Recap / Ellen S 4 E 22 The Puppy Episode Part 1

"The Puppy Episode" is the twenty-second episode of Season 4 of Ellen. It is a special two part episode and originally aired on April 30, 1997 on ABC.

A visit from Richard, an old boyfriend, and his female boss, Susan, cause Ellen to gradually realize she's gay. Ellen has dinner with Richard but winds up having a late-night conversation with Susan, whom she senses to be a kindred spirit, after being unable to have sex with Richard.

Confused by this startling self-discovery, Ellen seeks the guidance of yet another therapist and braces herself for yet another moment of truth in her life.

Tropes:

• Accidental Public Confession: Ellen says "I'm gay" right into the airport PA system.
• Armoured Closet Gay: Ellen after Susan tells her she's into women and Ellen awkwardly has to defend herself, saying hilarious things like "heterosexuals like ice" all while over filling a cup with ice.
• The Big Damn Kiss: Ellen plants one on Richard to prove she is straight and sleep with him.
• Brick Joke: The toaster oven.
• Celebrity Cameo:
  • Melissa Etheridge singing in the show's opening credits.
  • Oprah as Ellen's therapist.
• Closet Key: Susan for Ellen.
• Coming-Out Story: For Ellen.
• Contrived Coincidence: Susan arriving to introduce herself while Richard and Ellen are on a date.
• Does This Remind You of Anything?:
  • In the coming-out episode, Ellen jumps on her cute date, presumably trying to convince herself that she's straight. They fall onto the bed. . .and the scene fades back in to find her lamenting, "I'm sorry, this has never happened to me before," with him trying to reassure her, "It's okay, it happens to everyone." Basically a Gender Flip of a man not being able to perform and his partner trying to console him while hiding her disappointment.
• Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: Ellen explaining how she and Susan are so much alike just before Susan reveals she's a lesbian.
• Foreshadowing: So much in Ellen's coming out.
  • Many puns involving an actual closet door, stereotypical fashion or dates.
  • Ellen being uncomfortable around her date Richard.
  • Ellen easily bonding with Susan.
• Gaydar: Susan can easily get "a vibe" from Ellen.
• Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?: Ellen immediately acts like this after Susan tells her she is a lesbian and that she thought Ellen was gay too.
• Ironic Episode Title: "The Puppy Episode" which has nothing to do with such, but rather with Ellen coming out.
• Leaning on the Fourth Wall: "The Puppy Episode's" opening scene, with Ellen preparing for a date in her office and the other characters wondering what's taking her so long in there:
  Audrey, Paige and Spence are waiting for Ellen to get ready for her date and come out of the office at the bookstore.
  Spence: Spence: She's been in there forever.
  Paige: Ellen, are you coming out or not?!
  Joe: Yeah, Ellen, quit jerking us around and come out already!
  Ellen opens the door and sticks her head out.
  Ellen: What is the big deal? I've got a whole hour!
• Lipstick Lesbian: Susan dresses very femininely compared to Ellen.
• The Loins Sleep Tonight: Ellen finds herself unable to sleep with Richard after meeting Susan.
• Mistaken for Gay: Subverted. Ellen by Susan. She's not wrong though.
• New Old Flame: Ex-boyfriend Richard for Ellen.
• Race for Your Love: Ellen races to the airport to come out to Susan.
• Red Herring: Richard seems like the perfect love interest for Ellen.
• Real Life Writes the Plot: "The Puppy Episode".
• Retargeted Lust: After having an uncomfortable talk with Susan and being mistaken for a lesbian, Ellen immediately tries to sleep with Richard. It doesn't work.
• Take That!: The episode of her coming out being titled "The Puppy Episode" is a blunt jab at an especially ridiculous piece of attempted Executive Meddling, where they suggested Ellen could get a puppy instead of realizing she was gay.
• Transparent Closet: Throughout season four, hints were made to Ellen's sexuality and near the end of season 4
• Unfocused During Intimacy: Ellen is unable to sleep with Richard because she is preoccupied with thoughts of Susan.
• Unusual Euphemism : Ellen to Susan: "I finally got the joke about the toaster oven".
• Very Special Episode: "The Puppy Episode" deals with Ellen coming to terms with her sexual orientation.
• When She Smiles: Ellen acts nonchalant but then smiles as she leaves the airport to have coffee with Susan.
• Wham Episode: "The Puppy Episode".
• Wham Line: When Ellen is discussing her ordeal with Richard with her therapist:
  Therapist: And obviously you didn't "click" with Richard.
  Ellen: shakes her head
  Therapist: Has there ever been anyone you felt you "clicked" with?
  Ellen: Nods
  Therapist: And what was his name?
  Ellen: Susan.