Entertaining and revealing, The Prime Time Closet is a comprehensive study of homosexuality on television from the 1950s to the present day. Through an analysis of over 300 television episodes, made for TV movies, and mini-series, this fascinating account of the evolution of the portrayal of gay men and lesbians offers an in-depth look at how four major television genres—medical series, police/detective shows, drama, and situation comedies—approached the subject of homosexuality.

The Prime Time Closet reveals how television's treatment of homosexuality has reflected and reinforced society's ignorance and fear of gay men, lesbians, and transgender people. At the same time, it celebrates the programs that broke new ground in their sensitive, enlightened approach to homosexuality and gay-related themes and issues, such as homophobia, gay-bashing, and AIDS.

From 1950s talk shows that tackled the problem of homosexuality to Ellen DeGeneres's historical coming out in 1997 and beyond, The Prime Time Closet takes an insightful and illuminating look at the characters, the plots, and the controversy that opened television's closet door.

About the Author

Stephen Tropiano is the author of the book TV Towns and is a film/TV critic for popmatters.com, a popular culture web site. He is the director of the Ithaca College Communications Program in Los Angeles, where he teaches courses in film and television history and theory.