Barney Miller's religion - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PartyOfOne · 12-07-2010, 09:42 PM

Was Barney's religious affiliation ever revealed on this program? I know many think he was Jewish because Hal Linden is.

treky · 12-08-2010, 01:27 AM

I don't think so.

catlover79 · 12-08-2010, 10:21 AM

I think it was implied a couple of times, but that was pretty much it.

sara · 12-09-2010, 03:18 AM

I always thought that Barney was Jewish. In an episode, I think it's Altercation from the 8th season. The one where we find out Barney has a secret admirer, she mentions that she sent David a check for his Bar Mitzvah.

TV Knowledge Fan · 12-09-2010, 03:47 AM

...she quotes creator/producer Danny Arnold as saying, "We never said Barney Miller was Jewish, and we never said he wasn't". In other words, his ethnic origin was deliberately left unclear, in order for the series to be accepted by a mass audience. There might have been a slight reference to his being Jewish in later episodes, but it was never officially brought out.

catlover79 · 12-09-2010, 11:31 AM

^ I've never heard of that book before. I'll see if my library has it.

cocytus · 12-09-2010, 11:38 AM

It was never mentioned because it had nothing to do w/ the primary narrative of the series. In fact, were only a few episodes during the whole series that were set outside of the station house.
This may have been a cost-saving measure as fewer sets and fewer people mean lower costs.

RogerThornhill · 12-23-2010, 04:55 PM

It is mentioned. Besides the Bar Mitzvah line, there is a scene in Barney's office where Wojciehowicz is discussing his feelings about not having gone to church in a long time. He stops himself, and remembers aloud that Barney is Jewish. He apologizes for forgetting and, when Barney starts to say it is fine, Wojo adds, "It's not like you're going to temple all the time!"

catlover79 · 11-01-2011, 07:52 PM

Yet in the episode "Toys", Barney mentions how he and Liz wanted to meet up for Christmas in a cabin in Vermont - and that every year they've taken David to meet Santa Claus at the mall.

SueWalsh · 11-02-2011, 10:54 PM

Yes it is. I can't remember the episode name off hand but it's when Barney reveals that he and Liz have separated. The department chaplain is sent to counsel him and starts preaching. Barney stands there looking uncomfortable until the chaplain says "You're not Christian, are you?" and Barney says "No."

catlover79 · 11-03-2011, 08:55 PM

^ That's why everything he said about Christmas in "Toys" was confusing to me.

SueWalsh · 11-03-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ That's why everything he said about Christmas in "Toys" was confusing to me.

Maybe Liz is Christian so they celebrate both holidays?

catlover79 · 11-03-2011, 09:06 PM

Maybe, or maybe they are non-practicing Jews who celebrate both.

12-07-2010, 09:42 PM	#1
PartyOfOne Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 24, 2005 Posts: 162	Barney Miller's religion Was Barney's religious affiliation ever revealed on this program? I know many think he was Jewish because Hal Linden is.

12-08-2010, 01:27 AM	#2
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I don't think so.
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12-08-2010, 10:21 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I think it was implied a couple of times, but that was pretty much it.
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12-09-2010, 03:18 AM	#4
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	I always thought that Barney was Jewish. In an episode, I think it's Altercation from the 8th season. The one where we find out Barney has a secret admirer, she mentions that she sent David a check for his Bar Mitzvah.
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12-09-2010, 03:47 AM	#5
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	In Sally Bedell Smith's 1981 book "Up the Tube"... ...she quotes creator/producer Danny Arnold as saying, "We never said Barney Miller was Jewish, and we never said he wasn't". In other words, his ethnic origin was deliberately left unclear, in order for the series to be accepted by a mass audience. There might have been a slight reference to his being Jewish in later episodes, but it was never officially brought out.

12-09-2010, 11:31 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ I've never heard of that book before. I'll see if my library has it.

12-09-2010, 11:38 AM	#7
cocytus Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 15, 2010 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 781	It was never mentioned because it had nothing to do w/ the primary narrative of the series. In fact, were only a few episodes during the whole series that were set outside of the station house. This may have been a cost-saving measure as fewer sets and fewer people mean lower costs.

12-23-2010, 04:55 PM	#8
RogerThornhill Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 02, 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 9	Mentioned by Wojo It is mentioned. Besides the Bar Mitzvah line, there is a scene in Barney's office where Wojciehowicz is discussing his feelings about not having gone to church in a long time. He stops himself, and remembers aloud that Barney is Jewish. He apologizes for forgetting and, when Barney starts to say it is fine, Wojo adds, "It's not like you're going to temple all the time!"

11-01-2011, 07:52 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Yet in the episode "Toys", Barney mentions how he and Liz wanted to meet up for Christmas in a cabin in Vermont - and that every year they've taken David to meet Santa Claus at the mall.

11-02-2011, 10:54 PM	#10
SueWalsh Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 05, 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 214	Yes it is. I can't remember the episode name off hand but it's when Barney reveals that he and Liz have separated. The department chaplain is sent to counsel him and starts preaching. Barney stands there looking uncomfortable until the chaplain says "You're not Christian, are you?" and Barney says "No."
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11-03-2011, 08:55 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ That's why everything he said about Christmas in "Toys" was confusing to me.

11-03-2011, 09:06 PM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Maybe, or maybe they are non-practicing Jews who celebrate both.