History HeterosexualLifePartners / LiveActionTV

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenberg. It made for a bit of awkwardness when Willow came out as gay, partially because they had grown apart quite a bit during that season and Buffy had ''no clue'' until then. It's given shippers more ammunition than every bullet in every war ever.
** Angelus and Spike were close friends at one point. When Angelus got a soul and became Angel they didn't see each other much for about a hundred years. Their mutual hatred of each other (and subsequent HoYay) was only escalated because they used to be this trope.

** Chandler and Ross were this during their college years. By the time the shows starts, Ross's place has been taken by Joey (though Chandler calls both of them his best friend), but it's clear from the flashbacks they were very close, including making life-long pacts and spending holidays together. By the end of the series, the three guys are more-or-less a Heterosexual Life-Partners unit, with Chandler in the center.

* ''Series/TheWestWing'': Jed and Leo spend almost all their time together, they have several old married couple-like moments, engage in tiffs and squabbles that never stick, talk excessively and pointlessly, get antsy and downtrodden when separated, etc. They were friends many, many years before Jed became the President of the United States and Leo his Chief of Staff and closest advisor, and therefore their working relationship (which takes up the vast majority of their waking hours) fits their friendship like a glove. There's a rather hilarious moment in one of the season one DVDExtras where Creator/MartinSheen and Creator/JohnSpencer agree that they're the "parents" of the TrueCompanions that is the main cast, but each believe that they're the husband and the other is the wife. (This troper is fairly sure that someone affiliated with the show called Abbey and Leo the President's "wife and mistress" at one point).

%% * ''Series/{{Bones}}'':
%% ** Zack Addy and Jack Hodgins were this before Zack was written out.
%% ** Brennan and Angela have had this throughout the entire series, having become best friends before the series %% even began and staying that way ever since.

%% * ''Series/CriminalMinds'':
%% ** Hotch and Rossi, so very, very much. As the two oldest team members and the TeamMom and TeamDad of the BAU, this is not surprising.
%% ** Morgan and Reid also definitely qualify.
%% ** When Prentiss was still on the show, she, JJ, and Garcia were a Heterosexual Life Trio example.

%% * ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'':
%% ** Ann and Leslie.

** Apollo and Starbuck from the classic show. Aside from almost always being each other's wingman and even playing on the same team at Triad, both warriors appear to be worried about each other often. Starbuck even gives a hint of jealousy when Apollo [[spoiler:is to marry Serina in "Lost Planet of the Gods.]] In "The Living Legend":

%% * ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'': Hercules and Iolaus.

** Had Julian Bashir and Elim Garak are this under all the banter, at least when they're not straying into full-on HoYay territory. Bashir clearly cares about Garak a great deal, taking it upon himself to personally care for Garak while he's in withdrawal (despite Garak screaming abuse at him) and ultimately risking his life to find a cure when the problem turns more serious. For his part, Garak probably cares about Bashir more than anyone else in the world, even if he doesn't show it in the normal ways. A particularly defining moment in their friendship comes in "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS05E14InPurgatorysShadow In Purgatory's Shadow]]", when Garak [[spoiler:lets Bashir listen in on his final conversation with Tain before the latter's death, a conversation which reveals Garak's ultimate secret.]]

** Had Julian Bashir and Elim Garak are this under all the banter, at least when they're not straying into full-on HoYay territory. Bashir clearly cares about Garak a great deal, taking it upon himself to personally care for Garak while he's in withdrawal (despite Garak screaming abuse at him) and ultimately risking his life to find a cure when the problem turns more serious. For his part, Garak probably cares about Bashir more than anyone else in the world, even if he doesn't show it in the normal ways. A particularly defining moment in their friendship comes in "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS05E14InPurgatorysShadow In Purgatory's Shadow]]", when Garak [[spoiler:lies to Tain on his deathbed to let Bashir listen in on their final conversation, a conversation which reveals Garak's ultimate secret.]]

** Doctor Bashir and Chief O'Brien spent so much time together on various projects and on hobby activities that O'Brien's wife Keiko complained about it. They have an argument over it where Bashir says he's wildly in love with Ezri (female, now) but he "likes [O'Brien] more", and O'Brien doesn't feel the same. O'Brien may not immediately reciprocate Bashir's feelings in one scene, but there's a scene where the two are discussing an argument O'Brien is having with Keiko, in which O'Brien says something to Bashir like "Why can't she be more like--" and though he breaks off and then ends with "-- a man," it's obvious he was going to say "you." It's fairly obvious from the conversation that O'Brien feels the same way, even if he can't admit it to Julian. Which is a hallmark of their relationship.
--->''"People either love you or hate you. I hated you when we first met. But now, well, now I -- don't. Really. Now that is from the heart. I really do...not hate you anymore."''

%% ** Then there's the young Ferengi Nog with his human pal, Jake Sisko.
%% ** Had Julian Bashir and Elim Garak; both actors remarked during interviews that they had deliberately played up the homoerotic undertones of the characters' relationship, and Andrew Robinson later wrote a novel, ''[[Literature/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineAStitchInTime A Stitch in Time]]'', about Garak's life in which he clearly depicted the alien Garak as bisexual. Later Creator/{{Paramount}} script writers had abruptly put an end to the Bashir and Garak subplots.
%%
%% This context says almost nothing about their actual relationship and friendship on the show, which should be focus and central to the write-up.
%%

** Picard and Riker, in a lesser extent. Both would usually hang out during their free time, and it is Riker who become Picard's surrogate father in one episode where Picard and three others were de-aged, implying the closest bond among his crew.

