Barney Miller starring Hal Linden and Abe Vigoda

WEBVTT

1
00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:12.279
Calarogu Shark Media. Hello TV fans, I'm Journey Joe Mitchell, and let's

2
00:00:12.279 --> 00:00:16.280
watch some more TV in the basement. This week, Let's return to the

3
00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:20.120
wacky police precincts of New York City, and this week it's the squad of

4
00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:25.600
Captain Barney Miller of the Twelfth Precinct. Barney Miller is a classic American sitcom

5
00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:30.320
that aired from nineteen seventy five to
nineteen eighty two. Set in the fictional

6
00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:34.679
twelfth Precinct of the New York City
Police Department, the show follows the daily

7
00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:39.640
lives and escapades of the officers working
under the wise and charismatic leadership of Captain

8
00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:43.719
Barney Miller. The show's success can
be attributed to its realistic portrayal of the

9
00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:48.759
challenges faced by police officers, combined
with its ability to infuse comedy into even

10
00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:54.159
the most serious situations. Barney Miller
was a pioneer in its genre, breaking

11
00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:59.200
away from the conventional laugh track and
offering a more natural, dialogue driven style

12
00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:03.239
of comedy. The original cast of
Barney Miller formed the foundation of the show's

13
00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:08.760
success, bringing their unique talents and
chemistry to the screen. Hal Lindon played

14
00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:14.719
the titular character, Captain Barney Miller, a compassionate and level headed leader who

15
00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:18.640
always had a way of diffusing tense
situations with his quick thinking and dry sense

16
00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:23.879
of humor. The ensemble cast also
included Max Gale as Detective stand Wojo Ron

17
00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:29.000
Glass as Detective Ron Harris, and
Abe Vigoda as Detective Phil Fish. Each

18
00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:34.040
actor brought their own comedic flare and
distinct personality to their respective roles, creating

19
00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:40.000
a dynamic and unforgettable group of characters. As with any long running television series,

20
00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:45.480
Barney Miller experienced several cast changes throughout
its seven season run. Some cast

21
00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:49.079
members left the show due to creative
differences or other opportunities, while new characters

22
00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:55.760
were introduced to keep the ensemble fresh
and the storyline evolving. Steve Landisburg joined

23
00:01:55.760 --> 00:02:00.799
the cast of the acclaimed sitcom during
its second season, bringing a distinct comedic

24
00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:06.680
presence to the show. He portrayed
the intellectual and often deadpan detective Sergeant Arthur

25
00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:10.240
P. Dietrich, a character that
quickly became a fan favorite due to his

26
00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:15.280
unique blend of dry humor and extensive
knowledge on a seemingly endless array of topics.

27
00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:22.520
Landsberg's introduction to Barney Miller added a
new dynamic to the precincts diverse ensemble.

28
00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:27.439
His character, Dietrich, was known
for his unflappable demeanor and a seemingly

29
00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:31.800
endless well of trivia on various subjects, from history and science to culture and

30
00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:37.960
psychology. This trait often served as
a source of comic relief and added an

31
00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:43.520
intellectual twist to the show's dialogues.
His arrival also reflected the show's commitment to

32
00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:49.080
character development and its ability to seamlessly
integrate new personalities into the existing group.

33
00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:54.919
Dietrich's interactions with the other characters,
including the titular Captain Barney Miller played by

34
00:02:54.960 --> 00:03:00.960
Hal Lindon and the cynical detective Philip
k Fish portrayed by Abe the Gooda,

35
00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:06.960
were marked by witty banter and a
clash of contrasting personalities, enriching the show's

36
00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:13.120
already diverse character palette. Landesberg's comedic
style, characterized by his dry delivery and

37
00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:16.680
sharp timing, fit perfectly with the
show's tone, which balanced humor with the

38
00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:23.879
portrayal of serious social issues. Barney
Miller was known for tackling contemporary topics and

39
00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:29.319
urban challenges, and Dietrich's character often
provided insightful, if not humorous, perspectives

40
00:03:29.319 --> 00:03:32.759
on these issues. In nineteen seventy
nine, the show faced a real life

41
00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:38.599
tragedy with the death of Jack Sue, who portrayed the deadpan detective Nick Yamana.

42
00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:42.199
Sue's death was not only a loss
to the cast and crew, but

43
00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:46.639
also to the show's many fans.
In response to this sad event, Barney

44
00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:51.080
Miller did something quite extraordinary for a
sitcom at the time. It dedicated an

45
00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:55.319
entire episode to honoring Sue in his
character. The episode, titled Jack Sue

46
00:03:55.319 --> 00:04:00.080
a Retrospective, was a departure from
the show's usual format. Instead of a

47
00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:05.159
regular scripted episode, the cast members
of Barney Miller appeared as themselves rather than

48
00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:10.240
in character, sharing their memories and
reflecting on Sue's contribution to the show.

