How was Jack Soo written off?

[Janice]

The episodes that are currently airing take place in early 1978. I know that Jack Soo died in January, 1979.
The last few episodes, he hasn't been on the show. It was mentioned he was on vacation. I'm assuming he was starting to become ill. I'm wondering a few things.
Does he return for a while while sick? I read he left in 1978, but I don't know if he finished out the season. Also, how do they write his character Nick off the show permanently? Does anyone know when he was diagnosed? He looked fine, then just stopped appearing on the show. I know he died of cancer of the esophogus. He must have become suddenly ill.
After he passed away, I saw the tribute show done in his honor, and it was very touching. It's too bad he died so young.

[maclen]

Originally posted by JanLady617
The episodes that are currently airing take place in early 1978. I know that Jack Soo died in January, 1979.
The last few episodes, he hasn't been on the show. It was mentioned he was on vacation. I'm assuming he was starting to become ill. I'm wondering a few things.
Does he return for a while while sick? I read he left in 1978, but I don't know if he finished out the season. Also, how do they write his character Nick off the show permanently? Does anyone know when he was diagnosed? He looked fine, then just stopped appearing on the show. I know he died of cancer of the esophogus. He must have become suddenly ill.
After he passed away, I saw the tribute show done in his honor, and it was very touching. It's too bad he died so young.

I actually don't know how or if he was written out. As you stated, Nick is not in the current episodes shown on TV Land, and the explanation is that he's on vacation. I have an episode on tape that originally aired in November of '78; also, one of the upcoming episodes in TV Land features Nick (episode 88, Loan Shark). This is the write-up from the TV Land schedule:

Nov 29 2002 2:30AM 088 - Loan Shark - Yemana rebels after 20 years of being taken for granted on the force while the other detectives arrest a 14-year old loan shark and two men fighting over a tattoo

Obviously he returns. I'd be interested in finding out whether he was written out or if he finished out the season.

The tribute episode is very touching indeed.

maclen

[DetectiveGriffin]

i do not remember any mention of the character dying -- last i heard he was working at the D.A.'s office and just never came back

[Janice]

Originally posted by maclen


I actually don't know how or if he was written out. As you stated, Nick is not in the current episodes shown on TV Land, and the explanation is that he's on vacation. I have an episode on tape that originally aired in November of '78; also, one of the upcoming episodes in TV Land features Nick (episode 88, Loan Shark). This is the write-up from the TV Land schedule:

Nov 29 2002 2:30AM 088 - Loan Shark - Yemana rebels after 20 years of being taken for granted on the force while the other detectives arrest a 14-year old loan shark and two men fighting over a tattoo

Obviously he returns. I'd be interested in finding out whether he was written out or if he finished out the season.

The tribute episode is very touching indeed.

maclen

Thanks very much for the information. I guess Jack Soo did work while ill--right up until a few months before his death. It must have been so hard for him and the rest of the cast as well.

[Janice]

Originally posted by DetectiveGriffin
i do not remember any mention of the character dying -- last i heard he was working at the D.A.'s office and just never came back

Thank you. I guess that means that they addressed his death in real life (with the tribute show) but not on the show itself. That seems odd to me. Perhaps they didn't want the characters to have to deal with Nick's death in the Squadroom.

[Janice]

The show has turned the corner into January of 1979 with the Indian episode. I know Jack Soo passed away on January 11, 1979. I don't mean to sound morbid, but I can't help thinking of how difficult it must have been on the cast and crew of the show. They appeared to be a tight-knit cast, and the tribute show to Jack illustrated that. I've never read or heard any bad press or problems on the show either.
It had to be heartbreaking to lose a friend and co-worker after 4 years. I know that the creator of Barney Miller, Danny Arnold recruited Jack Soo for the show. Jack was a stand-up comedian they were old friends from the nightclub circuit.

[DetectiveGriffin]

I wish they wouldnt keep skipping the graveyard shift episode. I keep thinking maybe they said something in that one (doubtful), but still.

sniffle.

does anyone know what year they all appeared on the family feud - jack soo was on that. It was probably a lot earlier than im thinking. Although the people from soap were on too, and i think that show was 1977 or 1978 --- hmm. must research.

