Page 48 - Abc Network News Today

The following movie is rated r. >> 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...

>> 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...

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...

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. 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 be...

"r." >> 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 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-...

Ah... ahem... show me the carfax. start your used car search at the all-new carfax.com. 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 wil...

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. >> it was not sophisticated television. but these were shows that people adored. [ laughing ] >> cbs. >> cbs was in a really bad spot. they had just fallen apart over the early part of the 90s and had gone through a couple different network executives. >> but then suddenly they had this hit with an unknown comic. t...

Tgif was on abc on friday, and it was their block of family-oriented comedies. >> i cant take it. i need the cake. >> it was not sophisticated television. but these were shows that people adored. [ laughing and snorting ] >> cbs. >> cbs was in a really bad spot. they had just fallen apart over the early part of the 90s and had gone through a couple different network executives. >> but then suddenly they had this hit with an unknown comic. this was the year of seinfeld, no hugging, no learning, a...

>> 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. 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 ...

Of flack for even thinking about having a coming-out episode with ellen. >> im 35 years old. im so afraid to tell people. im 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 ...