‘Ellen’ to Carry Parental Advisories

ABC has decided to place a “parental discretion” advisory similar to the one employed on “NYPD Blue” before episodes of “Ellen,” irking the show’s star as well as a gay-rights group.

Since the lead character played by Ellen DeGeneres “came out” as a lesbian last April, the network has given the series a TV-14 rating, suggesting parental guidance for viewers under age 14. Now, several episodes will also be preceded by an advisory saying, “Due to adult content, parental discretion is advised.”

The move has angered DeGeneres, who feels the show doesn’t merit such warnings and that applying them represents an inequity relative to sitcoms with heterosexual leads. The comic told TV Guide that affixing such an advisory amounted to “censorship.” She wasn’t available for further comment.

In Wednesday’s episode, DeGeneres jokingly kissed her friend Paige, played by Joely Fisher. Another brief kiss between the character of Ellen Morgan and a woman occurs in next week’s show.

ABC stressed that the decision is being made on an episode-by-episode basis, issuing a statement that said, “ABC has an obligation to communicate with parents as much information as possible so they can make educated viewing decisions [regarding] their younger children. Advisories are all about giving parents this information and not about excluding viewers.”

DeGeneres’ concerns were echoed by the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington, D.C.-based political group that lobbies on behalf of gay rights. Comparing sexual orientation to race or religion, communications director David M. Smith said that labeling a comedy based on that basis sends the wrong message and “clearly demonstrates a double standard.” The group is urging its members to contact ABC.

Sources say the network may merely want to err on the side of caution, given the current political tempest surrounding TV content and a proposed boycott against its corporate parent, the Walt Disney Co., by a conservative religious group regarding its gay-rights policies.

More than 36 million people viewed the Emmy-winning coming-out episode, but since then “Ellen” has moved back toward the middle of the ratings pack. Its first two airings this fall averaged 14.7 million viewers, ranking 33rd among all prime-time programs while losing 19% of the audience from the popular sitcom it follows, “The Drew Carey Show.”