49
00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:15.680
This format allowed the actors to express
their genuine feelings of loss and appreciation for

50
00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:19.240
their late colleague, making the episode
a heartfelt and sincere homage. To fill

51
00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:24.680
the void left by Sue's departure,
the writers introduced a new character named Sergeant

52
00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:30.439
Levitt, portrayed by Ron Carey.
Throughout its run, Barney Miller produced numerous

53
00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:34.959
iconic episodes that have become etched in
the memories of fans. These episodes showcased

54
00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:42.160
the show's ability to tackle serious social
issues while maintaining its signature humor and charm.

55
00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:46.519
One such episode as Hash, which
aired in the second season. In

56
00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:50.439
this episode, Barney and his team
find themselves dealing with a bizarre situation involving

57
00:04:50.519 --> 00:04:56.680
a hash brownie accidentally consumed by an
elderly woman. The episode brilliantly explores the

58
00:04:56.759 --> 00:05:01.399
generational gap and the changing attitudes towards
marijuana, all while delivering laughs and memorable

59
00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:05.879
one liners. Another memorable episode is
The Sniper, which aired in the fourth

60
00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:11.519
season. In this intense and gripping
episode, the precinct is faced with the

61
00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:16.759
daunting challenge of capturing a sniper who
is targeting police officers. The episode masterfully

62
00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:21.399
balances the tension and drama with moments
of levity, showcasing the show's ability to

63
00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:27.920
navigate between different tones seamlessly. The
theme song of Barney Miller is one of

64
00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:32.600
the most recognizable and enduring aspects of
the show, encapsulating the essence of the

65
00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:38.879
series in a way that few television
themes have composed by Jack Elliott and Alan

66
00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:44.639
Ferguson. The theme is a funky, bass driven instrumental piece that perfectly captures

67
00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:49.680
the show's urban, slightly gritty,
yet lighthearted, and comedic spirit. One

68
00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:54.519
of the most distinctive features of the
Barney Miller theme song is its bassline,

69
00:05:54.839 --> 00:05:59.480
played by studio musician Chuck Berghofer.
The bass riff is not only catchy,

70
00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:03.279
but it also complex and sophisticated,
setting the tone for the show. It's

71
00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:09.439
complemented by a smooth, jazzy ensemble
of guitar, electric piano, and brass,

72
00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:13.439
creating a sound that is both cool
and approachable, much like the show

73
00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:17.879
itself. The theme starts with a
snappy, upbeat rhythm that immediately grabs the

74
00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:23.839
listener's attention. As it progresses,
the music layers in more instruments, building

75
00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:27.920
a rich, textured sound that is
both modern and timeless. The use of

76
00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:30.959
brass instruments adds a touch of class
and a nod to traditional cop show themes,

77
00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:42.319
but with a distinctly nineteen seventies jazz
funk twist. The sitcom Fish was

78
00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:46.600
a spinoff from the popular and critically
acclaimed show Barney Miller. It premiered in

79
00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:50.560
nineteen seventy seven and was centered around
the character of Detective Philip K. Fish,

80
00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:56.720
portrayed by Abe Vigoda. In Fish, the narrative shifts from the precinct

81
00:06:56.759 --> 00:07:00.800
of Barney Miller to the domestic life
of Detective Fish in as wife Bernice,

82
00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:05.279
played by Florence Stanley. The show's
premise revolves around the couple becoming foster parents

83
00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:11.399
to five racially mixed children, which
provided a fresh setting and new comedic possibilities.

84
00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:15.920
Departing from the police procedural backdrop of
Barney Miller. The series delved into

85
00:07:15.959 --> 00:07:20.720
the challenges and joys of parenting and
the cultural and generational gaps between Fish and

86
00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:26.800
the children. It combined the humor
inherent in family sitcoms with the more serious

87
00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:31.199
themes of social welfare and the foster
care system. Abe Vigoda brought the same

88
00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:35.000
charm and wit to the character of
Phish that had made him a standout on

89
00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:40.759
Barney Miller, offering a mix of
gruffness and warmth that endeared him to viewers.

90
00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:46.519
Phish was notable for its exploration of
diverse family dynamics, an area not

91
00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:50.519
frequently addressed in sitcoms of that era. The show often tackled issues of race,

92
00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:56.199
class, and the struggles of the
foster care system, albeit through a

93
00:07:56.240 --> 00:08:00.959
comedic lens. The interactions between Fish, Bernice, and the children or the

94
00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:05.959
heart of the show, providing both
humor and heartfelt moments. However, Phish

95
00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:09.519
struggled to achieve the same critical and
commercial success as Barney Miller. The show

96
00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:15.720
ran for two seasons before being canceled. Barney Miller remains a timeless sitcom that

97
00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:20.199
continues to entertain audiences with its clever
writing, talented cast, and ability to

98
00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:26.240
tackle relevant social issues. Whether you're
a longtime fan or discovering the show for

99
00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:30.240
the first time, Barney Miller is
sure to take you on a nostalgic journey

100
00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:33.120
through the world of the Twelfth Precinct. So grab a cup of coffee,

101
00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:37.039
sit back, and let Barney Miller's
charm and wit transport you to a time

102
00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:43.600
when sitcoms were at their finest.