In the meantime, here's something that really cheered me up. Too tired to format, sorry:
>January 25, 2000 > >`Millionaire' Quietly Breaks TV Barriers >------------------------------------------------------ > >By BERNARD WEINRAUB >HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 24 -- On Sunday night a contestant on >"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" embraced his gay >companion onstage after winning $500,000. The audience >cheered, Regis Philbin, the host, grinned, and the >network was not flooded with protest calls. > > >Maria Melin/ABC >On "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" on Sunday, Rob >Coughlin, second from right, with Mark Leahy, his >companion, and Regis Philbin, right, the host of the >show. >--------------------------------------------------------------------- > >In its own quirky way, the quiz show, which is a >ratings juggernaut and the No. 1 show in the nation, >has quietly and quite nonchalantly broken sexual and >racial barriers on television. Not only do gay couples >routinely appear on the show -- the word "gay" is >never used -- but so do racially mixed couples, which >in the past television has often avoided showing. > >By all accounts, the matter-of-fact presentation of >these couples, without a comment from Mr. Philbin or >anyone else, has altered the television landscape. The >show, on ABC three nights a week, has an average >audience of 28.5 million viewers and has >single-handedly revived the network. > >Sunday night's show stirred nervousness among the >"Millionaire" staff members because it was the first >time in memory that two men -- a contestant and his >companion in the audience -- embraced before >television cameras. The contestant was Rob Coughlin of >Shoreline, Wash., who works for a transit company. > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >A matter-of-fact presentation of couples, without >comment. > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >"We treat everyone the same way, and there's never >been an issue about people's personal relationships," >said Michael Davies, executive producer of the show. >"If a contestant is married 25 years and white and >middle-class with 2.4 kids and brings his wife to the >show, that's fine. Or whether somebody brings their >college buddy or mother or sister or lover, we don't >care. We don't care about ethnic things, we don't care >about sexual things. We treat everybody the same. The >show broadly reflects society." > >Mr. Davies admitted that he had been a bit anxious >about Sunday night's show, which was taped late last >week. When contestants win $250,000 or more, their >partners, who until then are shown sitting and >cheering them on, are taken onstage. > >While sitcoms and dramas about racially mixed couples >are rare, there have been some comedies involving gay >characters. Billy Crystal played a gay man as far back >as 1977 in the ABC series "Soap," which was a satire >on soap operas. Even before the show was broadcast, >ABC received about 32,000 letters protesting it, and >some network affiliates were picketed because of the >show's sexual content. The uproar died down, and the >series lasted four years. > >The NBC sitcom "Will and Grace," about a gay man and a >straight woman living together, is one of the most >successful shows on television. Max Mutchnick, who >created the series with David Kohan, said he was >surprised that there were no network "stop signs" for >the series's writers. In fact, he said, the creators >and writers can go quite far in terms of subject >matter. > >Shortly after the highly publicized decision by Ellen >DeGeneres to announce that she was a lesbian, her >show, "Ellen," started to fade. At the time network >executives said that was in part because the show was >aging and also because it had lost its sense of humor. > > >"There are no flags, no one's underlining it or >remarking on it," Mr. Mutchnick said. "It's been put >on its feet and being filmed, and it's going out on >the air and no one's saying anything about it." > >Mr. Mutchnick said it was a far cry from the NBC >sitcom "Love, Sidney," from 1981 to 1983, in which >Tony Randall played a gay commercial artist. But his >sexuality was inferred, never mentioned. "He was only >shy," said Mr. Mutchnick with a laugh. "He went to shy >bars." > >Earle Marsh, co-author of The Complete Directory to >Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows (Ballantine >Books), said he could recall no previous quiz show in >which either gay or multiracial couples were so >evident. "Twenty years ago there would have been >serious problems with network standards and practices, >the censors," he said. "They might have worried about >segments of the audience being homophobic or have >other problems." > >"I'm sure at one point the choice of people to go on >the air might have raised red flags," Mr. Marsh said. >"In today's environment we've moved beyond that." > >He pointed out that interracial couples, while rare on >television, are not unique. In "The Jeffersons," >Norman Lear's spinoff about Archie Bunker's former >black neighbors, the son is married to a mixed-race >woman. Her black mother and white father were also >neighbors. "It was groundbreaking," said Mr. Marsh. > >On "Millionaire," Mr. Philbin introduced Mr. >Coughlin's companion, Mark Leahy, as soon as the >contestant walked onstage. > >"Your partner, Mark, is in the audience, hey, Mark," >said Mr. Philbin as the audience cheered. > >As Mr. Coughlin, began answering questions correctly, >Mr. Philbin asked Mr. Leahy what his partner should do >if he won $1 million. "Get a new wardrobe," replied >Mr. Leahy. > >By the time Mr. Coughlin reached $500,000, he was >stumped by the million-dollar question: In what >country are all the United States major league >baseballs manufactured? (The correct answer was Costa >Rica.) Instead of risking the loss of most of the >money to go for $1 million, Mr. Coughlin decided to >halt the questioning and walk off with $500,000. > >At that point, Mr. Philbin said, "Hey, Mark, come >down." > >Mr. Leahy bounded onto the stage and hugged Mr. >Coughlin. "Hey, Mark, nice to see you," Mr. Philbin >said. > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >A winner's companion suggests buying a new wardrobe. > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >ABC executives said there was no reaction from viewers >to the episode. > >Mr. Davies said there had been other gay contestants >with their companions sitting in the audience and >introduced by Mr. Philbin. "The first time there were >definitely some raised eyebrows by some members of my >team," Mr. Davies said. "I said to Regis, 'Just refer >to his partner in the audience.' And that was it." > >To be a contestant on "Millionaire" people apply by >calling (800) 433-8321 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Eastern >Standard Time until Feb. 9. To qualify, they have to >be 18 and over and a United States citizen. An >elimination process follows, based on responses to >questions as well as a random drawing. No personal >questions are asked. About 240,000 people call daily. > >Mr. Davies said that what concerned him was that >contestants were not a cross section of the nation. >"We do not have enough minority contestants, we do not >have enough female contestants and this bothers me," >he said. "I don't know what the reason is. There may >be something about trivia and the amassing of >knowledge of trivia that's essentially white and male. >It really bothers me that we can't get more female and >minority contestants." > >Lloyd Braun, co-chairman of the ABC Entertainment >Group, said the show's potpourri of contestants was in >some ways a breakthrough. "It's the most color-blind >inclusive show you can ever have," said Mr. Braun. >"It's fantastic that nothing's been made of it." > >Mr. Braun said that each contestant on the show was >actually a "slice-of-life, a mini-drama." "You get to >not only meet the contestant when he or she is in the >hot seat, but you meet their spouse or partner or >100-year-old grandmother," he said. "It's not >judgmental. It's totally accepting."