Would "Barney Miller" Worked Just As Well If They Kept Barbara Barrie on the Show? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-06-2011, 05:08 PM

Would the show have been as crisp and worked just as well if they didn't ditch the home life of Barney?

Also, did Barney end up getting a divorce?

catlover79 · 02-06-2011, 06:14 PM

Nothing against Barbara Barrie or Anne Wyndham, both fine actresses, but Barney's home life was BORING. Thankfully, Danny Arnold & co. realized this very quickly and made it an all-workplace show.

Barney and Liz did separate for a while, but eventually reconciled. I don't think anyone would've minded the occasional guest spot from Ms. Barrie, but I think it was wise to keep Barney's home life offscreen for the lion's share of the show.

Retro4Life · 02-06-2011, 07:32 PM

^ Totally agree. The show would have bombed big time if they'd have concentrated on the home life. It would have been just a cookie cutter version of many other shows out there, even a bit of AITF. What made it special was the wonderful chemistry and realism of the squadroom.

sara · 02-08-2011, 06:36 AM

The reason they cut it out the home life stuff in the first place was because it wasn't working.

Marvo301 · 02-08-2011, 03:56 PM

I like they way they worked it with Fish and Bernice where we occasionally saw Fish talking to her on the phone or referring to her but only on a few rare occasions did we actually see her. It was best that the intrusions of the Fish home life into the workplace were kept to a minimum. And I think the same is true for Barney (and the rest of the characters). So eliminating Barbara Barrie's character was the right thing to do for the show.

energy · 03-03-2011, 04:21 PM

She definitely brought something positive to the show. It would have been better to keep her, particularly since Barney never developed any other romantic interest.

His wife and family provided the oppurtunity to see another sensitive, loving side of Miller. The show benefitted when a little estrogen would make an appearance.

So the answer is yes, the show would have worked just as well -- maybe a little better. The key would have been striking the right balance between home life and office life.

catlover79 · 03-12-2011, 11:17 PM

Hal Linden said in an Entertainment Tonight interview that the first few episodes were "part Barney Miller and part Father Knows Best"!!

02-06-2011, 05:08 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	Would "Barney Miller" Worked Just As Well If They Kept Barbara Barrie on the Show? Would the show have been as crisp and worked just as well if they didn't ditch the home life of Barney? Also, did Barney end up getting a divorce?
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02-06-2011, 06:14 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Nothing against Barbara Barrie or Anne Wyndham, both fine actresses, but Barney's home life was BORING. Thankfully, Danny Arnold & co. realized this very quickly and made it an all-workplace show. Barney and Liz did separate for a while, but eventually reconciled. I don't think anyone would've minded the occasional guest spot from Ms. Barrie, but I think it was wise to keep Barney's home life offscreen for the lion's share of the show.
	__________________ "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

02-06-2011, 07:32 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	^ Totally agree. The show would have bombed big time if they'd have concentrated on the home life. It would have been just a cookie cutter version of many other shows out there, even a bit of AITF. What made it special was the wonderful chemistry and realism of the squadroom.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

02-08-2011, 06:36 AM	#4
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	The reason they cut it out the home life stuff in the first place was because it wasn't working.
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02-08-2011, 03:56 PM	#5
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I like they way they worked it with Fish and Bernice where we occasionally saw Fish talking to her on the phone or referring to her but only on a few rare occasions did we actually see her. It was best that the intrusions of the Fish home life into the workplace were kept to a minimum. And I think the same is true for Barney (and the rest of the characters). So eliminating Barbara Barrie's character was the right thing to do for the show.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

03-03-2011, 04:21 PM	#6
energy Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 07, 2006 Location: florida Posts: 101	She definitely brought something positive to the show. It would have been better to keep her, particularly since Barney never developed any other romantic interest. His wife and family provided the oppurtunity to see another sensitive, loving side of Miller. The show benefitted when a little estrogen would make an appearance. So the answer is yes, the show would have worked just as well -- maybe a little better. The key would have been striking the right balance between home life and office life.
	Last edited by energy; 03-17-2011 at 01:48 AM.

03-12-2011, 11:17 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Hal Linden said in an Entertainment Tonight interview that the first few episodes were "part Barney Miller and part Father Knows Best"!!