Television FIRSTS...Top 10 List

[Ireneparalegal]

Starting with Number 10:

Number 10

First couple to sleep in the same bed
Mary Kay and Johnny - 1947, DuMont Television Network
Mary Kay and Johnny stars Mary Kay and John Stearns broke new ground in the late '40s when they became the first couple to share a bed. Other couples weren't spotted sharing sheets again until the 1960s when Fred and Wilma routinely made their Bedrock bed rock with cartoonish enthusiasm.

Cool fact: Looking for someone to blame for Joanie Loves Chachi and Charles in Charge? Try Mary Kay and Johnny; they were television's very first sitcom.


Number 9

First openly gay main character
The Corner Bar - June 1, 1972, ABC
TV's first gay character came charging out of the closet in 1972 with the premier of The Corner Bar, a kind of Cheers meets Queers ABC sitcom. Played by Vincent Schiavelli, the character of Peter Panama was a medley of over-the-top gay stereotypes that would make even Elton John cringe. Billy Crystal furthered the movement in 1977 with his character of Jodie Dallas in Soap.

Gay characters have since given way to entire gay shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Will & Grace, Queer as Folk and WWE Wrestling (you did know, didn't you?).

Cool fact: Known for his extensive range, Schiavelli was once named one of America's best character actors by Vanity Fair magazine.


Number 8

First show about abortion
Maude - November 14 and 21, 1972, CBS
Long before she hammed it up on The Golden Girls, Bea Arthur grappled with the issue of abortion. Playing the 45-year-old title character, Arthur brought the topic to life when Maude unexpectedly became pregnant. Abortion was considered so taboo at the time that two CBS affiliates refused to carry the episode and 32 others were successfully pressured not to rerun the show.

In all, CBS received 24,000 letters of complaint. Even today, TV shows continue to deal with abortion in a very delicate manner.

Cool fact: The two-part show attracted an incredible 65 million viewers for the second episode.

The first time we got a glimpse of women in lingerie, condoms, and more

Number 7

First passionate homosexual kiss
Dawson's Creek - May 24, 2000, WB

After having broken up with his girlfriend Joey (Katie Holmes) during the previous season, Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith) finally found true love when he shared a languid kiss with his boyfriend Ethan (Adam Kaufman) on the show's season finale.

Cool fact: The first gay kiss was actually scheduled to appear on Melrose Place in 1994 until a key advertiser heard of the plot and threatened to pull out if the kiss was shown.


Number 6

First lingerie commercial featuring real models
Playtex - 1987, multiple networks

Believe it or not, before 1987, lingerie was modeled on televison only on mannequins or by women wearing the undergarments over their clothes. That all changed when Playtex parted with convention and boldly flashed a little bit of skin. Playtex's pioneering ways have since lead to Victoria's Secret fashion shows and that pinnacle of competitive sports, The Lingerie League.

Cool fact: With Dennis Rodman at the helm as commissioner, The Lingerie League now features four teams.


Number 5

First Interracial Kiss
Star Trek - November 22, 1968, NBC

Still months away from the Summer of Love, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) boldly went where no man on network television had gone before when he swapped spit with Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols).

Although interracial relationships are now common TV fodder, the lip lock was considered to be such an outrage at the time that several Southern stations refused to air it.

Cool fact: Due to Nichelle Nichol's incessant giggling, the brief scene took 36 takes to capture.


Number 4

First Condom Ad
Trojan - 1975, ABC affiliate KNTV

KNTV broke a long-standing ban on commercials featuring condoms when it ran a spot for Trojan. Just like sex, the spot lasted only 30 seconds and ended in disappointment. The public was not yet ready for the frankness of the ad and it was quickly removed from the airwaves. Today, CBS, Fox, NBC, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, CNN, TNT, USA, and TBS all accept condom advertising.

Cool fact: The word "condom" wasn't featured in a sitcom script until February of 1987 when it was used in an episode of The Hogan Family.


