Watch Barney Miller
- TV-PG
- 1975
- 8 Seasons
-
8.3 (7,608)
Barney Miller is a television sitcom that aired on ABC from 1975 to 1982. The show stars Hal Linden as the titular character, Barney Miller, a no-nonsense captain of the 12th Precinct in New York City. He is joined by a diverse cast of characters, including Detective Wojciehowicz (Max Gail), Detective Harris (Ron Glass), Detective Chano (Gregory Sierra), Detective Fish (Abe Vigoda), and Officer Levitt (Ron Carey). The show often featured guest appearances by other actors as well.
Barbara Barrie also starred as Barney's wife Liz throughout the show's run. The show was set almost entirely within the precinct, with a few exceptions throughout the show's run. Each episode played out in real-time of the day, usually following the officers as they handled various cases and encountered a variety of personalities throughout the precinct and the city.
The show's cast of characters was what made it stand out from other police procedural shows at the time. Each character brought a unique view of the world to the precinct and contributed to the humor and drama of the show. Barney was the calming force in the precinct, keeping everyone on task and focused on the job at hand. Wojciehowicz was the fun-loving cop who was always looking to make a joke or prank someone, but was also fiercely loyal to his colleagues. Harris was the intellectual of the group, always ready with a witty remark or obscure reference to literature or philosophy. Chano was the tough guy of the group with a heart of gold, and Fish was the aging detective who would rather be retired but keeps coming back for one more case.
The precinct itself also had a personality of its own, with a revolving door of quirky characters and various other employees who appeared throughout the show's run. The show tackled a variety of issues that were relevant to the time period, including homosexuality, drug addiction, and racial tensions.
The show's writing was sharp and witty, with each episode containing a mix of humor and drama. The show's humor was often derived from the character's interactions with one another and their reactions to the various situations that arose throughout the show. The drama was often centered around the cases that the characters worked on, with each case touching on a different issue or theme.
The show's closing scene often featured Barney typing out his report for the day, with a voiceover reading the closing lines of the report. The show's theme song, composed by Jack Elliott and Allyn Ferguson, was also a memorable part of the show.
Overall, Barney Miller was a groundbreaking show for its time, featuring a diverse cast of characters and tackling a variety of issues relevant to the time period. It was a unique mix of humor and drama that still holds up well today.
Barney Miller is a series that ran for 8 seasons (188 episodes) between January 23, 1975 and on ABC