447:, concurred, saying, "We've not been allowed by the sales department to do things we want to do. To not be able to show two people kissing—it's 1994, for Christ's sake." Actor Doug Savant expressed frustration with the limitations placed on the role, saying "While I would like Matt's character to have more teeth, he's definitely a good, ethical guy. Somebody has to wear the white hat in the show, and it may as well be the gay character." Nonetheless, Savant was grateful for the opportunities the role afforded him. "It's been an incredibly interesting trip playing a gay character. It's opened my eyes to a lot of things....The fact that I've been able to make a difference in some people's lives makes it all worthwhile."
312:) a married plastic surgeon. Paul murders his wife and frames Matt for the crime, temporarily landing Matt in jail. Matt clears himself by tricking Paul into admitting his guilt. Exonerated of the murder charges, Matt once again faces discrimination when the chief of staff fires him from his social work job at the hospital. Matt wins his case following the doctor's homophobic outburst at a deposition. He begins dating movie star Alan Ross (Lonnie Schuyler). Alan's refusal to come out leads Matt to take up with David Erikson, the man who replaced him as the hospital social worker. Matt and Alan break up when David tells Alan he and Matt had sex, and Alan marries a closeted lesbian actor.
360:, himself openly gay, acknowledged the criticism. "I think because is gay, people are definitely more sensitive to the fact that we're not exploring him. My feeling from the beginning was, let's establish this character first as a person who's likable, part of this group, whose sexuality is not an issue." While understanding that this aspect of the character could not remain undeveloped forever, Star expressed his hope that as people became more familiar with the character that resistance both among viewers and advertisers to Matt's having a sex life would lessen.
371:), who returns his interest. As filmed, the episode included a kiss between the two men. As aired, Matt and Rob move toward each other in slow motion and, just before their lips meet, the scene shifts to a reaction shot of a shocked Billy watching them from his apartment before cutting back to the men separating. Fox, which had previously allowed two women to kiss in a 1990 episode of
201:. Matt was an openly gay man working as a social worker in Los Angeles. Initially Matt was not the focus of ongoing storylines, a situation that would not substantially change until the series became a serial drama in its second season. Matt Fielding appeared as a regular character from 1992 until 1997, when he moved to
499:
put Matt on their list of "Daytime's
Groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Characters and Couples", writing, "The LGBTQ+ community had to settle for the mere presence of Doug Savant's openly gay Matt Fielding as representation on the primetime soap in the 1990s. While every other character was allowed to leap from
430:
put Matt
Fielding on its cover, asking "Why can't this man get laid?" Inside, Star reiterated the difficulty in developing Matt's sexual and romantic lives. "The nature of television and television advertising is such that we cannot permit Matt to have real physical relationships on-screen like the
350:
was criticized for not featuring Matt and his love life as prominently as it did other characters. In the 90-minute series premiere, Matt got 90 seconds of screen time and would not appear more regularly until episode four, when he began serving as "the show's conscience", acting as a confidante to
355:
representative Robert Bray said of the character, "I'm still waiting for the guy to have a gay identity... we're still waiting for something, anything to tell us that he's gay, because, you know, you're not really gay until you get political about it." Series creator
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which showed two men in bed together after having had sex. The two did not come in physical contact with each other, but five of the show's regular sponsors still shunned the episode, costing the network approximately $ 1.5 million in advertising revenue.
216:
and workplace discrimination. Matt occasionally became romantically involved with another man but the character was never shown in any sexual situations. The one planned instance of Matt's kissing another man was edited to remove the kiss, with a
315:
Unable to keep up with his med school studies, Matt begins abusing prescription uppers (speed). When his drug addiction becomes known, he enters a rehabilitation facility and becomes romantically involved with rehab director Dan
Hathaway
259:) helps Matt get a job as a social worker at Wilshire Memorial Hospital, a favor he makes Matt repay by faking the results of Michael's blood alcohol level test in the wake of Michael's automobile accident in which Kimberly Shaw (
338:
About a year later, word arrives at the apartment complex that Matt has been killed in a car accident. With his death, a diary surfaces, in which Matt had recorded the secrets told him by several residents of the complex.
