First Sitcom to Deal with AIDS?

[boechsner]

Does anyone know what was the first sitcom to deal with AIDS?

As far as I can tell, Mr. Belvedere has the earliest with the episode called, Wesley's Friend which aired on January 31, 1986.

Does anyone know of any episodes of sitcoms that were earlier?


Other AIDS episodes:

The Golden Girls: 72 Hours (2/17/90)
The Hogan Family: The Best of Friends, Worst of Times (12/1/90)


I know A Different World did an episodes

[TJL]

Actually, I think the old Showtime sitcom "Brothers" (84-89) about a trio of brothers (one of them who comes out of the closet in the pilot episode) had a very heart wrenching episode about the subject, and it also might have been the first to discuss it.

[Dean Winchester]

TJL is probably right, Brothers (which I am surprised has not yet come out on DVD... that pre-dated Ellen by 13 years) was most likely the first show to touch on AIDS.

[JT]

This is sort of off-topic, but Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman had a major storyline in 1976 where Mary's husband Tom contracted an STD from his mistress, Mae Olinski, almost passing it on to Mary.

[factsoflife]

wasn't there a facts of life episode about AIDS? i vaugley remember Mrs. Garrett in the kitchen chopping up vegetables talking to either Jo or Blair about how AIDS is deadly and can be avoided by abstaining from intercourse, of course i could have just dreamed this up.

and Designing Women had a memorable episode called "killing all the right people" about this topic, it was well-written and pogiant.

[Will and Grace Fanatic]

An old showtime series? Wow, it probably went more into depth with the subject than the rest of the 80's shows on broadcast networks. Since Showtime is pay-cable. I would actually like to see that, since what back in the 80's showtime probably got 500 viewers an episode.

[Riff]

An old showtime series? Wow, it probably went more into depth with the subject than the rest of the 80's shows on broadcast networks.

Not really. At least not when it started. When it started, the show was basically just "Will & Grace" with an occasional curse word. David Lloyd created it (or co-created it -- I'm drawing a blank there), but had almost nothing to do with it otherwise. It was in syndication for one season in the late '80s or early '90s -- and I don't remember it being anything close to butchered there.

Best thing about it was the doo wop theme song. The "very special" episodes were unbearable.

[snl75]

i never cared for brothers alot of times it really tried to be noble but it usally came off hevy handed

[Caffeine King]

The Canadian teen series Degrassi High had one of the main characters contract HIV from his girlfriend (who I think had AIDs...)


I'm not sure, never seen the show and only read this in an episode guide. (But I love the new Degrassi series, Degrassi: The Next Generation!)

[EDIT: Found it...]

58. Bad Blood (1)

At the start of a new school year, BLT has found a new girlfriend, Cindy, but doesn't tell Michelle right away. Joey finds a car that he wants to buy, but doesn't have enough money to purchase it. Snake and Wheels suggest betting with students that Joey will walk through the cafeteria, naked, at lunch time. The dare goes according to plan until Dwayne tells Mr. Raditch what Joey is up to, and he is caught. Joey is destroyed when he must return the money to all the students who dared he wouldn't do it. Dwayne finds out that his girlfriend has been diagnosed with HIV.

b: 03-Nov-1990 pc: 401

59. Bad Blood (2)

BLT breaks up with Michelle, and promises it is not because of another woman. Alexa finds out that BLT has been dating Cindy for a month, and Michelle confronts him in the cafeteria, in front of everyone. Dwayne goes to the doctor for a blood test, to see if he's HIV positive. He later finds out the test is positive, he goes ballastic by destroying a condom machine in the boy's washroom. Snake wakes in and sees him do this. He tells Joey about this, and Joey thinks this is the perfect way to get his money back. He threatens to tell Mr. Raditch what Dwyane did. Dwayne lets it slip that he has HIV, and pays Joey off to keep his mouth shut.

[factsoflife]

Life Goes On... dramas seem to have been far more evolved in dealing with, hell even acknowleding hiv and aids, not as many sitcoms have delt with this issue.


Does anyone else remember the Facts Of Life episode, i seem to recall, but am not sure if it actually exsits.


Oh The Hogan Family, i think had an episode about AIDs? and i think, Family Ties?

[slackermonkey]

This thread is kind of depressing me. Why must sitcoms have episodes about AIDS, HIV, and STDs? I'd rather laugh at a sitcom than be educated by one.

[factsoflife]

Originally posted by slackermonkey
This thread is kind of depressing me. Why must sitcoms have episodes about AIDS, HIV, and STDs? I'd rather laugh at a sitcom than be educated by one.


maybe because hiv, aids and stds are serious issues facing our country and some people would like to see our society reflected in the sitcoms and dramas we watch. Because sitcoms can make you laugh AND deal with isues such as these.

[slackermonkey]

Dramas are fine, I just never cared for them in sitcoms. It just didn't mesh well to me.

[Caffeine King]

Also, I think that 90's show Roc did an episode about it.

[rossnrach4ever]

There was a wonderful episode of Designing Women called Killing All the Right People.....Mary Jo had to debate condoms in the schools and at the same time a dear friend wanted the girls to design his funeral because he had AIDS... Julia got on her soap box of course and show ended with the song played Just a Closer Walk With Thee.