1974 Pilot Episode

[Joeytrom]

is this included on the first season DVD? Abby Dalton played Mrs. Miller.

[Lady T]

Originally posted by Joeytrom
is this included on the first season DVD? Abby Dalton played Mrs. Miller. no the DVD does not contain the pilot; it does contain all the 13 episodes of the 1st season, un-cut, which is very nice....

[Stuck In The '70's]

Originally posted by Mrs. R.N.HARRIS
no the DVD does not contain the pilot; it does contain all the 13 episodes of the 1st season, un-cut, which is very nice....
I've never seen the pilot episode.:(

[Lady T]

Originally posted by mr roper

I've never seen the pilot episode.:( Only Hal Linden and Age Vigoda return to be in the TV show that was in the pilot...

[sara]

I just bought the DVD and I was hoping they would have the pilot too. It was nice to see the episodes uncut. I watched the whole season last night. Plus I was finally able to watch the 2nd episode that TV Land never showed because it had a bomb:rolleyes: . I was a little disappointed that there was not alot of extras. I would have loved a documentary or some cast comentary. Oh well maybe for the 2nd season.

[DetectiveGriffin]

A lot of people are saying how disappointed they are that no extras are included. Judging by the commercials tvland showed during barney miller (gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now) and the cereal the promo dvd is included with (Total), the studio must assume the demographics for Barney Miller are people over 40; more on the young side of the original audience. A lot of people
in this age group and above test (i think) to not prefer the dvd format in the first place, must less know how to use one well. Maybe that was a factor in their decision. There's no shame in writing them a letter saying, "I'm 19 yrs. old and I love Barney Miller. Give me a season 2 release and show me some extras."

I think it's really great to see how many really young people are interested in some of the shows I grew up with; stuff that my parents were surprised I loved, because they were more mature or reserved, however you like to think of it.

[Lady T]

I agree with everyone on this post, I received the DVD when it was released, and was a little dispointed that the DVD did include extras, like interviews from the actors, or maybe some clips of out takes...

[orion105]

The manufacturers are not fans. I'm not surprised there are no extras. Of course there are advertisements on the menu, which should NOT be included on the DVD I feel. What our purpose should be in this forum is to agree on what we all want as fans and submit that feedback to columbia tristar, etc. so we can get a better product. It doesn't hurt to email them under other names or age demographics to increase the feedback.
So, what do we want? extras? season 2? pilot episode? no ads? ?

[Lolac]

Originally posted by DetectiveGriffin
the studio must assume the demographics for Barney Miller are people over 40; more on the young side of the original audience. A lot of people
in this age group and above test (i think) to not prefer the dvd format in the first place, must less know how to use one well. Maybe that was a factor in their decision.

I would just like to say that I am in my late 40s and I much prefer the DVD format and I am quite adept at navigating my way around one. I found the "easter eggs" on The Dick Van Dyke Show DVDs. If this studio thinks that the over 40 crowd are a bunch of technical incompetents, they are sadly mistaken! I for one am very disappointed that there are no extras on The Barney Miller DVDs. I think they short-changed us. I agree that we should let our feelings on this subject be known.

Lolac :mad:

[orion105]

I have just turned 30 and I grew up watching Barney Miller. I certainly prefer DVD to vhs. I would love to see the pilot, extras, and season 2 on DVD. I bought a black rotary phone similar to the ones on the show at a garage sale today. Except this one was made in the 50's, the 70's ones have the plastic dial rings and easily removable cords. The demographics people are only fools guarding the treasure. They have the goods, so they try to force us into the box of consumers. What do they know? Many sections of people enjoy the classics. We need more fan feedback to copyright owners to give them a clue!

[megamanj2004]

I just bought the DVD and I was hoping they would have the pilot too. It was nice to see the episodes uncut. I watched the whole season last night. Plus I was finally able to watch the 2nd episode that TV Land never showed because it had a bomb . I was a little disappointed that there was not alot of extras. I would have loved a documentary or some cast comentary. Oh well maybe for the 2nd season.

Are you talking about the ep., where Fish leads the entire squad out of the squadroom when he hears that there was a bomb in the precinct? B/C if it is, then Me-TV, my local Chicago station might of reran that ep., last night.

[Capt Miller]

At this point, I just wish theyd release season 2 extras or not :confused:

[Living In a '70's Dream]

At this point, I just wish theyd release season 2 extras or not :confused:
I just wish that 2nd season would be released... :(

[catlover79]

Does anyone know if this pilot exists ANYWHERE? I think it would be really cool to watch. Wasn't Abby Dalton also on Falcon Crest?? From what I read, the only two actors to go from the pilot to the series were Hal Linden and Abe Vigoda.

[SueWalsh]

Does anyone know if this pilot exists ANYWHERE? I think it would be really cool to watch. Wasn't Abby Dalton also on Falcon Crest?? From what I read, the only two actors to go from the pilot to the series were Hal Linden and Abe Vigoda.

No, it has not been seen since it was aired on ABC during the summer of
1974. It appears to have been destroyed.

BTW, there are no extras for one reason and one only. Mostt of the studios refuse to pay the actors to do them (or extra if the extras include blooper reels and the like) and the actors won't work for free. I know several of the actors from "CHiPs" and they've all told me this. I don't blame the actors-they deserve fair compensation..especially those from pre 1980's shows when such things as DVD and VHS were unheard of so royalties for such were never worked into contracts. A lot of actors from shows in the 50's, 60's and some in the 70's really got screwed.

[catlover79]

I sure would've liked to see the 1974 pilot - it's a shame it doesn't seem to exist anymore. It also would be cool if something could be worked out for the cast/crew to appear in extras in future releases...I guess we'll just have to wait and see. ;)

[catlover79]

Glad that I was wrong - that the 1974 original pilot does exist and was included on the complete series box set. Definitely a fun curio. Here's a screen capture from the opening, with Abby Dalton as Elizabeth Miller:

[McGillicuddy]

I just watched The Life and Times of Capt. Barney Miller. I didn't realize the lst episode of Barney Miller, was basically a rework of it, with different actors. The scenes and dialog at the station is pretty much the same, but on the homefront they're changed quite a bit.

[catlover79]

I had read somewhere that "Ramon" was basically a revision of the original pilot, but I don't remember where. What did you think of Abby Dalton as Elizabeth?

[McGillicuddy]

I had read somewhere that "Ramon" was basically a revision of the original pilot, but I don't remember where. What did you think of Abby Dalton as Elizabeth?

Its always interesting to see different actors playing characters in long lost pilots, but I would say I like Barbara Barrie better!

[sara]

I liked Barbara Barrie better too.

[catlover79]

No offense to Barbara Barrie, but I liked Abby Dalton's sweetness and warmth that she projected into Liz better.