410:
asserted that the network would have lost a million dollars in advertising revenue. "Our ratings aren't as high as some other networks'. We couldn't afford to take the financial hit." In contrast, GLAAD cited
431:
other characters. We walk on eggshells in terms of telling stories about his character. So we have to find ways of implying things about his love life by creating plots for him." Co-executive producer
290:, which leads to Jeffrey's being transferred to the East Coast. Jeffrey returns later and he and Matt resume their relationship. A few days later, Jeffrey reveals that he has tested positive for
252:
by three people, Matt is fired from his job at the halfway house for being gay. He sues the center and accepts a $ 10,000 settlement, which he donates to a gay legal defense fund.
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feared backlash from social conservatives and advertisers should Matt engage in any sexual conduct. Critics questioned this decision throughout Matt's tenure on the series.
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the show's heterosexual characters. Several months after the series premiere, the network announced Matt's first story arc, the gay bashing arc. In response,
331:) files a custody suit. Matt loses custody but Chelsea ends up living with him anyway when Denise decides she would be better off with him. The two move to
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294:. After initially struggling, Matt decides to commit himself to the relationship. Jeffrey, however, decides they are better off simply being friends.
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a week before the episode was aired, urging Fox not to edit the kiss. Fox executives were mindful of the controversy that had surrounded "
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star Jason Beghe) was edited out for fear of advertiser backlash against the idea that yes, gay people exist and — gasp — sometimes even
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Matt
Fielding is a social worker at the L.A. Halfway House for Teens. He is also one of a group of friends who live together in the same
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back from the dead for the new series, producers were uninterested in doing the same with a second character.
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263:) is critically injured and presumed dead. While working at Wilshire Memorial, Matt meets Katya Petrova (
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275:) can stay in the United States. Katya and her daughter return to Russia anyway a few months later.
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In contrast to the promiscuous sexual behaviour and relationship issues that drove the stories for
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Following the end of his relationship with
Jeffrey, Matt becomes involved with Dr. Paul Graham (
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Doug Savant playing Matt
Fielding appears as a character in the 2015 Lifetime Television film
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Alternate
Channels: The Uncensored Story of Gay and Lesbian Images on Radio and Television
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Lifetime’s The
Unauthorized Melrose Place Story Had a Weird Definition of Drama
320:). Matt breaks up with him because Dan is physically and emotionally abusive.
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s heterosexual characters, Matt's storylines tended to be about subjects like
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435:, who had faced similar fights over gay-inclusiveness in productions like
889:"Daytime's Groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Characters and Couples [Photos]"
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Although Matt was killed, Savant expressed interest in returning for the
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327:) comes to live with him after her father dies, but her mother Denise (
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When Matt is gay bashed a second time, a gay detective, John
Rawlings (
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In the 1994 episode "Til Death Do Us Part", Matt is attracted to Rob (
954:
Television: Critical
Concepts in Media and Cultural Studies, Volume 2
598:"In Living Color: A Look Back at Memorable AIDS-Related TV Moments"
415:", a critically and financially successful episode of the series
381:, a gay media watchdog organization, took out a full page ad in
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The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV
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is a fictional character in the American television series
780:. St. Petersburg, Florida: Los Angeles Times. p. 5D
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one lover to the next, Matt's one lip lock (with future
467:. However, having already brought Leighton's character
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as Matt Fielding in the opening credits of the pilot
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205:. He was later killed off-screen in a car crash.
887:Cushman, Dustin; Mason, Charlie (June 9, 2023).
971:. New York, Applause Theatre and Cinema Books.
221:of another character substituted. Broadcaster
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8:
1162:The Unauthorized Beverly Hills, 90210 Story
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622:"Breakfast at Tiffany's, Dinner at Eight".
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379:Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
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697:"Who's Afraid of Amanda Woodward, pt. 2".
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485:. He is portrayed by Joseph John Coleman.
367:), a friend of neighbor Billy Campbell's (
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421:which included a kiss between two women.
1470:Television characters introduced in 1992
424:In December 1994, gay-interest magazine
1495:Fictional LGBT characters in television
774:"'Melrose Place' to tackle gay bashing"
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248:apartment complex. Shortly after being
493:Charlie Mason and Dustin Cushman from
18:
7:
1296:The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story
804:. Season 4. Episode 14. 1990-01-15.
703:. Season 5. Episode 33. 1997-05-19.
628:. Season 3. Episode 21. 1995-02-20.
