# Abortion on TV Series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 20, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584 "2011-05-20T16:18:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/41 "2011-05-21T01:08:39Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > That was later nullified and retconned when her grown son shows up. It turns out the abortion doctor transplanted her fetus into his barren wife. > > Later they just ended up using him as spare parts for her one of her daughters. Okay…does that count or not? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/42 "2011-05-21T02:00:24Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Okay…does that count or not? 😕 I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/43 "2011-05-22T13:21:37Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I can’t believe no one’s brought up one of the earliest & weirdest abortions on TV: Cybill Shepherd’s character on Moonlighting. She actually goes through with it, IIRC, and it’s depicted in a fantasy sequence where an angel whisks the fetus away. The way I remember this episode, Maddy had decided to keep the pregnancy, and the angel was telling the fetus about his parents-to-be. She was far enough along that her friends were hosting a baby shower for her, and she was dancing with David when she had a miscarriage. That was when the angel whisked the fetus away. Afterward there was a scene where Maddy was recovering in the hospital, and David goes to see her, but I forgot what the conversation was about. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/44 "2011-05-22T14:11:46Z")
Sarah Silverman had several on her show, most in montage form in one episode. I bet that’ll be the only show that used it for comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/45 "2011-05-22T14:20:35Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I was actually thinking of starting a thread on that; I’m hoping that the writers don’t go the usual stupid tv route and make her fall in love with the baby as soon as she sees the ultrasound, thereby invalidating childfree by choice as a lifestyle choice once again (tv is notorious for this - childfree by choice is apparently a pathology that can be cured by finding the right man/looking at your baby’s ultrasound). The discussions that Christina and her husband are having are great so far (if a bit late, since most childfree by choice people don’t pair up with people who want kids if they can help it, but it does happen). Do we really need to list all the shows with childless people… again? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/46 "2011-05-22T16:24:00Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Sarah Silverman had several on her show, most in montage form in one episode. I bet that’ll be the only show that used it for comedy. Jerri Blank had many, many, _many_ abortions (all before the show started) on **Strangers With Candy**. And one pregnancy she carried to term for some reason and put the boy up for adoption. And later accidently dated him. Then tried to continue dating him after they found out they were mother and son. ---
**Author:** ![Gilles\_de\_Rais](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@Gilles\_de\_Rais](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilles_de_Rais)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/47 "2011-05-22T16:39:30Z")
Glen Close had a guest spot on _West Wing_ as a prospective Supreme Court Judge and in the process of vetting her, she stated rather flatly that she had had an abortion. ---
**Author:** ![ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/48 "2011-05-22T17:03:35Z")
On _Spenser for Hire_, Spenser’s lady friend Susan Silverman had an abortion. Trixie of _Deadwood_ counsels Alma Garret on the means of aborting her pregnancy with herbs if she so desires and states that “I’ve killed seven”. Alma decides against doing so but is later forced to have her pregnancy terminated by Doc Cochran in order to save her life. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/49 "2011-05-22T17:09:37Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > The Canadian show _Degrassi High_ dealt with this. Two of the girls Erika and Tessa had abortions, while Spike kept her baby When Erika was conisdring her options, her sister went to unwed mother Spike and asked that she persuade Eika to continue the pregnancy. Spike refused, saying it was Erika’ choice to decide what to do. They also showed the abortion protesters harassing the teenagers, who had to have escorts to get into the clinic. All in all, a veery realistic portrayal of the process. ETA: An episode of 21 Jump St revealed that Holly Robinson’s character Judy had had an abortion as a teenager. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/50 "2011-05-22T17:15:43Z")
> [@kenetic](#): > > In the show _Weeds_ one of the kids gets his teenage girlfriend pregnant (intentionally, safety pin through the condom) to keep her from going off to an Ivy League school. At first it’s suggested they’ll keep it, but after she tells her parents they take her to a clinic to get it terminated. > > In a later season, the mom gets pregnant and briefly considers an abortion, but decides against it, eventually having the baby (who subsequently got written out of the show). Wait, when did they write off the baby (Stevie Ray)? Because I remember seeing him up to and including the last episode of the sixth series and of course the seventh series hasn’t aired yet. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/51 "2011-05-22T17:30:59Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Sarah Silverman had several on her show, most in montage form in one episode. I bet that’ll be the only show that used it for comedy. Another Arkansan checking in to mention that show. God, she is such a genius. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/52 "2011-05-22T17:33:29Z")
