Jodie Dallas
Encyclopedia
Jodie Dallas is a fictional character from the 1977 American situation comedy Soap
. He was played by Billy Crystal
. The son of central character Mary Campbell, Jodie works as a television commercial director. Jodie was among the first gay
characters on American television. Despite being gay, Jodie fathered a child through a one-night stand and many of his storylines throughout the series centered around his involvement with women. Jodie had relationships with two other women but maintained throughout the series that he was still gay. The series ended with Jodie, as the result of hypnotherapy
, believing he was an elderly Jewish man.
Jodie Dallas was a source of controversy for the series. Religious organizations disapproved of his sexual orientation
, while gay rights groups worried that his portrayal would be stereotypical.
), a professional football player. Jodie enters the hospital to have sex reassignment surgery
so that he and Dennis can legally marry. However, Dennis breaks up with him out of fear of exposure. Jodie attempts suicide by overdose but survives, although he remains depressed. He meets Carol David (Rebecca Balding
), the assistant to the lawyer defending his aunt Jessica on murder charges. Carol convinces him to go away with her for the weekend and, despite his being gay, they have a one-night stand. The two move in together and shortly thereafter Carol tells Jodie she is pregnant. Despite Dennis's pleas to take him back, Jodie decides to stay with the mother of his child. They plan to marry but Carol leaves Jodie at the altar.
Carol returns to tell Jodie that she does not want him to be a part of her baby's life. A depressed Jodie meets Alice (Randee Heller
), an equally depressed lesbian, and they become roommates, eventually briefly trying to date. Carol's mother (Peggy Pope
) shows up with his infant daughter, Wendy (Jenna Kay Starr). She offers him custody but only if he agrees to make Alice move out. Jodie chooses his daughter over his friend.
Carol returns again and sues Jodie for custody. Despite Carol and her mother's lying about him under oath, Jodie wins custody; Carol vows revenge. She kidnaps Wendy and Jodie hires private investigator Maggie Chandler (Barbara Rhoades
) to find them. After tracking them across the country they rescue Wendy and Jodie proposes to Maggie. However, to be sure that his relationship with Maggie is real, Jodie decides to see a therapist. He emerges from a hypnotherapy session believing that he is a 90 year-old Jewish man named Julius Kassendorf.
. Right-wing religious organizations were appalled by Soap before it aired based on reports of its contents, including its gay character and also its treatment of such subjects as adultery and impotence. Donald Wildmon
of the National Federation for Decency
mounted a letter-writing campaign, which in conjunction with similar campaigns mounted by more mainstream religious organization like the National Council of Churches
, the United States Catholic Conference, the United Church of Christ
, the Christian Life Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention
and the United Methodist Church
, generated an estimated 20,000 to 32,000 pieces of mail before the series ever aired.
Gay groups were concerned about the character's portrayal as an apparent conflation of a gay man, a transvestite and a transsexual. They also criticized how Jodie's brother Danny continually denied Jodie's homosexuality, dismissing his declarations of it as jokes. Activists had in recent years mounted several large-scale demonstrations
against individual episodes of the series Marcus Welby, M.D.
("The Other Martin Loring
" in 1973 and "The Outrage
" in 1974) and Police Woman
("Flowers of Evil
", also in 1974). Newton Dieter of the Gay Media Task Force (GMTF), who had been consulting with the networks on LGBT characterizations for several years, reviewed the scripts for the first two episodes. He wrote to Tom Kersey, the head of ABC's Los Angeles Standards and Practices office, suggesting that the sex-change aspect of the character be dropped in favor of making Jodie a super-committed gay liberation
ist. Although not directly threatening action, Dieter advised Kersey that Welby/Police Woman-style demonstrations were possible should the character remain as portrayed in the first two episodes. In July 1977, representatives of GMTF, the National Gay Task Force and a hitherto unknown organization called the International Union of Gay AthletesThe IUGA claimed to represent gay athletic associations around the world. It was later learned that the IUGA was a front
consisting of four people and a non-existent leader, which TV Guide
called an "inspired bluff". (quoted in Evans) met with the network and came away reassured that the character would develop beyond stereotypes, that his brother Danny would become more understanding of Jodie's sexuality and that the sex change storyline would be dropped.
ABC's Standards and Practices department advised that Jodie should not be portrayed in a stereotypical fashion. At the same time it mandated that his relationship with Dennis could not be portrayed as either "explicit" or "intimate". In other words, they were not allowed to touch.
Soap premiered September 17, 1977. As the network had advised the gay groups, Danny's attitude toward Jodie's sexual orientation changed and the sex change storyline was wrapped up within the first several episodes.These were not concessions to the gay organizations, as series creator Susan Harris had already scripted the storylines before their meeting. (Capsuto, p. 141) There were no known protests from the LGBT community. Although after his breakup with Dennis Jodie became involved romantically with several women and his same-sex relationship activity was limited to a single date in one episode, the character maintained that he was gay throughout the complete run of the series.
