Though the universe in which the show exists recently came to an end with the series finale of The Conners, Roseanne remains an integral part of sitcom history. For nine consistent years, the series approached biting social topics, and, for better or worse, made television history in doing so. Among the show’s best outings is the Season 6 episode, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” It may seem tame by today’s standards, but the 1994 episode was far ahead of its time, as it featured one of network television’s first ever same-sex kisses. Given the pressures and bigotry of the time, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” had a jarring amount of hurdles to overcome, and backlash that nearly kept the episode off the air.
What Happens in ‘Roseanne’s Controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Episode?
Unlike television today, good queer representation is hard to come by when it comes to the classics. And while “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” may not be perfect, it was an important moment in the medium’s history. The installment sees Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) and Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) off on another adventure, this time heading to a gay bar. There, they meet up with Nancy (Sandra Bernhard) and her girlfriend, Sharon (Mariel Hemingway). What starts out as a night of pure fun, however, turns surprisingly dramatic, when Roseanne and Sharon share a brief kiss. Roseanne, who formerly thought of herself as an ally, experiences anxiety.
This ultimately leads to Roseanne and Nancy getting into a fight, and Roseanne questioning herself. Not only does she question her idea of allyship, but her own relationship with sexual intimacy. While the episode isn’t as big or as biting as All in the Family’s queer storylines, it’s certainly an impressive feat. Not only was it groundbreaking to show a same-sex kiss on network television, but the implications and actions that followed were powerful and were qualities that were not lost on the network or its sponsors.
‘Roseanne’s Groundbreaking Episode Caused Controversy
While shows like Friends and Ellen would take on their own queer stories in the years that followed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (to varying degrees of success), Roseanne’s outing was a first of its kind, and, as such, caused intense backlash. While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, former Roseanne writers, James Berg and Stan Zimmerman, recalled the fear that stemmed from the episode. ABC, the network that aired the series, had plenty of reservations. “The powers that be just were afraid.” They were so afraid, in fact, that the network waited until the 11th hour before deciding if the episode was going to see the light of day. “We didn’t know if it was actually going to be on television until minutes before it actually was,” Berg added.
Indeed, the episode might have been banned, had it not been for the series’ star. “Roseanne and Tom Arnold – when they were still a couple – said they would buy the episode back and put it up on HBO,” Zimmerman explained. It should be noted that Barr was a valuable star at the time, with Berg explaining: “Whatever we feel about Roseanne today given the political situation, we have to remember she really furthered the cause of gay rights with that episode.” Thus, the episode made it to the air, but that was not the end of its troubles.
The episode was originally scheduled to air at 8:00 PM, but ABC shifted it to 9:30 PM in hopes it would soften the controversy and was even proceeded by a parental advisory warning. Additionally, several sponsors pulled their advertisements from airing during the installment. According to The Hollywood Reporter, several local affiliates around the country refused to air “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and ABC was at risk of losing $1 million as a result. However, once it finally made it to screens, expectations were shattered.
‘Roseanne’s First Same-Sex Kiss Was a Massive Ratings Hit
Despite the controversy that surrounded the episode, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” overcame the odds. While the smaller markets that refused to carry the episode were set to hurt the show, the episode was seen by 20 million viewers! Indeed, the fears surrounding the episode can be relegated to bigotry, and, even more than 30 years after it aired, it remains a special moment in television history. While the bold approach rattled America at the time of airing, its influence was soon felt across the industry. Not long after “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” aired, the series Northern Exposure aired a gay wedding episode. Likewise, Roseanne followed suit with the episode “December Bride,” and soon, even more groundbreaking shows, such as Will & Grace, became part of network television line-ups. Indeed, it’s not a bad legacy for an episode that nearly didn’t make it to the air.
Roseanne’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was groundbreaking, to say the least. It added to the sitcom’s legacy and helped bring queer representation to the forefront of American television. Despite calls for the episode not to air, and the financial risk that came with it, the episode was a massive hit and remains an integral part of TV history. It may not seem all that biting by today’s standards, but the show’s efforts were necessary and wonderful.
