I think it's because of the times the producers were so weird about it all, but also, I don't think the actors themselves think of what they do and how they act with each other as anything but "brotherly love" with some teasing homoerotic overtones.

Oh, I think they deliberately screwed with people's head about the homoerotic thing too, because they knew there were these rumors and they didn't give a damn and didn't think anyone else should either. It's all sort of a "fuck you" thing with both of them, too, and they got endless amusement from it, from what I gather in interviews they've given.

That doesn't make it any less fun to watch, however. As for me, I don't think the actors are particularly gay but I sure think Starsky and Hutch are. *G*