Dietrich a full cast member?

[Janice]

It seems to me that Dietrich never quite makes the cut to a full-fledged cast member. He has some great one-liners, but his role isn't as expanded as Harris or Wojo's.
I haven't seen all the episodes so this may change, and I hope it does because I enjoy Steve Landesberg's work.
His role isn't as small as Levitt's but not as meaty as the others either. I have noticed though that he often gets that final last hilarious line at the end of the show.
Does anyone agree? If so, any ideas on why it was this way? My husband thinks he couldn't tackle the storylines that Ron Glass and Max Gail did, but I don't know about that. I think he's a good actor.

[maclen]

Originally posted by Janice
It seems to me that Dietrich never quite makes the cut to a full-fledged cast member. He has some great one-liners, but his role isn't as expanded as Harris or Wojo's.
I haven't seen all the episodes so this may change, and I hope it does because I enjoy Steve Landesberg's work.
His role isn't as small as Levitt's but not as meaty as the others either. I have noticed though that he often gets that final last hilarious line at the end of the show.
Does anyone agree? If so, any ideas on why it was this way? My husband thinks he couldn't tackle the storylines that Ron Glass and Max Gail did, but I don't know about that. I think he's a good actor.

While Fish was still on the show, Dietrich is not a "full-fledged" cast member, since he doesn't appear on all the episodes. After Fish left, then he became a "full-fledged" cast member, but for some reason, I don't think that's what you meant to ask.

Dietrich's character is just as important and complex, in its own way, as the others. There are several Dietrich-centered episodes, including the two-parter "Dietrich's Arrest" that will be coming up soon on TV Land. There was one episode where his old girlfriend comes to visit, and the one where he quits the force because he killed a suspect (can't recall if he actually killed the suspect, or just wounded him). Of course there's the one where he gets to like the girl who turned out to be a nun.

I think Dietrich's character was meant to be actually that of a simple, albeit extremely smart guy. He does know a lot of stuff, and one has to assume that he spends a lot of time learning all his stuff and probably has not much time to do a lot more. He doesn't have the social life and material ambitions of Harris, or the moral dilemmas of Wojo's. He feels very comfortable with his knowledge of things, (with his knowledge of that also!), with his convictions and beliefs (such as his atheism). He is not arrogant, nor does he try to impose his beliefs in others. When he spouts out his knowledge, he seems to do so out of genuine desire to help and inform. He also likes to help his friends, like when he offered (and did) to have Harris live in his apartment, or when he asked Barney to go out and have dinner when he was separated.

So far, about his personal life, we know that he likes to grow things in his apartment (including wheat), he goes to a Goethe festival every year, and likes (and doesn't lack) female companionship. His thirst for knowledge is continuous since he stays abreast of current developments, and at times tries to reinforce his value system trying new things, such as the "new celibacy"!

He respects likes and respects the others very much, and seems to be particularly fond of Harris, whom he probably finds intellectually stimulating and interesting and was genuinely hurt when Harris didn't want to take up his offer to stay with him.

In summary, I do think that he carries as much weight as the others. I still think that Harris was the most complex and compelling cast member, and that Ron Glass did a superb job of exteriorizing all of that. I'm still amazed at how well-cast this show was.

maclen

[Janice]

You're right on target with your insight into Dietrich's character. I think the reason I don't consider him as major a player as the others is because I've yet to see him featured in an episode, with the exception of the nun story.
If you don't consider his rattling off information, he's not as wordy as the others. Still waters run deep I guess, and this is yet another example of viewers having to look a little deeper on their own and not be spoonfed. That includes me as I get frustrated that Dietrich doesn't get more airtime.
I often feel sorry for Dietrich. He seems to try to fit in, but it's sort of like the brainy kid at school in a sense.
He really is a nice guy on the show. Your post made me fully realize that. Do we ever see him rattled or angry? Even when he takes a stand, he does it with tact such as initially refusing to sign the release form for Harris' BOB.
I'm looking forward to the episodes you mentioned, and I agree, this show was brilliantly cast.

[egregiousgirl]

Originally posted by Janice
Still waters run deep I guess, and this is yet another example of viewers having to look a little deeper on their own and not be spoonfed.

That's Dietrich in a nutshell. maclen put it really well. Dietrich's just not like the other guys. I think part of the great thing about his character is that we don't know all that much about him because he tends not to reveal a lot. So when he does reveal something it makes a bigger impact.

By the way, did y'all catch the line a few episodes ago where that dancer lady whose been arrested (Corinne from Soap) turns out to be studying cultural anthropology and she says something about how in some places in the world women are revered (or something like that) and Dietrich says, "Yeah, my place." Oh, how I laughed at that.

[Kitt]

Take what Maclen said and then what Janice said about not being spoon fed and that is why Dietrich is not front-and-center as a character. It would not be in character for him to make a display of himself. Wojo gets exercised about issues, Harris has to brag some and express his cynysism about other people's 'lack of style' and all that goes with it. And the others have their issues as well whereas Dietrich is plugging along, in no hurry to get his points across to anyone who will listen.

[Janice]

Originally posted by egregiousgirl
By the way, did y'all catch the line a few episodes ago where that dancer lady whose been arrested (Corinne from Soap) turns out to be studying cultural anthropology and she says something about how in some places in the world women are revered (or something like that) and Dietrich says, "Yeah, my place." Oh, how I laughed at that.

That was so funny. He was a master of one-liners and his character was quite the ladies' man.

