Because I have been a Rock ‘n' Roll musician for the past 35 years, I tend to think of myself as “youthful,” if not “young at heart.” Lately, I have found myself lapsing into a habit that I generally associate with being “old.” As soon as I finish dinner, I sit down in front of the television to watch reruns on the local sub channels.
As I surf between MeTV and similar television graveyards, I see plenty of ads with Joe Namath or Jimmie Walker hawking questionable insurance policies. One program makes tolerating these advertising atrocities worthwhile: reruns of “Barney Miller.”
This acclaimed sitcom, telling the tale of a New York City police captain and his fellow officers, ran on ABC between 1975 and ’82. With Hal Linden in the titular role, the series did not deal with thrilling arrests of dangerous criminals, but instead the mundane day-to-day work of Greenwich Village detectives in a squalid station house. The diverse and quirky cast of characters made for dysfunctional interaction and comedy gold.
One of the telling details I love most about “Barney Miller” is the costuming. The various characters look very ordinary and grubby, almost as if they provided their own clothing. It added depth to how I perceive the detectives of the Twelfth Precinct.
Barney Miller: as leader of the squad, Captain Miller projected his authority by dressing in an orderly and disciplined manner. His clothing appeared to come from mainstream men's stores, such as Brooks Brothers or Hart, Schaffner, and Marx--but not necessarily their top-of-the-line offerings. A pragmatist, Barney even admitted that there was nothing wrong with wearing a ten-year-old suit if it was well-made.
Harris: always fashionable and up to the minute, Ron Harris seemed to frequent small boutiques aimed at upwardly-mobile African-American men. He looked more like the hip New York writer he aspired to be than a bureaucratic civil servant.
Wojo: Stanley Wojciehowicz was a relatively young and single male with decidedly macho tendencies. He probably thought little about fashion or style. His clothing likely came from Sears or K-Mart in plenty of period polyester.
Dietrich: the house intellectual donned a practical and minimalist wardrobe. Not overly concerned with fashion or style, he dressed for the needs of his job as a detective and nothing more. His dull grey suits and earth-toned ties likely came from Macy's or J.C. Penney.
Yemana: the aging detective skewed very lazy and apathetic. Like Dietrich, he dressed for practicality and the needs of his job. His wardrobe was a hodgepodge of convenience, likely purchased at any mass merchandiser, ranging from K-Mart to Macy's.
Inspector Luger: the elderly flatfoot was seemingly proud to make plainclothes detective around 1952 and splurged on the wardrobe. Most likely, he hit mainstream shops that he perceived as stylish, like Brooks Brothers or Hart, Schaffner, and Marx. A macho type otherwise unconcerned about fashion, he still wore those same 1952 suits and bow ties from 1975 to '82.
Fish: another elderly cop, Phil Fish used the template of the 1940's plainclothes detective: fedora and overcoat. He evolved into something akin to Yemana, only his apathy was not borne of laziness but instead by chronic pessimism.
Chano: Detective Chano Amenguale only appeared in the first season. His attire of choice was usually a plaid flannel shirt and surplus fatigue jacket. It wasn’t entirely clear if his humble dress stemmed from relative poverty or a desire to blend with 1970’s New York street life.
Perhaps this eye for detail made “Barney Miller” more than just another dated laugh fest. It made fictional sitcom characters seem very real and human. It made me feel very connected to this fine piece of television history.
James E. Hutter is a rock n roll musician and the author of Just The Normal Abuse - A Generation X Childhood Experience.