Soap (TV series)
Soap is an American sitcom that originally ran on ABC from 1977 to 1981.The show was created as a parody of daytime soap operas, presented as a weekly half-hour prime time comedy. Similar to a soap opera, the show's story was presented in a serial format and included melodramatic plot elements such...
. He was played by Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
. The son of central character Mary Campbell, Jodie works as a television commercial director. Jodie was among the first gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
characters on American television. Despite being gay, Jodie fathered a child through a one-night stand and many of his storylines throughout the series centered around his involvement with women. Jodie had relationships with two other women but maintained throughout the series that he was still gay. The series ended with Jodie, as the result of hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a therapy that is undertaken with a subject in hypnosis.The word "hypnosis" is an abbreviation of James Braid's term "neuro-hypnotism", meaning "sleep of the nervous system"....
, believing he was an elderly Jewish man.
Jodie Dallas was a source of controversy for the series. Religious organizations disapproved of his sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
, while gay rights groups worried that his portrayal would be stereotypical.
Fictional biography
Jodie Dallas is a young gay man living in his mother's home. He makes his living directing television commercials. He is in a romantic relationship with Dennis Phillips (Bob SeagrenBob Seagren
Robert "Bob" Seagren was an American pole vaulter, the 1968 Olympic champion.A native of Pomona, California, Bob Seagren was one of the world's top pole vaulters in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He won six National AAU and four NCAA titles indoors and outdoors. Indoors he posted eight world...
), a professional football player. Jodie enters the hospital to have sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
so that he and Dennis can legally marry. However, Dennis breaks up with him out of fear of exposure. Jodie attempts suicide by overdose but survives, although he remains depressed. He meets Carol David (Rebecca Balding
Rebecca Balding
Rebecca Balding is an American actress who was born in Little Rock, Arkansas.- Life and career :Balding may be best known for her 23 appearances, from 2002 through 2006, in the television series Charmed as Elise Rothman, newspaper editor-in-chief and Phoebe's boss Rebecca Balding (born on...
), the assistant to the lawyer defending his aunt Jessica on murder charges. Carol convinces him to go away with her for the weekend and, despite his being gay, they have a one-night stand. The two move in together and shortly thereafter Carol tells Jodie she is pregnant. Despite Dennis's pleas to take him back, Jodie decides to stay with the mother of his child. They plan to marry but Carol leaves Jodie at the altar.
Carol returns to tell Jodie that she does not want him to be a part of her baby's life. A depressed Jodie meets Alice (Randee Heller
Randee Heller
Randy M. "Randee" Heller is an American television and film actress. Her most notable roles were in the film The Karate Kid and one of its sequels, as Daniel Larusso's mother, and on the 1970s serial sitcom Soap as Jodie Dallas's roommate Alice, one of the first recurring lesbian characters in...
), an equally depressed lesbian, and they become roommates, eventually briefly trying to date. Carol's mother (Peggy Pope
Peggy Pope
Peggy Pope is an American actress.She was born in Montclair, New Jersey. She has made her many acting appearances memorable—even in the smallest roles—beginning in 1966 with the television show The Trials of O'Brien, starring Peter Falk and Elaine Stritch.Pope is most recognizable as...
) shows up with his infant daughter, Wendy (Jenna Kay Starr). She offers him custody but only if he agrees to make Alice move out. Jodie chooses his daughter over his friend.
Carol returns again and sues Jodie for custody. Despite Carol and her mother's lying about him under oath, Jodie wins custody; Carol vows revenge. She kidnaps Wendy and Jodie hires private investigator Maggie Chandler (Barbara Rhoades
Barbara Rhoades
Barbara Rhoades is an American actress, known primarily for her comedy and mystery roles, especially as lady bandit Penelope "Bad Penny" Cushings in The Shakiest Gun in the West...
) to find them. After tracking them across the country they rescue Wendy and Jodie proposes to Maggie. However, to be sure that his relationship with Maggie is real, Jodie decides to see a therapist. He emerges from a hypnotherapy session believing that he is a 90 year-old Jewish man named Julius Kassendorf.
Controversy
Jodie Dallas was one of the first regular gay characters on American television. Sources frequently identify him as the first, but that distinction actually belongs to Peter Panama of the short-lived 1972 series The Corner BarThe Corner Bar
The Corner Bar is a short-lived American situation comedy that aired on ABC from 1972–1973. The Corner Bar revolved around the lives of the patrons of a tavern called Grant's Toomb. The series is notable for its inclusion of the first recurring gay character on American television, Peter Panama...
