Clip: 1997, ELLEN's faux lesbian kiss

TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
ELLEN: "Roommates" - 10/8/1997, ABC
In the 1980s and 90s, U.S. broadcast TV usually allowed same-sex kisses only if at least one character was a serial killer or at least one was straight and didn't enjoy it.
Today in 1997: Even as ABC executives urged ELLEN's writers not to give Ellen a girlfriend, ABC allowed this joke kiss with a her straight best friend, Paige.
Previously, Paige had had trouble accepting Ellen as gay, but now swoops in and pretends to be Ellen's girlfriend to help get rid of an unwanted potential housemate. ABC allowed it because it wasn't a "real" queer kiss.

[@smithsunleashed]

Ellen is so smooth

[@blackberry8615]

i wonder how people in the 90s felt after watching this

[@antonioscaglioni3366]

Well, in the 1990s I was there watching it and I reacted in the only way I could. Laughing out loud at one of the most hilarious moments in one of the funniest sitcoms of the time. It was also mentioned that the kiss was not in the script, so Joely Fisher's (Paige) reaction was even funnier.

[@nossenkanter]

Aroused 💀

[@antonioscaglioni3366]

Doesn't seem so fake 😂

[@EllenDegeneresWorld]

😂😂😂