I think this show gets overlooked when it comes to gay characters on TV. Of course they existed on TV in the early 1970s on All In The Family where a gay character is in an episode. That was ground breaking. However to have a recurring gay character was not common. This show had an openly gay character for several episodes yet you never hear how it was groundbreaking especially since it was 1979? We hear about the Golden Girls, Dynasty, and other shows but Archie Bunker's Place really was ground breaking for its time.
Can anyone think of another show that had a recurring gay character before 1979?

Can anyone think of another show that had a recurring gay character before 1979?

The Corner Bar
Hot L Baltimore
Soap

Soap's character was to laugh at. That was the joke on a show that was spoofing everything. The waiter on Archie Bunker's Place had no stereotypes and was just working at the bar. Many characters were to laugh at being gay like Threes Company even though Jack was not gay. They were full of gay stereotypes and used for comedy purposes only. That was what the SOAP character was. I should have clarified to not include characters that were only cast for jokes.

Actually I that Fred was poorly conceived. After the initial shock value, they didn't have much of a roadmap for the character. In The Cook Veronica made it clear they were being hired as a package deal. Yet a few episodes later Fred quit but Veronica stayed. And Veronica never mentioned him again.

Actually I that Fred was poorly conceived. After the initial shock value, they didn't have much of a roadmap for the character. In The Cook Veronica made it clear they were being hired as a package deal. Yet a few episodes later Fred quit but Veronica stayed. And Veronica never mentioned him again.
It was done for shock value to irk Archie no doubt. But I give credit to the show for not making him a joke or mockery. He was in like 3 or 4 episodes and I think he was the main plot in at least one of them.