List of 1980s American television episodes with LGBT themes

With the onset of the AIDS

AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...

epidemic, American television episodes with LGBT themes sometimes featured LGBT characters, especially gay men, as a way for series to address the epidemic. Legal dramas like L.A. Law
L.A. Law
L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,...

and Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...

included euthanasia

Euthanasia

Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....

storylines centered around the deaths of gay men with AIDS. Sitcoms would occasionally broach the subject, but for the most part followed the pattern that had developed during the 1970s, with episodes following one of a handful of plot devices: a character close to a lead character would unexpectedly come out, forcing the characters to confront their own issues with homosexuality; a lead character is mistaken for gay; a lead character pretends to be gay; or, less frequently, a recurring character from the series comes out. In the first instance, it was rare that the gay character would ever make another appearance.

Episodes

Series	Network	Episode	Year	Synopsis
21 Jump Street 21 Jump Street 21 Jump Street is an American police procedural crime drama television series that aired on the Fox Network from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 103 episodes. The series focused on a squad of youthful-looking undercover police officers investigating crimes in high schools,...	Fox Fox Broadcasting Company Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...	"Honor Bound" "A Big Disease With A Little Name"	1987 1988	In "Honor Bound", the team investigates a military school where cadets are killing gays. In "A Big Disease With A Little Name", the team protects a high school student living with AIDS. He initially claims he is a hemophiliac who contracted the disease through contaminated blood products but eventually acknowledges that he is gay and the hemophilia story is a lie.
Alien Nation Alien Nation Alien Nation may refer to:* Alien Nation , the 1988 motion picture, and several spin-off properties:** Alien Nation , the 1989–1990 television series, and five made-for-TV movies that continue its story:...	Fox Fox Broadcasting Company Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...	"Chains of Love"	1989	Sikes (Gary Graham Gary Graham Gary Graham is an American actor. He is probably best known for his starring role as Detective Matthew Sikes in the television series Alien Nation , which was followed by the TV movies Alien Nation: Dark Horizon , Alien Nation: Body and Soul , Alien Nation: Millennium , Alien Nation: The... ) has to deal with a male Newcomer Tenctonese The Tenctonese, also known as Newcomers, are a humanoid species in the Alien Nation, television series and earlier film, as well as the later Alien Nation telefilm series. They are from the planet Tencton, though references to numerous slave colonies throughout the series and telemovies indicate... who has developed a crush on him as a result of a love potion called "sardonac".
American Playhouse American Playhouse American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.It premiered on January 12, 1982 with The Shady Hill Kidnapping, written and narrated by John Cheever and directed by Paul Bogart...	PBS Public Broadcasting Service The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....	"Fifth of July Fifth of July Fifth of July is a 1978 play by American playwright Lanford Wilson. Set in rural Missouri in 1977, it revolves around the Talley family and their friends, and focuses on the disillusionment with America in the wake of the Vietnam War... " "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a play by Tennessee Williams. One of Williams's best-known works and his personal favorite, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955... "	1982 1985	In "Fifth of July", Kenneth Talley Jr. (Richard Thomas Richard Thomas (actor) Richard Earl Thomas is an American actor, best known for his role as budding author John-Boy Walton in the CBS drama The Waltons.- Early life :Thomas was born Richard Earl Thomas in New York,... ) is a gay paraplegic Vietnam veteran who lives at his family home with boyfriend Jed Jenkins (Jeff Daniels Jeff Daniels Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan... ). In "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", Tommy Lee Jones Tommy Lee Jones Tommy Lee Jones is an American actor and film director. He has received three Academy Award nominations, winning one as Best Supporting Actor for the 1993 thriller film The Fugitive.... plays Brick Pollitt, pining for his dead friend Skipper.
Archie Bunker's Place Archie Bunker's Place Archie Bunker's Place is an American sitcom originally broadcast on the CBS network, conceived in 1979 as a spin-off and continuation of All in the Family. While not as popular as its predecessor, the show maintained a large enough audience to last for four seasons, until its cancellation in 1983...	CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...	"Archie Fixes Fred Up"	1980	Archie (Carroll O'Connor Carroll O'Connor John Carroll O'Connor best known as Carroll O'Connor, was an American actor, producer and director whose television career spanned four decades... ) sets gay waiter Fred (Dean Scofield Dean Scofield Dean Scofield is a voice actor who has provided the voice of the recurring "joke character" Johnny Sasaki in Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, but was not brought back for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.He was credited as Dino... ) up with a woman to try to "straighten him out".
The Associates The Associates (U.S. TV series) The Associates is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1979-1980. The series starred Martin Short and was cancelled after nine of its thirteen episodes aired, but was nominated for two Golden Globes after its cancellation...	ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...	"The Censors"	1980	A television producer (Stuart Margolin Stuart Margolin Stuart Margolin is an American film and television actor and director.-Television:Margolin is best known for his role on the television show The Rockford Files, playing Evelyn "Angel" Martin, the shifty friend and former cellmate of Jim Rockford... ), the network censor (Lee Wallace Lee Wallace (actor) Lee Wallace is an American actor of film, stage, and television.Wallace was born as Leo Melis in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Celia and Eddie Melis. His movie roles include more than a dozen productions big and small, among which are Used People , Batman as Gotham City's mayor William Borg,... ) and attorney Tucker Kerwin (Martin Short Martin Short Martin Hayter Short, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, writer, singer and producer. He is best-known for his comedy work, particularly on the TV programs SCTV and Saturday Night Live... ) consult with a gay activist (Richard Brestoff) to see if the gay community would be offended by the line "queer as a three-dollar bill". The activist initially acts stereotypically effeminate and lisps when he tells them that the phrase is not offensive in context but, dropping the stereotypical mannerisms, chastises them for so readily accepting the stereotypes and challenges them to create non-stereotypical gay characters.
