Favorite TV Policeman - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 04-23-2010, 03:26 AM

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I’ve taken to watching “Barney Miller” reruns Sunday nights on WGN.

Two episodes of the show run starting at 8 p.m.

I always had a fondness for “Barney Miller” during its run on ABC from 1975 to 1982, and have the entire series on DVD. (OK, I got it from a copyright-evading thief. Sue me. Sue the thief. And sue Sony, which has so far managed to put just three of the seasons out on legitimate DVDs.)

Fortunately, the “Barney Miller”s currently airing on WGN are well past the fourth season, so I get regular doses of my favorite character, Arthur Dietrich, played by Steve Landesberg.

Landesberg remains a comedian and comic actor, but he’s never made me laugh as hard as he did when playing Dietrich, the intellectual loner. Dietrich apparently had numerous doctorates, or at least studied at high levels in many areas. He was multi-lingual, well-read, a stickler for details, and knew a lot about everything. He was arrested at a nuclear protest rally, and handed in his resignation after using his gun to thwart a robbery. He annoyed the heck out of his co-workers. What’s not to like?

At the time the show was airing, my internal rebel worshipped Dietrich, the smart-aleck who was allowed to be a smart-aleck because his other contributions were so valuable. Thirty years down the line, I understand how a person like Dietrich could be really annoying to be around, and I understand better some of the stern looks (and worse) I received at early jobs.

But as I watch Dietrich now, I realize he’s probably my favorite TV policeman. I don’t claim to be an expert – I haven’t drilled a ton of police shows into my skull.

So I’ll put forth the question to you: Who’s your favorite TV policeman past or present, and why?

catlover79 · 04-23-2010, 12:38 PM

Dietrich was indeed a great character, and Steve Landesberg was letter-perfect in the role. Is there anything Dietrich DIDN'T know???

Thanks for posting the article, Charles.

sara · 04-25-2010, 06:42 AM

Oh Dietrich is my definitely my favorite. I've always loved people with a dry sense of humor. I have to disagree about a few points though. The intellectional loner part, obviously he's intellectional but I never thought he was a loner. I always thought that he always liked being part of the group. He also didn't annoy everybody it was mainly Harris occasionally Barney. Wojo never seemed to have a problem with him if anything he appreciated that Diethrich never talked down to him. When Wojo was hypnotized Dietrich was the only one that came out unscathed.

catlover79 · 07-05-2010, 07:23 PM

Yeah, I think that when he spoke about Dietrich, calling him the smartest man he knows, Dietrich retorts, "I don't have to take that crap."

04-23-2010, 03:26 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,404	Favorite TV Policeman Link I’ve taken to watching “Barney Miller” reruns Sunday nights on WGN. Two episodes of the show run starting at 8 p.m. I always had a fondness for “Barney Miller” during its run on ABC from 1975 to 1982, and have the entire series on DVD. (OK, I got it from a copyright-evading thief. Sue me. Sue the thief. And sue Sony, which has so far managed to put just three of the seasons out on legitimate DVDs.) Fortunately, the “Barney Miller”s currently airing on WGN are well past the fourth season, so I get regular doses of my favorite character, Arthur Dietrich, played by Steve Landesberg. Landesberg remains a comedian and comic actor, but he’s never made me laugh as hard as he did when playing Dietrich, the intellectual loner. Dietrich apparently had numerous doctorates, or at least studied at high levels in many areas. He was multi-lingual, well-read, a stickler for details, and knew a lot about everything. He was arrested at a nuclear protest rally, and handed in his resignation after using his gun to thwart a robbery. He annoyed the heck out of his co-workers. What’s not to like? At the time the show was airing, my internal rebel worshipped Dietrich, the smart-aleck who was allowed to be a smart-aleck because his other contributions were so valuable. Thirty years down the line, I understand how a person like Dietrich could be really annoying to be around, and I understand better some of the stern looks (and worse) I received at early jobs. But as I watch Dietrich now, I realize he’s probably my favorite TV policeman. I don’t claim to be an expert – I haven’t drilled a ton of police shows into my skull. So I’ll put forth the question to you: Who’s your favorite TV policeman past or present, and why?
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

04-23-2010, 12:38 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Dietrich was indeed a great character, and Steve Landesberg was letter-perfect in the role. Is there anything Dietrich DIDN'T know??? Thanks for posting the article, Charles.
	__________________ "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

04-25-2010, 06:42 AM	#3
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	Oh Dietrich is my definitely my favorite. I've always loved people with a dry sense of humor. I have to disagree about a few points though. The intellectional loner part, obviously he's intellectional but I never thought he was a loner. I always thought that he always liked being part of the group. He also didn't annoy everybody it was mainly Harris occasionally Barney. Wojo never seemed to have a problem with him if anything he appreciated that Diethrich never talked down to him. When Wojo was hypnotized Dietrich was the only one that came out unscathed.
	__________________ Help stamp out and eradicate superfluous redundancy!

07-05-2010, 07:23 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Yeah, I think that when he spoke about Dietrich, calling him the smartest man he knows, Dietrich retorts, "I don't have to take that crap."