104: Bob Newhart Treats a Gay

“Some of My Best Friends Are…” (October 9, 1976)

The fifth season of The Bob Newhart Show has a gay episode functions differently than most other show’s gay episode. For one thing, its central gay character is one who’d been on the show before; it’s just that no one — neither on the show or watching the show — knew he was gay. For another thing, it’s not the last time we see this character; unlike most LGBT guest characters on sitcoms, his existence does not end with the one episode that revolves around his queerness.

End of episode question: If you were making a podcast called Gayest Video Game Ever, what game would your talk about first?

For Mother’s Day, buy your mom a classic “ALF Says Gay Rights” mug from our TeePublic store.

Read Brett White’s piece of how this episode’s Mr. Plager was the first pre-existing character on a sitcom to come out.

Watch the pilot to Carlton, Your Doorman, the animated spinoff to Rhoda that almost was.

Yes, you can watch all four hours of Carol Burnett’s Fresno online right now!

Xuxa has a heart AS BIG AS THE WORLD!

Bears in Games explains why Final Fight is one of the gayest video games ever.

This episode’s outro track is “Delirio Mind” by Scotch: Apple Music • Spotify • Amazon Music