Welcome back to the "1-2." The DVD box proclaims Barney Miller to be "one of the funniest police comedies ever." That's actually rather limiting, as this warmly remembered Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series ranks with the better workplace comedies. Said workplace being a grimy and gritty New York police precinct, where compassionate Capt. Barney Miller supplies "the human touch" in dealing with a gallery of colorful wayward characters who grace his jails ("I'm a cop," he tells one poor soul, "I don't have all the answers."). In this 22-episode, 1975-76 second season compilation, the seamless ensemble cast is clearly more at home in their characters, including Abe Vigoda as weary veteran Det. Fish (the Eeyore of the squad room), and Jack Soo as wisecracking Det. Yemana. Ron Glass' Det. Harris is beginning to show his stylish side, while Max Gail's big lug Det. Wojciehowicz exhibits a more sensitive and vulnerable side, as witness the episode "Discovery," in which a gay couple claim to have been harassed by a cop. This is the last season for both Gregory Sierra's Det. Sgt. Chano and a pre-Alice Linda Lavin as ambitious Det. Wentworth, but Steve Landesberg is on hand (for one episode) as deadpan Sgt. Arthur Dietrich, who would later join the series. The fine guest star lineup includes Adam Arkin, William Windom, Charlotte Rae, and Ray Sharkey. While there are no episodes here that can truly be called classic, this season is entertaining as a whole, nicely balancing humor and heart, although—like Night Court a decade later—the series did tend to traffic in stereotypes (gays and Jews in particular). A citation is in order for this set's lack of show-related extras—instead, we are presented with grievously edited "minisodes" of Charlie's Angels and The Facts of Life (there oughta be a law). Recommended. (D. Liebenson)
Barney Miller: The Complete Second Season
Sony, 3 discs, 553 min., not rated, DVD: $29.95 Volume 23, Issue 2
Barney Miller: The Complete Second Season
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