source1994 : First episode of EllenEllen, Ellen DeGeneres' popular show about single thirty-somethings in Los Angeles, premieres.
The show quickly became one of the country's Top 15 most watched shows and drew even more attention when, in April 1997, the gay title character "came out" to her friends in a high-profile episode featuring cameos by Oprah Winfrey, k.d. lang, Demi Moore, Billy Bob Thornton, and Dwight Yoakum. Some 42 million viewers watched the special hour-long program.Ellen became the first prime-time sitcom to feature a gay leading character. However, the show was not renewed the following season.Ellen, dear, you've come a long way baby!