482:The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story
745:. Season 7. Episode 8. 1998-09-14.
724:. Season 6. Episode 1. 1997-09-08.
670:. Season 4. Episode 6. 1995-10-09.
649:. Season 4. Episode 3. 1995-09-20.
570:. Season 2. Episode 7. 1993-10-20.
353:National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
236:but producers were not interested.
14:
604:. Here. November 2004. p. 23
271:so Katya and her daughter Nikki (
87:(Episode 6.01: "A Brand New Day")
282:), a closeted lieutenant in the
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739:"The World According to Matt".
455:According to Savant's wife and
772:Cerrone, Daniel (1992-10-28).
1:
926:. Rutgers University Press.
849:Voss, Brandon (2009-09-08).
278:Matt meets Jeffrey Lindley (
1339:We're Not in Kansas Anymore
924:Gay TV and Straight America
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967:Tropiano, Stephen (2002).
564:"Flirting With Disaster".
536:Bull, Chris (1994-12-27).
377:, ordered the change. The
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839:quoted in Capsuto, p. 338
391:", a 1989 episode of the
343:Development and criticism
286:. Matt encourages him to
164:(stepdaughter, via Katya)
101:
36:
26:
1485:Fictional social workers
956:. Taylor & Francis.
937:Capsuto, Steven (2000).
778:The St. Petersburg Times
138:Luke Fielding (deceased)
404:Fox Entertainment Group
106:In-universe information
77:(Episode 1.01: "Pilot")
323:Matt's niece Chelsea (
128:Matthew Fielding, Sr.
952:Miller, Toby (2003).
798:"A Change of Heart".
413:Don't Ask, Don't Tell
189:Matthew Fielding, Jr.
72:First appearance
1475:Fictional physicians
1390:Adrianna Tate-Duncan
1025:Beverly Hills, 90210
1015:Beverly Hills, 90210
941:. Ballantine Books.
922:Becker, Ron (2006).
82:Last appearance
16:Soap opera character
851:"The Bitch is Back"
664:"The Jane Mutiny".
465:2009 series revival
269:green card marriage
240:Fictional biography
234:2009 series revival
225:and series creator
151:green card marriage
643:"Blind Ambition".
395:television series
284:United States Navy
130:Constance Fielding
85:September 8, 1997
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718:"Brand New Day".
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1423:Other series
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1247:Jane Mancini
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1138:Brenda Walsh
1128:Kelly Taylor
1118:Donna Martin
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856:The Advocate
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543:The Advocate
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538:"Acting gay"
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1442:(2009–2010)
1434:(1994–1995)
1431:Models Inc.
1385:Erin Silver
1380:Naomi Clark
1316:(2008–2013)
1267:Jo Reynolds
1262:Jake Hanson
1182:(1992–1999)
1123:Dylan McKay
1029:(1990–2000)
369:Andrew Shue
358:Darren Star
318:Greg Evigan
305:) hostage.
280:Jason Beghe
273:Mara Wilson
227:Darren Star
214:gay bashing
199:Doug Savant
149:(divorced;
96:Darren Star
67:Seasons 1–6
56:Doug Savant
44:Doug Savant
1464:Categories
1372:Characters
1239:Characters
1110:Characters
1067:Blind Spot
917:References
862:2010-07-30
784:2010-07-30
608:2010-08-02
550:2010-08-02
406:president
250:gay bashed
176:legal ward
111:Occupation
899:SHE Media
489:Reception
444:HeartBeat
389:Strangers
365:Ty Miller
119:physician
32:character
1324:Episodes
1190:Episodes
1037:Episodes
904:June 22,
602:HIV Plus
459:co-star
288:come out
210:Melrose'
135:Brothers
65:1992–97
62:Duration
1447:BH90210
1331:Season
1197:Season
1044:Season
438:Dynasty
418:Rosanne
384:Variety
125:Parents
1450:(2019)
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451:Return
169:Nieces
1312:90210
1156:Music
512:Notes
973:ISBN
958:ISBN
943:ISBN
928:ISBN
906:2024
506:kiss
441:and
143:Wife
117:and
806:Fox
747:Fox
726:Fox
705:Fox
672:Fox
651:Fox
630:Fox
572:Fox
508:!"
393:ABC
292:HIV
223:Fox
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