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Wiz Imp

(8,111 posts)

2. The actual first openly gay couple on TV was seen on the sitcom Hot L Baltimore

Reply to Coventina (Original post)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 08:26 PM

Nov 5

Hot L Baltimore was a Norman Lear created Sitcom which debuted on ABC on January 24, 1975 - almost a full year before that Barney Miller episode aired. The couple in question were George & Gordon (played by Lee Bergere & Henry Calvert) and the characters were regulars who appeared in every episode. Unfortunately, the show lasted only 13 episodes as its audience was small - perhaps in part because of the subject matter, the show was the first ABC network show to have a warning at its opening, cautioning viewers about mature themes. It was definitely ahead of its time and deserved a better fate.

Barney Miller was a great show and that particular episode was excellent. But Hot L Baltimore deserves more credit for breaking ground by showing a gay couple on TV.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_l_Baltimore

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Highlight:

How the Cop Show 'Barney Miller' Made Gay TV History, 50 Years Ago [View all] Coventina Nov 5 OP

The theme song is one of the best jams EVER!!! johnnyfins Nov 5 #1

The actual first openly gay couple on TV was seen on the sitcom Hot L Baltimore Wiz Imp Nov 5 #2

I loved Hot L Baltimore. Easterncedar Nov 5 #5

According to the article, "The Corner Bar" preceded "Hot l Baltimore", which preceded "Barney Miller" sl8 Nov 5 #9

Yes, but the Corner Bar did not ever feature a gay couple. Just a gay character. Wiz Imp Nov 5 #10

Good points. sl8 Nov 5 #11

Yep. That episode was called "Archie the Hero", because Archie actually saved the Wiz Imp Nov 5 #13

Arhh, I misremembered who saved whom. sl8 Nov 5 #17

My folks really didn't either, in fact, I was allowed to stay up late for the original run of Roots in the mid 70's AZJonnie Nov 5 #12

Ahhhh....warm memories of my parents watching growing up. Melon Nov 5 #3

I think that Marty & Daryl characters were also featured as regulars on the Barney Miller spin-off NewDayOranges Nov 5 #4

Hot L Baltimore had no connection to Barney Miller Wiz Imp Nov 5 #7

God we've regressed. Hot L would NEVER be on network TV today. 617Blue Nov 6 #26

One of the funniest episodes, IMHO, was the hash laced brownies: MarineCombatEngineer Nov 5 #6

LOL leftstreet Nov 5 #14

Yes, that was a ground breaking episode IbogaProject Nov 5 #18

loved Barney Miller Skittles Nov 5 #8

:-) Lemon Lyman Nov 5 #15

Max Gail DET Nov 5 #19

:-) Lemon Lyman Nov 6 #20

I love seeing that Skittles Nov 6 #21

I love that show! John Coktosten Nov 5 #16

Brooklyn Nine-Nine wanted to do a Barney Miller episode SocialDemocrat61 Nov 6 #22

I wish they would show these DenaliDemocrat Nov 6 #23

MeTV currently has many of these shows on their schedule: Wiz Imp Nov 6 #24

One thing I never understood about the Andy Griffith show SocialDemocrat61 Nov 6 #28

- Lemon Lyman Nov 6 #32

Every character on that show was great. 617Blue Nov 6 #25

There was also a gay cop who came out to Barney. Asked him to keep it quiet. Norrrm Nov 6 #27

We watch Barney Miller every night. lark Nov 6 #29

MASH had an episode about a gay soldier a few years before that. Jbraybarten Nov 6 #30

Good memory. Wikipedia: sl8 Nov 6 #31