Structured entries
- AIDS: AND THE BAND PLAYED ON
3/28/94
w/ Matthew Modine; Alan Alda; Ian McKellen; Lily Tomlin; Richard Gere
This 1993 made-for-cable movie, based on the late Randy Shilts' bestseller about the beginnings of the AIDS crisis, is a wrenching medical detective story made up of heroes, villains and victims. Among the pivotal figures: Dr. Don Francis (Matthew Modine, pictured), a U.S. researcher who, in 1981, is part of a team investigating a mysterious ailment that seems to strike only gay men; Dr. Robert Gallo (Alan Alda), of the National Institutes of Health, who competes with French researchers to identify the virus that causes the illness; gay activist Bill Kraus (Ian McKellen); crusading San Francisco health official Selma Dritz (Lily Tomlin); and a choreographer (Richard Gere) who's a composite of several show-business personalities. (2:00)
- A PLACE FOR ANNIE
5/1/94
w/ Sissy Spacek; Mary-Louise Parker; Joan Plowright; Jack Noseworthy; S. Epatha Merkerson
An emotional, fact-based drama revolving around an infant named Annie who tests positive at birth for HIV. A 1994 "Hall of Fame" TV-movie. (2:00)
- ROOMMATES
5/30/94
w/ Randy Quaid; Eric Stoltz; Elizabeth Peña; Charles Duming
(Mon., NBC) -Randy Quaid as a straight, tough, crude ex-con with AIDS ends up rooming with Eric Stoltz as a cultured gay man with the disease. Sadly, you know where it's going long before it gets there: These very different men start with mistrust and intolerance but end up caring for and about each other. Stoltz plays his part as low-key as he can, while Quaid plays his with his acting amplifiers on high, and the contrast is uncomfortable.
- A TIME OF AIDS
11/20/94
(DSC) A two-part series chronicling the disease's history.
- A MOTHER'S PRAYER
8/6/95
w/ Linda Hamilton; Bruce Dern; Kate Nelligan; Noah Fleiss
- THE CURE
(1995)
w/ Brad Renfro; Joseph Mazzello
- BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY
3/19/97
w/ Mario Lopez; Michael Murphy; Rosemary Dunsmore
(Wed., USA) The Olympic diving champion has lived a lot of TV-movies, and they're all here: adoption, dyslexia, homosexuality and HIV, not to mention four gold medals and that nasty, bloody bump on the head in Seoul. Louganis narrates, with Mario Lopez in the title role. Michael Murphy is outstanding as Louganis's irascible father, and Rosemary Dunsmore, despite a disconcerting resemblance to Dustin Hoffman in "Tootsie," is fine as his doting mother.
- LAW & ORDER
4/1/98
A compelling Law & Order looks at issues surrounding AIDS, right to privacy and an HIV-positive man using the virus to infect as many women as possible. -9 PM
- LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
(1978)
w/ Ugo Tognazzi; Michel Serrault
- ELLEN: SHE'S OUT
4/30/97
w/ Laura Dern
(Wed., ABC) Considering all the things it could have been—coy, cloying, self-congratulatory or just plain silly—Ellen's coming-out episode is a triumph. It's hilarious, cathartic and celebratory all at once. Sensing a yen for a new acquaintance (played by guest star Laura Dern), beleaguered Ellen Morgan overcompensates, single-mindedly pursuing "man-woman sex." Later, she gamely visits a gay coffeehouse. "Ellen!" a pal yelps. "Eight o'clock! There's a lesbian staring at you!" The episode takes gay humor, which can often have an exclusionary, inside feel, and makes it everybody's humor. My score: 9
- PRIMETIME LIVE: Ellen
4/30/98
- ELLEN: After Gay
5/14/97
- MIDNIGHT IN SAVANNAH
11/30/97
(A&E) docu.
