Believe it or not, "Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City" is 20 years old this year. That's bad news if it makes you feel old, too, but good news if you want to watch it again, since it was released on DVD a few months ago to commemorate the anniversary.

The six-episode miniseries, which aired on PBS in 1994, was based on the novel by Maupin. It was controversial at the time for its casual and open portrayal of gay, lesbian and transgendered relationships -- a move that might still ruffle a few feathers today.

Thomas Gibson, now an established TV star of such shows as "Criminal Minds" and "Dharma & Greg," was a relative unknown when he was cast in the part of philandering executive Beauchamp Day in the miniseries.

He reprised the role five years later for "Armistead Maupin's More Tales of the City" (1998). (His character did not appear in the third installment, 2001's aptly titled "Further Tales of the City".)

His turn in the much-talked about miniseries helped get his career off the ground. Prior to its airing in 1994, most of his work was on daytime soaps -- he debuted on "Guiding Light" in 1987 but also appeared on "As the World Turns" and, briefly, on "Another World."

However, the same year "Tales of the City" aired, he landed his first regular prime-time role, as Dr. Daniel Nyland on "Chicago Hope."

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