Was Nick Yemana's absence ever explained? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

cjmalagodi · 06-13-2004, 03:56 AM

Barney Miller was one of my favorite sitcoms, and I remembered watching a special episode on paying tribute to the late Jack Soo, who played Det. Nick Yemana. In the last three seasons of the show (without Jack), was Yemana's absence ever explained? If so, whatever happened to him?

CJ Malagodi

DetectiveGriffin · 06-13-2004, 04:22 PM

In one episode. workman come and take Nicks desk. Wojo and Barney stare fondly, but it isnt said that he died, just sort of implied. We can just pretend hes putting his time in at the DA's office, huh?

jamesanthony · 06-20-2004, 03:25 PM

In the last episode Barney remembers the detectives who were no longer there: Chano, Fish, Wentworth, and they show an old scene for each one. When he remembers Nick he looks like he is about to start crying, which would indeed indicate that Nick must have died, although exactly when is left up to your imagination. Also, since he has a broad smile when he remembers the others you can assume that Fish and the others are all still alive at that point.

By the way, has there ever been talk of a reunion for this series?

senor boogie woogi · 02-18-2005, 01:19 PM

Hola!

BM did a whole show in tribute to the late Jack Soo. The characters broke down the proverbial "fourth wall" and talked right to the camera.

Yemana for some reason had to make the coffee, but everyone hated it and complained, but no one else would do it so it, and as a loyal worker Asian he was, made the coffee and would not allow anyone else to do it. He also accidentally OD'd on pot brownies with Fish (Yemana dunked it into his infamous coffee and said "Squishy, squishy!" while Fish lamented that he has not felt that good in twenty years and it was illegal.

What killed Yemana? Either brownie addiction, chain smoking, or that rot-gut Sanka coffee he produced every morning.

Senor

JoyWright · 02-22-2005, 12:37 AM

I think what Nick said was "Mooshy, Mooshy..."

DebWong · 04-01-2005, 08:30 PM

You're both right - he said: "Mooshy Mooshy" about the brownies, and then said that he could hear his eyes close, and they went: "Squish, squish".

SueWalsh · 09-05-2007, 08:36 PM

Yes. Depending on the episode, Nick was either "at the DA's office for a few days", "in court", or "on vacation". In "The Judge" which took place in the beginning of the 6th season, the detectives arrive to find Nick's desk is gone:

Harris(walking toward the coffee and stopping suddenly when he reaches the empty space where Nick's desk was) "Hmm, something's funny."

(Dietrich and Wojo are also there, Barney walks over.)

Barney: "Nick's desk." (looks sad and shocked)

Harris: (somberly) "Oh!"

Barney: "They called about it last week. It completely slipped my mind."

The group stands silent, gazing at the spot.

Wojo: "I'm really gonna miss it."

(The others nod and say yeah)

Barney (looking sad) "Gonna miss a lot of things."

They fall silent again.

Dietrich: "I made coffee."

(The others seem to snap out of their sadness and follow him toward the coffee)

Dietrich: "It's not as bad as Nick's yet but..."

Barney pours a cup and takes a sip.

Barney: "You're getting there!"

Everyone laughs and the episode continues.

(After Levitt finds the desk gone and freaks, thinking it means he'll never make it upstairs, Barney calls and gets the desk returned.)

catlover79 · 09-05-2007, 11:20 PM

^ God bless Jack Soo. He passed on 8 months before I was born, but by watching the show, I grew to love him and his character, Nick Yemana. You could tell he had so much fun on the show. He was also hilarious in Flower Drum Song.

Jack.

Mikado · 09-06-2007, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DebWong

You're both right - he said: "Mooshy Mooshy" about the brownies, and then said that he could hear his eyes close, and they went: "Squish, squish".

What he actually said ( as he was answering the phone ) was "Moshi Moshi" the Japanese way to answer the phone....loosely translated it means "Hello, im listening"

well, ok, he may have done the eye squishy thing, but, he never said "mushy"

ComedyGuy · 09-21-2007, 01:41 PM

I remember an episode where Barney's daughter apperars in the squad room and fondly says Nicks name and also remembers Wojo's karate uniform (as she calls it)

SueWalsh · 09-22-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

What he actually said ( as he was answering the phone ) was "Moshi Moshi" the Japanese way to answer the phone....loosely translated it means "Hello, im listening"

well, ok, he may have done the eye squishy thing, but, he never said "mushy"

He wasn't answering the phone. Barney asked him how many brownies he had and Nick whispered "moshi moshi" in his ear. He did the eye squishy thing with Harris. LOL

catlover79 · 11-23-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComedyGuy

I remember an episode where Barney's daughter apperars in the squad room and fondly says Nicks name and also remembers Wojo's karate uniform (as she calls it)

Didn't Wojo only wear the karate outfit once?

catlover79 · 09-13-2008, 01:02 AM

Jack/Nick:

LeeBlue · 09-15-2008, 03:49 PM

Jack Soo was a favorite actor and very much missed.

