Barney Miller

[max503]

From articles I read Andy Griffith was anti gun which might have been why he seldom had a gun on himself in the shows. Even Barney had his one bullet in his pocket.

Yes but you can tell he knows how to properly handle a gun. If you notice, almost every time he handles a gun on the show he points it away from everyone and checks the chamber to make sure it's empty.
Most actors treat guns like tennis rackets and such.

 

[sigp220.45]

Not just a good show, but one of the best theme songs ever.

How right you are.

I worked at the bus station on the 3pm to 11pm shift when I was in college. The office folks upstairs left at 5, at which point I would go across the street to Kelly's Brass Rail for take out brats and tall boys. By 630 my ticket counter buddy and I would be feeling good and Barney Miller would be starting up on the little TV we had stashed away. I would hold the PA mike up to the TV and blast that awesome start to the song for all to enjoy.

 

[ZGrand]

I just watched a re-run episode of Barney Miller a couple of days ago. It was an early one, where Chano was still on the show. I always liked him.

Had to shake my head when the opening credits showed the NY skyline with the Twin Towers standing proudly.

 

[WR Moore]

I've posted this elsewhere, but in the '70's I had a lot of (professional) contact with detectives in a major city PD. I was puzzled by all the folks who carried their snubby's on the point of the opposite hip. I'd have bet a months pay that they needed the other hand to put the gun in the shooting hand. But, I figured they managed to qualify and actually got face to face with very few bad folks suddenly.

Then I happened to be where I could watch a few qualify. They'd take their old duty holsters, pistols and ammo carriers out of a brief case, put them on their pants belt and shoot. Afterward, went back into the brief case till next year.

 

[fishwishin]

I love cop shows of all types, but for the life of me I just cannot get into Barney Miller, never have been. I know, I know- wet blanket!

 

[Muley Gil]

I've posted this elsewhere, but in the '70's I had a lot of (professional) contact with detectives in a major city PD. I was puzzled by all the folks who carried their snubby's on the point of the opposite hip. I'd have bet a months pay that they needed the other hand to put the gun in the shooting hand. But, I figured they managed to qualify and actually got face to face with very few bad folks suddenly.

Then I happened to be where I could watch a few qualify. They'd take their old duty holsters, pistols and ammo carriers out of a brief case, put them on their pants belt and shoot. Afterward, went back into the brief case till next year.

My department was like that for a number of years. One of our detectives carried a S&W M59 on duty, but on range day, he showed up with a 6" Python in a cowboy Buscadero rig!

We finally got to the point where everybody qualified with their duty sidearms.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I like the show and watch it every night it is on during the week.
Classic good TV show.

 

[S-W4EVER]

My Counselor in College (a retired Police Lieutenant) told us that "Barney Miller" was the most realistic cop show on TV.

No, there were no scenes where a gun was fired that I remember. Almost every scene was set in the squad room, so you wouldn't expect much gunfire. They would refer to shooting incidents. I recall one episode that dealt with Chano shooting a guy and how he dealt with it...

I think the show where Chano shot those two robbers moved me more than any other episode. Chano seemed to have an extra measure of compassion to begin with and like all good LEO's he never wanted to hurt anyone. IIRC at the end of the shift he went home to an empty apartment to grieve.

As far as "Hill Street Blues", our shift (except for the Sergeant) used to meet to watch it (IIRC it was every Thursday night) as no one we knew had a VCR.

 

[jag312]

When we started our careers, we identified with Wojo. By the time we started to retire, we identified with Fish.

 

[dasnake]

For me.

Yes but you can tell he knows how to properly handle a gun. If you notice, almost every time he handles a gun on the show he points it away from everyone and checks the chamber to make sure it's empty.
Most actors treat guns like tennis rackets and such.

One time he was showing Barney's gun to Opies friend, the gun had already been fired (Barney) and Andy showed the proper way to clear it, finger off the trigger and pointed away to dry fire, not bad TV gun handling.

 

[peterdeb]

One of the best shows from the 70's and early 80's. Still watch it every night at midnight for two episodes. If I can't I record it.