The Emmy-winning Fox dramedy was the night's big winner, breaking its own ratings record with 16.9 million viewers tuning in to the much-hyped kiss between Ally (Calista Flockhart) and Ling (Lucy Liu).
But GLAAD's director of media and entertainment, Scott Seomin, calls both the kiss and the show "disappointing" and "not a great episode for gays or lesbians."
"This was not an exploration of a woman's sexuality--this was not Ling's coming-out episode," he says. "This was nothing more than just straight man's titillation."
The biggest beef the gay-rights organization has with the show was with an utterly antigay slur uttered by Greg Germann's perpetually offensive character, Richard Fish. As the firm's sexist head lawyer and Ling discuss same-sex relationships, he says "watching two butt pirates go at it" would put his sex drive into low gear.
"There's a real danger in name calling, because it gives the viewer permission to do the same in real life," Seoman says, although he does say the impact of the slur was lessened by Ling's attack of the comments as "homophobic" and because Fish is "an equal-opportunity offender."
For its part, the McBeal camp says there's nothing to really comment on. "The episode is typical Ally, with outrageous moments and water-cooler chat opportunities," says a Fox spokesperson.
Seomin says the organization fully acknowledges the purpose of Ally McBeal is to entertain and admits the Monday show did meet its goal. He does think the show's producer David E. Kelley has a responsibility to gay viewers that he is not fulfilling.
"David E. Kelley has five hours of prime-time television every week with large ensemble casts set in large, urban cities," Seomin points out. "He doesn't have any regularly gay or lesbian characters, and that's just not realistic."
Realistic or not, viewers are raving about the show on the alt.tv.ally-mcbeal newsgroup.
"Ally and Ling may be the best thing that I've ever seen on broadcast TV," one Netizen declares.
"Ally and Ling make a great couple...more please," asks another.