"The Puppy Episode" was so called because the series so lacked direction that an ABC executive suggested that character Ellen Morgan adopt a puppy. In the weeks before it aired, DeGeneres teased reporters looking for a scoop about the character's coming out by claiming that all that would happen in the episode would be Ellen getting a puppy. DeGeneres also said things like, "Yes, the rumors are true; we'll be revealing that my character is Llll...ebanese. No, we're adding a new character named Les Bian."
The show made history when Ellen DeGeneres' on-screen character Ellen Morgan came out as gay in the double-episode "The Puppy Episode." It caused wide controversy, particularly as it was the first time a sitcom had a gay main character.
The show became famous because the lead character came out as gay during the fourth season. "The Puppy Episode" was the highest-rated one the show ever aired, and it won an Emmy for writing. The episode had guest turns by Oprah Winfrey, k.d. lang, Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore, and Melissa Etheridge--but no puppy.
This episode won a prestigious Peabody Award.
The episode won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Editing for a Series--Multi-Camera Production, and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.