Barney Miller (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402220152/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3112965-barney-miller/?view=getnewpost) was one of the few TV shows that I can immediately think of that just about always took place in a single, confined location (like a bottle episode (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottle_episode) for but the entire series (https://tv.avclub.com/the-last-barney-miller-also-ended-an-era-1798276904)). I mean there was rarely if ever a single establishing or exterior shot. And I think there were a few scenes set at various characters' homes, but nothing in between. It was kind of a big deal the handful of times they left the squadroom at ALL.

Something like that can get extremely redundant if you aren't in the right frame of mind. Watching Barney Miller on the surface (and I'm guessing that it was intentional) at least just feels like watching a three act theatrical stage play (http://www.manic-expression.com/random-thoughts-the-other-diffrent-strokes-curse/).

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is more or less, the closest thing that we have to a modern day (https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-727920.html) Barney Miller. I immediately wonder how fans of that show would appreciate the slower pace, cast of veteran actors, stage play atmosphere (http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2013/10/writing-for-barney-miller.html) and touch of melancholy on Barney Miller?

Wasn't the Office practically in one setting too?

Wasn't the Office practically in one setting too?

I guess so, but The Office also had a decidedly faster pace and the "mockumentary" (so it wasn't like we were essentially watching a theatrical stage play) aspect going for it.

Possibly. Some concepts don't translate from 197x to 202x. Of course, some do. Those might be easier ones to start out with.

But given technological enhancements, some younger viewers of today who might otherwise "get" the stories still may not be able to suspend disbelief in a show that clings to a reality-based setting because of those newspaper things or how nobody has smartphones . Which is a shame; the quality of the writing is clearly present and in ways that are timeless. Even with a "televised stage play" feel. Which in ways (for me) are preferable to the so-called "naturalism" modern TV puts out. Both are good formats,the stage feel is still used (e.g. TBBT), so it's the effectiveness of their use I'd guess.

When I say "get", I vaguely remembered the show as a kit but later saw the episodes as an adult and the lightbulbs went off. Mostly because most kids have no clue about what prostitutes do, for example.

I had been binge-watching it when the pandemic started and I felt that it was not the series to binge, which I've posted about here.

It was on when I was a kid and it seemed like an old-man show to me then. It's still not a young, fun, hip show.

I would be willing to watch it one day if it came on during sampling time

12am to 1am
Saturday afternoon

The same scenery never bothered me a bit. Maybe because each ep almost always had new interesting characters on it, and because the show had excellent writing.

Also loved the cast; all were great actors.

Just realized antenna TV removed BM from the 6pm to 7pm slot during the week

yes, they remove some shows after they run the entire series. they don't remove them forever, necessarily though

yes, they remove some shows after they run the entire series. they don't remove them forever, necessarily though

Time for Three's Company to go

This is one show I found dull and boring. I just never could really get into it. The theme song is great but the show itself isn’t that great.

This is one show I found dull and boring. I just never could really get into it. The theme song is great but the show itself isn’t that great.

To each his own. I love the show and never found it dull and boring. For me, more like low key and clever.

To each his own. I love the show and never found it dull and boring. For me, more like low key and clever.

I've often heard that many actual cops (https://americancop.com/im-a-cop-and-thats-not-funny/) cited Barney Miller (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYfqO6N_xmw) as one of the most realistic (https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk00ziOqu2PfgvR9D1_eqZeISM3js-g%3A1605603445052&source=hp&ei=dZCzX9V0hNCwBdLAhOgL&q=barney+miller+realistic&oq=barney+miller+realistic&gs_lcp=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&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiVg_b3montAhUEKKwKHVIgAb0Q4dUDCAk&uact=5) depictions (https://laist.com/2011/10/25/tv_junkie_710.php) of their field of work.

I have been watching many episodes of Barney Miller on YouTube the last two weeks or so, basically most all the episodes are available online.

The show to me is absolutely and completely hilarious. It is madcap with the criminals and weird people of the week. That part of the show is timeless. It’s hilarious and puts the players who are them and of themselves hilarious in interesting situations.

The show is dated because it is over 40 years ago. More like 45. I just saw today, 12/31/20 the News Eve Show from 1975/1976, 45 years ago. Yes, there are some things about the show that are dated because they are dated for the time the series was on and what they were talking about. But is this any different than say, the Marx Brothers which are almost a hundred years old but doesn’t fail to entertain? Plus we get to see the values and attitudes of the time. It is dated because of the time it was on, but it doesn’t mean that future generations shouldn’t be able to enjoy it.

What was entertaining was the goofballs of the week that were arrested and came into the precinct.

Real cops will say that this is the most realistic show concerning their profession.

I approve of these comments LOL

10 Underappreciated TV Shows That Were Ahead Of Their Time (https://screenrant.com/underappreciated-tv-shows-ahead-of-their-time/)

Barney Miller

https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Barney-Miller.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5

While Sledgehammer was a full-blown spoof of cop shows, Barney Miller (https://www.awardsdaily.com/2023/02/26/reframe-barney-miller/) was more of a subtle deconstruction (https://jacksonupperco.com/2021/05/11/the-five-best-barney-miller-episodes-of-season-one/) of the genre. The underrated (https://www.ibtimes.com/barney-miller-forty-years-later-most-intelligent-literate-us-sitcom-ever-1556406) sitcom was set in a precinct and was shockingly progressive (https://polimicks.livejournal.com/14839.html) for the ‘70s (https://www.christopher-east.com/2015/11/08/tv-barney-miller/), proving a huge influence on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. However, unlike Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Barney Miller never got credit (https://script-consultant.co.uk/underrated-movies-tv-shows-catch/) for the show’s impact on sitcoms. The series was largely (https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barney-miller/692621) forgotten (http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2017/09/writing-for-barney-miller.html) until the creators of Brooklyn Nine-Nine highlighted it as an influence (https://screenrant.com/brooklyn-nine-nine-barney-miller-helped-make/) on the later show.

Barney Miller Struggles to Keep His Department in Order (https://www.cbr.com/classic-mystery-series-unwatchable-today-list/)

https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/maxresdefault-Cropped-2.jpg

Captain Barney Miller is a senior officer at the NYPD and is forced to juggle his fellow officers' concerns with the difficulties surrounding such a crime-ridden area. As expected, Barney Miller (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402220152/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3112965-barney-miller/?view=getnewpost) is the ultimate dramedy, making light of the department's issues whilst also offering intelligent social commentary. Yet, this series used a really bizarre format that doesn't hold up today.

Almost every single episode of Barney Miller (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125231/http://www.jumptheshark.com/b/barneymiller.htm) takes place in the same four walls. The audience is stuck inside the squad room listening to a barrage of complaints from the officers and the citizens. Although the show deviates from this trend about once a year, it's easy for audiences to feel a tad claustrophobic after watching a few episodes in a row.

Almost every single episode of Barney Miller takes place in the same four walls. The audience is stuck inside the squad room listening to a barrage of complaints from the officers and the citizens. Although the show deviates from this trend about once a year, it's easy for audiences to feel a tad claustrophobic after watching a few episodes in a row.

Show is written well enough for this ti be NOT TRUE and the actors are all very likable as well