Judith Crist described the movie as "a giant step for television" in New York.
The teleplay by Richard Levinson and William Link was the first to deal sympathetically with homosexuality.
Marilyn Beck of the New York Times called the film "one of the finest pieces of drama you'll see this year on large or small screen."
Martin Sheen (Gary McClain) & Hal Holbrook (Doug Salter) also worked together on Gone Quiet (2001) as President Jed Bartlet & Albie Duncan respectively.