Page 45 - Abc Network News Today

>> im 35 years old. im so afraid to tell people. i mean -- susan, im gay. [ cheers and applause ] >> 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 braveest thing i saw. >> that felt great. that felt so great. >> initial reports, abc made a bundle on ellens highly publicized outing on national tv last night. the broadcast was accompanied by coming out parties across the country including one in birmingham, ...

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 abc network launched a new series that was none of those things. "twin peaks" is already described by one critic that will change tv. its directed by david lynch. >> david lynch was a filmmaker known for his taste in the eccentric and memorable. the idea that he would do television in the 90s was c...

Characters were always secondary or third. there was never a gay character that was the lead of a show. [ laughter ] >> so, you want to go look at apartments tomorrow? >> ellen degeneres the comedian was about to come out as a lesbian. >> im on the cover of time. >> and she does it on time magazine. yep, im gay. but they decide that the character that 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 com...

[ applause ] >> we certainly associate nbc in the 90s with having extremely successful sitcoms. but they werent the only network that found their way to having some success. >> t.g.i.f. was on abc on friday and it was their block of family-oriented comedies. >> i cant take it. i need that cake. [ laughter ] >> it was not sophisticated television, but these were shows that people adored. >> oh. >> cbs. cbs was in a really bad spot. they had just fallen apart over the early part of the 90s. they h...

>> in 1990, 91, there was not a whole lot of original programing for cable, but they were airing movies. so we needed to compete and i 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....

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 abc network launched a new series that was none of those things. "twin peaks" is already described by one critic as the series that will change tv. its directed by david lynch. >> david lynch was a filmmaker known for his taste in the eccentric an...

Flack for even thinking about having a coming out episode with ellen. >> im 35 years old. im so afraid to tell people. i mean, 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 brave es thing i saw. >> that felt great. that felt so great. >> initial reports suggest abc made a bundle on ellens highly publicized outing on national tv last night. broadcast was accompanied by coming out parties ...

>> lets see how you like this naughty boy. >> oh my god. >> we certainly associate nbc of the 90s with having extremely successful sitcoms. but they werent the only network that found their way to having some success. tgif was on abc on friday and it was their block of family oriented comedies. >> i cant take it. i need the cake. >> oh, michelle. >> it was not sophisticated television. but these were shows that people adored. >> [ laughter ] >> cbs. >> cbs was in a really bad spot. they are just...

>> her name is marla. im seeing a woman. >> 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? >> good idea. >> ellen degeneres the comedian was about to come out as a lesbian. >> murphy, on the cover of. >> and she does it on magazine, yep, im gay. but they decide the character will also come out. >> its reprehensible that abc now owned by disney is going to feature as ellen co...

An exploration of news and events in the 1990s. In the opener, TV shows from the decade are examined, from animated hits South Park and Beavis and...