Surprised the NYC Blackout wasn't written into the storyline during 77-78 season

[TVFactFan]

like it was on All in the family and Jeffersons. Since the Precinct was located right in Manhattan.

[OH Nuts!]

Good point! Now that you mention it, I don’t know why either; it would have made a great story line.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

Good point! Now that you mention it, I don’t know why either; it would have made a great story line.

Rhoda or Welcome Back Kotter didnt mention it either lol Well maybe not Kotter since it didnt happen during the school year

[treky]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

like it was on All in the family and Jeffersons. Since the Precinct was located right in Manhattan.

yea, I remember when that blackout happened and I was surprised back then that the show never dealt with it

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by treky

yea, I remember when that blackout happened and I was surprised back then that the show never dealt with it

I can see how it would make sense for Welcome back kotter since it was a summer event

[PracTz]

The only reason I can think of why they didn't do a Blackout storyline (which would have been quite the challenge for the Old One-Two), is that they didn't want to 'date' it and cause potential syndication problems.

However, the WHOLE show screamed 'New York Struggling 70's)!

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by PracTz

The only reason I can think of why they didn't do a Blackout storyline (which would have been quite the challenge for the Old One-Two), is that they didn't want to 'date' it and cause potential syndication problems.

However, the WHOLE show screamed 'New York Struggling 70's)!

In what way?

[treky]

Originally Posted by PracTz

The only reason I can think of why they didn't do a Blackout storyline (which would have been quite the challenge for the Old One-Two), is that they didn't want to 'date' it and cause potential syndication problems.

However, the WHOLE show screamed 'New York Struggling 70's)!

yea, that's true. I never thought of that; a blackout storyline would date it.

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

In what way?

In lots of ways- including the fact that detectives' squad room always rather derelict and in need of a good scrubbing (and I could imagine how nasty that men's room likely had to have been)- yet there seemed to be few if any times there was any mention of a cleaning crew existing much less doing their job! That would be an indication that the city budget was strained if not virtually empty (which it WAS during that time). If one wants to get a good idea of what Manhattan and NYC was like between the post WWII prosperity and the 80's/90's re-gentrification/ tourist friendly times. Barney Miller is as close to a bird's eye view to the rundown NYC 1970's as a L A produced sitcom could have come!

And yet they did NOT depict the 1977 Blackout despite the very real strains and challenges this would have had on the uniforms and detectives back then!

[icecream]

Barney Miller has good writing (except when they are pushing a lot of Luger) and good acting. But the dingy looking set that screamed 70s probably turned off some potential viewers.

[EccentricGenius]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

like it was on All in the family and Jeffersons. Since the Precinct was located right in Manhattan.

I agree, TVFactFan. As a longtime fan of "Barney Miller," I am also surprised that the '77 NYC blackout wasn't mentioned at all, ditto for the Son Of Sam's (David Berkowitz) murder spree.

[TVFactFan]

The only other NYC sitcom during the 77-78 season was Rhoda and they didnt include it either

[Yong Fang]

Originally Posted by PracTz

In lots of ways- including the fact that detectives' squad room always rather derelict and in need of a good scrubbing (and I could imagine how nasty that men's room likely had to have been)- yet there seemed to be few if any times there was any mention of a cleaning crew existing much less doing their job! That would be an indication that the city budget was strained if not virtually empty (which it WAS during that time). If one wants to get a good idea of what Manhattan and NYC was like between the post WWII prosperity and the 80's/90's re-gentrification/ tourist friendly times. Barney Miller is as close to a bird's eye view to the rundown NYC 1970's as a L A produced sitcom could have come!

And yet they did NOT depict the 1977 Blackout despite the very real strains and challenges this would have had on the uniforms and detectives back then!

I was going to say the same thing, the precinct building was old, derelict, had rats and constant plumbing problems. The squad room was rather drab, green walls, papers everywhere. Other cop shows of the 1970's from New York had a similar feel to it.

[TVFactFan]

sounds like the producer of this show had no creativity