World Famous Comics: Hal Linden Barney Miller - The First Season
Hal Linden Barney Miller - The First Season
Starring: Hal Linden Directed By: Hal Linden, Danny Arnold, Allen Baron, Bruce Bilson (II), Bob Finkel Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Color, NTSC Label: Sony Pictures Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 99 Release Date: January 20, 2004 Running Time: 314 minutes Theatrical Release Date: January 23, 1975
Description: Barney Miller is the kind of cop we'd all like to meet. He somehow manages to maintain order over a group of inner-city detectives who gamble for a hobby, get hit on by anything in skirts, go to renaissance philosophy conventions for fun, and would really prefer to be writing. Stars Hal Linden, Abe Vigoda and more! Two-disc set includes all 13 episodes from the first season.
Amazon.com: The brainchild of veteran writer-directors Danny Arnold and Theodore J. Flicker, the comedy/drama Barney Miller (1975-1982) offered a very human look at the inner workings of a New York City police precinct; its wry and observant scripts, aided by a stellar cast, helped earn the series three Emmy Awards and a devoted fan base, which should be pleased by this two-disc set that compiles its entire first season. Viewers familiar with the series' later seasons will notice substantial differences in the cast and storyline; episodes divide Barney's (Hal Linden) time evenly between the 12th Precinct and his apartment, which he shares with wife Barbara Barrie and two children (all of whom would be phased out of the series). The first season squad was composed of Abe Vigoda's dyspeptic Fish, the overeager Wojciehowicz (Max Gail), dry-witted Yemana (Jack Soo, who passed away during the fifth season), and street-smart Chano (Gregory Sierra, who departed the series after the second season); Ron Glass's dapper Harris would not be listed in the opening credits until subsequent seasons.
Arnold, along with Chris Hayward (Get Smart) and other scribes, would pen the majority of the first season, which set the tone for the series by pitting the squad against a host of offbeat criminals, other cops, and regular citizens, several of whom would become semi-regulars; James Gregory's crusty Inspector Luger makes his debut in "Vigilante" (episode 9), while unscrupulous lawyer Arnold Ripner (Alex Henteloff) and Detective Wentworth (a pre-Alice Linda Lavin) have their first appearances in "The Experience" (episode 2) and "Ms. Cop" (episode 8), respectively.
Columbia/TriStar's two-disc set offers all 13 episodes of the first season, as well as short credit lists for some of the major players; the little-seen 1974 pilot, "The Life and Times of Captain Barney Miller," might have made an interesting supplemental feature, but fans should be pleased to have this set regardless. --Paul Gaita
As good as I remember it I used to enjoy watching 'Barney Miller' when it was first aired in New Zealand some 30 (plus) years ago and am enjoying it all over again now. Great series. It is what I would call American humour at its best (along with 'WKRP in Cincinatti' and 'Taxi' to name 2 other 70's greats) - good writing, good actors, nice sense of humour. Very well done. It seems to me that 'Barney Miller" was part of a golden age for genuinely witty shows that stood out from most other sitcoms.
Barney Miller - Top Cop Whether you're wanting to relive the evenings you spent in front of your tv years ago laughing your head off at the antics in this Bronx police station, or you're looking for something new to laugh yourself silly over, Barney Miller Season One is the place to start. Follow with Barney Miller Season Two. We were so happy to find these, and at really great prices, too.
B.M.revisited Far better than what passes as comedy today.The cast of characters,good guy and bad guys.is a real pleasure to watch again.w.u.
"Man, this cell is out of tune..." This is one of the finest television shows ever written. Having grown up in the 70s and 80s, I remember when it originally aired, although I was too young to really appreciate it then, and did not understand much of the humor. When I was older, and would watch it in syndication, I began to see why it had been so popular. The writing was witty and dry, occasionally bordering on slapstick. All the characters were great, and worked very well as a comedy team. Just seeing them now is sort of like seeing old friends. Even the squad room set feels like a familiar place. When I get to talking with girls around my age, and the subject of TV shows comes up, I mention that I love Barney Miller and often get the same response; "Oh, my dad used to love that show..." Perhaps more guys like it than women, due to the mostly male cast, but I digress. The show still holds up as being funny today, and does not really seem dated, despite how wide the ties are ;-)
Barney Miller - The First Season One of TV's classic series comes to DVD. Season 1 is actually a half season that features 14 episodes on 2 discs. Season 1 is somewhat different from subsequent seasons; it has a couple of episodes that feature Barney Miller's family at home. This included Barbara Barrie as his wife & also featured two daughters. The home life got very little attention after the initial season.
Barney Miller was one of the first ensemble sitcoms. The cast of supporting characters were indeed an eclectic group; Chano, the Puerto Rican, Fish, the old cop, Wojo, the macho Pole, Harris, the Black with aspirations, & Yemana, the gambling Chinese. Most episodes were focused in the squad room that featured a zany collection of criminal & not-so-criminal types. Crime doesn't pay but the cast of Barney Miller & arrestees certainly made it funny & entertaining.
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