Does Anybody Agree that Dietrich Was the Least Funny Detective on 'Barney Miller' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-24-2010, 07:37 PM

Anybody agree?

Retro4Life · 05-24-2010, 08:12 PM

No, I think he fit perfectly into the mix of comedy styles. You had the "woe is me" dry humor of Fish, Harris' overblown egoism which was unintentionally funny (except his euphemisms for the mental health van, those were on purpose!), Yemana's often 'wtf?' deadpans, Wojo's earnest and blunt naivete, and Dietrich's wry, referential sarcasm.

Honestly, I think I may have laughed more at Dietrich than at anyone else!

catlover79 · 05-24-2010, 08:22 PM

I don't agree - I found him hilarious! Dietrich was one know-it-all who really did know it all.

Steve Landesberg did a great job with the character.

Marvo301 · 05-24-2010, 08:55 PM

Dietrich was my favorite of the detectives at the 12th precinct. But then again sarcasm is my native language!!

catlover79 · 05-24-2010, 09:19 PM

Plus, the Harris/Dietrich "feud" was golden.

Sterling Holobyte · 05-24-2010, 10:20 PM

I'll have to add my name to the people who don't agree with you, Brian.

I loved Dietrich's dry sarcasm. In fact, I did a report on Steve Landesberg's style of humor for a class in high school.

sara · 05-25-2010, 03:07 AM

Them be fighting words!

tv star collector · 05-25-2010, 09:16 AM

I think Steve Landesberg is one of the most underrated sitcom actors of all
time and that his Dietrich character on Barney Miller was classic.

catlover79 · 05-25-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sara

Them be fighting words!

I knew you were going to chime in about this sooner or later!!!

sara · 05-27-2010, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I knew you were going to chime in about this sooner or later!!!

But of course.

catlover79 · 05-27-2010, 01:06 PM

Here is Steve Landesberg - as Dietrich and beyond. At the time Barney Miller was going on, Steve's girlfriend was an actress from another ABC sitcom - Diana Canova (Corrine Tate, Soap). She guested on a Barney Miller ep, pictured below (which is I'm guessing how they met).

Retro4Life · 05-27-2010, 04:22 PM

^ I always had a crush on "Corinne Tate",

.

I thought Canova and Landesberg really had some good chemistry in that episode (she was a prostitute, if I remember correctly).

Sigh. I wonder if I'll ever feel about TV again like I did back then. It's looking doubtful.

catlover79 · 05-27-2010, 04:49 PM

Diana Canova guested in the episode "Strip Joint", which aired in Season 6. She played (what else) a stripper. The episode also featured James Cromwell as a guest star.

Retro4Life · 05-27-2010, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Diana Canova guested in the episode "Strip Joint", which aired in Season 6. She played (what else) a stripper. The episode also featured James Cromwell as a guest star.

Ahh, OK, thanks for clearing that up. I knew the job was in the 'adult entertainment' field,

.

catlover79 · 05-27-2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Ahh, OK, thanks for clearing that up. I knew the job was in the 'adult entertainment' field,

.

No problem! The other "dancer" in that episode was played by Rosanna De Soto, who had previously played one of the hookers in S1's "The Courtesans". She later went on to co-star in Gregory Sierra's (

) AES Hudson Street and played the mom in 1987's La Bamba.

As for Steve Landesburg and Diana Canova's relationship, it ultimately didn't last. Today, both are married and have children with other people.

05-24-2010, 07:37 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	Does Anybody Agree that Dietrich Was the Least Funny Detective on 'Barney Miller' Anybody agree?
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05-24-2010, 08:12 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	No, I think he fit perfectly into the mix of comedy styles. You had the "woe is me" dry humor of Fish, Harris' overblown egoism which was unintentionally funny (except his euphemisms for the mental health van, those were on purpose!), Yemana's often 'wtf?' deadpans, Wojo's earnest and blunt naivete, and Dietrich's wry, referential sarcasm. Honestly, I think I may have laughed more at Dietrich than at anyone else!
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05-24-2010, 08:22 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I don't agree - I found him hilarious! Dietrich was one know-it-all who really did know it all. Steve Landesberg did a great job with the character.
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05-24-2010, 08:55 PM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Dietrich was my favorite of the detectives at the 12th precinct. But then again sarcasm is my native language!!
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05-24-2010, 10:20 PM	#6
Sterling Holobyte Harper House Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,896	I'll have to add my name to the people who don't agree with you, Brian. I loved Dietrich's dry sarcasm. In fact, I did a report on Steve Landesberg's style of humor for a class in high school.
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05-24-2010, 09:19 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Plus, the Harris/Dietrich "feud" was golden.

05-25-2010, 03:07 AM	#7
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	Them be fighting words!
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05-25-2010, 09:16 AM	#8
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	I think Steve Landesberg is one of the most underrated sitcom actors of all time and that his Dietrich character on Barney Miller was classic.

05-27-2010, 01:06 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Here is Steve Landesberg - as Dietrich and beyond. At the time Barney Miller was going on, Steve's girlfriend was an actress from another ABC sitcom - Diana Canova (Corrine Tate, Soap). She guested on a Barney Miller ep, pictured below (which is I'm guessing how they met). Attached Images

05-27-2010, 04:22 PM	#12
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	^ I always had a crush on "Corinne Tate", . I thought Canova and Landesberg really had some good chemistry in that episode (she was a prostitute, if I remember correctly). Sigh. I wonder if I'll ever feel about TV again like I did back then. It's looking doubtful.

05-27-2010, 04:49 PM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Diana Canova guested in the episode "Strip Joint", which aired in Season 6. She played (what else) a stripper. The episode also featured James Cromwell as a guest star.