Clips: 1975, Darryl & Marty on BARNEY MILLER, one of the 1st ongoing same-sex couples on US TV

TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY

BARNEY MILLER: "Discovery" - 10/30/1975, ABC

Darryl and Marty, one of the first recurring same-sex couples on any US series, appeared together for the first time on this date in 1975. This popular sitcom was set at a police station in Greenwich Village, NYC, and the writers felt it would be ridiculous for there to be no queer characters.

Darryl's intense distrust of cops was well deserved. This show is from 1975 and the character appears to be in his 50s. This means that pretty much his entire adult life, into the early 1970s, the NYPD had been regularly raiding gay bars in the city. Cops were the enemy.

Also check out Matt Baume's fun, fascinating video about these characters' backstage and onscreen story:    • How Barney Miller's Gay Couple Defeat...  

BARNEY MILLER did not have the very first ongoing same-sex couple: a male couple were regulars on the sitcom HOT L BALTIMORE, which debuted earlier in 1975. The first recurring lesbian couple would not turn up on a US series until the 1988-89 drama HEARTBEAT.