Barney Miller

My chosen career requires a lot of abstract thinking and designing, and complex problem solving, all of which demand sustained mental effort. I’ve learned that pacing myself with daily, quality, entertainment and recreation is an important ingredient to consistently being the best I can.

I recently finished the final season of Barney Miller (1975–1982). What a great NYPD series of situational drama blended with unstrained comedy, personality foibles and conflicts, running jokes, pedantic scientific monologues, and more.

I tried to choose a favorite character/actor and I cannot. They are all really entertaining in their own way.

30 minute stories about improvised, often stressful, interventions into the brokenness of American society with dignity, thoughtfulness, and grace. It’s amazing how the stories are poignantly current: inflation, homelessness, poverty, energy, environment, mental illness, race relations, and government transparency and accountability.

If you’ve never seen it, check it out. If it’s been a long time, treat yourself to some reruns from the Ol’ One-Two.