This is a list of comedy television series (including web television and miniseries) which feature lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender characters. Non-binary, pansexual, asexual, and graysexual characters are also included. The orientation can be portrayed on-screen, described in the dialogue or mentioned.

1930s

ShowCharacterActorNotesNetwork Series run Byng Ho!Queue For Song Bawdy but British Douglas Byng Douglas Byng was the first female impersonator on UK television. His songs are full of sexual innuendo and double entendres. Byng-Ho! was a comedy sketch show with two episodes. Queue For Song was a variety show featuring comedy and music, with various performers. Byng was openly gay within his own theatrical world, but very discreet outside it. He also starred in music halls, burlesque revues and cabaret. BBC One 1938–1939

1950s ShowCharacterActorNotesNetwork Series run The Ernie Kovacs Show Percy Dovetonsils Ernie Kovacs Percy Dovetonsils was a wealthy, giddy and lisping effeminate poet. TV reviewers called him a sissy. Percy came closest to saying he was gay in a skit where he began plucking petals from a plastic flower saying, "he loves me, he loves me not..." John Barbour, who produced and narrated a documentary about Kovacs, said the Percy character was "the Alfred E. Neuman of the gay set". CBS 1952–1954 The Ernie Kovacs Show Rock Mississippi Ernie Kovacs In a January 26, 1956, episode, Kovacs basically outed secretly-closeted Rock Hudson, when he played the character Rock Mississippi. Rock was a Hollywood film star who wore long false eyelashes and was swishy and effeminate. Rock was offering a preview of his latest movie, The Umbrella Salesman of Ranchipur. NBC1956 It's A Great Life Mrs. Shufflewick Rex Jameson Rex Jameson was a female impersonator who created the character Mrs. Shufflewick at a BBC audition. Mrs. Shufflewick was a ruddy, tipsy cockney woman settled in the snug of her local pub, The Cock & Comfort: "a lot of comfort, but not much of anything else". In 1955, he was featured in the TV show It's A Great Life and was voted "TV Personality of the Year" for his performance. He also appeared on TV in other shows from the 1950s-1970s. Jameson was secretly gay, until he was outed in the 1970s. BBC 1955 The Steve Allen Show Travel Correspondent Tom Poston Poston portrayed a TV news travel correspondent doing a report from Scotland, while wearing a kilt. When anchorman Allen asks him about his knees getting cold, Poston replies, no, but they do get a lot of compliments, I haven't paid for a drink since I got here. Poston also relays to Allen that a Duke proposed to him and they were engaged, while primping effeminately. NBC1959

1970s

ShowCharacterActorNotesNetwork Series run Agony Michael Peter Denyer First British sitcom to feature a gay couple in a non-camp fashion. Michael eventually committed suicide after being outed on a live phone-in radio show. ITV 1979-1981Rob Jeremy Bulloch Alice Jack Newhouse Denny Miller Alice falls for Mel's friend Jack, a gay ex-professional football player. When he comes out to her, Alice is concerned about letting her son go fishing with him. CBS 1976-1985 All in the Family Steve Philip Carey Archie's friend Steve, an ex–professional football player, shocks him by telling him he's gay. CBS 1971-1979Veronica K Callan Veronica was the longtime partner of Edith's cousin Liz. All That Glitters Linda Murkland Linda Gray Linda Murkland is a transgender woman. The show featured the first regular transgender character on TV. Syndication 1977 Are You Being Served? Mr. Humphries John Inman Humphries is the junior menswear assistant working in the fictional Grace Brothers department store. BBC1 1972-1985Ball Four Bill Westlake David James Carroll Based on the book Ball Four. Featured a gay rookie baseball player. CBS 1976Barney Miller Marty Morrison Jack DeLeon Darryl and Marty are openly gay recurring characters, and partners. Series creator Danny Arnold worked with the National Gay Task Force in developing the characters of Darryl and Marty. Initially, both were presented as flamboyantly gay, but as the series progressed Darryl began acting and dressing more conservatively.(click on link Barney Miller) ABC 1975-1982 Darryl Driscoll Ray Stewart Officer Zitelli Dino Natali Zitelli comes out to Miller, after someone writes an anonymous letter threatening to reveal that one of the cops is gay.The Bob Newhart Show Craig Plager Howard Hesseman Craig joins Bob's group therapy and comes out to the group, with mixed reactions from them. CBS 1972-1978The Corner Bar Peter Panama Vincent Schiavelli The first continuing portrayal of a gay person on American television. ABC 1972–1973 Hot l Baltimore George Gordon Lee Bergere Henry Calvert Middle aged couple living together. One of the first gay couples to be depicted on an American television series. ABC 1975 Hollywood Squares Paul Lynde Paul Lynde Regular member of celebrities on Hollywood Squares. ABC 1975 Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Ed McCullough Laurence Haddon Ed and Howard were introduced as a pair of brothers sharing a house in the Hartmans' neighborhood but were later revealed to be a gay couple hoping to live an open life in Fernwood. Syndicated 1976–1977Howard McCullough Beeson Carroll The Mary Tyler Moore Show Ben Sutherland Robert Moore Ben is gay and the brother of Phyllis. In "My Brother's Keeper", she tries to set him up with Mary, but he instead hangs out with Rhoda who later tells Phyllis the reason why she's not interested in dating Ben. CBS 1970–1977Maude Barry Witherspoon Robert Mandan Walter is upset to hear that Maude's new friend, Barry Witherspoon, a local gay novelist, will be stopping by for drinks, feeling that he is a "pompous windbag." CBS 1972-19781st manCraig Richard Nelson Maude's neighbor Arthur (Conrad Bain), is outraged about a new gay bar in town, so she takes him there to change Arthur's bigoted mind through thoughtful conversation with a young patron (1st man).The Nancy Walker Show Terry Folson Ken Olfson Terry is an out-of-work actor and personal assistant to lead character Nancy Kitteridge (Nancy Walker). ABC 1976 Porridge Lukewarm Christopher Biggins Lukewarm is an openly gay inmate, he got his nickname from working in the prison kitchen and always preparing tepid food. Porridge is considered to be one of the greatest British sitcoms of all time. BBC 1974-1977Gay Gordon Felix Bowness Gay Gordon is a semi-regular character and worked in the kitchens. One of the episodes he appeared in was "Just Desserts". Soap Jodie Dallas Billy Crystal Jodie is openly gay, and dated a closeted football player, but later dates a woman. Jodie Dallas is one of the most memorable gay characters from the 70s and played a central role in the series week after week. ABC 1977–1981Snip Michael Robert St. James Walter Wanderman Michael is an openly gay hairdresser. The show was created by James Komack, the creator of Chico and the Man and Welcome Back Kotter. The series was to premiere September 30, 1976, on NBC, but was shelved at the last minute and was never broadcast in the United States. The five completed episodes aired in Australia. NBC 1976

1980s