I have always enjoyed Barney Miller as it boasted wonderful actors, top-notch directing, and excellent writing. I was born about midway through its primetime run and caught it in syndication and later DVDs.

Watching this show is like having a peephole to the past. These detectives work in a crummy building that has lousy plumbing, heating and a/c that is forever breaking down, a leaky roof, etc. They have these big, clunky rotary phones on their desks. They have ancient typewriters to type up their reports. They are always filing. You will never see the likes of that again.

Can't you just imagine what the 1-2 would be like if the show was to take place in 2007? Harris would always be on his cell phone to his broker, tailor, publisher, etc. Yemana would use texting to make his bets, or do it online somehow. Fish could look up medical websites like drkoop to help him through his various ailments. Dietrich would probably be a consultant for Snopes. I can just hear Inspector Luger saying, "Bah-ney, what's an inter-net? Huh? Me and Foster, Kleiner and Brown...we didn't need them newfangled gadgets!!" Barney would try to explain, and Luger would just say, "Poppycock, Bah-ney!!" :lol:

Yemana could also Google his way to the perfect pot of coffee. :D

Or he could consult Martha Stewart, or Starbucks!

Or he could consult Martha Stewart, or Starbucks!

Or McDonalds, I heard they have better coffee.

It is pretty neat watching how things were done in the 70's. It would be a totally different show if they filmed it today.

There was a little of that in Jerry Orbach's last years as Lennie Briscoe in Law and Order, Ed (Jesse Martin) would start discussing email and other high-tech things and Lennie would just get bemused.

Our office building has constant problems with a leaky roof. Rarely a day goes by that the maintenance man isn't replacing a ceiling tile, poor guy. :lol: So I can relate when the men of the 12th are always complaining about the poor condition of their roof. :lol:

interesting thread Cat.........it opens up a whole can of worms about how old shows might be today :p ( ohoh...shall I call you Pandora? ;) )

interesting thread Cat.........it opens up a whole can of worms about how old shows might be today :p ( ohoh...shall I call you Pandora? ;) )
Just call me Pandora Cat. :lol:

I wish they would make a remake of this show...the ole 1-2 in the 21st century.

They were planning to make a movie remake at one point-Tom Selleck was going to play Barney, Vin Diesel, Wojo, Will Smith, Harris, Kevin James, Levitt, and Toby McGuire, (the Spiderman guy, can't spell!) Deitrich. I believe the project stalled out because Danny Arnold's family wasn't crazy about the idea. This was a few years ago.

^ Personally, I wouldn't want to see a remake. While some aspects of the show are dated now (i.e. the CLOTHES!), I think it still holds up today. The humor, writing, acting, and direction was/is unmatched!!

^ Totally agree, I'd hate to see other actors playing their parts.

^ Totally agree, I'd hate to see other actors playing their parts.
Me, too - although I kind of like the idea of Tom Selleck as Barney. If Hal Linden couldn't do it, it would be interesting to see what Tom Selleck would do with the role.