Customer Reviews

Barney Miller: The Complete Series

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

UPDATE: Because my "review" keeps popping up first, here's a real one now. Hope it helps. (I'll leave an edited potion of my original post at the end.)

Got an early Christmas gift this month. Essentially raised on Barney Miller, I had a couple of lost weekends after the complete series landed on my porch. Here's what I got on Shout's treatment of my favorite series....

The First Three Seasons--Unfortunately, Shout! Factory used what Sony created for their season sets; other than the packaging, they're the exact same discs, menus and all. That means the first season still looks woeful and that two of its episodes (Ramon and The Bureaucrat) are the syndicated cuts. However, Shout has included a complete version of Ramon with the extras (Harris in drag!). The video quality of that version is pretty bad, which should indicate the kind of job Shout faced in getting complete episodes. Which brings me to....

Completeness of Episodes--I wish I could say that Seasons 4 to 8 are complete, but one episode--Season 7's Rachel, the one in which Harris is sued for libel for Blood on the Badge--is about 2 minutes short, indicating a syndication cut. Given that Shout managed to find a complete Ramon, it's entirely possible that no complete version of Rachel (or The Bureaucrat) currently exists. The last episode of the series, in fact, comes with a warning because it was taken from the last surviving complete version. But it's still watchable, and while the other episodes do show varying video quality, sometimes even within the same episode, most look as good as or better than you can hope for with a three-decades-old videotaped series. Shout also has avoided the excessive edge enhancement that plagues Seasons 2 and 3. (Note: In the Season 6 episode Inquisition, the word "Musak" is silenced out three times at the beginning. Apparently, this was done in the episode's initial run because of trademark issues and that is what remains on the source materials.)

Extras--And this is where the fun begins. Everything's on the last disc. First up is a commentary on Landmark, the three-part series ender, with writer/producers Tony Sheehan, Jeff Stein, and Frank Dungan. Sheehan was show-runner Danny Arnold's right-hand man beginning in the second season and essentially ran Barney Miller after Arnold's on-set heart attack in 1979, while Stein and Dungan were the story editors for the final three seasons. Two great interview featurettes running nearly an hour altogether heavily feature Hal, Abe, and Max, as well as include a 2009 interview with the late, great Steve Landesberg (no Ron? Nuts). Abe Vigoda especially is a joy to listen to; the man bounces around so much in the interview that the focus-puller can't keep up! A third, shorter featurette features Stein and Dungan talking about the show's infamous way of writing episodes. The aforementioned uncut Ramon is here, along with an unannounced extra: a short excerpt from the recent Jack Soo documentary You Don't Know Jack. Season 1 of the spin-off Fish, which I haven't watched yet, is in its own separate slimcase.

But the centerpiece is the long-unseen pilot The Life and Times of Barney Miller. Shot on film and following an earlier version of the Ramon script, the pilot is like meeting childhood friend after he's had plastic surgery. The home movie opening indicates the show's original tone and focus, also implied by the pilot's different story structure (the precinct scenes bookend the episode). What's really interesting is seeing some familiar faces speaking other characters' lines. Two of the pilot's detectives appear in later episodes, played by the same actor: Wilson in Season 1's Experience and Del Vecchio (as a narcotics cop) in Season 2's You Dirty Rat. Fish also is here, but he seems far too lively. Most of all, Abby Dalton as Liz makes you really appreciate Barbara Barrie and the chemistry she had with Hal Linden.

Expectations are hard to meet, but Shout! Factory has made an excellent attempt. The porting over of the Sony discs and the cut Rachel prevents this from being a perfect set, but in the larger picture, I find those minor quibbles. The series has been treated with respect, and from the pilot to the lights going off in the ole one-two, nearly every single minute of Barney Miller is, like Levitt, present and accounted for (even if a little short). If you're a fan of the series, whether you grew up on it like I did or discovered it in syndication or on DVD, you've got every reason pick this up.
--------------
[Written When Set Was Announced in July]

1. This is not a case of a studio releasing a bunch of single season sets then a complete series release to milk more money. Sony released the first three seasons. Shout! Factory is releasing this set because Sony decided *not to release any more seasons.* They did not sell enough to justify doing more, which is the same reason why Night Court has gone to DVD-R releases.

