1 of 1

Write now Article Tools

Police captain (Hal Linden) Miller and the ensemble cast put on what amounted to a hit Broadway play in each of the 1970s show's episodes. Like an old Hollywood war movie, the regular cast members of New York cops represented the required ethnic backgrounds: the Black dandy with novel-writing ambitions, the Japanese American with a gambling problem, the tough Polish-American with a gruff sincerity, the old Jewish guy yearning for retirement and the annoying young Jewish intellectual. The writing was great in a Neal Simon type of blend ... lots of humor and irony with moments of pathos. One of the best features was the weekly introduction of new wacky characters, some on a one-time visit and others with semi-regular roles. The show had some reruns in the 80s and 90s, but it seems to have dropped out of sight. Let's hope some network suit happens to look at an episode and say, "Hey, that was a great sitcom. Now that the viewing public is sick as hell of fake reality and no-talent talent shows, let's do them a favor and do another season of Barney Miller reruns." Think it will ever happen? Probably not.

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about TV show reviews: Barney Miller?
We want to hear your view. Write now!