** Jack and Eric develop into this in later seasons.

%% ** Jack and Eric.

* ''Series/{{Merlin}}'':

* ''Series/{{Life On Mars 2006}}[=/=]Series/AshesToAshes'': Ray Carling and Chris Skelton, in season 2 the hints have been flying thick and fast that there might be a ''little'' more than that going on with Ray's chronic resentment of Chris's girlfriend (which admittedly got better during the third season--the resentment, though, not the hints). To wit, Alex's letters for the entire team to be opened in the event of her departure; everyone opens theirs right away, and all we hear about Ray's is that it contains the word "repressed." [[LampshadeHanging This bit of dialogue]] from the season 3 finale:

** Rachel and Monica count having been friends their whole lives who drifted apart during their college years. They become best friends during in their mid twenties when Rachel moves in with Monica and Rachel "grows up" with her more practical friend. Unlike Chandler and Joey, they don't stay quite as close after Chandler and Monica get together. (Probably because Joey had a lot of affection for Monica, while Rachel didn't get on as well with Chandler).

** Will and Jazz are a mild version, since Jazz only appears sporadically on the show. However they have their own handshake, they have been compared to a married couple, and they even have a break-up episode. Their actors are best friends in real life, too.

** The eponymous characters Drake and Josh. Step-brother who also happen to be inseparable friends, even if they couldn't be more different.

%% * ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'':
%% ** Cory and Shawn.

* ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'': Emma and Manny who have been best friends since they were four. At one point in high school, Manny lived with Emma and slept in the same bed. And than when they went to college, Emma made sure that they were roommates. Emma ended up marrying Spinner, who was best friends with Jay, who ended up engaged to Manny.
%% ** JT and Toby.

%% * ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'':
%% ** The eponymous characters Drake and Josh.
%% ** The two nerds Craig and Eric.

%% * ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'':
%% ** Will and Jazz.
%% ** Although Will was slow to admit it, he was also this with Carlton after a while, especially in college where they both rarely spend time with anyone else.

%% * Nickelodeon and Disney teen sitcoms:
%% ** ''Series/DrakeAndJosh''
%% ** ''Series/PairOfKings''
%% ** ''Series/ZekeAndLuther''

%% * ''Series/OneTreeHill'':
%% ** Brooke and Peyton.

* ''Series/{{House}}'': House and Wilson. In the second and third seasons, the writers make light of the shipping.

* ''Series/TheWestWing'':
** Jed and Leo spend almost all their time together, they have several old married couple-like moments, engage in tiffs and squabbles that never stick, talk excessively and pointlessly, get antsy and downtrodden when separated, etc. They were friends many, many years before Jed became the President of the United States and Leo his Chief of Staff and closest advisor, and therefore their working relationship (which takes up the vast majority of their waking hours) fits their friendship like a glove.
** Jed even teases Leo about it!
** There's a rather hilarious moment in one of the season one DVDExtras where Creator/MartinSheen and Creator/JohnSpencer agree that they're the "parents" of the TrueCompanions that is the main cast, but each believe that they're the husband and the other is the wife. (This troper is fairly sure that someone affiliated with the show called Abbey and Leo the President's "wife and mistress" at one point).
** Sam and Josh as well, until Sam was written out and Josh got more focused on Donna.
** Also, Ed and Larry, in later seasons. This pairing is the most obvious in the series, especially once many characters admitted that they weren't certain which was Ed and which was Larry, they were simply 'Ed and Larry.'
* ''Series/WhiteCollar'': Neal Caffrey and Peter Burke of this USA show definitely fit the bill, as Neal is a CI under Peter's watch for a four-year term. Peter even says "For the next four years, I own you." Though they start out antagonistic with each other, as the series has carried on, they have shown more and more care for each other. Most recently, when Peter was kidnapped, Neal turned over a ring that he had saved for his late girlfriend, Kate, as ransom.
** Hell, when Neal is about to flee the country with Kate, Peter finds them and asks Neal to stay. Neal ends up choosing Peter. [[spoiler:And then the BigBad kills Kate because of this]].

* ''Series/TheWire'':
** Herc and Carver for at least the first four seasons (maybe), complete with bickering.
** Bunk and [=McNulty=], definitely, although some might argue that it's simply because nobody else can drink as much as they can.
** The best case, though, for most of the series is Avon and Stringer. Friends from childhood, they ran their empire together, and could be counted on to come through for each other despite disagreements; it was almost as if they were married. Of course, [[spoiler:a lot of marriages end badly...]].
* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'': Applicable to the early seasons of the spin-off between Xena and Gabrielle...before it turned into LesYay.
* ''Series/YoungDrunkPunk'' has this with Ian and Shinky

* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'': George and Jerry. Not that there's anything wrong with that.... They even go as far as to spend large part of an episode on George having a girlfriend who looks an awful lot like Jerry. It turns out to be more than he is able to handle, though.

