Did You Like The Way 'Barney Miller' Ended? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 04-22-2011, 12:34 PM

Do you think it was the best possible ending to the show or was it a flawed finale? Could it have been better? What would you change about it if anything at all?

catlover79 · 04-22-2011, 02:41 PM

YES!!! One of the best series finales ever, in my opinion. It got the classy send-off it deserved.

Trez · 04-22-2011, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Do you think it was the best possible ending to the show or was it a flawed finale? Could it have been better? What would you change about it if anything at all?

I would of loved to have seen Chano

come back just to say good-bye to everyone before the 12th precinct closed for good instead of a flashback of his character

catlover79 · 04-22-2011, 11:25 PM

Of course, that would have been nice. I wonder if they asked him to come back. Jack Soo had passed away some time before and Linda Lavin was still tied to Alice.

WDUNBill · 04-23-2011, 12:12 PM

Nice thought re: Chano, and I would have gone one better ... how about bringing back Fish? Abe must have been sore that his spinoff tanked, because I think his character would have been there, and the writers SURELY enquired ...

It would have added poignancy to Nick's absence if the others had been included live ...

That said, "Barney Miller" had, imho, the finest last episode ever. Sorry "Newhart" fans ...

Retro4Life · 04-23-2011, 12:51 PM

I was happy with it. It would have been nice to see the departed characters return again, but in those days, that really didn't happen very often.

I thought it was kind of a low key finale, which was in keeping with the tone of the show. No frills, no flash, just some understated and meaningful dialogue and plot, along with some last laughs and tears (for the audience). BM was a show with heart, but it didn't wear it on its sleeve; it held back as much as possible and let the situations speak for themselves.

catlover79 · 04-23-2011, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WDUNBill

That said, "Barney Miller" had, imho, the finest last episode ever. Sorry "Newhart" fans ...

I think those are the best two series finales ever!!

FanofRetroTV · 05-12-2011, 03:27 PM

It was a great final, the only think I would have change is if Liz show up at the old 12. just because I think Barney needed his wife by him at that time. Other then that is was one of the best finals!

Guy Incognito · 05-12-2011, 07:09 PM

Only thing I didn't like about the final episodes was the culmination of the season-long Inspector Luger plotline, but only because I (much like Harris) couldn't understand how or why Perlita would legitimately fall for him. If they'd left it as a marriage of convenience/friendship as hinted at in her debut episode, fine. But the sudden shift in the relationship was an awkward attempt to give Luger a "happy ending" he really didn't deserve given his behavior throughout the final season (and really, the whole series). I mean, he tries to buy a desperate bride from overseas because no other sane woman would have him, he cons Barney into writing the introductory letters, then promptly forgets about the whole thing and then treats Perlita like garbage when she does show up. And while they do reconcile, he still treats her more with bemusement than anything else and frequently holds her at arm's length emotionally (even though she clearly wants to be with him despite his many, many, MANY flaws). Her old existence must have been downright nightmarish if marital life with Frank Luger looked appealing.

Other than that, though, great finale.

steevo · 05-14-2011, 01:16 PM

Yes I liked it very much. It was a proper ending to a classic series. I thought it was fitting for an old building like the 12th precinct to be declared an historical landmark. That message from the producers at the end saying goodbye was the perfect capper.

catlover79 · 10-29-2011, 03:32 AM

The complete series set features commentary from writers/producers Tony Sheehan, Jeff Stein and Frank Dungan on all three parts of "Landmark". I haven't listened to it yet, but am looking forward to!!

04-22-2011, 12:34 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	Did You Like The Way 'Barney Miller' Ended? Do you think it was the best possible ending to the show or was it a flawed finale? Could it have been better? What would you change about it if anything at all?
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04-22-2011, 02:41 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	YES!!! One of the best series finales ever, in my opinion. It got the classy send-off it deserved.
	__________________ "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

04-23-2011, 12:51 PM	#6
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I was happy with it. It would have been nice to see the departed characters return again, but in those days, that really didn't happen very often. I thought it was kind of a low key finale, which was in keeping with the tone of the show. No frills, no flash, just some understated and meaningful dialogue and plot, along with some last laughs and tears (for the audience). BM was a show with heart, but it didn't wear it on its sleeve; it held back as much as possible and let the situations speak for themselves.
	__________________ 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."

05-14-2011, 01:16 PM	#10
steevo It is Green Senior Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,475	Yes I liked it very much. It was a proper ending to a classic series. I thought it was fitting for an old building like the 12th precinct to be declared an historical landmark. That message from the producers at the end saying goodbye was the perfect capper.
	__________________ "God be gracious to us and bless us..." Psalm 67:1

04-22-2011, 11:25 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Of course, that would have been nice. I wonder if they asked him to come back. Jack Soo had passed away some time before and Linda Lavin was still tied to Alice.

04-23-2011, 12:12 PM	#5
WDUNBill Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 23, 2003 Location: Cumming, GA Posts: 10	Nice thought re: Chano, and I would have gone one better ... how about bringing back Fish? Abe must have been sore that his spinoff tanked, because I think his character would have been there, and the writers SURELY enquired ... It would have added poignancy to Nick's absence if the others had been included live ... That said, "Barney Miller" had, imho, the finest last episode ever. Sorry "Newhart" fans ...

05-12-2011, 03:27 PM	#8
FanofRetroTV Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 15, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 292	It was a great final, the only think I would have change is if Liz show up at the old 12. just because I think Barney needed his wife by him at that time. Other then that is was one of the best finals!

05-12-2011, 07:09 PM	#9
Guy Incognito International Man of Misery Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2011 Location: The Solar System Posts: 83	Only thing I didn't like about the final episodes was the culmination of the season-long Inspector Luger plotline, but only because I (much like Harris) couldn't understand how or why Perlita would legitimately fall for him. If they'd left it as a marriage of convenience/friendship as hinted at in her debut episode, fine. But the sudden shift in the relationship was an awkward attempt to give Luger a "happy ending" he really didn't deserve given his behavior throughout the final season (and really, the whole series). I mean, he tries to buy a desperate bride from overseas because no other sane woman would have him, he cons Barney into writing the introductory letters, then promptly forgets about the whole thing and then treats Perlita like garbage when she does show up. And while they do reconcile, he still treats her more with bemusement than anything else and frequently holds her at arm's length emotionally (even though she clearly wants to be with him despite his many, many, MANY flaws). Her old existence must have been downright nightmarish if marital life with Frank Luger looked appealing. Other than that, though, great finale.

10-29-2011, 03:32 AM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	The complete series set features commentary from writers/producers Tony Sheehan, Jeff Stein and Frank Dungan on all three parts of "Landmark". I haven't listened to it yet, but am looking forward to!!