I really enjoyed this show. Good interaction of dynamics with Harris playing boss (and everyone ignoring him, lol), Levitt's concern, Ray the former bum reemerging as a new man and Barney's feeling of hopelessness.
Hilarious scene with Barney's cellmate and that entire...my wife cheated on me with you thing. It all started with a simple question, "Do you like hockey?"...."I go to an occasional Ranger's game." Then total nutjob talk after that, lol. I laughed so hard.
It was a good idea to keep the viewers from seeing the cellmate.
I'm surprised Luger wasn't worked into this show.
Another funny line...Wojo to the Salvation Army woman, "Were you ever a prostitute (hooker?)?"

Originally posted by Janice
I really enjoyed this show. Good interaction of dynamics with Harris playing boss (and everyone ignoring him, lol), Levitt's concern, Ray the former bum reemerging as a new man and Barney's feeling of hopelessness.
Hilarious scene with Barney's cellmate and that entire...my wife cheated on me with you thing. It all started with a simple question, "Do you like hockey?"...."I go to an occasional Ranger's game." Then total nutjob talk after that, lol. I laughed so hard.
It was a good idea to keep the viewers from seeing the cellmate.
I'm surprised Luger wasn't worked into this show.
Another funny line...Wojo to the Salvation Army woman, "Were you ever a prostitute (hooker?)?"

I really enjoyed this two-parter for the reasons you stated above, and also for the way the makers of the show used other locations other than the Detectives' room, effectively and sparingly. I was surprised though as to how routine the prison cops treated Barney considering he's a Police Captain. I wonder if they knew it. It kind of made me sad really.

Ray was hilarious!

For the last two, three seasons, they dealt with more serious topics than in the beginning, but not in a preachy "join us for a special Barney Miller" sort of way (does that make sense?). I also noticed that for the last couple of seasons, in the credits, they have a NY Police Lieutenant as a creative consultant.

maclen

I was also surprised that Barney was treated so shabby by the prison guards. It gave me a lousy feeling too. I just love Hal Linden. There's a sincerity about him. I can just tell he's a nice guy.

I read in the episode guide that Barney's crazy cellmate in Contempt was played by veteran character actor, William Windom.

Originally posted by Janice
I read in the episode guide that Barney's crazy cellmate in Contempt was played by veteran character actor, William Windom.

That's right. Now that's a voice that's hard not to recognize.

I read in the episode guide that Barney's crazy cellmate in Contempt was played by veteran character actor, William Windom.
William Windom also guested in the opening episode of Season 2, "Doomsday" (out on DVD this Tuesday!).