Barney Miller Barney Miller Barney Miller is a situation comedy television series set in a New York City police station in Greenwich Village. The series originally was broadcast from January 23, 1975 to May 20, 1982 on ABC. It was created by Danny Arnold and Theodore J. Flicker...	ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...	"Inquisition" "The Child Stealers" "Movie" pt. 1	1980 1980 1981	In "Inquisition", Inspector Scanlon (George Murdock George Murdock George Peter Murdock was a notable American anthropologist. He is remembered for his empirical approach to ethnological studies and his landmark works on Old World populations.-Early life:... ) of Internal Affairs investigates an anonymous letter from a gay cop. Officer Zatelli (Dino Natali) comes out to Barney (Hal Linden Hal Linden Hal Linden is an American stage and television actor and television director, best known for his role in the television comedy series Barney Miller and as presenter on the ABC educational series Animals, Animals, Animals.... ). In "The Child Stealers", Gay father Darryl (Ray Stewart) kidnaps his son from a playground. Officer Zatelli comes out to the squad in response to bigoted comments from Darryl's ex-wife. In "Movie", Lieutenant Scanlon investigates a complaint that Wojohowicz (Max Gail Max Gail Maxwell Trowbridge "Max" Gail, Jr. is an American actor who has starred in stage, television, and film roles. He most notably portrayed the role of Detective Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz on the television sitcom Barney Miller.... ) molested a male suspect. Wojohowicz outs Officer Zatelli. Series creator Danny Arnold Danny Arnold Danny Arnold was an American producer, writer, comedian, actor and director known for producing Barney Miller, That Girl and Bewitched.-Life and career:... worked closely with the National Gay Task Force National Gay and Lesbian Task Force The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force builds the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community from the ground up. The Task Force is the country’s premier social justice organization fighting to improve the lives of LGBT people, and working to create positive, lasting... to develop the Zatelli storyline.
The Bronx Zoo The Bronx Zoo (TV series) The Bronx Zoo is a 1987 NBC drama series directed by Allan Arkush and Paul Lynch. It lasted two seasons before cancellation.-Plot:Benjamin Harris High School is set in the impoverished, unruly inner-city Bronx. Principal Joe Danzig does his best to maintain optimism, while dealing with the lack of...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"Crossroads"	1988	Teacher Harry Barnes (David Wilson David Wilson (actor) David Patrick Wilson is an American actor and director, probably best known for playing Superman in the 1975 TV musical special It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman! an adaptation of the 1966 Broadway musical.... ) learns that a student who is engaged to be married is secretly gay; Harry plans to out him to his fiancée.
CBS Reports CBS Reports CBS Reports is the umbrella title used for documentaries by CBS News which aired starting in 1959 through the 1990s. The series sometimes aired as a wheel series rotating with 60 Minutes , as a series of its own or as specials. The program aired as a constant series from 1959 to 1971...	CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...	"Gay Power, Gay Politics Gay Power, Gay Politics CBS Reports: Gay Power, Gay Politics is a 1980 episode of the American documentary television series CBS Reports. It was anchored by Harry Reasoner with reportage by George Crile. Crile also produced the episode with co-producer Grace Diekhaus... "	1980	Purportedly about the power of the gay movement in San Francisco, this episode was widely criticized for sensationally focusing on sex and violating journalistic ethics.
CBS Schoolbreak Special CBS Schoolbreak Special CBS Schoolbreak Special is an American anthology series for teenagers that aired on CBS from April 1980 to January 1996. The series originally premiered under the title CBS Afternoon Playhouse, and was later changed during the 1984 - 85 season...	CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...	"What If I'm Gay?"	1987	Todd (Richard Joseph Paul Richard Joseph Paul Richard Joseph Paul is a film and television actor. Sometimes he is credited as Richard J. Paul, Richard Joe Paul, Richie Paul, or Rich Paul.-Selected filmography:*Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise , as Gundy... ) comes out after his friends find a gay magazine in his desk. Todd confronts Kirk (Manfred Melcher) about Kirk's homophobia, which may be rooted in his own anxiety about his sexual orientation and the sexual experimentation he and Todd engaged in when younger.
Cheers Cheers Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"Boys In the Bar"	1983	One of Sam's (Ted Danson Ted Danson Edward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close... ) best friends (Alan Autry Alan Autry Carlos Alan Autry is an American actor, politician, and former National Football League football player. He is best known for his role as Captain Bubba Skinner on the television series In the Heat of the Night; he also has been in numerous movies and other television shows... ) comes out as gay in a new autobiography and some of the regulars worry that Cheers might turn into a gay bar.
Dear John	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"Stand By Your Man" "Margo"	1989 1989	In "Stand By Your Man", Tony (Cleavon Little Cleavon Little Cleavon Jake Little was an American film and theatre actor.Little was widely known for his lead role as Sheriff Bart in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles. He also was the irreverent Dr... ) develops a crush on John (Judd Hirsch Judd Hirsch Judd Hirsch is an American actor most known for playing Alex Rieger on the television comedy series Taxi, John Lacey on the NBC series Dear John, and Alan Eppes on the CBS series Numb3rs.-Early life and education:... ) and when John tries to let him down easy Tony makes a scene at a restaurant. In "Margo", the group tells John that the knockout who's knocking him out is really a new member's transvestite husband.
