Rating: 
Summary: Finally on DVD!!!
Review: Of all the TV series released to DVD thus far, this one has me the most excited. Being born in 1975, the show was pretty much before my time but it remains as my favorite sitcom. The show comes from a time in television where each character is unique and captivating. So much so that the fact the whole series pretty much takes place on the same police headquarters set is never a problem. When the show airs now on TV Land they are editted for time. I for one am looking forward to the complete versions again and with luck all the seasons will be released like the M*A*S*H sets. If you couldn't tell, this is a dream for me!
Rating: 
Summary: When TV sitcoms were smarter...
Review: Okay, I know there was a lot of dreck back then too, (Remember "The Nancy Walker Show"? Count yourself lucky if you don't.) but it does seem that the 70s were the golden age of the TV sitcom, with such ground-breakers as "All In The Family," "M*A*S*H" and "Mary Tyler Moore" leading the way. Those fine shows always got their due in terms of critical applause, but nestled among them was a quiet little gem of wit and insight that to my mind was never fully appreciated, then or now.That show is "Barney Miller," and finally, at long last, it comes to DVD. That alone is reason to rejoice. The show has been pretty much gone from syndication for years, for some odd reason. The Internet Movie Data Base has almost nothing on it. Virtually the only evidence it ever existed is Barney's badge, which is on display in the Smithsonian Institution. The first season is a bit different than the rest of the series, however. The writers and producers were still finding their voices, or rather the show's voice. Things are a bit more "hysterical," and the droll wit that later became the show's signature is present here only in small amounts. (Tellingly, those jokes get the biggest laughs.) The first season sought to balance Barney's home life with his work, but gradually the home, including the wife and kids, were phased out. ("Just Shoot Me" followed the same trajectory, albeit much more quickly. With "JSM," however, I liked it the original way.) Even in the pilot episode, the home sequences are stagy, slow and a one-joke affair. (Wife wants hubby to quit the force; hubby loves his job too much.) The show only displays its true potential when we're in the stationhouse. And Ron Glass, not a permanent member in the first year, is not present in all the episodes. In the second show there is another black detective, named Wilson, who is frankly not very good or funny. They were right to go with Glass permanently, though his Harris is not yet quite the flashy, irreverent wiseguy he later became. Much as I'd like to give this set five stars, the truth is the packaging is somewhat shoddy. Picture and sound are decent (image is a little flat), but they could have given us some extras (real extras). A brief interview with the cast members today, most of whom are still alive, would have been nice, or maybe some commentaries from cast members about their favorite episodes. Even commentary in a booklet would have been welcome. As it is, I get the impression Sony just slammed this together as quickly as possible. I hope it makes money for them, however, so that they release the rest of the seasons. This was a brilliant series, and the best episodes are yet to come.
Rating:
Summary: the thinking person's cop show
Review: One of the top five cop/crime shows ever. Great cast. OK representation of New York City at the time.
Hopefully after this they'll release "Joe Bash"! Hey, I'm not kidding about "Joe Bash"! That was a great show.
The last several years, crime shows are all about the action and chases and gunshots. Barney Miller, Joe Bash and most of Hill Street Blues were great because there was mostly just talking going on.
Rating:
Summary: The best ever
Review: Simply put, Barney Miller is the best comedy ever. Period. Intelligently written with warmth, humor, emotion, etc and dealing with the issues of the day. Compared to the garbage shown on TV today that TV execs call sitcoms, this show evokes the same feelings it did 30 years ago. I doubt that same statement will be said about Friends. What other sitcom has an entire cast of characters as brillantly developed as this one? Can you pick out your favorite character? It's difficult when they all were so fabulously portrayed by each member of the cast. Unfortuantely, like the other reviews have stated, the picture quality for some of the episodes is questionable but worth the annoyance. Come on Sony, bring on season 2.
Rating:
Summary: Finally!!!
Review: Sure, the sound and picture quality are not stellar, but we have to keep in mind that these episodes were filmed some 29 years ago, and studios are notorious for neglecting their archives. I'm just thankful it looks and sounds as good as it does! As for the show itself, I like to think of it as a British comedy without the phony accents. Now I can't wait for them to release the later seasons, especially the ones with Dietrich!
Rating:
Summary: Praise the Lord!!!
Review: Thank you! Thank You! Thank You, Sony! Don't stop here until you get every last episode out on DVD! I don't care if you weren't even born when Barney Miller aired. Get this DVD!!- Get them all! You will love the show. Barney Miller is truely unique and hillarious. Please continue the series of DVD's!
Rating:
Summary: Waiting for seasons 2-8
Review: The first season was great...now let's get the other seven seasons (as well as the pilot episode) out as soon as possible. I will buy all of them.
Rating:
Summary: At last. Now where are the rest?
Review: This is one of my all-time favourite shows, one that I've been waiting for years for Sony / Columbia Tri-star to release (along with Newsradio). Compared to some of the later Barney Miller seasons this probably isn't worth the full 5 stars, but it certainly deserves 5 starts compared to the zillions of average TV shows around, past or present. I agree with the earlier review that mentioned that the picture quality isn't top-notch, but then it is almost thirty years since the original broadcasts and the quality is good enough that I forgot to worry about it within the first five minutes of the first episode. It's as good as other 70s television DVDs. I don't mind the lack of bonus extras - as long the episodes are there I'm happy, though I miss not having "The Life and Times of Captain Barney Miller" mentioned in the other review. Can't wait for the other seasons to be released, and well done to Sony for not coming out with a stupid 'best of' (which we all know would've picked the 'wrong' episodes). Full season releases are the only way to go.
Rating:
Summary: One Of The BEST!! Where Are The REST???
Review: This Is One Of The Best 70's Sitcoms!!! Great Cast & Wonderful Writing!!! Where Is Season Two?????? Looking Forward To More!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great to Revisit the Gang from the 12th Precinct
Review: This is one of the best comedies from a decade filled with great sitcoms. Barney, Fish, Wojo and Harris are like old friends whose presence has been sadly missed. And the guest actors are a "Who's Who" of character actors of the period. Catch the great Lou Jacobi in "The Stakeout" and David Wayne in "The Bureaucrat."
As for the video quality that has been previously commented upon: folks, these are three-decade old videotape productions. No program from the mid-'70s is going to look like it was shot in high definition.
Sit back and enjoy wonderful writing and outstanding ensemble acting in a classic sitcom!
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