Number 3

First lesbian kiss
L.A. Law - February 7, 1991, NBC

Sexy attorney C.J. Lamb (Amanda Donohoe) gave NBC's legal drama a boost when she locked lips with another bi-curious lawyer played by Michele Green. The kissing was nice, but frankly we were hoping to catch a glimpse of her legal briefs. Lesbian smooching became a trend soon thereafter with open-mouth kissing on Roseanne, Relativity, The L-Word, and Desperate Housewives.

Cool fact: Of the 14.6 million households who tuned in to see the episode, NBC received only 51 complaints. Presumably some of those complaints had to do with the fact the kiss didn't last nearly long enough.

The first time swearing and boobies appeared on the airwaves and an honorable mention.

Number 2

First Use of the F-Word
BBC3 - November 13, 1965, BBC

Theatre critic Kenneth Tynan let the F-Bomb fly in 1965 when he appeared on a live late-night satirical show called BBC3 on the UK's BBC. The resulting uproar became so intense that four motions were tabled in the House of Commons and one MP even suggested Tynan should hang.

On the other side of the pond, comedian Charles Rocket was canned from Saturday Night Live in February of 1981 after saying "f*ck" in a spoof of the soap opera Dallas. Playing the role of J.R. Ewing, Rocket ad-libbed, "Oh man, it's the first time I've been shot in my life. I'd like to know who the f*ck did it." These days, the word can be heard being used as a verb, adjective, noun, and pronoun on shows such as Deadwood.

Cool fact: The Brits have a long and proud history of breaking down broadcasting barriers. In 1936, comedian Hector Thaxter became the first man to say "arse" on the radio.


Number 1

First baring of breasts
The Academy Awards - March 27, 1957, NBC

Long before cheeky journalists coined the term "wardrobe malfunction," Jayne Mansfield had a clothing issue of D-cup-sized proportions. During the telecast of the 1957 Academy Awards, the well-endowed actress accidentally exposed her sweater kittens to lucky viewers at home. Wardrobe malfunctions have since become a fact of life for entertainers like Lucy Lawless, Tara Reid and, of course, Janet Jackson.

The first deliberate baring of breasts, meanwhile, occurred on May 4, 1973, when former Vegas showgirl Valerie Perrine flashed her moneymakers in a PBS production of the play Steambath. The sight was unanimously enjoyed by all five viewers who had accidentally tuned in.

Cool fact: Mansfield wasn't the only one in the family with a penchant for public nudity. Her daughter, Jayne-Marie, posed for Playboy in July of 1976.

[bencasey]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

The first deliberate baring of breasts, meanwhile, occurred on May 4, 1973, when former Vegas showgirl Valerie Perrine flashed her moneymakers in a PBS production of the play Steambath. The sight was unanimously enjoyed by all five viewers who had accidentally tuned in.

You obviously were too young to have been around at the time because the ratings for this were quite high. I was in high school at the time and I don't think too many teen boys missed the show.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by bencasey

You obviously were too young to have been around at the time because the ratings for this were quite high. I was in high school at the time and I don't think too many teen boys missed the show.

i copied and pasted...these are not my words/statements.

[JT]

>>>Number 8

First show about abortion
Maude - November 14 and 21, 1972, CBS
Long before she hammed it up on The Golden Girls, Bea Arthur grappled with the issue of abortion. Playing the 45-year-old title character, Arthur brought the topic to life when Maude unexpectedly became pregnant. Abortion was considered so taboo at the time that two CBS affiliates refused to carry the episode and 32 others were successfully pressured not to rerun the show.

In all, CBS received 24,000 letters of complaint. Even today, TV shows continue to deal with abortion in a very delicate manner.

Cool fact: The two-part show attracted an incredible 65 million viewers for the second episode. <<<

That's a damn lie. Another World, Patricia Matthews, 1964.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by JT

>>>Number 8

First show about abortion
Maude - November 14 and 21, 1972, CBS
Long before she hammed it up on The Golden Girls, Bea Arthur grappled with the issue of abortion. Playing the 45-year-old title character, Arthur brought the topic to life when Maude unexpectedly became pregnant. Abortion was considered so taboo at the time that two CBS affiliates refused to carry the episode and 32 others were successfully pressured not to rerun the show.

In all, CBS received 24,000 letters of complaint. Even today, TV shows continue to deal with abortion in a very delicate manner.

Cool fact: The two-part show attracted an incredible 65 million viewers for the second episode. <<<

That's a damn lie. Another World, Patricia Matthews, 1964.

Patricia Matthews had an ILLEGAL ABORTION...Maude had a LEGAL ABORTION.

[PrettyinPink55]

Interesting facts! Thanks Irene!!! I love these "Did you knows"

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by PrettyinPink55

Interesting facts! Thanks Irene!!! I love these "Did you knows"

thanx. I love them too!

[treky]

INTERESTING! Thanx for sharing those!

However, you're wrong about one of them-the fact that STAR TREK had the first interacial kiss. In William Shatners book "STAR TREK MEMORIES" from 1996, Nichele Nichols explains the real story behind that kiss. They filmed it 2 ways-one where Kirk & Uhura kiss, and one where they don't, because NBC was nervous about what the reaction would be, mostly in the south. They were going to show the first version, but, unfortunately, they chickened out, and showed the second version.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by treky

INTERESTING! Thanx for sharing those!

However, you're wrong about one of them-the fact that STAR TREK had the first interacial kiss. In William Shatners book "STAR TREK MEMORIES" from 1996, Nichele Nichols explains the real story behind that kiss. They filmed it 2 ways-one where Kirk & Uhura kiss, and one where they don't, because NBC was nervous about what the reaction would be, mostly in the south. They were going to show the first version, but, unfortunately, they chickened out, and showed the second version.

Well, i only copy and pasted, so it's actually someone else's error...then again, i put it here, I should be more careful abt the info...But still, I learn from the best!!! thanx treky

[treky]

you're welcome!

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Number 2

First Use of the F-Word
BBC3 - November 13, 1965, BBC

Theatre critic Kenneth Tynan let the F-Bomb fly in 1965 when he appeared on a live late-night satirical show called BBC3 on the UK's BBC. The resulting uproar became so intense that four motions were tabled in the House of Commons and one MP even suggested Tynan should hang.

On the other side of the pond, comedian Charles Rocket was canned from Saturday Night Live in February of 1981 after saying "f*ck" in a spoof of the soap opera Dallas. Playing the role of J.R. Ewing, Rocket ad-libbed, "Oh man, it's the first time I've been shot in my life. I'd like to know who the f*ck did it." These days, the word can be heard being used as a verb, adjective, noun, and pronoun on shows such as Deadwood.

Cool fact: The Brits have a long and proud history of breaking down broadcasting barriers. In 1936, comedian Hector Thaxter became the first man to say "arse" on the radio.

Anyone remember when Mark Harmon said Sh*t on Chicago Hope? I thought that was cool.

The first deliberate baring of breasts, meanwhile, occurred on May 4, 1973, when former Vegas showgirl Valerie Perrine flashed her moneymakers in a PBS production of the play Steambath. The sight was unanimously enjoyed by all five viewers who had accidentally tuned in.

My friend has seen that (because I bought it for her, lol), but I don't know what her reaction was to it. Of course, I wouldn't be watching for her anyway...ahem.

[JT]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Patricia Matthews had an ILLEGAL ABORTION...Maude had a LEGAL ABORTION.

Well the thing says "first abortion" so I took it at face value. The very first abortion was on AW in 1964, case closed. "Maude" had the first legal abortion, but even then, abortion wasn't legal all across the country.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by JT

Well the thing says "first abortion" so I took it at face value. The very first abortion was on AW in 1964, case closed. "Maude" had the first legal abortion, but even then, abortion wasn't legal all across the country.

funny you use the words case closed like it's a courtroom, however if it was, you don't take something on face value...LOL

as for Maude, where she lived, she could have a LEGAL ABORTION. regardless if abortion was illegal elsewhere.