Was 'Barney Miller' Filled With Racial Stereotypes?!? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 12-10-2011, 11:42 PM

A dimwitted Polish cop

An Asian Cop

A slick black cop

A shrewd Jewish cop

Do you think Barney Miller was filled with stereotypes or was these just coincidences?

catlover79 · 12-25-2011, 02:01 AM

Maybe a little in the beginning, but as the characters grew over the years - you saw them as people and not as characters (or caricatures).

dakert · 12-25-2011, 02:33 AM

I just imagined that is how New York was/is, being a TV viewer from Wisconsin in the 70s!

70s show watcher · 12-25-2011, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Maybe a little in the beginning, but as the characters grew over the years - you saw them as people and not as characters (or caricatures).

i agree 100 percent

SueWalsh · 01-06-2012, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

A dimwitted Polish cop

An Asian Cop

A slick black cop

A shrewd Jewish cop

Do you think Barney Miller was filled with stereotypes or was these just coincidences?

In the first season, yes. Most of them were raging stereotypes, but the characters grew incredibly over the years. The Harris and Wojo of the first season were NOTHING like the Harris and Wojo of the final season. Even Harris remarks in the last episode that Wojo is " so much improved!"

catlover79 · 01-25-2012, 02:20 AM

I just find it incredibly sad that we haven't seen Asian cops played on TV since Jack Soo passed away. At least I haven't seen one.

comedyfreak · 01-25-2012, 09:50 AM

The guy on Hawaii 5-0 is Asian he played on ABC's Lost.

catlover79 · 01-26-2012, 12:43 AM

^ Thanks. I don't watch Hawaii Five-O, so I wasn't aware of that.

JamesG · 01-26-2012, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I just find it incredibly sad that we haven't seen Asian cops played on TV since Jack Soo passed away. At least I haven't seen one.

That's not true.

One of my favorite shows from the 90s, had an Asian LEAD as the cop.

Sammo Hung in "Martial Law" (1998-2000)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial...28TV_series%29

Pat Morita on the short-lived "Ohara" (1987-1988), the first Japanese-American to lead his own series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohara_%28TV_series%29

12-10-2011, 11:42 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Was 'Barney Miller' Filled With Racial Stereotypes?!? A dimwitted Polish cop An Asian Cop A slick black cop A shrewd Jewish cop Do you think Barney Miller was filled with stereotypes or was these just coincidences?
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12-25-2011, 02:01 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Maybe a little in the beginning, but as the characters grew over the years - you saw them as people and not as characters (or caricatures).
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01-25-2012, 09:50 AM	#7
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	The guy on Hawaii 5-0 is Asian he played on ABC's Lost.
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12-25-2011, 02:33 AM	#3
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	I just imagined that is how New York was/is, being a TV viewer from Wisconsin in the 70s!

01-25-2012, 02:20 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I just find it incredibly sad that we haven't seen Asian cops played on TV since Jack Soo passed away. At least I haven't seen one.

01-26-2012, 12:43 AM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ Thanks. I don't watch Hawaii Five-O, so I wasn't aware of that.