Designing Women Designing Women Designing Women is an American television sitcom that centered on the working and personal lives of four Southern women and one man in an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. It aired on the CBS television network from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993. The show was created by head writer...	CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...	"Killing All the Right People"	1987	Tony Goldwyn Tony Goldwyn Anthony Howard "Tony" Goldwyn is an American actor and director. He portrayed the villain Carl Bruner in Ghost, Colonel Bagley in The Last Samurai, and the voice of the title character of the Disney animated Tarzan.-Early life:... plays Kendall Dobbs, a gay man with AIDS who asks the Sugarbaker firm to design his funeral. Series creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason Linda Bloodworth-Thomason Linda Bloodworth-Thomason is an American writer and television producer.... wrote the script after her mother died of AIDS contracted via a blood transfusion. The episode's title is derived from a comment she overheard in the hospital: "The good thing about AIDS is that it's killing all the right people." She incorporated a version of the remark into the script. "Killing All the Right People" was nominated for two Emmy Award Emmy Award An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various... s, for writing and editing.
Diff'rent Strokes Diff'rent Strokes Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"On Your Toes" "Bicycle Man"	1982 1983	In "On Your Toes," Willis (Todd Bridges Todd Bridges Todd Anthony Bridges is an American actor. He is best known for his childhood role as Willis Jackson on the NBC/ABC sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, and for his recurring role as Monk on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris... ) is upset that Arnold (Gary Coleman Gary Coleman Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars". After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman... ) has taken up ballet, believing that it something for sissies or "sweet" [read: gay] men. In "Bicycle Man," a police detective arrests the pedophile who was attempting to molest Arnold and one of his friends and clears up the misconception raised by Willis that the suspect was "gay".
Doctor, Doctor	CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...	"Torch Song Cardiology"	1989	Mike's (Matt Frewer Matt Frewer Matthew "Matt" Frewer is a Canadian American stage, TV and film actor. Acting since 1983, he is known for portraying the 1980s icon Max Headroom and the retired villain Moloch in the film adaptation of Watchmen.-Life and career:... ) gay brother Richard (Tony Carreiro) helps Grant (Beau Gravitte) write a speech and the two become close friends, prompting some homophobia from Mike, Deirdre (Maureen Mueller) and Abe (Julius Carry III).
Fame Fame (1982 TV series) Fame is an American television series originally produced between 1982 and 1987. The show was based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name. Using a mixture of drama and music, it followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. Although...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago... , then Syndicated	"Best Buddies"	1987	Danny's (Carlo Imperato Carlo Imperato Carlo Imperato is an American actor, best known for his role as School of Performing Arts student Danny Amatullo in the 1982 Fame TV series.-Early life:... ) best friend comes out.
Frank's Place Frank's Place Frank's Place is an American comedy-drama series which aired on CBS for 22 episodes during the 1987-1988 television schedule. The series was created by Hugh Wilson and executive produced by Wilson and series star Tim Reid.-Plot:Set in New Orleans, Frank's Place chronicles the life of Frank Parrish...	CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...	"Season's Greetings"	1987	"Bubba" Weisburger (Robert Harper Robert Harper (actor) Robert Harper is an American actor. He is perhaps most well known for his role as Sharkey in Once Upon a Time in America. He has also portrayed Charlie Gereson in Creepshow and Bubba 'Si' Weisberger in the CBS sitcom Frank's Place... ), longtime friend of Frank (Tim Reid Tim Reid Timothy L. "Tim" Reid is an American actor, comedian and film director best known for his roles in prime time American television programs, such as Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati , Marcel "Downtown" Brown on Simon & Simon , Ray Campbell on Sister, Sister and William Barnett on That 70's Show... ), tells his mother that Frank is his lover in an effort to stop her nagging questions about when he is going to marry and settle down.
Friday the 13th: The Series Friday the 13th: The Series Friday the 13th: The Series is an American-Canadian horror television series that ran for three seasons, from October 3, 1987 to May 26, 1990 in first-run syndication....	Syndicated	"Night Prey" "The Secret Agenda of Mesmer's Bauble"	1988 1989	In "Night Prey", an implied allegory of vampires to homosexuality Homosexuality Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same... . The episode also featured a female prostitute being paid to kiss a female vampire. In "The Secret Agenda of Mesmer's Bauble", a man is so obsessed with a female singer, that he wants to become her.
Gimme a Break! Gimme a Break! Gimme a Break! is an American sitcom which aired on NBC from October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief and his three daughters.-Premise:...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"The Chief's Gay Evening "Melissa"	1982 1983	In "The Chief's Gay Evening", an anti-gay joke leads to one of the Chief's (Dolph Sweet Dolph Sweet Dolph Sweet was an American actor, credited with nearly 60 television and film roles as well as several roles in stage productions before his death from cancer in 1985.-Biography:... ) officers (Eugene Roche Eugene Roche Eugene Harrison Roche was an American actor . He was the original "Ajax Man" in 1970s television commercials.-Personal life:... ) coming out. In "Melissa", Nell (Nell Carter Nell Carter Nell Carter was an American singer, and film, stage, and television actress. She won a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway musical Ain't Misbehavin, as well as an Emmy Award for her reprisal of the role on television... ) sets the Chief up with a woman (Victoria Carroll Victoria Carroll Victoria Carroll, or Victoria Carrol-Bell is an American film and voice actress.-Career Biography:Ms. Carroll has made appearances on TV shows from 1960s-present... ), not knowing that the woman is actually an MTF transgender.