* ''Series/SesameStreet'': Bert and Ernie, and many a joke has been made about this one. WordOfGod says that Bert & Ernie were originally conceived to be brothers, but the show's creators saw more storyline potential with them as an ''Odd Couple'' pairing.

* ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand'': Spartacus has has two. In ''Blood and Sand'' it is Varro. In ''Vengeance'' and ''War of the Damned'' it is Agron. The latter is actually gay, but in that place and era this kind of detail mattered a lot less since Agron was a ManlyGay and he and Spartacus were BashBrothers.

* ''Series/StargateSG1'': Jack O'Neill and Daniel Jackson. The shipping that results is lampshaded in episode 200.
* ''Series/StargateAtlantis'': John Sheppard and Rodney [=McKay=] don't lack in this trope, either, with Sheppard's actor, Joe Flanigan, joking that the closest Sheppard ever came to a girlfriend on the show was [=McKay=].

** Kirk and Spock, as well as Kirk and Bones. Kirk and Spock's relationship grew exponentially over the course of the series, while Kirk and Bones were established to have been VERY close from the first episode, with their friendship reaching farther back than Kirk and Spock's. To say nothing of [[FoeYay Spock and Bones]].
** Their counterparts from the [[ContinuityReboot J.J. Abrams movie]] were set upon ''by the plot'' that they must end up like this. (Except less slashable, if J.J. has anything to say about it.)
** Chekov and Sulu are depicted this way in ''Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier''. Oddly, the rest of canon doesn't really show them to be more than friends and colleagues, though their relationship is expanded upon in some of the tie in novels (where for example Chekov is Godfather to Sulu's daughter).

** Had Julian Bashir and Elim Garak; both actors remarked during interviews that they had deliberately played up the homoerotic undertones of the characters' relationship, and Andrew Robinson later wrote a novel, ''[[Literature/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineAStitchInTime A Stitch in Time]]'', about Garak's life in which he clearly depicted the alien Garak as bisexual. Later, when Creator/{{Paramount}} script writers had abruptly put an end to the Bashir and Garak subplots, Doctor Bashir and Chief O'Brien spent so much time together on various projects and on hobby activities that O'Brien's wife Keiko complained about it. They have an argument over it where Bashir says he's wildly in love with Ezri (female, now) but he "likes [O'Brien] more", and O'Brien doesn't feel the same.
** O'Brien may not immediately reciprocate Bashir's feelings in this scene, but there's another earlier scene where the two are discussing an argument O'Brien is having with Keiko, in which O'Brien says something to Bashir like "Why can't she be more like--" and though he breaks off and then ends with "-- a man," it's obvious he was going to say "you." It's fairly obvious from the conversation that O'Brien feels the same way, even if he can't admit it to Julian. Which is a hallmark of their relationship.
*** Also: "People either love you or hate you. I hated you when we first met. But now, well, now I -- don't. Really. Now that is from the heart. I really do...not hate you anymore."
** Then there's the young Ferengi Nog with his human pal, Jake Sisko.

** Data and Geordi. Both of these guys bonded over their love of science's gadgets and gizmos, and could busy themselves for hours tinkering and theorizing. Considering that Geordi's firsthand knowledge of human feeling often made Data something of the pupil, it's no surprise that these two are frequently seen together.
** Picard and Riker, in a lesser extent. Both would usually hang out during their free time, and it is Riker who become Picard's surrogate father in one episode where Picard and three others were de-aged.
* Series/StarTrekVoyager:
** In this show, we have Tom Paris and Harry Kim. They play it cool most of the time, but whenever things get rough, it becomes clear how much they mean to each other.
** Seven of Nine and Captain Janeway, depending on how you ship. Janeway and Seven of Nine overlap with a mentor/pupil relationship.
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
** Dean and Sam Winchester can be seen as a literal case of this, since they've spent most of their lives with each other on the road, Dean having practically raised Sam. Not to mention the fact that they're apparently "soul mates", making them Heterosexual Afterlife Partners as well. The show's creator, Creator/EricKripke, jokingly referred to Supernatural as "The epic love story of Sam and Dean".
** Spotlighted in the season 8 finale with Dean telling Sam there [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments isn't anything he would ever put in front of him]].
*** Dean telling him this was in response to Sam attempting to finish the trials--which would result in his death--because he didn't want to let Dean down. There's a reason these guys have been referred to in-show as "psychotically, irrationally, erotically codependent on each other".
* ''Series/{{Survivor}}: Tocantins'': Stephen and J.T. were constantly referred to as the "BFF Boys" or borderline boyfriends by fans during their season. J.T. [[spoiler: certainly manipulated the emotions of their friendship to his advantage at Final Tribal Council to win himself a unanimous victory]], if later interviews and commentary are any indication.
* ''Teachers'': Brian and Kurt from this British series are even commented on for acting very similar to a married couple. They rarely have any screen time apart, even when one of them is in a semi-serious relationship. They also share a flat with each other.

