"Love, Sidney" (1981) TV series 1981-1983

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

28 October 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A middle-aged gay artist shares his New York apartment with a single mother and her little girl.

Plot Keywords:

Single Mother | New York City | Roommate | Commercial Artist | Actress

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Tony Randall	...	Sidney Shore (44 episodes, 1981-1983)
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Laurie Morgan (44 episodes, 1981-1983)
Kaleena Kiff	...	Patti Morgan (44 episodes, 1981-1983)
Chip Zien	...	Jason Stoller (29 episodes, 1981-1983)
Alan North	...	Judge Mort Harris (18 episodes, 1981-1982)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Warner Bros. Television

Trivia:

Even though Sidney was openly gay in the television movie that the show was based on, the producers toned down that aspect of his personality when the show premiered due to the fact that they were afraid that they would not get any sponsors for a show featuring an openly gay character.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gimme a Break!: Love, Kidney (#2.12)" (1983)

Soundtrack:

Friends Forever

NOT the first gay character in a series!

That honor belongs to Jodie Dallas, played by Billy Crystal, on Susan Harris's sitcom "Soap." Tony Randall's Sidney Shorr was a simple follow-up, based on a sentimental TV-movie called "Sidney Shorr: A Girl's Best Friend." The person who posted such a hateful message about the show seems to forget that Randall wasn't a young gay man dancing disco every night. He was a mature man, not romantically involved, and not involved with the bar scene. There are all types of gays, just like there are all kinds of straights, and Randall shouldn't be condemned for not living up to someone's cliched stereotype. Admittedly, the show wasn't stellar, and Randall wasn't doing his best work. But undoubtedly it helped change the perceptions about homosexuality among some older people.