Family Guy did an episode where Lois agreed to be a surrogate for another couple…and then when the couple both died in a car accident, she got it aborted. ---
**Author:** ![Kalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df705f/32.png) [@Kalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalypso)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/53 "2011-05-22T17:33:32Z")
The WB series Everwood had an episode with an abortion in 2003. It was a powerful episode and focused on how the two small town doctors dealt with being asked to perform the procedure. ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/54 "2011-05-22T19:33:37Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I was actually thinking of starting a thread on that; I’m hoping that the writers don’t go the usual stupid tv route and make her fall in love with the baby as soon as she sees the ultrasound, thereby invalidating childfree by choice as a lifestyle choice once again (tv is notorious for this - childfree by choice is apparently a pathology that can be cured by finding the right man/looking at your baby’s ultrasound). The discussions that Christina and her husband are having are great so far (if a bit late, since most childfree by choice people don’t pair up with people who want kids if they can help it, but it does happen). That show (and the spinoff even moreso) are hideously obnoxious about both the baby-lusting (everyone wants a baby and everyone will LUV the baby! And if you don’t, you just don’t KNOW it yet!) and about the fact that EVERY wanted baby MUST be genetically related to the parents. I’m frankly shocked about the adopt-Zola plotline, it’s the only time I can remember validity being given to “adoption” as a childbearing method for women (or men) who are having difficulty bearing their own children. As for the spinoff (Private Practice) we’ve seen the characters perform quite a few abortions (usually to some sort of drama,) Addison has had an abortion in the past (and is now punished with sterility, honoes!) and Naomi tried to force her 15 year old pregnant daughter to get an abortion. Whatever else, Shonda’s clearly not scared of the abortion plotlines. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/55 "2011-05-22T20:59:16Z")
Just want to clarify-On Grey’s Anatomy Yang was considering an abortion in the first season but actually ended up having a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/56 "2011-05-22T21:00:23Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > I’m frankly shocked about the adopt-Zola plotline, it’s the only time I can remember validity being given to “adoption” as a childbearing method for women (or men) who are having difficulty bearing their own children. A running subplot in the final season of Friends was Monica and Chandler adopting a kid. It’s also a subplot in the current season of Rules of Engagement (it’s funny, shut up!). ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/57 "2011-05-22T22:05:58Z")
/Family Guy Now back to Murder she Wrote… "Wow…I haven’t seen you since…since… “You can say it…since the abortion” “HA…so _she’s_ the murderer” /Family Guy Ex girlfriend’s (who was very very VERY pro life) favorite FG joke of all time ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/58 "2011-05-23T00:32:30Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Do we really need to list all the shows with childless people… again? Not to threadshit, but there’s a difference between childless people who want children but don’t have them yet or who are open to the idea at some point, and _childfree_ people who know they never want children. > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > A running subplot in the final season of Friends was Monica and Chandler adopting a kid. It’s also a subplot in the current season of Rules of Engagement (it’s funny, shut up!). Yeah, my comment was meant specifically to apply to _Grey’s Anatomy_ and _Private Practice_ being really pro “biological children for everyone at all costs!” ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/59 "2011-05-23T00:35:35Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Wait, when did they write off the baby (Stevie Ray)? Because I remember seeing him up to and including the last episode of the sixth series and of course the seventh series hasn’t aired yet. I thought they gave him to the maid who took him off to some undisclosed location? Though I probably spoke too soon - I haven’t seen any of the 6th season past the first episode (not streaming on Netflix yet). ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584/60 "2011-05-23T00:48:40Z")
[gURLs Who Had Abortions on TV](http://www.gurl.com/showoff/spotlight/television-characters-and-abortion-storylines-pregnancy) [Born Again- When it comes to the abortion issue, TV shows are where they were 30 years ago](http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-11-08/news/born-again/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-on-tv-series/582584.md?page=4)