The Golden Girls The Golden Girls The Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris, which originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, the show centers on four older women sharing a home in Miami, Florida...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"Pilot" "Isn't it Romantic" "Strange Bedfellows" "Scared Straight"	1985 1986 1987 1988	In "Pilot", the girls have a gay live-in cook named Coco (Charles Levin Charles Levin (actor) Charles Levin is an American actor who has appeared in television and movies and on stage. He is best known for the role of Elliot Novak on the series Alice having become a regular in the show's 9th season and the recurring role of Eddie Gregg on Hill Street Blues from 1982 to 1986.-Life and... ), who was not retained in the regular series. In "Isn't it Romantic", Dorothy's (Beatrice Arthur Beatrice Arthur Beatrice "Bea" Arthur was an American actress, comedienne and singer whose career spanned seven decades. Arthur achieved fame as the character Maude Findlay on the 1970s sitcoms All in the Family and Maude, and as Dorothy Zbornak on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls, winning Emmy Awards for both... ) old friend Jean (Lois Nettleton Lois Nettleton Lois June Nettleton was an American actress of film, stage, and television. She was Miss Chicago of 1948 as well as a semifinalist at that year's Miss America Pageant.-Early years:... ), a lesbian whose partner has recently died, comes to visit and develops a crush on Rose (Betty White Betty White Betty White Ludden , better known as Betty White, is an American actress, comedienne, singer, author, and former game show personality. With a career spanning seven decades since 1939, she is best known to modern audiences for her television roles as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and... ). In "Strange Bedfellows", Blanche (Rue McClanahan Rue McClanahan Rue McClanahan was an American actress, best known for her roles on television as Vivian Harmon on Maude, Fran Crowley on Mama's Family, and Blanche Devereaux on The Golden Girls, for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1987.-Early life:McClanahan was born Eddie Rue... ) is caught up in a scandal with a politician (John Schuck John Schuck Conrad John Schuck Jr. is an American actor, primarily in stage, movies and television. He is best-known for his roles as police commissioner Rock Hudson's mildly slow-witted assistant, Sgt. Charles Enright in the 1970s crime drama McMillan & Wife, and as Lee Meriwether's husband, Herman Munster... ), who used to be a woman. In "Scared Straight", Blanche's younger brother Clayton (Monte Markham Monte Markham Monte Markham is an American actor. During his career, Markham has appeared in film, in television, and on Broadway.Markham was born in Manatee County, Florida, the son of Millie Content and Jesse Edward Markham, Sr., who was a merchant.Of his television roles, Markham is perhaps most famous for... ) comes out as gay on a visit to Miami.
Hill Street Blues Hill Street Blues Hill Street Blues is an American serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. Chronicling the lives of the staff of a single police precinct in an unnamed American city, the show received critical acclaim and its production innovations ...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"Trial By Fury" "Queen for a Day" "Look Homeward, Ninja"	1982 1985 1986	In "Trial By Fury", Belker (Bruce Weitz Bruce Weitz Bruce Peter Weitz is an American actor. He is perhaps best-known for his role as Sgt. Michael "Mick" Belker in the 1980s TV series Hill Street Blues for which he won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1984.-Early life:Weitz was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, the son... ) befriends a gay prostitute named Eddie Gregg (Charles Levin Charles Levin Charles Leonard Levin was a Michigan jurist. He served as a Michigan Court of Appeals judge from 1966 to 1972 and as a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court from 1973 to 1996. He attended the University of Michigan where he received his B.A. in 1946 and his LL.B... ). Eddie appears in a number of future episodes before dying of AIDS in "Slum Enchanted Evening" (1986). In "Queen for a Day", Officer Coffey (Ed Marinaro Ed Marinaro Ed Marinaro is an American former football player turned actor.-Football career:Marinaro played high school football in New Milford, New Jersey, for the New Milford High School Knights.... ) is propositioned by his former coach during a prostitution sting. In "Look Homeward, Ninja", Officer Kate McBride (Lindsay Crouse Lindsay Crouse -Early life:Crouse was born in New York City, the daughter of Anna and Russel Crouse, a playwright. Her full name—Lindsay Ann Crouse—is an intentional tribute to the Broadway writing partnership of Lindsay and Crouse. Her father and his writing partner, Howard Lindsay, wrote much of... ) is falsely accused of sexually harassing a female suspect. While she is innocent of the charge, she does come out.
Hotel Hotel (TV series) Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983 to May 5, 1988 in the timeslot following Dynasty....	ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...	"Faith, Hope, and Charity" "Mistaken Identities" "Transitions" "Rallying Cry" "Scapegoats" "Undercurrents" "Contest of Wills"	1983 1984 1984 1985 1986 1986 1988	In "Faith, Hope, and Charity", playwright Zan Elliott (Carol Lynley Carol Lynley Carol Lynley is an American actress and former child model.-Life and career:Lynley was born Carole Ann Jones in New York City, the daughter of Frances , a waitress, and Cyril Jones. Her father was Irish and her mother, a native of New England, was of English, Scottish, Welsh, German, and Native... ) invites old friend Eileen Weston (Barbara Parkins Barbara Parkins Barbara Parkins is a Canadian television and film actress.