"Wojo's Girl' Easily the Worst Episode of The Series

[Skywalker]

The first half of the episode is good, it's basically just another episode of Barney Miller, but the second half is awful when it's just Wojo and his girlfriend at his apartment. I understand that this was supposed to be some sort of backdoor pilot for the Wojo character. I like Wojo, but he wasn't the kind of character that could or should be spun off. Good thing it never happened otherwise it could have been a contender for worst spinoff ever.

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

The first half of the episode is good, it's basically just another episode of Barney Miller, but the second half is awful when it's just Wojo and his girlfriend at his apartment. I understand that this was supposed to be some sort of backdoor pilot for the Wojo character. I like Wojo, but he wasn't the kind of character that could or should be spun off. Good thing it never happened otherwise it could have been a contender for worst spinoff ever.

I respectfully disagree, I think Max Gail could have been a lead character if given the chance. Of course you are probably right because ABC nixed the show. lol

BTW, worst spin-off has to be The Tortellis. IMO

[Skywalker]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

BTW, worst spin-off has to be The Tortellis. IMO

Yeah, I can't argue with that. I tried to watch the pilot on youtube once and had to stop after 5 minutes, it was so bad. Hard to watch a show where almost all of the characters are unlikeable.

[catlover79]

I don't think Wojo would've been a good character to spin off myself. He was best taken in small doses, within the frame of an ensemble. But yeah - this episode was a dud, but then, even a show as good and as long-running as Barney Miller was had to lay an egg at least once!!

[Skywalker]

Originally Posted by catlover79

I don't think Wojo would've been a good character to spin off myself. He was best taken in small doses, within the frame of an ensemble. But yeah - this episode was a dud, but then, even a show as good and as long-running as Barney Miller was had to lay an egg at least once!!

I think the problem with Wojo was that he was very much a loner and by taking him away from the Precinct, he just didn't have an interesting home life. He didn't have the best relationships with women either, always going after the ones with troubled pasts.

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

I think the problem with Wojo was that he was very much a loner and by taking him away from the Precinct, he just didn't have an interesting home life. He didn't have the best relationships with women either, always going after the ones with troubled pasts.

And also, err, not always treating them very respectfully. Regardless of what they do for a living, all women deserve respect and if you can't offer them that you have no business getting involved with them.

I agree that Wojo should never have been a stand alone character. He fit in quite well at the precinct, at least he occupied a unique place that helped make the whole stronger than the sum of its parts. But Wojo, particularly early Wojo, just wasn't compelling and well rounded enough to carry a show.

[catlover79]

Oh, he was a horrible chauvanist those first few years. Wojo was definitely not spinoff material. Now, a Chano spinoff, on the other hand...

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Oh, he was a horrible chauvanist those first few years. Wojo was definitely not spinoff material. Now, a Chano spinoff, on the other hand...

And Julio, too, I imagine?

[Skywalker]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

And also, err, not always treating them very respectfully. Regardless of what they do for a living, all women deserve respect and if you can't offer them that you have no business getting involved with them.

I agree that Wojo should never have been a stand alone character. He fit in quite well at the precinct, at least he occupied a unique place that helped make the whole stronger than the sum of its parts. But Wojo, particularly early Wojo, just wasn't compelling and well rounded enough to carry a show.

Yeah, I couldn't believe the way he treated Nancy Dussault's character in "the Courtesans". He was lucky she didn't smack him.

Towards the end, I thought he had more depth, like that episode where he was concerned about Agent Orange and another one with the indian who wanted to be buried in central park. Not really enough to spin him off, but if they had done more episodes like that, maybe it could have worked.

[Retro4Life]

^ He did evolve, it's true. Arguably Wojo changed more than any character on the show. Though to be fair, he had further to go than most, too! lol

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

And Julio, too, I imagine?

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

Yeah, I couldn't believe the way he treated Nancy Dussault's character in "the Courtesans". He was lucky she didn't smack him.

Towards the end, I thought he had more depth, like that episode where he was concerned about Agent Orange and another one with the indian who wanted to be buried in central park. Not really enough to spin him off, but if they had done more episodes like that, maybe it could have worked.

He's also lucky that Barney didn't bust him - he DID call her a tramp right in front of his boss!!!

[SueWalsh]

Wow, lots of Wojo bashing here!

I think Harris changed tremendously too. He started out as the sterotypical jive talking big afro'd 70's urban working class black man and after a season or two turned into the NYPD's very own Billy Dee Williams..total 180. I say that with much affection. :-)

[catlover79]

^ Totally agree about Harris. It also speaks volumes about Ron Glass' acting, because if you've seen him in interviews, you can see he is in no way the snob Harris was.