- LABOR OF LOVE
5/4/98
w/ Marcia Gay Harden; David Marshall Grant
- PRIMETIME LIVE: Diane Sawyer w/Ellen DeGeneres
5/6/98
w/ Diane Sawyer; Ellen DeGeneres
Transcription (raw)
## HEADING: HEALTH - AIDS
## LEFT COLUMN
6709. A I D S :
AND THE BAND PLAYED ON. 3/28/94
This 1993 made-for-cable movie, based on the late Randy Shilts' bestseller about the beginnings of the AIDS crisis, is a wrenching medical detective story made up of heroes, villains and victims. Among the pivotal figures: Dr. Don Francis (Matthew Modine, pictured), a U.S. researcher who, in 1981, is part of a team investigating a mysterious ailment that seems to strike only gay men; Dr. Robert Gallo (Alan Alda), of the National Institutes of Health, who competes with French researchers to identify the virus that causes the illness; gay activist Bill Kraus (Ian McKellen); crusading San Francisco health official Selma Dritz (Lily Tomlin); and a choreographer (Richard Gere) who's a composite of several show-business personalities. (2:00)
A PLACE FOR ANNIE 5/1/94
An emotional, fact-based drama revolving around an infant named Annie who tests positive at birth for HIV.
Sissy Spacek portrays a pediatric nurse and divorcée whose compassion for the apparently abandoned child leads her to become Annie's foster mother. Mary-Louise Parker plays Annie's hardened birth mother, a destitute AIDS victim who resurfaces and wants her daughter back. Ultimately the two women reach a compromise and move in together to share Annie's parenting.
A 1994 "Hall of Fame" TV-movie. Dorothy: Joan Plowright. David: Jack Noseworthy. Alice: S. Epatha Merkerson. (2:00)
Kathy Anderson and Sissy Spacek
ROOMMATES. 5/30/94
Roommates (Mon., NBC)
-Randy Quaid as a straight, tough, crude ex-con with AIDS ends up rooming with Eric Stoltz as a cultured gay man with the disease. Sadly, you know where it's going long before it gets there: These very different men start with mistrust and intolerance but end up caring for and about each other. Stoltz plays his part as low-key as he can, while Quaid plays his with his acting amplifiers on high, and the contrast is uncomfortable. Elizabeth Peña and Charles Duming costar.
"Roommates": Randy Quaid throws himself into the part.
A TIME OF AIDS: 11/20/94
(DSC) A two-part series chronicling the disease's history.
## RIGHT COLUMN
6710. A MOTHER'S PRAYER. 8/6/95
w/Linda Hamilton, Bruce Dern, Kate Nelligan & Noah Fleiss.
THE CURE. (1995)
w/Brad Renfro & Joseph Mazzello.
BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY. 3/19/97
BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY (Wed., USA) The Olympic diving champion has lived a lot of TV-movies, and they're all here: adoption, dyslexia, homosexuality and HIV, not to mention four gold medals and that nasty, bloody bump on the head in Seoul. Louganis narrates, with Mario Lopez in the title role. Michael Murphy is outstanding as Louganis's irascible father, and Rosemary Dunsmore, despite a disconcerting resemblance to Dustin Hoffman in "Tootsie," is fine as his doting mother.
LAW & ORDER 4/1/98
A compelling Law & Order looks at issues surrounding AIDS, right to privacy and an HIV-positive man using the virus to infect as many women as possible. -9 PM S
6711. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. (1978)
w/Ugo Tognazzi & Michel Serrault.
ELLEN: SHE'S OUT. 4/30/97
ELLEN (Wed., ABC) Considering all the things it could have been—coy, cloying, self-congratulatory or just plain silly—Ellen's coming-out episode is a triumph. It's hilarious, cathartic and celebratory all at once. Sensing a yen for a new acquaintance (played by guest star Laura Dern), beleaguered Ellen Morgan overcompensates, single-mindedly pursuing "man-woman sex." Later, she gamely visits a gay coffeehouse. "Ellen!" a pal yelps. "Eight o'clock! There's a lesbian staring at you!" The episode takes gay humor, which can often have an exclusionary, inside feel, and makes it everybody's humor. My score: 9
Destined to become one of TVs memorable moments: "I'm Gay" w/Oprah Winfrey, Demi Moore & Laura Dern
PRIMETIME LIVE: Ellen. 4/30/98
ELLEN: After Gay. 5/14/97
MIDNIGHT IN SAVANNAH. (A&E) docu. 11/30/97
LABOR OF LOVE. 5/4/98
w/Marcia Gay Harden & David Marshall Grant.
PRIMETIME LIVE: 5/6/98
Diane Sawyer w/Ellen DeGeneres.