-Early life and rise to stardom:Parkins was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. At the age of sixteen, she and her mother moved to Los Angeles, where she enrolled at Hollywood High School and began to study acting, tap, ballet, and... ) to the premiere of her new play. Eileen is disturbed to learn that Zan is a lesbian but maintains the friendship. In "Mistaken Identities", a father (Steve Kanaly Steve Kanaly Steven Francis "Steve" Kanaly is an American actor, best known for his role as Ray Krebbs, foreman of the Southfork Ranch, on the television soap opera Dallas from 1978 to 1989. He reprised the role for the final episode of the series in 1991, and again for the made-for-TV reunion movie Dallas:... ) fears his son (Lance Kerwin Lance Kerwin Lance Kerwin is an American actor, perhaps best remembered for his starring role in the TV series James at 15. Since the mid-1990s, however, Kerwin has not acted, instead focusing on his Christian religious beliefs, having become a pastor... ) is gay so he attempts to set him up with a female prostitute. In "Transitions", Maggie Dawson (Deirdre Hall) catches her sportscaster husband (Robert Reed Robert Reed Robert Reed was a prolific American character actor of stage, film and television. In his first big break, he played Kenneth Preston on the popular 1960s TV legal drama, The Defenders, alongside E. G. Marshall. But he was best remembered for portraying the father, Mike Brady, on the popular... ) in the arms of his director, Biff (Granville van Dusen). In "Rallying Cry", guests Cameron (Lloyd Bochner Lloyd Bochner Lloyd Wolfe Bochner was a Canadian actor, usually playing the role of suave, rich leading men.- Career :... ) and Nora Wheeler (Marion Ross Marion Ross Marion Ross is an American actress best known for her role as Marion Cunningham on the television series Happy Days from 1974 to 1984.-Early life:... ) sue for custody of their niece (Missy Francis Missy Francis Melissa Ann Francis is an American television journalist and news anchor for CNBC. Melissa is the co-anchor of CNBC's morning show, The Call and MSNBC’s It’s the Economy. She is a frequent contributor to NBC’s Today Show and Weekend Today Show... ) after learning that she has been left in the custody of a gay couple, Dr. Michael Vaughn (Douglas Barr Douglas Barr Douglas Barr is an American actor, writer, and director. He has starred in movies and on television.Douglas was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His first TV series, during the 1980s, was When the Whistle Blows. Later on, his big role came in the ABC TV series The Fall Guy as Howie Munson from 1981–1986... ) and Alex Halpern (Michael Sabatino Michael Sabatino Michael Sabatino is an American actor.-Private life:Sabatino attended the University of California, Irvine, where he set a school record for the pole vault of 17½ feet.... ). In "Scapegoats", homophobic bartender Frank (Ken Kercheval Ken Kercheval Ken Kercheval is an American actor, best known for his role as Cliff Barnes on the television series Dallas.... ) believes he has contracted AIDS from gay waiter Joel (Leigh McCloskey Leigh McCloskey Leigh Joseph McCloskey is an American film and television actor.-Career:McCloskey was classically trained as an actor at the Juilliard School in Lincoln Center, New York. As an actor, he is perhaps most widely known for his role as Mitch Cooper on the CBS soap opera Dallas... ), who is HIV-negative. Frank's wife assumes Frank is sleeping with men and his son (Doug Savant Doug Savant Douglas Peter "Doug" Savant is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Matt Fielding on Melrose Place and Tom Scavo on the ABC dramedy series Desperate Housewives.-Career:... ) assumes he is an IV drug user. He in fact was infected by a blood transfusion. In "Undercurrents", Army officer Nick Hauser (Jan-Michael Vincent Jan-Michael Vincent Jan-Michael Vincent is an American actor best known for his role as helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke on the 1980s U.S. television series Airwolf .-Early life:... ) learns that fellow officer Roger Gage (Boyd Gaines Boyd Gaines Boyd Payne Gaines is an American stage, film, and television actor.Gaines was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Ida and James Gaines. He has appeared in a number of films and television shows, including Fame, L.A... ) is gay after Roger is bashed. The same gang later attacks Nick and bellhop Dave (Michael Spound) and Nick beats them. Nick is unable to accept Roger, who decides to come out and press charges even though he will lose his military career. In "Contest of Wills", Joanne Lambert is killed in a car accident. When her father (Dick O'Neill Dick O'Neill Dick O'Neill was an American stage, film and television character actor best known for playing Irish cops, fathers, judges and army generals. He began his acting career as an original company member of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.He served in the Navy then returned to the theater. In the late... ) arrives to claim her body he learns that she had been living with hotel catering manager Carol Bowman (Christopher Norris Christopher Norris Christopher Charles Norris is a British philosopher and literary critic.-Career:As of 2011 Prof. Norris is Distinguished Research Professor in Philosophy at Cardiff University... ). Although he is initially hostile to her, the two bond and Carol accompanies him home for Joanne's funeral.
Hunter	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"The Fifth Victim"	1989	The search for a serial killer of gay men leads to the knowledge that the supposed fifth victim was actually a copycat Copycat effect Copycat effect may refer to:Copycat crimes - crimes inspired by or replicating another crimeCopycat suicide - suicide inspired by or replicating another's suicide... . Detective Frank Buchanan (Rick Giolito) comes out during the investigation.
Kate & Allie Kate & Allie Kate & Allie is an American television situation comedy which ran from March 19, 1984 to May 22, 1989. Kate & Allie first aired on CBS as a midseason replacement series and only six episodes were initially commissioned, but the favorable response from critics and viewers alike easily convinced CBS...	CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...	"Odd Boy Out" "Landlady"	1984 1984	In "Odd Boy Out", Chip's (Frederick Koehler Frederick Koehler Frederick Koehler is an American actor best known for his role as Chip on Kate & Allie as well as Andrew Schillinger on the HBO drama Oz.- Film work :* Death Race 2 -- Lists* Death Race – Lists... ) friends think he's a sissy because he lives in a house with two women. In "Landlady", Kate (Susan St. James) and Allie (Jane Curtin Jane Curtin Jane Therese Curtin is an American actress and comedienne. She is commonly referred to as Queen of the Deadpan.First coming to prominence as an original cast member on Saturday Night Live in 1975, she went on to win back-to-back Emmy Awards for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series on the 1980s... ) pretend to be a gay couple so that their landlady, who is gay and has a lover, will not increase their rent.
