The Puppy Episode

"The Puppy Episode"
Ellen episode
"Susan...I'm gay." Ellen Morgan comes out.
Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 22/23
Directed by	Gil Junger
Story by	Ellen DeGeneres
Teleplay by	Mark Driscoll Tracy Newman Dava Savel Jonathan Stark
Production code	421/422
Original air date	April 30, 1997 (1997-04-30)
Guest appearance(s)
Steven Eckholdt – Richard Laura Dern – Susan Oprah Winfrey – Therapist Billy Bob Thornton – The Grocer Jenny Shimizu – The Woman in the Aisle Demi Moore – The Sample Lady k.d. lang  – The First Cashier / The Singer / Janine Gina Gershon – The Second Cashier Jorja Fox – The Attractive Woman Dwight Yoakam – Bagboy Betty DeGeneres – Woman at Airport Melissa Etheridge – Herself
Episode chronology
← Previous "The Clip Show Patient" Next → "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah"
Ellen (season 4) List of Ellen episodes

"The Puppy Episode" is a two-part episode of the situation comedy television series Ellen. The episode details lead character Ellen Morgan's realization that she is a lesbian and her coming out. It was the 22nd and 23rd episode of the series' 4th season. The episode was written by series star Ellen DeGeneres with Mark Driscoll, Tracy Newman, Dava Savel and Jonathan Stark and directed by Gil Junger. It originally aired on ABC on April 30, 1997.

DeGeneres began negotiating with ABC in 1996 to have Morgan come out. When word of the negotiations got out, DeGeneres found herself at the center of intense speculation about when she or her character, or both, would come out. With DeGeneres hinting at her and her character's coming out both off-screen and within the show, the rumors were confirmed when the episode went into production in March 1997.

Despite threats from advertisers and religious groups, "The Puppy Episode" was an enormous ratings success, won multiple awards and became a cultural phenomenon. Regardless of the episode's success, DeGeneres and her show quickly garnered criticism for being "too gay"; the series was canceled after one more season and DeGeneres and guest star Laura Dern faced career backlash.

Ellen goes out to dinner with her old friend Richard, a reporter who is in town to cover a story. His producer, Susan, joins them for dessert and she and Ellen hit it off. Ellen goes back to Richard's hotel room. He comes on to her and, uncomfortable, Ellen leaves. She runs into Susan in the hall and returns with her to her room. They continue to enjoy each other's company until Susan tells Ellen that she's gay and that she thought Ellen might be too. Ellen denies it and suggests that Susan is trying to "recruit" her. Susan sarcastically says that she'll have to call "national headquarters" and let them know Ellen got away. ("Damn, just one more and I would have gotten that toaster oven.") An agitated Ellen leaves Susan's room and returns to Richard's room, determined to have sex with him to prove to herself she is not gay.