Kit Mainwaring

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

That's really interesting because I always understood that the first series to feature a recurring gay character was the US sitcom Corner Bar which was also launched in 1972 but I think you may be right as Corner Bar was a midseason replacement for another series so first aired quite late that year. The character was called Peter Panama and was played by an actor called Vincent Schiavelli.

if that isn’t the platonic ideal of a man, I don’t know what is

 

[Mel O'Drama]

That's really interesting because I always understood that the first series to feature a recurring gay character was the US sitcom Corner Bar which was also launched in 1972 but I think you may be right as Corner Bar was a midseason replacement for another series so first aired quite late that year.

I'd never heard of The Corner Bar, so that's something new I've found out about today.

You're right about the original transmission dates. Looks like The Corner Bar began in June of 1972, by which time Number 96 had been on the air for three months (its opening episode in March had been promoted with the tagline "Tonight, Australian television loses its virginity").

I dare say The Corner Bar may have claimed the title at times since so many online sources of information used for lists and trivia lean heavily into US Defaultism. A little Aussie soap would probably go largely unacknowledged, even if it is wildly successful in its home country.

There is a theory that the reason homophobia appears -- and then reappears -- in the culture, and always will, is that it takes something away from women. That all male attention, utility, protection and resources must be funneled towards her, and male homosexuality really gets in the way of that.

And I suppose the drama is because - as in real life - there's a degree of justification so the woman isn't judged harshly for any lapse into prejudice.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

if that isn’t the platonic ideal of a man, I don’t know what is

..and this orderly at lovely Fletcher Sanitarium always reminded me of Vincent Schiavelli

(well, the hair, anyway - hey, it’s a compliment, I’m always happy when Vincent shows up in something!)

 

[Angela Channing]

I'd never heard of The Corner Bar, so that's something new I've found out about today.

I hadn't heard about Corner Bar either until quite recently when it was EastEnders 40th anniversary and I read an article claiming it had the first regular gay character on TV. They probably meant UK TV in which case I thought it would have been Gordon Collins in Brookside and I stumbled across Corner Bar while investigating this.

Corner Bar seems to have been forgotten because it didn't really find and audience only lasted for 2 seasons. The gay character was dropped after the first season in an attempt to broaden its appeal amongst viewers.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

The gay character was dropped after the first season in an attempt to broaden its appeal amongst viewers.

that seems like an absurd statement on the face of it, but.. yep, makes sense especially then, but maybe even now, too?

 

[RachelBixby]

I love this story! Very ahead of its time. I think the actor playing Kit did a great job. I also love seeing the different reactions from Bobby and JR who are both Lucy's uncles. You can see JR's selfishness shine through. Also, I thought Lucy showed a lot of maturity and growth here in how she reacted.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Wasn't he on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (which I didn't really watch)?

 

[Mel O'Drama]

it was EastEnders 40th anniversary and I read an article claiming it had the first regular gay character on TV. They probably meant UK TV in which case I thought it would have been Gordon Collins in Brookside

I suppose there could be three possible reasons for them citing Colin:

The first: they just got their facts wrong.

The second: they're mixing it up with the first same-sex kiss broadcast on a British soap which I think was Colin and Barry* (but I'm not 100% sure about that). Incidentally, I just did a quick search and it appears the first kiss on British TV was in 1970, between Ian McKellen an d James Laurenson in a BBC production of Edward II.

The third: it's down to technicalities. Gordon appeared onscreen years before Colin, but was only written as gay off-screen after the original actor had departed. The recast Gordon didn't appear until late August 1986... twenty days after Colin showed up on Enders.



*Edit: It appears it was Colin and Guido in 1989, so I assume this means passionate kisses rather than chaste, affectionate pecks.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Didn't the script say a couple of years later that the Mainwarings now hated the Ewings? Were we supposed to believe that was run-off from the cancelled nuptials?

 

[DallasFanForever]

Didn't the script say a couple of years later that the Mainwarings now hated the Ewings? Were we supposed to believe that was run-off from the cancelled nuptials?

They hated the Ewings by this point because they had seen what a successful model and singer Lucy was becoming. It was sour grapes.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

They hated the Ewings by this point because they had seen what a successful model and singer Lucy was becoming. It was sour grapes.

It's true. Dominique came to Denver resentful that Alexis had warbled "See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have" and wanting to upstage her. Melissa's melodic meltdown was in response to Appolonia's kettle drum cacophony on the lawn of Falcon Crest. Cathy Geary was jealous of Ciji's cul de sac serenading and killed her in a scheme with Chip.

We had no idea what role music played in these corrupt families.

 

[Toni]

There were a few telemovies that touched the subject in the early 70s. Also didn't Family do a lesbian-centric episode?

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

There were a few telemovies that touched the subject in the early 70s. Also didn't Family do a lesbian-centric episode?

Lee "the majordomo" Bergere played a gay character in HOT L BALTIMORE circa 1975, but the show didn't make it.

Steven Carrington was the first continuing gay character in a successful American drama series. When he was gay. Which was only occasionally

"I've loved you since you were a little boy..."