** Scott and Stiles have been best friends since kindergarten and stay at each other's side through everything, from turning into a werewolf, asking out a girl, being possessed by supernatural creatures or making the lacrosse team. According to the actors, their closeness is partly because they're both missing a parent and depend on each other more because of it. Hilariously the other characters are all too aware of how inseparable they are, and the only effective punishment their parents and teachers have is separating the two of them. And that's not even mentioning the amount of times they put their lives on the line for each other, one episode has Stiles risking his life to talk Scott out of committing suicide, while Scott's LoveInterest is standing right there. The two of them also plan to live together after leaving home, even though they both have serious girlfriends by this point.
--> Stiles: "Scott, you're my best friend and I need you. You're my brother. If you want to do this, you're just gonna have to take me with you."
** Allison and Lydia also develop into this.
** Jackson and Danny (subverted slightly in that Danny is gay, however, he hasn't the slightest attraction to Jackson as anything more than friends--which, somewhat hilariously, annoys Jackson, as he sees himself as being everyone's type.)
--->'''Danny''': I'm supposed to watch you in bed? You remember all the times I told you you're not my type?\\
'''Jackson''': Just do it. Oh, and FYI: I'm ''everyone's'' type.
** Also, as of season 4, we have Liam and Mason. It was feared that they would be Jackson/Danny 2.0 (and in a sense they are, with Liam being straight (as of so far) and Mason being gay) but soon shown to be baby Skittles--and making them very important to the fandom with their preciousness.
* ''Series/That70sShow'': [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan Eric and Hyde]], [[BrainlessBeauty Kelso]] and [[FunnyForeigner Fez]], and--sometimes--[[TomboyAndGirlyGirl Donna and Jackie]].
* ''Series/TwinPeaks'': Special Agent Dale Cooper and Sheriff Harry S. Truman have a real bromance going on. Despite their very different characters they are endlessly patient with each other. In fact, they are visibly appreciative of each other's differences. Gazing, tender smiles, nose tweaking--it's all there.
* ''Viva la Bam'': Bam and Novak generally refer to each other as 'life partner' for the laughs, seeing as they were attached at the hip.
* ''Series/WalkerTexasRanger'': [[Creator/ChuckNorris Cordell Walker]] and [[BlackBestFriend Jimmy Trivette]].
* ''Series/WeirdScience'': Gary and Wyatt in the 90s television show.

** Jed and Leo are practically the embodiment of the trope, spending almost all their time together, having several old married couple-like moments, engaging in tiffs and squabbles that never stick, talking excessively and pointlessly, getting antsy and downtrodden when separated, etc. They were friends many, many years before Jed became the President of the United States and Leo his Chief of Staff and closest advisor, and therefore their working relationship (which takes up the vast majority of their waking hours) fits their friendship like a glove.

* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'':

* ''Series/TheProfessionals'': Bodie and Doyle.
* ''Series/{{Psych}}'': Shawn and Gus, who have been best friends since they were six years old and are practically joined at the hip at all times.
** Gus later feels betrayed when he finds out that his sister had a fling with Shawn.
** When Shawn proposes to Juliet in the series finale, he even says "Will you marry us?" since Gus will always be a part of their lives.
* ''Series/PushingDaisies'': Chuck and Olive become this. Yes, Chuck's [[TomboyishName a woman]].
** Emerson and Ned qualify as well. Not only do they work together on Emerson's PI cases, but in the process of working those cases they come to know each others' deep, dark secrets which ultimately connects them on a personal as well as a professional level.

* ''Series/ReadyOrNot'': This show ran on Busy and Amanda being best friends. The finale shows a flashback when they met as small girls, Amanda crying and Busy helping her.

** Although Olaf Petersen only makes a handful of appearances, a strong impression is given that, before the accident, he and Lister were Heterosexual Life Partners. Very close friends, same hobbies and lifestyle, both easy-going... Lister apparently has a tattoo that says "I Love Petersen".
** Rimmer and Lister could be considered ''involuntary'' Heterosexual Life Partners; there's simply no-one else for them to talk to. They live (well, in Rimmer's case, ''exist'') in a mile-long abandoned spaceship, but still sleep in their old crew bunks in the same room. The episode "Blue" plays with this trope: Lister finds himself inexplicably missing Rimmer and keeps reflecting on all the good times they had [[ButtMonkey (most of them at Rimmer's expense)]]. After this culminates in an [[HoYay infamous dream]], Kryten takes it upon himself to remind Lister [[StatusQuoIsGod what he really thinks of Rimmer -- that he's a massive jerk]].

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': TheMaster and The Doctor used to be friends before [[WeUsedToBeFriends they became enemies.]] Even then, it's sometimes portrayed as a friendly rivalry, with the Third Doctor noting that he looks forward to their next confrontation at the end of the Master's debut story, and the Master once remarking that "a universe without the Doctor scarcely bears thinking about".

"The Living Legend"

** Yuuki and Tomoko from ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'', though at times Tomoko's reactions come off more like a StalkerWithACrush. This trope applies even more to their actresses Fumika Shimizu and Shiho; in the Fourze Quiz segments included on the [=DVDs=], they tell each other "I love you" a lot, and when they're on the same team they spend most of the short holding hands, semi-snuggling, giggling, and whispering to each other.

%% This example talks only of shipping and nothing of their actual friendship-

* %% ''Series/TheMiddleman'': Wendy and Lacey. Years later the actresses were hired(?) by David Lynch to have an epic romantic falling out in a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWzy7Wk_6ZU music video]].