[Janice]

Originally posted by DetectiveGriffin
I wish they wouldnt keep skipping the graveyard shift episode. I keep thinking maybe they said something in that one (doubtful), but still.

sniffle.

does anyone know what year they all appeared on the family feud - jack soo was on that. It was probably a lot earlier than im thinking. Although the people from soap were on too, and i think that show was 1977 or 1978 --- hmm. must research.

I'm thinking that they must have addressed Nick's permanent absence. I heard Barney say he was at the DA's office for a while, but I can't imagine that's the end of it. As I've said before, this is my first viewing of the show, so I don't know. Does anyone know? Perhaps the tribute show to Jack Soo served as closure for his character as well? That makes sense. I may have solved it as I was writing this, lol
I never knew about Family Fued. Does anyone know who else was on? I'm sure Hal Linden was the leader. I'd love to see that.

[DetectiveGriffin]

I will make copies of barney miller cast on family feud for anybodyb who would like one, and include ep #124 at the end if it will fit (the architecht -- i cant spell that)

ive got it on video cd that plays in the pc and some dvd players. I can transfer it to vhs if absolutely necessary, but there will be quality loss.

im thinking $3 is enough to cover mailing of a cd, plus the cd and case, blah blah blah.

also on family feud is wbk vs. soap.
barney miller played 8's enough.

[maclen]

Originally posted by Janice

I'm thinking that they must have addressed Nick's permanent absence. I heard Barney say he was at the DA's office for a while, but I can't imagine that's the end of it. As I've said before, this is my first viewing of the show, so I don't know. Does anyone know? Perhaps the tribute show to Jack Soo served as closure for his character as well? That makes sense. I may have solved it as I was writing this, lol

Last night they showed episode #98, "The Counterfeiter"; on it, Wojo appears to have taken over Nick's filing duties. He is confused by Nick's filing system and proceeds to tell Barney how Nick "had" (past tense) the categories. If he had been in the DA's office, they could have just asked him. When Wojo is done explaining how Nick filed sex offenses (including filing "twins" under the letter "T"), Dietrich smiles and refers to Nick as a "rascal". I'm pretty sure Dietrich referred to Nick in the past tense, but his remark sounded like he was remembering a friend.

Again, I don't think his death was addressed in any episode other than the retrospective episode.

One thing about Barney Miller is that it seems that the writers expected their viewers to put forth some thought in order to enjoy the show, and probably decided to do the retrospective instead of trying to explain Nick's absence when everyone probably knew he had passed away.

maclen

[Janice]

Originally posted by maclen

Again, I don't think his death was addressed in any episode other than the retrospective episode.

One thing about Barney Miller is that it seems that the writers expected their viewers to put forth some thought in order to enjoy the show, and probably decided to do the retrospective instead of trying to explain Nick's absence when everyone probably knew he had passed away.

maclen

This is very true. This was a thinking person's show, and they didn't spoonfeed its viewers. Now that I think of it, it makes perfect sense in many ways not to write him off the show, so to speak, and to let the tribute show speak for itself.
I caught the filing references to Nick and Dietrich's comments. It was well done.
Gee maclen, we're smart cookies.

[egregiousgirl]

Someone else made the coffee the other day, too. I think it was Dietrich. And Barney or someone made a comment that it was not good. So I guess they were gradually handing over Yemana's duties around the squadroom.

[Janice]

Originally posted by egregiousgirl
Someone else made the coffee the other day, too. I think it was Dietrich. And Barney or someone made a comment that it was not good. So I guess they were gradually handing over Yemana's duties around the squadroom.

I noticed the coffee reference and thought of Nick. I think that's what the writers wanted us to do. What's airing now took place in February, 1979...just one month after Jack Soo passed away. His passing was handled with class.

[maclen]

Originally posted by Janice

I noticed the coffee reference and thought of Nick. I think that's what the writers wanted us to do. What's airing now took place in February, 1979...just one month after Jack Soo passed away. His passing was handled with class.

I also noticed that now the filing area is no longer as cluttered as before, and that the bulletin board is clean. These also were Nick's duties and Barney always had an issue with Nick's lack of action, particularly the bulletin board.

maclen

[catlover79]

Jack Soo ROCKED. I'm glad they didn't replace him - Yemana was one of the funniest, most beloved characters on the show. No one could play him the way Jack did.