https://www.metv.com/stories/jr-jones-was-only-supposed-to-appear-once-in-barnaby-jones

After actor Mark Shera appeared on the series, CBS decided to make him a regular character.

https://www.metv.com/stories/jr-jones-was-only-supposed-to-appear-once-in-barnaby-jones

After actor Mark Shera appeared on the series, CBS decided to make him a regular character.

I would love to see the source article this story was based on. Shera's first appearance on the series was in season 5 episode 1, it was established by the end of the episode that his character would be joining Barnaby and Betty as a third member of the team.

The big story with respect to Barnaby Jones was how did it get to season 5 in the first place. There were 40 regularly scheduled TV series that finished below number 50 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1975-76 TV season, one series was renewed 39 were cancelled, that one series was Barnaby Jones (ranked at number 59)! The network probably insisted on adding a younger character in hopes of reviving interest in the series. The show performed better the following season (season 5) finishing at number 45.

I would love to see the source article this story was based on. Shera's first appearance on the series was in season 5 episode 1, it was established by the end of the episode that his character would be joining Barnaby and Betty as a third member of the team.

The big story with respect to Barnaby Jones was how did it get to season 5 in the first place. There were 40 regularly scheduled TV series that finished below number 50 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1975-76 TV season, one series was renewed 39 were cancelled, that one series was Barnaby Jones (ranked at number 59)! The network probably insisted on adding a younger character in hopes of reviving interest in the series. The show performed better the following season (season 5) finishing at number 45.
I also read that Buddy was getting tired of doing the show. If you notice Barnaby's role slowly fades as the years go by with J.R. on the cast. There are many episodes where he or Betty is the lead investigator. That's ok with me because I always loved Betty as the lead investigator. When she goes undercover at the girl's school is one of my favorite episodes.
Many Barnaby Jones fans dont like it when J.R. joined the cast. I admit sometimes I found him annoying but IMHO he did prevent the show from getting stale. His character did add new life into the show. The 2 part episode where he gets framed and arrested in Hawaii is one of the better ones.
As far as the original article, it would be interesting to read. I suppose it was during writing the script is when they decided to keep him around. The final episode of Barnaby Jones is interesting. Betty supposedly goes to work with 2 quirky detectives for a spin off that never happened.

I also read that Buddy was getting tired of doing the show. If you notice Barnaby's role slowly fades as the years go by with J.R. on the cast. There are many episodes where he or Betty is the lead investigator. That's ok with me because I always loved Betty as the lead investigator. When she goes undercover at the girl's school is one of my favorite episodes.
Many Barnaby Jones fans dont like it when J.R. joined the cast. I admit sometimes I found him annoying but IMHO he did prevent the show from getting stale. His character did add new life into the show. The 2 part episode where he gets framed and arrested in Hawaii is one of the better ones.
As far as the original article, it would be interesting to read. I suppose it was during writing the script is when they decided to keep him around. The final episode of Barnaby Jones is interesting. Betty supposedly goes to work with 2 quirky detectives for a spin off that never happened.

By the time season 5 starts Ebsen was 68 years old and had been starring on a TV series for 13 out of the last 14 television seasons, he probably wanted to slow down. Season 5 was kind of a transitional season with Barnaby still the lead character, beginning in season 6 that was no longer the case. Betty, JR sometimes a combo of the two are major players in the series with Barnaby the lead in only about a third of the episodes. In many episodes the only scenes he has are in the office, sometimes the character barely makes an appearance.

There were several backdoor pilots in the final seasons, if the one shown as the final episode had been picked up, Lee Meriwether would have been part of the cast of the new series. I was very impressed with her work in seasons 6-8 she grew as an actress, she brought a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm to the role. There was a season 7 episode "The Medium", this was a JR episode that could have been a backdoor pilot, it was a fun episode. One of my favorite episodes of the final three seasons was "Blind Jeopardy", this episode opened season 7. Barnaby is the lead character but JR and Betty have significant parts as well. The cast has some very interesting performers, Donald May who played the lead on Edge of Night (Adam Drake), Gretchen Corbett always a pleasure to look at, and Betty Lynn has a small part. This was Betty's final part until the reunion movie, and her last part that wasn't related to her time on TAGS.

By the time season 5 starts Ebsen was 68 years old and had been starring on a TV series for 13 out of the last 14 television seasons, he probably wanted to slow down. Season 5 was kind of a transitional season with Barnaby still the lead character, beginning in season 6 that was no longer the case. Betty, JR sometimes a combo of the two are major players in the series with Barnaby the lead in only about a third of the episodes. In many episodes the only scenes he has are in the office, sometimes the character barely makes an appearance.

There were several backdoor pilots in the final seasons, if the one shown as the final episode had been picked up, Lee Meriwether would have been part of the cast of the new series. I was very impressed with her work in seasons 6-8 she grew as an actress, she brought a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm to the role. There was a season 7 episode "The Medium", this was a JR episode that could have been a backdoor pilot, it was a fun episode. One of my favorite episodes of the final three seasons was "Blind Jeopardy", this episode opened season 7. Barnaby is the lead character but JR and Betty have significant parts as well. The cast has some very interesting performers, Donald May who played the lead on Edge of Night (Adam Drake), Gretchen Corbett always a pleasure to look at, and Betty Lynn has a small part. This was Betty's final part until the reunion movie, and her last part that wasn't related to her time on TAGS.
Some of my favorite episodes are the later seasons. As I mentioned earlier when Betty goes undercover as the gym teacher at the all girls school is sensational. The actress who played the bad girl ended up almost being cast as Princess Lea on Star Wars and eventually became the lead singer of Berlin.
I also love the episode where Barnaby's niece is being drugged and made to go crazy so her staff can get rich. Such a classic 70s theme. I also love the episode where the press reporter in a murder trial befriends Betty and turns out to be the killer. You would think the series would suffer with Baraby taking a smaller role but the ratings really went up before the last season dropped.
The Medium was a fun episode. I also liked the one where Betty watches a house for a friend and there was a murder outside and another one where Betty goes to lunch with a friend and mysteriously falls from the roof of the restaurant.