* ''Creator/MorecambeAndWise'':
** This show make this older than a LOT of people think, apparently. As do ''Music/FlandersAndSwann''.
** Morecambe and Wise were always shown as very close and as quarreling like an old married couple, but were reluctant for years to do their first [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFgWonKx3U8 sharing a bed]] skit, even though their relationship is clearly platonic.
*** Supposedly they were both immediately brought round to the idea by one of their writers pointing out that Laurel and Hardy shared a bed on film.
* ''Series/TheMuppetShow'': JustForFun/StatlerAndWaldorf.
** ''Series/MuppetsTonight'': Pepe the Prawn and Seymour the elephant. They were stage partners and did almost everything together. Though while Pepe went on to star in more muppety stuff, Seymour was put on a bus.
** Also Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat especially in Film/TheMuppetChristmasCarol and Film/MuppetsFromSpace.
* ''Series/MyLifeInFilm'': Jones and Art.
* ''Series/TheMysticKnightsOfTirNaNog'': [[TheHero Rohan]] and [[TheLancer Angus]], "friends for life."
* ''The Naked Trucker and T-Bones'': In both their live stage show and the short-lived television show.
* ''Series/TheNanny'': Fran and Val. They've been best friends since kindergarten, spend almost all their free time together and even took each other to prom. In one episode where a Cambodian girl they sponsored in high school comes to town they almost immediately begin acting like a married couple with a teenage daughter, even going to couples counselling.
** Val once implied that she occasionally had sexual fantasies about Fran.

** Gibbs and Franks.
* ''Series/NCISLosAngeles'': Callan and Sam are this trope, written that way intentionally, even to the point other characters make comments about them being a married couple.
* ''Series/{{Neighbours}}'': Harold and Lou. They actually started off as fierce love rivals but now they're like an old married couple. Also, from the same show, Steph and Libby.

** also Jess and Cece seem to be this, having been friends since grade school
* Nickelodeon and Disney teen sitcoms are full of these: ''Series/ZekeAndLuther'', ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'', ''Series/PairOfKings''.
* ''Series/NightAndDay'': Cohabiting chums Dennis Doyle and Sam Armstrong spent much of the series sharing a double bed.
* ''Series/NipTuck'': Sean and Christian have been best friends and colleagues since college, and Christian is godfather to Sean's children. The show does actually explore the possibility of Christian having repressed homosexual feelings for Sean when he starts having [[HomoeroticDream dreams about them being lovers]], but they both conclude it doesn't really mean anything.
* ''Series/NorthAndSouthUS'': The two principle characters of the series, Orry Main and George Hazard. There is also Orry's cousin, Charles Main, and George's younger brother, Billy Hazard. Of course, things get awkward when the two brothers end up siding with the Union and the cousins with the Confederacy when the Civil War kicks off.
* ''Series/{{Numb3rs}}'': Colby and David fit the trope to a "T", even displaying jealousy at each other's outside friendships and acting heartbroken when one or the other is removed from the group.
* ''Series/TheOddCouple'': Oscar and Felix.
** Falani and Eric during season six, this being outrageous fortune everyone ignores the first word when talking about them.
* ''Series/TheOldGuys'': Tom and Roy, mostly by process of elimination (spousal death, divorce and being incredibly unlucky with women).
* ''Series/OnceUponATime'': [[Literature/LittleRedRidingHood Red]] and [[Literature/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs Snow]]. They meet when Snow is fresh on the run from her evil stepmother, and remain close friends until the [[IdentityAmnesia curse]] takes them. At one point Red even risks her life by [[spoiler: [[TheBigBadWolf going into wolf form]]]] to give Charming time to escape and find Snow. It helps that it's also implied that Red's grandmother ends up being a ParentalSubstitute to Snow.
* ''Series/OneTreeHill'': Brooke and Peyton. Also, Marvin "Mouth" [=McFadden=] and Antwon "Skills" Taylor.
* ''Series/{{Oz}}'': Busmalis and Rebadow. Despite Rebadow [[spoiler: once trying to kill Busmalis]], they've got the "old married couple" thing down pat.
* ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'': Ann and Leslie. Ben and Chris.
* ''Series/PawnStars'': Chumlee and Corey. Despite the fact that Chum annoys Corey, they care about each other.
* ''Series/PeepShow'': Mark and Jeremy. In the season 5 finale, [[spoiler:Sophie is pregnant and it might be either Mark's or Jeremy's. Mark comments on Sophie's increasingly erratic behavior and says that if she continues like that, they can just adopt the baby ''"like those gay dads"'']]
* Distant cousins Balki and Larry from ''Series/PerfectStrangers'', of an OddCouple variation.

* ''Series/{{Popular}}'': Josh and Sugardaddy. In one episode, Sugardaddy is jealous of all the time Josh spends with his girlfriend.

