Bisexual characters on mainstream TV?

[TheWraith]

I was wondering the other day--does anyone know if there are previous examples of bisexual regular characters on mainstream TV shows?

[Wildewolfe]

1. Inara Serra on Firefly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inara_Serra

[TheWraith]

5. Point. I hadn't thought of that, though I should have having seen the series. nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. there is bi-doctor on house

[mitchtv]

26. yes it,s ok if they are female and attractive

also one on Grey's Anatomy, but they fired her friend immediately after " the date".

[nxylas]

3. Previous to what?

And what do you mean by mainstream? Captain Jack Harkness (Doctor Who/Torchwood) springs to mind, but those might not be considered mainstream shows in the US (though they are in the UK).

[TheWraith]

4. By mainstream, I mainly mean shows aimed at a general audience

As opposed to edge or genre shows like Queer As Folk, Oz, et al.

Previous meaning "previous to now."

[Cheap_Trick]

6. It would seem Mr. Gaeta from Battlestar Galactica

is bi-sexual. In the current webisodes, we find that he's involved with Mr Hoshi but while on New Caprica he was involved with a #8 Cylon (Grace Park).

[Wildewolfe]

10. You have the Baltar/6/3 Love trio on that same show.

Fourth season I think, as well as a 6 and Admiral Caine (though that may not indicate bisexuality).

[TheWraith]

11. That was actually what had prompted me to ask.

I was wondering how many there have been, if any others.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Interesting that the only examples seem to be from SF shows. nt

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. Speculative fiction has always been ahead of the curve

If there were more shows based on a fantasy theme, you would probably find a higher percentage of gay and bisexual characters there, too, when compared with more mainstream stuff. I think this is because writers of speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, alternative history and related genres) themselves tend to be more open-minded and willing to put their thoughts into prose.

[TheWraith]

13. I tend to agree. There's a very fine SF novel trilogy by John Varley...

...Published 1979 to 1984, in which lesbianism and bisexuality, including bisexual romance, is a major theme, at a time when more mainstream lit was barely thinking about it. (The Gaean Trilogy, in case anyone's wondering: Titan, Wizard, and Demon. Good books.)

[DarkTirade]

17. There's also The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman (sp?)

its been about ten years since I've read it, but if from what I remember the basic premise is that faster-than-light travel isn't really faster than light, just faster for the ships. So the main character, who was drafted into an interstellar war, ends up basically leaving earth and coming back in 50 years, then a few hundred, ect. At a certain point in this timeline the earth starts to get overpopulated... so homosexual relationships are more and more common as a way to still pair off but keep from reproducing. Eventually they become the norm, and he ends up with a new crew from that generation. He's the one who gets referred to as 'queer'. And its hinted that at least two of the crew have latent 'straight' feelings that they keep closeted.

If I recall correctly, I think that's the book he wrote as a juxatposition to the simple military us vs. them very pro-military sci fi book Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. (which only VAGUELY resembles the Hollywood movie from the 90s, so if you've seen that don't think you know the book. :P)

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. Jack Harkness, from the revived Dr. Who and its spin-off, Torchwood

There is a Wikipedia article on the character.

[DarkTirade]

15. I'd say he's more pansexual than bisexual.

[Withywindle]

18. Toshiko, too.

She had that affair with that alien who took a human female shape. The one who gave her the pendant that let her read minds. And Ianto. He had a girlfriend before he got involved with Jack. And Owen did have that alien-pheromone-inspired kiss with a man...

...are there any purely straight characters on that show?

[TechBear_Seattle]

20. I don't think so

I don't watch it very often, but I have always enjoyed it. I seem to remember one episode where one of the female characters was teased for being monosexual, though.

[Withywindle]

27. Yup.

Rhys, maybe?

Nah, I love that show for its shameless bisexual fanservice--no one is 100% straight or gay; everyone is potentially seducible by anyone. In the midst of all that Rift business, of course. :D

[nxylas]

21. Gwen kissed a woman too

But again that was under the influence of alien pheromone, so it's debatable whether that counts.

[One_Life_To_Give]

12. Doc on Grays Anatomy

The Orthopedic Surgeon was Married to one of the Male interns before she had the Lesbian relationship with the Cardiac Surgeon.

[GodlessBiker]

14. George Costanza? "It" moved when a masseur rubbed him.

[nxylas]

16. Well, if we're going that route, then how about Stephen Colbert?

There are frequent hints that the character he plays on the Colbert Report has closeted/latent bisexual leanings.

[sui generis]

19. Karen Walker!

[xchrom]

22. bless you for that, lad! bless you. nt

[marimour]

23. Two and a Half Men

Judith, who played Alan's ex wife. For a short time she was with a woman, but i think she then ended up marrying another guy, which would probably make her bisexual overall. Simone on the soap Passions (she was black and bisexual) so that was another big step.

[marimour]

24. thinking back there are a good number of bisexual women characters

bisexual men on the other hand is another story.

[mitchtv]

25. Dr Liz Torres on Grey's Anatomy

?

[Sebastian Doyle]

28. Does "The Real World" count as "mainstream TV"?

It's been around for 20 seasons now, and pretty much started the whole "reality show" thing, so I guess it sort of qualifies. Though it's eMpTyV and not a "major network".

Anyway, their new season started tonight, and out of 8 cast members, there's a bisexual woman, a gay guy, and a post-op transgendered woman. I think they have always had one gay cast member on that show (though I haven't kept up with the last several seasons, so I'm not sure about that.)

[Creideiki]

29. Angela on "Bones"