[Janice]

Originally posted by kittflynn
Take what Maclen said and then what Janice said about not being spoon fed and that is why Dietrich is not front-and-center as a character. It would not be in character for him to make a display of himself. Wojo gets exercised about issues, Harris has to brag some and express his cynysism about other people's 'lack of style' and all that goes with it. And the others have their issues as well whereas Dietrich is plugging along, in no hurry to get his points across to anyone who will listen.

Well said Kitt. Dietrich was just so laid-back and deadpan funny, that it was impossible to not like him. He never seemed to have an agenda...was just a very decent guy, plugging along, as you say.

[maclen]

Well, the timing of this thread couldn't be better since in the next few days we'll be getting a healthy dose of Dietrich episodes! The next two episodes on TV Land are the I & II parts of "Dietrich's Arrest" (121 & 122); on Jan. 17, episode 132 "Call Girl" will be shown where Dietrich struggless with his goal of celibacy, and the following day, episode 133 "Resignation" will be shown. This is the one where he resigns after shooting a suspect.

On a separate note, on Jan. 11, episode #126 "Fog" will be shown. This is a favorite of mine since in it we get to see Barney get depressed after being turned down for a promotion. This is a side of Barney that we seldom see. I believe this was the ending episode for season six.

Also, the two-parter "Homicide" (127 & 128) will be shown (beginning of season seven, I believe). This is when the detective squad gets assigned to investigate homicides exclusively, and due to their failure to go check out a robbery, the life of a friend of the precint is lost.

One of the reasons I love this show is because they didn't do everything strictly for laughs, and the serious moments were done really well by the cast, as we've all been able to see.

maclen

[maclen]

Originally posted by kittflynn
Take what Maclen said and then what Janice said about not being spoon fed and that is why Dietrich is not front-and-center as a character. It would not be in character for him to make a display of himself. Wojo gets exercised about issues, Harris has to brag some and express his cynysism about other people's 'lack of style' and all that goes with it. And the others have their issues as well whereas Dietrich is plugging along, in no hurry to get his points across to anyone who will listen.

On the episode where a priest comes to talk to Barney about his separation, Dietrich reveals that he is an only child, that both of his parents worked, that when he was little he had no friends and he talked to his teddy bear (and the teddy bear stuttered!). This gives us more insight on Dietrich's personality. This was a very well-written show, that if one was a loyal viewer, one could learn a lot about the characters by things revealed here and there, and that became relevant at future points.

maclen

[Janice]

Originally posted by maclen
Well, the timing of this thread couldn't be better since in the next few days we'll be getting a healthy dose of Dietrich episodes!

Thanks maclen. I'm looking forward to the episodes that showcase Dietrich.
"Homicide" sounds like heavy stuff, even for Barney Miller. Man, they knew how to put a show out.
I like some episodes more than others, but I can honestly say I've never disliked an episode.
I really hope TV Land renews it come February 1st.

[maclen]

Originally posted by maclen
Well, the timing of this thread couldn't be better since in the next few days we'll be getting a healthy dose of Dietrich episodes! The next two episodes on TV Land are the I & II parts of "Dietrich's Arrest" (121 & 122)...

Right at the end of the Dick Van Dyke show, while the credits are rolling, they preview the upcoming Barney Miller show and give short tidbits of information and interesting trivia sometimes. Before "Dietrich's Arrest, Part II", they said that Steve Landesberg was nominated for an Emmy for his performance on those episodes. I uderstand the upcoming episode "Fog" won some kind of award too.

TV Land seems to have a lot of information on Barney Miller, so I really hope they do some kind of profile show on it. Janice is right though... the show didn't seem to have those "juicy" scandal details that bring mega-ratings.

maclen

[Janice]

We learned that Dietrich is divorced and attended both medical and law school as a teenager.
Can anyone shed some light on why this superbrilliant man would choose to become a cop?
Perhaps since he likes to help his fellow man, he chose a profession where he could protect and serve?
Then again, with his intelligence, why didn't he become a scientist to find cures for diseases....or a doctor to heal people? These are safer professions and they pay better, but I don't think money is a big consideration with Dietrich.

[maclen]

Originally posted by Janice
We learned that Dietrich is divorced and attended both medical and law school as a teenager.
Can anyone shed some light on why this superbrilliant man would choose to become a cop?
Perhaps since he likes to help his fellow man, he chose a profession where he could protect and serve?
Then again, with his intelligence, why didn't he become a scientist to find cures for diseases....or a doctor to heal people? These are safer professions and they pay better, but I don't think money is a big consideration with Dietrich.

If I remember correctly, he sort of addresses the issue in the "Resignation" episode, which is coming up in a couple of days. That episode is pretty revealing, as far as Dietrich is concerned, and shows a departure from his usually collected self.

The other times I can remember him being a bit rattled is when Harris kept insisting on giving him money to thank him for saving his (Harris') life, and also when Harris kept refusing his offer to come stay with him.

maclen

[sara]

From last night's episode we also learn this about Dietrich. Normaly he seems to get along with his colleagues, but even he doesn't want to be on with LugarI loved his line about the police wearhouse robbery. "Holymoly us"

[egregiousgirl]

Originally posted by Janice
We learned that Dietrich is divorced and attended both medical and law school as a teenager.

I swear I remember Dietrich telling someone that he'd never been married. Something about how anatomy class ruined him? Am I the only one who remembers this? It was one of the first episodes he was in, like before he was a proper regular.