** Jason and Tommy. Several seasons had the Red Ranger have this relationship with the SixthRanger. Funnily enough, this went both ways with these two: in the first season, Jason was Red and Tommy was Sixth; in ''[[Series/PowerRangersZeo Zeo]]'', Tommy was Red while Jason was Sixth (a replacement Sixth, but still).
** Interestingly, the source material for the first season ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'', had their counterparts (Geki and Burai) as long-lost brothers.
** ''[[Series/PowerRangersInSpace In Space]]'' had Andros and Zhane. Zhane was injured and placed in cryogenic freeze, Andros' looking at his tube had a "lost love" look to it.
** Also, it's not just Power Rangers who have this trope. Even their enemies can also do it, such as Rito Revolto and Goldar, despite the latter hating to hang around with the former.
** [[ThoseTwoGuys Bulk and Skull]].
** Jake and Noah in ''[[Series/PowerRangersMegaforce Megaforce]]''.
** Gia and Emma in ''[[Series/PowerRangersMegaforce Megaforce]]''.
** Arguably Troy and Roboknight also Argus and Prince Vekar in ''[[Series/PowerRangersMegaforce Megaforce]]''.
* ''Series/PrettyLittleLiars'': A Heterosexual Life Quartet in the form of the four Liars: Spencer, Emily, Aria, and Hanna.

* ''Series/Daredevil2015'': Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson have a bit of this, having quickly become friends upon meeting at Columbia Law School, sticking together through internships at Landman & Zack before going into business as Nelson & Murdock.
* ''UsefulNotes/DavyCrockett'': Davy and Georgie in this Creator/{{Disney}} mini-series.
* ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'': JT and Toby. Even more so with Emma and Manny, who have been best friends since they were four. At one point in high school, Manny lived with Emma and slept in the same bed. And than when they went to college, Emma made sure that they were roomates. Emma ended up marrying Spinner, who was heterosexual life partners with Jay, who ended up enganged to Manny.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** TheMaster and The Doctor used to be this before [[WeUsedToBeFriends they became enemies.]] Even then, it's sometimes portrayed as a friendly rivalry, with the Third Doctor noting that he looks forward to their next confrontation at the end of the Master's debut story, and the Master once remarking that "a universe without the Doctor scarcely bears thinking about."
** The Second Doctor and Jamie, just as their actors were in real life.
** Also, the Doctor (Third and Fourth especially) and [[TheBrigadier Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]].
** You could class the Eleventh Doctor and Rory Williams as this.
*** Even more so with Eleventh Doctor and Craig Owens. The two times he appeared, despite not being a true companion. The Doctor truly cares about him and admitted Craig as one of his best friends. Heck, a running gag between them is that people keep thinking they're a gay couple.
* ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'': In flashbacks shown, Caroline (the future Echo) and Bennett (Echo's future foil) became fast friends in college and were heading in this direction--until a certain bomb went off....
* ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'': The eponymous characters. Also the two nerds Craig and Eric.

-->'''Oswald''': "So I was drinkin' the other night, and I got to throwin' up and I got to thinkin'..." (long, rambling exposition about him wanting to move back in follows) \\
'''Lewis''': "Hey. You had me at 'throwin' up'."
* ''Series/DueSouth'': Fraser and both Rays.
* ''Series/{{Emergency}}'': John and Roy.

* ''Series/FakingIt'': Karma and Amy, right up to the point where Amy kisses Karma to "prove" they're lesbians (ItMakesSenseInContext), and Amy starts to have...bigger feelings for Karma...

* ''Series/{{Flashpoint}}'':
** Spike and Lou are this for the first two seasons, making it all the more heartbreaking when [[spoiler: Lew [[KilledOffForReal is killed]]. Making matters worse, he was essentially doing Spike's job at the time, and Spike tried to save him but was unable to]]. The series finale makes it clear that Spike still feels tremendous guilt over [[spoiler:Lew's death]], so much so that Parker has to remind him that this situation is different and he can't let himself get lost in thoughts of the past.
** Ed Lane has elements of this with both Greg Parker and Wordy at various points throughout the show.
* ''Series/{{Frasier}}'':
** Frasier and Niles Crane fit this trope perfetly. Granted, they are brothers, but they are also best friends and constant companions. The fact that they act very much like a married couple gets a LampshadeHanging more than once, and after Niles [[spoiler:marries Daphne]], he spends as much time with his brother as he does with his wife.
** Made all the more clear when Frasier becomes more and more depressed and jealous during the later seasons after [[spoiler:Daphne starts living with Niles]], who no longer has quite as much time for his brother as he used to, although this is more because Frasier's unreasonably clingy rather than any real distancing, as the two of them fit this trope through the last season:

* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'':
** Will and Jazz.
** Although Will was slow to admit it, he was also this with Carlton after a while, especially in college where they both rarely spend time with anyone else.

** Chandler and Joey. Roomates who do everything together, up to and including buying joint furniture and raising their chick and duck. Season 2 even has a 'break up' story. While Joey is quite happy when Chandler marries Monica (with whom Joey has a LikeBrotherAndSister relationship with), he's upset when they announce they're moving away...until Chandler and Monica show him his 'Joey Room' at their house. (Sort of extending it into OneTrueThreesome territory).
** Rachel and Monica count having been friends their whole lives but, unlike Chandler and Joey, they don't stay quite as close after Chandler and Monica get together. (Probably because Joey had a lot of affection for Monica, while Rachel didn't get on as well with Chandler). They also drifted apart during their college years.
* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'': Walter Bishop and William Bell in this show by Creator/JJAbrams. In Season 3, Alt-Charlie and Alt-Lincoln.

** Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon were this in their youth, though by the time the series begins, they haven't seen one another in nine years. Robert tells Ned that he chose him as his brother over his ''actual'' brothers, and Ned is fiercely loyal to him. In "The Wolf and the Lion", Cersei snarks that she's sorry Robert's "marriage" to Ned Stark didn't work out.

** Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly. Jon's actor, Kit Harington, claims that Jon would fall apart without Sam.
** Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr. It helps that [[spoiler:Thoros is responsible for bringing Beric back from the dead six times.]]
** Rather tragically Deconstructed with foster brothers Robb and Theon--Robb wanted this kind of relationship with Theon, based off the one Ned had with Robert, but Theon ultimately [[spoiler: betrays him, which becomes a crucial factor in Robb's death.]]
** Missandei is visibly Daenerys' best friend, and they have a bond that is more than master and servant, with them discussing their love life and other issues more intimately and with much more candour and less regal airs than she displays to anyone else.
* ''Series/GeneralHospital'': Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan. Despite the numerous women in their lives, they will always choose each other. Fans call them Sason.

* ''Series/GilmoreGirls'': Everyone's favorite Mother/Daughter duo, The Gilmore Girls.
* ''Series/{{Glue}}'' gives us two examples Tina and Annie (roommates and best friends), and James and Rob, whose relationship is somewhat rocky but overall very supportive.

* ''Series/TheDailyShowWithJonStewart'' and ''Series/TheColbertReport'': Creator/JonStewart and Creator/StephenColbert, both in their on-air personas and in real life, culminating in TheReveal that [[spoiler:''The Colbert Report'' was really just one long correspondent's segment for ''The Daily Show'']]. Colbert even called himself [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings the Sam Gamgee to Stewart's Frodo Baggins]]! To cap it all off, Colbert (the real one) went off-script in Stewart's final episode to sincerely thank him for all he had done for all his correspondents over the years, culminating in the longtime friends hugging fiercely as the show went to commercial. And just to make it sweeter, one of the executive producers of ''Series/TheLateShowWithStephenColbert'' is none other than Jon Stewart. Nothing is '''ever''' going to tear ''this'' duo apart.

* ''Series/BosomBuddies'': Kip and Henry (AKA "Buffy and Hildy").
* ''Series/BostonLegal'':
** Denny Crane and Alan Shore. They discuss their relationship, as well as social opinion of such relationships, frequently. Alan even discussed the English word "love", and how it's a shame that people use it lightly and a further shame that you can't be precise about your meaning, and then firmly applied it to Denny: "I love you." All in a non-sexual way, and yet these two are more intimate than a good number of television married couples. Subverted in the series finale when they get married, making them literal (but not heterosexual) life partners.
** The two ''do'' end a lot of episodes with some pretty heavy duty male bonding moments--sitting on the balcony, drinking Scotch and...well, without more to go on we'll just have to assume that in this case, a cigar (or rather ''two'' cigars) ''is'' just a cigar. Probably.
** They have sleepovers on occasion, in addition to everything else, and have gone at least once on an extended fishing trip.
* ''Series/BostonPublic'': Steven Harper and Scott Guber.
* ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'': Cory and Shawn. And, oddly enough, so are their older brothers, Jack and Eric.
* ''Series/BroadCity'': Ilana and Abbi, with a large does of LesYay on Ilana's part.

** Angelus and Spike were this at one point. When Angelus got a soul and became Angel they didn't see each other much for about a hundred years. Their mutual hatred of each other (and subsequent HoYay) was only escalated because they used to be this trope.
* ''Series/BurnNotice'': Michael Westen and Sam Axe.
* ''Series/BykerGrove'': PJ and Duncan, played by Real Life HeterosexualLifePartners Ant & Dec.
* ''Series/CagneyAndLacey''.
* ''Series/{{Castle}}'': Detectives Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito, to the point where they have the same lottery numbers ("That way we both win and it's not awkward"). {{Lampshaded}} in "The Double Down":
-->'''Castle''': (to Esposito, after Ryan left abruptly) Don't worry, he still loves you.
* ''Series/CharliesAngels'': The three gals.
* ''Series/{{Cheers}}'': Norm Peterson and Cliff Clavin.
* ''Series/{{Chips}}'': Jon Baker and Frank Poncherello. But their actors...it's probably best if not mentioned.
* ''Series/{{Chuck}}'': Chuck and Morgan.

-->'''Brenda''': Now don't get angry. Lieutenants Flynn and Provenza...
-->'''Pope''': Already angry.
* ''Series/ColdCase'': Vera and Jefferies have their moments.
* ''Series/{{Community}}'': Troy and Abed are the epitome of this trope. They even get their own segment during the credits at the end of each episode.
* ''Series/{{Conan}}'': Conan and Andy.
* ''Series/CriminalMinds'', to the point that it has its own [[HoYay/CriminalMinds Ho Yay]] page:
** Hotch and Rossi, so very, very much. As the two oldest team members and the TeamMom and TeamDad of the BAU, this is not surprising.
** Morgan and Reid also definitely qualify.
** When Prentiss was still on the show, she, JJ, and Garcia were a Heterosexual Life Trio example.
* ''Series/{{CSI}}'': Nick Stokes and Warrick Brown. Similarly, Tim Speedle and Eric Delko of ''Series/CSIMiami''. Warrick and Nick are another couple that even the actors playing them appear to ship, calling it "good, healthy man love".
* ''Series/{{CSI NY}}'': Flack and Danny.

