To ascertain the audience's perception of the homosexual stereotyped character in reference to the social contact variable, two groups were shown a television situational comedy that depicted two homosexual characters. The two groups, one composed of 45 homosexual and the other of 95 heterosexual college students, were then asked to evaluate the show and the characters' interactions by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into three sections: background information, including media habits and attitudes; perceptions of the television show and its characters; and information concerning interpersonal relationships. An analysis of the responses revealed that the homosexual sample felt that the homosexual television characters were partially unrepresentative of their culture and that they were stereotyped. Heterosexuals with homosexual social contacts more readily agreed with the homosexuals' evaluation of the stereotypic nature of the television characters than did heterosexuals with no gay social contacts. Both groups of heterosexuals, however, indicated that the characters were partially representative of the homosexual community. The findings also indicated that homosexuals are most offended by stereotypes in general on television, followed by heterosexuals with homosexual social contacts. Those least offended by television stereotypes in general were the heterosexuals with no homosexual social contacts. (FL)