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AZJonnie

(2,256 posts)

12. 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

Reply to Wiz Imp (Reply #10)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 10:43 PM

Nov 5

And I was 10, IIRC. We're white, but my mom thought it was an important show for me to be exposed to. I also remember her best friend since high school coming over for dinner with his boyfriend when I was that same age, and mom was just like "yeah, some people are gay, and my friend Walter is", very matter of fact.

It's funny she and my stepdad were republicans at the time, but it was mainly just over 'taxes', and because their parents were republicans. Mom's folks were super sweet, generous, salt-of-the-earth types. REAL Christians. Episcopalians, to be precise. But mom is a diehard Dem for years now, ever since Clinton.

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IbogaProject

32 replies

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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 Thursday #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 Thursday #20

I love seeing that Skittles Thursday #21

I love that show! John Coktosten Nov 5 #16

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

I wish they would show these DenaliDemocrat Thursday #23

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

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

- Lemon Lyman Thursday #32

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

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

We watch Barney Miller every night. lark Thursday #29

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

Good memory. Wikipedia: sl8 Thursday #31