* ''Series/HawaiiFive0'': Steve and Danny were initially VitriolicBestBuds (with Danny in particular constantly complaining about Steve), yet they simply cannot seem to spend enough time together, to the extent that their work and personal lives have no separation at all. Steve is an HonoraryUncle to Danny's daughter Grace. They are both willing to die for (or simply with) each other. Also, they ManHug regularly and recently they have taken to openly saying "I love you" to each other.

* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'': Hiro and Ando. In one episode, Ando even commented, "That is how we roll." As a reply to something to the effect of, "You guys go to the bathroom together...?" Hiro used the same words in response to Ando saying, "You came back for me." It helps that he has a thing for Hiro's sister.
* ''Series/{{Highlander}}'': Has several: Mac and Richie, Mac and Joe, Mac and Connor, all four Horsemen, arguably Mac and Methos....

* ''Series/HowToMakeItInAmerica'': Ben and Cam. Pointed out at various points by other characters.
* ''Series/TheInbetweeners'': Will and Simon.
* ''Series/TheITCrowd'': Moss and Roy seem this way, even though Roy tries to deny it and Moss seems oblivious when it is mentioned:
-->'''Moss''': I do like Roy; I'm just not "curious."
-->'''Roy''': We are not a married couple ... and if anything ''I'm'' the husband!

-->'''Dee''' So you don’t think that two thirty-year-old men who spend every waking moment together is a little bit pathetic?
** Charlie and Frank are definitely this. Few others would tolerate the sqaulor they live in together, but more than that they each enthusiastically support each other's weird habits (like sewer scavenging), have their own traditions and games (like Nightcrawlers) and rely on each other to be able to explain their joint weirdness which is pretty much incomphrensible to anyone else, Gang included.
* ''Series/{{Jackass}}'': Chris Pontius and Steve-O sometimes give off this vibe, especially inasmuch as they eventually got their own show together, ''Series/{{Wildboyz}}''. Watch the "shark-fishing" skit in the second ''Jackass'' movie, when Pontius is helping Steve-O get the fishhook through his cheek. Pontius seems to be having sympathy pains.
* ''Series/JeevesAndWooster'': The title characters.

* ''Franchise/KamenRider'':
** Most protagonists and their deuteragnists have this dynamic.

** [[Series/KamenRiderBlade Kenzaki and Hajime]] are very similar to the above, and likewise it's hard to deny the depths of their friendship when [[spoiler: the former turns himself into a monster so the latter can continue to live among humanity]].

* ''Series/KeenEddie'': The professional friendship between Eddie Arlette and Monty Pippin is a prime example. Mark Valley: "You got to admit, whenever two guys have to spend an awful lot of time together, the question is going to come up. There's always that thing of, 'Oh my God, are we gay?' Like, not physically, but you're enjoying each other's company -- you know what I mean? It could be read that way, and we joke about it, but they're just two regular guys hanging out, spending an awful lot of time together."

* ''Series/{{Life On Mars 2006}}[=/=]Series/AshesToAshes'': Ray Carling and Chris Skelton, although as of season 2 the hints have been flying thick and fast that there might be a ''little'' more than that going on with Ray's chronic resentment of Chris's girlfriend (which admittedly got better during the third season--the resentment, though, not the hints). To wit, Alex's letters for the entire team to be opened in the event of her departure; everyone opens theirs right away, and all we hear about Ray's is that it contains the word "repressed." [[LampshadeHanging This bit of dialogue]] from the season 3 finale:
-->'''Shaz''': Don't panic, Ray. I ain't going to be no gooseberry. Blimey, I'm amazed you two never tied the knot.\\
'''Chris''': It's legal in Holland.\\
'''Ray''': Can we talk about something else like...women, or snooker?
* ''Series/TheLoneRanger'': The Lone Ranger and Tonto.

* ''Series/TheManFromUncle'':
** Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. Napoleon's steady stream of girlfriends (and Illya's occasional fling) does nothing to deter shippers, naturally.
** Especially considering that Illya repeatedly proves to be a more effective bait for Napoleon than the Girl of the Week.
** Add in the fact that the last time Illya actively pursues a girl is early in the second season and that Napoleon's dating steadily decreases to nothing, and the slash begins to look intentional.
*** By season four Napoleon only dates twice: once to steal a girl from Illya and in the other he takes Illya along as chauffeur.
* ''Series/{{MASH}}'': Hawkeye and BJ. "I'll never be able to shake you," Hawkeye says to BJ in the last episode.

** Morgana and her (possibly) half sister Morgause have an extremely close VillainousFriendship in season 3. They usually call each other "sister".
* ''Series/MiamiVice'': Crockett and Tubbs.
* ''Series/TheMiddleman'': Wendy and Lacey. Years later the actresses were hired(?) by David Lynch to have an epic romantic falling out in a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWzy7Wk_6ZU music video]].