2. Shout! Factory is giving Barney Miller the treatment that Sony never did. [See review]

3. This is not a rip-off. The set retails for $160, which means you're paying less per season (not counting the Fish season) than you would have if you waited and purchased each single set. Given the extras Shout! Factory is adding to the set, that's far, far better than the barebone jobs Sony was sporadically releasing. With Amazon's discounts, it's even better.

Is it irritating that a complete set has come out after three single-season sets? Of course, but that's the risk you take with any series release (just ask any Farscape fan) and I refuse to complain about it and "protest" by refusing to buy a perfectly excellent set of a series that has been more or less neglected while other classic 1970s series have been completely released. As a Barney Miller fan, I rejoiced when I saw this set listed. And the first three seasons I own? They'll go to friends who never heard of the series.

There's a lot of confusion in some of the low rated reviews that is based on a lack of information. No one is pulling bait and switch. Sony released the first three seasons then stopped. Shout! Factory has picked up the rights and is releasing this set. In the past they have also released the remaining seasons in individual season format for shows they picked up like this.

This set, beyond the creative packaging contains:

* All eight seasons on 25 discs
* Newly-produced and never-before-seen bonus features
* 32 page commemorative book
* New interviews with the cast (Linden, Gail, Vigoda)
* Original unaired pilot
* Writers' commentary on select episodes
* Entire first season of Fish (the Abe Vigoda spin-off).

The original news is here: [...]

Amazon is offering this at 30% off! This is an incredible deal, and beyond the best news fans of Barney Miller could have hoped for. Emmy- and Gold Globe-winning, hilarious, and still one of the best comedies ever produced, Barney Miller is finally getting the DVD treatment it deserves.

Since everyone else is "reviewing" a product that doesn't yet exist, I'll also put my two cents in. Since the bulk of the series will be on DVD for the first time, I don't see what the problem is with re-buying the first three seasons. We'll only be doubling up on 57 of 170 episodes. I plan on giving away the first three seasons to friends or family.

Looked at another way, the pre-order price of $111.99 is roughly $22/season for the five "new" years in the box. Seems like a fair price to me, and definitely not deserving of the petulant one-star reviews. I, for one, had almost given up hope of ever seeing the rest of this show on DVD and am grateful that Shout! Factory is making it happen.

Looks like I am the first reviewer here on Amazon to have actually viewed these discs, so hopefully people will find my initial reactions useful.

So much has been said about the series itself I won't repeat any of it here. Just be assured that Barney Miller is one of the best written, best acted sitcoms (or any TV series for that matter) ever. I've seen every episode multiple times and have been collecting recordings of this show on commercially available VHS tapes, broadcast sources, and DVDs for many years. So I was very glad to see Shout Factory pick up the baton where Sony left off and release the show as it should have been from the beginning, as a complete series set.

I have not seen all the episodes in this set yet, but the ones I have seen run about 25 minutes instead of the 22-minute syndicated versions most often seen on TV since the show's original run. The picture quality is great for a TV series shot on video in the 1970s. About as good as it possibly can look, I'm sure. Sound quality is excellent. The packaging is very well done, tasteful, and discs are NOT stacked on top of each other on a single spindle as many of these mega-sets have been packaged recently. The 40-page book has a nice few pages of intro but the rest is essentially an episode guide for each season and disc.

The extras and supplements are great. There are about an hour and a half worth of shorts featuring Hal Linden, Max Gail, Abe Vigoda, and two of the writers. These are well worth watching. For me the real treat in the extras was the unaired pilot episode of "The Life and Times of Barney Miller" which is quite different from the show we know as Barney Miller. The pilot was shot on film, first of all, and looks very different from the "real" show for that one reason alone. The sets are almost exactly the same, but Linden and Vigoda are the only cops who play the same roles in the actual series. The show focused much more on Barney's home life and was split about 50/50 between the 2 sets.

There are several very insightful commentaries by the writers on some of the episodes. I learned a lot about the series that I did not know. Particularly fascinating were the "rules" of scriptwriting for Barney Miller, the unique way of shooting that was employed, and the unusual relationship (or lack of it) that Danny Arnold and the writing staff had with CBS. Really worthwhile and interesting stuff. The first season of Fish is a nice bonus but I have not gotten into viewing those discs.