. Right-wing religious organizations were appalled by Soap before it aired based on reports of its contents, including its gay character and also its treatment of such subjects as adultery and impotence. Donald Wildmon
Donald Wildmon
Donald E. Wildmon is an ordained United Methodist minister, author, former radio host, and founder and chairman emeritus of the American Family Association and American Family Radio.-Biography:...
of the National Federation for Decency
American Family Association
The American Family Association is a 501 non-profit organization that promotes conservative Christian values, such as opposition to same-sex marriage, pornography, and abortion, as well as other public policy goals such as deregulation of the oil industry and lobbying against the Employee Free...
mounted a letter-writing campaign, which in conjunction with similar campaigns mounted by more mainstream religious organization like the National Council of Churches
National Council of Churches
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA is an ecumenical partnership of 37 Christian faith groups in the United States. Its member denominations, churches, conventions, and archdioceses include Mainline Protestant, Orthodox, African American, Evangelical, and historic peace...
, the United States Catholic Conference, the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
, the Christian Life Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
and the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
, generated an estimated 20,000 to 32,000 pieces of mail before the series ever aired.
Gay groups were concerned about the character's portrayal as an apparent conflation of a gay man, a transvestite and a transsexual. They also criticized how Jodie's brother Danny continually denied Jodie's homosexuality, dismissing his declarations of it as jokes. Activists had in recent years mounted several large-scale demonstrations
Zap (action)
A zap is a form of political direct action that came into use in the 1970s in the United States. Popularized by the early gay liberation group Gay Activists Alliance, a zap was a raucous public demonstration designed to embarrass a public figure or celebrity while calling the attention of both gays...
against individual episodes of the series Marcus Welby, M.D.
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. It starred Robert Young as a family practitioner with a kind bedside manner, and was produced by David Victor and David J. O'Connell...
("The Other Martin Loring
The Other Martin Loring
"The Other Martin Loring" is a 1973 episode of Marcus Welby, M.D., an American medical drama that aired on ABC. It tells the story of a middle-aged man facing several health issues, which seem to stem from his repression of his homosexuality...
" in 1973 and "The Outrage
The Outrage (Marcus Welby)
"The Outrage" is a 1974 episode of Marcus Welby, M.D., a long-running American medical drama on ABC. The episode tells the story of a teenage boy who is sexually assaulted by his male teacher. The episode, which originally aired October 8, 1974, sparked controversy and anger for its equation of...
" in 1974) and Police Woman
Police Woman (TV series)
Police Woman is an American television police drama starring Angie Dickinson that ran on NBC for four seasons, from September 13, 1974, to March 29, 1978.-Synopsis:...
("Flowers of Evil
Flowers of Evil (Police Woman)
"Flowers of Evil" is a 1974 episode of the American police procedural television series Police Woman. The episode features Sgt. Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson going undercover at a nursing home to investigate a murder. She uncovers a trio of lesbians who are robbing and murdering their elderly residents...
", also in 1974). Newton Dieter of the Gay Media Task Force (GMTF), who had been consulting with the networks on LGBT characterizations for several years, reviewed the scripts for the first two episodes. He wrote to Tom Kersey, the head of ABC's Los Angeles Standards and Practices office, suggesting that the sex-change aspect of the character be dropped in favor of making Jodie a super-committed gay liberation
Gay Liberation
Gay liberation is the name used to describe the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement of the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s in North America, Western Europe, and Australia and New Zealand...
ist. Although not directly threatening action, Dieter advised Kersey that Welby/Police Woman-style demonstrations were possible should the character remain as portrayed in the first two episodes. In July 1977, representatives of GMTF, the National Gay Task Force and a hitherto unknown organization called the International Union of Gay AthletesThe IUGA claimed to represent gay athletic associations around the world. It was later learned that the IUGA was a front
Front organization
A front organization is any entity set up by and controlled by another organization, such as intelligence agencies, organized crime groups, banned organizations, religious or political groups, advocacy groups, or corporations...
consisting of four people and a non-existent leader, which TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
called an "inspired bluff". (quoted in Evans) met with the network and came away reassured that the character would develop beyond stereotypes, that his brother Danny would become more understanding of Jodie's sexuality and that the sex change storyline would be dropped.
ABC's Standards and Practices department advised that Jodie should not be portrayed in a stereotypical fashion. At the same time it mandated that his relationship with Dennis could not be portrayed as either "explicit" or "intimate". In other words, they were not allowed to touch.
Soap premiered September 17, 1977. As the network had advised the gay groups, Danny's attitude toward Jodie's sexual orientation changed and the sex change storyline was wrapped up within the first several episodes.These were not concessions to the gay organizations, as series creator Susan Harris had already scripted the storylines before their meeting. (Capsuto, p. 141) There were no known protests from the LGBT community. Although after his breakup with Dennis Jodie became involved romantically with several women and his same-sex relationship activity was limited to a single date in one episode, the character maintained that he was gay throughout the complete run of the series.