Did The Departure of "Detective Fish" Hurt 'Barney Miller?' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-18-2011, 12:31 AM

Did the show lack something with him out of the picture or did the show never miss a beat?

Marvo301 · 02-18-2011, 12:45 AM

Barney Miller was one of the few sitcoms (M*A*S*H is the other one that comes to mind) that was able to deal with departing characters without losing a beat. I'm not saying that Chano and Fish weren't missed (especially Chano right Monika!) but the addition of Deitrich and the promotion of Officer Levitt kept the 12th precinct humming right along.

catlover79 · 02-18-2011, 01:16 AM

It was always in the plan for Fish to retire. Besides having his own spinoff, he did pop back up at the 1-2 a couple of times in the later seasons to visit his old colleagues. Plus, it was a workplace sitcom. People retire, transfer, pass away, etc., just like in real life. Sure, Fish, Chano and Yemana were missed, but the show found worthy replacements in Dietrich and Levitt.

sara · 02-18-2011, 05:01 AM

Well I for one thought the show was better when Fish left, and not just because of my love for Dietrich.

I've just never been a huge Fish fan.

energy · 03-03-2011, 04:07 PM

The show definitely lost something when Fish left. In hindsight, it was a mistake since his spinoff failed. But back then, spinoffs were common and profitable. The Jeffersons, Rhoda, Maude, etc. were all spinoffs, so it's no surprise that it was tried with Fish.

catlover79 · 03-12-2011, 11:32 PM

^ Well, Fish was the biggest breakout character at that point, so it really is no surprise that he was spun off.

Marvo301 · 03-13-2011, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

It was always in the plan for Fish to retire. Besides having his own spinoff, he did pop back up at the 1-2 a couple of times in the later seasons to visit his old colleagues. Plus, it was a workplace sitcom. People retire, transfer, pass away, etc., just like in real life. Sure, Fish, Chano and Yemana were missed, but the show found worthy replacements in Dietrich and Levitt.

I saw one of those episodes yesterday where Fish came back for a visit. As Fish is coming out of the station washroom a woman with a homemade bomb threatens to blow up the precinct. Fish looks at Barney and Wojo and says in his deadpan delivery "Aww, you guys didn't have to do this for me." Priceless!!

catlover79 · 03-13-2011, 01:17 AM

Vintage Fish!!! God bless Abe Vigoda, 90 years young and still going strong!!

DavidDMI · 03-14-2011, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Did the show lack something with him out of the picture or did the show never miss a beat?

I was disappointed when Fish was taken off the show.The show was still funny but there was that missing element.

Retro4Life · 03-14-2011, 08:53 PM

I think it was a net tie for the show. It did lose something special, but I'd opine that it gained something equally special when it introducted Dietrich.

catlover79 · 03-15-2011, 12:30 AM

I agree!! Pairing up Abe Vigoda and Steve Landesberg for Dietrich's first episode in S2 was inspired!!

sara · 03-15-2011, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I agree!! Pairing up Abe Vigoda and Steve Landesberg for Dietrich's first episode in S2 was inspired!!

"Go away Beverly is busy."

catlover79 · 03-15-2011, 01:14 PM

"We've made other plans, and they don't include you!"

biffbronson · 03-15-2011, 08:30 PM

I remember Fish as seeming to be quite popular when the show began -- I was watching, of course, and continued to watch Barney Miller too. It was a spin-off with a good cast and better-than-average potential, I thought.

It's funny but until I began going online, I had no recollection of Dietrich replacing Fish, even though I remembered both characters very well...! For some reason I couldn't remember that as sort of a timeline event.

catlover79 · 03-15-2011, 08:53 PM

I still have yet to see a Fish episode. I've seen old promos for it online, have heard the theme song, but have yet to see an episode. Maybe someday...

02-18-2011, 12:31 AM	#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	Did The Departure of "Detective Fish" Hurt 'Barney Miller?' Did the show lack something with him out of the picture or did the show never miss a beat?
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02-18-2011, 12:45 AM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Barney Miller was one of the few sitcoms (MAS*H is the other one that comes to mind) that was able to deal with departing characters without losing a beat. I'm not saying that Chano and Fish weren't missed (especially Chano right Monika!) but the addition of Deitrich and the promotion of Officer Levitt kept the 12th precinct humming right along.
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02-18-2011, 01:16 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	It was always in the plan for Fish to retire. Besides having his own spinoff, he did pop back up at the 1-2 a couple of times in the later seasons to visit his old colleagues. Plus, it was a workplace sitcom. People retire, transfer, pass away, etc., just like in real life. Sure, Fish, Chano and Yemana were missed, but the show found worthy replacements in Dietrich and Levitt.
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02-18-2011, 05:01 AM	#4
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	Well I for one thought the show was better when Fish left, and not just because of my love for Dietrich. I've just never been a huge Fish fan.
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03-14-2011, 08:53 PM	#10
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I think it was a net tie for the show. It did lose something special, but I'd opine that it gained something equally special when it introducted Dietrich.
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03-03-2011, 04:07 PM	#5
energy Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 07, 2006 Location: florida Posts: 101	The show definitely lost something when Fish left. In hindsight, it was a mistake since his spinoff failed. But back then, spinoffs were common and profitable. The Jeffersons, Rhoda, Maude, etc. were all spinoffs, so it's no surprise that it was tried with Fish.

03-12-2011, 11:32 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ Well, Fish was the biggest breakout character at that point, so it really is no surprise that he was spun off.

03-13-2011, 01:17 AM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Vintage Fish!!! God bless Abe Vigoda, 90 years young and still going strong!!

03-15-2011, 12:30 AM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I agree!! Pairing up Abe Vigoda and Steve Landesberg for Dietrich's first episode in S2 was inspired!! Attached Images

03-15-2011, 01:14 PM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	"We've made other plans, and they don't include you!"

03-15-2011, 08:30 PM	#14
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,502	I remember Fish as seeming to be quite popular when the show began -- I was watching, of course, and continued to watch Barney Miller too. It was a spin-off with a good cast and better-than-average potential, I thought. It's funny but until I began going online, I had no recollection of Dietrich replacing Fish, even though I remembered both characters very well...! For some reason I couldn't remember that as sort of a timeline event.
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03-15-2011, 08:53 PM	#15
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I still have yet to see a Fish episode. I've seen old promos for it online, have heard the theme song, but have yet to see an episode. Maybe someday...