Final draft script of the episode of the television series Ellen titled "The Puppy Episode," dated March 11, 1997. This copy of the typed script is bound with a brass brad at the top of three punched holes on the left of the tile page. The mottled taupe front cover is printed with the title of the show and episode, list of the writers, logos of the productions companies The Black/Marlens Company and Touchstone Television, and is signed by Ellen DeGeneres. The episode was written by Ellen DeGeneres, Mark Driscoll, Dava Savel, Tracy Newman, and Jonathan Stark.
The television sitcom Ellen aired on ABC from 1994 to 1998, starred Ellen DeGeneres as Ellen Morgan, a bookstore owner in Los Angeles. In The Puppy Episode, Morgan came out as a lesbian, a television milestone for a major network sitcom. The episode's April 30, 1997 premiere came soon after DeGeneres publicly announced her lesbian sexuality in real life, and the episode generated extensive publicity and discussion about gay rights and representation. A series-high 42 million viewers watched the episode, many in viewing parties and public gatherings, while at least one ABC affiliate declined to air the episode, citing concern for "family values." The Puppy Episode won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and Ellen DeGeneres won Peabody and GLAAD Media Awards for her bravery in coming out on the series. This copy of the script was owned by Ellen casting director Tammara Billik, who was responsible for casting this episode of the program.
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