Would the show have been as crisp and worked just as well if they didn't ditch the home life of Barney?

Also, did Barney end up getting a divorce?

http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsB/1014.gif

Nothing against Barbara Barrie or Anne Wyndham, both fine actresses, but Barney's home life was BORING. Thankfully, Danny Arnold & co. realized this very quickly and made it an all-workplace show.

Barney and Liz did separate for a while, but eventually reconciled. I don't think anyone would've minded the occasional guest spot from Ms. Barrie, but I think it was wise to keep Barney's home life offscreen for the lion's share of the show.

^ Totally agree. The show would have bombed big time if they'd have concentrated on the home life. It would have been just a cookie cutter version of many other shows out there, even a bit of AITF. What made it special was the wonderful chemistry and realism of the squadroom.

The reason they cut it out the home life stuff in the first place was because it wasn't working.

I like they way they worked it with Fish and Bernice where we occasionally saw Fish talking to her on the phone or referring to her but only on a few rare occasions did we actually see her. It was best that the intrusions of the Fish home life into the workplace were kept to a minimum. And I think the same is true for Barney (and the rest of the characters). So eliminating Barbara Barrie's character was the right thing to do for the show.

She definitely brought something positive to the show. It would have been better to keep her, particularly since Barney never developed any other romantic interest.

His wife and family provided the oppurtunity to see another sensitive, loving side of Miller. The show benefitted when a little estrogen would make an appearance.

So the answer is yes, the show would have worked just as well -- maybe a little better. The key would have been striking the right balance between home life and office life.

Hal Linden said in an Entertainment Tonight interview that the first few episodes were "part Barney Miller and part Father Knows Best"!! :lol: