Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) went to a rather unsavory clinic last night on “Downton Abbey” last night to take care of her problem — dear reader, she is with child — and then backed out at the last minute, saying she had made a mistake.
She’s not the only television character when presented with this very personal crisis who decided not to go through with the procedure. Abortion has been a touchy subject on TV since Maude Findlay, the brash suburban liberal immortalized by Bea Arthur on “Maude,” had one in 1972, at age 47 — just before Roe v. Wade made it legal. Hate mail poured in, but the episode drew high ratings. In the following 40 years, women were presented with a similar dilemma as Maude’s.
Here’s how various female characters handled it:
“Melrose Place,” August 1992
Jane (Josie Bissett) almost has an abortion because the father of the child, Michael (Thomas Calabro) has said he doesn’t want kids. She decided against it.
“Beverly Hills, 90210,” January 1994
Andrea (Gabrielle Carteris) decides to have an abortion during her freshman year at college. The father of the child, a Catholic, breaks up with her when she tells him. After changing her mind, her ex-boyfriend proposes to her.
“Dawson’s Creek,” November 2000
It isn’t Joey (Katie Holmes) or Jen (Michelle Williams) who finds herself expecting. It’s Dawson’s mom, Gail Leery (Mary-Margaret Humes). When she decides to abort, Dawson gets emotional and persuades his mother to keep the baby.
“Sex and the City,” August 2001
Hardly the maternal type, career woman Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) gets knocked up after a one-night stand with her ex, Steve (David Eigenberg). After listening to her friends’ pregnancy stories, she decides to become a mother.
“Six Feet Under,” May 2003
Claire Fisher (Lauren Ambrose) has an abortion at age 17.
“Desperate Housewives,” October 2009
Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman) had already raised two boys and had decides to go back to work when she discovers she is expecting. A heart-to-heart with her friend Susan Meyer (Teri Hatcher) convinces her not to have an abortion.
“Friday Night Lights,” January 2010
High school guidance counselor Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) is fired for counseling a 10th grader about abortion. The teen, Becky (Madison Burge), goes ahead with the procedure.
“Mad Men,” October 2010
Joan (Christina Hendricks) has had an on-and-off affair for years with Roger Sterling (John Slattery) and was married to a serviceman when she found herself pregnant. After having had two abortions, Joan decides to keep the baby, eventually telling Roger he has a son.
“Grey’s Anatomy,” September 2011
Dr. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) puts her career above all else. When she tells her husband Owen (Kevin McKidd) that she is pregnant and wants to terminate, it’s a tense moment for the couple. He wants to have the baby, but she does not. Oh leaves “Grey’s Anatomy” at the end of the season.
“Girls,” April 2012
Abortion was not a new topic when Jessa (Jemima Kirke) reveals she is pregnant in the show’s first season. Her friends show their support by meeting her at the clinic. The only problem? Jessa never makes it. She hangs out at a bar, knocks back some cocktails and picks up a patron. While having icky sex in the restroom, she suffers a miscarriage.
“Parenthood,” January 2013
High school student Drew (Miles Heizer) goes to Planned Parenthood with his girlfriend Amy (Skyler Day) when they discover she’s pregnant, and she receives counseling. Drew wants to keep the baby, but Amy has the procedure anyway. Drew is wrecked, and he breaks down in his mother’s arms.