‘One Big Happy’

possible, but DeGeneres noted at the TCA panel that, while the female lead happens to be gay, that’s not what the show is really about.

“Yes, there’s a lesbian character, but it’s a really funny show and that’s funny material doesn’t seek out gay-specific material for her production company.

In fact, Lizzy is really the only gay character in the show. An ex of hers will appear in one of the early episodes, but, according to DeGeneres, the character is too difficult and dysfunctional at this point to be able to handle a romantic relationship.

The main question is one that many single men and women in their late 20s and early 30s are facing, perhaps more so today than ever before: what do you do when you’ve reached the point in your life where you want to have children but haven’t met the person you want to spend the rest of your life with?

In past decades, 30 was considered spinsterhood for an unmarried woman. These days, men and women alike are waiting longer to get married, refusing to settle for someone not quite perfect just because he or she came along at “the right time.” Unfortunately, our biology hasn’t clued in to the fact that we’re no longer dying off at 40 and therefore might not want to start churning out babies before we hit 20. If parenthood’s on the table, most people want to get cracking before they hit their mid-30s.

What Lizzy and Luke have worked out is really the perfect solution — until a Prudence enters the equation. Far more important than Lizzy’s sexuality is the situation in which she’s suddenly found herself: she’s going to have a baby with a man who’s married to someone else.

Despite “The Puppy Episode” being “Ellen’s” highest-rated episode and the buzz it stirred, the show also received a good deal of backlash and was canceled the following season. A lot has changed in the past 18 years, though, and there have been enough wildly successful shows that have featured prominent gay storylines to help usher in a new era of acceptance. As Feldman said at the TCA panel, “I think what we’re trying to do is almost pick up where [Ellen] left off in a way, except it’s 18 years later, so I think the world is ready for it on a new level.”

Catch the season premiere of “One Big Happy” when it airs Tuesday, March 17, on NBC.

Reflections is designed for adults 55 years and older who are suffering from grief, depression or anxiety. Take part in intensive group therapy with others who are going through similar life situations. A referral can come from you, a family member or a healthcare professional. We can help; call 218-894-8200 today.

42 “The __ Ford Show” (Early ‘50s quiz show)

44 1985 Simple Minds hit: “__ & Kicking”

45 Irish coronation stone, __ Fail

46 Utmost degree

47 “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” bit: “...at __ and sevens with you.”

48 Church speech, briefly

49 Prefix to ‘functional’

Down

ACROSS

1 Hotshot

4 Mil. rank

7 Eights, in Spain

12 “Glee” actress, __-Marie Jones

13 Stock mkt. debut for a company

14 Bravo reality series on which sisters Kim and Kyle Richards are cast members [acronym]

15 “Well, obviously!”

16 Fashion designer Ms. Versace

18 Professional like the Ed Asner portrayed title character of 1977 to 1982 drama “Lou Grant”

20 Fender guitar, familiarly

21 Like one of the herbs in Simon & Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair”

22 Capital of the Ukraine

23 Ms. Woodard

27 Ms. Stubbs of “Sherlock”

28 Motorists’ org.

29 Luminous

32 Pound sounds

33 Rugged rock projection

36 Snug

37 Grammy-winning songstress on the new 2015 season of “Dancing with the Stars”: 2 wds.

41 Home of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in England, __-upon-Avon

1 Sum up

2 “19 Kids and __” on TLC

3 Gossamer

4 Core

5 Each: 2 wds.

6 Showbiz brothers Nick, Joe or Kevin

7 Kenny who directed Disney Channel’s ‘High School Musical’ movies

8 “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actress Ms. Hines

9 Celeste of “Archie

Bunker’s Place”

10 “__-__-Di...” (Part of a Beatles song title)

11 Actress Ms. Doherty, for short

17 Paraguay/Brazil border river

19 Audio file format

20 Gull-like bird