Ep 21. Identity

Barney Miller is a classic American sitcom that aired from 1975 to 1982. The show follows the lives of the staff at the 12th Precinct of the New York City Police Department. Season 5 episode 21, Identity, begins as Barney Miller, played by Hal Linden, and his team are having a slow day. Suddenly, a woman enters the precinct claiming that her identity has been stolen.

The woman, named Mrs. Fenton, was denied credit at a local department store, despite having good credit history. Upon checking her credit report, Mrs. Fenton discovers that someone has been using her social security number to obtain credit cards and loans. With the help of a private investigator, Mrs. Fenton tracks down the culprit, who happens to be her own sister-in-law.

Meanwhile, Detective Wojciehowicz, played by Max Gail, is struggling with his own identity crisis. He has been considering changing his last name to something more American-sounding. His partner, Detective Harris, played by Ron Glass, tries to convince Wojciehowicz that his Polish heritage is something to be proud of, but Wojciehowicz is still unsure of what to do.

As the day progresses, the precinct begins to fill up with more people claiming that their identities have been stolen. The detectives start to investigate and discover that a group of people is running a sophisticated identity theft scheme, stealing people's personal information and using it to open credit accounts and take out loans.

As the investigation intensifies, the detectives discover that the leader of the group is someone they have encountered before - a man named Eddie Gardenia, played by Lawrence Pressman. Gardenia is a notorious con artist who has been in and out of jail for years. The detectives must use all their skills to bring Gardenia and his team to justice and put an end to their scheme once and for all.

Identity is a classic episode of Barney Miller, tackling issues of identity and personal security in a time long before the days of internet banking and social media. The episode showcases the ensemble cast at their best, with each character providing their own unique perspective on the issues at hand. The writing is sharp and witty, and the performances by the actors are top-notch.

Overall, Identity is a standout episode of Barney Miller that deals with issues that are still relevant today. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of this classic sitcom that it still resonates with audiences over three decades after it originally aired.