If I have one complaint about this set it is that the first three seasons are absolutely identical to the previous Sony releases. Basically the Sony discs have been re-labeled with new artwork but the entire content of those discs (including the menus) are Sony's previous releases, manufactured again for this set. Ideally, Shout would have made new menus that matched their treatment of seasons 4-8, which in my opinion is better than what Sony did. This one gripe makes me wish Shout would have not just "ported over" the old discs into their set. But when you look at the massive amount of great stuff you get in this set, that is an imperfection well worth putting up with.

If you like Barney Miller, do not hesitate to buy this set. I sold my old single-season sets of the first 3 seasons on ebay to subsidize this purchase and when you look at Amazon's price which is currently in the $100 range you are talking about less than a dollar an episode for an absolutely top-notch show. This set was a tremendous undertaking by Shout Factory to produce and I must give kudos to them for all their work in preserving this deserving series for the digital age. You will not be disappointed by the results of that effort.

Just a brief word to those who feel they've been tricked into paying twice: Normally I, too, am furious with that kind of deception, but in this case you are receiving the individual seasons for less than $14.00 each, MUCH less than you could ever hope to pay if they were all released individually at a likely $24.99 each, like the "Leave it to Beaver" single seasons.

So don't hem and haw for long, grab it at Amazon's discounted price and before you know it you won't even recall what the problem was. SHOUT! Factory have treated BM's fans well and more than fairly and are to be commended.
**************************************************************************

BM is my all time favorite TV show. Hoorah at last for this complete set!

It's not just the actors that are great - I'm in love with the dirty New York of my youth not the over-priced Disney Theme Park it's become, and BM offers a taste of the mood and feel of the mid-Seventies and of the more expressive ethnicities and persuasions that once dominated the city and it's daily life.

BM also contains the most honestly human and humane humor ever comitted to videotape or film and maintains an amusingly politically incorrect (sometimes outrageous and racy) tone while never becoming actually offensive.

The plot of every episode points up a truth that most dwellers of the Greater Metropolitan Area know but few others outside even suspected until 9/11 - that despite the gruff, rude, occasionally criminal exterior of the average New Yorker when the chips are down spirits are up, and kindness and humanity are found in even the hardest hearts.

On the dry side, BM also documents the emotions and attitudes of an era in NYC's history with it's topical, "Daily News - Page One" plots. I hope younger viewers won't get lost, but I think they'll manage and for some it may be a motivator in studying history as my Dad's stack of 1950s MAD MAGAZINEs were for me.

And I promise you, there is not one bad episode in the bunch - not even a weak plot, nor are the principals ever written "out-of-character" (think Kirk berating Spock every other episode third season 'Star Trek:TOS').

In fact, they actually grow as the series progresses through it's eight season run, something even M*A*S*H* characters barely did, if believably.

"Barney Miller"?
Best TV series, ever.

ABC-TV's BARNEY MILLER aired 170 episodes between 1/23/75 and 5/20/82. For three consecutive seasons ('76, '77, '78) it was in Nielsen's Top 20 and in 1979 it reached #21. Cast changes, especially the departure of Abe Vigoda (Det. Sgt. Philip K. Fish) for his own spinoff series and the death of Jack Soo (Det. Sgt. Nick Yemana) to esophogheal cancer in early 1979, may have caused the show's decline in viewership. CBS's airing of MAGNUM P.I. opposite Barney probably had an effect as well, or after eight seasons the series may have just run its natural course.

The most troubling departure for this Miller fan has always been that of Gregory Sierra, who played Det. Sgt. Chano Amenguale. His character vanished without explanation after Season Two (Sierra went on to his own short-lived series), and when "Roz" (Mari Gorman) briefly came aboard over two years later, she was tersely described as Chano's replacement.

