on you! >> but it was such an immediate hit, that boycott lasted, oh, four we...

>> in the 90s, gay characters were always secondary or third. there was never a gay character that was the lead of a show. >> so you want to go look at apartments tomorrow? >> great idea! >> ellen degeneres, the comedian, was about to come out. as a lesbian. >> look, on the cover of "time." >> and she does it on "time" magazine. yep, im gay. but they decide that the character ellen plays on tv will also come out. >> it is just reprehensible that abc, now owned by disney of all companies, is goin...

A new era of technology is forcing networks to re-examine the way they do business. >> new owners spent billions buying the networks recently. ge buying nbc. capital cities, abc. >> and loews-tisch brothers buying cbs. and all of them want their moneys worth. >> well now have the strongest network. well have a stronger defense piece. this is going to be one dynamite company. >> theres a danger that news will be mixed up with the rest of television and considered just another profit. >> late 1920...

>> im 35 years old. im so afraid to tell people. i mean, i just -- susan, im gay. >> ellen coming out was a huge moment for me personally because, you know, i was a closeted gay guy. gay child at that time. and it was the bravest thing i saw. >> that felt great. that felt so great. >> initial report suggests abc made a bundle on ellens highly publicized outing on national tv last night. the broadcast was accompanied by coming-out parties all around the country, including one in birmingham, alaba...

>> it was incredible. just how slowly in the beginning the news spread around this little town that this young, beautiful girl had died and that haunting music was so dark and so beautiful. ♪ >> ive got good news. the gum you like is going to come back in style. >> what on earth is essentially a art film doing in prime time television? >> american network television has long been considered the home of the blands, the cautious and the predictable. so it was with some trepidation that it the ab...