Question -- My memory isn't what it use to be -- I live by post-its -- I rememeber Det. Yemana was featured in the first four seasons but did he take part in any episodes of season five??

Thanks.

catlover79 · 09-15-2008, 04:19 PM

^ I believe his last episode aired in October 1978, so that would've been Season 5.

06-13-2004, 03:56 AM	#1
cjmalagodi Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 23, 2003 Posts: 46	Was Nick Yemana's absence ever explained? Barney Miller was one of my favorite sitcoms, and I remembered watching a special episode on paying tribute to the late Jack Soo, who played Det. Nick Yemana. In the last three seasons of the show (without Jack), was Yemana's absence ever explained? If so, whatever happened to him? CJ Malagodi

02-22-2005, 12:37 AM	#5
JoyWright Member First Time Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2005 Location: Groesbeck, TX Posts: 1	I'm not so sure.... I think what Nick said was "Mooshy, Mooshy..."

04-01-2005, 08:30 PM	#6
DebWong Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 25, 2003 Location: Moss Beach, Calif. Posts: 19	Both Correct You're both right - he said: "Mooshy Mooshy" about the brownies, and then said that he could hear his eyes close, and they went: "Squish, squish".

09-05-2007, 11:20 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ God bless Jack Soo. He passed on 8 months before I was born, but by watching the show, I grew to love him and his character, Nick Yemana. You could tell he had so much fun on the show. He was also hilarious in Flower Drum Song. Jack.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

09-13-2008, 01:02 AM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Jack/Nick: Attached Images

06-13-2004, 04:22 PM	#2
DetectiveGriffin Sankontessou! Senior Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2001 Location: North Central Indiana Posts: 1,288	In one episode. workman come and take Nicks desk. Wojo and Barney stare fondly, but it isnt said that he died, just sort of implied. We can just pretend hes putting his time in at the DA's office, huh?

06-20-2004, 03:25 PM	#3
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	In the last episode Barney remembers the detectives who were no longer there: Chano, Fish, Wentworth, and they show an old scene for each one. When he remembers Nick he looks like he is about to start crying, which would indeed indicate that Nick must have died, although exactly when is left up to your imagination. Also, since he has a broad smile when he remembers the others you can assume that Fish and the others are all still alive at that point. By the way, has there ever been talk of a reunion for this series?

02-18-2005, 01:19 PM	#4
senor boogie woogi Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Posts: 107	Hola! BM did a whole show in tribute to the late Jack Soo. The characters broke down the proverbial "fourth wall" and talked right to the camera. Yemana for some reason had to make the coffee, but everyone hated it and complained, but no one else would do it so it, and as a loyal worker Asian he was, made the coffee and would not allow anyone else to do it. He also accidentally OD'd on pot brownies with Fish (Yemana dunked it into his infamous coffee and said "Squishy, squishy!" while Fish lamented that he has not felt that good in twenty years and it was illegal. What killed Yemana? Either brownie addiction, chain smoking, or that rot-gut Sanka coffee he produced every morning. Senor

09-05-2007, 08:36 PM	#7
SueWalsh Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 05, 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 214	Yes. Depending on the episode, Nick was either "at the DA's office for a few days", "in court", or "on vacation". In "The Judge" which took place in the beginning of the 6th season, the detectives arrive to find Nick's desk is gone: Harris(walking toward the coffee and stopping suddenly when he reaches the empty space where Nick's desk was) "Hmm, something's funny." (Dietrich and Wojo are also there, Barney walks over.) Barney: "Nick's desk." (looks sad and shocked) Harris: (somberly) "Oh!" Barney: "They called about it last week. It completely slipped my mind." The group stands silent, gazing at the spot. Wojo: "I'm really gonna miss it." (The others nod and say yeah) Barney (looking sad) "Gonna miss a lot of things." They fall silent again. Dietrich: "I made coffee." (The others seem to snap out of their sadness and follow him toward the coffee) Dietrich: "It's not as bad as Nick's yet but..." Barney pours a cup and takes a sip. Barney: "You're getting there!" Everyone laughs and the episode continues. (After Levitt finds the desk gone and freaks, thinking it means he'll never make it upstairs, Barney calls and gets the desk returned.)

09-21-2007, 01:41 PM	#10
ComedyGuy King Of TV Trivia Senior Member Join Date: Sep 17, 2007 Location: Eastlake Ohio Posts: 1,255	I remember an episode where Barney's daughter apperars in the squad room and fondly says Nicks name and also remembers Wojo's karate uniform (as she calls it)

09-15-2008, 03:49 PM	#14
LeeBlue Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 16, 2006 Location: NYS Posts: 871	Was Nick Yemana's absence ever explained? Jack Soo was a favorite actor and very much missed. Question -- My memory isn't what it use to be -- I live by post-its -- I rememeber Det. Yemana was featured in the first four seasons but did he take part in any episodes of season five?? Thanks.

09-15-2008, 04:19 PM	#15
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ I believe his last episode aired in October 1978, so that would've been Season 5.