Two regular cast members in later years, Steve Landesberg and Ron Carey, had their first Miller spots as men in the holding cell. Landesberg played a phony priest and Carey a nabbed cat burglar (Mari Gorman also debuted as an arrestee, a streetwalker). Early on, Linda Lavin (as Det. Janice Wentworth) had a hot and heavy thing with Max Gail (Det. Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz), but then she left to star in CBS-TV's ALICE. Liz, Barney's wife, was played sporadically by Barbara Barrie in the first two seasons, and then got reduced to someone he occasionally mentioned or spoke to on the phone. (In the Xmas show of Season 3, Barney (Hal Linden) turns down a chance at an affair in favor of his 19 year marriage.)

Of the familiar cast, only Hal Linden and Abe Vigoda appeared in BM's half-hour pilot episode, which ABC aired in summer 1974. (Abby Dalton played Liz M.) This script was recycled with a retooled cast for the sitcom's official debut, as a mid-season replacement, the following January.

Peripheral and regular characters came and went, but the core of Linden, Gail and Ron Glass (as foppish clotheshorse and would-be author Det. Ron Harris) remained constant. For eight seasons, writing and performances were consistently above average, making BARNEY MILLER arguably the best-ever cop show and one of TV's finest sitcoms.

.
A COMPLETE EPISODE LIST THAT INCLUDES VIEWER RATINGS, ORIGINAL AIRDATES
AND GUEST ACTORS IS LOCATED ON COMMENTS #1 and #2, ACCESSIBLE FROM BELOW.

"The Shout Factory" flat out hit one outa the park with the bases loaded with their release of Barney Miller the complete series.The overall quality along with the very special extras make it a must have for any die hard BM fan. Plain & Simple - nuff said.
My only wish is that "The Shout Factory" would somehow snatch up the rights to the old Bob Newhart Show and release a similar complete series concept of that program.

I've had a quick flick through some of these reviews for the forthcoming box set and I'm looking forward to it coming out as well.
Barney Miller was screened here in the UK in the early 80's in the early hours of Sunday morning (12.30am - 1am if memory serves me right) in the Granada ITV region (Lancashire, Manchester, Liverpool area) and I don't think it was screened anywhere else in the UK as far as I know.
I remember it well from my early teenage years & have Series 1-3 in the previous editions.
Would be great to see the rest of the series but the point I'm here to make is that the other reviewers are lucky they live in the States. Living here in the UK means that it's never going to get a UK/European release ( for a potential audience in single figures?) so I'll have to get an import copy if I decide to take the plunge. Which means import duties, VAT, post office administration charges & who knows what else.
So, for anyone griping about the price please spare a thought for the one or two potential purchasers from the UK - we'll be paying a lot more!!
With all the extra features that are promised and the prospect of this being the only chance of getting the whole series .... it's certainly tempting.
Apologies if this isn't really a "review", but thought maybe other fans would like to know there are other fans in far flung places.

Like so many I bought the first three seasons, but I am delighted we can see all of it. While I am impressed with the extras reported as included, I am wanting assurance about the technical treatment of the source material. Pitlik and Arnold took alot of chances with Barney Miller including the video format that gave Barney Miller that particularly 'live' feel. I will willingly eat the cost of the first single seasons release to have the full set as buffed up and pretty as modern technology can make it. This is just great news.

First I'd like to thank Shout Factory for releasing this. Many shows would end up abandoned if it was not for them, so this is not really their fault.

Unfortunately, I also bought the first 3 seasons of Barney Miller, so of course I am a bit annoyed. It is the customers who are the backbone of buying these shows that get penalized the most, time after time. Since this is not the first time this has happened, it makes people AVOID buying shows one season at a time. Ironically then, the companies when they release single seasons see poor sales, and 'stop' there. Meanwhile there ARE plenty of people who would buy a particular show but ONLY if it's released in a "complete" package.

This is killing the whole vintage TV DVD market and the companies don't even realize why it is the main reason for poor sales. Yet there is such a simple solution, and EVERYONE would be happy and customers would no longer be afraid to buy causing companies to make greater profits.

==================================

The solution on how all DVD's should be released for Classic TV shows in the FUTURE:

1) if no seasons have been released, only release the set as a COMPLETE BOX SET.

2) if previous seasons have been released, then release the show as a Box Set in TWO parts simultaneously.

Part A would be a set of seasons previous released for those that don't own them and waited.

Part B would be the remaining unreleased seasons, for those who bought the earlier seasons individually.

==================================
Done this way ... everyone would be happy.