The men of the 12th Precinct are back for another season of big laughs and bad coffee! Fires, blackouts, smog ? elections. The third season gives a wild look at New York City during one of its most dynamic times, the late ... more »'70s, an era before the term "politically correct" existed. Join Hal Linden as wise police Captain Barney Miller along with Officers Fish (Abe Vigoda), Wojo (Max Gail), Harris (Ron Glass), Yemana (Jack Soo) and guest stars Dietrich (Steve Landesberg), Officer Levitt (Ron Carey) and Inspector Luger (James Gregory) in this hilarious Emmy®-winning comedy. With a station of wacky misfits and wild New Yorkers, the third season is full of guest stars including Billy Barty (UHF), James Cromwell (TV's 24), Doris Roberts (TV's Everybody Loves Raymond), Brett Somers (TV's Match Game), and Michael Tucci (Grease). So funny it's criminal, Barney Miller: The Complete Third Season is a must-have for any DVD collection!« less
"No release date yet on this, the pivotal 3rd season, where Steve Landesburg becomes a regular as Det. Dietrich. He will eventually replace Det Fish (Abe Vigoda),who officially leaves at the beginning of Season 4 to star in his own (short lived) show. There is an overused phrase used when reviewing TV shows: "This is where the show 'hit it's stride'", but if this phrase could ever be used, this is the occasion.
A wonderful show in what may be it's best season, with it's best episode: #11 (Hash). "By the way that I feel"!
Season 3, Episode 1: Evacuation
Original Air Date--23 September 1976
Wojo is alarmed to learn that New York City doesn't have an up-to-date emergency evacuation procedure. Fish meets Jilly Pappalardo, a young thief who eventually will star in the spin-off Fish.
Wojo brings in a sick perpetrator who collapses on the floor. The entire precinct is placed under quarantine, including a prostitute who gets friendly with Fish, Marty, Mr Driscoll, and Inspector Luger.
Being cooped up in the same room together, especially with no air conditioning, starts to effect the men negatively. Especially when they overhear Harris' very vocal dreams where he seems to have a problem with everyone. The rest of the men share personal stories and conversations,while waiting to hear from the medical lab if the the possible "pox" they might be infected with is either Small Pox or Chicken Pox.
It's Election Day. A woman, being prevented by her husband from voting, throws a toilet seat into the street to get attention. A shoplifter is escorted to vote by Wojo and then lost by him. Inspector Luger campaigns for a political crony.
Fish goes undercover to catch a mugger who's targeting Santas. Wojo doesn't know how to tell Yemana that his Christmas Eve date is a call girl. Luger fishes for an Christmas Day invitation from Barney.
Barney investigates a sex clinic that more closely resembles a brothel. Harris investigates a rash of crimes apparently committed by a juvenile. Weary of waiting for a promotion, Levitt announces that he's quitting the force.
Barney discovers that Harris has a second job. Dietrich arrests a priest for fencing stolen goods. A racketeer is using a mentally challenged boy as an assistant.
Barney and Inspector Luger staff the precinct alone while the detectives are on strike."
They Just Don't Make'um Like This Anymore!
Wally A. Whitehead | Round Mtn., Ca USA | 02/18/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My wife and I have enjoyed Barney Miller since it's inception.
We started recording each ep. when we got our first VHS recorder, and have worn out two complete taped series, then when it again appeared on TV Land,recorded it on SVHS tape again, and after we bought our DVD recorder I began to transfer all our tapes to disc.
During that time we were estatic to see them being relised commercially by Sony, and are currently anxiously awaiting the pre-ordered arrival of the third season.
These are great due to the uncut versions, unlike the syndicated versions which had to be cut to fit the newer time slots.
My only complaint is how long it takes between release between seasons. I can only hope Sony continues to release the entire series.
The writing of this series is supperb, as well as the stars, and guest stars on the show.
The show has substance and continuity, which is severly lacking in todays sitcoms.
I doubt there will ever be another like it in this era.
However having the entire series from Sony would satisfy us for the rest of our lives!
"
Excellent show POOR package
dave | NC, United States | 03/18/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"One of the finest sitcoms of the 70's & early 80's. The show gets five stars hands down. My copy of season three shipped in the poorest packing job the dvd box set Gods ever thought up. It is a spindle with the discs stacked on top of each other. How cheap can you get. This set is a must for Barney Miller fans, but I have already ordered a new case to put the discs in."
SONY Goes For Cheap on Packaging!
Jackie L. Holstein | MPLS, MN | 03/18/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"The Discs are all stacked on a HUB that holds all three discs so they lay on top of each other. Really really cheap packaging from Sony and thise is a mess. I can only guess how many more shows from SONY that will be released this way if they don't get enough complaints. If they were gonna give the consumer less quality they should have lowered the retail price at the same time. Mess of a set release Good Going Sony sounds like someone who came up with this idea needs let go. Qualty products sale and Bad word or mouth on poor packaging etc spreads faster then fire.
Do it Right or forget it!"
Great Show - Terrible Packaging
ed600 | New York, N.Y. | 03/20/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The packaging is as someone put it criminal!
They have stacked 3 disks on a single spindle one on top of the other.
This will promote scratching on the disks - for thoes who like to keep their discs in mint cond. or collectable, this is not good.
It also makes it difficult as to get to the third disc you have to remove the first two. Cheap and inconsiderate design.
The show is great - I find the Video quality transfer bettter than the previous 2 seasons. Although the humor I find has changed slightly in the 3rd season, also the Character Chano is no longer on the show which might have changed the balance?