Ever since C.J. planted a wet one on Abby in a
Very Special Episode of L.A. Law, television shows
have periodically dangled a bit of lesbian bait before viewers
eyes to stir controversy and increase ratings. Typically, these
lesbian storylines are only featured for one or two episodes,
and usually during sweeps week. But since we're starved for representation,
we've made a feast of those crumbs and we're sure that these episodes
are as memorable to you as they are to us.
Now
for the quiz part: name the TV show (and for bonus points,
the year) that featured the Very Special Episodes we've
described below. Then enjoy the thrilling satisfaction of your
pop culture prowess for approximately 22 minutes, plus commercials.
1.
A curious college girl extricates herself from her four co-dependent
siblings long enough to get a crush on--and kiss--a visiting lesbian
writing professor.
2.
Future Charlie's Angel (aka Lawyer #1) uses the old “I
had a dream about you” ploy to instigate a brief kiss with Lawyer
#2. Both enter pleas of “heterosexual” by the time the episode
ends.
3.
After years of depicting lesbians as criminals and victims, this
show finally reveals (in an out-of-left-field shocker) that its
self-righteous Assistant District Attorney is a lesbian. Unfortunately,
they don't tell us until her last day on the job.
4.
“That Chick from Species” guest-stars as a lesbian substitute
teacher with whom who all the 3rd grade boys fall in love. (It's
later revealed that she's a spy who is captured, forced into a
rocket ship and shot into the Sun--which still beats detention.)
5.
A Soprano and Hillary Swank's onscreen ex guest-star
as Deidre and Monet, lesbian lovers and real estate moguls who
try to intimidate--then seduce--their apartment-flipping competition.
6.
A Laguna Beach bunny guest-stars in this teen
detective show as a lesbian cheerleader who uses questionable
methods to battle high school homophobia (without even once dropping
the Spirit Stick).
7. In yet another sophisticated, multi-layed
Fox drama, an undercover detective of ambiguous sexual orientation
chases a lesbian thief from Girl Bar into a hot tub. Saved
by the Bell indeed!
8.
In a classic flashback episode, we learn that the small Alaskan
town of Cicely was originally founded as an artists' colony by
two bohemian lesbians whose car broke down as they were passing
through. (In another really special episode, the enclave
relocate to a patch of womyn's land in Michigan.)
9.
Concerned parents get all atwitter--and CBS declares a blackout--when
a future Charmed one shares an experimental kiss with
her teenage best friend.
10. Perky
straight series regular (and future coke addict) saves guest lesbian
from a fire. Guest lesbian returns the favor by confessing her
undying (and, naturally, unrequited) love for the perky straight
girl from her bed in the burn unit.
EXTRA
CREDIT:
In
this glossy NBC drama, a casino manager runs into his ex (a former
Boston Public teacher) and tries to rekindle the flame,
only to learn that she now has a very butch girlfriend. Who says
the odds always favor the house?
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