Barney Miller (TV Series) Riot (1981) User Reviews

Nehemiah Persoff and Howard Platt

[kevinolzak · 7/10 · 28 July 2014]

"Riot" brings back Hasidic Jew Yacov Berger (Nehemiah Persoff, third of three), last seen in "Middle Age," informing the 12th Precinct about how their community is being ravaged by criminals, with the police always a step behind. A few hours later, 200 Hasidic Jews begin picketing the station, which was noticed by Inspector Luger ("oh yeah, I passed a couple of them on my way up here, look like the Smith Brothers right?"). Luger assures Barney that he's capable of handling them, carrying a megaphone downstairs to create a full blown riot, leaving the squad room a shambles. Apparently he made the mistake of asking them to go home and take a shave! ("talk about touchy!"). Howard Platt (third of five) and Susan Tolsky (first of two) play Bill and Wendy Nelson, a pair of survivalists found living in the sewer with canned goods and a huge cache of weapons. Their unregistered guns were a gift from Roland Kent (Pat McNamara, first of two), owner of Armageddon Supply and Mini-Mart! (just think, all this and rat stew).

They Tasted Like Chicken--Years Earlier!

[MAZZELLAFAMILY · 10/10 · 9 July 2008]

I can't help but wonder if advertisers get some of their ideas from sitcoms.

I remember seeing this episode once on "TV Land" a while back, and one line just sticks out in my mind--when the survivalist couple found living in the sewer is brought before the Captain, the husband explains that they've been living on rats, whereupon the wife says, "You know, they taste just like chicken"--fifteen years or so before the line became common.

I wonder what other lines are lying in wait for future use in commercials.

Robert Mazzella