With a movie about incest, TV again explores the forbidden
Television taboos are made to be broken. Violating them is a venerated tradition, a familiar ritual preceded by elaborate puffery: solemn sermons or titillating teasers aimed at increasing curiosity and ratings. Though often a mindless come-on rather than a thoughtful coming out, the "breakthrough" can sometimes mirror changing cultural mores and set the stage for bolder TV sequels.
In the fall of 1972, ABC's That Certain Summer sensitively, if self-consciously, examined a homosexual relationship between a devoted father and a younger man. Yet it was not until the sitcom Love, Sidney, nine years...
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