Come on this was supposed to be a mafia hitman!

He should've stayed on Barney Miller - that show was perfect for him. He was a supporting player in a great cast. The show continued on, but it was never the same.

Some actors are better off in support roles - this is a prime example.

I don't think so. He was funny on Fish :lol:

Originally posted by CCH
I don't think so. He was funny on Fish :lol:

I agree, but I still think he was better on Barney Miller. We agree to disagree...

;)

He was better on Barney Miller with is one liners and his lavatory jokes!:lol:

I agree, but I still think he was better on Barney Miller. We agree to disagree...

;)
He was hysterical on Barney Miller - even when he was just sitting there with that deadpan expression on his face. :rofl:

Had Abe Vigoda been able to keep his ego in check, he'd have had a steady paycheck for the full seven and a half year run of Barney Miller.

Had Abe Vigoda been able to keep his ego in check, he'd have had a steady paycheck for the full seven and a half year run of Barney Miller.
You make a good point - but even at the beginning of the show they were mentioning Fish's mandatory retirement. I wonder how they would've kept him on had he stayed on Barney Miller.

Ultimately, "Fish" may have been a wrong choice for Vigoda, but as spinoffs go, it wasn't bad, certainly a "B" or better in my personal grading scale.

I think the move also worked out for "Barney Miller", too. Dietrich got to take more of a central role once Fish left, and it's not like anything can really diminish the memory of Vigoda's character. :)