I vaguely remember as a kid watching tv and seeing a promo for the last episode of Barney Miller and also flipping the dial and seeing a promo for the end of MASH. Did they end the same day? If so, Barney Miller had no shot of getting a rating for ABC.

No - Barney Miller ended in 1982, and M*A*S*H aired its finale the next year.

No - Barney Miller ended in 1982, and M*A*S*H aired its finale the next year.


Oh ok it was a distorted dream then. lol I was about to say, the poor 1-2 didn't stand a chance! How did Barney Miller fare in its finale?

^ Yup, I was in high school when Barney Miller ended and I was in my second semester of freshmen year of college when MASH ended (Feb. 1983 I believe).

^ Yup, I was in high school when Barney Miller ended and I was in my second semester of freshmen year of college when MASH ended (Feb. 1983 I believe).


Wait a minute, M*A*S*H ended in February and not May???

^ Yeah, that last season was a short one.

Wait a minute, M*A*S*H ended in February and not May???
The only way 20th Century Fox could convince the cast members (except for Jamie Farr, William Christopher, and Harry Morgan who wanted the show to continue beyond season 11) to return for an 1th season was to compromise and reduce the season order to 16 episodes.

^ Yeah, that last season was a short one.


Wow, I never knew that. I guess it makes sense then that the finale EXPLODED in the ratings. lol

The only way 20th Century Fox could convince the cast members (except for Jamie Farr, William Christopher, and Harry Morgan who wanted the show to continue beyond season 11) to return for an 1th season was to compromise and reduce the season order to 16 episodes.

I don't fault them for wanting this cash cow of a tv show to continue. They probably knew that was where their bread was buttered.

that's why they decided to make that sequel to it. And while it was a hit the first season, lightning didn't strike twice in the second season. I remember in the second season, you could tell that the writers were despertly tring to get the ratings back up when they had Sidney Freedman & Col. Flagg guest-star, Klinger going back to dressing in drag, acting crazy, etc. I remember Jamie Farr saying in an interview that even he thought they were going too far with Klinger.

I don't think the Barney Miller finale did all that great in the ratings. I'll have to look up what the exact share was.