L.A. Law L.A. Law L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"The Venus Butterfly" "Fry Me to the Moon" "The Accidental Jurist"	1986 1986 1989	In "The Venus Butterfly" and "Fry Me to the Moon", Christopher Appleton (Peter Frechette Peter Frechette Peter Frechette is an American film, stage and television actor.-Early life:Born and raised in Coventry, Rhode Island, Frechette earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from the University of Rhode Island.- Career :... ) is a person with AIDS prosecuted by Grace Van Owen (Susan Dey Susan Dey Susan Dey is an American actress, known primarily for her roles in film and television. Her more prominent parts came as elder daughter, Laurie Partridge, on the 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family, and as Grace Van Owen, a California assistant district attorney and judge on the dramatic series, L.A... ) for the mercy-killing of his lover, who also had the disease. Stanley Kamel Stanley Kamel Stanley Kamel was an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Charles Kroger on the American television series Monk.-Biography:... plays Appleton's gay attorney, Mark Gilliam, who would make several additional appearances. In "The Accidental Jurist" Kuzack (Harry Hamlin Harry Hamlin Harry Robinson Hamlin is an American film and television actor, known for his role as Perseus in the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans, and as Michael Kuzak in the legal drama series L.A... ) chooses a retired judge (Donald Moffat Donald Moffat Donald Moffat is an English-born actor, now a naturalized American citizen.-Early life:Moffat was born in Plymouth, Devon, the only child of Kathleen Mary and Walter George Moffat, who was an insurance agent. His parents ran a boarding house in Totnes... ) whom he knows is secretly gay to hear the case of an athlete (Brian McNamara Brian McNamara Brian McNamara is an American actor, known for his portrayal of Dean Karny in the TV Movie Billionaire Boys Club for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a supporting role.-Biography:... ) who loses an endorsement deal after coming out.
The Love Boat The Love Boat The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...	ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...	"Target Gopher/The Major's Wife/Strange Honeymoon/The Oilman Cometh" "Country Blues/A Matter of Taste/Frat Brothers Forever"	1980 1984	In ""Target Gopher/The Major's Wife/Strange Honeymoon/The Oilman Cometh", a groom and his best man are mistaken for a honeymoon couple in the "Strange Honeymoon" segment. In "Country Blues/A Matter of Taste/Frat Brothers Forever", Doc's (Bernie Kopell Bernie Kopell Bernard Morton "Bernie" Kopell is an American television character actor who is probably best known for his roles as Dr. Adam Bricker in The Love Boat and KAOS agent Siegfried in Get Smart... ) fraternity brother Buzz (Roy Thinnes Roy Thinnes Roy Thinnes is an American television and film actor best known for his portrayal of lonely hero David Vincent in the ABC 1967-68 television series The Invaders. He also played Alfred Wentworth in the pilot episode of Law & Order... ) comes out to him in the "Frat Brothers Forever" segment.
Magnum, P.I. Magnum, P.I. Magnum, P.I. is an American television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 in first-run broadcast on the American CBS television network....	CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...	"Jororo Kill" "Limited Engagement"	1982 1983	In "Jororo Kill", Magnum (Tom Selleck Tom Selleck Thomas William "Tom" Selleck is an American actor, and film producer. He is best known for his starring role as Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Magnum on the 1980s television show Magnum, P.I.. He also plays Police Chief Jesse Stone in a series of made-for-TV movies based on the Robert B.... ) must prevent a man, discharged from the British armed forces for being a transvestite, from killing a visiting Prime Minister. In "Limited Engagement", two elderly sisters are robbing a chain of convenience stores by dressing up as men.
Matlock Matlock (TV series) Matlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of attorney Ben Matlock. The show originally aired from September 23, 1986 to May 8, 1992 on NBC, where it replaced The A-Team, then from November 5, 1992 until May 7, 1995 on ABC.The show's format was similar...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago... , then ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...	"The Stripper"	1986	In the final moments of the episode Matlock (Andy Griffith Andy Griffith Andy Samuel Griffith is an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film A Face in the Crowd before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead... ) tells the court that the mysterious and elusive murderer Helen Shelly is really a cross-dressing male strip club worker suffering from "identity confusion."
Midnight Caller Midnight Caller Midnight Caller is a dramatic NBC television series created by Richard DiLello, which ran from 1988 to 1991. It was one of the first television series to address the dramatic possibilities of the then-growing phenomenon of talk radio...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"After It Happened After It Happened "After It Happened" is a 1988 episode of the NBC television series Midnight Caller. The controversial episode tells the story of a bisexual man who is deliberately infecting people, including series lead character Jack Killian's ex-girlfriend, with HIV... "	1988	Bisexual Mike Barnes (Richard Cox Richard Cox Richard Cox may refer to:Dick Cox , American baseball playerRichard Cox , American actorRichard Cox , English clergyman, Dean of Westminster and Bishop of Ely... ) deliberately infects Tina (Kay Lenz Kay Lenz Kay Ann Lenz is an American actress.A former child performer, Lenz has worked primarily in television and has won two Emmy Awards.-Background:... ) (the ex-girlfriend of radio host Jack Killian (Gary Cole Gary Cole Gary Michael Cole is an American actor. Cole is known for his supporting roles in numerous film and television productions since the 1990s.-Early life:... )) with HIV HIV Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive... . Russ (J. D. Lewis) is Mike's ex-boyfriend who Mike abandoned when Russ got sick. Gay and AIDS activists protested during and after filming. Then-NBC affiliate KRON-TV KRON-TV KRON-TV, virtual channel 4 , is a television station in San Francisco, California, serving as the Bay Area affiliate of the MyNetworkTV programming service; the station is owned by Young Broadcasting... in San Francisco ran a disclaimer before the show with an AIDS hotline number and aired a half-hour live special, Midnight Caller: The Response* during which activists and public health officials aired their grievances.
Murder, She Wrote Murder, She Wrote Murder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...	CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...	"Birds of a Feather"	1984	Jessica (Angela Lansbury Angela Lansbury Angela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins... ) travels to San Francisco to attend the wedding of her niece, Victoria, only to learn that her fiancé is cross-dressing at a nightclub to earn a living, and is subsequently charged with the murder of his boss. The fiancé really is straight, as is the other female impersonator.
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1985 to 1986, and on the USA Network from 1987 to 1989...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"An Unlocked Window"	1985	A remake of a 1965 episode with Bruce Davison Bruce Davison Bruce Davison is an American actor and director.-Early life:Davison was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Marian E. , a secretary, and Clair W. Davison, a musician, architect, and draftsman for the Army Engineers. His parents divorced when he was three years old. He was raised by his... reprising the role of a transvestite nurse strangler originally played by T. C. Jones T. C. Jones Thomas Craig "T. C." Jones was an American female impersonator. He was known for his impersonations of stars such as Tallulah Bankhead, Judy Garland, Katharine Hepburn and others... .
Night Court Night Court Night Court is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984, to May 20, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan court, presided over by the young, unorthodox Judge Harold T. "Harry" Stone...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"The Blizzard" "Best of Friends" "Passion Plundered"	1984 1985 1989	In "The Blizzard", Dan (John Larroquette John Larroquette John Edgar Bernard Larroquette, Jr. is an American film, television and Broadway actor. His roles include Dan Fielding on the series Night Court, Mike McBride in the Hallmark Channel series McBride, John Hemingway on The John Larroquette Show, and Carl Sack in Boston Legal.-Personal... ) is trapped in an elevator during an electrical outage with a gay man who is attracted to him. In "Best of Friends", Dan is upset when an old male friend (Jim Bailey Jim Bailey (entertainer) James William Bailey is an American singer, film, television and stage actor, and female impersonator.-Early years:... ) comes to visit after having become a woman. In "Passion Plundered", Harry (Harry Anderson Harry Anderson Harry Laverne Anderson is an American actor and magician.-Early life:Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Anderson was a street magician before becoming an actor.-Career:... ) and Dan pursue a reporter sent to interview Harry, only to find out she is a lesbian.
Nine to Five Nine to Five (TV series) 9 to 5 is an American situation comedy based on the 1980 film of the same name. The series aired on ABC from 1982 to 1983, and in first-run syndication from 1986 to 1988....	Syndicated	Episode title unknown	1984	Bud (Edward Winter) learns that his college girlfriend is dating another woman.
Speak Up, America!	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"Lesbians Fighting to Stay in the Military"	1980
St. Elsewhere St. Elsewhere St. Elsewhere is an American medical drama television series that originally ran on NBC from October 26, 1982 to May 25, 1988. The series is set at fictional St. Eligius, a decaying urban teaching hospital in Boston's South End neighborhood...	NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...	"Release" "AIDS and Comfort" "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"	1983 1983 1984	In "Release", Dr. Craig's (William Daniels William Daniels William David Daniels is an American actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild . He is known for his performance as Dustin Hoffman's father in The Graduate , as John Adams in 1776, as Carter Nash in Captain Nice, as Mr. George Feeny in ABC's Boy Meets World, as the voice of KITT in... ) college roommate (Andy Romano Andy Romano Andy Romano is an American actor, known for playing "J.D." in the 1960s Beach Party movies .... ) is planning to have a sex change operation. In "AIDS and Comfort", a Boston politician (Michael Brandon Michael Brandon Michael Brandon is an American actor who resides in the United Kingdom and United States.-Life and career:Brandon was born Michael Feldman in Brooklyn, New York to Miriam and Sol Feldman... ) checks into St. Eligius and learns that he has AIDS. He admits privately that he has had sexual encounters with men in the recent past. The first American medical drama to deal with the pandemic. In "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", Dr. Cavanero (Cynthia Sikes Cynthia Sikes Cynthia Sikes is an American actress known for her television roles. On JAG, she played the love interest of Adm. Albert Jethro 'A.J.' Chegwidden . Her breakthrough role was playing Dr. Annie Cavanero on the critically acclaimed series St. Elsewhere, which she appeared in for the first three... ) invites visiting medical researcher Christine Holtz (Caroline McWilliams Caroline McWilliams Caroline Margaret McWilliams was an American actress best known for her portrayal of Marcy Hill on the television series Benson and Sally on the television series Soap... ) to stay with her, only to become uncomfortable when Holtz comes out to her. Cavanero violates Holtz's confidence by telling several members of the staff and berates her for being "unnatural". She later apologizes.
Taxi Taxi (TV series) Taxi was an American sitcom that originally aired from 1978 to 1982 on ABC and from 1982 to 1983 on NBC. The series, which won 18 Emmy Awards, including three for "Outstanding Comedy Series", focuses on the everyday lives of a handful of New York City taxi drivers and their abusive dispatcher...	ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...	"Elaine's Strange Triangle"	1980	Kirk (John David Carson John David Carson John David Carson was an American actor. He was born in North Hollywood, California. Carson began his career at a young age, acting in television advertisements, and later doing cartoon voice-acting for Hanna-Barbera. He attended Los Angeles Valley College where he played a lead role in their 1969... ), who Elaine (Marilu Henner Marilu Henner Mary Lucy Denise "Marilu" Henner is an American actress, producer and author. She is best known for her role as Elaine O'Connor Nardo on the sitcom Taxi from 1978 to 1983.-Early life:... ) is interested in dating, has a crush on Tony (Tony Danza Tony Danza Tony Danza is an American actor best known for starring on the TV series Taxi and Who's the Boss?, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and four Golden Globe Awards... ).
thirtysomething	ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...	"Strangers Strangers (thirtysomething) "Strangers" is a 1989 episode of the television series Thirtysomething. The episode contrasts two relationships, one between Melissa Steadman and Lee Owens and the other between Russell Weller and Peter Montefiore . Melissa worries about the age difference between herself and Lee as she is... "	1989	Melissa's (Melanie Mayron Melanie Mayron Melanie Joy Mayron is an American actress and director of film and television. Mayron is best known for portraying the role of photographer Melissa Steadman on the ABC drama Thirtysomething.-Biography:... ) gay friends Russell (David Marshall Grant David Marshall Grant David Marshall Grant is an American actor and playwright.-Life and career:Grant was born in Westport, Connecticut, to physician parents... ) and Peter (Peter Frechette Peter Frechette Peter Frechette is an American film, stage and television actor.-Early life:Born and raised in Coventry, Rhode Island, Frechette earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from the University of Rhode Island.- Career :... ) are seen in bed together after having had sex. The actors were not allowed to touch during the scene and the episode generated controversy and alienated advertisers.
