Tig Notaro: Glass Ceiling for Gay Women on TV Is Cracking, But It’s ‘A Very Slow Process’

Tig Notaro is an openly gay actress, something that thankfully matters less and less with each TV season. Still, it’s quite rare to center a show around an “out” lesbian, despite Ellen DeGeneres making some sitcom strides almost 20 years ago.

“I guess the ceiling is cracking — or whatever is above us — but it’s clearly a very slow process,” Notaro said Sunday during the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour. “I found out in making this show that this is actually the first half-hour comedy made around an openly gay female actor.”

One media member in attendance slightly corrected the latter statement, pointing out that the short-lived “Ellen Show” debuted after DeGeneres publicly came out. Notaro deflected that fact with her trademark (and brilliant) dry wit, which we wouldn’t even do justice to by quoting. Suffice it to say, she plans on “One Mississippi” having a better run than the one-and-done “Ellen Show.”

Also Read: Woody Allen's Amazon Series Gets Title, Premiere Date

All told, the stand-up comedian spent equal time on her weekend panel cracking up and bumming out media members.

Years ago, Notaro notoriously went through an extremely rough four-month period in her real life: losing her mother, getting cancer and undergoing a bad breakup. That time frame is condensed on the “One Mississippi” pilot.

“One Mississippi” debuts September 8 on Prime Video, as part of Amazon’s month-long comedy push. Watch its first trailer above.

Gay Hollywood: 33 Out and Proud LGBT Stars (Photos)

• Ellen DeGeneres, talk show host, actress and comedian

• Jodie Foster, "Elysium" actress

• Zachary Quinto, actor and producer ("Star Trek")

• Neil Patrick Harris, former "How I Met Your Mother" actor

• Robin Roberts, "Good Morning America" anchor

• Jane Lynch, former "Glee" actress and "Hollywood Game Night" host

• Jim Parsons, Emmy-winning actor in "The Big Bang Theory"

• Raven-Symoné, former "That's So Raven" star and co-host of "The View"

• Guillermo Diaz, actor ("Scandal")

• Maria Bello, "Prisoners" actress

• Sarah Paulson, star of "American Horror Story"

• Matt Bomer, actor ("White Collar," "American Horror Story")

• Cynthia Nixon, former "Sex and the City" actress

• Darren Young, WWE superstar

• Holland Taylor, former "Two and a Half Men" actress

• Adam Lambert, singer and "American Idol" alum

• Elton John, singer

• Sara Gilbert, former "Roseanne" actress and co-host of "The Talk"

• Cheyenne Jackson, actor ("30 Rock," "American Horror Story")

• Colton Haynes, actor ("Teen Wolf," "Arrow")

• Ellen Page, actress ("X-Men," "Juno")

• Tom Daley, British Olympic diver

• Ben Whishaw, actor ("Spectre")

• Wanda Sykes, actress and comedian

• Wentworth Miller, "Prison Break" star

• Rosie O'Donnell, actress and former talk show host

• Portia De Rossi, actress ("Scandal," "Arrested Development")

• Ricky Martin, singer

• Lily Tomlin, comedian and actress ("Grace & Frankie")

• Sam Smith, Oscar-winning singer and songwriter

• Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family" actor

• Brian Boitano, former U.S. Olympian figure skater

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From actress Jane Lynch to actor Zachary Quinto to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, stars who serve as inspirations on National Coming Out Day

Ellen DeGeneres, talk show host, actress and comedian

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