"Barney Miller" TV series turns 50 On January 23rd

debodun

debodun

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Location
way upstate in New York, USA
"Barney Miller" was mainly a sit-com which detailed the activities of the personnel manning a New York City police precinct station. Some cable stations are still airing the show. FeTV is running a series of 'fan favorite' episodes starting this Saturday.

Actors regularly appearing that are still with us:
Hal Linden (Capt. Barney Miller) - will turn 93 on March 20th
Max Gail (Det. Wojohowicz) - will turn 82 on April 5th

These have passed:
Abe Vigoda (Det. Fish) - on January 26, 2016 at age 94
Jack Soo (Det. Yemana) - on January 11, 1979 at age 61*
Ron Glass (Det. Harris) - on November 25, 2016 at age 71
Gregory Sierra (Det. Amenguale) - on January 4, 2021 at age 83
Steve Landesberg (Det. Dietrich) - on December 20, 2010 at age 74
James Gregory (Inspector Luger) - on September 16, 2002 at age 90
Ron Carey (Officer Levitt) - on January 6, 2007 at age 71

*Jack passed away while the show was still in production. A May 1979 episode was dedicated to him.
 

I loved that show! Probably watched every episode 2 or 3 times.
It was astounding how much they could get into a 22 minute run time.
It was fresh and ground breaking.
Hal Linden may still be performing at aged 93!
 
One of the greatest American sitcom TV shows of all time.

High on my Top Ten list.

One of the things that I love about the show, aside from the excellent writing, great comic acting and subtle, intelligent wit, is how each episode has the look and feel of a live theater performance.

Much like a live play, the squad room of The 12th Precinct, with a couple of exceptions early in season one, was the only backdrop set ever used.

There was one two-part episode in a later season, that took place in Wojo's apartment. But after season one, everything happened within the confines of the squad room.

I've long felt that some off Broadway theater company could recreate the show using the exact same dialogue, story lines and recreation of the squad room.

How much fun that would be to go see something like that.

Do another episode every month or so.
 
Pepper said:
Barbara Barrie will be 93 in May. She was Barney's wife.
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I have to be honest, if there was one thing I didn't like about the show, it was her character Liz.

Almost every time she showed up, it was to nag at Barney or pressure him about the danger of his job and her desire for him to quit, etc. Then the drama of their separation because she couldn't stand being a cop's wife, etc, etc, etc

I was glad that they kept her appearances to a minimum.

Not because I didn't like Barbara Barrie, but because her character kind of brought down the comedic tone of the show.
 
debodun said:
Abe Vigoda left the show after season 4 to do the spin-off "Fish" that ran from (Feb 1977 to May 1978). He returned to "Barney Miller in the 7th season.
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Abe Vigoda played a couple of mean, nasty, crime boss types in two episodes of The Rockford Files.

After his role in The Godfather.
 
Pepper said:
Barbara Barrie will be 93 in May. She was Barney's wife.
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God bless her. She always put me in mind a little of Mary Astor, with a little Myrna Loy thrown in....:)

I think Myrna Loy and William Powell had the greatest chemistry of all in films together. But Barrie and Hall Linden were pretty believable too.
 
ChiroDoc said:
God bless her. She always put me in mind a little of Mary Astor, with a little Myrna Loy thrown in....:)

I think Myrna Loy and William Powell had the greatest chemistry of all in films together. But Barrie and Hall Linden were pretty believable too.
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Loved her in "One Potato Two Potato" very important bi racial story from 1964. I first saw her in that.
 

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