Three's Company Three's Company Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984, on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom, Man About the House....	ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...	"The Love Lesson" "Night of the Ropers"	1980 1981	In "The Love Lesson", Ralph Furley (Don Knotts Don Knotts Jesse Donald "Don" Knotts was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards... ) tries to "cure" Jack (John Ritter John Ritter Jonathan Southworth "John" Ritter was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian perhaps best known for having played Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the ABC sitcoms Three's Company and 8 Simple Rules, respectively... ). Mr. Roper (Norman Fell Norman Fell Norman Fell , born Norman Noah Feld, was an American actor of film and television, most famous for his role as landlord Mr. Roper on the sitcom Three's Company and its spin-off, The Ropers.-Early life:... ) returns and Jack pretends to be gay when he is around.
Tony Brown's Journal	PBS Public Broadcasting Service The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....	"Homosexuality Among Blacks"	1983
Too Close for Comfort Too Close for Comfort (TV series) Too Close for Comfort is an American television sitcom which ran on the ABC network and later in first-run syndication from November 11, 1980 to September 27, 1986. It was modeled after the British series Keep It in the Family, which debuted nine months before Too Close for Comfort debuted in the U.S...	ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948... , then Syndicated	"Shipmates"	1984	When Ted (Ted Knight Ted Knight Ted Knight was an American actor best known for playing the comedic role of Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Henry Rush on Too Close for Comfort, and Judge Elihu Smails in Caddyshack.- Early years :... ) invites Frank (Gerald S. O'Loughlin Gerald S. O'Loughlin Gerald Stuart O'Loughlin, Jr. is an American television, stage, and film actor and director who was primarily known for playing tough-talking and rough-looking characters.-Career:... ), an old acquaintance from the Navy, to dinner, Frank agrees to bring "Carol", with whom he's been living for 25 years. "Carol" turns out to be Carroll (William Prince William Prince (actor) William LeRoy Prince was an American actor who appeared in numerous soap operas and made dozens of guest appearances on primetime series as well as playing villains in movies like The Gauntlet and Spontaneous Combustion.-Biography:Prince was born in Nichols, New York, the son of Myrtle , a nurse... ). Carroll dies (off-screen) by the end of the episode.
Trapper John, M.D. Trapper John, M.D. Trapper John, M.D. is an American television medical drama and spin-off of the film MASH, concerning a lovable surgeon who became a mentor and father figure in San Francisco, California. The show ran on CBS from September 23, 1979, to September 4, 1986....	CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...	"Straight and Narrow" "Baby on the Line" "Friends and Lovers"	1981 1983 1985	In "Straight and Narrow", a police detective (Frank Martin) shoots and paralyzes San Francisco's first openly gay police officer (Joseph Cali Joseph Cali Joseph Cali is an American actor.He is most remembered for playing Joey in the 1977 blockbuster movie Saturday Night Fever.Cali has appeared in TV and films such as 'Voices The Competition with Amy Irving... ) because he believes the police force is being "contaminated". Craig Russell Craig Russell (actor) Russell Craig Eadie , better known by his stage name Craig Russell, was a Canadian female impersonator and actor.-Early life and career:... plays "Judy", a drag queen Drag queen A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and... who cheers up a lonely older patient. In "Baby on the Line", the parents of an infant diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Congenital adrenal hyperplasia refers to any of several autosomal recessive diseases resulting from mutations of genes for enzymes mediating the biochemical steps of production of cortisol from cholesterol by the adrenal glands .... must decide whether to raise the child as a boy or a girl. In "Friends and Lovers", Nurse Libby (Lorna Luft Lorna Luft Lorna Luft is an American television, stage, and film actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and Sid Luft, and the half-sister of singer and actress Liza Minnelli.-Biography:... ) is crushed to discover an old boyfriend (Robert Desidero) is both gay and suffering from AIDS. When Trapper (Pernell Roberts Pernell Roberts Pernell Elvin Roberts, Jr. was an American stage, movie and television actor, as well as a singer. In addition to guest starring in over 60 television series, he was widely known for his roles as Ben Cartwright's eldest son, Adam Cartwright, on the western series Bonanza, a role he played from... ) learns that AIDS patients are being routinely transferred to another facility, he persuades the hospital to open an AIDS ward.
Vega$ Vega$ Vega$ is an American detective television drama series that aired on ABC between 1978 and 1981. It was produced by Aaron Spelling. The series, was filmed in its entirety in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is believed to be the first television series produced entirely in Las Vegas...	ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...	"The Man Who Was Twice"	1980	The death threats being made against female impersonator Jeremy Welles (Jim Bailey Jim Bailey (entertainer) James William Bailey is an American singer, film, television and stage actor, and female impersonator.-Early years:... ) are coming from Welles' second personality, "Martin".
WKRP in Cincinnati WKRP in Cincinnati WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta...	CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...	"Hotel Oceanview"	1980	Herb (Frank Bonner Frank Bonner Frank Bonner is an American actor and television director best known for playing sales manager Herb Tarlek on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.-Life and career:... ) tries to seduce a potential client's assistant, Nikki (Linda Carlson Linda Carlson Linda Carlson is an American actress.Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, she began her career on TV in 1977, and has appeared on numerous shows.-Filmography:*Honey, I Blew Up the Kid ... Nosey Neighbor... ). Nikki eventually tells Herb that she used to be Nick, his childhood friend.

Episodes

See also