Homicide Stories

How Tim went Bi.

Uh…you’re welcome?

Today we do the story behind the story - and the one behind that.

But first a comment about the above image: I’d never seen it before. Can’t remember when it was shot - maybe after doing a film called Delusion - who knows? My wife MADE me use it - can you imagine?? I had first Googled “Tim Bayliss Bisexual Homicide”, and when that produced meh photos, I pivoted to “Kyle Secor Bisexual Homicide”. Viola! This is why I love research.

Onward…

Once upon a time, there was a Baltimore detective who couldn’t decide between men or women….

My oldest daughter reminded me this morning that my wife and I have carved out our own little niche in TV history. She also mentioned, to my chagrin, that we have ‘one-upped’ each other about it, in a humorous way, throughout her entire life. Daughters keep ya honest.

If there were an award for what we’ve accomplished, it would look something like this:

First Married Couple to Play LGBTQ Characters on Network TV -

Before They Were Married -

Pre 1992 -

And Before It Was a Thing.

Short and sweet.

As usual, I took the dramatic route, while Kari went the comedic one. She was on Seinfeld for three episodes (Season 4 - The Outing, The Smelly Car, The Pilot), playing George’s girlfriend, Allison, who ‘turns’ gay after dating George - a little taste 4:08

Mine was in 1988 on St. Elsewhere playing a gay character who is HIV positive.

These early supporting roles we played were written to shed light on the main characters’ egos, ignorance, and biases, and ramp up discussions around water coolers everywhere. Kari’s character poked yet another hole in George’s fragile manhood balloon, and my Brett Johnston character addressed nearly every prejudice and fear at a time when the AIDs epidemic was finding its footing as a dramatic talking point in the film and TV world.

Then, it was Homicide and a detective whose love boundaries blurred over many seasons.

Oh, Timothy.