Barney Miller
The Vests
TV Flash files “The Vests” as hour 146 of 170 in the TV Flash guide — Barney Miller (1975–1982) on ABC, season 7, episode 20, aired 1981-05-07, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S07E20: listed hour 146 of 170 in the Barney Miller guide, hour 20 of 22 in season 7. It aired 1981-05-07 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Riot” (S07E19). Next is “The Rainmaker” (S07E21).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
The detectives at the twelfth precinct are less than thrilled when a shipment of bulletproof vests are distributed amongst the department and are told in no uncertain terms that they have to be worm while on duty. Inspector Luger arrives in the squad room, looking to interview everyone in case there's need for their obituaries. An eccentric inventor is arrested after he was caught brandishing a gun at a nearby corporation's headquarters.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Vests sit in the Barney Miller guide?
S07E20 is listed hour 146 of 170 — hour 20 of 22 in season 7, season 7 episode 20.
When did Barney Miller S07E20 air?
The Vests aired 1981-05-07 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Is this an action cop show?
No. It is a character-driven workplace comedy about police as municipal workers. Most of the series lives inside the 12th Precinct squad room.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Hal Linden runs the 12th Precinct like a therapist with a badge while the squad room does all the traveling. Danny Arnold's cop comedy barely leaves the station: talk, character, civic absurdity, Abe Vigoda deadpan. Workplace sitcom architecture without car-chase fetish.
The first image is not a siren. It is a squad room that looks like municipal beige: Hal Linden's Captain Barney Miller in a therapist's calm, a badge worn like office wear, and New York weirdness walking in without an appointment. ABC's Barney Miller (1975–1982) rarely left the 12th Precinct. Danny Arnold and Theodore J. Flicker treated cops as workers, not superheroes. Abe Vigoda's Fish, Max Gail's Wojo, Ron Glass's Harris, Jack Soo's Yemana — the ensemble as a look board of civic patience. Complainants enter.…
Filed against
- Hal Linden as Capt. Barney Miller
Hal Linden ran the 12th Precinct as Capt. Barney Miller — therapist with a badge, Danny Arnold cop comedy that barely leaves the station, talk and civic absurdity, Abe Vigoda deadpan. Workplace sitcom architecture without car-chase…
- Abe Vigoda as Det. Phil Fish
Abe Vigoda’s Det. Phil Fish made Barney Miller’s 12th Precinct a deadpan climate — Hal Linden as therapist-with-a-badge, Danny Arnold’s cop comedy that barely leaves the station. Talk, character, civic absurdity, no car-chase fetish. TV…
- Max Gail as Det. Stan Wojciehowicz
Max Gail’s Det. Stan Wojciehowicz filled Barney Miller’s 12th Precinct like a big man who had already done the traveling — 1970s cop comedy that barely left the squad room. Talk, civic absurdity, a badge that behaved like a therapist’s…
- Ron Glass as Det. Ron Harris
Ron Glass's Det. Ron Harris gave Barney Miller its dapper squad-room wit — Hal Linden running the 12th Precinct like a therapist with a badge, Danny Arnold's cop comedy barely leaving the station. Talk, character, civic absurdity. TV…
- Jack Soo as Det. Nick Yemana
Jack Soo’s Det. Nick Yemana made Barney Miller’s squad room taste like bad coffee and perfect timing — 12th Precinct talk comedy, civic absurdity, a 1970s workplace that barely left the station. Deadpan as a pour. TV Flash files him as…